Jammu, April 10
On the eve of Navratras, soaring prices of vegetables and fruits have begun to hit the pocket of the common man. A visit to vegetable and fruit mandis shows that the rates of vegetables have witnessed a sharp rise and are likely to further increase in the coming days.

Jammu, April 10
After drawing flak from various quarters for supplying spurious drugs to hospitals in Kashmir valley, the state government today directed the Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) to explore the possibility of roping in registered private laboratories for testing the government hospital supply of medicines, including injections.

The state’s Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan, while chairing a meeting convened to review the functioning of health institutions and implementation of the health schemes, including flagship National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Jammu region, said the health sector had been flagged as a priority sector by the government and efforts were on to upgrade health infrastructure and bring in more transparency and accountability in the working of health institutions in the state.

On April 5, the state government had placed under suspension the Controller Drug Stores Kashmir and constituted a three-member committee to hold an inquiry into the supply of spurious drugs in the government hospitals in Kashmir valley.

He said it was important that health centres operating in border and rural areas were provided adequate staff and equipment and added that NRHM was a flagship mission and its proper implementation in rural areas would go a long way in addressing the health care needs of people.

Khan directed Chief Medical Officers and Block Medical Officers not to leave their stations without seeking prior permission from the higher authorities and ensure that the health institutions under their control function smoothly.

He cautioned that any negligence in patient care would be viewed seriously. He instructed them to furnish the lists for setting up of new health centres in their districts, keeping in view the set norms in this regard.

He also called for timely procurement of quality essential drugs as per drug policy with a preference for generic drugs and added that the distribution of drugs and supplies to health institutions should be made on the basis of case load in each health institution.

The meeting was informed that deliveries in district and rural hospitals have been increased, which eased load on state-level hospitals.

The minister directed CMOs that utilisation certificates of the amount incurred under NRHM should be submitted to the government well in time for release of next instalments from the Centre.

He instructed that no attachments of doctors or paramedical staff should be made in any district without specific justification and directed CMOs concerned to submit lists of total strength of sanctioned posts of doctors showing the district-wise vacant posts for further action by the government.

Director ISM, Dr Abdul Kabir, Director, Health Services, Jammu, Madhu Khullar, Director NRHM, Dr Yashpaul Sharma, Chief Medical Officers and Superintendents of hospitals of all districts, Deputy Directors Health Services, Jammu, senior officers of Drug and Food Control Organisation, Health Services, Family Welfare, were among others who attended the meeting.

Jammu, April 10
All inter-state bus services of J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) today remained off the road in the wake of a strike by employees and workers in protest against the alleged “mismanagement” and failure of SRTC management to create necessary facilities for them at Srinagar.

The SRTC management has invited representatives of the striking employees for a dialogue to end the stalemate.

The striking employees were protesting against the alleged mismanagement in filling fuel in SRTC vehicles at Srinagar and non-availability of infrastructure for employees at Pantha Chowk in Srinagar, where, the government had assured the employees, a new building and bolstering of infrastructure for them last year.

“There is complete mismanagement vis-à-vis filling up of fuel in SRTC vehicles at Srinagar. The SRTC vehicles cover a distance of over 100 km from Sopore, Baramulla and Kupwara to get the tanks filled at Srinagar. The management should make suitable arrangements to get rid of this problem,” Shakeel Ahmed Kouchey, president, J&K SRTC Workers Union, told The Tribune.

The leader alleged the state government had occupied SRTC land near Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) Srinagar which had badly hit the business of the corporation.

“We were promised that the government would create alternate infrastructure for drivers, cleaners and other workers there. Despite the fact that the state government had allocated Rs 1.80 crore for the purpose, nothing has been done in this regard so far,” the leader said, adding that the management had invited the representatives for talks.

Jammu, April 10
In absence of a dedicated public transport system and owing to dependence of a major chunk of population on mini buses in the city, daily travel is not only frustrating but also harrowing.

Commuters risk their lives by travelling in these vehicles, not knowing whether they would reach their homes back safely. Blaring of high-pitch music by the drivers, overcrowding and reckless driving have become an everyday phenomenon.

Despite several drives launched by the traffic police to streamline traffic movement in the city, it seems there is no one to rein in these monsters on wheels, that move along with total disregard for rules.

Most of the drivers don’t follow the traffic lights, particularly at Bikram Chowk, Janipur, Kachi Chawni and Indira Chowk. The approved seating capacity of Tata 407 mini bus is 17 while for Swaraj Mazda, it is 21, but about 90 per cent of the mini buses are not strictly following the rules.

“Drivers and conductors are not wearing mandatory khaki uniform despite directions by the district administration. At times, high-pitch music makes drivers almost crazy and they speed up the vehicles, ignoring the fact that there are passengers inside,” said Mohan Sharma, a local resident.

The sudden parking by mini buses on the busy roads has become a major cause of traffic jams. Over-speeding by mini bus drivers, which has already claimed several lives, is another problem. The drivers compete with one another for passengers and pose a threat to their lives as well as those of pedestrians.

Traffic police personnel turn a blind eye to the violations, following rules of their own making.

“Even the traffic lights have not made any difference, as they run as per their wish, adding to the chaos. Illegal parking of vehicles and overtaking by rashly driven vans and buses is the norm of the day, while steps by personnel deployed on the roads to deal with the menace are few and far between,” said university student Sonali Kapoor.

At least 9 lakh vehicles are plying on the roads in Jammu and Kashmir, making the state one of the most vehicle-populated ones in the country.

Official figures say a total of 8,99,380 vehicles have been registered by the Motor Vehicle Department so far, while 1,49,648 vehicles were registered in the last two years. — TNS

Poonch, April 10
The Kanoyian Zonal Education Officer allegedly charged teachers for biodata feeding, an exercise which was to be done without charges. The matter has irked the employees of the zone.

Sources said on the directions of higher authorities, complete data of all the employees of the education department is being collected at zonal levels. They said the department had directed the employees to provide the required data to officials deputed for the purpose.

In Kanoyian Zone in Poonch district, the ZEO charged Rs 100 per teacher as fee for feeding their data.

“Only we have been charged Rs 100 per teacher for feeding data in the entire Poonch district. When we asked for receipts and official order regarding charges for the exercise, there was no reply from our ZEO,” said a teacher.

Teachers in Kanoyian alleged that the zone had become a hub of corruption and no one was checking the menace.

“Not only have we been charged for data entry, we have been overcharged the Red Cross fee and given no receipts,” said another teacher.

A teacher said, “We have been waiting for the new Deputy Commissioner to come so that our complaints may reach the right person, who can take action in this regard. There are several other issues which need to be highlighted before higher authorities.”

Teachers said they would gheroa the ZEO’s office on Friday.

When Kanoyian Zonal Education Officer M L Chopra was contacted, he said, “Yes, I took data-feeding charges from teachers and have no formal order from higher authorities for this. I needed funds for the data feeding process, which I do not have.”

Refuting the allegations of overcharging the Red Cross fee, he said, “I charged Red Cross fee fixed by the department and whatever I received from the teachers, I submitted it in the DC office.”

Mohd Ashraf Chouhan, Chief Education Officer, Poonch, said, “If he has charged fee from the teachers on account of data feeding, it is totally illegal and the issue needs to be probed.”

“I will initiate an inquiry and take necessary action if he is found responsible for this irregularity,” Chouhan said.

Jammu, April 10
The Jammu and Kashmir Government Pharmacists Association (JKGPA), Jammu, today elected Dharminder Singh Bhargav as its provincial president.

JKGPA chairman Shakeel Azad and president Tufail Ali Bazaz has authorised Dharminder to nominate other members of the provincial body. The newly elected provincial president said he would try his best to work for the fulfilment of genuine demands of pharmacists.

The demands include recognition of the J&K Pharmacy Council and the State Medical Council Faculty by the Pharmacy Council of India and the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD), New Delhi, implementation of pharmacy education regulations in the state, Amendment to the SRO 142, replacement of one-year diploma certificate with two-year certificate through state nodal committees constituted by the HRD and External Affairs Ministries.

The other state body members of the JKGPA are Hoshiyar Singh Rakwal, Tafazul Jalil Nazki, Farooq Makhdoomi, Arun Kapoor, Ashok, Abdul Majeed Mir, Mohammd Ayoub, Rehmatullah Malik, Reshi Pandita, TK Kall, Haji Abdul Kareem, Qazi Iftikhar and Shabir Ahmed Charoo.

Jammu, April 10
The All J&K Movement for Peace and Justice (AJKMPJ), an NGO, today said either ineffective or corrupt officials were deputed as instructors in Revenue Training School. Deep Singh, one of the members of the organisation, alleged that the Revenue Department was facing a crisis due to the non-seriousness of the state government.

“A separate wing with incentives needs to be established for a meaningful settlement operation,” he said, adding, “No official from the government or the civil society seems to be ready to deal with corruption. Despite spending crores of rupees, there is chaos in the settlement of operations of the Revenue Department.”

Deep said a large number of cases of corrections in the Revenue Department’s records prepared in settlement operations is an evidence of the foul play in the department.

“An immediate recruitment drive against the vacant posts in the Revenue Department along with arrangements for the maintenance of record rooms is required,” said another AJKMPJ member Kuldeep K Rao.

Dr Ghanshyam Singh Chark, another prominent member of the organisation, alleged that corrupt officials were deputed as instructors in the Revenue Training School to impart training to the new recruits. “Provision of quarterly workshops with participation of retired experienced revenue officials can be helpful for a meaningful outcome,” he said.

Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Pankaj Sangral, Gurtaj Singh, RL Raina, Kalyan Singh Chib and Pardeep Kumar Bhagat.

Jammu, April 10
A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits under the banner of Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBT) led by Chairman Dr AN Pandit called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here to discuss matters relating to the welfare of the community.

Among other things, the delegation discussed in detail matters relating to the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places Bill.

The delegation comprised BL Bhat, former MLC; BL Saraf, former Principal Sessions Judge Dr RL Bhat; KK Khosa, KP Sabha president HN Jalla; All India Kashmiri Pandit Conference president RK Raina; All State KP Conference senior vice-president MK Raina; Shri Jawala Jee Samiti president Prof ML Tiku; Bijbehara Prabandak Committee president BL Bhat; and Dr AN Pandit, chairman, PNBT.

Rajouri, April 10
Ahead of Rajouri Day celebrations, Ace of Spades Division today organised an essay writing and painting competition in Valley View Army Public School, Rajouri.

The aim of the competition was to spread the feeling of national integration, unity among the children on this day. Approximately over 300 children of 11 different schools of Rajouri took part in this competition.

The topics for the essay writing competition were “City of my dream - Rajouri” for classes VI and VIII students and “My vision of Rajouri” for students of classes IX and X.

To drive home the importance of cleanliness amongst children, the theme for painting was aptly chosen as “Go Green Keep Rajouri Clean” for students of classes IV and V and “Welcome to my city Rajouri” for students of classes VI and VII. The winners will be given awards on April 13, Rajouri Day, at ALG Ground. — OC

Jammu, April 10
As part of its golden jubilee celebrations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will organise various programmes at the national and state level across the country.

Armaan Deep Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP), CBI, J&K, while briefing the media today said as part of the zonal level celebrations to be held from July to September, the department would organise an essay writing competition for school and college students in each state besides organising a function wherein eminent citizens, retired CBI officers and their families would be invited.

He said a conference would be held wherein experts from leading international law enforcement bodies and representatives from national institutions such as the Planning Commission, Enforcement Directorate, Financial Intelligence Unit and the Securities and Exchange Board of India would be invited.

The SP said Bharat Bhushan Sharma of the CBI, ACB, had received the 14th DP Kohli Award from President Pranab Mukherjee at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

A countrywide public awareness campaign will also be organised by the CBI during as part of the celebrations besides CBI officers are slated will visit reputed educational institutions. Visits of students from across the country to the CBI Head Office will also be organised.

Rajouri, April 10
The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police under the Civic Action Programme today distributed free bags, books and notebooks to students of middle and primary schools in remote villages of the district.

A function was organised in this regard which was attended by schoolchildren, sarpanches, panches and other villagers.

DIG of Police, Rajouri-Poonch Range, Danesh Rana, was the chief guest on the occasion. The Rajouri SP and the Manjakote SDPO distributed study material to over 50 poor and needy children of Middle School, Rajdhani; Middle School, Saroola; Middle School, Mangalnar; Girls Middle School, Saroola; Primary School, Rajdhani; and Primary School, Hattian.

While speaking on the occasion, the DIG of Police stressed the need of providing education to children. He said children should ensure development of their areas when they grow up. He said the J&K Police would leave no stone unturned to help poor and needy students to harness their talent in sports and cultural activities and would provide a platform to showcase the same.

Jammu, April 10
The much-awaited annual sports scholarships distribution function organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) today to honour medal winners of 58th National School Games was marred by slight drama inside the office premises at Gandhi Nagar.

Sources said during the function, some of the parents had alleged that their wards were not able to get the scholarship cheques despite completing formalities well in advance in the office.

“We have already completed all the formalities in keeping with the DYSS requirements so that our ward does not face any difficulty in getting scholarship, but today, some sportspersons were again asked by the department to bring the necessary certificates to become eligible for getting scholarships. This is the height of non-seriousness,” one of the parents said on condition of anonymity.

Tirath Ram, DYSSO Jammu, while refuting the parents’ claims, said there was no chaos-like situation during the function. “There was confusion regarding the submission of necessary certificates to get the scholarships for their wards, but we have briefed them about the issue,” Tirath Ram said.

“We are not interested in depriving any sportsperson of scholarship, but it is imperative that all formalities are completed before getting the same,” the DYSSO added.

Earlier, out of the total state contingent of 585, 238 sportspersons from Jammu district today received scholarships from Naveen Aggarwal, Director General, Youth Services and Sports. Of these 238, there were 37 medallists.

The gold medal winners had received a scholarship of Rs 10,000 while silver and bronze winners pocketed a sum of Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively in the shape of scholarships. The remaining sportspersons got scholarships worth Rs 1,750 each.