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Midday meal a sham in north Kashmir
Now, below-normal temperatures in Valley
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Minister inaugurates three bridges in north Kashmir
Bandipora students return from tour
12 injured in road accidents
Bhand play enthralls audience
CPM: Government not serious about empowering panchayats
International chemistry quiz held
Pampore MLA visits saffron fields
Police destroys poppy fields
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Midday meal a sham in north Kashmir
Kupwara, September 6 The government claims to be spending crores of rupees on the programme every year but has failed to ensure that the programme is implemented in the right spirit. Lack of cooking sheds and cooks, inadequate infrastructure in schools for serving meals and uneven distribution of ration have marred the programme. “We are forced to spend money from our own pocket to serve meals to children. The ration is often denied by the storekeeper as he wants written orders to provide it,” said a teacher at the Middle School, Kanthpora, in the Lolab area of Kupwara. At a primary school in Handwara, children
complained of pretty ordinary meals. “For weeks, we are forced to eat dal and half-boiled potatoes. The food served is hard to digest and causes pain in the stomach. Many children do not eat their meal,” a student complained. Unprecedented delay in release of remuneration to cooks is yet another irritant. “For the past few months, we are being told that there is no allotment to release the payment. We are paid a meager amount of Rs 1,000 per month and that too after months of delay,” said a cook at SSA Primary School, Khan Mohalla, Dooniwari, Kupwara. “Low-quality and unhygienic food is served to students. Many refuse to eat it because it is not worth eating. The food served can do more harm than good to children,” a parent said. Teachers in many schools are forced to prepare the meals on a rotation basis in the absence of cooks. “The government should either run the scheme in an organised manner or close it down. Many schools have not been provided with cooks. A lot of precious time is wasted in cooking and serving the food to children,” said Mohammad Sultan, a government teacher. Mohd Shafi Rather, Director (School Education), Kashmir, said: “I will look into the matter and take immediate measures to address the problems.” |
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Now, below-normal temperatures in Valley
Srinagar, September 6 Srinagar recorded 35-mm rainfall till 8.30 am today, an official of the meteorological department said. While the day remained dry, it started drizzling again in the afternoon. The rain brought down maximum temperature in the city to 25.3 °C, which, according to the meteorological office, is four degrees below normal. The minimum temperature stood at 16. 8 °C. Two days ago, the locals had been complaining of heat-wave conditions as normal temperatures remained three to four degrees above normal over the past couple of weeks. Other parts of the Valley, too, witnessed a sudden dip in temperatures. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded a maximum temperature of 24.7 °C. The tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded maximum and minimum temperatures of 22.8 and 14.2 °C, respectively. Pahalgam recorded 10.4 mm rainfall till today morning. Several streets of the summer capital remained waterlogged due to the rain, causing inconvenience to pedestrians and people riding two-wheelers. Some locals were seen wearing light woollens towards the evening, as the temperature started dipping. The weatherman has forecast more rain in the coming days. An official of the Natural Disaster Management Cell said rain was likely to continue till September 9. |
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SRK caps K-visit with shikara ride
Srinagar, September 6 After the shoot, he addressed a press conference that finished with “modified” dialogues from his hit films “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge” and “Darr”. “Kashmir jaise bade shehron main aisi choti choti batein hotee rehtee hain, Senorita.... I love you K-K-Kashmir,” said Khan as he flew back to Mumbai later. His yesterday’s comments on micro-blogging website Twitter that he was “feeling bad” about leaving Kashmir were in sharp contrast to today’s tweet, which said: “Bags r being packed...and suddenly saw a suit of mine looking so forlorn and lost... unlike ppl clothes like being used. So suit it is? This has been good. Now back to life & reality. Visit to Dal lake and then Mumbai bound. So much can happen in such few days. I go back happy.” Apart from Khan, the team led by Director Yash Chopra comprised actress Anuksha Sharma. Shah Rukh reportedly plays the role of an Army man in the movie that was also shot in the Ladakh region earlier. Khan’s presence had left tourists and locals at Gulmarg and Pahalgam resorts high and dry as they complained of being prevented from going towards the shooting sites. While not many locals were able to catch a glimpse of the Bollywood star during his stay in the Valley, his tweets and posts on another social networking site Facebook were keenly followed. Khan regularly tweeted about his experiences in Kashmir, including what he ate. Backs reunion of separated families
Shah Rukh Khan today said he was against the partition of families living across the border. In response to a question on his stance on the Kashmiri families who have been living apart in India and Pakistan, especially when he too had several of his relatives living in Pakistan, the actor said: “I am a family man. I am never in support of any event that leads to separation of families.” It was “unimaginable” for him to live without his family and that he was already missing his son Aryan who had left for London to pursue higher studies. He said he stood for the movies he acted in like another Yash Raj Film “Veer Zaara”, which portrayed on-screen romance between an Indian boy and a Pakistani girl. For the “king of romance”, there could not have been a better locale than Kashmir to shoot for his upcoming film, which is essentially a love story. “We shot in Pahalgam, Gulmarg and even Dal lake in Srinagar. Kashmir is for everyone to see in this film and I think the beautiful visuals of this place will attract one and all,” he added. |
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Operators move HC against shifting of cabs from Tourist Reception Centre
Srinagar, September 6 The operators have filed a supplementary affidavit before the High Court, which has directed the respondents, including the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Advocate-General representing the State, amicus curie Zaffar Shah and others to file their objections within two weeks. The court, which is hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Kashmir Consumer Welfare Forum, had in July last year ordered all Jammu-bound cab operators to shift their vehicles presently operating from the TRC grounds to Pantha Chowk. The PIL seeks decongestion as well as regulation of traffic in the summer capital. But the operators have resisted the move to shift, even though the state authorities have identified a piece of land near the Pantha Chowk bus stand as an alternative site for the operation of Jammu-bound cabs. In their supplementary affidavit filed before court this week through their counsel Bashir A Bashir, the operators have presented photographs of 12 taxi stands presently operating in a radius of 1.5 km within the city limits. “Why are Jammu-bound light motor vehicle
(LMV) operators being singled out for dislocation to Pantha Chowk, which is faraway from the commercial hub and city
centre, when these 12 taxi stands continue to function in the city?” said Bashir while arguing his case on Wednesday. In the supplementary affidavit, the operators have also contended that their livelihood will get affected if they are forced to shift from the makeshift Tourist Reception Grounds (TRC) stand to Pantha Chowk, which is more than 7 km from the city centre. The Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, after entertaining the affidavit, has directed the respondents, including the state authorities, to file their objections within two weeks, when the matter comes up again before the court. new base
The state authorities have identified a piece of land near the Pantha Chowk bus stand as an alternative site for the operation of Jammu-bound cabs |
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Qazigund hospital in dire need of emergency care
Anantnag, September 6 The hospital, inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in May 2010, was set up with the aim of saving precious time in severe trauma cases, caused due to frequent road accidents on the highway. But, sources say, the hospital has failed to serve its purpose and due to lack of infrastructure, the hospital has been reduced to a Primary Health Centre. “It’s a pity that a trauma hospital, after almost two years of its establishment, is still devoid of a blood bank. The requisition for the same is pending and nobody is willing to put it on fast track. Instead, the administration prefers to go to other hospitals begging for blood, thereby putting precious lives in jeopardy,” a source said. Head injuries occur in more than 70 per cent of accident cases but the hospital does not have a neurosurgeon or even a traumatologist. “The hospital staff-private diagonostic centre nexus is a cause for concern. The hospital staff do provide X-ray and other diagnostic services, but only for a short period, forcing patients to go to private players,” says a doctor working in the hospital. He said despite guidelines against charging the trauma as well as poor patients for availing of ambulance services, the hospital staff often demanded fee from such patients. Sources said the patient attendance was getting thinner by the day. “People have realised that they will eventually be referred without getting treatment at the hospital. So they don’t waste time here and straightaway move to Srinagar or Anantnag,” a source added. Sources further said the hospital development fund raised from the basic fee set for patients went unaccounted for, even though the hospital administration overcharged patients. |
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Issue calendar of events, arts academy told
Srinagar, September 6 The Chief Minister, who is also the president of the academy, said this while chairing its Central Committee meeting here today. He asked the academy to take advantage of amphitheatres developed at Mansbal, Nageen west, Zaberwan and other tourist places for organising and showcasing cultural programmes depicting Suffiana and other heritage of the state. The Chief Minister said a comprehensive project for upgrading Tagore Hall, Srinagar, was being worked out with the Central government at a cost Rs 12.5 crore. He said a similar project for Abhinav Theatre, Jammu, was also under process with the Union government. The Chief Minister has already approved Rs 2 crore for the Srinagar Tagore Hall and Rs 1 crore for Abhinav Theatre for the improvement and upgradation of these prestigious cultural centres. Omar also gave nod to the creation of Writers’ Welfare Fund and enhancement of assistance to artistes and writers. The enhancement of scholarship for the students of calligraphy and enhancement of cash prize for photography and films was also approved in the meeting. Approving the publication programme of the academy, the Chief Minister underlined the need for transparency in finalisation and implementation and stressed on the adherence to set norms and procedures in
this regard. In his presentation, secretary Culture Academy Khalid Bashir Ahmad presented resume of the major activities undertaken by the academy during the past two years. He said composite cultural programmes, exhibitions heritage painters camps, interpreters training programmes, sculptors camps, exhibitions of paintings, manuscripts, literature, calligraphy and photos were organised at Srinagar, Jammu, Delhi, Leh, Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar etc. The meeting was attended by Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora, Deputy Chairman Legislative Council Mohammad Yousuf Taing, Principal Secretary Finance Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, Principal Secretary Planning Development BB Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture Atal Duloo, non-official members of the Central committee and other senior officers. |
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Three-day IT festival concludes
Srinagar, September 6 He was addressing the valedictory session of the three-day “Vastoorvan Tech Fete 2012” at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) at Awantipora this evening. This national-level information technology festival was named after the ambience of a beautiful almond forest called “Vastoorvan”, which adjoins the university campus. Referring to the “Vastoorvan Tech Fete 2012”, the Governor observed that it is a very imaginative idea which would go a long way in not only broadening the knowledge base of students but also promote deeper understanding and cooperation among various universities and other institutions of higher learning within and outside the state. He referred to the meetings which he had had with the Vice- Chancellors of various universities in the state in the past three years with a view to fostering well considered and imaginatively structured mutually beneficial collaborations in the arenas of teaching, learning and research. He expressed happiness that this concept had since materialised between several universities which had entered into collaborative arrangements in various arenas. The Governor gave away the first prize to a team of Central University of Kashmir, 2nd prize to the south campus of Kashmir University and 3rd prize to Jammu University for their overall outstanding performance in various events organised during this festival. He also gave away mementos to the sponsors and co-sponsors of the various events. Prof AR Trag, Vice-Chancellor, Islamic University of Science and Technology, presented a memento to the Governor as a memorabilia of his visit to the university. Prof Abdul Wahid, Vice- Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir, emphasised upon the students to focus on 3 Cs - Competence, Commitment, and Conduct and Character - to build a promising and bright future. He congratulated the university for organising the IT festival. Prof Rajat Gupta, director, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, dwelt on the collaboration the NIT and IUST have built up. |
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Minister inaugurates three bridges in north Kashmir
Srinagar, September 6 The minister said a project worth Rs 1.73 crore for the construction of a bridge over Viji Nullah at Wanpora on Tragpora Rohama Panzulla road in the Rafiabad area has been forwarded to the Centre for approval while work on the ANM sub centre at Khushipora was in progress and would be completed shortly. The minister said the government had formulated a massive development plan for upgrading existing basic public facilities during the current fiscal, adding that special attention was being given towards rural and far-flung areas. He said Rs 5.81 crore have been earmarked during the current fiscal for the upgradation of inner links at
Doabagh, Vijibal, Ferozpora, Tragpora, Chijhama and Saripora. Javed said the coalition government was making all out efforts to ensure equitable development of all parts of the state. He added that the projects taken up at different places of the state would transform the development scenario of the state. He said the officers had been asked to remain in touch with the people to seek and address their problems. He also released Rs 10 lakh from his constituency development fund
(CDF) for the fencing of playground and construction of water reservoir at Khushipora and aske the engineers concerned to start work at the earliest. |
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Bandipora students return from tour
Srinagar, September 6 The group was flagged off on August 23 by the civil administration officials, MLA Gurez, 14 Rashtriya Rifles and Brig Anil Puri, Commander, 81 Mountain Brigade. They comprised students of Class IV and V and were led by principal, Army Goodwill School, Kharpura, in Bandipora district. Dosti - learning through friendship - was a unique student exchange programme organised under the aegis of 81 Mountain Brigade in collaboration with Step by Step School, Noida, duly supported by the children of the school, a defence spokesman said. The most interesting and useful part of this initiative was the novel idea of organising the stay of these children at the homes of the children of the school they are visiting. Parents of the students of SBS, Noida, extended a warm invitation to these children to stay with them as their guests so that these children from the Valley experience the academic, social and parental environment under which the SBS children were growing. Due to this novel concept and some of the high-profile activities such as audience with the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan, these children remained at their homes through the news TV screens throughout the tour. These children brought a lot of love and friendship of lifetime with them and were finding it difficult to break away from the group. The excitement to share all that they experienced was visible on their faces. Their eyes had a dream which they had nurtured during this period and are sure to motivate many others to shape their destinies. Though it will take 10-15 years for their dreams to become realities, the impact of such an experience is sure to boost their aspirations, endeavours and achievements in times to come. |
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12 injured in road accidents
Srinagar, September 6 The injured were shifted to a hospital and the police has registered a case. In another accident, a 70-year-old pedestrian Ghulam Muhammad Wani, son of Muhammad Ismail Wani, a resident of Larkipora, Padgampora, was injured after he was hit by a speeding motorcycle bearing number JK-13-D-9063. The accident took place near Mantaqi High School in Awantipora area of Pulwama district along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The injured was shifted to a hospital for treatment and a case has been registered at Awantipora police station. In yet another mishap, a truck hit a motorcycle in Pumbai, Kulgam, injuring the rider. The injured has been identified as Ijaz Ahmad Allaie, son of Abdul Gani, a resident of Bongam, Kulgam. The injured has been shifted to a hospital for treatment and the police has registered a case. |
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Bhand play enthralls audience
Srinagar, September 6 The play brought to light an underlying concern in the Valley where everything under the sun is politicised and the people are busy in others’ lives than setting their own matters right. Muhammad Saqiq, a veteran Kashmiri actor who played the lead role in the play, enchanted the audiences by his acting skills, including Natrang director Balwant Thakur, who said that Kashmir is yet to see a dynamic traditional actor like Sadiq, who through his spontaneity has given a new dimension to the tradition of Bhand acting styles. Earlier in the day, Makhmama village in Budgam witnessed a thought-provoking Bhand play ‘Azuk Samaaj’ written by Abdul Salam Bhat and directed by Mohd Akram Bhat, which was staged by Sheesh Mahal Folk Theatre. Woven by putting together series of social concerns, the play came out to be a strong social message aimed at showing a mirror to the society so they could see their real face. The play beautifully portrayed the society today and its evils which are ruining the peace and prosperity. |
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CPM: Government not serious about empowering panchayats
Anantnag, September 6 “The government is taking no step for the total empowerment of the institution and is letting it weaken by the day,” Tarigami said on the sidelines of a panchayat convention here. Terming the recent threats to panchayat members as the handiwork of some miscreants, Tarigami said these things should not deter the members of the panchayat system. “These miscreants do not want the institution of panchayat to get empowered for their vested interests and we should understand that we have to be strong to face every obstacle that comes on the way in order to make the institution powerful,” said Tarigami. Reacting to a recent statement by Minister for Science and Technology Agha Syed Ruhullah justifying the detention of a minor, Faizan, under the Public Safety Act (PSA), Tarigami said the act could not be justified under any circumstances. “The state is not that week that a kid can wage war against it. The government should come up with some rehabilitation centres in order to counsel the kids who are driven to violence,” said Tarigami. The minister had earlier in a statement justified the detention of a minor boy saying that some miscreants used these boys to unleash violence and the police had no choice but to detain these kids. |
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International chemistry quiz held
Srinagar, September 6 As many as 329 students from various schools of Kashmir participated in the contest. The event was coordinated by Dr Altaf Hussain Pandith of the Department of Chemistry in collaboration with Prof Brijesh Pare, Department of Chemistry, Madhav Science Postgraduate College, Ujjain, national organiser of this quiz in India. This quiz is an international science event in which students from Australia, Brunei, Canada, England, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua, New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Vietnam participated. The primary objective of the ANCQ is to promote the study of chemistry in schools by providing an experience to students that is stimulating and enjoyable, thus encouraging them to have greater interest in the subject. Further, this quiz aims to promote and encourage an awareness of the nature and relevance of chemistry in day-to-day life and increasing the public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs, increasing the interest of young people in chemistry and generating enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry. |
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Pampore MLA visits saffron fields
Srinagar, September 6 The areas include Lethapora, Chandhara, Barsoo, Ludoo, Sharshali, Indroosa, Munpora, Kunibal and Namblabal, where the rejuvenation and replanting of saffron corms is in progress under the mission. Interacting with the saffron growers, he said the aim of the National Mission on Saffron was to increase the production of saffron, maintaining quality and improving marketing facilities. He advised the farmers to adopt latest and scientific technology as per guidance of field functionaries of the Agriculture Department to boost the production. He asked the saffron growers to avail of the benefits of the mission for improving socio economy. He also advised the farmers to not only use improved
agriculture practices but focus on improved quality as well. — TNS |
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Police destroys poppy fields
Srinagar, September 6 The area comes under the jurisdiction of Hajin police station in Bandipora. The month of September happens to be a season of poppy cultivation in many parts of the Kashmir valley, particularly the southern part. The practice of destroying the cultivated poppy has been adopted by the police for some years now in order to put a check on its cultivation. |
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