Jammu, March 21
Citizens Forum has taken exception to misbehaviour by erring minibus conductors with university and college female students in the winter capital and requested the Director General of Police (DGP) to deploy more policemen to take action against the culprits.

The forum, at a meeting held under the chairmanship of its president RK Chadha here today, said DGP Ashok Prashad should order posting of adequate policemen, including traffic cops, who should ensure that minibuses stop outside the university campus and girl colleges for quite some time to let the girl students board these and be seated properly before the buses move on.

Chadha said some university girl students and their parents had complained to him and some other members of the forum that instead of stopping the minibuses at the stop outside Jammu University campus to let the girl students board the buses and be seated properly, the drivers keep the minibuses moving at slow speed and as the girl students board the same, the conductors push them inside, often touching them inappropriately.

“This is highly objectionable and should be strictly dealt with by the police and other law enforcing agencies,” he demanded.

The forum took exception to minibuses playing high-pitched music and songs, particularly those blaring vulgar songs, which causes embarrassment to female passengers.

Jammu, March 21
National Secular Forum (NSF) today alleged that some government and private schools of Jammu region, in connivance with officials of Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), were encouraging mass copying in the current higher secondary school examinations.

The forum urged the Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who holds the charge of School Education Department, for ordering a high-level probe to look into the matter and initiate strict action against the guilty officials.

Talking to mediapersons, Sukhdev Singh, NSF state vice-president, alleged that several instances had come to their notices where mass copying was being encouraged by government and private schools in the higher secondary school examination, that too, with the active involvement of JKBOSE officials.

“It is highly unfortunate that senior board officers, especially Joint Secretary (Examination), JKBOSE, have failed to take corrective measures despite the fact that they were informed about mass copying in various government and private schools at Manwal, Kathar, Khoon, Nagrota and other parts of the region,” he said.

The NSF leader claimed some private schools had allegedly paid a hefty amount to the board officials and teachers on duty for allowing mass copying at exam centres set up inside their school premises.

“It is grave injustice with poor and deserving students and it will have serious ramifications in future. The malpractice can’t be tolerated at all,” Singh said.

He demanded that Joint Secretary (Examination) of JKBOSE should be removed from his post for his failure to take stern action against the schools encouraging mass copying and warned that the forum would launch massive protests against the School Education Department if corrective measures were not taken to check mass copying in the examination.

Rajouri, March 21
World Arbor Day was celebrated by Social Forestry Division Rajouri, at Palma village here today. RS Jasrotia, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Jammu West Circle, Rajouri, was the chief guest while Col Sanjeev Soni and Dr K Anand Divisional Forest Officer, Rajouri division, were the guests of honour on the occasion.

RK Saraf, Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry division, Rajouri, explained the historic background of World Arbor Day and importance of forests. He appealed to the people to protect and plant more trees on degraded areas as well as farmlands.

Speaking on the occasion, RS Jasrotia applauded the efforts of Social Forestry Division Rajouri towards protecting trees and encouraging institutional plantations. He stressed on the need to plant more and more trees for environmental conservation.

Col Sanjeev Soni thanked the department of social forestry for selecting the areas of plantation. Dr K Anand also appreciated the task of plantation carried out by the Department of Social Forestry at Rajouri. He gave a brief account of the importance of forests for the survival of mankind.

A large number of saplings were planted on the occasion. Among others, Neelam Sahni, District Soil Conservation Officer, Jasbir Singh, Divisional Manager, SFC, Rajouri, Mohd Bashir, Range Officer, Rajouri, Gulshan Kumar, Range Officer, Lamberi, Mohd Maqbool Mir, Chander Parkash and a large number of Army jawans were present on the occasion. — OC

Jammu, March 21
The proposed draft of sports policy of J&K State Sports Council has stressed on provision of equal opportunities to women in the field of sports besides taking necessary steps to meet sporting needs of special sportspersons.

The proposed draft has put women sports under Special Sector Games wherein the competitions will be held at Block, District and State Level.

Further, women teams would also participate in various games in national-level women sports competitions under the centrally sponsored scheme Panchayat Yuva Khel Aur Krida Abhiyan (PYKKA).

The draft further claimed that every year, 15 best sportswomen will be honoured and rewarded under Madri-Meharban Sports Award for winning medals in national competitions. The details of the award will be notified by J&K State Sports Council.

The draft has also emphasised on strengthening of rural sports in a bid to provide ample opportunities for rural youth to prove their worth at higher levels. With a vision for promoting excellence in traditional sports like polo, archery, mud wrestling and tug-of-war, emphasis has been laid on developing facilities for coaching in the rural areas of J&K, particularly in Leh, Kargil, Kupwara and Bandipora.

Competitions will be organised for sub-junior, junior and senior levels in specific disciplines for rural areas and talent would be scouted for and nurtured in coaching camps. Financial assistance will also be provided for achieving excellence.

Care is supposed to be taken to ensure that there are sufficient infrastructure, training facilities and competitive events to enable them to participate fully in sports. District and state level tournaments will be conducted in various games for special people through state sports associations. Special sportspersons will be provided all facilities equal to their general counterparts, it has been stated.

The sports department will host or give financial assistance to associations for conducting national, regional and state level sports events besides organising popular invitation tournaments in core sports to give more exposure to the state sportspersons, it has been stated. Besides, it will enable sportspersons of the state to compete with the best in the country.

Jammu, March 21
Minister for Road and Buildings, Abdul Majid Wani, has cautioned contractors against delinquency and delay in executing and completing road projects. Wani has also asked them to start works on time, maintain standards and complete projects within the stipulated time frame.

The minister was speaking to a group of deputations from Jammu and adjoining areas. The deputations highlighted several issues pertaining to their areas and presented a memorandum of demands to the minister for his consideration. They also expressed concern over complacent approach of some contractors in executing projects.

Responding to the demands, Wani assured deputations that their genuine demands will be given due consideration and these will be taken up in due course. He said several schemes were under execution in Gandhinagar, Bhathindi and adjoining areas to improve the road infrastructure.

He added that three schemes under NABARD and one scheme under PMGSY phase VIII were under execution in Bathindi area, adding that drainage works on Bathindi and Trikuta Nagar nullah were also being executed.

Regarding taking up of several link roads for upgradation and connecting isolated habitations, the minister said left-out habitations will be brought under the PMGSY core area network and work on these roads will be taken up soon.

The minister also gave directions to the Chief Engineer to examine the issue raised by the deputations regarding delay in execution of certain works by the contractors and take necessary action in this regard so that all works taken up get completed in time. He asked the Chief Engineer to ensure that funds were sanctioned and available for the projects before they were allotted to contractors for execution.

Minister for Horticulture, Housing and Culture, Raman Bhalla, was also present on the occasion. He highlighted several road and drain projects that have been completed and are under execution in Gandhinagar constituency and adjoining areas.

Jammu, March 21
Jammu Private Schools and ETT Institutes Association (Progressive) has expressed concern over the allegedly casual treatment meted out to the education sector by politicians in the state.

The association said merely declaring education as priority sector was not enough. President of the association, Deep Singh, said nobody was serious about doing anything to reverse the constant failure of the state government when it comes to bringing about reforms in the education sector.

Commenting on the ongoing activism of the state government towards monitoring of private schools, Deep Singh termed it as an exercise lacking sincerity and proper planning.

“Even our Deputy Chief Minister holding charge of the School Education Ministry lacks a proper working system while dealing with important affairs related to education including miseries of stakeholders,” he said.

“Merely declaring the field of education as a priority sector is not sufficient; it needs priority treatment. Absence of required rules as on date in the old J-K Board Act 1975 and rampant political intervention in sensitive board affairs including appointment of corrupt officials at the top level is sufficient to know the intentions of our ruling class towards academics across generations,” he stated.

Jammu, March 21
The Socialistic Democratic Party (SDP) today staged a protest against the allegedly apathetic attitude of the state government towards education in Doda district. Sanjay Manhas, district president, SDP, who led the protest, claimed in his address that education in Doda district was in a shambles.

He added that despite upgradation of higher secondary schools in the district, staff has not been arranged nor has infrastructure been provided to run affairs of these “upgraded” institutions.

SDP leaders raised slogans against the government for allegedly ignoring the hill district. Manhas said in absence of proper infrastructure, the upgraded schools were not functioning properly. He also demanded immediate allotment of staff and infrastructure for these schools.

Shishu Parihar, Kailash Bharti, Anil Kumar and Bupin Kumar also spoke on the occasion.

Dhanga Kot (Reasi), March 21
Now, MNREGA workers will get more money, with the Jammu & Kashmir government announcing revision in their daily wages from April 1.

Under the recent wage revision, workers will be paid the maximum daily wage of Rs 150 in the state of Jammu & Kashmir; this was announced by Vikar Rasool, Minister of state for Technical Education, Power, and Social Welfare in a public grievances camp at Dhangakot in Reasi district today. The minister also announced revision of funds under IAY from Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 per beneficiary.

Earlier, various sarpanches and panches from Gran Morh, Sadi, Bhamag, Bakel, Sar Mega, Ser Sundwa etc apprised the minister of the demands and difficulties of their respective panchayats.

They projected several demands related to potable drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, better road connectivity, construction of road from Gran Morh to Sarhi, medicines for various sub-centres of Bhamag area, high-capacity transformer for Bhamag, and pending wages for casual labourers of PDD and PWD departments.

The minister assured the people that all their genuine demands and problems would be taken up on a priority basis.

The minister also called upon the sarpanches and panches to sensitise the people about schemes meant for socio-economic development of people, especially of remote hilly and far off-areas of the state.

The minister directed the Executive Engineer PMGSY to speed up the work on construction of various road projects besides asking executive engineers of PWD and PDD to dispose of the issue of pending wages of casual workers as soon as possible.

During the camp, the minister was accompanied by MLC Jugal Kishor Sharma, Nabab Din ACR Reasi, Rakesh Badyal ACD Reasi, Sharif Chowan ASP Reasi and other district officers.

Katra, March 21
A narcotics smuggler has been arrested and 710 gram cannabis recovered from him in Katra, base camp of Vaishno Devi Shrine, police said on Thursday. Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted Partap Singh at Kadwal in Katra belt of Reasi district last evening , ASP Katra Mohan Lal said.

During checking, 710 gram cannabis were recovered from him, the ASP said, adding that the smuggler was taken into custody and a case under NDPS Act was registered against him.

Further investigation in the case is on, he said.

Jammu, March 21
Minister for CAPD and Transport, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, today said the coalition government had launched various welfare schemes for the downtrodden in the state for strengthening their socio-economic status.

The minister was speaking at a function organised by Lions Club, Kathua Royal Kings. The minister asked the people to avail the benefits of these schemes, adding that uplift of weaker sections of the society was the priority of the government.

He said Social Welfare and Rural Development departments had already widened their network across the state to cover all the habitations of rural and urban area to provide immediate succour to these people.

Referring to the contribution of NGOs towards the weaker sections of the society, the minister said their contribution had a greater role in their uplift.

Ramzan said the Lions Club had worked hard for humanity and brotherhood in the past across the state and hoped they would work with the same zeal in future too. He recalled the contribution of the Lions Club unit Srinagar in the 80’s and asked them to open a full-fledged unit there to meet the aspirations of the weaker sections who became the first victims of the two-decade-long turmoil in the Valley.

He asked them to widen their network in far-off areas of the state so that people in every area were benefited. The minister directed the panchayat representatives (PRs) to play their role in socio-economic development of the state.

Jammu, March 21
On the eve of World Arbor Day, the zonal office of J&K Bank, Doda, today organised a plantation drive at Government Degree College here. District Development Commissioner (DDC), Doda, Farooq Amhed Khan was the chief guest on the occasion.

Mohammad Abhrahim Wani, Zonal Head, J&K Bank, Doda and ZA Hashmi, principal of the college, were the special guests. DDC Doda, in his address, highlighted the importance of plants and forests in maintaining the eco system. He stressed upon the need for realising the importance of forests and said the society should change the negative attitude and try to save green gold for future generations. Farooq also said mere planting a tree did not serve the purpose unless it was taken proper care of.

Wani also highlighted the role of J&K Bank in undertaking various developmental activities as its corporate social responsibility. The bank was celebrating its Platinum Jubilee year and it was in this context that the bank had undertaken a number of socio-economic programmes for the development and welfare of society, he added. aMeanwhile, similar functions were also held at Udhampur, Kishtwar, Ramban, Batote and Bhaderwah. 

Rajouri, March 21
In its continued efforts towards improving the standards of education in backward and remote areas of Kalakote in Rajouri district, Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, under the aegis of Tain Sector, distributed furniture and sports items to schools located in remote and backward areas today.

The beneficiary schools included Government High School, Androla, Government Middle Schools, Nakka Gujjrian (Dhaleri), Panhar (Kalakote), Dali and Beragoa. While distributing the furniture, a spokesman of the Army said this year, on the request of the local population, the Army had focused on the infrastructural development of schools located in remote areas so that the children, who generally did not get any exposure, get access to better educational facilities.

Headmasters of the above mentioned schools said during the cold winter season children had to sit down on the floor, but now they would be able to sit on benches and desks. Students too expressed their gratitude towards the Army.

Rajouri, March 21
‘Baroo Baba Janki’, a religious procession, passed through the old city of Rajouri today with religious fervour and enthusiasm.

The festival of ‘Baroo Baba Janki’ celebrations starts a week before the main function of Holi every year. According to an elderly man of Rajouri, “It’s an old saying that there was a time when Rajouri had been facing droughts and dryness for successive years and people started dying owing to starvation and scarcity of water. At that time, Baroo Baba saved this part from droughts.”—OC

Jammu, March 21
A day-long ‘Bunny’s Camp’ was organised at May Fair Higher Secondary School, Chand Nagar. About 100 students from two branches of the school participated in the camp, which was inaugurated by the chairman of the school, Vijay Basur.

Dr Gurcharan Singh Ghai, State Headquarter Commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides, Jammu, was the leader of the camp while Lalita Chadha and Neeru Talwar assisted him. Story-telling and other activities were conducted during the camp.

Other staff members who were present in the camp included Renu Sharma, Ritu, Kamaljeet Kour, Poonam, Samreen, Shivani, Monika and Sunita Safaya. The parents of the students appreciated the efforts of the school management for organising the camp.—TNS

Jammu, March 21
Gulfam Saleem and Rifat Saleem clinched the U-17 and U-15 girls’ titles respectively, in the ongoing badminton tournament, being organised by J&K Armed Police, under the Civil Action Programme.

In U-17 final, Gulfam got the better of Arushi Jamwal in straight sets by 21-17, 21-15. Earlier, in the semifinals, Gulfam trounced Haneet Sawhney while Arushi overcame the challenge of Vithita Gupta.

In girls’ U-15 age group, Rifat Saleem notched up straight sets win over Ayushi Jamwal. In the semifinals, Rifat beat Samiya Aziz whereas Ayushi registered a 2-0 win against Jeevan Jyoti.

The veteran (above 55 years) men's title went to KDS Jamwal, who won against Surinder Gupta, by 2-1 sets. Earlier in the semifinals, KDS Jamwal trounced RS Sodhi while Surinder Gupta trounced Rakesh Bhasin. Meanwhile, in u-15 boys' category, Raghav Dogra will play against Bhuveshwar Singh in the final. In the semifinals played today, Raghav beat Karan Partap while Bhuveshwar drubbed Arjun.

In open girls’ category, Prabjot will take on Diksha in the title clash. Earlier in the semifinals, Diksha beat Akanksha and Prabjot pipped Megha.—TNS

Rajouri, March 21
In the ongoing Inter-Departmental Tourney at Baba Gulam Shah Badshah University, final matches of Badminton women’s and men’s singles and doubles were held on Wednesday.

In the final event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Irshad Ahmed Hamal was the chief guest while Dean of Students Mohammad Rashid Chowdhary, Special Secretary to Vice-Chancellor Suneet Gupta, in charge Deputy Director of Physical Education and Sports Mohammad Din, staff and students were present on the occasion.

Prof Hamal was introduced to all the players taking part in the games, following which four matches were played in women’s single, women’s double, men’s single and men’s double category.

In the women’s doubles, Sonalika and Priya Bandral won the title by defeating Osheen and Nausheeba, while in men’s double, Haroon Rashid Chowdhary and Wassal defeated Ankit Dabur and Gaurav Singh. In women’s singles, Sonalika defeated Osheen while in men’s single, Tariq Aziz defeated Kashish Kapoor.

Organised by the Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, the badminton matches were held in the playground of the university.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Hamal lauded all the winners and the games played by all contestants. He said games were very important for overall development of the scholars and this was why the university was focusing on co-curricular activities.

He was highly impressed with the players who performed efficiently in the games, he added.

Jammu, March 21
J&K team’s woes continued as it suffered yet another defeat in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This time, J&K lost to Delhi by 17 runs and it was their third defeat on the trot. Delhi, with 12 points from three matches, has advanced into the knock-out round of the competition, which will be held in Ranchi.

Batting first after winning the toss at the Tri Oval, Delhi accumulated 133 runs for the loss of six wickets. Sehwag again failed to click with the bat as he was dismissed for paltry 4 runs. He was caught brilliantly by Ahmed Bandy off the bowling of Parvez Rasool. Skipper Rajat Bhatia (3) was also dismissed cheaply as Humaid Ronga took a fine catch off Rahil Sombayal’s bowling.

Unmukt Chand played a defiant knock of 23 runs with the help of four boundaries but lost another senior partner in Puneet Bisht (10) who hit a mighty heave for the maximum.

Left-hander Jagrit Anand (34) and Milind Kumar (40) added 69 runs to steady the ship before the latter got out trying to cut Rasool.

In reply, J&K could manage only 116 runs, losing nine wickets in their allotted quota of 20 overs.

J&K lost out on the chase once Rasool (26) was caught in the deep by Parvinder Awana off left-arm spinner Manan Sharma. Bhatia was the most successful bowler with figures of three for 26 while Parvinder Awana and Vikas Tokas shared two wickets apiece.