Panchayat elections
Nominations in 4 blocks of Kathua begins today

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 29: The process of filing of nomination papers for the Panchayat elections for Ghagwal, Hiranagar, Kathua and Barnoti blocks of Kathua district will commence on 30th December.

In these blocks nomination papers can be filed on three days i.e. on December 30th, January 1 and 3. On January 4 the papers will be scrutinized while the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be January 6. Polling in these four blocks will take place on January 21st and the counting of votes would be taken up on the same day.

There are 95 Panchayats comprising 710 constituencies in these four blocks for which over 1.53 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their right of franchise on January 21st.

In Ghagwal block there are 18 Panchayats comprising 138 constituencies with an electorate of 29615. The Hiranagar block has 24 Panchayats comprising 172 constituencies having an electorate of 35800. Similarly, Kathua block has 22 Panchayats with 164 constituencies having an electorate of 35204. Barnoti block has 31 Panchayats with 236 constituencies having an electorate of 51188.

Sub Standard drugs worth Rs 9.99 lakh seized

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 29: As a result of constant vigil on the quality of drugs and market the J&K Drug and Food Control Organisation seized sub-standard drugs from unlicensed dealers worth Rs 9.99 lakh during the last over three years in the State. Of this, sub standard drugs worth Rs 4.29 lakh were seized during 1997-98 when during last financial year alone such drugs valued at Rs 4.61 lakh were seized from wholesale and retail dealers.

The drug wing of the organisation also seized spurious drugs costing Rs. 4 lakh from the Jammu Railway Station Go-downs. The matter was taken up with the Drug Control Authorities of Bihar Government from where these had been imported and licenses of the two manufacturing units were subsequently got cancelled.

During the past over three years, the organisation has also been able to lay hands on the 430 unauthorised medical shops in the State. Of which, 400 were detected from Kashmir valley and 30 from Jammu division. However, taking the livelihood of such medical shop owners into consideration the Government is now contemplating to amend the Drug Act and legalise such establishments by providing licences to them. But these retailers will have to undergo a compulsory six months training at their own cost.

The drug wing during from April 1997 to October 2000 issued 1900 drug licences and conducted inspections of 14701 sale establishments and 302 manufacturing units. The organisation lifted 1940 drug samples, out of which, 167 samples were found of sub standard quality and prosecution against the defaulters have been launched.

The food wing of the organisation during the period inspected over 78,000 food eatable establishments. Of them, 4,000 were manufacturing units. The wing lifted 5,136 samples, out of which, 1,017 samples were found adulterated and prosecution eas initiated against the defaulters. A fine of over Rs. 5.50 lakhs was imposed and realised by the court from the defaulters.

In July this year the food wing conducted surprise raids on some manufacturing units in Gangyal area and lifted 12 samples from these premises, out of which, nine samples were found adulterated. Simultaneously cases against the defaulters were launched in the court of law.

There are four laboratories two each for testing of drugs and for food samples. Out of these laboratories the drug testing laboratories at Srinagar and Jammu are further being strengthening to undertake analysis of drugs in Micro-Biology and Pharmacology for which additional blocks have been constructed.

During the period, 22 licences of wholesale as well as retail traders were suspended in the State for contravention of the provisions of drugs and Cosmetics Act while three licences were cancelled in Jammu division.

In addition, during the current financial year, 155 cases have been launched in the court of law under the provision of PFA Act. A total of Rs. 26,650 was realised as fine from the defaulters by the court in Jammu division alone.

Red Cross gets project for disabled: Governor
IRCS finds JK jails better than those in country: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 29: Governor Mr G C Saxena today announced that the Regional Red Cross Society Jammu would implement prestigious project for disabled in the State.

After inaugurating the Red Cross Bhavan here this morning, the Governor said the project funded by the Union Ministry of Justice and Empowerment under the auspices of National Programme for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons will go a long way in mitigating the sufferings of these people. He said a responsibility has cast upon the Society to handle and complete the project successfully.

The Governor enumerated the role of Red Cross, conceived initially to take care of wounded soldiers, that has grown up into an organisation that responds expeditiously to the needs of hapless people in the event of major accidents, fires and natural calamities. He praised it for the role played during Kargil conflict and hoped the organisation would keep up its philanthropic work.

He said the Red Cross is now carrying out a wide range of activities in war and peace. Its state units are organizing ambulances, nursing services and diagnostic facilities for the sick and the needy and have held a large number of health and blood donation camps, Mr Saxena added.

Making a fervent appeal to the citizens of the state, the Governor said that donations would enable Red Cross to come to the rescue of people in need. ‘Every little thing counts’, he said, announcing that the State Red Cross Society would be given grant of Rs 1.50 lakh and the regional committees of Jammu and Srinagar Rs 2.50 lakhs each. He said he and the CM have decided to give these grants to make Red Cross more effective in mitigating sufferings.

He exhorted the Red Cross to expand its activities and work in tandem with concerned authorities for improving the conditions of jails and hospitals that sometimes betray a number of infrastructural, administrative and attitudinal inadequacies.

Expressing happiness over raising the commercial site in the heart of the city, the Governor said that the Red Cross would effectively undertake its charter of functions and hoped the Society, which is essentially dealing in public money, would operate in an extremely transparent manner. ‘There should be proper assessment of mobilization of resources and judicious utilization of funds, which should be done efficiently and in a need based manner’, he said.

The Governor wished the people happy New Year and said ‘we are treading towards better days’

Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, speaking on the occasion, lamented that the International Red Cross Society is ridden by politics besides facing the pulls and pressures from major world powers.

‘During Red Cross visit to Jammu and Kashmir, it found the condition of our jails far better than those in other parts of the country’, Dr Abdullah said hoping that the international body would continue serving people in distress irrespective of their caste, colour or creed.

Calling upon people particularly rich to liberally donate for the noble cause of serving poor and destitutes, the Chief Minister said that even old text books, clothing and toys could be donated to Red Cross for poor. Even the computers, which can’t be upgraded, not put to use by the users should also be donated to the Red Cross to make poor and underprivileged ones computer literate. ‘Financial stability is very important for organizations like the Red Cross that have to undertake gigantic task of coming to the rescue of people in need’, he said, urging the organizers to hold melas etc for raising funds. The Red Cross Bhavan, he said, will certainly help in raising much needed funds.

He recalled the Herculean task performed by the Red Cross during raid in Kashmir by Pak regulars in 1947 and said Begum Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah organised the Red Cross to cope up with the challenge.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, Regional Red Cross Society, Mr Anil Goswami said the Bhavan had been taken up in 1996 and completed at a cost of Rs 1.16 crore. He said the Bhavan, executed by the Jammu Development Authority, will prove a permanent resource base for the Society. The JDA has not charged the agency charges from Red Cross for executing the work.

Mr R S Parihar, Secretary of the Society presented the vote of thanks.

Mr Ashok Khajuria, MLA announced Rs one lakh out of his constituency development fund as donation to the Society.

The Minister for Health, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Minister for Revenue, Mr. Abdul Qayoom, Minister for Finance, Mr. A. R. Rather and Director General of Police, Mr. A. K. Suri were among those present on the occasion.

Earlier, students of various colleges recited Red Cross Anthem and took the pledge to serve suffering humanity.

Civilian killings soar, militant causalities decline
CM reviews JK security scenario at UHQ

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 29: The overall security scenario in the wake of unilateral suspension of combat operations since November 28 was reviewed at a joint meeting of the Unified Headquarters of Srinagar and Jammu, which met here this morning.

Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who heads the UHQ, chaired the meeting.

The Chief Minister was given briefing by different agencies about the situation obtaining in the state.

It was stated that while the incidents of border firing had come down to 29 since November 28 from 119 in the preceding 31 days following the peace initiative, of late there have been serious efforts from across the border to push in infiltrators as has been witnessed recently at R S Pura and Sunderbani sectors where seven infiltrators were gunned down.

Despite suspended operations, militants resorted to 261 incidents in the past 31 days that left 98 civilians dead and 219 injured compared to 83 civilians killed and 86 injured in the preceding 31 days. During this period, 29 security personnel including three policemen were killed and 115 injured while their causality in 31 days prior to holy month of Ramadhan was 46 killed and 84 injured. Due to suspended operations, the militant causalities have come down steeply from 103 to 46 including foreign mercenaries.

The Chief Minister was informed that according to intelligence reports militant groups are kept ready across the border to launch in Jammu and Kashmir as and when they get opportunity. The pushing in of two militant groups in R S Pura and Sunderbani this week was cited as significant trend, which calls for greater vigil and alertness.

Sharing concern over increasing civilian causalities despite suspended operations, the Chief Minister called for improving security grid to deal with militants targeting civilians. In this regard, he called for evolving a strategy to protect the lives of civilians. He stressed for taking steps to strengthen public confidence regarding security of civilians even during the suspension of operations.

Reviewing the arrangements for panchayat elections, the Chief Minister stressed the need for area domination and increased patrolling where elections are slated. Unlike in assembly and parliamentary elections, polling booths have been planned in almost all the pockets in rural and far-flung areas.

Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Corps Commander 16 Corps, Lt. Gen. A.S. Khanna, Principal Secretary Home, Mr C Phunsog, Director General of Police, Mr A K Suri, Chief of the Staff, Maj General Basant Singh, IGs of BSF, CRPF, ITBP and senior officers of various wings of para military forces and intelligence agencies attended the meeting. For the first time, a representative of the 14th Corps stationed in Ladakh also participated.

The Divisional Commissioners, Kashmir and Jammu, IGPs Kashmir and Jammu zones and senior police officers were also present.

‘Smooh’ participates in National Theatre Festival

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: Smooh Theatre participated in 17th Nandikar National Theatre Festival at Calcutta and staged the show ‘Teesvin Shatabadi’ at the festival.

The young artists of Smooh Theatre received good response and the play was highly appreciated by the audience. Director Nandikar Mr Rudra Prasad Sen appreciated the Smooh artists and he also presented bouquets to the director of the play Mr Sudhir Mahajan.

The artists who participated in the play included Varsha Doga, Dhanesh Dogra, Yasir Nissar, Rajeev Kumar, Swantantar Bharat, Rajesh Kotru, Ripul Sharma, Shivani Sharma and Vikram Katoch.

The music of the play was composed by the prominent actor, director and many times State Academy awardee Mr Bhupinder Singh Jamwal.

The play‘ Teesvin Shatabadi’ has been orginally written by Badal Sircar and translated in Hindi by R G Bajaj. It has been awarded by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for the year of 1998-99.

The Smooh Theatre is one of the most prominent and active group of J&K which has the credit of staging 50 plays inside and outside the State within a short span of 5 years. Its major productions are ‘Andher Nagri Anna Yug, Adha Sach, Ajnabi, Sayian Bhaye Kotwal, Singhasan Khali Hai and Mrich Kattikam etc.

Abhinav Theatre Gets a Face-lift

By Ravinder Kaul

It was a moment of fulfillment and quiet satisfaction for the entire team associated with the work of refurbishment and renovation of Abhinav Theatre when Chief Minister and President of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Dr. Farooq Abdullah dedicated the new seating system to the citizens of Jammu here today.

All those who have been rueing for ages over the broken chairs, lacklustre lighting, atrocious sound system, non-existent air conditioning, shorn wings, torn curtains, stinking green rooms and dirty stage flooring in Abhinav can take heart. They just have to pay a visit to the ‘New Abhinav’ and see for themselves that all this has changed. Not only interiors, the exterior has also been given a facelift. The newly installed lights lining the road that joins the main gate with the entrance of the auditorium give the entire place an ambience that was missing earlier.

It was a proud moment for the young Secretary of the Academy Balwant Thakur whose tireless efforts have resulted in renovation of not only Abhinav Theatre in Jammu but also of Tagore Hall in Srinagar. Extracting money from the cash starved State exchequer for a ‘non priority’ item like art and culture is nothing short of a miracle. That Balwant Thakur has achieved this task speaks volumes about his persuasive skills.

The colourful programme that followed the dedication ceremony was representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the State. In fact various items in most of the languages spoken in the State, including Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Gojri, Pahari and Hindi, were presented. The only exceptions were Ladakhi and the language of the State Urdu.

While performance of the artists in various dances and songs was exquisite, one does feel sad about the repetitive items presented in successive programmes. While in older days it was ‘Jhamaka Bindlu Da’ now it is Mashok Myane (Rof), Chatni Timroo Di, Hafiz Naghma and Morni Tille di. Only the artists change but the items remain the same.

In fact there was hardly any item in the programme that one has not seen on the Abhinav stage before. Some songs were so familiar that even the Chief Minister was seen humming the songs alongwith the singers. One has to realise that while it is important to improve the hardware, it is all the more important to improve the ‘software’. One also wonders as to why the announcements were made in English language when the viewers were not from a foreign delegation but our own Desi Jammuites.

Our composers and dance directors have to come out of the creative inertia that has taken them into its grip and bring some fresh air into the new look Abhinav so that the entire exercise of giving a face-lift to the auditorium becomes meaningful.

The highlight of today's programme was Dr Farooq Abdullah's singing of Sare Jehan Se Acha Hindustan Hamra at the fag end when the programme had all but concluded. The viewers were left wondering if the Chief Minister was conveying a political message from a cultural platform.

Dogs too require training to become professional:Bawa

Excelsior Correspondent

If you love to keep pets so that they dance on your tunes and respond to any of your gestures, then here is an offer to take the services of the dog trainer who can make your pet obedient, guarding, attacking or whatever you want it to be.

Master R L Bawa of Rani Talab Digiana is in the profession of training dogs for the last over a decade. He claims to have trained dogs of superior breeds like Boxer, Labrador or German Shepherd for Army, Police and public personalities including politicians, who are fond of keeping pets with the high sense of sharp reflexes to respond to the cues of the master.

Master Bawa says that he has learnt the art of training dogs from Master Jagdish Raj Bawa, a renowned animal trainer of Jallandhar city. " I am attending to atleast 15 dogs during the month to train them. It is sort of tuition and those who hire my services, know the difference of keeping a trained dog or otherwise", says R L Bawa.

According to him, it takes atleast four to seven months for a dog to learn the basics. Once the dog is trained, it can respond to certain cues like ‘sit, shake-hand, roll, up, salute, speak, Go, Come Stand etc", says Bawa.

This dog trainer maintains that after the basic training, a dog can join the " advance courses" also to be more perfect in performing the job, as is required or needed from an animal. "The Army and Police dogs are imparted advanced training to help the organisations in guarding the borders or tracking the criminals", he says.

According to Bawa, a dog who is on the job of getting training, needs atleast one hour counselling every day in presence of its master. Once the dog is trained, it becomes more loyal and responds to the sound of its masters and no one else’s, says Bawa.

To a question , Bawa said that he charges a nominal fee for imparting training. Those who purchase high breed dogs, won’t mind to spend extra bucks in imparting training to their loving pets, said this animal trainer.

Apart from providing training to the dogs, Bawa is also dealing with the business of sale and purchase of high breed dogs. It needs an expert’s eye to select a dog and I my consultations are also sought for the purpose, he said.

According to him, it is not every body’s cup of tea to train the dog. One requires high quality of patience for the purpose, he said.

So! when you want to purchase or keep a dog, ensure your pet is professionally trained. After all, it the era of competition and training makes every individual perfect—— be that a dog itself.

BJP MLA condemns constitution of Commission on PRCs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: BJP MLA from Gandhi Nagar, Ch. Piara Singh has strongly criticised the State Government for setting up the Commission to probe into the so-called charges of issue of state subject certificates to non-residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Chowdhary expressed his apprehension about the sincerity and bonafides of the State Government in setting up of this Commission for the alleged issue of these certificates malafide to various non-state subjects.

He reminded the State Government that there has been a low governing grant of state subjects from the time of the Maharajas only to see that ineligible persons do not get such certificates. He alleged that by constituting this commission, rulers tried to save the interests of the citizens of this state. He said that it was surprising that the Citizens of J&K can acquire immovable property anywhere in India including Himachal Pradesh and Northeast states but none of residents of these states can acquire immovable property in J&K State.

Action plan approved

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 29: Annual Action Plan of District Rural Development Agency, Jammu involving over Rs 01.14 crore for the current financial year was approved under Swarnjyanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana(SGSY) at 29th Governing Body meeting here today.

The District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Mr R K Goyal who is also the Chairman of the Agency presided over the meeting.

The Legislators who were present at the meeting expressed their views and suggestions for improving the economic conditions of the rural people. They asked for arranging of awareness camps, simplification of loaning procedure, increase of allocation under the scheme, proper utilization of funds, creating of more irrigation facilities in kandi belts, reviewing the lists of families already identified far BPL and active involvement of NGOs especially the women in the Yojana.

The Project officer Mrs Narinder Kour apprised the meeting that Rs 50.73 lakhs have been proposed for providing subsidy under the scheme. Over Rs.18 lakh have been earmarked as infrastructural-fund besides Rs.8.61 lakh each have been kept for training and revolving funds and Rs.28.52 lakhs for project administration. Under the scheme 50 self-help groups will be set up with involvement of 500 members. Besides 170 individual Swarozgaries will also be provided loan for setting up of their own units.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman said that Central Government has launched many poverty alleviation programmes for upliftment of rural people. The agency has been entrusted with the task of implementing these programmes at the gross root level. In order to give further impetus to the poverty alleviation programmes the Central Government has launched a new scheme SGSY from April 1999. Referring to the demands of simplifying the loaning process, Mr Goyal said that banks can play an important role in implementing the schemes launched by the State and Central Government for increasing the income of people living in rural and far flung areas. He called upon the financial institutions to simplify the loaning process and ensure immediate disposals of loan cases so that beneficiaries do not face any problem. He also disclosed that training-cum-awareness camps would be organised in near future in the rural areas to create awareness among the rural masses.

The member Parliament Vaid Vaishnu Dutt was also present at the meeting and expressed his views for launching this scheme effectively.

Among others, the meeting was also attended by the Legislators of Jammu district, senior officers of the concerned departments, representatives of banks and NGOs.

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