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Bus stand plan hits roadblock
Guidelines to curb fee hike in private schools sought
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Finance, accommodation hassles upset students from Kargil
J&K State Sports Council
Students exhort people to save birds
Screening conducted
Kotli Tanda school lift kho-kho title
Sports dept organises
inter-school tourney
Improve patient care: Minister
Amway marks 26 per cent growth in J&K
Ashok Sodhi Memorial Cricket Tourney
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Bus stand plan hits roadblock
Jammu, May 5 Shopkeepers are demanding allotment of shops in the planned shopping complex rather than outside the area, as proposed by the authority. Though officials claim some of the traders have accepted the relocation, shopkeepers allege that shifting to the new place will deprive them of their livelihood. “The modernisation process has hit the wall. While JDA is adamant on the blueprint approved by the government, they have met with a lot of opposition. Even the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) has come out in support of shopkeepers and has demanded a review of the entire project,” said an official source. Shopkeepers Association General Bus Stand president Rakesh Abrol blamed the authorities for the present crisis. “We are not against the project, but the problem is that they are giving us shops outside the bus stand, why not in the shopping complex? We have been operating in the area for the last four decades and no one wants to leave the place,” Abrol said. He alleged that a misinformation campaign had been launched by some elements that some shopkeepers of the General Bus Stand Jammu had agreed to shift to alternate locations in the city, but there was no iota of truth in it. The Jammu bus stand was inaugurated in 1971 and most shopkeepers were allotted shops during that period. Under the plan, the authority has decided to increase the area of the bus stand and demolish some of the structures so that new buildings and the shopping complex is built. There is also a plan to cover the drain flowing through the area. At the moment, apart from the spot being a dirty one, lack of proper parking space for the vehicles results in frequent traffic jams as buses are forced to be parked on the roads. One could witness a grim scenario on BC Road during mornings and evenings, which witness a heavy influx of buses plying both on inter-state routes and those within the state. All the inter-state and inter-district vehicles operate from the bus stand spread over 52 kanals of land and in absence of proper parking, these can be seen parked in a haphazard manner. When contacted, JDA Vice-Chairman Sarita Chauhan refused to comment on the opposition by shopkeepers. “I won’t comment over the issue but it will be sorted out. But the modernisation project will start soon to give a new and modern look to the bus stand,” Chauhan said. |
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Guidelines to curb fee hike in private schools sought
Jammu, May 5 “Not only are the parents paying hefty fees but also they are expected to pay additional charges for books and uniforms from the school. These schools are minting money at the expense of quality education and parents face difficulties. With hundreds of such schools operating in the region, the government should have issued a guideline to regulate the fees in all such schools,” said Vikas Sharma. He said the government should frame a statute for the admission fees in the private schools. It should keep an eye on the functioning of these schools. He added that the Director for School Education had not taken action to control the amount being charged by these schools. He also criticised the education department for not taking any action against the government teachers who openly give private tuitions and have opened big tutorials. "They have made education a business and poor students sufferer as a result. All this should come to an end,” he said. He appealed to the Chief Minister to form a committee to inquire into this issue. Shafqat Malik, Sukhdev Singh, Narinder Singh, Sunil Kumar and others were present at the meeting. — TNS JCCI demands
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Jammu Chamber demands 24x7 power supply
Jammu, May 5 While addressing mediapersons here, JCCI president YV Sharma said, “With the beginning of the summer, electricity supply in and around Jammu is being curtailed. All this makes life tough
and is affecting trade and industry.” He said, “We urge the government to provide complete and uninterrupted power supply to those areas where complete meter systems have
been installed.” He stated that the government earns two-third of the power revenue from Jammu region. Adding to it, he said the Omar led state government had promised to supply uninterrupted electricity supplies, especially to businessmen and traders. “Since electricity is the lifeline of the trade and industry, we vehemently appeal to the government to ensure proper supply,” he said. While highlighting the pain and grievances of traders and industrialists, who had suffered enormous losses during Amarnath land row agitation in 2008, he criticised the government for not giving any compensation to them. During the agitation, the industry was paralysed for more than three months. The government had entered into an agreement with the members of Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti and announced a package to compensate the losses to the traders, but till date this agreement remains only on papers, he said. He also asked the government that income tax exemption should be given to the new units for another 10 years, while industrial incentives be continued for another 10 years but at par with northeastern states. “Trade and commerce provides employment to many people. There is a need to develop new ware houses, business centres with ultra-modern facilities,” he concluded. |
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Finance, accommodation hassles upset students from Kargil
Jammu, May 5 These students fall prey to harassment at the hands of property brokers and landlords and end up spending more than they can afford. On an average, every student has to shell out close to Rs 7,000 to get a decent accommodation in the city, of which, Rs 2,000 is paid to the broker. Apart from the financial aspect, there is the dimension of mental stress. There have been numerous cases of food poisoning, harassment by landlords and plain negligence on other days, that makes living in Jammu a challenge for students from Kargil or Leh. Last year, a girl from Kargil fell sick because her landlords in Ustad Mala were giving expired frozen food to the students who ultimately got admitted owing to the same. Every year, there are more than 500 students coming to Jammu from the Ladakh region and under the given financial situation, it is becoming rather tedious to find good accommodation for most students, points out Shakeel. “Our demand is valid - Since Kargil lacks higher education opportunities, we are forced to move out. While the situation is conducive in Srinagar, in Jammu, it is not only more expensive, but at times, even unfriendly. There are flats where a room meant to accommodate two people is housing five instead. How can anyone expect these students to live a healthy happy life and perform well in their studies when basic privacy is also denied to them? We have become educational migrants in our own region,” points out Shakeel, President of Kargil Student Association. While there was a proposal to open a degree college in Zauskar, Kargil was approved for help to facilitate graduation in the region and saving students from having to migrate to other cities; no work has started on the ground. The Autonomous Hill Development Council Chairman Kachoo Ahmad Ali Khan points to financial crunch as reason for the delay. Every year, the council gets Rs 60 crore for development of infrastructure in Kargil. Rs 9 crore is the cost of construction for the hostel, of which, Rs 4 crore have already been paid over the last four years. The work stopped when the contractor demanded a payment of 2.5 crore. Since the funding is allotted in July, the council is working out the method of payment. “We are trying to make arrangements for the pending money at the earliest. But till then, the students should wait and not take law in their own hands,” commented the Autonomous Hill Development Council Chairman Kachoo Ahmad Ali Khan.
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Students pitch in as Ladakh NGO gives medical aid
Jammu, May 5 More patients come from the rural pockets of Leh where medical facilities are woefully inadequate. Cases of blood cancer, brain tumour and advanced stages of tuberculosis get referred to Jammu where these volunteers help patients get admitted in hospitals find accommodation in the city and interact with the doctors (since most patients are not fluent in Hindi or English). At times, the organisation has helped collect money for adverse cases like those of blood cancer or tumour. Last year, the students collected donations worth Rs 50,000 for a woman suffering from blood cancer. There are numerous cases of such help extended by these students who mostly operate from Jammu University grounds since they are not registered and do not have office space. “Our aim is to reach out to maximum students and other patients who seek medical and financial aid in Jammu. We try to help all patients by providing them with personal help and donations to help out with medical bills. We now want to reach out to the rural pockets of Leh and plan on holding awareness camps in these villages to educate people about various diseases and general health concerns,” commented Phun Tsok, an active member of the Health Volunteer Association. The organisation works in tandem with doctors in Jammu Medical College who provide free counselling to patients referred by the volunteer group. Apart from seeking donations for critical cases, the group reaches out to Ladakhi students in need of personal guidance to help them deal with peer pressure and sometimes drug abuse. “We all work in groups to assist students and patients alike. We strive to spread awareness through skits, street plays and setting up stalls whenever possible so that people can shed their fear of certain diseases and seek medical attention,” stated Youdol, member of the health association.
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Coaches await regularisation
Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 5 According to sources, 11 persons, including nine coaches and two instructors, were engaged on a contractual basis in different disciplines in order to overcome the shortage in the State Sports Council. These included Onkar Singh Gill (volleyball coach), Jagjit Singh (hockey coach), Shakti Gupta (judo coach), Dalwinder Singh (hockey coach), Rachna Jamwal (fencing coach), Vikas Magotra (swimming coach), Javaid Ahmed Sofi (football coach), Muneer Aalam Mir (volleyball coach), Rubia Jan (netball trainer) and Mohammad Ashraf Parray (handball instructor). But an inordinate delay despite the clearance by the standing committee is causing resentment to these persons. “When the standing committee meeting had announced to engage us on a permanent basis, we were happy, but nothing significant has been done so far in this regard,” said one of the contractual coaches. “We are getting a lot of offers from outside the state to impart coaching to sportspersons and that too with a handsome package, but we are more interested in grooming our own budding sportspersons,” said another instructor. “Every one of us went from pillar to post to put forth our case, but in vain. The authorities at the helm of affairs are least bothered and we are still struggling to get our genuine right,” he said. Meanwhile, Kiran Wattal, secretary, J&K State Sports Council, while talking to The Tribune, said the case was likely to be taken up with the authorities concerned soon. “We are doing our level best to engage these potential coaches, instructors on a permanent basis in the State Sports Council and that is why the standing committee meeting, which was held after a gap of three years in November last, took this important initiative,” Wattal added. “I have already put up the case with the authorities and it is likely to be taken up as soon as the Secretariat reopens in the summer capital,” he said. “In fact I am in favour of appointment of maximum coaches and instructors in the State Sports Council for its betterment, but then there are certain financial implications which cannot be ruled out,” the secretary of the State Sports Council said.
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Students exhort people to save birds
Jammu, May 5 The endeavour was a part of the Dogra Sadar Sabha’s (DSS) annual event - ‘Save the Birds’. Students were carrying placards and posters with messages like ‘save birds to save ecology’, ‘break cages ’, ‘free the birds’, ‘let them fly’ etc. Nadima Malik, a class 10 student from Dogra Higher Secondary School, said, “We took a round of Janana Park and the adjoining lanes. We have installed earthen pots on various trees and distributed the same to people, who have ensured that they will daily fill them with water for birds.” Anuj, a class IX student, said, “I love birds, but unfortunately we are not able to hear their chirping in the city. We can find many birds in the rural areas, but most of them have been vanished from the city. This little effort can definitely make a difference as most of the birds die in summers due to thirst.” Gulchain Singh Charak, senior Congress leader and president of the DSS, said they had started to observe the day in May 2010 to revive the culture of providing drinking water to birds. “It has been a part of the Dogra culture that we place earthen pots tied with ropes on all the sides. We call these pots ‘shikay’. These are routinely filled with water to procure drinking water to the birds, but unfortunately the tradition is no more visible in urban culture, which has ultimately resulted in vanishing of many bird species from Jammu city,” he added. He said the effort was a requisite and practical move in the direction to save birds as their extinction was a major threat to mankind. Jasbir Singh, principal, Unique Higher Secondary School, Gadhigarh, who was participating in the event for first time, said involving schoolchildren in the campaign was an appreciable move. He said, “It is unfortunate that a majority of birds, who are close to human habitations, die due to the unavailability of drinking water. I hope we could generate a sense of responsibility among citizens towards other species. Pouring a few cups of water daily can go a long way towards saving the birds.” No sparrows,
parrots around
Guldev Raj, who has been working for the preservation of bird species, said it was unfortunate that birds, including sparrows and parrots, are almost nowhere to be found in the city. He said, “The major reason I find about the extinction of sparrows from city is the lack of interest of the city dwellers. Earlier, some spots were intentionally left for sparrows to let them set up their nests in houses. People used to keep earthen pots filled with water and some food for the birds. Now, the tradition has almost gone”. “I am not an authority, but it is also believed that excessive wire and cable networks have affected the birds,” he added. |
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Jammu, May 5 Nodal officer Haji Qayoom, Prof BA Shah and Peer Siraj-ud-Din, besides other officials, were also present during the screening of the 24-member Santosh Trophy Football Team. Presently, the team is undergoing a coaching camp at the same venue. The final 20-member team will be declared on May 7. The Santosh Trophy for national football championship is slated to be held in Traphu, Cuttack, Odisha from May 10. JK team will open its campaign against Arunachal Pradesh on May 13 and then take on Maharashtra on May 15. JK Police coach Ranjit Singh has been appointed as the coach of the team, while the first international footballer of the state, Muhammad Shafi Nari, has been appointed as the manager. — TNS
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Kotli Tanda school lift kho-kho title
Jammu, May 5 In Akhnoor zone, St Francis Higher Secondary School defeated High School of Maira Mandrian by 7 points in U-14 category and one point in U-17 boys’ kabaddi finals, respectively. The U-14 kho-kho title went to Middle School, Daskal, while High School of Kotli Tanda was the runner-up. In Jammu zone, the competitions were held in the disciplines of kho-kho, kabaddi and volleyball under the supervision of Ram Kumar Sharma, ZPEO, Jammu. In Gandhi Nagar zone, the competitions were held under the supervision of ZPEO Kiran Jyoti. Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, trounced High School, Digyana, in U-17 boys’ kabaddi. High School, Channi, defeated High School, Kaluchak. — TNS
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Sports dept organises
inter-school tourney
Jammu, May 5 In U-17 kabaddi, Government High School, Sarwal, trounced Government High School, Resham Ghar, while Government High School, Gole Panjpeer, got the better of SRML. Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Bakshi Nagar, had last laugh against Delhi Public School. Government High School, Muthi, toppled Government High School, Nowabad. In U-14 kabaddi, GMS Sarwal thrashed GMS old Janipur. GMS Kachchi Chhawni prevailed over GMS Patoli Mangotrian, while Activity Public School, Janipur, dispatched GMS Bakshi Nagar. In U-17 volleyball, KC International School prevailed over GHSS, Muthi. Model Academy, BC Road, subdued St Peter High School, BC Road. In kho-kho (boys) SOS emerged victorious. GHS, Nowabad, edged out DPS. GHS, Janipur, eased past GHS, Bhagwati Nagar. GHSS, Sarwal, defeated SRML. In U-14 kho-kho, GHS, Rajpura, overwhelmed GHS, top
Sherkhanian. |
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Improve patient care: Minister
Jammu, May 5 “Government will not hesitate to initiate stringent action against those indulging in indiscipline or negligence towards their noble profession,” he maintained. Chib took stock of various services being extended to the ailing in associated hospitals and directed those concerned to devise an effective mechanism to deal with heavy rush of patients in summer season. He also asked the administrative units of GMC and hospitals to redouble their efforts for smooth and people-friendly functioning of health institutions, which is a pre-requisite for establishing a healthy society. Deliberating upon the non-functioning of several sophisticated diagnostic equipment at times, the minister made it clear that all necessary measures should be taken to put them in place on priority basis. He also directed the medical authorities to ensure that all the necessary equipment is being serviced and checked for proper working. Chib also expressed dismay over presence of a large number of attendants, having the potential of creating avoidable obstacles in treating the patients and jeopardising the efforts of maintaining health and hygiene. He directed the hospital administrations to regulate the inflow of visitors so that the patients and hospital staff is not disturbed in any way. He also reviewed the security scenario in hospitals and asked the SP Headquarter Shailendar Singh to ensure that adequate security personnel are deployed in hospitals for better management.
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Amway marks 26 per cent growth in J&K
Jammu, May 5 He said early this year, Amway launched a range of lifestyle nutritional supplements designed to promote healthy ageing under its global vitamin and dietary supplement brand Nutrilite. He said, “A healthy population is a pre-requisite for the economic growth. The launch of healthy ageing category under this brand is in line with our strategy to strengthen wellness portfolio and to provide a
wide array of choice of nutritional supplements to different segments of population.” |
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Ashok Sodhi Memorial Cricket Tourney Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 5 Chasing 132 runs to win, Cantt Club cruised to victory in 13.3 overs, losing four wickets in the process. Sunil played a knock of 40 runs studded with five hits to the fence. Vijay Dogra scored 34 runs. Parshant also played a cameo of 14 runs. For Bahu XI, Tushar, Raju, Nasir and Sunny, shared a wicket each. Earlier, Kashmir Cricket Club (KCC) and Sree Cricket Club (SCC) have entered into the quarterfinals after scripting thumping wins over their respective opponents. In the first match played, KCC thrashed Shashi Pal Cricket Club (SPCC) by 8 wickets. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, SPCC accumulated 107 runs in the stipulated 20 overs for the loss of 8 wickets. Sonu was the top scorer with 50 runs, while Amanpreet and Vishwajeet contributed 13 and 10 runs, respectively. Leg spinner Tarun was the chief wrecker for KCC, who got three wickets by conceding 27 runs. Amandeep, Satish and Rahul Mussa, clinched two wickets each. KCC’s Shahbaz played a power-packed innings of 48 runs off just 20 balls. Amrit Pal also made a useful contribution of 25 runs with two boundaries. Shahbaz was declared the man of the match. In another match, SCC toppled Patel Cricket Club (PCC) by 29 runs. SCC scored 150 runs in 20 overs with Sahil and Deepak Dogra contributing 43 and 29 runs, respectively. Ashok also chipped in with 21 runs. Varinder took two wickets for PCC, while Anchal, Balbir and Madan, fetched a wicket apiece. PCC in reply could manage 121 runs in their allotted quota of overs. Sunny Choudhary was the top scorer with 27 runs, while Shiva, Madan and Deepak contributed 17, 13 and 11 runs, respectively. For SCC, Varun took two wickets, whereas, Deepak Dogra, Qadir, Sahil and Arif got one wicket each. Sahil of SCC was adjudged as man of the match. The matches were officiated by Sadiq Hussain Malik, Sham Singh Langeh, Vijay Kumar, Sanjay Pradhan and Ajay Sharma.
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The Jammu Development Authority’s (JDA) modernisation plan for the general bus stand has hit a roadblock, as 124 shopkeepers have refused to move their shops.
