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HC breather for patients
Fresh Western Disturbance brings rain to Kashmir
People walk with umbrellas during light showers in Srinagar on Tuesday. Photo: Yawar Kabli |
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Malnutrition: Anganwadi centres under HC scanner
Organic gardening gaining popularity in Valley
Study finds 15 pc married couples childless
Rural infrastructure to get focused attention: Dy CM
Forest Dept to initiate action against non-performers
Srinagar school wins first prize in national competition
Student of APS, Srinagar, receives prize in New Delhi on Monday. A tribune photograph
Katra welcomes announcement of direct train for holy town
Five injured in road accidents
Representation in the state legislature sought
Army rescues family from fire
Executive committee meeting held Traders seek return of Guru’s mortal remains PCC script win in cricket tourney Draft bill barbaric: Geelani
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HC breather for patients
Srinagar, February 26 Consultants in all the disciplines shall be ordered to stay within hospital premises, a Division Bench of the high court comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Hasnain Massodi observed in its detailed orders. The bench is hearing a public interest litigation filed in the wake of infant deaths at GB Pant Children Hospital early this year. “It is brought to the notice of the court that patients who are brought to hospitals during night hours face huge difficulties and even their lives are exposed to all kinds of risks because of non-availability of consultants,” the bench observed in its six-page orders. Observing that the human life is precious, and thus cannot be allowed to be endangered, the high court bench said, “All steps are to be taken to protect it.” “We therefore direct the principals of Government Medical College, Srinagar and Jammu, to take all necessary steps within a week from today and issue necessary orders so as to ensure that consultants in all the disciplines remain available in all the hospitals affiliated to these medical colleges during night hours,” the high court bench ordered. “The consultants in all the disciplines shall be ordered to stay within hospital premises,” the court said, directing the respective principals to submit compliance reports with regard to these directions within four weeks. Besides, the court has directed lawyer SH Thakur to provide necessary information with regard to the death of a boy who is alleged to have died because of non-availability of medical care in SKIMS Hospital. “Thakur submitted that because of non-availability of immediate medical care, one boy in the recent past died in SKIMS (Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences), Soura. Counsel to provide necessary information by filing an application in this behalf with advance copy to counsel for SKIMS
who will file response within four weeks to the said application,” the bench directed. |
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Fresh Western Disturbance brings rain to Kashmir
Srinagar, February 26 Rainfall was recorded in the summer capital and most parts of south and north Kashmir. In the city here, 0.6 mm rainfall was recorded since morning while Kupwara town in north Kashmir received 8.4 mm rainfall. In Qazigund, the southern gateway town to Kashmir valley, 0.4 mm rainfall was recorded since morning while Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir received 2.0 mm rainfall. The state Meteorological Department, which had earlier forecast fresh Western Disturbance will affect the weather for two days beginning Tuesday, warned of heavy rain and snowfall at a few places over the state during next 36 hours. The department further said moderate to heavy rain and snowfall would occur at most places over the state in next 24 hours while there would be decrease in precipitation in the subsequent two days. Meanwhile, Kashmir valley continued to remain in the grip of cold as the minimum temperature at many places dropped close to freezing point. In Srinagar city, the day temperature rose to a maximum of 9.3 degrees Celsius while the night temperature dropped to 4.4 degrees Celsius, an official of the department said. In Qazigund, the maximum temperature increased to 8.5 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature dropped to 1.4 degrees Celsius while in Pahalgam resort, the mercury rose to a maximum of 5.0 degrees Celsius and dropped to a low of 0.4 degrees Celsius. Mercury in Kupwara town rose to a maximum of 7.1 degrees Celsius and it dropped overnight to a low of 0.7 degrees Celsius, the official said. The famous winter skiing destination of Gulmarg in north Kashmir continued to remain the coldest place in Kashmir valley as the mercury there fell to a low of minus five degrees Celsius. |
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Malnutrition: Anganwadi centres under HC scanner
Srinagar, February 26 The committee comprising block level officers of the Social Welfare Department and Block Medical Officers with sarpanches of the respective areas as the ex-officio members will verify on ground if the benefits of these schemes run through Anganwadi centres reach the needy people, the high court said in its orders passed today. These directions were issued by Division Bench of the high court comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Hasnain Massodi while hearing a public interest litigation filed in the wake of infant deaths at the GB Pant Children Hospital early this year. Earlier on December 24, 2012, the court had directed the health authorities to file a detailed report about the types of malnutrition prevalent among pregnant women and newborns in Kashmir. The court had further asked if there were any schemes being run to address the problem. In the subsequent orders, the court had asked the Director, Social Welfare, Kashmir, to file status report about the schemes aimed at addressing the malnutrition of pregnant women and children. “The Social Welfare Department Director has filed affidavit wherein he has brought to the notice of the court the schemes presently in force for providing support and succor to the children and pregnant woman and woman falling in different age groups”, the bench said. “In order to ascertain whether benefits of the schemes do really touch the ground level and its benefits in their entirety percolate down to the needy people, we deem it appropriate to direct the DCs of all the districts of the state to ensure that at the local level where the Anganwari centres are functional, committees comprising block level officers of the Social Welfare Department and Block Medical Officers be constituted”, the high court said. Adding that the sarpanches of the respective areas be co-opted as the ex-officio members of these committees, the high court has further directed these committees shall verify as to whether benefits of these schemes reach the needy people or not and will report to the respective district social welfare officers, who have been directed to report compliance to the high court. “The committee (s) be constituted by the DCs within a week from the date of copy of this order is served. The Committee (s) to visit within one week thereafter the respective areas falling under their jurisdiction and submit report to the respective district social welfare officer, who shall file compliance report within four weeks before the court”, the court
said. During an earlier hearing in November last year, GB Pant Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Muneer Masoodi had submitted that infection in mothers’ womb and their malnutrition were the factors responsible for neonatal deaths at the hospital. The health authorities in their later response had submitted that the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) was being run by the Social Welfare Department in rural areas of Kashmir for over a decade to address the issues of malnutrition. Dr Masoodi had, however, expressed serious apprehensions over the implementation of ICDS scheme. “I doubt that the scheme is being implemented in its letter and spirit under the ICDS. This has become an industry now,” Dr Masoodi had told the court. |
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Organic gardening gaining popularity in Valley
Srinagar, February 26 With the Valley all set to welcome the spring season, flower seeds, bulbs and saplings have already started flooding the markets and sellers say people these days are also demanding organic products. “I have been selling organic spray oil for the past four-five years. Initially, buyers were not aware of this product but now its demand has increased as now a large number of people are aware of organic gardening,” said Abdul Rashid Dar, whose shop at Abi Guzar is frequented by lots of customers these days looking for seeds and saplings. Dar said with the popularity of Internet and cable television, people not only were now asking for new varieties but they had also become aware of the side-effects of using chemical pesticides. He said pansy F1 (large size), pholox star, calendula and dwarf primulla were among the popular selling flower varieties. Dar said there was “no end” to the number of flower varieties available these days. “Besides flowers, vegetable seeds too are in great demand as gardening has always been very popular here,” he added. Meanwhile, locals can also be seen buying usual flower seeds and saplings from a chain of roadside vendors on the Residency Road here. Rashid Ahmad, one of the vendors, said they were expecting the rush of buyers to increase in the coming days. “First, there were restrictions and shutdowns and then weather played spoilsport. Now that the situation is better and weather is expected to improve in a couple of days, we are hopeful of doing brisk business as usual,” he said. “Anyway, gardening here picks up in March but even at this time, people have started buying seeds and saplings.” Tabish Ahmad, a buyer, said: “I have been gardening for many years now. This year, I am planning to grow dwarf primulla. This flower variety is smaller in size but I was told that it won’t wilt till autumn.”
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Study finds 15 pc married couples childless
Srinagar, February 26 Childlessness, one of the most disastrous consequences of reproductive health disorders, is prevalent among 15 per cent of the total married couples in the Valley, according to the study. A sample population of 10,063 married couples from six districts (administrative units) of the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Anantnag and Pulwama, were interviewed for primary infertility. Of these 10,063 couples, 1,517 (15.07%) had infertility. Of the 1,517 infertile couples, 469 (4.66%) had infertility that was unresolved at the time of the survey. All the married couples were in the age group of 15-44 years. Interestingly, Srinagar and Budgam (urban districts) based couples have more precedence of infertility than the couples from rural areas. Of 3,750 married couples surveyed from Srinagar, (the district which has more population than other districts), 613 couples were found out to be childless with an average of 16.35per cent. 56 Srinagar-based couples has unresolved (un-treatable) infertility problems. From Budgam district, of 1, 106 couples who participated in the study, 202 couples (18.26 %) were found to be infertile. 51 couples (4.6 %) had unresolved infertility problems. Baramulla district of north Kashmir too was surveyed and of 1, 165 married couples from the district, 169 (14.51%) had infertility problems. Of these cases, 58 couples (4.98%) had unresolved infertility
problems. In Kupwara district, 1, 298 married couples took part in the study of which 172 couples (13.25%) were found to be childless. Unresolved infertility cases stood at 4.31 % among 56 couples. In Anantnag and Pulwama, the infertility rate among couples stood at 13.42 per cent and 12.84 per cent, respectively, whereas the unresolved infertility cases were found among 4 per cent and 3.29 per cent of the couples surveyed. Valley’s leading endocrinologists who conducted the study took the case studies of 250 married couples who were facing the problems of unresolved infertility and found out that 56 couples (22.4 %) had infertility due to male factor whereas 144 couples (57.6%) cases had infertility due to female factor. Comparing the study conclusions with the global standards of infertility, the study found that the lack of awareness and problems in seeking right consultation are the major causes which have led to delayed treatment of infertility among married couples in the Valley than the other countries. “For the same reason, the duration of infertility was longer (5.04 + 3.69 years) for our subjects. About 19 per cent of our couples had infertility of 8 years, whereas in developed countries, only 7 per cent have infertility of 8 years,” Dr Shariq Masoodi, Additional Professor, Department of Endocrinology, who was one of the team members of this study, said. |
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LPG home delivery yet to take off
Anantnag, February 26 “The distributors were told to start with Anantnag and Dooru towns from February 15,” reports said. However, locals said the distributors had taken no steps so far to ensure home delivery of the cooking gas cylinders. “We still get the regular once in two month’s supply,” said Javed Ahmad Mir, a resident of Dooru area. “We are forced to wait in long queues, despite the orders by the district administration.” Residents of Anantnag said they were facing acute shortage of cooking gas after the fate of the new home delivery system hangs in air. “The distributors have stopped delivering gas even in the regular manner, citing the home delivery system as a reason,” said Mubashir Ahmad, a resident of Anantnag. Residents of rest of the places in the town said the idea seemed a far-fetched one to them. “They have failed to implement it in just two of the identified towns. No one knows when they will implement the system in all the towns and villages of the district,” said Mukhtar Tak, a resident of Bijbehara. The district administration, however, maintained that shutdowns, curfew and the snow had kept the distributors from starting the system. “A meeting was called today and all stake holders attended it,” said Ghulam Muhammad Dar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag. He said the distributors were told to commence the home delivery system in Anantnag and Dooru towns by March 1. “It will not stop there. We are going to make home delivery of cooking gas mandatory in every part of the district,” Dar said. |
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Rural infrastructure to get focused attention: Dy CM
Jammu, February 26 He said mega projects had been launched all across the state to develop rural packets on modern lines and to take the development revolution to every nook and corner. “Exemplary development initiatives initiated by the government clearly show seriousness of current dispensation towards all round development of the state,” tara Chand said. Continuing with the drive to reach out to people and bring administration to their doorsteps, Tara Chand conducted a two-day extensive tour to different areas of constituency and convened a series of public rallies and inspection of various ongoing development works. Lauding unprecedented support of the Central Government, the Deputy Chief Minister said with the help of liberal funding, major development initiatives had been taken and the state government had launched mega projects for all round development of all the three regions of the state. “Completion of these prestigious projects would go a long way in addressing development aspirations of people of the state,” he added. He said two cluster model villages had been sanctioned and work on the same was going on at fast pace. All the villages coming up under these clusters would be developed on modern lines with required infrastructure, he added. He said with completion of the cluster model village project, 31 villages of Pallanwala area would be facilitated with several specialised schemes in education, health, communication sewerage and drainage, agriculture and above all provision for a bus terminal and development of tourist attraction spots in the area. |
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Forest Dept to initiate action against non-performers
Srinagar, February 26 “Question of giving any free hand to forest smugglers does not arise at all. The Forest Protection Force (FPF) has not lowered its guard or vigil in any place of Kashmir valley,” Joint Director, Kashmir, Mian Javed Hussein said. “Our troops are placed at their assigned locations to guard the green gold of the Valley,” he added Hussain said sporadic incidents of minor forest thefts could not be ruled out which do take place in remote inaccessible pockets especially during night hours for domestic requirement of firewood by local inhabitants. “Import of foreign timber and its consumption to the tune of over 30 lakh cubic feet in Kashmir valley during 2012-13 (up to mid Feb, 2013) is a clear indicator of the forest protection scenario in the Valley which is a top priority of the state government,” he said. The FPF gives assistance to the Forest Department in the protection of forests at all times. “In light of a news item in The Tribune on February 25, all Deputy Directors of the FPF have been asked to enhance their vigil all over the Valley to prevent forest damages at all costs,” he said. “There will be no let up in our fight against the forest thieves and smugglers at any stage and stern disciplinary action will be taken against the non-performers. The FPF is fully geared up and in combat readiness to prevent any commercial timber smuggling in Kashmir. The force is stretched in every nook and corner of the Valley to ensure protection of forests,” he added.
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Srinagar school wins first prize in national competition
Srinagar, February 26 The participants were from all the CBSE affiliated schools of the country, in which Army Public School, Srinagar, emerged winners in the junior
category. The topic for the competition was: “Character is a long standing habit”. As per the directions of Dalhousie Public School, the competition was conducted in the school on December 14, 2012, in which the best three essays from both senior as well as junior category were scrutinised for final selection. Navleen Singh of Class VII was declared best essay writer and he received a cash award of Rs 3,000 at the India International Centre, New Delhi on
January 25 and a visit to the Rashtrapati Bhawn being organised for the awardees. Applauding the award winner and other participants in the event, Principal Sandeep Marhatta gave its credit to all the teaching faculty of the school. The school management appreciated the principal and observed that the attainment was evidently praise worthy and commendable. APS Srinagar has also bagged No 1 position in National Academic Excellence Award last year. |
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Katra welcomes announcement of direct train for holy town
Katra, February 26 They said it would not only boost the local economy but provide employment to thousands of people. While presenting the Railway Budget, Bansal said the direct train to Katra would run six-day a week while the stretch connecting the holy town to Udhampur was expected to the commissioned by May-June. It has been announced that there will be
'yatra slips' to pilgrims travelling by rail at the time of booking of the ticket saving their time, while undertaking the pilgrimage. Railway has already announced that
Jammu-Katra-Udhampur rail line will become operational by June. While the Katra station is almost ready, work on the Udhampur-Katra line is underway. Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the main Hindu pilgrim destinations, is set to become accessible by rail. Local MLA Baldev Raj Sharma said he welcomed the move by the Union Minister, "It will allow more people to reach the holy town, without having to travel from Jammu by road."
Rakesh Wazir, vice-president, Hotel and Restaurants Association, Katra, said an average of 25,000 passengers visit the town every day. “Commercial and real estate values on the station road have gone up five-to-six times during the last three years.” The railway budget has also approved railway line laying on
Bilaspur-Manali-Leh, Jammu-Poonch via Aknoor. — OC |
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Five injured in road accidents
Srinagar, February 26 A car collided with a
cab on the outskirts of the city near Nowgam resulting in injuries to car driver Ahsan Haqaq of Nowhatta, Srinagar, the spokesman said. In another accident, a bus rammed into a shop at Laroo village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district resulting in partial damage to the shop. An unknown vehicle hit and injured a man, identified as Firdous Ahmad Dar at Lethpora near Awantipora town. The injured man was shifted to a hospital
for treatment. A car collided with a motorcycle near Pattan town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district resulting in injuries to
the motorcyclist and the pillion-rider. Both the injured were shifted to hospital for treatment, the spokesman said. |
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Representation in the state legislature sought
Srinagar, February 26 Claiming that vote banks politics and ‘lobby for favoured candidates’ was choking Sikh representation in the state legislature, Raina said: “It is unfortunate that state government is not interested in resolving any issues of Sikhs. In Prime Minister’s job package not even a single Sikh in the Valley was appointed,” said Raina. He said many new forces were coming up in the political arena and that the National Conference-Congress coalition should do things to preserve their traditional minority vote. The APSCC had earlier warned that it would start a campaign if the government continued to ignore Sikh representation in the state
legislature. — TNS |
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Army rescues family from fire
Srinagar, February 26 The spokesman said a major fire tragedy at the village was averted by containing the fire to one house only with timely intimation and swift action by the Army. |
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Srinagar, February 26
Army Pubic
School (APS), Srinagar, has won the first prize in essay writing at the national-level competition conducted by Dalhousie Public School, Dalhousie (HP).
Navleen Singh of Class VII brought laurels to the school when his essay was adjudged best in the competition and was presented a cash award and a certificate at the International
Centre, New Delhi, where the award ceremony took place yesterday.
The figures in the first of its kind study on primary infertility causes among couples, as per doctors, might have undergone a slight increase up till now and therefore the study holds much relevance today.