The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Weak monsoon spells misery
Both Jammu, Kashmir regions record 40% less rain so far; farm activities hit
Arteev Sharma/TNS

Jammu, June 16
The delayed and weak monsoon has caused a sense of despair among farmers across the state, particularly in kandi belts. It has also led to a rise in prices of vegetables following a drastic decline in their production in the state and other parts of the country.

Going by the statistics and forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the state will witness “below or near normal” monsoon. So far, the Jammu region has recorded 40 per cent less rainfall, while the rains are still deficient by 38 per cent in the Kashmir valley since the onset of monsoon on July 1 this year.

Met officials said the Jammu region had recorded 117.8 mm rainfall against the normal 197.4 mm from July 1 to July 15. “The rainfall is deficient by 40 per cent. Last year, Jammu had recorded 688.8 mm rainfall till July 31, which was 74 per cent more than the normal (388.4 mm).

The Kashmir valley too has witnessed scanty rainfall so far this year. The actual rainfall recorded in the Valley so far is 38.2 mm, which is deficient by 38 per cent this year.”

The IMD director, J&K, Sonam Lotus, said monsoon had remained deficient so far and it would remain weak for the next few days keeping in view the prevailing climatic conditions.

“We don’t expect moderate to heavy downpour for the next few days. The monsoon was active in the first week of July, but it has not been much vigorous thereafter. The state has witnessed a decline in seasonal rainfall and it may affect the farm activities considerably,” he said.

The Chief Scientist, Agrometeorology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, M K Khushu, said if the prevailing conditions continued for some more days, it would have an overall impact on crops. “In some areas, less rainfall has also affected the germination of seeds. We expect rainfall in the next few days and the situation will improve,” he said.

Expressing serious concern over the long dry spell followed by a weak monsoon, Tajinder Singh, president of the J&K Kissan Council, said the prevailing conditions would adversely affect the production of foodgrains and vegetables.

“Udhampur, Reasi and other kandi belts of the state are badly affected due to poor rainfall. The production of vegetables has fallen to 20 per cent in these areas, while the dry spell has hit hard the cultivation of maize crop. As the density of rainfall is low this year, it will also affect the production of rice as some varieties of paddy are dependent on rain,” Singh said.

He disclosed that paddy plantation had also been affected following deficient rains. “The farmers have failed to transplant paddy crop due to shortage of water in their fields, especially in kandi belts. We demand that agriculture research should be done according to climate change. The farmers of kandi belts should be given the benefits of National Mission on Micro Irrigation,” he said.

Scanty rain

The Jammu region has recorded 117.8 mm rainfall against the normal 197.4 mm from July 1 to July 15. The rainfall recorded in the Valley is 38.2 mm, which is deficient by 38 per cent this year.

Udhampur, Reasi and other kandi belts of the state are badly affected due to poor rainfall. *The production of vegetables has come down to 20 per cent in these areas, while the dry spell has hit hard the cultivation of maize crop.

As the density of rainfall is low this year, it will also affect the production of rice.

Multi-crore cricket scam
Culprits will be brought to justice: Farooq
Vikas Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 16
Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) president Dr Farooq Abdullah has said culprits involved in the multi-crore cricket scam will be brought to justice. He admitted that the ongoing investigation by the in-house advisory (probe) committee into the multi-crore cricket scam was slow.

Dr Farooq was addressing mediapersons today after inaugurating Parvez Qureshi Memorial Invitational Cricket Tournament at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) Ground. “The investigation into the scam is going on and the culprits will not be spared at any cost,” the JKCA president said.

He said the huge amount of money involved in the game was responsible for the present mess. “Since money has come into the JKCA, the situation has gone bad,” said Dr Farooq.

He said, “Everyone one wants a share of the pie, but remember they will definitely be exposed.”

Manzoor Wazir, JKCA treasurer, who was also present at the inauguration of the tournament, told The Tribune, “The JKCA president seeks a collective effort from all office-bearers not only to help the association get out of the crisis, but also to improve its image which has been tarnished due to unearthing of the scam.”

Manzoor said Dr Farooq Abdullah had announced to convene a meeting of the working committee soon to decide about the future strategy. “The JKCA chief has categorically stated that the ongoing probe by the in-house panel will take time to identify the main culprits. He has decided to convene a meeting of the working committee to work out a plan to recover funds that the association has lost in the scam,” Wazir said.

The multi-crore cricket scam came to the fore two months ago after it was found that JKCA officials were running a number of parallel accounts in Khanyar and Air Cargo branches of the JK Bank along with the original account. The funds for the promotion of cricket were diverted to the fake accounts and subsequently siphoned off by them. Following the pressure, the JKCA president constituted an in-house committee to conduct a thorough probe.

Dr Farooq has recently constituted a 12-member province-level committee (for both Jammu and Kashmir province with six members each) to resume cricketing activities in the state.

Members of the Kashmir Province Committee include Abdul Rouf, ML Nehru, Majid Drabu, Shiban Lal, Iqbal Shah and player representative Nayeem Ahmad Bakshi. The Jammu Province Committee comprises Romesh Mahajan, Mehboob Iqbal, Brijender Singh, Jang Bahadur, Tilak Singh and player representative Nirmal Singh.

SC: For district cadre posts, anyone from state eligible
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 16
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court today held that no permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir could be denied appointment for district cadre posts on the basis of the fact that the candidate was not residing in the particular district.

“It cannot be said that a candidate who is a permanent resident of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not eligible to be considered for a district cadre post merely because he is not a permanent resident of the particular district for which the post has been advertised,” a Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya ruled.

The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board, Jammu, had refused to interview a person, Vinod Kumar Koul, for the post of Laboratory Assistant in Udhampur who had applied responding to an advertisement on March 29, 1996.

A Single Judge Bench and a Division Bench of the J-K High Court had rejected the pleas of the candidate, holding that only the candidates belonging to Udhampur district could be considered for the post and that the petition being a permanent resident of Anantnag district was not entitled to be considered for appointment in Udhampur.

The SC pointed out that under the J-K Subordinate Services Recruitment Rules, 1992, the Board was required to club the vacancies of the district cadre referred to it in a calendar year, advertise the same at one go and invite applications from the residents of J-K without prescribing the conditions of domicile.

“There is nothing in the language of Rule 13(i) or any other Rule from which it can be inferred that for the district cadre post only a permanent resident of the particular district can apply.…In our view, the administrative decision of the Board, which is ex facie inconsistent with the plain language of Rule 13(i), could not have been relied upon for determining eligibility of the appellant for appointment as Laboratory Assistant in Udhampur district,” the SC said.

Both the Benches of the HC committed a “serious error” by negating the appellant’s challenge to the decision of the Board’s Selection Committee, and “that too overlooking the fact that at the time of submission of application, the appellant was residing in Udhampur district, which is an integral part of the state of J-K,” the SC ruled.

The apex court directed the Board to interview him and declare the result within four weeks and forward the same to the appointing authority within the next two weeks. Another four weeks could be taken for appointing him as the lab assistant and the petitioner would be entitled to have his seniority fixed in accordance with the rules.

Governor reviews sanitation measures along yatra routes
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 16
Governor NN Vohra here today reviewed the enforcement of the cleanliness and sanitation arrangements put in place at all camps and on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes for the ongoing Amarnath yatra.

At a high-level meeting with Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora and other senior officials, the Governor discussed the urgent need for identifying short and long-term measures for the protection of environment and ecology of the yatra area. He observed that the environment and ecology would be protected by ensuring the regular collection and treatment of all wastes. He stressed the use of plastic shedders for disposal of plastic bottles and other plastic materials and segregation of waste materials for appropriate treatment. He said the yatris need to be repeatedly reminded not to carry polythene bags and instead use jute bags which have been made available at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps.

The Governor, who is also the Chairman of the SASB, said after the culmination of this year’s yatra, a sanitation drive would be launched to clean up all camp sites and tracks of all sorts of garbage. He asked the CEO and Secretary Tourism to examine the viability of installation of biodegradable toilets while planning the arrangements for the yatra 2013, besides formulate a detailed master plan for putting in place arrangements for the next yatra keeping in view the conservation of environment and ecology.

Reviewing the camp-wise and route-wise sanitation arrangements, the Governor directed the Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authorities to ensure cleanliness along the tracks and around the camps. He also directed the CEO, Shrine Board, to intensify the cleanliness and sanitation measures within the camps and on the Baltal-Brarimarg-Sangam track. He said he along with the Tourism Minister would soon visit the yatra area to review the results of the special sanitation drive.

Meanwhile, on the directions of the Governor and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a high-level team led by Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, SASB, visited the yatra camps at Nunwan, Sheshnag, Panjtarni, holy cave and Baltal today to review medical facilities made available to the pilgrims.

The Health Minister and members of his team inspected all medical aid centres established at the camps, checked the number of doctors and para-medical staff on duty and the availability of medicines, essential diagnostic and treatment equipment and oxygen cylinders.

The Health Minister stressed the usefulness of the state Health Department and the Shrine Board in continuing the campaign to enhance awareness of do’s and don’ts among the yatris.

Airlift bodies of seven yatris killed in Ramban accident

Srinagar, July 16
Governor NN Vohra has said the bodies of seven yatris who died in a bus accident in Ramban on Saturday, should be sent by air to Darbhanga, Bihar.

Accordingly, the CEO of SASB, Navin K Choudhary, asked the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pradeep Gupta, and Additional Chief Executive Officer, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Mandeep K Bhandari, to coordinate and make all necessary arrangements in this regard. Bhandari has also been directed to provide all other essential assistance to the kith and kin of the bereaved families. — TNS

Govt teachers’ protest march foiled in Srinagar
M Aamir Khan/TNS

Srinagar, July 16
The “Lal Chowk Chalo” programme of government schoolteachers of the Kashmir valley was foiled by the police here today.

A large number of teachers under the aegis of the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) gathered outside Exhibition Ground here in the morning and raised slogans demanding fulfillment of their demands.

They were led by JKTF chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani. After protesting teachers tried to match towards the city centre, Lal Chowk, the police resorted to cane-charge and sprayed dyed water to disperse them.

While the police managed to disperse the protesters, they regrouped again after sometime, following which several JKTF members, including Wani, were detained. The protests and subsequent police action disrupted traffic in the busy Jehangir Chowk area for some time.

A JKTF spokesman condemned the police action on their “peaceful” protests. The JKTF demands include inclusion of five years of contractual service of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in the service book and regularisation of education volunteers after seven years of service.

Governor briefed on Education Mission
Tribune News Service

Additional Secretary, MHRD, NK Sinha during his meeting with Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Srinagar, July 16
A team of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) comprising Additional Secretary NK Sinha and senior consultant of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology Pradeep Koul called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

Sinha briefed the Governor about various components of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology, which will be implemented by various universities and educational institutions in the state. Under the Mission, the University of Kashmir is developing e-content for various graduate-level courses and improving e-connectivity between the varsity and its affiliated colleges.

The Governor urged MHRD experts to focus on the actual utilisation of significant opportunities, which would be produced by the mission. He said there should be a semester-wise review of results achieved by universities and affiliated colleges with a system of recognising and rewarding teachers, who take the lead and produce results.

In another meeting, Joint Secretary (Kashmir), Union Ministry of Home Affairs, K Skandan briefed the Governor about various matters relating to internal security management, including the security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath yatra. Issues relating to some development programmes were also discussed during the meeting.

Education holds key to women empowerment: Nighat Basu
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 16
When Prof Nighat Basu was appointed the first ever woman dean of the Faculty of Education at Kashmir University (KU) earlier this week, not many would have thought it was possible a few years back.

The writing on the wall is clear. The signs of change can now be seen more evidently in the Valley when it comes to women taking over jobs which hitherto were considered male bastion.

“When I was a student in 1980, there were just a couple of female teachers here. But now one can find so many female teachers and departmental heads. I am sure more women will take charge as deans of other faculties soon,” said Prof Basu.

While talking to The Tribune, Basu said her new job profile was indeed challenging but she was committed to give her best.

Asked if women were still facing discrimination in Kashmir and why it took so long for the KU to get its first female Dean for Education, Prof Basu said, “The literacy rate among women was not so high before. With the passage of time, the literacy improved and we see more women at top posts. Women have the necessary managerial skills and can face any challenge.”

Talk about her priorities at her new office, Basu says her main objective is to ensure improvement in literacy rate in Kashmir, especially among the women. Admitting that her faculty may not be directly involved in doing the same, she said, “I will spread the message through students who come here from far flung areas of the state. If they are guided properly, it will encourage others which will have a bearing on literacy rate for sure.”

Basu says she has identified few ‘loopholes’ in the functioning of the education faculty which she wants to improve and she has been assured full support by Vice Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad in this regard.

“Areas of problem are everywhere but the previous deans have done a commendable job,” she added.

Basu has also worked as the director at KU’s State Resource Centre besides conducting a number of extension programmes on education on national level. She has written a book titled "Adult Education: Trends and Strategies" and has several research papers to her credit.

Farooq concerned over delay in resolving Kashmir issue
Agrees with Obama on bilateral solution to Kashmir conflict
M Aamir Khan/TNS

Srinagar, July 16
Even as Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah made clear his disappointment over the delay in the resolution of the Kashmir issue, he agreed with US President Barack Obama’s view that Kashmir was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

“Kashmir issue has to be resolved by India and Pakistan… we knew from the beginning what Obama said… but we are dying and suffering… any delay in the resolution of the issue will increase our suffering,” Abdullah said after inaugurating a local T-20 cricket tournament here today.

Obama had yesterday ruled out any third-party intervention on Kashmir while stating that the issue had to be resolved bilaterally by India and Pakistan.

Responding to the US President's concerns over the "deteriorating" investment climate in India, Abdullah said the coalition government at the Centre had “some compulsions” as a few of its partners were not interested in opening up the insurance and banking sectors for foreign direct investment (FDI).

“In too many sectors, such as retail, India limits or prohibits foreign investment that is necessary to create jobs in both our countries, and which is necessary for India to continue to grow,” Obama had reportedly said in an interview in Washington. Abdullah said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would have to take “harsh steps” for the development of insurance and banking sectors.

Regarding the multi-crore embezzlement scam in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam that had come to the fore earlier this year, the Union Minister assured that the guilty would be brought to book. Farooq is also the president of the JKCA and the ruling National Conference party.

Devotees throng Shiv Khori shrine
Devinder Thakur

Shiv Khori (Ransoo), July 16
Devotees thronged the Shiv Khori cave shrine nestled in the Shivalik hills in Reasi district on ‘Sankrantik’ Monday of the holy month of ‘Saawan’. They offered ‘bail’ tree leaves, milk and water to the Lord Shiva, to whom the month of Saawan is dedicated.

One could barely find space at the holy cave shrine as over 20,000 devotees paid obeisance by 12 o clock today.

“Mondays have special significance during Saawan,” said Pandit Subash Sharma, priest of the Shiv Khori shrine. Monday, in general, is a day dedicated to the Lord Shiva. During Saawan, Mondays are believed to be very auspicious. Another reason is that the Lord Shiva is in need of cool and calm things during Saawan.

“During ‘Samudra Manthan’ (churning of oceans), 14 types of rubies came out. Thirteen types of rubies were distributed among Gods and demons. The last thing was a noxious poison called ‘halahal’. The moment it came out, it started spreading very fast in the air, thus posing a threat to all life forms on earth. The Lord Shiva came forward and consumed ‘halahal’ and stored it in his throat,” Pandit Subash Sharma said.

“But halahal caused inconvenience to Shiva as well. In order to reduce the strong effect of the poison, the Lord Shiva wore crescent moon on his head. Thereafter, all Gods started offering the Ganges water to the Lord Shiva to lessen the effect of the poison. Since this happened in the month of Saawan, it became a tradition to offer water to the deity during this month.”

Rs 59.8-cr outlay for Srinagar district okayed
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 16
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah approved a Rs 59.80 crore annual plan for Srinagar district for 2012-13 today.

The announcement was made soon after the Srinagar District Development Board meeting chaired by Omar here.

“As a result of this decision, the overall availability of resources to Srinagar district for development purposes will be maintained at the level of last year,” an official said.

The Chief Minister said additionality wherever required would be considered during the review of the plan expenditures in November-December this year.

He said during the current year two important bridges at Padshahi Bagh and Saidpora areas of the city would be completed by the ERA while work on the Jahangir Chowk Flyover will start from November-December this year. He also said Rawalpora, Channapora, Tengpora, Alochibagh and other adjacent areas would be brought under the drainage improvement programme. A project was being launched in this regard this year.

The Chief Minister said the state would have financial availability of Rs 8,000 crore for the current year, which includes a Rs 7,300 crore annual plan and a Rs 700 crore Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan.

Addressing the meeting, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, who is also Member of Parliament from Srinagar, announced Rs 10 lakh each from his Parliament Member’s Constituency Fund for all legislators of Srinagar district for taking up smaller works in their Assembly constituencies.

Umang Narulla new Chief Electoral Officer
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 16
The government today appointed Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Umang Narulla as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state in place of B R Sharma, who is also holding the charge of Home Commissioner. The General Administration Department (GAD), headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has issued a formal order in this regard.

The government also transferred Sheikh Ejaz Iqbal, Commissioner Secretary, ARI and Trainings Department, and posted him as Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, with effect from the date Narulla assumes charge as Chief Electoral Officer.

A quest for art in strife-torn Kashmir
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 16
Even as cultural and arts-related activities have always taken a backseat after the eruption of militancy in Kashmir, the younger generation of artists does not get many opportunities to exhibit their skills. But an ongoing exhibition, “Quest for the finest artist of Kashmir”, has provided a platform for several young artists, whose works are crying for attention and encouragement from the government as well as the society at large

“The main aim of holding this five-day exhibition is community development (for artistes). We also aim to unearth, rediscover, revive and promote the immense art talent in the turmoil and conflict-ridden state. More than 40 artists in the age group of 14-25 have displayed their works. The response has been good as a decent number of people come here daily,” said Syed Mujtaba Rizvi, Managing Director of Kashmir Arts Quest (KAQ), which has organised the exhibition at the Sangarmal City Centre here that started on July 14.

The KAQ, however, has not pinned much hope on the government, saying it had tied up with several international organisations like Kappa Pi and The Do Write Campaign for the promotion of arts.

Rizvi said art gets “hijacked” once given government patronage, a thought seconded by a young artist, Owais Asif Khan, who also has displayed his work at the exhibition. “The artist then may not be able to express himself or herself freely,” Owais maintained.

And so far no ministers or other higher-ups have bothered to pay a visit to the exhibition. “But artists and the literary community have come forward and they have been paying regular visits. We have also displayed works of internationally renowned artists like Masood Hussain, Gayoor Hassan, Arshid Sauleh, Naushad Gayoor, Yousuf Naqshbandi and others. It is an honour for the younger artists as they got a platform to display their works along with these great artists,” Rizvi added.

Besides paintings, the exhibition has also provided a platform for young local photographers and sculptors.

Cops collect DNA samples from Laila’s kin
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 16
The Mumbai crime branch yesterday collected the DNA samples of two family members of Pakistan-born Bollywood starlet Laila Khan to match them with six human skeletons recovered from the Igatpuri farmhouse of the actress.

Meanwhile, Shakir Hussain, a close aide of Parvez Iqbal Tak, the main accused in the case, is believed to have escaped either to Himachal Pradesh or Chandigarh.

“It appears he (Shakir Hussain) has escaped either to Himachal Pradesh or Chandigarh. Though we are still conducting raids on suspected hideouts in Jammu and Kashmir, but so far we have not been successful,” DIG, Ramban-Doda-Kishtwar range, Garib Dass told The Tribune.

Shakir, who had been employed as a watchman at the Igatpuri farmhouse of the starlet by Tak, had helped him in murdering Laila Khan and her family members on February 8, 2011.

“Ever since Shakir’s involvement in the murders surfaced, it appears that he has escaped to Himachal Pradesh because Doda has a road, which connects to Chamba in Himachal Pradesh,” said Dass.

The DIG, however, ruled out the possibilities of Shakir escaping to Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Had he escaped to Pakistan or PoK, it would have surely come to our notice,” said the DIG.

Police sources divulged that in case the Mumbai crime branch, which is looking for Shakir, to put together missing links in the murder case, seek the help of the Kishtwar police then the latter may detain Shakir’s family.

Shakir, it may be mentioned here, belongs to Gandoh village of Doda district and has married a woman from Tak’s native Bonjwa village in the neighbouring Kishtwar district.

Meanwhile, a team of officers of the Mumbai crime branch is expected to visit Kishtwar to trace Shakir.

“They are expected to visit Kishtwar. In case they require our assistance, the same will be provided to them,” said the DIG.

Meanwhile, Tak, who had married Laila’s mother Saleena Patel in 2010, has reportedly told his interrogators that he only took Rs 35,000 from the starlet’s purse on the fateful night.

He also claimed he did not find any gold ornaments in Laila’s purse or at her Igatpuri farmhouse and Oshiwara flat.

Tak has reportedly told the Mumbai crime branch that he killed Laila and her family over its un-Islamic lifestyle and decision to shift to Dubai permanently.

Tak claims that the robbery was not his motive and that he didn’t even remove gold ornaments from the bodies of the victims. He along with Hussain had brutally killed Laila Khan and five other members of her family before dumping their bodies in a pit dug for constructing an underground water reservoir.

The six skeletons recovered from the farmhouse are believed to be of Saleena Patel, Laila Khan alias, Reshma Patel, siblings Zara Patel, Imran Patel, Asmina Patel and cousin Sagir alias, Tilu.

Breakaway employees’ factions to announce protest plan after Eid
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 16
The breakaway employees’ factions, which have distanced themselves from the agreement made between the government and the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), today said they would announce their protest programme after Eid-ul-Fitr.

The State Government Employees Joint Action Committee (SEJAC) and the Employees Joint Action Committee-R (EJAC-R) held a joint convention here where they formed an 18-member Central Committee (CC) to chalk out its next plan of action.

Central Committee member Ishtiaq Baigh told The Tribune that the committee would announce its state-wide agitation programme after Eid. JCC leaders had called off their protest programmes recently after entering into an agreement with the government after being assured that a decision on their demands would be announced by September 30.

However, the breakaway employees’ factions had called the agreement a “joke”, saying a similar agreement had been made last year as well. “No new decision has been taken….the meeting arranged by the leaders was nothing but to weaken the employees’ movement and confuse them,” SEJAC spokesman Ajaz Khan
had said.

He was referring to the agreement made between the government and JCC leaders in September last year. According to the agreement, a decision regarding the employees’ demands was to be announced by March 31, 2012. However, employees then decided to resume protests, saying the government had “failed” to honour the agreement made with them.

The employees’ demands include release of arrears recommended by the sixth pay commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various government departments.