The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Court asks authorities to fill vacant posts at GMC
Top officials asked to file status report within four weeks
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
The J&K High Court has asked the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to fill vacant posts in the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, to ensure that the studies of students do not suffer.

The court has also directed the authorities to devise a mechanism for ensuring that patients reporting at the SHMS Hospital in emergency during night hours are taken care of.

These directions were issued by a Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi while hearing two interim applications in a public interest litigation filed in the wake of infant deaths at GB Pant Children Hospital early this year.

Earlier, while taking note of reports that senior doctors are usually unavailable during night hours in hospitals, the High Court on February 25 had directed the respective authorities of the Government Medical College, Srinagar and Jammu, to take necessary steps for ensuring the presence of consultants during night hours in the affiliated hospitals of GMC. That court had said that consultants in all disciplines shall be ordered to stay within the hospital premises.

But, some faculty members at the GMC, Srinagar, recently approached the High Court with applications that Registrars and the Associate Professors appointed to teach at GMC, Srinagar, have been ordered by the hospital administration to perform duties as consultants during night at SHMS Hospital, which is an associated hospital of GMC Srinagar.

As a result of this, it had been submitted in the applications, the studies of the students in GMS have suffered. It had been prayed before the court that the earlier orders be modified.

During the hearing of these applications with the GB Pant PIL today, it came on record before the HC Bench that there is shortage of teachers at GMC as out of sanctioned 507 staff, only 222 are in place.

“This is low,” the Bench observed while passing its orders in the two applications. The court has asked the authorities to explain what steps have actually been taken to fill these vacancies.

“We direct the Commissioner or Secretary, Health and Medical Education (H&ME), to look into the matter and devise a mechanism to ensure that patients reporting in the hospital during night hours in the emergency are taken care of and the studies of students at GMC do not suffer,” the court said in its fresh order.

“Likewise, steps should be taken to fill the vacant posts at the earliest,” the court asked the Commissioner or Secretary H&ME. The court also asked him to file a status report in this regard within four weeks time.

Previous HC Directions

Patients brought to hospitals during night hours face huge difficulties and their lives are exposed to all kinds of risks because of the non-availability of consultants. The High Court, in its orders dated February 25, 2013, directed the Principals of the government medical colleges of Srinagar and Jammu to take all necessary steps within a week and issue necessary orders so as to ensure that consultants in all disciplines remain available in all hospitals affiliated to these medical colleges during night hours. It also directed the consultants to stay on the hospital premises.

Sogam Lolab receiving station develops snag during trial-run
Residents see no end to power woes in near future
Amin Masoodi

Kupwara, May 31
In what could be described as a failure on the part of management, receiving station at Sogam Lolab developed a snag during its trial-run. The station went nonfunctional only a few hours after it was commissioned informally last week.

For the past few years, residents of Lolab had been demanding commissioning of the station having a capacity of 6 MVA to address power woes. They said the functioning of power station would help a great deal in addressing power woes in Lolab, but there appears to be no end to the power crisis at least in the near future.

“In a classical example of misuse of the state exchequer, the receiving station developed snag only during its trial-run last week. We had hoped that the commissioning of the station will improve the grim power scenario in Lolab, but now its commissioning has got delayed once again,” said Mohd Ashraf, a Sogam resident.

A power official said the trip did not go down even after the voltage went up to 110 Ampere during the trial-run on May 23. “The trip should get down on 75 Ampere but it did not go down even after 110 Ampere. Improper functioning of the station can prove dangerous, especially when trip does not get down in time. The trip has to go down automatically when an accident like electric shock happens anywhere in its feeding area,” said the official.

Another power official claimed that due to the substandard machinery and parts used in the power house, a few parts developed snag, leading to the nonfunctioning of power house. “Duplicate parts probably developed snag a few hours after the station was commissioned. The station needs a major overhaul and a few major parts need to be replaced for proper functioning of the station,” said the official. Built by the Power Development Corporation (PDC) at Lassipora village in Sogam Lolab, the receiving station was completed in July last year. The residents of Lolab demanded that the station be commissioned at the earliest.

Power crisis

For the past few years, residents of Lolab have been demanding commissioning of the station to address their power woes, but there appears to be no end to the power crisis at least in the near future.

No decision on fake dervish till impartial inquiry: Grand Mufti
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
The Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet (law), headed by the region’s Grand Mufti, has said it would not announce any decision neither against nor in favour of the fake dervish, who has been accused of raping six girls, unless an impartial inquiry investigates the allegations.

“No decision can be announced against or in favour of any person on the basis of the press reports until and unless an impartial inquiry of the allegation levelled against the person concerned are not proved,” the spokesperson of the self-proclaimed supreme court, which holds no legal validity but has spoken on the controversial issues in the past, said.

The spokesperson said the ‘supreme court’ had formed a committee headed by Advocate Mir Ghulam Nabi and its report was awaited.

Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Bashir-ud-Din, who had issued a fatwa earlier this year to an all-girls singing band, saying music was prohibited in Islam, heads the Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet.

So far, six girls have recorded statements against Gulzar Ahmad Bhat of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, alleging they were ‘repeatedly sexually exploited’ by the fake dervish.

The police said four girls who have registered their statement were minors, the youngest being 14-year old. Bhat, who was pretending to be a mystic and had gathered a large following in several parts of the region, was arrested last week on charges of raping four of his disciples, all of whom were minor girls.

Budgam SSP Uttam Chand said so far they had arrested Bhat’s three female and one male accomplice.

Accommodation problem in school puts students in dire straits
Amin Masoodi

Handwara, May 31
Over 280 students enrolled in two government-run schools in Wadipora village of Handwara tehsil are facing the problem of accommodation. The Government High School, Wadipora, and a girls' school are located adjacent to each other in the village.

Students at high school are also facing shortage of teaching staff, which they said was affecting their education. The middle school is housed in only three rooms, including an office. The students said a few classes were held under open sky and on rainy days, they were forced to attend the classes in the verandah of the single-storey school building.

They said the classrooms often became noisy due to congestion and students in the back rows could not listen to teachers.

"In the absence of proper accommodation, we are forced to sit almost on each other in the classrooms. Against a seating capacity of 30 students, more than 60 students sit in the classroom," said Ishrat Jan, a class VIII student.

"The authorities left the construction work of the building incomplete due to unknown reasons. The rooftop of the building has not been completed for the past six years. Windows and doors are also not in place. Now, we have been told that the construction of building was suspended due to the complaints of substandard material being used in its construction," said Abdul Rehman, a local resident.

The students of the Wadipora school said the shortage of teaching staff had affected their education.

"The school does not have a library and playing ground. We have no English and mathematics teachers available. Instead of sanctioned strength of 13 teachers, there are only seven of them here," said Sameer Ahmad, a class X student.

The students said they were also facing accommodation problems. Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Rajwar Barkat Ali Bukhari said the management was trying hard to resume the construction work on the building to address the problems of students. "The students are suffering because there's no proper accommodation available. We will soon resume the construction work on the building and address the problems of the students," said the ZEO.

Problems galore

Students at the school are also facing shortage of teaching staff, which they said was affecting their education. The middle school is housed in only three rooms, including an office. The students said a few classes were held under open sky and on therainy days, they were forced to attend classes in the verandah of the single-storey school building.

16 artists design Srinagar’s first paper-mache map
Bismah Malik/TNS

Srinagar, May 31
The picturesque locales of historic Srinagar city have been, for the first time, put on a paper mache map by 16 craftsmen from Kashmir in what they call the first-ever Srinagar paper-mache map.

The unique paper-mache map is on display in the ongoing craft exhibition organised by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Kashmir, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, J&K.

About 200 years ago, according to the INTACH co-convener, Kashmir Chapter, Altaf Hussain, a Kashmiri artist had put Srinagar city on an embroidered shawl, which is currently on display in a London museum. “A photograph of that exquisite shawl is right now with us,” Hussain said.

The first of its kind, the Srinagar city’s paper-mache map has been prepared by a group of 16 paper-mache artists, led by 40-year-old Fayaz Ahmad, who hails from the Alamgari Bazaar locality of old Srinagar city. His family was also involved in the paper-mache craft.

“Fayaz has tried to place important locales of the city like the Sufi shrines, the Mughal gardens and civic hospitals on his map, using gold and silver adhesives, glue, starch, wall paper pastes on paper pieces and pulp. It took him 10 months to prepare this map,” said Hussain.

“Usually, the Kashmir’s craftsmen have been making woodcarving, paper mache, clay tiles and Pinjrakari products on a commercial scale, which are appreciated in India and abroad. But for the first time has an artist conceived an idea of putting the entire city’s map in paper mache work,” convener of INTACH Saleem Beg said. Fayaz has not put a price bracket on the paper mache map and is happy that his work will be displayed at the Mumbai International Airport. “The artists usually need a platform for displaying their work and hence, the location of the Mumbai airport is important because of its high footfall. We are sure that Fayaz’s art will attract huge number of art lovers from all over the world,” added Beg.

Art exhibition fails to attract crowds
Bismah Malik
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
Although various Kashmiri craft forms like paper mache, woodcarving, Pinjrakari and mud tiles will be put on the walls of the Mumbai International Airport, back home at the Srinagar International Airport, the walls are blank.

Kashmir, which is a home to some of the best craftsmen of the country, is getting distanced away from the art. This is what the Convener, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Kashmir Chapter, Saleem Beg, had to say during the ongoing craft exhibition at Lal Ded Memorial Cultural centre.

“There is no dearth of artists in the Valley, but the kind of art they produce deserves a creative appreciation which is hardly found in the city. However, our artists are receiving huge acclaim from outside the state as a result of which their work will be put on strategically important location like International Mumbai Airport,” Beg said.

Some of the magnificent panels of art produced by 24 Kashmiri craftsmen, which are on a display at the exhibition, have very few onlookers and the exhibition is not pulling a huge crowd.

Co-convener, INTACH, Kashmir, Altaf Hussain, that such kind of exhibitions needed to be organised on a more regular basis, so that the art sense among Kashmiris was rejuvenated.

”Art has suffered in Kashmir due to turmoil. We have decided to revive art and culture here so that people feel more attached to it. This is being done by giving the artists a necessary platform for showcasing their work and inviting people to see their work,” added Hussain.

German Ambassador calls on Omar

Srinagar, May 31
German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner today called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Various matters of mutual interests were discussed at the meeting. The rich tourist potential of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the scenic splendour of the Valley, was also discussed.

The measures put in place by the state and the Centre for peace and development were also talked about. An official spokesperson said the German Envoy showed keen interest in the new initiatives taken by the state government for good governancein the state. — TNS

World No-Tobacco Day observed across Valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
Underscoring the need for a complete ban on the use of tobacco and its allied products in the state, Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan sought support of the society to deal with the menace.

Speaking at a function held in Government College of Education, Srinagar, today to mark the World Anti-Tobacco Day, Khan said “unless people support the anti-smoking campaign, the ban imposed by the government on gutkhas and other allied tobacco products in the state will not be effective”.

“We believe that students and youth can be the best medium for disseminating the message about the ill-effects on the health due to the use of tobacco,” he added.

He said the youngsters and adolescents were vulnerable targets falling prey to drug abuse and the society had to make efforts to save them from the menace.

The function was organised by the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) and the J&K Voluntary Health Association, in collaboration with the Divisional Administration, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Drug & Food Safety Organisation and Government College of Education.

Khan said the government had levied heavy tax on tobacco products and also enforced a complete ban on the manufacturing and import of gutkhas in the state, but the endeavour would not bear results without the support of various stakeholders. He said making deterrent laws was not the solution to the issue, but attitudinal change was required to tackle it. He called for launching a vigorous awareness campaign to educate the people, especially the younger generation, about the ill effects of tobacco on the human health.

Executive Director, the J&K Voluntary Health Association, Srinagar, AM Mir also addressed the gathering and highlighted the initiatives of the organisation for the benefits of the civil society.

District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Shah, controller of Drug and Food Control Organisation, Satish Gupta, DIG Civil Defence, Mubarak Ahmad and other officers, intellectuals, prominent citizens and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Earlier, Khan flagged off an anti-tobacco rally from the Government College of Education which culminated at TRC. Hundreds of students, volunteers of Civil Defence, Indian Red Cross Society, Voluntary Health Organisation, prominent citizens, doctors, academicians, para-medics and common people participated in the rally.

A seminar was also held at SP Higher Secondary School to mark World No-Tobacco Day, here today. The seminar was organised by District Legal Services Authority in collaboration with (FPA) Family Planning Association of India, Srinagar.

Additional District Judge, Srinagar, YP Kotwal presided over the function. The members of FPA and DSLA, besides a large number of students, were also present on the occasion.

Kotwal, in his inaugural address, said the students had to play a pivotal role for making the general masses aware about the hazards and ill-effects of smoking and consuming tobacco and its products.

The speakers also highlighted the ill-effects of the smoking and tobacco products and suggested measures to deal with the subject. They underscored the need of rejuvenating anti-tobacco campaign with the involvement of various stakeholders of the society to curb the menace.

Rs 80 cr spent under MGNREGA during April-May, says Sagar
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
Indicating remarkable beginning of the Central Government’s flagship programme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) during the first two months of the current fiscal year, the state has witnessed a huge progress in its implementation.

An amount of Rs 80 crore has been spent during this period, generating 70 lakh mandays for the deserving beneficiaries across the state.

This information was given at a review meeting of the Rural Development Department, held here today, under the chairmanship of Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar.

Commissioner Secretary RDD, Farooq Ahmad Peer, Director RDD, Mir Altaf Ahmad, Director Rural Sanitation, Bashir Ahmad, Director Panchayati Raj, Baseer Khan, Director Social Audit, Dr AG Sofi, Member Secretary, MGNREGA, Pawan Rathore and senior officials were present at the meeting.

An official spokesman said Sagar directed the officers to ensure that the funds earmarked under the scheme were utilised optimally so that the benefits percolated down to the targeted populace.

“The programme has been instrumental in changing the socio-economic profile of the people living in rural and far-flung areas throughout the country and all out efforts should be made to avail full benefits by the deserving people in our state,” he said.

He directed the officers to ensure that the payments under the scheme were disbursed within the prescribed time period.

Executive police has pivotal role in delivering justice: Prasad
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
Crediting the personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police for maintaining peace and order in the state, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad said executive police was directly involved with the public, having a primary role in restoring a sense of security in the minds of people.

Addressing a police durbar at District Police Lines here yestrday, Prasad said the personnel working in the executive police represented the organisation during discharge of duty and wherever they were performing, they remained under the gaze of public and as such their performance should always be of the highest standards.

“People-friendly image has remained of paramount importance, which has benefited the organisation in fighting criminals and bad elements,” he said, adding that goodwill of the people was a valuable asset and the police had to remain accessible to the people. Appreciating the role of jawans and officers in maintaining peace and order during tough situations, the DGP said they exhibited high standards of policing and ensured restraint despite provocations by the exploiting elements that always remained inimical to peace for their personal gains. Their role had been recognised at national level also, said the DGP. He said the force had to face grave situations which they succeeded in tackling with fortitude avoiding collateral damages.

The durbar was attended by a large number of jawans and officers from various districts of Kashmir province. Prasad also disbursed cash rewards among the personnel who had taken part in the operations in different parts of Kashmir.

Promotion of Kashmir in UAE on cards
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
The Trip the Life Fantastic (TLF) magazine, based in India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has offered to promote Kashmir as a tourist destination in Dubai. “A team of the magazine today called on the Minister of State for Tourism Sajad Ahmad Kichloo and expressed willingness to promote Kashmir,” an official said.

Kichloo told the delegation that in addition to the scenic beauty, the Kashmiri handicrafts were known the world over for their intricate designs and grandeur that needed to be promoted and showcased among the Dubai corporate and high-end clients. He also urged them to explore a travel tourism link between the J&K state and the UAE.

The TLF team, as per the officials, also proposed to showcase the picturesque Royal Springs Golf course in its magazine.

Pre-conference workshop on shoulder arthroscopy organised at Sher-e-Kashmir medical institute
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
A pre-conference workshop on shoulder arthroscopy was conducted at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura today where live surgery demonstration was beamed from operation theatre to the SKIMS auditorium. Leading orthopaedician, Dr Sanjay Desai, who recently operated Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan, did the surgery and this was the first such surgery done in Kashmir.

The workshop was focused on endoscopic procedure on shoulder where young orthopaedic surgeons from all over the country and state got chance to learn this new technique and gained hands on experience in the management of shoulder problems arthroscopically.

Dr Naseer Ahmad, organising secretary elaborated that arthroscopy was commonly known as 'key hole surgery” where usually two or three 5mm puncture wounds were only required, avoiding large wounds and scars. “Most shoulder operations can now be done by arthroscopy, rather than open surgery which has visible advantages over open surgery as smaller incisions are made and there is less dissection to surrounding structures. Besides, recovery is usually quicker after arthroscopic surgery, post-operative pain is usually less, the operations can be done as a day case and there may be less complications of surgery”, he added.

The shoulder joint is examined using a tiny telescope with television camera introduced through a small 'key hole'. This telescope and camera is known as the arthroscope. It allows the surgeon to see the area where he or she is working on a TV screen. Through other small incisions, the surgeon can insert special instruments.

Director, SKIMS, Dr Showkat Zargar said the SKIMS offered learning atmosphere and strived to keep pace with new advances in medical sciences through such events which benefitted both students and faculty and eventually patient care system.

Later, hands-on workshop was also conducted on shoulder models demonstrated by both national and international faculty. The eminent faculty, which conducted the workshop included Dr R Panday (UK), Dr Nandan Adlar (UK), Dr Rajeev Sharma (UK), Dr Ishfaq Husseini (Australia), Dr Sanjay Desai (Mumbai), Dr Mandeep Singh Dhillon (PGI Chandigrah) and Dr Sharad Prabhakar (PGI Chandigrah).

Dr MS Dillhon from the PGI, Chandigarh in his opening remarks appreciated orthopaedicians of the state for putting in efforts to organise the event and said these programs were of great importance to update knowledge on new advances in related fields.

Electrical employees threaten protests
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
The Jammu and Kashmir Central Non-Gazetted Electrical Employees Union (JKCNGEEU) today issued a manifesto where it stated that it would stage protests in case their demands were not addressed by the concerned authorities.

“The union shall try to achieve the demands of the employees through negotiations and will not hesitate to launch different forms of struggle like rallies, dharnas and demonstrations, including strikes if necessary,” the JKCNGEEU manifesto said.

The union also warned against the reported privatisation of the Power Development Department (PDD), saying it would hit the employees.

The other JKCNGEEU demands include filling up of all pending vacancies in the PDD and Power Development Corporation (PDC) within a year, removal of pay anomalies, release of arrears in favour of the employees regularised under ‘SRO-64’, enhancement in ex-gratia for death cases and concession in electricity bills to in-service and retired employees of the PDD and PDC among others.

Nasir castigates Mufti’s appearance
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
National Conference (NC) Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling them a group of opportunist politicians who had suddenly woken up because of NC’s massive contact program.

“Mufti has suddenly woken up from a deep slumber and toured Anantnag, thinking that he can hoodwink people but he is highly mistaken,” Wani said, while addressing a workers’ convention at Kokernag in south Kashmir yesterday.

“His sudden visit after four-and-a-half-years not only shows his frustration but also their opportunistic politics. These people lack credibility, morality, ethics and integrity.”

The NC leader said the PDP had no shame as they showed their face to their electorate only to feed media while in reality they used poor people to meet their political ends.

“NC’s vigorous contact program with people has unnerved them and they have suddenly come out of their shells. People will show them their right place and teach them a lesson that they can no longer play with their sentiment and emotions,” he added.

Minister seeks public support for development
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather has said the government was committed to provide all basic facilities to the people without any discrimination. He said this while addressing a gathering at Showpora, Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Stating that two decade-long turmoil had ‘brought untold mayhem and miseries to the people who now want lasting peace.

To give heeling touch to their wounds’, Rather said the present coalition government was ‘working overtime to fulfil the yearning of the people for peace’. He said the elements inimical to the peace and prosperity of the state would not be allowed to succeed in their game plan as the government was determined to ‘take the state to new heights of development and growth’. Seeking the support of the people in the implementation of various development programmes, he urged them to ‘monitor the ongoing works in their respective areas and help to ensure judicious use of funds’.

Bar office attacked, lawyers to observe strike today
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 31
The High Court Bar Association has decided to abstain from work tomorrow in protest against an attack on the Bar office, located in Sadder Court Complex, here. As stated by the Bar Secretary, M Ashraf Bhat, a group of nearly 20 persons without any provocation, attacked the Bar office in Sadder Court Complex today, assaulting many senior lawyers.

A meeting was called by the Executive Committee of the association today. “During the meeting, the Executive showed concern about the ineffective attitude by the Judicial Officers concerned to the incident and showed solidarity with the lawyers who were assaulted”, he said.