Jammu, July 18
Contradicting the state government’s repeated claims of giving top priority to the health sector, healthcare services in the rural hospitals are in bad shape, with the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) grappling with shortage of doctors and lack of adequate infrastructure.

Pregnant women in the rural areas are forced to travel long distances and that too in critical condition for delivery in urban institutions. Official data accessed by an RTI activist, Balwinder Singh, has painted a grim picture vis-à-vis functioning of the PHCs in Jammu district.

The RTI reply revealed that 11 out of 24 health institutions in the district didn’t register even a single child delivery case last year. Though the Health Department didn’t cite any reason for it, sources said the healthcare facilities are still way below standards, especially on account of shortage of doctors, paramedical staff and lack of adequate infrastructure.

“As many as 11 PHCs and Ayurvedic Dispensaries (AD), including PHC Chhiba, PHC Sungal, PHC Jindrah, AD Salehar, AD Chowadhi, AD Gangyal, AD Pindi Charka, Rajiv Gandhi Hospital Jammu, all sub-centres in block Dansal and Bishnah registered no child delivery last year. The PHC Rehal also recorded just three deliveries for the period,” the data said.

Balwinder Singh said some of these villages are located about 50 km from urban health institutions. “People are forced to shift pregnant woman to city hospitals due to the non-availability of doctors, lack of infrastructure and labour rooms or operating theatres (OTs) in their village health institutions,” he said.

He further said poor healthcare services in the PHCs had led to overcrowding in urban hospitals. “The state government is contemplating a strong referral policy (to stop shifting of patients) keeping in view overcrowding in urban institutions and to check the death rate of infants,” he said.

Dr Arun Sharma, Medical Superintendent of Government Hospital Sarwal, where 1,182 deliveries, including 378 Caesarean sections, took place last year, pointed out that a strong system (infrastructure and other facilities) should be put in place before formulating any referral policy.

“The rural health institutions still lack qualified doctors, round-the-clock healthcare facilities and labour rooms which forces people to move towards the city hospitals. The referral policy will serve no purpose till the government put in place a strong system at the village level,” Dr Sharma added.

Sources said around 9,000 posts of doctor and paramedical staff were still lying vacant in various health institutions across the state. Out of these, 1,500 posts are lying vacant in gazetted rank, 5,800 in non-gazetted rank, including paramedical staff and 1,761 of Class IV posts, including nursing orderlies.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma admitted that the PHCs were facing shortage of doctors and infrastructure. “About 76 per cent health institutions are still functioning in rented accommodations. These institutions also face shortage of doctors and infrastructure. We have submitted a comprehensive plan of Rs 2,600 crore to the Centre for upgradation of healthcare services in the state,” he said.

Jammu, July 18
There is no respite in sight from scorching heat at least for three more days as there are no signs of monsoon till July 20. This will add to the miseries of people who are already facing 40 per cent shortfall in the rainfall.

The weatherman has predicted that the monsoon trough are running northwards parallel to lesser Himalayas and as soon as it starts running in the south direction, there are no chances of rainfall in Jammu.

The seasonal rainfall from July 1 to July 17 has been below normal across the Jammu region, and the condition is worst in Ramban where it is 60 per cent less than normal and in the Jammu city, it is 44 per cent below normal, leading to widespread damage to crops and health of the people.

The Chief Scientist, Agrometeorology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, MK Khushu, said, “No rain is expected till July 20 and even after that there may be some rainfall in the Jammu region which will add to the scorching heat. The weather may get cloudy at times but there will be no relief from the heat and mercury will keep on increasing”.

“The break in the monsoon will have a heavy toll on farmers. If the condition persists for four or five more days, it can have devastating effects. Those who have sown their crops, less rainfall can damage the crops and where sowing is yet to be done, the dry weather will play a spoilsport.”

The break in the rainfall has not only affected the farmers only but the common people are also suffering from the scorching heat in the absence of basic amenities.

Shweta Sharma, a housewife of Janipur said, “There is no respite from the soaring temperature and lack of basic amenities is adding to the miseries. There are frequent power cuts which are giving us sleepless nights”.

Jammu, July 18
Despite facing delay of more than five years, Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) installed by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) at districts headquarters are preventing disasters in the recent past.

Officials said nearly 22 AWS installed at various parts of the state are helping the administration to get real time information to deal with heavy snowfall, rainfall and other changes in weather pattern, which affect the life of thousands of people.

These sophisticated machines, designed to disseminate information about snowfall, inclement weather, avalanche threats, heavy or scant rainfall, had facilitated the administration to create early warning system. Stations provide hourly weather data pertaining to temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, rainfall and solar radiation.

The project was supposed to be completed in the year 2007, as it was started immediately after snow tsunami in the year 2005. Snow tsunami led to the loss of many lives and destroyed properties worth crores of rupees.

Earlier, the administration was dependent on the two stations of the IMD based in Jammu and Srinagar and agro-met stations of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences (SKUAST-Jammu and Srinagar) for weather forecast.

In Jammu region, these stations have been installed at Doda, Kishtwar, Samba, Ramban, Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch.

“They have greatly helped administration in dealing with heavy snowfall, rainfall and its aftermath to prepare daily reports which was earlier not possible. It provided authorities major early warning mechanism,” said an official.

Dr MK Khushu, senior weather scientist at SKUAST-Jammu, said, “We have another project sponsored by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which allows the linking of these machines with satellite, so that the entire information can be dispatched to a central grid, allowing officials to take decision to avoid disasters. But the project is still at planning stage”.

Jammu, July 18
With new academic session having started, the delay in monsoon is not only impacting weather, but also the health of school-going children who are most susceptible to water and air-borne diseases.

In the first two weeks of new session, schoolchildren are complaining of various ailments such as jaundice, typhoid, diarrhea and viral fever. Children in the age group of 3-17 are most susceptible to these ailments.

“The water that I carry from home finishes by mid-day in school. Then, I have to depend on water coolers in school. Due to this, I am suffering from typhoid as the water in the school filters is contaminated due to lack of regular servicing,” said Mohit Sharma, a 13-year-old student.

Dr Arun, Superintendent, Government Medical Hospital Sarwal,said, “The most common ailment in schoolchildren is viral hepatitis, also known as typhoid. Since most of the children remain away from home during peak hours of the day, they complain of dehydration and giddiness. Most children tend to drink from water coolers at their school premises which is not a hygienic source of water. Canteen food is the second cause of stomach-related ailments in schoolchildren.”

Jammu, July 18
It is not only the rising prices of vegetables which is worrying the city residents but rumours of chemically treated vegetables and fruits being sold in the localities of Bhagwati Nagar, Durga Nagar, Bhori, Gangyal, Janipur and Subhash Nagar has left the people panicky.

According to residents of Janipur and other localities, numbers of vegetable sellers are allegedly using chemically treated water on the vegetables and fruits to make them look fresh.

“I have observed in the market that many vegetables are given artificial colour to make them look fresh. I think the administration should take up proper checking at the mandis which supply farm produce to the people,” said Kuldeep Kumar, a resident of Krishna Nagar.

People have also stopped buying vegetables like bitter gourd, brinjal, ladyfinger, cucumber and pumpkin from small mandis in their localities and are looking for the farmers who come up with their produce directly to the localities from villages.

“It is better to buy from them rather than going to the mandis as there is no guarantee of freshness of the vegetables there,” said a city resident.

Raju, a vegetable seller, said, “Rumours have created panic among the customers as they now closely watch items which they think have been chemically treated.”

Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner KL Khajirua said they would cross-check the allegation. “People should inform us whenever they observe such malpractices. We will immediately book the culprits under the Municipal Act after receiving a complaint,” said the Commissioner.

He said the JMC had already launched a campaign against the adulteration of food items and during the past few weeks they had destroyed a large quality of food items and fined traders.

Jammu, July 18
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, congratulated ‘The School of Biotechnology’ and the Department of Zoology for being awarded SAP-(DRS) funding for five years by the University Grant Commission (UGC).

The Special Assistance Programme (SAP) scheme is one of the prestigious programme of the UGC, whereby they identify and support the university departments that have the potential to undertake quality teaching and research in various disciplines. The grants are meant for the purchase of scientific equipment, fellowships and recurring expenditure.

The VC said the SAP programme would help in the enhancement of infrastructural facilities of these departments and would help in developing quality research programmes.

The School of Biotechnology has earned many coveted recognitions like funding from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and FIST support programme from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.

Poonch, July 18
Due to the heavy influx of pilgrims at Shri Buddha Amarnath, the administration and the local committees have failed to manage the pilgrimage round the year.

Locals have raised the demand for the constitution of a Shrine board for Shri Buddha Amarnath on the Pattern of Amarnath , Shri Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori .The Pilgrims in general and people of Poonch in particular demanded the constitution of Shrine Board for Shri Buddha Amar Nath.

Though, the district administration, Dashnami Akhara, Poonch, and Shri Buddha Amarnath Committee have been making all arrangements for the annual yatra, but with the limited sources they cannot continue the services all round the year.

Sudarshan Sharma, former secretary Sanatan Dharma Sabha Poonch said, “Keeping in mind the increasing influx of pilgrims to Shri Buddha Amarnath ji, the government should come forward to take immediate measures to improve the facilities there”.

“It will boost the religious tourism in Poonch district and will also give employment to the unemployed youths,” he said.

The district administration has also taken initiative to build a tourist reception centre at Buddha Amarnath but due the heavy influx of tourists to Mandi, there is an urgent need to do more.

Jammu, July 18
The management of Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, on Wednesday constituted a committee to inquire the alleged discrepancy of ventilators in the emergency ward of the Hospital.

The member committee comprising of Dr Tariq Azad, Associate Prof Surgery, Dr Smiriti Gulati, Associate Prof Anaesthesia Department and Dr Manoj Chalotra, Medical Superintendent, MCH would inquire into the complaint lodged by Som Raj Dabgotra.

Meanwhile, the In-Charge Principle, GMC, Jammu, Dr Aniece Chowdhary has asked the GMCH superintendent to furnish a detailed report about the compliance of the directions of the Minister for Medical Education regarding free supply of medicines, diet and allied facilities to the Ramban accident victims. — TNS

Katra, July 18
Those hoping to see budding scientists display their self-made science models at an exhibition of Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Award faced a huge disappointment on Tuesday.

Though it was mandatory for students to make models on their own, many turned up with readymade models, which are available in local markets, thereby defeating the entire purpose of the INSPIRE Award.

The award was introduced in the Jammu region by the Director, School Education, Jammu, with an aim of promoting talented students who have lesser means.

The two-day exhibition was held at Government Higher Secondary School (Boys), Reasi, where over 185 models were displayed.

The INSPIRE Award was initiated by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology and the main objective was to communicate to youth the excitement of creative pursuit of science and attract young talent.

Surprisingly, many students who claimed to have made the models themselves, under the guidance of their teachers, were not even aware about the idea of their own project.

When asked about his project, a student said his teacher would come and explain but even she was also not around.

On being probed further, the boy admitted that he had not made the model himself but his teacher had purchased it. Similar revelations were made by other students.

Jammu, July 18
A delegation of different farmers’ organisations met Agriculture Minister Gulam Hassan Mir under the leadership of Tajinder Singh, president, J&K Kissan Council, to discuss various difficulties faced by the farmers during the current kharif crop season.

Tajinder said there was an immediate need for the implemention of agricultural policy in the state to benefit 82 per cent population.

Singh informed the minister that the situation had turned alarming due to adverse climatic conditions.

He also apprised the minister of various problems and difficulties being faced by the farmers due to delay of monsoon season. Karan Singh, president, Kissan Union, Samba said, “There was an immediate need for the community water scheme in the Samba so that the farmers of the kandi area could sow their crops on time and demanded more timely help for the mushroom development in the Jammu province”.

Dev Raj, president, Basmati Growers Association, demanded timely availability of fertilisers for the basmati-growing areas.

Shiv dev Singh, president, Kissan Sang, demanded kissan credit cards for the farmers of Jammu division.

A sarpanch delegation from Rajouri district under the leadership of sarparch Narseh Singh Chib demanded a base-level survey and planning according to Panchyati Raj Institutions to improve economic conditions of the farmers.

Jammu, July 18
Panun Kashmir, a frontline organisation of displaced Kashmir Pandits, today, ridiculed the statement of PDP leader, Sameer Kaul for endorsing the latest position of separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani on the construction of transit accommodations for KP employees in Kashmir Valley.

“It is ironic that the PDP leader for their petty interests brushed aside the inherent extreme communal intentions of separatist leader, who ridiculously termed the proposed construction of these accommodations as a sinister design for the state and the central government to settle RSS and Kashmiri Pandits with Israeli intelligence agency to change the demography of Kashmir,” Agnishekhar, convener Panun Kashmir said.

The KP leader said that Sameer Kaul as a PDP stalwart had conveyed his party’s obvious signal that they stand by Geelani on the issue.

He mocked at the argument of the PDP leader that these transit accommodations were not in tune with traditional harmony and pluralism in Kashmir Valley. — TNS

Jammu, July 18
Muhammad Akbar Khan of Amar Singh College bagged top honours in the 2nd J&K Bank-Magpie Kashmir Cycling Challenge organised by J&K Sport's Development Association (JKSDA), today.

In the senior category, Akbar came first and Umer Nabi of Shalimar Cycling Club secured second spot. Hilal Sofi of Islamia College finished third.

In u-17 category, Amir of SP Higher Secondary School emerged triumphant and Rashid of Kashmir Harward Educational Institute stood second. Mansoor Ahmad of Chinar Cycling Club bagged third place.

Around 384 cyclists from the Valley participated in the event which was flagged off at Habak Naseem Bagh crossing by Director Magpie Hydel Construction Operation Industry Pvt Ltd and Winter Olympian, Mir Mudasir.

Mir Mudasir was the chief guest on the occasion. Physical Director Islamia College, Altaf-ur-Rehman, International Sqay Martial Art Council, Founder Mir Nazir veteran weightlifter, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, JK Bank Associate Executive Aijaz Ahmad and others were also present. — TNS

Jammu, July 18
The Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, University of Jammu conducted the Physical Fitness Test/Canadian Test for the applicants who had applied for admission to BPEd Course, today.

Out of total 68 candidates, including 43 male and 25 female, only 27 candidates had qualified the test. Out of those 27 candidates, 16 were male and 11 were female. The final merit list will be issued on July 23.

The Directorate of Sports and Physical Education has advised all the candidates to keep liaison with the Director, Directorate of Sports and Physical Education for all other queries and clarifications.

The test was conducted in the presence of Dean Students Welfare, Prof NK Tripathi and Director, Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, Prof Dhian S Bhau.

Prominent among the others present on the occasion included Romesh Sharma, Dr Sonam Angchok, Serveshwar Dubey, Dr Brij Baloria, Ramesh Magotra, PD Singh, Jai Bharat, Raj Kumar, Vikram Jamwal and Sanjeev Jamwal. 

Jammu, July 18
Kohi Noor ,Bhalessa, defeated Young Star, Batyas, by 3-0 in the final to clinch the Knock-out Volleyball Tournament organised by IRP- 5th Battalion, Beoli Doda at Gandoh under the Civic Action Programme.

SDM Gandoh was also present on the occasion.

Later on, prizes were distributed among the winners and runners-up teams in the valedictory function.

Jammu, July 18
SAI Blues trounced Stadium XI by 5-0 in the ongoing Poonch Hockey Tournament, being organised by SAI Coaching Centre Poonch, under the auspices of Hockey J&K at Sports Stadium, Poonch today.

In the girls section, SAI Blues defeated Stadium XI by 2-0. Meenakshi and Aiena were the goal scorers, respectively.

In another match, SAI Reds thrashed Stadium Junior by 5-0. The goal scorers were Naveed, Navjot, Ramandeep and Ranjeet Singh.

The matches were officiated by Sawal Ahmed, Umesh Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Sharma, Sunil Raina, Talvinder Singh and Rohit Sharma.

Biant Kour, former Councillor was the chief guest.

Sarla Devi and Sanjeev Kour were also present on the occasion.