The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Govt staff to retire at 60 Cabinet raises retirement age with effect from June 1 Majid Jahangir & M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 3 In the second major decision after the recent rout in the General Election, the state government on Tuesday enhanced the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 60 years. The decision will come into effect from June 1. “The Cabinet has approved the long-pending demand of employees and enhanced their retirement age from 58 to 60,” Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said after the Cabinet meeting. “The upper age limit for the youth to secure a government job will be raised from 37 to 40 years in the open category and 42 years in case of reserved categories,” he said. The decision to increase retirement age, taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is likely to benefit nearly 10,000 employees in the next two years. The government will get benefit of over Rs 400 crore as it will not have to pay pensionary benefits. Over the last few years, employees had organised protests and strikes over the issue. Many cases were registered against employees under the Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance during the protests. “The decision to enhance the retirement age of employees is not political and has nothing to do with the recent poll debacle. The proposal was under consideration for many years and the process was initiated by former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad,” said the Deputy Chief Minister. “Azad could not enhance the age as his government did not complete its tenure. Discussions were held over the issue during the coalition government led by Omar Abdullah. The issue was discussed in many Cabinet meetings in the last few years and finally, the Cabinet today decided to enhance the retirement age,” he added. The decision to enhance retirement age was the second major decision of the state Cabinet after the loss in the state in the recently concluded General Election. Earlier in the day, Omar Abdullah held a meeting with leaders of the Joint Consultative Committee, an amalgam of employee bodies, and made it clear that his government was for enhancing retirement age of employees. “I will advocate the issue in the Cabinet meeting and make sure that it is approved to the satisfaction of employees,” he told employee leaders. Congress sources said the announcement angered party leaders as it felt that the NC was trying to take credit for it. “It is in this backdrop that Congress leaders made the announcement that it was the Congress' brainchild,” said a Congress leader. Coalition partners battle for credit Soon after Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand termed the decision to enhance the retirement age as a Congress brainchild, three National Conference leaders called a press briefing to take credit. Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar and Minister for CA&PD Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan described the decision as historic.Asked why Tara Chand held a separate press conference to make the announcement, Rather avoided a direct answer and said the decision was taken unanimously by coalition partners. On the timing of the decision after the election debacle, Rather said the government was on the job since January 2009. Referring to the financial burden to the exchequer, he said the state could not remain in isolation as other states had already increased retirement age to 60 years.
	Increase in retirement age a political stunt, say J&K youth Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 The Cabinet no4d to enhance the retirement age of the state government employees from 58 to 60 years has evoked criticism from educated unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Unemployed youth said the decision would jeopardise their prospects of getting jobs in the government sector for two years. There are more than 2.5 lakh registered unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir. The Cabinet has also approved the enhancement of the upper age limit for recruitment from 37 to 40 years. Mahesh Koul, a scholar at the University of Jammu, said: “The decision has been taken in haste and it is, more importantly, a political gimmick of the ruling coalition partners to hoodwink the masses. By putting a breather of enhancement of the upper age limit for recruitment, the government has tried to subdue the effects of increased retirement age, which is not going to happen.” “It is a cruel joke with the unemployed youth in the state. The government has already failed to create new job opportunities and such decisions will create alienation and frustration among educated youth,” said Suresh Kumar, a Ph.D scholar of Buddhist studies at the Jammu varsity. “The government decision will increase unemployment among the youth. It seems to be a political stunt of the ruling parties to increase their vote-bank ahead of the Assembly elections,” said Vijay Lakshmi Puri, lecturer at a private college. Khan Khalid, a 24-year-old postgraduate student, said: “There are thousands of youth in Kashmir who are in depression due to passing of the recruitment age. The decision will no doubt give them a new hope,” Khalid said. A local, Sajad Ahmad, 50, said the government should have taken the decision earlier. “It means very little to me. We didn’t get jobs after doing professional courses. The government should first regularise daily wagers. It is nothing more than a vote-bank stunt,” he said.
	Frisking of woman visitors High Court seeks clarification from Srinagar Central Jail Authorities told to file supplementary affidavit within two weeks Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 3 The J&K High Court has sought clarification from the Srinagar Central Jail authorities with regard to the frisking of woman visiting the prison. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar has directed the Srinagar Central Jail authorities to file a supplementary affidavit as the “statement of facts” filed by the jail authorities about the frisking of woman visitors today raised some doubts. Earlier, in its directions in December 2013, the court had asked the authorities at Srinagar Central Jail to ensure that visitors, including female, are not frisked in the mode other than the one prescribed under the manual for superintends and the management of jails and in accordance with the standing instructions. These directions were issued by the High Court in wake of the reports about the alleged harassment of the women visiting the jail, following an application by the J&K High Court Bar Association president, advocate Mian Qayoom, in this regard. The court is already hearing a PIL by the Bar Association seeking better facilities in the jails across the state. Reading from the “statement of facts” submitted by the jail authorities to the court today, state counsel Riyaz Khan said in compliance with the High Court directions, the jail authorities have already issued a circular about the frisking of the visitors to the jail. He said, “The frisking of the visitors is done by the CRPF personnel, who are deployed for securing the central jail premises.” This was, however, objected by counsel Mian Qayoom, who was representing the High Court Bar Association in the PIL. Qayoom submitted that the petitioners had no objection if the frisking of the visitors to the jail, particularly the female visitors, was carried by the woman staff of the jail. He said the petitioners had objections to the frisking by the CRPF, which he said were not authorised under any rule. After perusal of the written “statement of the facts”, the Bench directed the state counsel to file a supplementary affidavit within two weeks after observing that there are some doubts with regard to the frisking of woman visitors due to paragraph 5 of the statement of the facts. Qayoom in his application moved before the Division Bench comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar had submitted that visitors to the jail, particularly female visitors, were being subjected to frisking in derogation to the rules governing the visit to the jails and to the disrespect of female visitors to the jail.
	SMC introduces fleet of garbage collection vehicles Rifat Mohidin Srinagar, June 3 Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora today flagged off a fleet of garbage collection and transportation vehicles of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) comprising four garbage compactor vehicles to improve the garbage management system in Srinagar. The officials of SMC said each vehicle that would go door-to-door for collection of garbage has a capacity of 64 tonnes and 12 Hooper vehicles taking the existing number to 15 compactor and 32 Hooper vehicles in order to further improve the solid waste management system in the city. Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Satish Nehru and SMC Commissioner GN Qasba were also present. With the introduction of this new fleet of compactor and Hooper vehicles, the minister said 150 open garbage sheds would be closed especially in Humhama, Bemina bypass, Batamaloo, Karan Nagar, Lal Chowk, Dalgate, Nishat, Hazratbal and Zakura. “Besides, around 8,000 households of the city would be covered under the garbage collection scheme in addition to 11,000 houses already covered,” Jora said. The minister said, “The city generates over 600 MT of garbage daily. Efforts are on to ensure 100 per cent collection of solid waste in the city. In this regard, the government has taken various steps to improve the collection efficiency of garbage and its scientific disposal through introduction of mechanised sanitation fleet, distribution of over 40,000 dustbins in various wards of the city, besides creating facilities for final dumping of waste.” The minister said the Union Government had also sanctioned Rs 91.97 crore for developing the integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility at the Achan dumping site for 505 tonnes of garbage per day. The minister also requested the public to cooperate. “Along with the efforts made by the department, it is also important on part of the citizens to ensure that they provide a helping hand in keeping their city clean,” he said. Qasba said implementation of the project would improve the existing sanitation system in the city to meet the requirements of the MSW Rule 2000 and be on par with the national and international best practices in this sector.
	Mirwaiz to raise issues of copper workers Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 3 Expressing concern over the dying Kashmir handicraft and skilled industry, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today urged the authorities concerned to take serious steps to save Kashmir’s traditional art and skilled workers. Mirwaiz said this after a delegation of the Kashmir Copper Workers Trader Union led by its head Mohammad Yousuf Kakru met Mirwaiz to apprise him about the issues being faced by the copper industry in Kashmir, a Hurriyat spokesman said here. The statement said if serious steps were not taken to eliminate the causes responsible for the gradual decline of Kashmir’s traditional arts and skills, important sources of livelihood of thousands of skilled people would end besides leading to the strangulation of one of the important source of economic stability in Kashmir. Listening to their grievances, Mirwaiz stated that the issues and problems being faced by the people in the copper industry were serious, adding that it was important to provide security to the skilled workers of this industry to save the age-old industry from getting extinct. The workers’ union told Mirwaiz that the conditions were being created to discourage skilled workers engaged in the profession of handmade copper utensils. They stated that some persons with vested interest were introducing machines in Kashmir to make copper utensils and selling them as handmade while some were importing copper items from outside the state thereby endangering the livelihood of skilled workers associated with the local copper industry. The delegation also said though the state government had put a ban on the use of machines, the law was not being fully implemented on the ground by the law enforcing agencies concerned. Mirwaiz expressed concern over the inability of the government to protect the local copper industry in Kashmir. “Mirwaiz assured the workers that he would raise the issues faced by copper workers at all platforms,” the statement added.
	Delivery staff of gas agencies ‘overcharging’ consumers Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) customers are being charged extra by the delivery staff of the gas agencies in Jammu without getting proper services. The domestic LPG cylinder costs Rs 425.50 in Jammu, but the delivery staff of the gas agencies charge Rs 430. The staff deliver the cylinder on the road and not inside the house. A housewife, Meenakshi Raina, resident of Roop Nagar, said, “We have a gas connection of Hindustan Petroleum (HP) and Asha Gas Agency supplies us the cylinder. Whenever the delivery boy comes to deliver cylinder he charge Rs 430 after giving receipt for Rs 425.50.” “When I asked him about the price, he said we charge Rs 430 from everyone. Moreover, they never deliver the cylinder inside the house and we have to carry the cylinder ourselves,” she added. As per their duty, delivery boys are supposed to deliver and fit the cylinder in the kitchen, but they only deliver it on the roadside. Darshna Devi of Durga Nagar said, “I am alone at home in the morning as my husband and son go to their offices. When the delivery boy of the gas agency comes he just put the cylinder inside the main gate, even after many requests.” “I always request someone from the neighbourhood for carrying the cylinder inside the house,” she added. When asked, a delivery boy said, “People pay it themselves. We don’t ask for more. We do not have change so they insist us to keep the change.” Officials of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department could not be contacted, despite repeated attempts.
	benefits under New Pension Scheme Fate of Sports Council staff hangs in the balance Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 As the state government has recently took many initiatives for the welfare of its employees, the fate of employees of the J&K State Sports Council regarding pensionary benefits after retirement still hangs in the balance. Sources said the proposal of the Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Youth Services and Sports and Technical Education to adopt New Pension Scheme (NPS) for employees was not accepted by the authorities. The sources added that the employees of the Sports Council, which was an autonomous body, were demanding pensionary benefits for them. They had already apprised the authorities of their demand on numerous occasions, including their recent talks with the authorities concerned. "When the employees of other autonomous bodies are having pensionary benefits then what is the problem with the employees of our department, who also expect the same response from the government," an employees said. "During the recently convened General Council meeting, the issue was taken up and threadbare discussion was held wherein the members present informed the Chief Minister about the concerns of the Sports Council employees, but nothing significant has been done so far," he added. The sources added that in view of the NPS adopted by the government in 2010, the Finance Department had refused to grant pensionary benefits to departmental societies. "In fact, the Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Youth Services and Sports and Technical Education, had also suggested that the NPS could be adopted by the employees of the Sports Council, which would take care of their social security after retirement, but the proposal was not accepted by the Finance Department," a Sports Council official claimed. The sources claimed that the Secretary, Sports Council, had already informed the government that need was outlined for decentralisation of financial powers as it was felt that everything in the Sports Council was centralised at the Secretary level only. They added that the Sports Minister, who is also the vice-president of the Sports Council, already delegated the drawing and disbursing powers to Accounts Officers and Executive Engineers as per the procedure in vogue in other organisations subject to ratification by the General Council.
	BSF foils infiltration bid in Hiranagar sector Amir Karim Tantray/Vishal Jasrotia Tribune News Service Jammu/Samba, June 3 The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled an infiltration attempt on the international border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district last night. Sources in the BSF said around 10.30 pm on Monday, BSF personnel on guard along the international border observed suspicious movement in the Hiranagar sector and fired in the direction. “An alert sentry at the Bobbiyan forward post observed suspicious movement between 90 and 100 pillar numbers and fired upon the infiltrators. The militants were pushed back and the infiltration attempt foiled,” a source said. The BSF said four infiltrators were trying to sneak into the Indian side but BSF men forced them to turn back. The militants fired 16 rounds and the BSF retaliated, injuring a militant. “One of the four infiltrators was hit by a bullet but nobody was killed. During early morning patrolling on Tuesday, BSF men observed blood near the fence and recovered a pair of slippers and a cap,” the source said. The Hiranagar sector has remained on the radar of militants. Since September last year, militants have carried out two attacks on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway. One attack took place on September 26, 2013, in Hiranagar and Samba and another on March 28 this year at Janglote in Kathua district. The militants were believed to have infiltrated into this side through the international border in the Hiranagar sector. Meanwhile, a flag meeting was held today between BSF officers and Pakistani Rangers on the international border.
	Protesters disrupt train services in Kulgam Demand immediate probe into kidnap-cum-murder case of a pregnant woman Suhail A Shah Kulgam, June 3 The train services in Kashmir were brought to a halt for most part of the day today as protesters blocked the railway track in Sadoora village of the Kulgam district. They were demanding immediate probe into the case of kidnap-cum-murder of a pregnant woman. One person received minor injuries as the police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters. After going missing for more than a week, Sumaira Jan, wife of Mehboob Ahmad Mir of Fatehpora in Sadoora, was found dead under mysterious circumstances near a railway track in the Mirbazar area of Anantnag. Her family and neighbours gathered near the railway track in Sadoora and blocked the track from 8:30 am. Railway officials said the train from Banihal had reached the Qazigund station by then. "We tried to reason with the protesters, but they were not willing to budge," said a police officer from the area. He added that an investigation into the case was going on and would be completed soon. After the police failed to disperse the protesters from the track, they used batons and teargas shells. The protesters alleged that women and children were beaten up by the police. "We are demanding that the murderers should be punished. Instead of putting the investigation on the fast track, they beat us up," some protesters said. Train services were restored later in the day after protesters lifted the blockade.
	State to seek more financial aid from 14th Finance Commission Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 The Jammu and Kashmir Government will seek additional financial aid from the 14th Finance Commission of India for the development of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies. Members of the commission, headed by former Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr YV Reddy, will be on a three-day visit to the state beginning June 5. Sources said they would meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, officials of the Finance Department and the Planning Department and delegations of industrialists, panchayat members and local bodies in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh before finalising their recommendations to address the fiscal needs of the state for the next five years (2015-2020). The commission is set up after every five years to recommend how net tax earnings are to be divided between the Union and states and subsequently among the states. “The government has failed to strengthen panchayat institutions and urban local bodies in the state due to financial constraints. The reform schemes have failed to take off, leading to resentment among the elected panchayat members,” said a senior bureaucrat in the Planning Department. Administrative secretaries have already prepared a priority list, which highlights financial needs of the state for the next five years. The state is likely to demand Rs 80,000 crore from the commission beginning April 1, 2015, to meet its development needs and complete key projects. “Three years after the enactment of legislation, the government has failed to constitute a separate Finance Commission for the municipalities and panchayats. We will see that how J&K will project its shortcomings before the team, he said. Sources said the commission might suggest amendments to the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, currently in force in J&K, to control the fiscal deficit and bring it at par with the rest of the country. “The commission will work out a grant required by the states for the next five years to strengthen and carry out institutional reforms. It is an important exercise keeping in view the development needs of the state,” said Jalil Ahmed Khan, Economic Adviser to J&K. Khan said the commission had been mandated to review the fiscal status of the states, deficit and debt levels of the Union and the states and suggest measures for maintaining a stable and sustainable fiscal environment for growth. Members of the commission are Dr YV Reddy (chairman), Sushma Nath (former finance secretary), Dr M Govinda Rao (director, National Institute for Public Finance and Policy), Prof Abhijit Sen (member, Planning Commission of India) and Dr Sudipto Mundle (former acting chairman, National Statistical Commission). Panel to visit J&K Members of the 14th Finance Commission, headed by former Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr YV Reddy, will be on a three-day visit to the state beginning June 5 They will meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, officials of the Finance Department and the Planning Department and delegations of industrialists, panchayat members and local bodies in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh
	Three staffers critical after fire in Katra hotel Jammu hotels, private buildings lack sufficient in-house facilities to control fire Tribune News Service Jammu/Reasi, June 3 Days after the major fire at a hotel in Jammu which claimed four lives, at least three persons suffered serious burns today when a portion of a hotel in Katra caught fire following a liquefied petroleum gas leak from the kitchen. The three-star hotel is owned by the KC Group of Hotels and is located in the heart of Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi cave shrine. The injured were identified as Dalip Singh of Tikri in Udhampur district, Pankaj Kumar of Billawar in Kathua district and Gulshan of Aggar Jitto in Katra. The police said all three were hotel employees. They were immediately rushed to the nearby Civil Hospital. Fire tenders were pressed into service to control the blaze. The police said the injured were stated to be critical. They were referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu. On May 31, four persons died of asphyxiation and 10 others sustained burns after a major fire broke out in a three-storey hotel near the main bus stand in Jammu. The recurrence of incidents of fire exposed the faulty fire safety mechanism in hotels, lodges, hospitals, educational institutions and other government and private buildings. The government was yet to conduct a fire safety audit of hotels, guesthouses and private buildings. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had ordered a fire safety audit of all major hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir after the AMRI Hospital tragedy in Kolkata in December 2011. Recommendations of the fire safety audit conducted by the Fire and Emergency Services Department had not been adhered to by the Health Department as most hospitals had defunct firefighting equipment. Almost all hotels and private buildings in the Jammu region did not have adequate mandatory in-house facilities to control fire.
	HC seeks report of spending on Wular Lake project Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 3 The J&K High Court today sought a comprehensive report about the spending on conservation and preservation of Wular Lake in north Kashmir, one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, in response to a PIL filed by NGO Kashmir Environment Protection, asked the Wular Lake Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), executing the project, to submit the report within two weeks. The court wanted to know “how the amount spent will be able to achieve results which are contemplated under the ‘Save Wular Lake’ plan”. The report is expected to help the court to monitor the utilisation of funds being spent for the conservation of the lake. The court passed these directions after perusal of the reply by the WUCMA, which the Bench did not find satisfactory. In their submissions, the WUCMA authorities stated that the silt entering the lake, which is brought in by the Jhelum waters in Bandipora district, is the biggest threat to the water body. Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri, representing the state government in the PIL, sought two weeks to file a comprehensive report about the spending, which was accordingly granted by the court. The Bench was also informed that funds amounting to Rs 30 crore for 2012-2013, which were earlier withheld by the Centre on account of non-submission of the utilisation certificate of the preceding year, had been released to the authorities concerned. The High Court in its earlier directions on March 13 had asked the state government and the Centre to file a status report on the compliance to its orders passed from time to time in the PIL related to the conservation of Wular Lake. In March 2013, the High Court had asked the Union Government to explain the underlying reason for reducing the funds for the Wular conversation and preservation project plan prepared by Wetland International South Asia, New Delhi, in 2007 from Rs 386.39 crore to Rs 120 crore under the 13th Financial Commission.
	Congress reshuffle on the cards Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 A major reshuffle of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) is on the cards to rejuvenate the party after its worst-ever debacle in the General Election. Grassroots workers are exerting pressure on the state leadership to show the door to non-performing members of the JKPCC, comprising 162 members at present. Highly placed sources said the party leadership had decided to carry out a reshuffle from the senior level as some non-performing leaders who were quite old had occupied important posts for decades. The state unit of the Congress was dominated by leaders who were quite old, but were not volunteering to vacate the posts they had been occupying for the last two decades. “Neither do they perform their duties effectively, nor do they vacate their posts for the younger generation,” said a Congress leader on the condition of anonymity. He added that the state leadership was helpless as it could not replace the non-performing leaders with those who had the zeal to work. The sources said even some young leaders who had been given important posts due to proximity to senior leaders had failed to come up to the expectation of the party. The sources said after removing the non-performing leaders from the JKPCC, the party leadership had decided to activate its frontal organisations. “The youth wing of the BJP has played a deciding role in mobilising young and first-time voters, but the Youth Congress leadership has failed in convincing the youth,” a Congress leader said. He added that the state leadership was not satisfied with the performance of the Youth Congress. The sources said the leadership had decided to appoint new block and district presidents to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level. “Some district and block presidents have been occupying their posts for the last two decades. The party has become virtually defunct in many areas due to the casual approach of these office-bearers,” the sources said. They added that JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz had prepared a blueprint to revamp the party right from the top before the Assembly elections in the state. The sources said the leadership had decided to change its unit presidents in some districts where the party had suffered badly in the General Election.
	Jammu-Srinagar highway commuters’ nightmare Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 Poor condition of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway is taking toll on traffic movement. Commuters undergo a nightmarish experience almost daily as massive traffic jams are witnessed. The eight-hour run from Jammu to Srinagar takes over 17 hours for a vehicle. The condition of the only road link between the Kashmir valley and the rest of the country has gone from bad to worse as after crossing Udhampur, potholes, dust and landslides become the order of the day. Lakhs of tourists visit the Valley this time of the year and they have to cross the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. "Once you cross Udhampur, the road takes toll on vehicles. It gets worse when one reaches Patnitop and moves to Srinagar," said Kuldeep Kumar, taxi driver. Kumar said though the entire stretch of the national highway have deteriorated, Banihal in Ramban district and Lower Munda in Anantnag district witness the worst traffic jams due to bad shape. "We get stuck for hours at these places and there is no surety as how much time it will take," he added. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are managing the national highway, but since the four-laning has started, both companies have ignored the existing stretch, which is not part of new project. Mostly light motor vehicles get affected by potholes, but the NHAI and the BRO seem to be in deep slumber and people have been left to suffer. The NHAI looks after the highway from Jammu to Nashri, including Patnitop, and beyond that the BRO is responsible. "We have started repairing the stretch around Patnitop and it will be completed in a few days," said RP Singh, project director, NHAI, for Jammu. Instead of full repairs, the NHAI is limiting it to patch work. The BRO on the other hand has not started any such repair work. Despite repeated calls, Chief Engineer, BRO, RK Sharma was not available for comment.
	Ayush doctors rue disparity in salaries Amin Masoodi Srinagar, June 3 Ayush doctors working under the National Rural Health Mission in various hospitals of the state have complained salary disparity compared to allopathic doctors. They said despite round-the-clock duty, especially in remote health centres in the Valley, they were being meted out stepmotherly treatment. “Despite a Cabinet decision in 1998 that Ayush doctors should be treated on a par with MBBS doctors, we are facing disparity,” said Dr Mohammad Ashraf, working at primary health centre in Takipora, Kupwara district. “At present, we are paid a meagre amount of Rs 16,000 per month despite round-the-clock duty in hospitals. Most Ayush doctors are working in inaccessible areas, where allopathic doctors refuse to join duty. We are entitled to salary on a par with allopathic doctors, but the authorities have denied it to us,” he added. Under the NRHM, Ayush doctors were appointed as assistant surgeons in 2008 with a salary of Rs 8,000 per month. As many as 1,300 Ayush doctors had been working in various hospitals. They said they performed night duty in addition to duty in emergency units, mostly in far-off hospitals, where allopathic doctors refused to join duty. “The government has barred us from prescribing allopathic medicines even though ayurvedic drugs are not available in the market. We conduct delivery and postmortem examination as well, but the authorities have ignored our services and deprived us of the salary we are entitled to,” said another doctor.
	Kashmiri Pandits to take out march today Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 3 The Kashmiri Pandits’ bodies will attempt to take out a march to city centre Lal Chowk tomorrow in protest against the government’s alleged failure to address their long pending demands. All Parties Migrants Co-ordination Committee (APMCC) chairman Vinod Pandit said they along with the Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) headed by Sanjay Tickoo would take out a march to Lal Chowk to seek support for their six-point charter of demands. The demands include passing of the pending Kashmir Temples and Shrines Bill, probe into the cases of encroachments of temples in the Valley, dialogue with Pakistan for facilitating visit to Mata Shardha Peet Temple in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, establishment of Mata Sharda Peet University in J&K, one-time compensation for overaged migrant Kashmiri Hindu Youth and special employment package for non-migrant Hindus of the Valley. Pandit said the government had been only giving them false promises vis-a-vis their demands. “I had staged a hunger strike in 2011 in Jammu that was called off after 10 days as the government gave a verbal assurance. However, no headway was made later,” he said. Pandit said he had later also sat on a hunger strike at Porbandar, Gujarat, for 15 days that was again called off after a “false” assurance. He appealed to people from all communities to extend support to their demands. The APMCC warned of intensifying protests in case the government continued to cold shoulder its charter of demands.
	Security guard sacked for throwing dead infant on floor Rifat Mohidin Srinagar, June 3 Senior officials of Lal Ded (LD) hospital here today said they have terminated the security guard, who had thrown a dead baby girl on the floor a day ago. Massive protests erupted at the Valley’s lone maternity hospital yesterday after a security person threw a dead baby girl off a bench at the hospital. Relatives of the baby had alleged that the security guard deliberately mishandled the infant. Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Mushtaq Ahmad today said the authorities terminated the security guard for mishandling the dead baby. “We have terminated him, even though he said that he didn’t do it deliberately. We cannot accept disrespect to the dead. We have handed the matter to the police,” he said. He said the inquiry committee which the hospital had formed yesterday would come up with its report in three days. Meanwhile, Principal of Government Medical College, Srinagar, Dr Rafiq Ahmad Pampori had also asked the hospital administration to file a reply in the case. A woman from Kupwara had given birth to the dead baby girl yesterday.
	Yuva Rajput Sabha holds meeting Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 A meeting of the Yuva Rajput Sabha was held at Basant Palace in Bantalab on Monday. It was attended by more than 400 youth from the Rajput community of the state. The meeting discussed various grievances of the community and highlighted demands for its uplift. Speaking on the occasion, Rajinder Singh accused the present president of the Rajput Sabha, for using the sabha for his benefits. He added that the sabha had failed to work for the betterment of the community for the last 14 years. Rajinder also accused the state government for allegedly discriminating against the community for the last 66 years. He asked the community members to unite themselves and work for the uplift of the community in both urban and rural areas of the state. The main demands that were made during the meeting included the holding of elections of the sabha immediately with proper procedure, commencement of membership of the Rajput Sabha, reducing membership fee and declaring birthday of Maharaj Hari Singh a state holiday. The sabha also demanded special educational institutes and professional degree colleges, besides hostels for the Rajput community in the state for the Rajput students coming from far flung and rural areas of the state.
	Medical camp organised Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 The Bharatiya Jan Sewa Sansthan (BJSS) organised a free medical camp at Government High School, Sure Chak, under the supervision of its working president Anil Padha. About 200 persons were benefited from the camp. Doctors examined the patients and provided them medicines free of cost. A team of doctors, headed by Dr Koushlya Sambyal and Dr VS Manhas, and assisted by Dr Prerna Ganju, Dr Nisha Pandita and Dr Adlti Gati, examined the patients. The camp was supported by Bee Enn Hospital and Hrdeydeep Ashram under the supervision of Dr Subash Sharma. The BJSS ambulance was also used for patients. It was assisted by a team of volunteers, led by Rajesh Bhasin. The BJSS also held a meeting of its volunteers, presided over by Anil K Padha, at Samba for constituting a district-level committee of the organisation and to start extending free medical aid to senior citizens and disabled persons. Padha also delivered a motivational lecture on voluntary blood donation at Sur Pharma laboratories at Samba, which was attended by the staff and officials of the laboratory in the presence of Ashtosh Sharma, Deputy Controller of Civil Defence.
	Summer coaching camp concludes Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 A 20-day-long summer coaching camp in the disciplines of badminton and kabaddi, conducted by Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) No1, Gandhi Nagar, concluded here today. About 70 students participated in the camp in all age groups — U-14, U-17 and U-19. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Jammu region, this year had planned to conduct summer coaching camps at local levels in all the Kendriya Vidyalayas of the region. Different activities were undertaken during the coaching camp. In the morning, the students were warmed up, followed by teaching of skills in respective sports. Videos of performance of players at the national and international levels were shown to the participants during the camp. Interaction sessions on latest game and sports rules were also conducted. AS Gill, Assistant Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Jammu region, during his visit to the camp appreciated the participation of the students. The experts who conducted the coaching camp included Suneel Kumar, Kareera Kohli and Bandana Sharma.
	Be present at party office, Omar tells NC ministers Tribune News Service Srinagar, June 3 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed National Conference ministers to be present at the party headquarters as the ruling party attempts to reach out to people ahead of the Assembly elections. The ministers, who are from the National Conference, have been asked to be available for the public and party workers to “gain insights into their day-to-day issues and alleviate their grievances,” a statement issued by the ruling party said. The 11 ministers will be available on allocated days at the National Conference headquarters at Nawa-i-Subh complex in Srinagar. The initiative, directed at bringing the ministers “closer to the public”, is part of the ruling party’s post-introspection outreach after it faced an unprecedented rout in the parliamentary elections. The National Conference is now preparing itself for the Assembly elections, scheduled to take place later this year. The ministers will be present at the party headquarters on the following days: Feroz Ahmed Khan on June 6, Sakina Itoo on June 7, Ali Mohammad Sagar on June 10, Mohammad Akbar Lone on June 13, Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan on June 14, Mir Saifullah on June 17, Nazir Ahmed Khan Gurezi on June 20, Mian Altaf Ahmad on June 21, Abdul Rahim Rather on June 24, Ajay Sadhotra on June 27 and Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo on June 28.
	Mufti reviews performance of party in Jammu Jammu, June 3 Patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today reviewed the performance of his party in the recently held Lok Sabha elections in Jammu province. Although, the PDP created history by winning all three LS seats of the Valley, its performance was not upto the mark in Jammu province. Addressing two meetings of the senior leaders of Jammu province and members of the district committee, Udhampur, Mufti said the people of the state had endorsed the visionary and progressive agenda of the PDP. “PDP through its works has earned credibility of the people of J&K and the masses are looking towards the PDP to get their aspirations addressed,” he said. He said people had realised that only the PDP had the vision and conviction to solve their problems. — TNS
	Decision to rename PoK as PoJK hailed Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 The Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir Refugees Sangharsh Morcha convener, Dr Narinder Singh, has hailed the decision of the Union Government to rename Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as Pakistan occupied Jammu-Kashmir (PoJK). In a statement issued here today, Singh said the issue was raised by him before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on July 30, 2013, in New Delhi. During the meeting, Singh had stated that PoK was a misnomer, and should be replaced by PoJK. Singh said the Union Government has sent a positive message to the refugee community and hoped that their woes, miseries and sufferings of the last 67 years would be addressed during the Narendra Modi regime.
	JU implements semester system for graduation courses Tribune News Service Jammu, June 3 In a major academic decision, the University of Jammu (JU) has decided to implement the semester system for BA/BSc/BCom/BBA/BCA from the academic session 2014-15 in degrees colleges falling under the summer zone. According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Jammu University, the varsity has completed all the necessary preparations for implementing the new system. The admission notice would be issued shortly by the university.