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Part of historic building collapses
Alarming rise in mental ailments
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Missing youth found dead in nullah
Polythene bags seized by MC
Appoint selected Candidates: NPP
DDC reviews implementation of PC & PNDT Act
Taekwondo C’ship
3 footballers selected for advance training
Friends club to hold cricket tourney
Udhampur win U-14 cricket tournament
Jammu lift U-19 cricket tourney
Four gamblers held
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Part of historic building collapses
Jammu, September 10 This more than 100-year-old building which was once called Poonch House that would cater to all the guests of the king of Poonch before 1947 is now in an urgent need of maintenance. A lackadaisical attitude of the authorities towards the building is said to be major culprit behind the mess. The damage to the building is not for the first time. The faculty and students have suffered injuries following a collapse in the building earlier as well. There is a serious water leakage inside the building. There prevailed a standoff for a long time between the Cultural Academy and the Education Department who were trying to take hold of the building that was finally transferred to the University of Jammu in March last year. Lalit Gupta, senior faculty member at the institute, said, “The building is undoubtedly in a dire need of restoration. First of all, we need to evacuate the building and then bring in experts to work on the building. The present building is made very beautifully. It is a great work of architecture.” “There are problems with the building as there is water leakage, minor damages from time to time. But the building cannot be rebuilt or repaired. It needs to be restored with a scientific approach or else we will lose an important heritage site,” Gupta said. Sources said the institute received Rs 4 crore every year in the form of funding from the government that includes the salary of its employees and other expenditures. The department says despite getting Rs 25 lakh fund for the restoration of the building, nothing has been done for now. A Cultural Academy official said, “We wanted it to make a heritage building and restore it but the institute being run on the building premises always wanted to follow the JU line. Therefore, the academy could not pursue any work in the building.” |
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Alarming rise in mental ailments
Jammu, September 10 These OPDs were opened under the National Mental Health Programme. Surprisingly, most of them are in the age group of 17-30 years. Sources in the Health Department said such a large number of patients with various psychiatric ailments were a cause of worry for the doctors as many of them had history of suicidal tendencies. It was found in a study that unemployment, financial stress, high expectations of parents to do well in examination, incompatibility between married couples and other social factors were major reasons behind mental problems. “With depression and anxiety-related disorders among the youth on a high, the Health Department had started mental health OPD clinics at five district hospitals of the region. The figures are indeed depressing,” said a senior health official. He said that only good thing was that people were coming forward to get medical help. “Earlier there was stigma attached while visiting a psychiatrist but now people are seeking medical help. With the help of the Union Health Ministry, more doctors are being trained at national institutions on psychiatry,” an official said. The step was taken following serious concern shown by various NGOs and social organisations over an abrupt rise in suicidal tendencies among the younger generation in the recent past. Dr Shamim, Nodal Officer of the National Mental Health Programme, J&K, said, “From the medical point of view, doctors are dealing with patients suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress disorders and anxiety related disorders.” Dr Shamim said for implementing the programme, the Bangalore-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) had trained over a dozen doctors who were then posted at the Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, district hospitals at Udhampur, Rajouri, Kathua, Samba, Poonch and Rajouri. A study conducted by the Health Department about two years back said the Jammu region was leading the state in the number of suicide cases. In 2008-2009, 122 youth had committed suicide while in 2009-2010, 118 youths ended their life across the state. In 2011-12, 220 cases of suicides were reported from across the state. At an all-time high
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Residents suffer as JMC fails to lift solid waste
Jammu, September 10 It is not only the solid waste but the foul smell emanating from garbage dumps lying everywhere that gives an unpleasant experience to commuters. Residents said the shopkeepers were major contributors of garbage as most of them dump their solid waste on the roadsides. Many local residents claimed that garbage dumps had created many health problems for them. "We have to inhale the foul smell every day. We cannot even eat food properly," said Amit Gupta, a shopkeeper near New Plot. Another resident, Amit Abrol, said the JMC was violating the norms. “They are playing with the health of people. What about the tall claims about using modern technology to modernise these sites. It has remained on papers only.” The city is already facing a huge challenge when it comes to dispose of solid waste as the JMC has been struggling to find a suitable place for this. A few months ago, the plan to dump solid waste at the Kot Bhalwal area was resisted by residents of the adjacent area. A small portion of ground in front of the Jammu Railway Station is being used as a garbage dump. It gives an ugly look to the city which is visited by lakhs of pilgrims and tourists every year. “While the government has been projecting the city as pilgrim town, most of the visitors have a bad experience here,” said Ranjit Sharma, a local resident. Jammu generates nearly 350 tonnes of garbage daily. There will be a tremendous increase in solid waste generation by the next decade, experts say. “As there is a shortage of manpower and lack of coordination within the JMC and the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), there is no hope of immediate respite from the garbage menace,” said another resident. |
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More KP outfits extend support to relief holders
Jammu, September 10 A joint delegation of the J&K Amity Council and Kashmir Groups of Citizens for Reconciliation today visited the Jagti migrant township to show solidarity with the migrants there. Chairman and Patron of the J&K Amity Council, Sanjay Saraf, appealed to the government to immediately enhance the relief. He said the high inflation had made it difficult to make both ends meet. Saraf reiterated his commitment to the Jagati migrants pledging his full support to the ongoing agitation. Another demonstration was held on the premises of the Relief Officer, Muthi, and Buta Nagar TRT in support of the relief holders who are on a hunger strike. HN Talashi, president, Buta Nagar TRT, said, “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Chief Minister had promised to provide all facilities to the migrants but nothing has been done as yet.” |
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Beggar’s graduate son alleges discrimination
Rajouri, September 10 Tufail is a BA, B.Ed now and is pursuing his Master’s in Persian from Kashmir University. But soon after, Fakir got a bolt from the blue when Tufail was denied what he terms as his son’s “due”. A notification was issued by the Education Department on November 22 last year inviting applicants for Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in Peeri village school. Tufail had applied for the same. Surprisingly, the department issued another notification for the same post after seven months. Tufail went to the department office with a fresh application but he was told by the officials concerned that there was no need to do so as he had already applied for the same. Officials dropped his name and allegedly preferred some other candidate for the post who was less qualified than Tufail. Tufail alleges discrimination and favouritism at the hands of officials concerned. Now he sits with his father to seek alms after his hope of being selected as a Rehbar-e-Taleem teacher was dashed to the ground. Fakir Hussain says, “I lost my eyes after an accident many years ago. Since then, I am begging on the main bridge of Gujjar Mandi area in Rajouri town spending every penny on the education of my son.” Tufail says, “Being the elder son of my parents, I wanted to extend a helping hand to my father who has been begging on the bridge braving all types of weather for sake of my education.” Tufail also received a shoddy response from the District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, when he sat on a hunger strike. Now, he is planning to move to Srinagar. He says, “I will go to Srinagar and seek help from the minister concerned. If I do not get justice, I will be forced to take extreme step setting of my degrees and myself afire.” Makhan Lal Sharma, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Rajouri, said, “We are trying to sort out the matter after discussion with the District Commissioner. The candidate has some misconceptions about the notification since he had failed to apply on time.” |
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Missing youth found dead in nullah
Katra, September 10 Earlier, the deceased’s family had formed search parties, which searched him near the shrine but failed to trace him. Today on a tip-off, the poilce reached the spot and recovered the body. The police has booked a case in this matter and started investigation into the cause of the death.
— OC |
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Polythene bags seized by MC
Jammu, September 10 During the drive, the civic body teams also made shopkeepers and the public aware of the ban seeking their co-operation to make the city polythene-free. Besides this, the Enforcement Wing teams continued their anti-encroachment drive to clear footpaths in various areas of the city and seized canopies, containers, stands, tool boxes, baskets, tubs, buckets, tarpaulin, crates, benches and signboards from shopkeepers. The drive was conducted with the help of police personnel from the Gandhi Nagar Police Station and the District Police Lines, Jammu. |
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Appoint selected Candidates: NPP
Jammu, September 10 “The Education Department is following a biased approach in the matter of appointment of teachers. While the department had made appointments of teachers in Ganderbal and some other districts of Kashmir division, it has failed to make appointments in 10 districts of the Jammu region,” NPP working chairman Harsh Dev Singh said. Alleging total breakdown of educational set up in the state, he said the educational activity had become a major causality of red tape and discriminatory policies of the state government resulting in the collapse of the state as well as Centrally-sponsored schemes in the education sector. He claimed that hundreds of government schools were facing acute shortage of teaching staff but the government had maintained a silence over the issue. “Schools in the remote area are the worst affected and have almost become defunct due to staff paucity and non-availability of teaching faculty,” he alleged. He said that the government had itself admitted in the meeting of the Project Appraisal Board (PAB) held in New Delhi in June 2011 that 13,020 posts of teacher were vacant at the elementary level, 8,104 vacancies in the upper primary schools and 4916 vacancies in primary schools. He said over 13,000 vacancies of masters, headmasters and lecturers were lying vacant at the secondary level, including high and higher secondary schools. He also condemned the withholding of the selection lists of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers who had applied during 2010 and 2011. |
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1,107 get Kisan Credit Cards at Akhnoor
Jammu, September 10 Minister of Health, Floriculture and Horticulture Sham Lal Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion. Others present on the occasion included vice-president Jammu (Central) Arvind Gupta, cluster head Vinay Sawhney, the head of the branch and the Akhnoor SDM along with sarpanches and panches from the adjoining villages and a myriad of the beneficiaries of the KCC Scheme. The minister distributed the cards among 1,107 beneficiaries of amount Rs 1.5 crore on the occasion. A spokesperson said during the past two years, 11,000 KCCs had been sanctioned against 13,000 application forms received in the zone and a total of 10,400 cards had been issued to farmers. The minister urged farmers to come forward and avail benefits of the bank’s tailor-made schemes for their overall economic development. He asked farmers at Akhnoor to diversify into horticulture and floriculture for better returns and constitute farmer clubs for better co-ordination with the bank. Farmers, especially, the beneficiaries hailed the pro-active approach of the bank for processing and sanctioning of the KCCs in a hassle-free manner. Arvind Gupta apprised farmers about the implementation and benefits of the KCCs and assured the participants that such awareness-cum-credit camps would be organised with the same spirit in the whole Jammu zone in near future as per the guidelines of the bank’s credit policy. Katra: Ellaquai Dehati Bank (EDB) today organised a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Mela and an awareness programme at Panchayat Ghar, Katra. The mela was attended by Regional Manager EDB, DDM NABARD, SDO Reasi, Katra, and officials of the revenue agency besides a large number of farmers. DDM NABARD disclosed the details of the schemes and highlighted the role of NABARD in rural development. The SDO (Agriculture) urged farmers to come forward and avail the benefits of the KCC Scheme. BL Bhat, Regional Manager, said the bank was continuing with its policy of providing hassle-free loans for farmers. Bhat also disclosed that in compliance to the Government of India’s ambitious programme of Financial Inclusion, the bank has opened a Brick and Morter unit at Kundrorian for serving the local population. |
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DDC reviews implementation of PC & PNDT Act
Rajouri, September 10 Members of the District Advisory Committee and the Press Council participated in the meeting and all important provisions of the Act were discussed and necessary directions were given to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Rajouri, who is the member secretary of the committee and the Block Medical Officers (BMOs). It was decided that genetic counselling centres or ultrasound clinics both in government or private domain would be immediately registered and action would be taken against the unregistered ones. The directions were issued to give adequate publicity in the media about monetary incentive for those who would inform about ultrasound clinics carrying on illegal practice of sex-determination tests. The local media agreed to extend their full support. The BMOs were also directed to ensure proper implementation of the mother-and-child-tracking system through ASHAs and investigate all such cases wherever pregnancy is terminated after the 16th week. He also instructed the CMO to constitute a Media Campaign Committee to devise a media strategy for creating awareness against female foeticide. |
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Taekwondo C’ship
Jammu, September 10 The Rakwal Taekwondo Club and Army School, Jammu Cantt, had to settle for second and third spots, respectively, in the championship, which was organised by the District Jammu Taekwondo Association under the aegis of the J&K Taekwondo Association and the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI). The bouts were officiated by Vikrant Narwalia, Technical Director; Arjun Gupta, in charge; Sanjay Kumar, Mukta Gupta, Rajesh Sharma, Rahul Chib, Adnan Beig, Brinder Singh Manhas and Rajat Thakur. However, in the bouts, Narmita Katoch (VAOT), Ambreen Fatima (VAOT), Yashika Yadav (Army School) and Priyanka Digra (New Jyoti School) emerged winners in below 42-kg weight category. Similarly, in below 44 kg, Sidika Charak (VAOT), Kamla Devi (VAOT) and Deevanshi Puri (Jagrati Balwadi School) secured first, second and third positions, respectively. Meera Thapa (VAOT) fetched first position while the second and third positions were bagged by Palavi Jamwal (Jagrati Balwadi School) and Simran Sharma (Jagrati Balwadi School), respectively in the 49-kg weight category. In below 47 kg (senior girls), Diksha Sharma (VAOT) and Sakshi Dogra (VAOT), were adjudged winners while in sub-junior boys- Vishvpartap Singh (VAOT), Gopal Mehra (VAOT), Vishal Kumar ( SSK) and Shanu Kumar (Santosh Vidya School) emerged winners. In below 29 kg, Abhinav Sharma (VAOT), Sakeb Nasir (Army School), Kirtish Gupta(Shangrilla) and Amarjeet Kumar (SSK) bagged top honours. In below 32 kg, Parmarth Singh (VAOT), Honey Bali (VAOT), Vishav Singh (Army School) and Gourav Mehra (Jagrati Balwadi School) emerged winners. In below 35 kg, Ankit Diman (Army School), Ramandeep Singh (Army School), Nirdosh Sudan (Adarsh Niketan) and Bhuvnesh Bhan (Sprawling Buds) emerged winners. In below 38 kg, Pranav Sharma (VAOT), Numan Mushtaq (Shangrilla), Sourav Bhagat (Santosh Vidya School) and Sumesh Singh (Army School) emerged winners. In below 54 kg, Nitish Kumar (VAOT), Sunil Singh (VAOT), Rajat Bhagat (Tiger Club) and Goutam Uppel (VAOT), emerged winners. In below 58 kg, Manoj Singh (VAOT), Arvind Kumar (VAOT) and Rajesh Kumar (Marh Block Club), secured first, second and third positions, respectively. In below 63 kg, Rohit Sharma (VAOT) and Nitish Anand (VAOT) secured first and second positions, respectively while the third position was secured by Akash Sharma (VAOT). In below 68 kg, Adnan Beig (VAOT) and Rahul Singh Chib (VAOT) secured first and second positions, respectively. |
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3 footballers selected for advance training
Jammu, September 10 The Minister for Youth Services and Sports, RS Chib, said the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) had selected three footballers of the state for an advance training to hone their skills further. He said the high-profile goodwill football tournament would be played at 3.30 pm. Chib said the selected players of JPL and the KPL were also being trained in the known institutes of Chennai and New Dehli as a part of the government’s endeavour to promote talent. Chib said the objective of holding such national-level games was a step forward to explore sports potential. He said the process would continue and efforts would be made to explore the hidden potential among the young players. “It is the endeavor of the present government to hold such mega sports events in the state which is vital for encouraging and harnessing the budding sports talent besides giving required exposure to the youth,” he added. |
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Friends club to hold cricket tourney
Jammu, September 10 This was stated by Susheel Jamwal, vice-president, FCCI, while convening a meeting of committee members. He said the tournament would be played on knock-out basis followed by T20 format wherein 50 teams would compete for the mega title. The winner team would receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh while the runner-up team would get Rs 51,000. |
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Udhampur win U-14 cricket tournament
Jammu, September 10 Batting first, Reasi accumulated 53 runs in the allotted 12 overs. In reply, Udhampur did the needful in 11.3 overs for the loss of six wickets. Additional SP Benam Tosh was the chief guest at the valedictory function who distributed prizes among the winners and runner-up teams vis-à-vis medals to all players. Meanwhile, MLA Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia awarded a cash prize of Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,500 to the winners and runner-up teams besides Rs 500 for Jammu team. The matches were officiated by Raj Kumar, Swarandeep Singh, Sunil Sharma, Shashi Sharma and Rajesh Sharma. The tournament was organised under the supervision of Sukhdev Singh, District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO), Udhampur. |
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Jammu lift U-19 cricket tourney
Jammu, September 10 Batting first after winning the toss, Jammu garnered 101 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 12
overs. Hishan was the notable contributor with 46 runs. For Kishtwar, Daood and Mubashaer grabbed three and two wickets,
respectively. In reply, Kishtwar could manage only 81 runs in their allotted quota of 12 overs for the loss of nine wickets. Burhan played a gutsy knock of 25 runs while Hinan made 13 runs. For Jammu, Ramandeep was the wrecker-in-chief with a four-wicket haul while Sidharth snared three wickets. On the valedictory function, SP Kishtwar BS Tuti gave away the prizes. |
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Four gamblers held
Jammu, September 10 On a tip-off, the police conducted a raid at Sanasar and arrested the four persons. The police seized playing cards and Rs 1,050 as gambling money from the spot as stake money. The investigation of the case is in progress and efforts are on to apprehend more gamblers. |
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