The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Ladakh succeeds in protecting snow leopard
Jammu, December 7
The Ladakh region of the state could become an example for the rest of the country when it comes to conservation of the endangered species. Its efforts to prevent the poaching of exotic snow leopard during the last two decades, though still at a critical stage, have met with success.

Rural poultry scheme secures livelihood of poor
Kupwara, December 7
Mumtaz Ahmad Poswal, a resident of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, is working hard to set up a poultry farm in his native Batpora village, thanks to government's Rural Backyard Poultry Development programme, which aims at providing nutrition and income to poor rural families.

NC demands apology from Modi
Jammu, December 7
National Conference leaders today sought an apology from BJP prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for belittling the people of the state and describing Jammu and Kashmir as a beggar state. They said such insensitivity demonstrated arrogance and lack of comprehension of a person aspiring to become the Prime Minister of India.

Mirwaiz castigates international community
Anantnag, December 7
Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today accused the international community of maintaining criminal silence over the human rights violations in Kashmir. Mirwaiz was speaking during a seminar in Town Hall, Anantnag, organised by the APHC as part of its Human Rights Week.

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq along with party leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat at a seminar in Anantnag on Saturday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Light snowfall likely in upper reaches of Kashmir, Ladakh
Srinagar, December 7
While the sky remained overcast in the Valley today, the weatherman has forecast light snowfall in the upper reaches of the Kashmir and Ladakh regions during the next 24 hours. Director, Meteorological Department, Sonum Lotus said light snowfall was likely in the higher reaches of the Valley, especially in the north Kashmir areas, including Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora. He said light snowfall was also expected at Zojila on the Kashmir-Ladakh axis.

Political organisations express concern over unemployment
Srinagar, December 7
Expressing concern over the rising unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Committee of CPM and its allies have urged the government to expedite the process of recruitment so that the unemployed youth get benefited.

Governor for mobilising resources for Flag Day fund
Jammu, December 7
Armed forces’ token flag being pinned onto the coat of Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Saturday. Governor NN Vohra stressed the need to enlarge the corpus of the Flag Day fund to enhance the welfare of soldiers, airmen and sailors in recognition of the sacrifices made to safeguard the honour, glory and safety of the motherland. The Governor was attending the annual Armed Forces Flag Day ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan, Jammu, today.

Armed forces’ token flag being pinned onto the coat of Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Saturday. A Tribune photo

Geelani postpones Srinagar rally
Srinagar, December 7
Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who continues to remain under detention since Wednesday, today postponed the “million march” rally, which was scheduled to be held here tomorrow. Geelani also urged people to refrain from marching to the venue. The rally was supposed to take place at a park in the city centre and would have been the last in a series of rallies addressed by the leader after his release from 236-day detention in October. “The rally has been postponed for now and a new date will be announced after Geelani’s release,” spokesperson of Geelani’s hardline separatist faction said in a statement here. The statement added that several of its leaders have been detained in a government crackdown to scuttle the rally and appealed to the people to refrain from marching to the city. — TNS

Tributes paid to Mandela
Srinagar, December 7
Paying tributes to former South African President Nelson Mandela, who passed away yesterday, moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the biggest tribute to the great leader would be that the international community sheds its double standards over human rights. Mirwaiz said this while addressing a seminar on human rights in south Kashmir’s Anantnag town. Paying tributes to Mandela, Grand Mufti (chief cleric) Syed Basheer-ud-Din said Mandela was a “towering" national leader. “He underwent 27-year imprisonment just for the freedom of his nation from apartheid, racism and inequality,” Mufti said, while adding that Mandela’s life was an example for other struggling nations. — TNS

One killed in road accident
Srinagar, December 7
One person was killed and three were injured in different road accidents across the Valley. A car driver, Khurshid Ahmed Sheikh of Gopalpora, was killed in a road accident in south Kashmir yesterday. The police said the car overturned near Fategud Colony, Anantnag, resulting in the death of the driver. In another accident, two persons were injured in north Kashmir’s Bandipore district when a tipper met with an accident. The injured were shifted to the Sub-District Hospital, Bandipora, for treatment. The police said a shopkeeper near the cremation ground, Srinagar, received a minor injury when a SRTC bus hit him. — TNS

Youth held for raping minor
Doda, December 7
A youth has been arrested for allegedly raping a hearing impaired girl in Gandho village of Doda district, police said. Following the complaint of the relatives of the minor, who is also hearing impaired, we have arrested said Shah Nawaz, said SHO, Gandho. He said a case had been registered and the girl was referred to the District Hospital, Doda, for medical examination. The officer, however, said that they were in the primary stage of investigation and it was very difficult to record the statement of the girl as she was not able to hear and speak. — OC

Army douses forest fire
Jammu, December 7
A major forest fire which started at Dagnari in Ramban last night was doused today by troops of the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion posted in the area. The fire had started to threaten the civilians, their cattle and property. Villagers approached the post Commander to help extinguish the fire. A team of jawans, led by a Non-Commissioned Officer, rushed to the spot and controlled the fire from spreading. — TNS

	Azad won’t contest LS poll from J&K Makes veiled attack on Omar for reacting to Modi’s statement on Article 370 Tribune News Service Jammu, December 7 Putting at rest all speculation, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today ruled out contesting Lok Sabha elections from Jammu and Kashmir. He made it clear that sitting Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh would be party candidate for the Udhampur-Doda parliamentary seat. With this public announcement it has become clear that the Congress would repeat its sitting MPs, namely Madan Lal Sharma and Choudhary Lal Singh, from Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seats, respectively. For quite sometime speculations were there that Ghulam Nabi Azad would contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Udhampur-Doda seat as his native place falls in this parliamentary segment. The Congress leadership in the state was trying to give an impression that Azad would contest Lok Sabha elections to negate Modi factor in Jammu region, but his denial of joining electoral fray has put to rest all such speculations. Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti have already announced to contest Lok Sabha elections so there were speculations that the Congress would also field a top gun to make the parliamentary elections interesting in Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah would contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, while Mehbooba Mufti would contest from the Anantnag parliamentary segment. Farooq Abdullah is sitting Lok Sabha member from the Srinagar segment. Azad, who was at Kathua today to address a “Sheedhi Diwas” function, made it clear that sitting Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh is strong enough to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, while addressing the function, Azad cautioned party cadre against indulging in a debate on the Article 370 and said instead of raking up emotive issues there was a need to make development a poll plank in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Without naming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Azad said those who were reacting to the statement of BJP leaders on the Article 370 were giving unnecessary publicity to the BJP. In an obvious reference to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Azad said, “Those who had raked up the Article 370 issue has no work except raising emotive issues, but there is no need to react on the statements of such leaders”. Azad also seized this opportunity to highlight achievements of the previous PDP-Congress regime, which, according to him, had taken many historical steps for accelerating developmental activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Speculation put to rest With Ghulam Nabi Azad's public announcement it has become clear that the Congress would repeat its sitting MPs, namely Madan Lal Sharma and Choudhary Lal Singh, from Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seats, respectively For quite sometime speculation was there that Ghulam Nabi Azad would contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Udhampur-Doda seat as his native place falls in this parliamentary segment Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti have already announced to contest the Lok Sabha elections so there was speculation that the Congress would also field a top gun to make the parliamentary elections interesting in Jammu and Kashmir
	State JNVs told to conduct self-defence programme for girls from next session Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, December 7 The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) on the directions of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry has issued instructions to the vidyalayas of the state to conduct self-defence training programme from 2014. "The samiti has been emphasising the need for achieving excellences of students in various games, sports and physical activities in the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). In the wake of present scenario, it has been felt that learning of self-defence skills is essential to empower individual girls which can help them to live with dignity and confidence,” said a letter from the samiti. “In order to create awareness about the safety of girls, special focus is required in sports and physical activities to teach basic self-defence techniques to train them to tackle real life situations and protect themselves from anti-social elements,” the letter added. Sources said the self-defence training would include judo, karate and tae kwon do, besides other innovative techniques. The principals of the JNV would arrange classes to train girls in self-defence techniques. Sources said the principals would identify the training resources from recognised agencies/organisations. The expert who is deemed fit may be appointed initially for a period of three months. Preference may be given to a female instructor. Further, an honorarium of Rs 10,000 will be paid to the instructor out of the vikas nidhi fund of the vidyalaya. Sources said girl students would be divided into groups for the conduct of self-defence classes. The principal would submit a feedback report of the activity undertaken to the Assistant Commissioner, Cluster, in charge periodically i.e. by 5th day of every succeeding month. The Assistant Commissioner, Cluster, in charge will monitor and review the reports of the JNVs of his/her cluster and submit a report to the Regional Office by 15th of the succeeding month in a consolidated manner. The Deputy Commissioner, Regional office, will review the feedback reports of the JNVs and submit report to NVS Headquarters on quarterly basis for the conduct of review meetings. Sources said the vidyalayas would be at liberty to add a few more areas for strengthening the sports and self-defence programmes for girl students.
	Physically challenged students not getting benefits of Central schemes Shyam Sood Rajouri, December 7 Resenting the alleged discrimination against physically challenged children on part of the district administration and the Education Department, headmaster of Girls Middle School, Rajouri, refused to send the girl students of his school to a rally, taken out by the Education Department on World Disability Day on Tuesday. Shahbaz Khan, headmaster of the school, said the implementation of various Central welfare schemes for the physically challenged children was discussed with the higher authorities at Rajouri but nothing had been done during the current financial year. “Taking out rallies once a year on World Disabled Day would not do any good to such children. They deserve help being sent under various Central schemes,” said Khan. On the name of identification of the physically challenged students, the Special Focus Group of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme holds camps at various places for disabled children. “Most of these camps are held only on paper and officials along with clerical staff misappropriate funds worth lakhs,” said Ashwani Kumar, an RTI activist. Kumar said, “In June 2013, I had sought information under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) from the Chief Education Officer about the details of welfare funds for handicapped students, copies of set norms and rules for operating all funds under the SSA scheme and the total amount received from 2010 till June 2013,” said the RTI activist. “The details and the reply under the Act are awaited.” Kumar said hundreds of tricycles, crutches and walking sticks/frames were catching rust on the roofs of the offices of the Chief Education Officer (CEO) and the Zonal Education Officer for the last more than a year. He said, “The material was provided by NGOs for distribution among the disabled students of Rajouri district. But the authorities failed to hold identification camps in remote areas and the equipment was dumped on the roofs.” Chief Education Officer, Rajouri, Choudhary Lal Hussian said he had recently joined and had no information about the information sought under the RTI Act and who had dumped the tricycles and crutches on the roofs of the offices. “Within the next few days I will call the officials concerned to get the details and only then it will be possible for me to say something,” said the Rajouri CEO.
	Ladakh succeeds in protecting snow leopard Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, December 7 The Ladakh region of the state could become an example for the rest of the country when it comes to conservation of the endangered species. Its efforts to prevent the poaching of exotic snow leopard during the last two decades, though still at a critical stage, have met with success. By involving villagers, the Wildlife Department and various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have succeeded in preventing man-animal conflict and discouraged the killing of the exotic wild cats found in the Trans Himalayan-Karakorum mountains of the region and Central Asia. In the past decade, there have been record sightings of leopards at the Hemis National Park and the Zanskar and Nubra valleys through special camera trap techniques used by a local NGO and the Wildlife Department. Though there is no exact figure of their population, it is estimated that there are more than 400 wild cats within the Indian territory in the Ladakh region. Officials said heavy military deployment on the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China had helped in curbing the hunting of the animal, killed for its bones and other body parts, which are in high demand and used in Tibetan and Chinese traditional medicines. “Since April, we scanned 450 sq km of the area and spotted 21 wild cats. It is a good sign as they live in thousands of sq km. Due to collective efforts, poaching has been curbed to a large extent in the past two decades,” said Jigmet Dadul — considered by many as the world’s best leopard spotter. He works for an NGO, Snow Leopard Conservation India Trust. Dadul said his team had been carrying out research work for the past one decade and with technical help from the Wildlife Department had been able to study and track the wild cats and create a detailed report of their movement. “The preservation of the fauna in the area is also a result of the Buddhist beliefs which discourage the hunting of wild animals. We have succeeded in disseminating the message to the villagers,” said Dadul. Not only snow leopards, sources said other endangered species such as Tibetan wild ass (Kiang), gazelle, argali and wolf were also on the revival path, mostly due to the efforts of the Wildlife Department. Chief Conservator of Forests, Ladakh, Jigmet Takpa said Ladakh was unique when it came to the conservation of wildlife. “Here villagers have supported our efforts. By sustained campaigns, leopards are now being sighted in many areas by our field staff. But, unplanned and uncontrolled tourism in biological hotspots is the main threat to the Ladakh ecology,” Takpa said. He was recently conferred the RBS Earth Hero Award —2013 in New Delhi. The Chief Conservator of Forests said they had started taking genetic samples and installing radio collars on leopards for tracking. Nearly 30,000 sq km in the Ladakh region, including the Hemis National Park, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary and the Changthang Cold Desert Sanctuary, fall in the protected area. On revival path By involving villagers, the Wildlife Department and various NGOs have succeeded in preventing man-animal conflict and discouraged the killing of the exotic wild cats in Ladakh In the past decade, there have been record sightings of leopards at the Hemis National Park and the Zanskar and Nubra valleys through special camera trap techniques used by a local NGO and the Wildlife Department Officials said heavy military deployment on the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China had helped in curbing the hunting of the animal, killed for its bones and other body parts, which are in high demand and used in Tibetan and Chinese traditional medicines Though there is no exact figure of their population, it is estimated that there are more than 400 wild cats within the Indian territory in Ladakh
	Rural poultry scheme secures livelihood of poor Amin Masoodi Kupwara, December 7 Mumtaz Ahmad Poswal, a resident of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, is working hard to set up a poultry farm in his native Batpora village, thanks to government's Rural Backyard Poultry Development programme, which aims at providing nutrition and income to poor rural families. Poswal (33) is not the only beneficiary of the scheme implemented by the Animal Husbandry Department Kashmir since October 2010. As many as 3,417 economically deprived families have been benefited in Kupwara district alone, officials say. "In April, the department provided me 20 one-month-old chicks and a cheque of Rs 750 for raising shelter and arranging feed. I have been taking care of them from the past 10 months now," said Poswal, who will receive a total of 25 more chicks by February. "I am working hard to set up a poultry farm in my area and make a living for my family. The veterinary doctors visited my home and vaccinated the birds," he added. In the first phase of the programme, poor families are provided 20 chicks, 15 in the second phase and 10 in the final phase. Women in villages are well acquainted with feeding and growing chicks into healthy birds. "I feed chicks the crushed maize and a few variety of pulses for good growth," said Shahmali Begum (43), a beneficiary from remote Chowkibal village in Kupwara. Good water intake and proper ventilation was equally important for their health, she added. In April, Begum set up a coop to feed the nine-month-old chick. "From January, I am hopeful to feed eggs to my children in the breakfast. If a relative or guest arrives at my home, I will be able to serve him chicken as well,” she explained. Chief Animal Husbandry officer, Kupwara, Dr Hafizullah Dar, said with the help of village officials, deserving families receive chicks at their doorsteps. "Poor families in the bordering areas of Machil and Tanghdar have also been covered under the scheme. At regular intervals, veterinary doctors advise the beneficiaries on feeding of birds for proper growth and ensure the vaccination in time to keep them healthy," said Dr Hafizullah.
	NC demands apology from Modi Says BJP leader belittled people of J&K with his ‘beggar state’ remark Tribune News Service Jammu, December 7 National Conference leaders today sought an apology from BJP prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for belittling the people of the state and describing Jammu and Kashmir as a beggar state. They said such insensitivity demonstrated arrogance and lack of comprehension of a person aspiring to become the Prime Minister of India. Modi had made the remark during his "Lalkaar rally" in Jammu on December 1. In a joint statement, the leaders observed that it was neither a slip of tongue nor an inadvertent mistake but a deliberate attempt on Modi’s part to provoke the people of Jammu and Kashmr to react so that the BJP derived the benefit in the state which was going to the polls. “By showing an immense degree of sagacity, the people of the state have not obliged the saffron brigade to succeed in its machinations,” the statement read. The leaders cautioned the people against the BJP’s sinister designs. Signatories to the statement were legislators, Rachpal Singh, Aijaz Jan, Rattan Lal Gupta, Govind Ram Sharma, Syed Mushtaq Bukhari, Babu Ram Paul and Sheikh Bashir Ahmad and former legislators and senior leaders, Kashmira Singh, Bushan Lal Bhat, Satpal Lakhotra, Jugal Mahajan, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Taranjeet Singh Tony, Surinder Singh Bunty, Iqbal Wani, Anil Dhar, Rajiv Chuni, Narinder Nath, Rajesh Bakshi and Vijay Kumar Gupta. The leaders criticised Modi for his hypocrisy by talking about winning the hearts and minds of the people by invoking the spirit of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and in the same breath showing contempt for the sensitivities of the Jammu and Kashmir residents who were proud of their glorious heritage which made them givers, not takers.
	Mirwaiz castigates international community Says it is adopting double standards on Kashmir issue Our Correspondent Anantnag, December 7 Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today accused the international community of maintaining criminal silence over the human rights violations in Kashmir. Mirwaiz was speaking during a seminar in Town Hall, Anantnag, organised by the APHC as part of its Human Rights Week. “The international community has been guilty of adopting double standards over the Kashmir issue,” said Mirwaiz. He said the Kashmir issue was conveniently being dubbed as a border dispute between India and Pakistan, ignoring the atrocities being committed by the Indian forces in Kashmir. “This is criminal on the part of the international community,” said Mirwaiz. “Unless Kashmir is not recognised as a human issue, the South Asian region cannot witness peace and tranquillity, no matter what.” He termed it ironic that the international community, time and again, raised its voice against the human rights violations in places such as East Timor and South Sudan, but a silence was maintained when it came to the Kashmir issue. Mirwaiz said the resolution of the Kashmir issue could be brought only through the implementation of the UN resolutions or the tripartite dialogue, with India, Pakistan and Kashmiris as the parties concerned. “The failure of the Indo-Pak talks so far can easily be attributed to leaving out Kashmiris from the dialogue process,” Mirwaiz said. “No solution can be found to the issue until and unless Kashmiris are taken on board.” Castigating New Delhi for handing over all Kashmir affairs to the military establishment, Mirwaiz maintained that no peace was possible unless a long-term political approach was implemented. He said India and Pakistan could only dream for a better future if the Kashmiri issue was settled.
	Light snowfall likely in upper reaches of Kashmir, Ladakh Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 7 While the sky remained overcast in the Valley today, the weatherman has forecast light snowfall in the upper reaches of the Kashmir and Ladakh regions during the next 24 hours. Director, Meteorological Department, Sonum Lotus said light snowfall was likely in the higher reaches of the Valley, especially in the north Kashmir areas, including Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora. He said light snowfall was also expected at Zojila on the Kashmir-Ladakh axis. However, Lotus said the Kashmir and Ladakh regions were likely to witness mainly dry weather conditions during the next four or five days. Even as the cloudy weather conditions prevailed during the course of the day today in most parts of the Valley, the night temperature improved slightly. Ahead of snowfall, the temperature usually rises up to around 0°C. Srinagar recorded -3°C, the lowest minimum temperature of the current winter season on the night of December 4. The city, as per an official of the Meteorological Department, recorded 0.9°C last night. Similarly, night temperatures increased by a few notches in other parts of the Valley during the last two days. The ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir saw a low of 0.3°C while the tourist resort Pahalgam recorded a minimum of -0.8°C. Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region recorded -8.5°C and -5.8°C last night. The harshest 40-day winter period in the Valley called ‘chillai kalan’ will begin from December 21.
	Political organisations express concern over unemployment Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 7 Expressing concern over the rising unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Committee of CPM and its allies have urged the government to expedite the process of recruitment so that the unemployed youth get benefited. Insisting that successive governments have failed to address the issue, the leaders which met here today, said unemployment has been one of the contributing factors to the uncertainty and alienation among local youth. “One of the burning issues, which we believe is adding to the atmosphere of uncertainty and alienation, is the alarming rate of unemployment in the state,” the leaders said in joint statement. The meeting was attended by CPM state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Peoples Democratic Front chairman Hakim Mohammad Yaseen, Jammu and Kashmir national Democratic Front president Abdul Rashid Kabuli and Lok Janshakti Part leader Sanjay Saraf. The leaders warned that any further delay in addressing the issue will further complicate the problem.? “As per the economic survey report there are over 6.01 lakh unemployed youth who are registered in various district employment exchanges in Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said.
	Governor for mobilising resources for Flag Day fund Tribune News Service Jammu, December 7 Governor NN Vohra stressed the need to enlarge the corpus of the Flag Day fund to enhance the welfare of soldiers, airmen and sailors in recognition of the sacrifices made to safeguard the honour, glory and safety of the motherland. The Governor was attending the annual Armed Forces Flag Day ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan, Jammu, today. While interacting with the retired Army personnel here, the Governor emphasised the importance of mobilising larger resources and observed that the Flag Day should be given due importance and gratitude must be shown towards ex-service personnel and their families. The Governor enquired about the number of World War II veterans in the state and said we need to do much more for their well-being and devise all possible ways to take care of them. He urged Brigadier RS Langeh (retd), director, Sainik Welfare Board, to launch a vigorous round-the-year campaign to significantly enlarge the corpus fund by sensitising the public at large. Others present on the occasion were Maj Gen PS Chib (retd), Maj Gen Shamsher Singh (retd) and Col JDS Kotwal (retd), besides the director of the Sainik Welfare Board.