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MC’s stinking mess for Parade residents
First-time visitors feel lost on JU campus
Jewellers’ stir takes sheen off wedding season
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Ray of hope for children forced to beg at Katra
Vision no handicap for this singer
Writers’ camp concludes
Writers of the state attend a literary session during the Writers’ Camp at Mansar Lake in Samba district on Friday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
‘Introduce theatre in schools’
Modern treatment plants on anvil, says Health Minister
Mystery shrouds death of 4
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MC’s stinking mess for Parade residents
Jammu, April 6 One of the four collection points established by the corporation two decades ago, the site in Parade is littered with garbage that emanates foul smell, making it unpleasant for motorists who cross the area every day. During the rainy season, things get even worse, as rainwater carries garbage onto the road. People living in the vicinity have made frequent complaints to the officials of the sanitation wing, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. There are four collection points in the city i.e. at Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Parade and Purkhoo, where tonnes of garbage generated in different localities is dumped and collected by trucks
for disposal at a dump in the city. Vinod Sharma, Health Officer, MC, expressed his helplessness saying the corporation did not have enough space to shift the collection point to a different area. “We are aware that these points create problems for passersby and residents but the department is helpless. The collection point should be enclosed with plantation so that its surroundings remain smell-free. No open spaces are available to set up a new collection point,” Sharma said. “We are planning to set up modern dumping sites in every mohalla and the corporation is looking for sites,” he said. Local residents claim that the dump has created several health problems for them. “We have to inhale the foul smell on a daily basis, which has affected our health. We cannot eat our food properly,” says Naresh Gupta, a trader who runs a shop near
the site. Amit Abrol, another resident, says the municipal corporation is violating the norms. “They are playing with the health of the people. The tall claims of the authorities of using modern technology to modernise these sites have remained on paper only.” Jammu generates nearly 350 tonnes of garbage daily and solid waste generation is expected to increase manifold in
the next decade, keeping in view the population increase. The city already faces a huge challenge of dumping its solid waste, as the municipal corporation has failed to find a suitable place for the purpose. A recent plan to dump the city waste in the Kot Bhalwal area was resisted by those living in the vicinity. Bare facts * There are four garbage collection points in the city i.e. at Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Parade and Purkhoo *
The site in Parade is littered with garbage that emanates foul smell, making it unpleasant for motorists who cross the area every day *
During the rainy season, rainwater carries garbage onto the road
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First-time visitors feel lost on JU campus
Jammu, April 6 The authorities point out that a student welfare office is located on the campus, although the fact remains that the office is hard to find in the absence of signboards. Naresh Padha, Registrar, maintains that while there are no signboards on the main roads, department specific markings are present on the campus. However, this is not enough for a campus that is well spread out. “We are planning to put up signboards and set up an information cell. A separate fund for infrastructure development will be put to use for this purpose,” he says. The funds for the maintenance of the campus are allocated by the campus authorities. The authorities do not have to rely on the state education department for this. In spite of this, the authorities have failed to put up information cells on the entrance points of the campus during the past 20 years, says a source close to the administration. Sometimes, students and parents have to wander inside the campus for hours to get the requisite information. “It is quite a tedious process to collect information since there are no information boards to point out the fee structure. The single student welfare office is not accessible at all times. I have been visiting the same fee counter for the past two days because there is no other way to get information on the fee structure,” says Garima Choudhary, a distance education student. In the absence of a well-equipped student welfare centre, students have to rely on their seniors or staff for basic guidance. Also, students entering the campus for the first time find it hard to locate the campus grounds in the absence of proper signages. While the campus authorities have funds for the purpose, they have been delaying the project all along. |
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Jewellers’ stir takes sheen off wedding season
Jammu, April 6
After a call given by the All-India Sarafa Association (AISA), most jewellers in the state had closed their shops in protest against the decision of the Union Government to impose excise duty of 1 per cent on unbranded jewellery and 4 per cent import duty on gold. “The marriage season is round the corner but shops continue to remain closed. We need to buy some gold jewellery urgently. Hope this strike ends soon,” said Rajni Kumari, a housewife.
Kulbhushan Anand, president, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province, Jammu city, said they were awaiting a decision by the government. They will act as per directions of the national-level association, he said. “If the government fails to take any decision, we will be forced to intensify our agitation,” he added. “We are already facing huge losses and the increase in taxes will ruin us. It will affect the livelihood of around 2 lakh people associated with the trade in the state,” said Anand. Makhan Lal, a local resident, said: “My grandson is getting married on April 19 and if the strike doesn’t end by then, we will give cash to the couple instead of gold.” The sarafa association claims that nearly 2 lakh people are associated with the trade in Jammu and Kashmir. Over one lakh people are associated with the trade in the Jammu region alone. “Rising prices of the yellow metal have already slashed profit margins and sales. This new tax will destroy the business,” said Ved Prakash Sethi, chairman, Swarankar Sangh Jammu Province. The jewellers continued their protest in Jammu and alleged that the government was totally apathetic towards their problems. “Not just the central government but the state government too has also adopted discriminatory policies towards us,” said Ankush Jain, a protester.
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Ray of hope for children forced to beg at Katra
Katra, April 6
"For the hundreds of children who beg at busy traffic junctions, it is serious business," says Rajinder Kumar Sharma, chairman, Noble Foundation, over the telephone. "They know exactly which brands of cars to chase, how to 'dress up' to evoke maximum sympathy and how to fix false plasters on their legs to give the impression of being crippled,” he added. A survey conducted by the NGO revealed that the children earn an average of Rs 300-400 per day by begging, half of which is given to their parents. "The parents are, therefore, not keen on sending them to school. They find begging more paying and less dangerous than rag-picking," Sharma said. "We wanted to rescue the children from such a degrading environment," he added. The worst part is that the phenomenon is not direct a fallout of the growing unemployment and poverty. "These children are growing up looking at begging as easy and valid means of making money," the activist said. The NGO is already running several such schools for the children of construction workers and slum-dwellers. The NGO is running 13 schools for beggar children in Punjab, where over 2,000 children get free education. "We are trying to establish a network of NGOs and citizens who wish to help in the project," Sharma said.
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Vision no handicap for this singer
Jammu, April 6 Rinku Verma (25), who is visually handicapped since birth, is not fortunate enough to avail an opportunity to display his singing talent on any reality show on a television channel, but he makes both ends meet by entertaining the visitors at the Mansar lake. Rinku, who lives at Chua village, about 6 km from the lake, comes in early morning and leaves the spot in evening alone. Dressed in a stained kurta-paijama and worn-out footwear; and ‘Anjira’ and a walking stick as his sole companions, Rinku sings songs from various genres. Vipin Sharma, a local, said Rinku had lost his father during childhood and he supports his mother and younger brother. “His family is poor. Visitors enjoy his singing and give some money in return, but it is not sufficient for survival,” he added. Rinku told The Tribune, “I have been singing at the lake for the past 10 years and this is my sole income source. I have learnt over 100 songs in Dogri, Punjabi and Hindi while listening to the radio.” “Singing gives me joy. I feel happy when people praise me for my talent. I get rejuvenated when I hear people applaud after my performance. They also give me some money,” he added. When asked about displaying his talent on TV or some other platform, he said, “I am not aware of any such means. I am thankful to God that my home is near the lake. I would always pray for liveliness of the lake as it feeds my family.”
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Writers’ camp concludes
Jammu, April 6 Salim Salik, Editor, Urdu, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), said literature could be used as the best tool for depicting the composite culture of the state. “About 30 writers from different regions presented their masterpieces in 10 languages. It was felt during the sessions that it was indispensable to translate the works in a common language, which was comprehensible for everyone. The practice would help them understand the culture of other regions in a better way,” he added. Mansoor Banihali, who has been translating famous poems of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore from Hindi to Kashmiri, said translations could help bind the remotest areas of the state with the rest of the country. He said, “The state is witnessing peace after two decades of turmoil. The youth needs to understand the demography, geography and history of different regions of the state and of the rest of the country. We are trying to translate the works of some eminent littérateurs of the country and similar efforts are required for the 10 state languages.” Eminent writer Nirmal Vinod said the writers presented quality work during the camp without giving any space to sloganeering. Kashmiri writer Vijay Walli said the JKAACL should focus on the subject of translations so that the writers could be connected for better outcomes. Waqar Mirza Khan, short story writer in Gojri, said many Gojri writers were writing quality works and it was required to give them suitable platform through creative writing workshops and seminars. “Gujjars and Bakkerwals are two major tribes of the state and enough is being written on their culture in Gojri language, but we wish that the government could devise some mechanism to translate the literature in other state languages,” he said. Lalit Gupta, eminent art and theatre critic, said despite translating the works in state languages, some selective pieces should be translated in English. “If our quality work is translated into other languages, the writers would get more takers English being a global language,” he said. Ladakhi poet Sheemet Nangyal said their region needed more exposure as it remains unexplored due to backwardness and remote locations. Pahari writer Raja Nazar Buniyari suggested that all state writers should form a common platform to work on translations. Gojri poet Rafiq Soz said depiction of the Pahari culture in the works of state’s writers was an alluring component. Hindi poet Shyam Bihari insisted on organising writers’ camps often as they keep the writers updated through series of interactions. |
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‘Introduce theatre in schools’
Jammu, April 6 While addressing mediapersons here yesterday, Thakur, who is also the former secretary of the J&K Cultural Academy and state coordinator of SPICMACAY, said it was high time that children should be engaged in this form of art which had immense capacity of shaping up personalities and transforming minds. “In developed nations, theatre is being used as the ultimate tool for exploring the immense inner abilities of children and is regarded as a compulsory activity in schools. Magical power of theatre empowers a person with immense confidence and intellect,” he said. “Excellence cannot be found in the report cards, it reflects in the personality of an individual which can be developed only through theatre,” he said. “In this global market of human resource, we need to come up to the expectations of the future competitions and that will only be possible by putting to use the latest developed methods of intellectual development like theatre-in-education,” he said. Thakur said drama was one of the forms of art through the practice of which children might grow and mature as superior human beings. |
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Scientific Disposal of Medical Waste Tribune News Service
Jammu, April 6 Besides, the government would also set up four latest incinerators in Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Leh and Kargil for the disposal of medical waste in these districts, he said. The minister said this after inaugurating a day-long workshop on ‘Bio-Medical Waste Management’ held at the Regional Institute of Health and Family Welfare (RIHFW) Nagrota, yesterday. The workshop was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Health Mission in association with the Academy of Hospital Administration-Jammu Chapter. On setting up of CBMTFs, the minister said the government had assigned the task to the Mechanical Engineering Department for establishing these facilities at the earliest. He expressed concern for the delay in establishing these facilities. He said the disposal of hospital waste should be done on scientific lines to avoid any kind of health hazard. Minister of State Javed Dar also highlighted the importance of systematic disposal of medical waste in all the health institutions and said measures were already in the pipeline to improve the system. He also listed various achievements of the Health Department during the past three years.
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Mystery shrouds death of 4
Jammu, April 6 The police said a person, identified as Bittu of Pathankote, was found dead under mysterious circumstances near the brick-kiln where he was working as a labourer. His body was shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, for autopsy. Two unidentified persons, who died in separate incidents, were also shifted to GMCH for autopsy. The police said it recovered the body of an unidentified person from platform number 2 at Jammu Railway Station last morning. Similarly, the body of an unidentified man was recovered from railway tracks between the Jammu-Pathankote section near the Vijaypur area. In another incident, a 24-year-old youth, who had allegedly consumed poison recently, died at GMCH here yesterday. He was identified as Bodh Raj, a resident of Goh Manhasa. In two burn cases, a housewife, identified as Pratibha Devi, got burn injuries under mysterious circumstances at her residence. Similarly, an employee of LIC, identified as Kasturi Lal of Nanak Nagar, got electric shock at his office at Panama Chowk. He was shifted to GMCH where his condition was stated to be the critical.
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The Mansar lake allures visitors not only with its beauty but also with melodious Dogri and Punjabi songs accompanied by the rhythms of local instrument ‘Anjira’ at the lake.
Rinku Verma (25), who is visually handicapped since birth, is not fortunate enough to avail an opportunity to display his singing talent on any reality show on a television channel, but he makes both ends meet by entertaining the visitors at the Mansar lake.
On the concluding day of the five-day Writers’ Camp at Mansar, the writers said more stress should be laid on translations so that they could access each other’s works.
Salim Salik, Editor, Urdu, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
(JKAACL), said literature could be used as the best tool for depicting the composite culture of the state.
The absence of information proves to be a hindrance for students coming to the university to seek information on courses year after year.
The closure of shops before the commencement of the marriage season has caused anxiety to people, who were already worried over the rising prices of gold.
The matter has been taken into consideration by the NGO after The Tribune published a story on the issue on April 1. A formal letter has also has been sent by the NGO to the Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra, for providing the space to open a school.