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Pilgrim’s pick: Horseshoe taken for
Rs 21,000!
Governor for preserving, showcasing state’s art
Army Commander visits avalanche-hit areas
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23 bonded labourers released, brick kiln sealed
Rehab policy for village defence panel members sought
Media ends boycott of House as Speaker clarifies his remarks
BJP out to woo SCs
2 panels to look into misuse
of residential units
Proposal with Centre on opening more women colleges
Mineral extraction has no impact on Trikuta Hills: Minister
225 unelectrified villages
to get solar lights
Vaishno Devi varsity celebrates National Science Day
Govt schools in Leh to start nursery class
Workshop held on health of adolescents
Farm technocrats’ stir continues
Man acquitted in drugs case
ASI dies of cardiac arrest
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Pilgrim’s pick: Horseshoe taken for
Rs 21,000!
Katra, February 29 While thousands of used horseshoes are sold every month here, the one worn by a black horse broke all records yesterday, fetching the owner a whopping Rs 21,000. A horseshoe, depending upon the colour of the horse, usually sells between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000. Horseshoes are often used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. These are usually fixed outside houses to bring good luck. The business has boomed over the years, so much so that horse owners have started changing horseshoes every second day. Horses and mules usually wear their shoes out within a fortnight here due to the rough terrain. Besides seeing it as cruelty to animals, veterinarians feel frequent changing of shoes causes wounds to the animals. Rajinder Prasad, a Delhi resident who purchased a used horseshoe worn by a black horse for Rs 21,000, said he had been looking for one for a long time after a priest told him to fix a black horse’s shoe outside his house to keep evil spirits at bay. “It is considered auspicious to fix a horseshoe outside the house, as it keeps bad luck and disease at bay. A horseshoe protects the house and its occupants from negativity, witchcraft and bad luck,” he quips. Enquiries revealed that devotees seek horseshoes especially in Katra due to the presence of a large number of horses and mules here. Around 22,000 mules and horses facilitate devotees’ journey to the shrine from Katra. As per a research by an NGO, most animals here suffer from colic, lameness, etc. caused by stress and exertion. AK Nagotra, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Reasi, said nailing and removing horseshoes on alternate days posed grave risk for the animal. If the nail enters the soft tissue, it can cause severe infection. “Horse owners are doing it at their own risk. We can only advise them not to change horseshoes until it’s necessary,” he said. Ram Lal, a pony owner, said: “We sell 10 to 12 horseshoes a month and get between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 each, depending on the customer and colour of the horse. The darker the horse, the higher will be the price of its shoe. Shoes worn by black horses are the most expensive ones available. A normal unused shoe, costing Rs 10 to 15, ends up selling for thousands after being taken off a horse.” Horse(shoe) power Horseshoes are often used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. These are usually fixed outside houses to bring good luck Unhealthy Practice The business has boomed over the years, so much so that horse owners have started changing horseshoes every second day. Horses and mules usually wear their shoes out within a fortnight here due to the rough terrain |
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Governor for preserving, showcasing state’s art
Jammu, February 29 He particularly referred to the valuable outcome of the initiatives taken for the documentation, conservation and showcasing of the famous miniature paintings of the Basohli school. The Governor said this after releasing a book titled “Veer Munshi: The Dialogues Series” at Raj Bhavan here today. This book, based on Munshi’s conversations with Ranjit Hoskote and Nancy Adajania, both eminent writers and art critics, is the sixth volume on major artists of India. It provides sharply etched portraits of the artists and engaging accounts of their works. The Governor, while welcoming Munshi’s proposal to organise expositions of his art works in Srinagar and Jammu, said this would go a long way in inspiring budding artists of the state. He appreciated Munshi’s contribution to the enrichment of artistic creations and wished him success in his future endeavours. Veer Munshi is a well-known artist from Jammu and Kashmir who has been exhibiting his works in art galleries within and outside the country. His paintings, sculptures and other art creations have Kashmir as the main theme. |
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Army Commander visits avalanche-hit areas
Srinagar, February 29 On his arrival for the day-long tour, Lt Gen Parnaik was received by Lt Gen S A Hasnain, GOC of 15 Corps, who briefed him about the ongoing restoration operations in the Gurez sector of Bandipopre district in north Kashmir, a defence spokesman said. Later, the Army Commander accompanied by Lt Gen S A Hasnain, visited Gurez and Sonmarg areas. Lt Gen Parnaik on his earlier visit to the Valley on Saturday could not visit the sites due to bad weather conditions. The Army Commander complimented the troops for performing their duties with dedication, professionalism and utmost sincerity. “It is commendable that despite all difficulties, you have maintained high morale,” he said on his visit to the two sites. He also honoured 12 officers and other ranks with the “GOC-in-C Northern Command Commendation Card” for keeping “service before self” while conducting search and rescue operations and saving precious lives of their comrades during the tragedy. He took stock of the situation at both the places and appreciated the rescue efforts put in by the local units. The Army Commander expressed his deep condolences to the families of the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the nation and assured them that in their hour of grief, all assistance would be provided to them. |
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23 bonded labourers released, brick kiln sealed
Jammu, February 29 The Tribune had reported about the plight of a couple working as bonded labourers in the OMS brick kiln in Sunderbani on February 22. The couple, who were seeking justice, had alleged that around 70 individuals were living in miserable conditions in the brick kiln and were paid just Rs 500 to 700 per month. They were not allowed to go outside the kiln, as the owner claimed that they owed him Rs 15 lakh. However, Varinder Gupta, SHO, Dharamsal, had denied the allegations and had told the Tribune that prima facie the case did not seem to involve bonded labourers. A fresh statement issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Nowshera, clarified that the brick kiln was found operating in violation of norms and had engaged bonded labourers and children. The authorities took action after a two-week long inquiry into the allegation of bonded labour in some brick kilns of Rajouri district. “The labourers were working in inhumane conditions, without proper shelter, water, power or sanitation. Proper accounts of wage payment were not maintained and unfair procedures were being followed in all kinds of transactions,” the statement read. A team comprising Tehsildar, Sunderbani, Devinder Pal, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Nowshera, GL Sharma and the SHO, Dharamsal, was constituted earlier this month for inquiring into the allegations of bonded labour. The SDM, Nowshera, who camped at the brick kiln along with his team, recorded statements of all the labourers. It was found that of the 210 labourers who were working there, four families comprising 23 members were bonded labourers. Moreover, 90 children were engaged as labourers for making bricks. Meanwhile, the ASP, Nowshera, has been asked by the SDM to register a case against the owner of the OMS brick kiln, Sunderbani. Another committee is being constituted to inquire about the condition of people working in various brick kilns in the area. The SDM has further asked the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, to take up the matter with the State Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights for conducting a detailed inquiry into bonded labour trade between brick kiln owners and employment of children in hazardous jobs. |
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Rehab policy for village defence panel members sought
Jammu, February 29 Addressing mediapersons here, Dr Darakshan Andrabi, president of the SDP, said: “It is surprising to see the government adopt ‘use and throw policy’ for members of village defence committees in the state.” “It is foolish to ignore them when they have made exemplary sacrifices for the people and society,” she added. Dr Andrabi said it was the duty of the state to honour those who fought militants and saved the lives of people in remote hamlets of the state. She alleged that the government had left them to fend for themselves and such an attitude might force them to turn into anti-nationalists. Dr Andrabi sought provision of identity cards to the committee members and their induction into regular service. Some representatives of the committees were also present. |
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Media ends boycott of House as Speaker clarifies his remarks
Jammu, February 29 Angry over the Speaker's remarks that “the media is under my control and mediapersons have to disclose their source”, journalists, both from the print and electronic media, had been boycotting the Assembly proceedings for the last two days. As the House commenced its proceedings today, mediapersons gathered outside the Assembly complex and demanded that the remarks be expunged. In the meantime, PDP and BJP legislators also staged a walkout from the Assembly to express their solidarity with
mediapersons. Legislators of the BJP even joined the agitating
mediapersons. As the scribes staged a sit-in, Political Adviser to Chief Minister Divender Rana held talks with them and asked them to wait for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad
Sagar. When the Minister did not turn up for over an hour, the mediapersons staged a sit-in at the Press Club. Later, the Speaker met the protesting journalists and clarified his statement in the House. “While welcoming my friends in the press gallery, I would like to remind them that what I have said is confined to the House only,” the Speaker said. "I never meant to hurt them at all and feel that some misunderstanding has cropped up in their minds which I think has no scope at all now,” he said and added, “I accord great respect to the media fraternity”. “The publication of false or distorted report of debates or proceedings of the House or its Committee or wilful misrepresentation or suppression of speeches of particular members, is an offence of the same character as the publication of libel upon the House, its Committees or members; and the persons who are responsible for such publication are liable to be punished for breach of privilege or contempt of the House,” the Speaker stated in the House. “On various occasions, ministers and members approached me with the plea that the media does not publish news based on facts and such a tendency tarnishes their image among the masses. Isn’t it imperative on the part of the media to adhere to the rules of the House strictly in accordance with the factual position? Media trial has no doubt its own importance in the system but it should be based on mutual respect. In case there is any doubt in their minds while publishing any news item, they can by all means approach the quarters concerned to receive their version as well or get it rectified or corrected by my Secretariat. “I once again hope that they will for the welfare of the state desist from publishing the proceedings of the House in a distorted or misrepresented manner. Here I will also appeal to the Members to behave responsibly to ensure the credibility of this institution at all costs as this House is supreme for all the pillars of the system and has to be respected in the same spirit,” the Speaker maintained. After the Speaker's clarification, the journalists ended their boycott of the House and announced that they would resume coveing the proceedings of the House from Thursday. |
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BJP out to woo SCs
Jammu, February 29 The party members discussed the problems being faced by the SCs of the state. Shamsher Singh Manhas, state president of the BJP, said even after six decades of independence and grant of reservation to the community, their uplift still remained a distant dream in the state. He said reservation was initially granted to the SCs for 10 years, when the Constitution of India came into being, with the hope that their living conditions would improve. However, it did not happen due to the half-hearted approach of the government in this regard. Jitendra Singh, chief spokesperson for the state BJP, said exploitation of the SCs had continued unabated. While they were being exploited by members of the upper castes earlier, they were now falling victim to the apathy of the creamy layer within the SCs. The uplift of the downtrodden section of society was a challenge for all political parties, including the BJP, he said. He said the quota-within-quota policy of the present UPA government was an irrational move aimed at appeasing a certain section.
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2 panels to look into misuse
of residential units
Jammu, February 29 Replying to a query of the Congress MLC, BR Kundal, during the Question Hour in the Upper House today, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said the government had constituted two committees of senior officers to look into the conversion of government residential colonies into commercial set-ups in Jammu and Kashmir provinces. He said as soon as the two committees submit the report of their respective provinces, the government will take the necessary action on the issue. The minister said the violations in residential colonies are being dealt with under the Control of Building Operations Act, 1988. In reply to a question by NC MLC Javed Ahmed Rana, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather informed the House that Rs 245 crore was sanctioned under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) for six districts of the Jammu province. The Minister said the sanctioned amount included Rs 37.76 crore for Kathua, Rs 50.35 crore for Udhampur, Rs 35.46 crore for Jammu, Rs 43.35 crore for Rajouri, Rs 21.37 crore for Poonch and Rs 57.40 crore for the erstwhile Doda district. He said funds to the districts were allocated on the basis of the geographical area, population of the district, backwardness, availability of resources, literacy rate, developmental requirements, state share and the completion cost of ongoing projects.
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Proposal with Centre on opening more women colleges
Jammu, February 29 Replying to a query of the National Conference MLC, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, the Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik, informed the Upper House that the government had sent a proposal to the Centre for the opening of degree colleges for women at district headquarters without such colleges. He said there was a pressing demand for the opening of more degree colleges for women in the state. Of the 95 colleges sanctioned in the state, 73 were currently functional. The recently sanctioned 22 degree colleges, including the one at Thatri in Doda district, were likely to be made functional during the forthcoming academic session. Regarding the upcoming degree college at Doda, Malik said infrastructure like the administrative block, library, science block, eight lecturers’ halls, BCA lab and watchmen’s hut were in place. In addition, construction of an examination hall and a lecture theater had been undertaken an estimated cost of Rs 1.13 crore. The boundary wall of the college was likely to be completed during the current financial year at an estimated cost of Rs 43.13 lakh. In reply to another question, the minister said sufficient staff had been provided at the degree college, Ganderbal. Of the 11 sanctioned posts, seven had been filled on a regular basis and candidates had been engaged against the remaining posts. He said the vacant posts had been referred to the recruitment agencies and would be filled soon. In reply to another question by Congress MLC Ravinder Kumar Sharma, he said 451 posts, both in teaching and non-teaching categories, had been created for the newly sanctioned 22 degree colleges of the state. |
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Mineral extraction has no impact on Trikuta Hills: Minister
Jammu, February 29 The Industries and Commerce Minister was reacting to a issue raised by Chaman Lal Gupta in the Assembly during the Zero Hour. Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir today informed the Assembly that the Agriculture Department had provided 17 quintals of potato seed to farmers of Bani, but due to late sowing, the potato crop had not yielded any desired results. He clarified that the department had conducted an inquiry on the request of Bani MLA and had found that the quality of seed was fine, but it was only due to late sowing that the crop did not produce the desired result. However, for the satisfaction of the Bani MLA, the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, has been asked to conduct a fresh inquiry with the help of an expert of the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) and submit the report at the earliest, the minister maintained. |
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225 unelectrified villages
to get solar lights
Jammu, February 29 Minister in-charge, Science and Technology, in a written reply told the Upper House that the government in the recent past had identified human habitations in the state, where electricity had not reached till date. “The Science and Technology Department is implementing the centrally-sponsored schemes of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy through the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JKEDA),” the minister replied. He further read that as per the scheme, the projects and proposals were being formulated and submitted to the Union Ministry for accord of sanction and due consideration was given to the rural areas of the state. “Under the RVE programme all the un-electrified villages or hamlets are being covered by installing solar home lights, as a basic lighting facility, provided the villages are not being covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY),” he added. The minister also disclosed, “Most of the villages of remote sub-regions, including Marwah, Warwan, Padder, Gurez, Machil, Keran, Jumagund etc. have been provided around 12,000 solar home lights.” He said the JKEDA was also covering nearly 225 un-electrified villages by way of providing 36,000 solar lights. “Various tribes of the state, including the Gujjar and Bakerwal community was being provided 15,150 solar lanterns during the current financial year,” he said. He disclosed that the JKEDA was also implementing various other programmes, including the setting up of solar power plants, solar wind hybrid systems and solar water heating systems in the remote and far-flung areas of the state.
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Vaishno Devi varsity celebrates National Science Day
Katra, February 29 Initiating the programme, Dr SK Wanchoo, Director of the SICD, laid emphasis on the importance of science teaching and community development. Mineesh Gulati, a young teacher from the region, gave demonstrations on the theme ‘Science in Day to Day Life’. Around 200 students of the school took part in the demonstration. The demonstration was followed by orientation sessions on mathematical science, computer education, life science around us, in which various shows were conducted by volunteers and faculty of the SMVDU. A team of students and faculty from the School of Biotechnology, SMVDU, also took part in the programme and introduced to students the details of DNA technology and recent advancement in the field of life sciences through the said technology. A science quiz competition was also conducted, in which 25 students participated. The top six students were given prizes according to merit. Dr VK Tripathi, Dr Ajay Kaul, Dr Sharda Potukuchi and Dr Samantha Vaishnavi conducted a group interaction with the students on the occasion. |
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Govt schools in Leh to start nursery class
Leh, February 29 The new educational policy measure comes against the backdrop of poor performance of government schools in 10th and 12th board examinations. With government schools not having nursery classes, parents had begun opting for private schools.
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Workshop held on health of adolescents
Jammu, February 29 Participants were informed about the initiatives undertaken under the scheme during the current financial year 2011-12. During the workshop the participants were also told about the achievements made in establishing Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) clinics in all the 22 district hospitals of the state. The participants were told about the importance of health in adolescents and were advised to work with missionary zeal and extend the ARSH services to the needy. — TNS
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Farm technocrats’ stir continues
Jammu, February 29 Addressing mediapersons here today, Dr Khursheed, spokesperson for the association, threatened to intensify their strike if their demands were not met. “We have been struggling for the past 16 years for permanent appointments in the department of agriculture and are still facing starvation due to the economic crisis. We have no other source of income,” he added. — TNS
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Man acquitted in drugs case
Jammu, February 29 On March 8, 2010, a police team had pulled over Mohammad Irfan, who coming from the Kunjwani side, at a checkpoint near Greater Kailash on the national highway. He was found carrying a plastic envelope containing 680 gm of heroine. The accused was arrested and a case under Sections 8, 21 and 22, of the NDPS Act was registered. A sample of the substance found in the envelope was sent to the forensic science laboratory, which corroborated the presence of heroine. After the completion of investigation, a challan was presented against the accused in the court. The prosecution produced 12 witnesses to established the case against the accused. The Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, observed: “The accused was not given the opportunity to be searched by a magistrate or a gazetted officer.... The prosecution has violated the mandatory provisions, which are required to be complied with. The accused is therefore acquitted of the charge. His bail bond and personal bonds are discharged.” |
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GOC-in-C, Northern Command, today paid a visit to the two avalanche sites at Dawar and Sonmarg in Kashmir where 19 soldiers lost their lives last Wednesday, and interacted with troops stationed at these locations.
The Socialistic Democratic Party today asked the government to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for members of village defence committees.
Addressing mediapersons here, Dr Darakshan Andrabi, president of the SDP, said: “It is surprising to see the government adopt ‘use and throw policy’ for members of village defence committees in the state.”
“It is foolish to ignore them when they have made exemplary sacrifices for the people and society,” she added.
Agitating mediapersons today ended their boycott of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone clarified that some misunderstanding had cropped up over his statement on media on Monday. The Speaker made it clear his remarks were confined to the proceedings of the House only.
The School of Innovation and Community Development (SICD) and NSS of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
(SMVDU) along with a number of student volunteers conducted a series of events and demonstrations on National Science Day today at Government Higher Secondary School,
Panthal, to orient young minds towards studying science.
