Srinagar, May 22
In a bid to “introspect” over the recent poll debacle in the six parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, state Congress president Saifuddin Soz has convened a meeting of the party’s ministers in the Omar-led coalition government here tomorrow.

Former state Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who lost to the BJP in his maiden election to the Lok Sabha from his home constituency of Udhampur, is also scheduled to attend the meeting. Azad, a member of the Rajya Sabha from the state, has already arrived here. He will be the only senior party leader other than 12 members of the Council of Ministers who will be attending the meeting, which will be presided over by Soz.

The meeting is being held a day after the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief called on All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today. “I shared my perception on the sentiments of Congress men and women in the length and breadth of the country on their resolve to work tirelessly to regain the lost ground for the party”, Soz stated after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi.

“It is a sort of introspection,” Soz told The Tribune on his arrival here today. He said the Congress ministers would discuss “why and what happened” on the ground that led to the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. Its coalition partner, National Conference, also had “introspection” meetings for two days earlier this week.

The Congress party has 12 ministers, including three Cabinet ministers from the Valley in the Omar Abdullah-led NC-Congress coalition government. Out of 46 Assembly seats in the Valley, the Congress has representation on three seats of Kokernag, Uri and Dooru, represented by Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Taj Mohiuddin and Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who are all Cabinet ministers.

The coalition candidates lost to the opposition PDP candidates in all three seats of Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla in the Kashmir valley, and to the BJP in Jammu, Udhampur and Ladakh seats.

In numbers The NC-Congress coalition candidates lost to the opposition PDP candidates in all three seats of Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla in the Kashmir valley, and to the BJP in Jammu, Udhampur and Ladakh seats. The Congress has 12 ministers, including three Cabinet ministers from the Valley in the Omar Abdullah-led NC-Congress coalition government. Out of 46 Assembly seats in the Valley, the Congress has representation on three seats of Kokernag, Uri and Dooru, represented by Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Taj Mohiuddin and Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who are all Cabinet ministers.

Srinagar, May 22
A day after the scrapping of the controversial recruitment policy by the state government, many youth appointed after this policy was announced in 2011 are unsure on how the government would treat their service period.

The state government has already asked the Finance Department to work out proposals relating to revocation of fixed salary mode for the non-gazetted and Class IV employees appointed after the introduction of the policy, which was scrapped by the state cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday.

“Though the Finance Department has been asked to work out the plan, the government should have made it clear that the employees appointed during that period will get all the benefits as the fresh recruits used to get before this controversial recruitment policy was introduced,” said a non-gazetted employee from central Kashmir.

“Once the recruitment policy has been scrapped, we should be treated on par with other employees,” he added.

The controversial job policy was to be introduced in J&K from November 2011. However, it was delayed after the policy was stayed by the high court after a petition was filed. Under this policy, the non-gazetted recruits were paid a fixed monthly salary equivalent to 50 per cent of the basic pay for the first two years. After completion of 5 years, the recruits were entitled to a normal pay band and all other allowances as entitled by the other government employees.

Another employee recruited under the policy said though they had raised strong voice against it, they were never listened properly.

“It is now good that the policy has been scrapped and we hope that there is no discrimination with those who were appointed under the policy,” said another fresh recruit.

Minister for Planning Development, Labour and Employment Ajay Sadhotra said all those appointed under the policy would get all benefits like the regular employees.

“Those appointed during this period will get salary in full and all other benefits with effect from the date of their appointment,” Sadhotra told The Tribune.

The policy was scarped in the backdrop of the ruling National Conference and Congress coalition debacle in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. After the defeat, the Chief Minister had sought suggestions and following a feedback, he decided to scrap the controversial policy.

Pahalgam, May 22
The revised Master Plan of Pahalgam has trashed the previous plan — Master Plan Pahalgam - 2025 — for being faulty on many grounds and lacking vision and sensitivity.

The vast meadow resort, situated 90 km south of Srinagar and spread on both sides of the gushing Lidder, has turned into an ugly assemblage of urban structures, threatening the waters of the river.

The growth of hotels and guesthouses constructed along the Lidder river in the past decade and guided by the Master Plan-2025 prepared in 2005 has turned Pahalgam into other urban stopover.

The Master Plan - 2025, which allowed “unwarranted land use change” in Pahalgam and 21 adjoining villages and placed no mechanism to check the waste and sewage disposal that kept polluting and deteriorating water quality of the Lidder river, remained applicable for nearly a decade.

The new Master Plan for Pahalgam, drafted by a 12-member team of experts, which was displayed for objections earlier this year, has painted a grim picture of the resort and termed the previous plan as “redundant and irrelevant”.

“It is benefiting a select group of entrepreneurs while ignoring the economic empowerment of local communities,” Chief Town Planner in the Town Planning Organisation of Kashmir Iftikhar A Hakim wrote in preface of the new draft plan.

The revised Master Plan 2014-2032 was drafted on the High Court directive following a public interest litigation (PIL), which had challenged the provisions of the Master Plan - 2025.

Hakim noted that the previous plan was at fault on many grounds and had basic planning errors, poor implementation and lack of enforcement.

“The Master Plan lacked in unbiased vision and sensitivity otherwise required for such a fragile area,” he mentioned.

The official further pointed out that “various deficiencies, anomalies, violations and shortcomings” have been noticed while revisiting the Master Plan.

“One of the major fallacies of the Master Plan - 2025 has been the unwarranted land use change of existing village settlements into ‘green areas’ without even respecting the legal and natural rights of the locals,” the official stated.

The revised plan has found “inconsistency” in the land use proposals contemplated for the development of tourism infrastructure — huts, hotels and guesthouses — in Pahalgam.

The Master Plan 2014-2032 has also noted that the previous plan had “ignored” six laws guiding the conservation and protection of habitat and ecology of the sensitive Pahalgam area. These included the Jammu &Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act-1978, the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Act-1987 (1930 AD), the Jammu and Kashmir Forest (Conservation) Act 1997, Pahalgam Forest Rules, 1999, Environment Protection Act 1986 and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

It stated that the previous plan resulted in “unwarranted land use change, deforestation, declining fodder fields, urban sprawl and environment pollution”.

The revised plan has also quoted the findings of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), conducted by the University of Kashmir, which had highlighted “major loopholes” in the Master Plan - 2025.

The EIA had also called for correction of “deficiencies and lacunae” and recommended an “efficient Integrated Solid Waste Management” which, the survey found, was “totally missing”.

Revised draft findings Apart from basic planning errors, poor implementation and lack of enforcement, the Master Plan Pahalgam - 2025 lacked in unbiased vision and sensitivity among Town Planners otherwise required for such a fragile area One of the major fallacies of the Master Plan-2025 has been the unwarranted land use change of existing village settlements into ‘green areas’ without even respecting the legal and natural rights of the locals

(Concluded)

An aerial view of the snow-bound Panjtarni. A Tribune photograph

Srinagar, May 22
Governor NN Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), along with Rakesh Kumar Gupta, CEO, SASB, today conducted an aerial survey of the Amarnath yatra area along Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panjtarni on the Pahalgam axis and Sangam and Baltal on the Baltal axis, to gain first-hand impression about the existing snow accumulation levels.

It was observed that the entire yatra area from Chandanwari onwards on the Pahalgam axis and from Domel onwards from the Baltal axis has heavy snow accumulation. As almost all the prefabricated and permanent structures are still buried under snow up to roof level, it is assessed that the entire area still has eight to 10 feet of snow.

The restoration of tracks from Chandanwari onwards is being taken up by the Pahalgam Development Authority on the Pahalgam-Holy Cave axis and by the PWD on the Baltal-Holy cave axis and this work shall be able to gain momentum only if there is a sunny spell for seven to 10 days. At present, the speed of work has been significantly affected on account of the prevailing weather conditions.

The Governor impressed upon all the agencies to ensure that the tracks were cleared of the snow and all the facilities required for the yatra were put in place well before the commencement of the yatra on June 28.

Srinagar, May 22
Governor NN Vohra along with First Lady Usha Vohra today visited Raahat Ghar at Chandilora in Tangmarg and interacted with the inmates there.

Established by the Guild of Service, Raahat Ghar has been providing valuable support to marginalised women and children.

Earlier, the Governor had visited the old complex of the Raahat Ghar at Zakoora in Srinagar and had appreciated the work done by the governing body of the institution. On the request of Dr Mohini Giri, president of the Guild of Service, the Governor along with the First Lady today visited the new complex at Chandilora.

The Raahat Ghar was recently shifted to Chandilora in Tangmarg. Vohra, on the occasion, complimented Giri and all her colleagues for their missionary zeal in running an important organisation for promoting the welfare of widows and children, particularly those who had been affected by militancy.

Giri presented the welcome address, while Dr Girija Dhar, a member of the governing body of the institute, presented the annual report.

Dhar pointed out that a good number of former inmates of the Raahat Ghar had since been rehabilitated and were now meaningfully employed in various parts of the country. Vohra suggested that possibilities should be explored to provide vocational education to the girls so that they were able to stand on their own legs and set up their own enterprises.

The young girls of Raahat Ghar, on the occasion, presented an impressive cultural programme, which was prepared under the guidance of Jaya Iyer, Project Officer of the Raahat Ghar.

Usha Vohra presented prizes to the meritorious students who had excelled in their studies and the Governor assured that Raahat Ghar would be provided all possible support in consultation with Dr Girija Dhar.

Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir, who was present on the occasion, also assured support for the satisfactory functioning of this important establishment.

Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Farooq Lone; Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Suhail Munawar Mir and former Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission Mohd Shafi Pandit among others were present on the occasion.

Srinagar, May 22
Not satisfied with an open FIR in the recent killing of a minor girl in a shell blast in the Tosa Maidan area of Budgam, locals today demanded registration of a case against the Army in the matter.

The villagers demanded this during a protest demonstration in Srinagar, during which they also raised slogans, seeking shifting of the filed firing range from Tosa Maidan.

Simran (12) was killed while her brother Fayaz, also a minor, was critically injured after an unexploded shell, they mistook for a toy, went off in Parraypora village near the Tosa Maidan firing range in Budgam district on May 19. The villagers also demanded that the authorities to clear the area of unattended live shells. — TNS

Udhampur, May 22
The Hoteliers and Restaurant Association, Patnitop, has demanded development of the tourist spot alleging discrimination with the area by the Patnitop Development Authority and the Tourism Department.

Addressing a press conference here today, general secretary of the Hoteliers and Restaurant Association, Patnitop, Sayeed Anwar Shah alleged discrimination with Patnitop and other tourist spots of the area by the state government, Patnitop Development Authority and the Tourism Department.

He added that due to government neglect, the spot had failed to attract tourists from Jammu and outside the state this year, leaving hoteliers disappointed.

Shah alleged that the area had always been discriminated against and ignored with regard to development and all the projects sanctioned for the area were hanging in balance.

He said the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had got the Gandola project sanctioned for Patnitop on the pattern of Gulmarg, but till date the fate of the project was hanging in balance.

Similarly, the Karnah-Gorikund road had not been completed during the last several years despite the fact that with the construction of the road, Mantalai and Sudhmahadev tourist spots could get the shortest road connectivity with Patnitop, he said. He added that the Karlah Nag temple and the Circular road was in dilapidated condition.

Members of the Patnitop Development Association and the Hoteliers and Restaurant Association alleged that out of the total funds released by the Central government for the promotion of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, more than 90 per cent were being spent in the Kashmir valley and tourist spots of Jammu were ignored completely.

The association demanded that the Tourism Department and the Patnitop Development Authority should focus more on promoting Patnitop as a tourist destination and attract more tourists to it else hundreds of people would become unemployed.

Jammu, May 22
The Centre for Social Responsibility and Leadership, New Delhi, in association with the Army has launched Chenab Super 30 Programme to provide 11 months of free residential coaching for clearing the IIT joint entrance exam to talented students of three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban.

The Delta Force organised a seminar on Chenab Super 30 at Government Higher Secondary school (Girls), Bhaderwah, and Government Higher Secondary School, Batote, on Wednesday.

The lecture and discussion was organised in order to clarify the doubts of IIT aspirants regarding the coaching programme.

More than 600 students attended the seminar.

On the occasion, Army officials highlighted that the entrance exam for Chenab Super 30 would be held on June 1. The students must register their names with the nearest Rashtriya Rifles Camp. — TNS

Srinagar, May 22
Appreciating the commercial banks operating in the state for progress made in the field of deposit mobilisation and credit expansion, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather today urged these institutions to make efforts for improving the Credit Deposit (CD) ratio and bringing it on par with the national benchmark of 60 per cent.

Speaking at the 93rd meeting of the J&K State-Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) here today, the finance minister said the deposits as on ending March 2014 have grown by about 12 per cent over the corresponding figure for the previous financial year, while the credit size has grown by about 37 per cent.

Rather said the expansion of credit size was also in line with the trends noticed in the cumulative performance of all the member banks right from the first quarter of the year.

However, he said, as a result of the efforts made by the member banks in this direction, the CD ratio had improved to 44.58 per cent as against the previous year’s figure of 36.51 per cent, which of course was laudable.

Rather said, “The agriculture sector advances have improved marginally as a share in the total advances and substantially as a share in the priority sector advances. It is heartening to note that the advances to the weaker sections have also improved as a percentage of the total priority sector advances.”

“However, there is a declining trend in the share of MSE in total priority sector advances,” Rather pointed out while impressing upon the commercial banks to pay special attention towards the MSME sector because it holds a high potential of generating employment for the educated youth.

He asked the commercial banks operating in the state to formulate coordinated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plans for J&K state on priority basis according to the directions by the Governor, Reserve Bank of India, in the SLBC meeting held in May last year at Srinagar.

The minister said it was satisfactory to note that Phase-I of the Swabhimaan Campaign or Financial Inclusion Plan for coverage of villages with population of over 2,000 had been successfully completed by all banks concerned, but there was a little gap between the total number of households to be covered and the number of FI accounts actually opened up to March 31.

He hoped that this gap would also be removed by all banks concerned, particularly by the J&K Bank in whose case the reported gap appears to be fairly significant. He said it was equally heartening to know that the targets fixed for the first two financial years under the FIP Phase-II have been cumulatively exceeded by the banks concerned.

Srinagar, May 22
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra today said his party would use Parliament as a forum for debate and dialogue on Kashmir and strive towards seeking a way out for political and economic issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the Government of India would have to take tangible measures to address the trust deficit and alienation in Kashmir as no initiative was going to have an impact on ground without the involvement of the people.

"While the overwhelming mandate received by PDP in the Lok Sabha elections is a matter of great satisfaction for the party and we express our gratitude to the people for the same, it has at the same time come with a huge responsibility and enormous expectations," Karra said while addressing a series of thanksgiving public meetings in the Ganderbal Assembly segment of the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency, where from he was elected to the Lok Sabha after defeating National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Karra said, "The trust people of the state have reposed in the democratic institutions offers a fresh opportunity to work through peaceful and reconciliatory means towards addressing all dimensions of the Kashmir issue."

The PDP leader said they would seek a comprehensive review of the Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) for J&K and the Udaan project as both these schemes seem to have failed to realise the desired objective.

"Instead of doing any good to the state's educated youth, both these schemes are now turning out to be scandalous affairs as complaints of duping by dubious NGOs in the garb of these schemes are piling up day by day," he said.

Anantnag, May 22
People in the Khannabal area of Anantnag today came out in large numbers and blocked the busy Khannabal-Pahalgam (KP) Road for more than two hours, demanding immediate release of two youths detained by the police late last night.

According to reports, clashes erupted in the Khannabal area last evening wherein the local youth fought pitched battles with the police and the CRPF personnel.

Sources said after clashes the police carried out nocturnal raids in the area and detained two youths.

Samba, May 22
Samba residents today staged protest against the shortage of power and water supply and submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner RK Verma.

The protesters were led by MLA Yashpal Kundal. “Residents of remote areas are having a tough time. There is acute shortage of drinking water. All tall claims of the government of improving basic infrastructure have fallen flat," Kundal said.

He threatened to launch an agitation if the the administration failed to supply uninterrupted power and water supply to the area at the earliest. — OC

Srinagar, May 22
The All-Jammu and Kashmir Casual Labourers Association of the Power Development Department (PDD) today staged a demonstration in protest against the government, accusing it of not regularising them and also failing to pay pending salaries.

The employees said, “Despite working hard, the government has been unjust with us. The government has not paid any heed to our issues. We have been working like this for the past five years, but no one has ever listened to our problems,” said one of the protesters.

The labourers added that they had been facing a lot of hardships as the pending salaries had not been released by the state government.

They alleged that despite complaining to the officials concerned many a time, nothing had been done so far.

“Around 7,000 employees are living in difficulty. We just want to leave this job. The government is just hanging our issues,” they said.

“We approached the chief engineer concerned, but he said that he has forwarded the report to the government. What will we feed to our children,” they said.

They alleged that some employees of the department were electrocuted while on duty and the government failed to give them proper compensation. 

Srinagar, May 22
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar today directed the officers to speed up the pace of developmental works in Srinagar.

The minister said this while addressing officers during a review meeting convened to discuss the status of various works undertaken by the government in the city.

The minister said the government was committed to ensuring holistic development of the city and in this regard several schemes have been started in different sectors such as roads and buildings, public health engineering and housing and urban development, which would go a long way in developing the historic city on modern basis without altering its heritage pattern.

"The minister asked the managing director, JKPCC, to speed up the work on the heritage bridges at Habakadal as well as Zainakadal so that they are completed soon for convenience of people," an official spokesman said. — TNS

Srinagar, May 22
With an alarming rise in cases of homicides and suicides in the Valley, the social and preventive measures (SPM) department of Government Medical College here organised an advocacy meet where experts discussed preventive measures in such situations.

Doctors from psychology and psychiatry departments talked about the preventive measures that must be taken to stop the increasing cases of burning, acid attacks and homicides in the region.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Afadul Mujtaba doctors, police officials and religious scholars also participated in the event.

The event was held under the theme "Advocacy on preventive measures of burn injury cases". Experts and medicos claimed that the number of burn injuries had gone up by an alarming rate in the Kashmir valley.

"Nowadays, we see more exposure to violent methods of suicide and even homicide," said Dr Shabir Iqbal a senior plastic surgeon.

Referring to more severe cases of burn injuries and acid attacks, the doctors said the main reason behind such acts was domestic violence and declining moral values in the region.

"We have left behind the moral, ethical and religious values which are making people in our society to take such extreme steps," said Principal of Government Medical College Dr Rafiq Ahmad Pampori. — OC

Srinagar, May 22
The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) President, who had made a statement against the J&K Police a few days before, was released on bail here today.

Dr Nissaar-ul-Hassan was arrested by the police on May 19 from SMHS hospital while on duty. “Nisar was illegally detained by the police for four days, depriving the patients of medical care,” the doctors’ body said in a statement here, adding that he was released on bail.

“This detention was done after Dr Nisar made a statement that the police were not allowing treatment of the youth in hospitals,” the association alleged in the statement today. In his statement on May 19, Dr Nissar while ruing the presence of the police in J&K hospital had alleged that the state police personnel barged into operation theatres with shoes and their presence in the hospitals has created a fear psychosis among doctors.

“This illegal detention of the DAK president while on emergency duty and fabricating cases against him is human rights abuse,” the doctors’ association alleged in the statement, while threatening to approach the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) with a petition against the incident. 

Srinagar, May 22
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical sciences (SKIMS) today started a two-day medical education programme in coordination with the Society of Nuclear Medicine, northern chapter.

The workshop was conducted by the department of nuclear medicine. Director SKIMS Dr Showkat Zagar lauded the significant improvements undertaken by the department in the last few years. — OC

Jammu, May 22
The Crime Branch, Jammu, today produced a challan against two retired police officials, including a former Superintendent of Police (SP), for misplacement of seized record after a gap of seven years. The challan was produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate here.

The accused persons are Mohinder Singh of Gadigarh in Jammu, then Sub-Inspector and now retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and Sher Ali of Bhagyal in Kathua district, then Inspector and now retired SP.

The case pertains to the fraudulent withdrawing of relief meant for Kashmiri migrants by some persons in connivance with the staff of the Relief Organisation as well as various branches of J&K Bank in the city under fake and fictitious names and followed by misplacement of seized record.

According to an official spokesperson for the Crime Branch, the instant case was registered on the basis of the final report submitted by Mushtaq Ahmed, the then Inspector, Crime Branch, Jammu, (now DSP) on February 10, 2007, who in his report submitted that most of the records seized in the case were missing and there was no explanation from any of the investigating officers as to where these records have been placed.

On this report, a formal case was registered by the Crime Branch, Jammu and an investigation was conducted. "It was amply clear that the seized record in the case was properly handed over to Mohinder Singh. He was thus the custodian of this government property and was responsible for its safe accounting and custody. But he failed in his legitimate duties and misplaced or destroyed the records with mala fide intention to provide undue benefit to accused person of a case registered under FIR number 1/1992 as the case was closed as untraced," the spokesperson said.

During the course of investigation, the exercise was done by all means, including constituting a team for locating the missing record from dead stock to trace out missing record, but it remained untraced.

"From the investigation conducted in the instant case and relevant documents collected it is clear that Mohinder Singh has been found to have committed the offence," he said.

Jammu, May 22
The wayside dhabas and eateries on the Jammu-Pathankot-Srinagar national highway have emerged as a major source of health hazard for the people travelling on the route. There have been number of complaints by passengers about stale and unhygienic food being served at these eateries.

With crores of pilgrims and tourists visiting the state every year, these eateries are doing a brisk business. With drivers being offered free meals they deliberately halt their vehicles at a particular eatery forcing the passengers to consume whatever is offered to them at odd hours.

In the absence of proper checking, passengers are also made to shell out a huge amount for simple eatables and even rates of mineral water bottles are inflated.

“There should be a proper check of the food and drinks being served at the dhabas on the highway. I was travelling to Amritsar and the consumed food at one of the eateries on the highway. It was stale and when I raised the issue with the owner he abused me,” said Gurjeet Singh, a businessman.

There have been many instances when the police raided these eateries for selling and offering liquor illegally, but no followup action was taken against the owners, which has further created risk for the travellers.

A trader, Suresh Gupta, who travels to different parts of North India, said drivers have a habit of halting their vehicles at some selected Dhabas and they dont give any consideration to the problems of the passengers.

Despite projecting Jammu and Kashmir as s major tourist destination, the government has failed to provide wayside public amenities on the national highway. Two years back, the government had announced construction of rest houses for commuters and transporters, but not a single such facility has been established so far.

Jammu, May 22
During the Lok Sabha elections Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi raised the issue of the sufferings of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, followed by series of controversial tweets between Omar Abdullah and Narendra Modi over their plight, but their problems remain unsolved.

Despite all political discourse, displaced Hindus living at the Jagti camp township daily struggle to get basic necessities of life, which include water and electricity. Despite assurances by the government, they continue to face erratic power cuts, which has led to increase in their misery.

In the summers, when the temperature often shoots up to 40 degrees Celsius, people living in Jagti continue to witness long power cuts, but the government is totally apathetic towards their problems.

“We daily witness power cuts of around 16 hours a day. Situation becomes horrible at nights. We also approached the state High Court regarding the matter and the court has issued directions to the government to supply uninterrupted power supply to Jagti, but nothing has happened,” said Shadi Lal Pandita, president of the Jagti Tenements Committee (JTC).

Besides electricity, inadequate water supply is also a big concern for these people, especially in summers.

“We are suffering because the administration has totally neglected and dumped us in these concrete buildings. Nothing has been done to mitigate our suffering,” said Neetu Koul, a college student.

The Jagti township is home to around 4,000 persons. It was constructed under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation and Return Package for Kashmiri Pandits. The people living here held protests several times regarding the basic facilities, but are now disappointed over the attitude of the government.

Jammu, May 22
MV International School honoured the members of the students’ council during the investiture ceremony to encourage leadership qualities, self-reliance, mutual respect, cooperation and dedication among the students.

The students’ council comprises 30 members, including head boy, head girl, sports captain, cultural captain, discipline in charge, eco leaders and house captains, chosen from Classes V to XII.

The office-bearers to the council were elected by a vote of confidence of the fellow students and teachers of the school.

Hira Lal Abrol, chairman of MV International School, was the chief guest. He gave badges and sashes to the new office-bearers in the presence of their parents.

In his address, the chairman congratulated the students on taking up the distinctive challenge of leading the fellow students.

The director, Gourav Abrol, and Aakriti Abrol were the guests of honour.

Earlier, Principal of the School, KL Dogra presented the welcome address.

The members of the council were administered the oath with a pledge to work with dedication and humbleness to achieve excellence.

The elected office-bearers of the students' council include Amandeep Singh (head boy), Nitika Rasotra (head girl), Pankaj and Priya (sports captains), Hamanshu and Priya Sharma (cultural captains), all from Class XII. While the office-bearers from Class XI are Simran Slathia (discipline in charge), Abhinash Verma (eco leader). The house captains are Rushali Mehra (Newton House), Priya Sharma (Darwin House), Rahul Verma (Einstein House) and Sonia Binotra (Edison House).

During the ceremony, the three meritorious students of MV International School who won the second position at the national-level Robotryst-2014 at the IIT, Delhi, were rewarded with certificates and a cash prize of Rs 11,000 by the chairman.