Srinagar, May 10
The government has lined up a host of programmes to woo more tourists through a festival that is being held across the Valley from May 14.

“The Department of Tourism, Kashmir, is organising a tourist festival from May 14 to 29, during which, various activities will be organised at the prime tourist spots of the Valley. Besides a cultural bonanza being in the offing, exhibition stalls will be set up to showcase various products of art and craft of Kashmir, horticulture produce, agro-based food products, floral pictures, pictures of wildlife of Kashmir, fish biotic life, traditional Kashmiri art, clothing, musical instruments, Kashmiri cuisine and live demo of preparation of Kashmiri cuisine,” a Tourism Department official said.

He said Union Minister of State for Tourism K Chiranjeevi was likely to inaugurate the festival. “We have approached Chiranjeevi and are hopeful that he will give his consent,” the official said.

The arrangements for the festival were finalised after a meeting chaired by Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atul Dullo, yesterday. Dullo said the festival spread was the first of its kind in which the state and central governments would jointly provide funds. Director Tourism, Kashmir, Talat Pervez, too attended the meeting.

Dullo said the inaugural function will be held at Kashmir Haat that would also be attended by Minister for Tourism GA Mir.

He said on May 15, noted qawali singers Sabri brothers will perform at the SKICC. That would be followed by a photography exhibition and trekking expedition at the Zabarwan range.

“Students of various colleges will take part in debates to be organised at different locations on ‘Tourism as a Tool for Economic Development of Rural areas’ during the festival,” Dullo added.

He further said river rafting, paragliding, horse race and e-gaming will form part of the festival.

Srinagar, May 10
A Basmati plant was inaugurated at Ompora in Budgam district of Central Kashmir today by the State Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir. This is thought to be an initial step taken to cultivate Basmati rice on commercial lines in the Valley under Basmati Mission.

The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir SKUAST-K two years back released POSA Sagan III, a high-yielding Kashmir variety basmati seed.

The minister said with the efforts of Agriculture Department and with collaboration of SKUAST, this new variety of Basmati rice has been successfully introduced in Budgam district and farmers are very satisfied with its aroma and quality of production.

The minister further said steps would be taken to provide national and global market linkages to the growers for its export. He said farmers of Kashmir valley are facing difficulties due to non-availability of latest rice plant for Basmati, adding that with the inauguration of this facility today, farmers would be able to produce finished product for the consumers.

The minister said average yield of paddy is 40 quintal per hectare while the average yield of high-yielding variety of basmati rice is 80 quintal per hectare, which will fetch an annual income of Rs 2.80 lakh to the farmers.

Calling upon the farmers to cultivate Basmati rice on commercial lines, the minister assured them that the department will provide every technical support for quality production along with better market linkages. Later, the minister launched organic farming initiative under urban vegetable mission in the district.

Srinagar, May 10
The ongoing strike of revenue employees is to continue for more days as they are adamant that a formal order should be issued by the government before they call off their strike that began on April 7.

The government sources said that it would take some time to issue the formal order as the Finance Minister is out of the state and his nod on the issue is important.

“Once the Finance Minister returns and approves the proposal, the state cabinet which is chaired by Chief Minister will give a final nod,” a top government official who has been holding negotiations with the striking employees said.

“The striking employees are adamant on a formal order; it will take some more days,” he added.

Over 3,000 patwaris and girdawars are on an indefinite strike that began on April 7 and they are demanding removal of pay anomalies and also seeking a ban on direct recruitment for Naib Tehsildar.

The ongoing strike has badly affected the functioning of the revenue department and the local residents who had applied for ration cards, state subject and category certificates, are suffering badly.

Srinagar, May 10
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar has said officers should ensure that the panchayat ghars of the Valley are completed as soon as possible for augmentation of infrastructural assets of Panchayati Raj institutions.

The minister was addressing officers during a high-level review meeting convened to discuss completion of various panchayat ghars in Srinagar district.

Director Rural Development Mir Altaf Ahmad and other senior officers of the department were present at the meeting.

“The funds have already been earmarked for construction of panchayat ghars and the officers should work in close coordination with each other in order to ensure their early completion,” Sagar told the officers. “The government is committed to upgradation of infrastructure of the PRIs and in this regard, every possible step is being initiated,” he added.

Sagar said the officers should work in close tandem with Panchayati Raj representatives, so that need-based development of rural and far-flung areas is ensured.

Sagar also directed the Director Rural Development to prepare a comprehensive proposal by which the areas lying in periphery of Srinagar district can be designated as blocks of rural development for ensuring their sustained development.

There are 4,128 panchayat halqas in J&K and each halqa needs a panchayat ghar for functioning. At present, 1,788 halqas are without panchayat ghar buildings and only 899 panchayat ghar buildings have been taken up for construction so far. The rest are slated to be completed by November end.

Srinagar, May 10
The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) has welcomed the report of Special Rapporteur Chrisof Heyns which he submitted to the Human Rights Council on April 26 this year, asking India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Heyns was in Srinagar in March 2012 earlier when he held consultations with victims of human rights violations, human rights activists and APDP members and subsequently submitted his report on human rights violations to the Human Rights Council this year.

The Special Rapporteur has also recommended prompt ratification on International Convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances, enacting of the Prevention of Torture bill, prompt registration of FIRs, stopping of grant of promotions and other awards for security forces personnel suspected of having been involved in human rights violation cases.

The report has also recommended that the practice of inviting United Nations Special Procedures should continue, especially in areas where international concern has been expressed, such as torture and enforced disappearances.

On April 22, a delegation of APDP led by its chairperson, Parveena Ahangar, met Rashida Manjoo, United Nations Special Rapporteur, in New Delhi. The Special Rapporteur was briefed about the human rights violations being faced by the families of the disappeared persons.

“We briefed her about the problems of delayed justice the APDP members are facing. I presented to her a report on the issue of enforced disappearances, besides submitting several cases. The Special Rapporteur assured the delegation that she will take up the issue with the United Nations,” Parveena Ahmagar, Chairperson, APDP, told Kashmir Tribune.

Anantnag, May 10
Despite being an important business centre, the Batengoo area here in Anantnag district has no established bank branch in the area, much to the inconvenience of the businessmen as well as the locals.

Located along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the Batengoo area is home to a number of business houses, including some automobile showrooms of reputed companies.

“We have been approaching several banks and are trying to persuade them to open a branch in the area; however, for reasons best known to the bank officials, no steps are being taken in this regard,” said Bilal Ahmad, who runs a pre-owned cars showroom in the area.

People associated with business establishments rue that they have to dedicate one of their staff members for bank work.

“The nearest banks are in Khannabal, at a distance of 2 kilometres or in Bijbehara at a distance of nearly 4 kilometres,” said a staff member at an automobile showroom.

The owners of the smaller business houses say they don’t have the luxury of dedicating a staff member for bank purpose.

“I run my business alone and if I have to go to the bank, my shop remains closed for a good two-three hours, which is affecting my business a great deal,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a dealer of automobile accessories.

The area has two filling stations and their owners are equally concerned about there not being a bank in the vicinity.

The locals too have to suffer a great deal because of this. “We don’t even have an ATM in our area and a simple exercise of withdrawing some cash takes us hours,” said Abid Dar, a local.

To add to their miseries, the local populace has to pay its electricity bills at a bank branch in Bijbehara.

“We have to wait endlessly at the Bijbehara bank to pay our electricity bills,” said Dar. “A bank in the vicinity would have been a real boon,” he added.

Srinagar, May 10
Minister of State for Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture Nazir Ahmad Gurezi today inaugurated agro sales centre at the Civil Secretariat. The sale centre aims to provide quality agro products to the employees and others on cheap rates.

After inaugurating the centre, the minister said, besides functioning, there was a need to establish such sale centres at every district headquarters, adding that it would popularise products of the state agro-corporation like saffron, honey, mulberry jam, apple jam, dry fruits, wazwan canner and other fruit jams etc and earn a substantial profit.

The minister also directed Abdul Majid Bhat, managing director, J&K State Agro Industries Development Corporation, to prepare the launch of a potato project for manufacturing potato chips at Gurez to boost the economy of the farmers of the Gurez tehsil.

Among the others present on the occasion were Senior Superintendent of Police, Security Civil Secretariat, Maqsood-ul Zaman, President Non-Gazetted Employees Union and Civil Secretariat ,Rouf Ahmad, officers of the J&K Agro Industrial Development Corporation Ltd and members of the Civil Secretariat Employees Union.

Srinagar, May 10
The Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) today distributed cash subsidy to 31 beneficiaries under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY)-a Central government-sponsored scheme for slum dwellers.

The cash subsidy was distributed by SDA vice-chairman Muhammad Shafi Rather for the construction of dwelling units under the VAMBAY.

“The cheques amounting to Rs 22,500 each were given to 31 boatmen, who have already been given the first instalment of Rs 22,500. The total amount disbursed today was Rs 65.75 lakh,” an official spokesman of the SDA said.

He added that under the Centrally-sponsored VAMBAY scheme, a cash subsidy of Rs 45,000 was to be given to each boatman for the construction of dwelling units who have been dislocated from the Jhelum, water bodies and city channels.

These beneficiaries have already been provided plots by the SDA free-of-cost at the Boatmen Colony, Bemina, Noorbagh Boatmen Colony and Sumerbugh Boatmen Colony.

“Around 646 boatmen are to be initially covered under the scheme, involving a subsidy component of Rs 2.91 crore,” he said. The VAMBAY was launched in 2001 with an aim of ameliorating condition of the urban slum dwellers living below the poverty line who do not possess adequate shelter. The scheme has the primary objective to facilitate the construction and upgrade of the dwelling units for slum dwellers and to provide health and enable urban environment through community toilets under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. 

Srinagar, May 10
Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, today inaugurated a two-day campus recruitment drive for Post Graduate (PG) students of management, economics, mathematics, statistics, B Pharma and M Pharma.

A delegation from Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) visited the University of Kashmir to offer employment opportunities for the post graduate students.

Faiz Ahmad, Head of the recruitment team from TCS, said their company was looking for bright and talented Kashmiri youth, who were highly competent and capable.

A delegation of TCS is currently in the Valley participating in various campus recruitment drive in various colleges and the Kashmir University.

The company is positioned among the top 10 technology firms in the world. It is India’s first and Asia’s largest consulting and service organisations. TCS is engaged in providing information technology (IT) services, business solutions and outsourcing.

While speaking at the inaugural function, Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, said massive recruitment drives launched by the TCS, in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, would give confidence to other corporate houses to recruit from the state.

He said the university would mobilise all its resources to create employment opportunities for the talented youth of the state.

Prof Shabir A Bhat, director, Centre for Career Planning and Counselling, University of Kashmir, presented an overview of the achievements of the career planning and counselling. He further added that the centre had focused its efforts to attract the leading national and multinational companies and informed the audience that some of the leading companies of the country like Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, Ligare, HUL, ONGC have already recruited from the state and premier companies like HCL info- systems is scheduled to visit this month. 

Srinagar, May 10
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Prof Saifuddin Soz has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure proper implementation of special scholarship schemes for the students of the state.

In a statement issued here today, the JKPCC Press and Publicity Secretary said Soz wrote a letter to the Prime Minister where he stated that the students had not received scholarships under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme.

“The Government of India has devised a scheme to provide scholarships to students of Jammu and Kashmir to undertake studies outside the state. The scheme envisaged that a particular income group of boys and girls, verified properly, would be selected for admission at various universities and colleges outside J&K. But, the scholarships have not been released so far by the Ministry of Human Resources Development,” Soz wrote as per the statement.

“One wonders why the HRD Ministry did not expedite the verification within a required time-frame so that the scholarships would be disbursed in time. I have already urged the Ministry of HRD to release the scholarships immediately so that the eligible students do not give up their studies outside the state and return to J&K with a feeling of hurt?. I would earnestly request you to kindly intervene in the matter and ask the Ministry to ensure proper implementation of the scheme,” Soz added.

Srinagar, May 10
The Department of Posts (DoP) released a set of two stamps on ‘Kiang of Ladakh’ and ‘Ghor Khar of Kutch’ here today.

The stamps were released at the General Post Office (GPO), Srinagar, by John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K circle, along with Vinod Ranjan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

“The stamp on Kiang of Ladakh will generate wider interest on wildlife as Kiang or Tibetan wild ass is the largest of all the African and Asiatic wild asses. Kiang is considered closer to a horse than ass due to its short ears, large tail tuft and broad hooves,” Samuel said after releasing the stamps.

Speaking on the occasion, Ranjan said: “The DoP in recent times has been taking many steps to connect with the people and has been successful to maintain its relevance in present time through new and innovative services satisfying the changed needs of the people.”

He said through the means of philately, the rich flora and fauna of the state could be brought to light. “J&K has a rich diversity of flora and fauna which needs to be preserved. The Department of Posts plays an important part in the conservation efforts by issuing stamps and postal covers on these flora and fauna,” Ranjan added.

A mini philatelic exhibition was also held at the GPO, Srinagar later.

Rajouri, May 10
The Army today organised an educational-cum-motivational tour for school girls of Kalakote area in border Rajouri district.

The tour was organised under the Operation Sadbhavana by the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion located at Kalakote which was flagged off by Sector Commander, Tain Sector, Rashtriya Rifles.

The tour comprised of 23 girl students and two female teachers from Kalakote and Mahogala. During the flagging-off ceremony, senior Army officers, Zonal Education Officer, schools principals, Kalakote tehsildar, parents, guardians and other civilian dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The aim of the tour is to showcase the development of the country so as to provide students an opportunity to visit important places and interact with people of those regions and eminent personalities, thereby, widening the horizon of the students.

The tour will visit Nainital, Dehradun, Mussoorie and Haridwar, besides Delhi. They will visit the Sherwood College, Birla Vidya Mandir and All Saints Girl School in Nainital, Welhams Girls School, Doon Girls School, Graphic Era Institute of Technology and Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. 

Jammu, May 10
Dr Swaran Singh Chib, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, along with Physical Education Teacher (PET) Vikrant Singh today paid a surprise visit to various schools of Reasi district and took stock of arrangements of preparation of schools for the participation in the inter-zonal tournament of Reasi zone. The tournament is likely to commence shortly.

Officials ensured mass participation in the upcoming tournament and also took class in various schools where the posts of PETs was lying vacant. Dr Chib also inspected various grounds of schools which would be developed under the district and state plans and submit the plan to the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Reasi, accordingly.

The schools included Middle School, Kundrorian, Middle School, Dheerthi, High School, Sirah, Middle School, Panthal, High School, Kotli Bhaga, High School, Sirla Bhagga, High School, Saloon and Government Higher Secondary School, Reasi. 

Jammu, May 10
Government High School, Basti Gulabgarh, defeated Higher Secondary School, Chakrohi, by 2 points in the final to clinch the U-17 kho-kho title in the inter-school tournament of RS Pura zone.

In the U-14 age group, Government Boys Middle School, Mill area, beat city Middle School, RS Pura. In the U-17 kabaddi match, High School, Badiyal Qazian, defeated Higher Secondary School, Chakrohi, by 9 points whereas in the U-14 age group, Government High School, Satryian, defeated City Middle School, RS Pura by 13 points.

In the U-17 volleyball, High School, Badiyal Qazian School, defeated Boys High School, Rangpura Maulana, by 25-16, 25-22. In wrestling, Vineet Kumar of High School, Badiyal Qazian, toppled Sunil Kumar in the 46 kg weight category.

In the 58kg weight category, Ajay Kumar of High School, Badyial Qazian School lost to Raj Kumar of Government High School, Sherbalah.

The tournament was organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports under the overall supervision of Tirath Ram, DYSSO, Jammu and conducted under supervision of Hira Lal Pandita, ZPEO RS Pura.

In the U-17 girls hockey, High School, City Chowk trounced High School, Gole Gujral, in the first semifinals by four goals to nil (4-0), while in another semifinal, APS Miran Sahib defeated HS Simbal Camp by a solitary goal (1-0).

At Satwari zone, the zonal-level inter-school tournament was held under the overall supervision of Sroman Dogra, Zonal Physical Education Officer and the matches were officiated by Hardev Singh, Jatinder Kaur, Popinder Kaur, Jasbir Kaur, Assa Singh, Neelam Rani, Rani Gupta and others.

The matches were officiated by Govind Singh, Vijay Kumar, Amolak Singh, Ravinder Kumar, Darbari Lal, Vijender Paul Kaur and Suraj Kaur. At Miran Sahib Zone, the tournament was declared open by Principal, Kiran Raina of JK Police Public School Miran Sahib.

Jammu, May 10
Jodhamal School and KC International School clinched the U-14 and U-17 football titles in boys section in the inter-school tournament organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) played at GGM Science College football grounds here.

Jodhamal School got the better of Heritage School by 3-2 in the summit clash to claim the U-14 title. Rohan Gupta, Himanshu Sharma and Aayush scored one goal each for Jodhamal School whereas for Heritage School, Amitabh Kaushal and Aryan Sethi were the goal scorers. Earlier, in the semifinals played, Jodhamal School beat MHAC School, Nagbani and Heritage School beat Tiny Tots School.

In the U-17 final, KC International School emerged victorious with 2-0 margin over its opponent. Both the goals were scored by Vikram. Meanwhile, at Jammu zone, the competitions in kho-kho, kabaddi and volleyball were held under the supervision of Kiran Jyoti, zonal physical education officer, while principal Kamla Kumari was the chief guest on the occasion.

SOS School, Delhi Public School and High School, Kachi Chawni emerged victorious in the disciplines of kho-kho, kabaddi and volleyball, respectively. At Marh zone, the competitions were held under the supervision of ZPEO Marh, Chanchal Kour, at Government Higher Secondary School, Domana.

Government High School, Shamachak, trounced High School, Marh Bagh in the U-17 girls kho-kho final whereas in the U-14 final, Government High School, Sangrampur, edged out Government High School, Shamachak, by 5 points.

In the U-17 kabaddi (girls), Government High School, Gou Manasan, overcame the challenge of High School, Sangrampur, by 18 points, while in the U-14 age group, Government Girls Middle School, Akalpur, thrashed Government Girls High School, Gole Gujral, by 2 points. The matches were officiated by Pritipal Singh, Tilak Raj, Ravi Kumar, Jai Singh, Jai Krishan Pandita, Pritam Lal, Jatin Sethi and Ajeet Singh.

At Gandhi Nagar Zone, the matches were held under the supervision of Jeet Singh, ZPEO, Gandhi Nagar, while Sroman Dogra, ZPEO, Satwari was the chief guest on the occasion. The events were officiated by Satvinder Kaur, Ram Murti, Dalbir Kaur, Ashnak Raj, Jasbir Singh, Chamel Singh and others.

At Miran Sahib Zone, the tournament was held under the supervision of Sarita Pandha, ZPEO Miran Sahib. Government High School, Badyal Brahmana clinched U-14 and U-17 Kabaddi titles while Adarsh Niketan Badyal Brahamana emerged victorious in U-17 Volleyball final.

The matches were officiated by Kulbir Singh, Mulkh Raj Sharma, Harcharan Singh, Harmik Singh, Swarnjeet Kaur, Dilshad Singh, Gaurav, Anita and Navneet Kaur. At Satwari Zone, the kabaddi, volleyball and kho-kho tournament was held at High School, Satwari and the matches were officiated by Harvinder Singh, Jasbir Kaur, Jitinder Kaur, Papinder Kaur, Assa Singh, Neelam Rani, Vishal Singh, Vishal Balotra and others.

At Bishnah zone, the tournament, which was conducted in the disciplines of kabaddi, kho-kho and volleyball, was concluded at Boys Higher Secondary School, Bishnah, under the supervision of Manjeet Kaur, ZPEO Bishnah.