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Staff crunch hits services at Sogam hospital
Deaths due to negligence: Panel fails to meet deadline to file report
A view of the Lal ded Hospital in Srinagar. Photo: Yawar Kabli
Sports Council toughens stand against affiliated bodies
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Doubagh Plant
‘Anti-Islam’ film draws widespread condemnation in Srinagar
Youth fest ‘Aalaw’ raises voice against fake products
Protest enters cyberspace
‘Be Bouj’ dark humour enthralls audiences
Artistes enact a scene from play ‘Be Bouj’ in Srinagar on Friday. A Tribune photograph
NRHM meeting organised
Several leaders detained on way to rallies
Lawyers boycott work
CRPF jawan hurt in mishap
Artistes perform during Hindia Diwas function in Srinagar on Friday. A Tribune photograph
Body recovered
Car catches fire on road
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Staff crunch hits services at Sogam hospital
Kupwara, September 14 The only hospital caters to the needs of over four lakh people in the Lolab valley. The hospital requires 10 assistant surgeon, two gynaecologist, two
physicians, two paediatricians, three dental assistants and nine pharmacists. Despite efforts of the hospital authorities, the hospital also lacks space, water and electricity. The hospital receives over 150 patients in its Outpatient Department (OPD) from across 40 villages of Lolab valley. Block Medical Officer (BMO) Dr Mohd Iqbal said, “Despite staff shortage, we are trying our best to ensure better patient care at the hospital.” Due to lack of space, the hospital management is forced to accommodate two patients on one bed. The Directorate of Health Services had earlier posted a gynaecologist and an assistant surgeon at the hospital. "I am thankful to the director for providing us two doctors under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), enabling us to conduct important surgeries,” said Dr Iqbal. Patients from far-flung areas of Dardpora, Devar, Warnow, Gundmancher and Chandigam come to the hospital. The hospital has only two patient wards, one of which has been kept for post-operative treatment and other is the general ward. Work on the new building for the hospital has been going on since 2005. The solar lighting system installed by the Reliance group at the hospital a year ago have been lying defunct. The solar lights were installed at the cost of rs 50 lakh. “At times, we even have to get kerosene oil in case of power shortage at the hospital. The solar lights went defunct after 15 days of their installation. Despite repeated pleas, the lighting system has not been repaired," said Dr Iqbal. The doctors on night duty also face the problem of accommodation. “Three doctors on night duty have to stay in one room. Two residential quarters were demolished under the road-widening plan a few years ago," said Dr
Iqbal. |
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Deaths due to negligence: Panel fails to meet deadline to file report
Srinagar, September 14 Medical Superintendent, LD Hospital, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, who had earlier said that action would be taken against the team of doctors on duty on September 12, the day when a newborn and the mother died, would be taken after the panel submits its report. However, the committee led by Dr Shahnaz Taing is yet to furnish the details of the probe, even after 48 hours. Sources said investigations might bring forth the names of few senior doctors who could even face suspension from service due to alleged negligence. However, the authorities are tightlipped over the issue. “It might take few more days because we want to go into the details of the case. I have already said that death is possible in a complicated pregnancy case especially the IUD deliveries. If there have been any delays in the case, the same would be admitted and the culprits would also be brought to book,” Dr Mushtaq said. After protests on Wednesday, the LD hospital authorities had immediately attached the registrar of the hospital and formed a committee to inquire into the matter. Meanwhile, the police is waiting for the committee to file its report. “A case of criminal negligence has been registered. We are waiting for the LD hospital authorities to come clean on the doctors who were involved and due action will be taken,” SHO, Rajbagh Police Station said. |
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Sports Council toughens stand against affiliated bodies
Jammu, September 14 Sources said the Sports Council has warned the associations to prepare their audit reports in order to get the grant-in-aid besides asking them to conduct the elections which were due since long. The sources added out of the 48 affiliated associations, most of them had prepared their audit reports and were eventually entitled for the grant-in-aid. “We are already struggling to disburse financial aid among the affiliated associations owing to limited budget at our disposal,” said a source in the Sports Council. “Some of the affiliated associations are making a mockery of the rules and regulations of the Sports Council by not preparing their audit reports and conducting the elections,” the source claimed. The sources further claimed that the J&K Amateur Fencing Association, J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, J&K State Kho-Kho Association, Roller Skating Association, Body Building Association and some other associations have neither submitted their audit reports nor announce any date for conducting the elections, which were overdue. The sources added that all the affiliated associations were not even getting Rs 1 lakh as grant-in-aid for conducting their activities because the Sports Council gets an annual grant of Rs 40 lakh from the government for further distribution among all these associations. The sources said the J&K State Sports Council disbursed grants among affiliated sports associations for the financial year 2009-10 but when the associations did not respond to their notifications regarding the preparation of audit reports and conducting elections, the council decided not to provide grants to them until they follow the basic guidelines. The sources added that the associations which did not get grants for the financial year 2010-11 included the J&K Badminton Association, J&K Cycling Association, J&K Yoga Association, J&K Amateur Fencing Association, J&K Women Cricket Association, J&K Gymnastics Association, J&K Hockey Association, J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, J&K Kayaking and Canoeing Association, Amateur-Karate-do-Association of J&K, Mountaineering Association of J&K, J&K Water Skiing Association, J&K Squash Racket Association, J&K Veteran Athletic Association, J&K Taekwondo Association and J&K Tennisball Cricket Association. A senior official of the State Sports Council told The Tribune “the negligent attitude of the associations have compelled us to stop their grants.” “There is no harm in preparing audit reports and the council fails to understand why these associations are
taking things for granted,” he added. |
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Lack of maintenance dries up fruit juice production
Amin Masoodi
This has adversely affected the business of fruit growers in North Kashmir. Following the introduction of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), the plant produced 725 metric ton juice in 2005-06 valued at Rs 3 crore in the market but in 2010-11 only 90 metric ton of juice was produced and in 2011-12, the production of juice declined to 46 metric ton. Rust has eaten into the over three-decade old machines at the plant for want of maintenance. Since 1979, no machine was added, nor were the existing machines repaired, oiled or greased, which resulted in a drastic decline in production. “Not a single modern machine has been installed since 1979. Decades-old rusted machines were never been repaired, greased or oiled. Lack of maintenance has resulted in less production of juice over the years,” said Fayaz Ahmed Malik, president Fruit Growers’ Association. The plant was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in May 1979. The plant was equipped with sophisticated machinery and infrastructure. Few employees at the plant, however, attribute the decline in production to the overall decrease in the production of apple. “The decrease in the production of juice is mainly due to a decrease in the overall production of apple in North Kashmir,” said an employee. However, fruit growers contest the claim saying that the rusted machines did not give a suitable output and due to the discontinuation of MIS, fruit growers were suffering huge losses. “The machines are too old. After the discontinuation of MIS, raw material- (C grade apple) the supply of raw material to the plant also reduced, which added to the woes of the growers,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a fruit grower. Workers and operators at the plant claim that despite limited resources, they were trying to keep the plant going. “But modern scientific machinery should be installed at the plant to increase juice content and to enrich the taste,” a worker said.
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‘Anti-Islam’ film draws widespread condemnation in Srinagar
Srinagar, September 14 National Conference has termed the anti-Islam film as a “desecrating act”. “We strongly and resolutely denounce this desecrating act. This offensive act has added fuel to inter-faith enmity and conflict and has had an adverse impact on peaceful coexistence,” party spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said. He said such “offensive” actions provoked hatred and discord. The spokesman said posting of video clips in Arabic and English on the Internet is “unacceptable and people who do this are enemies of peace and humanity”. Hurriyat Conference, which had called for protests against the anti-Islam film today, has termed the making of the film as an “aggressive act by enemies of Islam”. Moderate Hurriyat faction chairman and the head of Jammu Kashmir Muthaida Majlis-e-Ulema (United Ulema Council) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the film. In a statement, the JKLF has termed the filmmaker, who is reportedly an American-Israeli, a “lunatic”. “It is better that such a patient should be admitted to a mental asylum,” the statement added. In a statement Jamaat-e-Islami said all those involved in “planning, producing, releasing and promoting” the anti-Islam film have hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims in every part of the globe,” Jamaat spokesman Zahid Ali said. He said that no one should be allowed to defame a historical personality in the garb of freedom of speech. He also welcomed a statement of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees president Ghulam Rasool Malik calling for a joint strategy to prevent recurrence of such events and charting out a joint protest programme. |
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Youth fest ‘Aalaw’ raises voice against fake products
Srinagar, September 14 The event was organised by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries
(FICCI) in collaboration with the School of Business Studies, Islamic University of Science and Technology
(IUST) and Kashmir Rotary Club. The festival was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, who was accompanied by the IUST Vice-Chancellor Prof AR
Trag, veteran journalist Brij Bhardwaj, FICCI joint director Meena Chandra and Rotary Club president Dr Amit
Wanchoo. Ghulam Hassan Mir, who inaugurated the festival, said the youth and the government should collectively work on spreading awareness about the ill-effects of counterfeiting on the Kashmiri products. “An initiative has to be taken which will create awareness among the people and subsequently will act as a process towards eradicating the menace of counterfeiting in our society,” he said. Mir said IUST being an autonomous body should come up with a course on counterfeiting. Prof AR Trag gave an introduction about the adulteration of products in Kashmir and its impact on the economy of the state. He appraised the gathering about the counterfeiting of Kashmiri saffron and its remedial measures. The one-day festival showcased many events, including the students’ participation in debates, painting competition and skits. The students highlighted the practice of counterfeiting adopted by various agencies in handicraft products. The event concluded with the distribution of prizes and certificates to the participants. |
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Protest enters cyberspace
Srinagar, September 14 Earlier the state government had stated that, such acts are aimed at causing discord among the people of different faiths. “Posting such video clips on the social media and networking sites is not acceptable in any society and the government is making efforts to ensure that such video clips are blocked and removed from the cyberspace.” Online forums created by the youth protesting against the 83-minute long controversial film are flooded with anti US and anti Zionist posts calling for peaceful protests. Many have replaced their profile pictures with black posters across social networking sites to protest against the film. Public events have been created on various online forums seeking an end to the US media supported anti-Islam imagery and film making which has created a furor in the Muslim world. “We must protest without giving haters another chance of taking to violence,” a human rights activist wrote on his Facebook profile. “We have to be careful at this point. Whatever is being said online may to lead to violence as in the past. Protest but peacefully,” Shaiykh Nouman Ali Khan, a cleric said. |
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‘Be Bouj’ dark humour enthralls audiences
Srinagar, September 14 Next in the line of plays is a Kashmiri play, written and directed by Showkat Shehri, and will be presented by the feroz cultural forum. The festival is being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Film Makers and Artists Cooperative limited in an effort to revive the cultural life of the state. |
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NRHM meeting organised
Srinagar, September 14 Minister for Science and Technology Syed Aga Ruhullah termed female foeticide an ugly evil, calling for a massive awareness programme to curb the menace. Ruhullah said awareness about various central and state schemes for the welfare of common masses, especially mother and child healthcare was imperative in developing an evil-free society. Budgam District Development Commissioner Khurshid Ahmed Shah urged for involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) to ensure effective implementation of various welfare schemes at the ground-level. |
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Several leaders detained on way to rallies
Srinagar, September 14 The leaders include Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was arrested by the police and lodged at a police station. He had called for protests after Friday prayers. A spokesperson of the Hurriyat faction said Geelani was arrested on way to the mosque where he was to take part in a protest against the controversial film. Moderate Hurriyat faction's chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also placed under house arrest and prevented from delivering his weekly sermon at Jamia Masjid, a spokesperson said. Yasin Malik, who heads a faction of the JKLF group, was also detained at his Maisuma residence and lodged at a police station to prevent him from taking part in the protests. Chairman of People's Political Party Hilal Ahmad War was also detained last night from his Maisuma residence and lodged at Kralkhud police station. |
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Lawyers boycott work
Srinagar, September 14 A spokesman for the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) said the decision to suspend work today was taken at the general body meeting of HCBA at the High Court here. “The meeting was called to discuss and adopt a course of action regarding the film made by a Jew producer in America,” the spokesman said. The spokesman said it was also decided at the meeting that the lawyers of the High Court as well as the lower court will not attend any case as a protest against the film. The lawyers marched from the High Court to the Lower Court and then to the city centre where a protest rally was held. |
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CRPF jawan hurt in mishap
Srinagar, September 14 CRPF constable BR Narzary was hit by a motorcycle at Aalochi Bagh crossing here. He was taken to a hospital. A case has been registered. In another incident, a pedestrian Rajinder Singh (50) of Amritsar in Punjab was hit by a bus at Mattan Chowk in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today. In the third incident, a passenger vehicle hit and injured a Wazeera Begum (42) at Dreyan crossing on the National Highway in Kulgam district. A case has been registered. |
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Radio Kashmir to promote Hindi
Srinagar, September 14 Radio Kashmir station head Vivek Singh said, “The station will release the new issue of the Hindi magazine ‘Srijan’ within next three months.” The station head earlier inaugurated the function organised in connection with the Hindi Diwas. Singer Muneer Ahmad Mir thrilled the audience by presenting Kalaam-e-Amir Khusroo and Kabir Vani. Academician and historian Dr TN Ganjoo presided over the
function with his keynote address. Nasreen Ali, Nida Nawaz, OP Sharma Vidhyarthi and Dr Nizamuddin later participated in a brief poetic
symposium. |
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Body recovered
The body of Showkat Ahmad Dar, a resident of Sozeith Guripora, Budgam, was recovered from the Jhelum in Pulwama today. Local residents fished the body out near Kachekoot village in
Awantipora.
The deceased was missing since September 9. The body has been handed over to the family. |
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The investigating committee enquiring in the death of a mother-child duo at Lal Ded Hospital has failed to meet its 48-hour deadline to submit a report.
The ongoing 11-day comedy drama festival at Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre (SKICC) kept the audiences glued to the stage with a Kashmiri folk play, ‘Be Bouj’, being staged by the Alamdar Bhagat theatre, Mohripora, Kokernag. The sixth leg of the comedy drama festival was a hilarious take on day-to-day problems being faced by an average Kashmiri. The theme revolved around the menace of corruption.
Sopore, September 14
“It is a very sensitive issue. It has hurt the religious sentiments of Muslim and enraged Muslims around the world,” Mirwaiz said in a statement issued here today.