Jammu, December 24
After struggling to recover from financial losses, Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) institutions are suffering due to sharp decline in admissions for new batches, the management of some of the institutes have now decided to close them, claiming that the authorities concerned are not keen to solve the issue. According to data available, the total number of ETT institutions in J&K is 489 including 454 in Jammu province and 35 in Kashmir province.

The Tribune had reported that ETT colleges had minimised their staff strength after there was a poor response to the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) notification regarding admissions for 2012-14 batch as very few students had turned up for enrolment in different colleges across the state.

According to sources, undecided fate of previous batches, non-resumption of examination process of 2008-10 batch and increase in formalities by the school education board for enrolment of students from outside the state for pursuing the course in ETT institutes are among the factors responsible for the prevailing chaos.

“We really feel sorry for the students. We have no option left but to close our institute because it is almost impossible to make up for our financial losses due to lack of concrete strategising by the school education board,” one of the owners of an ETT college told The Tribune on condition of anonymity.

“At the same time, we also have our sympathy with the employees of the colleges who have been sacked by the management due to lack of finance at their disposal to pay salaries,” he added.

“The managements of all ETT institutes have spent crores to develop necessary infrastructure including all necessary facilities and equipment required for its successful run, but if any institute having an intake of 150 students is getting less than 50 admissions, I don’t think it is wise to run it anymore,” another ETT institute owner stated. “The admission figures for the 2012-14 batch are ample proof of the present state of affairs. Keeping all this in mind, we are not ready to take any further risk now,” he maintained.

Jammu, December 24
The much-needed Expressway Corridor (flyover) from Bikram Chowk to Women College at Gandhi Nagar, which had to start this month, has jumped its schedule due to a delay in completion of bidding process. Now, the Rs 95-crore project would begin in March next year.

“Since the project has to be funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), the technical and financial bidding process will take time because of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Though we have started some ground work, the mobilisation of contractors is likely to begin in March next year,” Saurabh Bhagat, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), told The Tribune.

The proposed 1.3 km flyover will have four lanes. The project also includes widening of 1.5 km road from six lanes to eight lanes. The flyover work includes construction of two sub-ways and four bus ways. The ERA has been entrusted with task to complete the project. The flyover is supposed to be completed within three years.

“We are in the bidding process. We will approach the ADB following the technical bids which are expected to take place any time. The financial bid will be done thereafter,” the CEO said, adding, “As far as allotment letters to contractors are concerned, it will probably be done in March.”

The proposed flyover would be an elevated corridor comprising 38 pillars, two subways and four bus ways. After the construction of the flyover, the inter-state and inter-district traffic on the Kathua and RS Pura routes would be regulated through the flyover.

The CEO said they had already done some groundwork like dismantling of boundary wall of Kala Kendra. “The project is on track and it will be completed in time,” said Bhagat.

On July 7, the ERA had assured the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who visited the construction site of Bikram Chowk flyover to have spot information of various activities related to construction of Expressway Corridor, that work would commence from December. The project has been conceived by Shah Technical Consultants.

The district administration claimed that it had already settled the issue for rehabilitation of affected businessmen and had decided to rehabilitate them in SRTC complex, shift utilities of PHE, BSNL, PDD and forest department and look into the status of acquisition of 26 kanal land required for widening of road to eight lanes.

Jammu, December 24
Crime Branch Jammu today registered a criminal case against a fraudster and some revenue department officials, for their alleged for their involvement in cheating, fraud, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

An accused has been identified as Pyare Lal, resident of Sheetalgunj in Uttar Pradesh, who is presently residing at Channi Kamala in Trikuta Nagar extension.

The official spokesperson said a complaint had been received from Mohammad Sadiq, a resident of Channi Kamala, wherein he had alleged that Pyare Lal, in connivance with revenue officials, had managed a Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) by fraudulent means from the office of Deputy Commissioner, Jammu on the basis of which he purchased a plot at Channi Kamala and got the same mutated on his name.

Acting on the complaint, a case was registered against the accused and investigation was started.

Meanwhile, Crime Branch, Jammu, produced a challan against the accused, identified as Shahzad Ahmed Salaria, resident of Pandach, Srinagar presently Assistant Engineer R&B division, Ganderbal in Kashmir and Ghulam Mohd Malla, resident of Qammarwari in Srinagar, the then tehsildar of Ganderbal for hatching criminal conspiracy and indulging in preparation of fake Scheduled Tribe (ST) category certificate and getting undue promotion based on such fake category certificate.

Jammu, December 24
Saying farmers are the backbone of our economy, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir said Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) would be issued to the farmers of J&K to provide them hassle-free credit facilities at their doorstep.

The minister said this while addressing farmers on the occasion of Kisan Divas here today. The function was organised by J&K Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development Association (JKAEDA). He said the objective of launching KCC is to support farmers.

He said judicious implementation of schemes could revive the socio-economic conditions of farmers.

Hailing the initiatives of JKAEDA, the minister said it is due to the initiative of the coalition government that the voice of farmers is now being heard at the highest forums of the government and the major issues confronted at various levels have been resolved over the last three-and-a-half years. The government has established a Kisan Welfare Board which now acts as a bridge between farmers and the government, he maintained.

Referring to the demand for buffer stocks of fertilisers and setting up of Seed Corporation in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister said steps are being taken to find out ways and means so that farmers could get stock at the right time.

Jammu, December 24
As the entire nation is up in arms against the rape of a 23-year-old medico in Delhi, Jammu girls too feel that it is not safe for girls to move around freely in the region, especially late at night. The Tribune talked to girls from different sections of society to know about their experiences in Jammu.

Dhanak Gupta, student of Polytechnic College, Jammu said, “There is no night life in Jammu because of which it is said Jammu is a safe place. In fact, it is not that safe, because girls are not allowed to move around freely late in the evening. Though some might say the place is far better than metropolitan cities where rape cases are reported every second day, the place cannot be termed completely safe.”

Juhi Mohan, a research scholar of Sociology department of Jammu University, said, “We had done field research in which we found adolescent girls in Jammu remain a vulnerable lot, with 40% of these girls being sexually abused by their close relatives even before they turn 15. In such a situation, how can one say girls are safe here?”

Anupama, a student of Government College for Women, Parade, said, “Though it might be claimed rapes are not that common in Jammu, teasing girls is not a rare thing here. Girls face a lot of abuse in public places, especially mini-buses. All girls are not so bold as to report every incident of atrocity, so most of the cases go unreported.”

Neha Sodhi, a student of Government College for Women, Parade, said, “It is not that no rape case has ever been reported in Jammu, but very few raise a voice against it. There have been cases of girls being illegally sold and raped in Jammu region, but action is not being taken against them. Also, ours being a conservative society, girls prefer not to move out alone, that saves them from such incidents.”

Adarsh, a student of Polytechnic College, said, “Eve-teasing is a big problem for girls here. It is not the government that is responsible for everything, but the people have got to change their mindset.”

Jammu, December 24
Activists of Vichar Kranti Manch (VKM) today held a protest against alleged failure of both Delhi Police and administration to keep a check on eve-teasers. They also expressed concern over a recent gang rape in Delhi and demanded hanging of the culprits.

Office-bearers of the Manch stressed that the government should take preventive measures by installing CCTV cameras in private buses, besides issuing identity cards to all the conductors of these vehicles.

A large number of students drawn from University of Jammu, Government MAM College and other educational institutions joined the protest and highlighted their problems. The Manch demanded seriousness from the state government when it came to solving the issue.

Prior to the protest at Jammu Clun, student and youth wings of Vichar Kranti Manch also held a protest at University of Jammu.

Rajouri, December 24
A protest demonstration was held against a gang rape of 23-year-old woman in a running bus in Delhi a few days back. Students from various schools of the border district Rajouri had gathered in old city and marched towards the DC’s office today.

Students marched towards the tehsil and the District Development Commissioner’s office in Rajouri.

Shouting slogans against the Delhi Police and the Centre, who have failed to take any action against the culprits, young girls and boys from different schools said "We Want Justice".

Protesters who spoke to the media made it clear that they wanted to demonstrate peacefully and did not want any violence. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Sougat Biswas.

Jammu, December 24
Riding high on a scintillating ton of Rahul Mani, Singh Cricket Club (SCC), Akhnoor, got the better of Ward No 8 Cricket Club and entered the next round of the Christmas Cup T20 Cricket Tournament being played at Government Higher Secondary School ground, Akhnoor, today.

Winning the toss and elected to bat first, SCC piled up a mammoth total of 190 runs in the stipulated 20 overs losing 5 wickets in the process. Rahul Mani played a magnificent knock of 120 runs off just 45 deliveries. His whirlwind knock contained as many as 10 boundaries and 8 sixes. Dilawar Singh also contributed 28 runs.

For Ward No 8, Anil Gupta and Sunil Kumar shared two wickets each while Sandeep chipped in with one wicket. The Ward No 8 Club, in a reply, suffered a batting collapse and the whole team was perished for 77 runs in 18.4 overs.

Sham Singh Langeh was the pick of the bowlers for the winning side with a four-wicket haul while Dilawar Singh and Chandan bagged two wickets apiece.

The match was officiated by Rajinder Sharma and Sagar Verma as umpires while Abitash maintained the scoreboard.

Jammu, December 24
The ongoing four-day Ranji Trophy match between JKCA and HPCA has been tantalisingly poised as hosts JKCA batsmen made amends in their second innings to produce an impressive batting display. Resuming at precarious 16/3, hosts batsmen had shown application and played the ball on its merit at GGM Science College Hostel Ground here today.

After his heroics with the ball, Ram Dayal Punia exhibited an excellent display of his batting. He made 71 runs. PG Zargar also played an important knock of 83 runs to help JKCA post respectable 248 runs thereby taking a decisive lead of 234 runs.

For HPCA, VS Malik scalped three wickets while RR Dhawan, Karan Veer and MS Sharma shared two wickets apiece. In reply, HPCA lost a quick wicket of VA Sharma who was castled by Ram Dayal Punia.

At stumps, HPCA scorecard read 32 runs in 10 overs needing more 202 runs to win the match.