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Govt claims fall flat on education front
Fervour marks Eid-ul-Azha in Valley
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with others offers Eid prayers at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar on Saturday. Tribune photo: Amin war |
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Lt Gen Parnaik lauds infantrymen’s indomitable spirit
Accession Day: Panthers Party plays pro-Dogra card
Kargil set to get regular air link
Minister for Transport and CAPD along with a team of officers from Mantra Airlines and Director Civil Aviation J&K at Kargil Airport. A Tribune photograph
Evacuation from Ladakh still a ‘gigantic’ task for ITBP
Partner institutions waiting for court verdict
Delhi Mayor with roots in Jammu felicitated
BSF guard dies
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Govt claims fall flat on education front
Jammu, October 27 This was revealed by the Directorate of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in response to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act filed by former education minister and Panthers Party legislator Harsh Dev Singh. The official documents stated that a target of 330 primary schools was set for upgrade in all the 22 districts of the state during the last financial year. “The achievement has remained zero as no school was upgraded since April 1, 2011, till July this year. Similarly, against the target of opening 397 primary schools, the government opened just 177 such institutions during the last financial year,” the documents revealed. Interestingly, the State Project Director had released 100 per cent funds meant for opening and upgradation of the primary schools during the period. “The SPD released 100 per cent funds against the approved amount of Rs 4,406.94 lakh for the opening of primary schools. Similarly, an amount of Rs 6,930.63 lakh was released for the upgrade of schools,” the documents stated. The Directorate also candidly admitted that the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had not approved the state government’s plan of opening and upgrading primary schools during 2012-13. “The Centre had recently turned down the state government’s proposal of opening 573 primary schools and upgrading 285 existing schools under the SSA program in the financial year 2012-13, following the sluggish and flawed implementation of the scheme,” a source said, adding that the state government’s proposal did not have a detailed location-wise plan and there was no information about the number of children in the habitation. Sources said the Centre also censured the state government for its failure in achieving the target of bringing 33,151 “out-of-school children” to schools in 2011-12. “The state government’s achievement was just 7 per cent in this direction. The total number of out-of-school children proposed to be covered by the state government during 2012-13 is 43,153,” said a source. There are presently 12,221 vacancies of teachers in the state, out of which 7,676 are in the state quota and 4,545 are under the SSA. |
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Fervour marks Eid-ul-Azha in Valley
Srinagar, October 27 The biggest congregation was held at Eidgah where nearly 30,000 people offered the prayers. The second largest congregation was held at Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was among the 25,000 devotees, sources said. Reports of large congregations were received from all district and tehsil headquarters of the Valley, the sources said. Although the congregational prayers passed off peacefully across the Valley, an isolated incident of stone throwing and protests took place at Sekidafar area in the old city, the sources said. They said a group of youth threw stones at a police and paramilitary personnel deployed on law and order duty. Leh: The festival of sacrifice, Eid-ul-Azha, was celebrated today with religious fervour in the town and its adjoining villages. Members of the Muslim community in their traditional dresses offered special prayers in the morning despite inclement weather. A large number of people gathered for prayers at Jama Masjid and Idgah in the town. Shia Muslims offered prayers at Jama Masjid under Imam Sheikh Abdul Kasim, while Sunni Muslims offered prayers at Idgah under Molana Omar Nadvi. Baqir Cho, a resident of Chushot village, said, “Celebrations of Eid-ul-Azha in villages is different and perhaps unique in the whole country.” — PTI/OC |
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Lt Gen Parnaik lauds infantrymen’s indomitable spirit
Jammu, October 27 He acknowledged their tremendous contribution in maintaining the sanctity of the nation’s borders and fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir where they are at the forefront having and have suffered the maximum number of casualties, besides earning many gallantry awards. Earlier, Lt Gen Parnaik laid a wreath at the Dhruva War Memorial at the Northern Command headquarters. Infantry Day was observed with traditional solemnity and gaiety all across the Northern Command. It was on this day in 1947 that India as an independent nation was first engaged in operations against an aggressor. The First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment commanded by Lt Col DR Rai was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from the invading tribals supported by the Pakistan Army. Maharaja Hari Singh, the then ruler of Kashmir, had asked India for military support. On October 26, 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the Instrument of Accession thus making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India and the Indian Army was thereafter ordered to evict the invaders. The entire campaign was predominantly infantry centric and its commencement on October 27, 1947, has been commemorated as ‘Infantry Day’. It would be recollected that the Pakistan Army had launched “Operation Gulmarg” in early October 1947 using tribals to annex Jammu and Kashmir. Hostilities began in early October 1947 when a tribal rebellion broke out in Poonch in southwest Kashmir. By October 20, the Pakistani Army entered the conflict in support of the tribal forces. On October 22, 1947, a Lashkar of five thousand tribals invaded the Kashmir Valley from Abbottabad. Tribal and Pakistani forces experienced significant success in the opening days of the conflict as they were able to take Domel on the first day and overpowered a Kashmiri battalion at Muzaffarabad by October 23. By October 26, 1947, they were in the vicinity of Srinagar. However, the Indian Army after landing in the state, exhibited gallantry and pushed back the invaders. Infantry, also known as the “Queen of Battle” is the backbone of any army and its soldiers bear the brunt of any battle. |
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Accession Day: Panthers Party plays pro-Dogra card
Jammu, October 27 Realising that residents of the region have high regard for late Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler, the Panthers Party took Congress to task for meting out ill-treatment to the late Maharaja by supporting Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and the National Conference. As the Congress leadership in the state, for quite some time, has been trying to play the pro-Dogra sentiments by recognising services of Maharaja Hari Singh, the Panthers Party seized the opportunity of Accession Day function to launch a counter attack on the Congress. A resolution was passed at the function in which the Panthers Party demanded an apology from the Congress for “humiliating, insulting and demonising” Maharaja Hari Singh, who had signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947. The Accession was accepted by Lord Mountbatten on October 27, 1947. Panthers Party chairman said it was unfortunate, instead of recognising the services of the Maharaja for merging Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union, the then Congress leadership had humiliated the last Dogra ruler. The Panthers Party also demanded an apology from the leadership of the National Conference and the Congress for launching “Quit Kashmir” movement against Dogras who were an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir. Bhim Singh said Dogras were the part and parcel of Jammu and Kashmir but National Conference leaders had launched “Quit Kashmir” movement to throw Dogras out of Kashmir. It is believed that the Panthers Party has decided to aggressively play the pro-Dogra card to consolidate its position in the Jammu region. Although the party has been directly targeting the Congress leadership, its leadership also wants to fill the political vacuum created due to split in the state unit of the BJP. “The BJP is almost wiped out from the political scenario of the Jammu region after the cross voting episode. Now, we want to fill the vacuum by aggressively playing the pro-Jammu card,” said a senior member of the party. In the resolution, the Panthers Party also demanded an amendment in Article 370 to empower the Parliament to legislate in respect of Jammu and Kashmir. Chairman names successor Singh declared that the delegate session of the party would rectify the same on the party’s foundation day on March 23, 2013. Singh has been the founder chairman of the party since its inception on March 23, 1982. Singh said new leadership was perfectly capable and fit to lead the party with its immediate agenda to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir state with delivery of justice and equity to all. . |
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Kargil set to get regular air link
Jammu, October 27 Yesterday, a high-level team of the Civil Aviation Department inspected Kargil airport along with Transport and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon to look into the possibilities of starting regular air service for this region. “I am hopeful regular air service would be started during this winter”, Akhoon, who is also an MLA from Kargil, told The Tribune over phone. He disclosed that the visiting team would submit its report to the Directorate-General Civil Aviation (DGCA) to take final decision on taking trial flight. The minister along with Director Civil Aviation Jammu and Kashmir and representatives of some private airlines landed at Kargil airport and looked into all possibilities of starting regular air service. “It is all due to the direction of the DGCA that the team today visited and inspected Kargil airport”, Akhoon said and added that he had earlier brought matter to the notice of the authorities concerned. The team also had meeting with the chief executive councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan, and discussed the possible help from the LAHDC Kargil for starting civil air service from Kargil. Akhoon, who had called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh two ago, had demanded regular air service for Kargil. “I have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister for air service”, Akhoon said and added that the Union government had also shown keen interest in connecting Kargil with regular air service. The Central government has already approved construction of Zojila tunnel on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway and foundation of this tunnel was laid on October 4 by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Akhoon during his meeting with Prime Minister has also apprised Dr Singh about the geographical and topographical conditions of Kargil, which remains cut off for more than six months from other parts of the country. “I have appealed Prime Minister for making necessary efforts so that people of twin districts of Kargil and Leh remain connected with the rest of the world throughout the year through air and road”, he said. |
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Evacuation from Ladakh still a ‘gigantic’ task for ITBP
Jammu, October 27 Though the ITBP personnel, who fall sick in such snow-bound posts, are evacuated by the IAF in Mi-17 helicopters, in case of their pressing domestic engagements, the ITBP has to go through the “procedure” approaching the Home Ministry for arranging copters. “The extreme cold weather conditions during winters take a toll on our men in forward posts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and whenever our men fall sick in such posts the IAF evacuates them in Mi-17 helicopter. But in case of inevitable engagements back home in the form of marriage ceremony of a sibling and serious illness or death of a family member, we face problems,” said a source in the ITBP. In such cases we approach the Home Ministry to provide us the copter, which takes time, added the source. Though the Home Ministry has been pondering over a proposal to spare one Mi-17 helicopter for the ITBP personnel in Ladakh region out of six with the BSF, presently our men in posts, which get cut off during winters, face a tough time whenever they have to go back home to attend pressing engagements, the source said. However, the Home Ministry has hinted that in near future one Mi-17 helicopter would be spared exclusively for the ITBP personnel in Ladakh, he added. He further said in the present set-up a considerable time is lost in getting sanction from the Home Ministry because of the “procedure”. The source said when neighbouring China has been treating its troops as an indispensable part of the system by providing best possible facilities to them, those at the helm of affairs in India should also bring their act together vis-à-vis ITBP personnel. The ITBP, as of today, has five battalions in the Ladakh region. One battalion has 1,300 personnel. The Tribune had reported today in its columns that 10 strategic posts of the ITBP having 1,500 personnel along the LAC in Ladakh region remain cut off for over six months every winter. The 3,488-km-long LAC between India and China runs through Himalayan states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. J&K alone is marked with 1,600 km of LAC with China. |
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Suspension of IGNOU programmes
Jammu, October 27 It may be mentioned here that The Tribune had reported that the Board of Management of IGNOU in its recently held 113th meeting had decided to cancel the fresh admissions for all the programmes of IGNOU under the convergence scheme in the partner institutions spreading across the country, including 25 in J&K. After that the students were directed to contact their respective Regional Centres regarding admissions and other necessary details. Sources said the decision of the Board of Management had adversely affected the admission process in partner institutions which had reached at half way stage at that time. Sources added that the management of partner institutions then approached the court to challenge the decision. Sources further claimed that the July 2012 admission figures had registered a steep decline due to the decision of the IGNOU management. Sources said due to this scheme, it was difficult for the Regional Centre to know the exact figure of enrolment of students in partner institutions for pursuing various programmes which later resulted into chaos like situation. “The decision came as a shocker to all the students because earlier, there was no need to go to the Regional Centre in Jammu to seek admission but now it has changed all of a sudden after this decision,” said Firdous, a students from Doda. “In fact, we are praying for the verdict of the high court in favour of the partner institutions so that students of far flung areas will not suffer much because it is difficult for them to attend regular classes in Jammu due to poor economic condition,” said Azhar, a student from Mendhar. Meanwhile, Prof K K Bhat, Regional Director of IGNOU Regional Centre, Jammu, told The Tribune that no decision had been taken regarding the scheme. “Yes, no breakthrough has been achieved yet and the matter is still to be decided,” he added. The convergence scheme was jointly conceived by University Grants Commission (UGC), IGNOU, Distance Education Council (EDC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the guidance of Ministry of Human Resources Development. There are around 441 partner institutions across the country running 100 programmes and approximately 45,000 students have been enrolled under the scheme. The partner institutions have benefitted a large number of rural students especially women students who are otherwise deprived of higher education/vocational education. |
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Delhi Mayor with roots in Jammu felicitated
Jammu, October 27 State BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas felicitated Savita at the function in which senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi and corporators of the Delhi Municipal Corporation were present. While expressing gratitude to the state unit of the party for giving her so much respect, Savita said it was indeed a day of joy and happiness for her for getting such a reception from her native place. She said, “Although I have been in Delhi for years but my soul and mind still live here.” “My memories of childhood still take rounds in my mind and I really miss my family, friends and neighbours and their blessings which took me to such a respectable position of Mayor,” she said. Jagdish Mukhi, while congratulating the people of Jammu for election of a Jammuities as South Delhi Mayor, said it was the simplicity, commitment towards party and zeal to work in an impartial manner which made Savita to take lead from others in her political line. He said whatever responsibilities were bestowed upon her during her first two tenures as councillor of the MC, she invited appreciation from one and all not only in the BJP but the general public too had praise for her and as a result of which she became Mayor. Manhas said Savita was born in a family that migrated from Kotli Mirpur to Jammu during the 1947 partition. BJP state vice-president Suresh Jamwal, district president Rajesh Gupta and state Mahila Morcha president Sakina Bano also spoke on the occasion.
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BSF guard dies
Jammu, October 27 He was posted at Naga post along the international border in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district of the Jammu region. “This afternoon, the guard complained of acute pain in his stomach and we immediately shifted him to the sub-district hospital in Ramgarh from where he was referred to Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu,” said a
BSF officer. The guard was immediately rushed to the Jammu hospital where he died, the officer added. The cause of death will be known after a post-mortem examination, the officer added.
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Barring a stray incident of stone throwing in the old city, Eid-ul-Azha was today celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety across the Kashmir valley.
Dressed in their best, devotees thronged mosques, shrines and Eidgahs (prayer grounds) to offer Eid prayers.
Jammu, October 27
During this winter, the Kargil district, which is a part of the cold desert of
Ladakh, is likely to be connected through regular air service because the Civil Aviation Department is set to take trial flight soon for this mountainous region.
In extreme weather conditions they guard vast frontiers with China 24X7 in the cold desert of Ladakh but whenever some pressing engagements crop up back home, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP) has to look up to the Ministry of Home Affairs for evacuating its personnel from posts, which get cut-off during the winter.
