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| Kashmiri migrants problems discussed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Various issues and problems relating to Kashmiri migrants were discussed threadbare at a meeting of the .......more Minister
for eradication Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ghulam......more Tally
Graduate Academy Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Model Institute of Education and Research (MIER), premier educational institute of Jammu......more Arrangements
for Haj Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Elaborate board and lodging arrangements for the Haj pilgrims of Jammu division, Leh and....more Millennium’s
Best Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Troupe organised millennium’s...more |
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PNB
officers hold Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: A condolence meeting of the officers staff was held today to condole the untimely...more Alienation
increasing Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Prominent intellectual Mr Balraj Puri is of the view that anti-India sentiments among people of Kashmir......more SAD
concerned over Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: State Akali Dal (SAD) has expressed serious concern over associating the name militant with....more Low grade
employees Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: A meeting of the All J&K Low Grade Employees Federation New Secretariat was held today under the chairmanship....more |
Kashmiri migrants problems discussed Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Various issues and problems relating to Kashmiri migrants were discussed threadbare at a meeting of the National Human Rights Commission Committee here today. The Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Abdul Qayoom presided. The Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr P L Handoo and the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly also attended the meeting. Among others, who took part in the meeting including Special Repporter of National Human Rights Commission Mr Chaman Lal, Advocate General, Principal Secretary Planning, Mr Jalil Ahmad Khan and Relief Commissioner (Migrants), Mr Dalip Singh, Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Mr Vijay Bakaya and Commissioner/Secretary Revenue, Mr A R Parry also attended the meeting as special invitees. However, Mr Amar Nath Vashnavi, who is also a member of the committee, did not attend today's meeting. The issues discussed by the Committee include provision of two-room tenament with kitchen facility for each family, supply of adequate medicines and life saving drugs in existing camp dispensaries, better hygienic environment in and around the camps, immediate settlement of compensation/insurance claims of damaged property and removal of encroachments of migrant property. It was stated in a meeting that decisions in respect of some of the problems facing the migrants are in the process of being taken up while some other problems are being referred to the Apex Level Committee for quicker decisions. The Committee was informed that 31,490 migrants families are registered with a Relief Organisation, Jammu, of which 15,206 are Government employee families. In addition, 19,338 families are registered with the Delhi administration and another 2,734 families are registered with other States of the country. It was revealed that out of the total number of registered migrant families, 15,078 families, having no assured source of income, are been provided cash assistance of Rs 600 per member per month subject to maximum of Rs 2,400 per family per month, besides free ration at the scale of 9 kgs of rice and 2 kgs of atta per head per month and one kg sugar per family per month. By the end of January, 2000, over Rs 373.31 crore have been spent on migrants of Kashmir valley, excluding the leave salary to the migrant Government employees. In addition to this, Rs 21.81 crore have also been disbursed to the migrants whose houses were burnt in the Valley. With a view to further improve civic amenities in different migrant camps, a proposal for Rs 5.61 crore had been submitted to the Central Government for undertaking drainage, water supply, electricity, flood protection works and making pacca lanes in the camps. So far, the Central Government has released Rs 3 crore for the purpose. It was further stated that the Government have constructed 4,588 one room tenaments in different camps and allotted these to the migrant families. In addition to this 280 families have been provided accommodation in Government/Semi-Government buildings. The Committee was informed that out of 2,331 pension cases received by Jammu and Kashmir Funds Organisation (a nodal agency for settlement of such cases) 2,263 pension cases have already been settled while another 60 are under process of settlement. Similarly, out of 1,524 State Life Insurance claims of migrant Government employees, 1,256 have been settled. In addition to this 549 General Provident Fund final refund cases have also been disposed off. In order to provide sustenance to un-employed migrant youth, Rs 65.91 lakhs have been sanctioned in respect of 69 entrepreneurs under Self-employment Scheme and Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana. So far, Rs 45.28 lakhs have been disbursed to 53 migrant entrepreneurs. Another 14 migrant industrial entrepreneurs have been provided plots in the Industrial Estates, Bari Brahamna, Jammu, the Committee was informed. The Committee also discussed various issues relating to migrant employees. |
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Minister for eradication of poverty Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah has asked the functionaries of the various departments, Banks and the NGO's to make sincere and co-ordinated efforts for eradication of poverty from the State. He said unless participation of the poorer sections of the society was not ensured in implementation of various welfare measures launched by the Government, our objective of Planning in respect of poverty eradication does not bring encouraging and desired results. Delivering inaugural address at the one-day State level seminar on Self Help Group (S HG) for NGO's here today, the Minister said that all the concerned agencies should unitedly cum forward to help the Government in this nobal cause. He informed that poorman's problem has to be identified first and then only welfare measures should be formulated with his active participation. The Minister advised the participants of the seminar that there Selfless service to the humanity could proof useful and fruitful for the society as a whole. Financial help, he said, is no problem with the Government. He said funds could be arranged for the purpose but response and rendering selfless service to the needy is required under the programme. He said Government as well as NGO's are not working at present as a force multipliers, the main factor in ensuring development of the poor people. The Financial Commissioner, (ARD) SIS Malhi in his presidential address said that despite taking various developmental measures for poverty elevation, the desired results have yet to come and poor people still need Government's attention. He said though a lot of progress has been made in this regard but much more needed to be done in the field of poverty alleviation in our State. He further said all of us should release our responsibility in this regard. Mr Malhi said the State have several scheme for development of the poor but perhaps we lack the will to do the things in proper perspective and direction. He said since the Dawn of freedom uptill now we have not reached to the people. Now, with the help of SHG and opportunities made available, could reached to the people. He said there is need to provide sound ways to the new concept of SHG to ensure development of poor people in the State and the job, he said is not in possible if we all work together with a spirit of help to others. The Secretary Rural Development Department, Mr Parmod Jain who was present on the occasion said that in order to ensure development of the poor a sustained and caused effective mechanism is needed to improve their conditions. He said SHG campaign should be implemented as a co-operative movement to involve every poor person in the task of his development. Mr Jain stressed the need for cluster approach for eradication of poverty. He said SHG have to obtained access with the common masses by understanding their problems then and then alone, he said the SHG could prove vital and of great help to the needy. Today he informed we have great deal of responsibility towards younger generation and the NABARD is performing its social obligation by advancing loans to the needy. He said State Government is ready to fund NGO's in this behalf only when they come forward with concrete and fusible/byable projects for upliftment of the poor. |
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Tally Graduate Academy set up at MIER Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Model Institute of Education and Research (MIER), premier educational institute of Jammu and Kashmir, has tied up with Tally Solutions Private Limited, a Bangalore based company, makers of world famous Accounting Software "Tally" for setting up a premier software training centre by the name of Tally Academy, the first its kind in the State. As per a release the Centre for Computer Education Technology and Services (CCETS) at MIER will focus on providing complete and comprehensive training on "Tally" accounting software. For this purpose the Centre has been equipped with necessary hardware and software and a highly competent staff for training the students. According to Centre coordinator, Tally is most widely used accounting system in India and abroad and is used across the most diverse business segments and sizes including corporates, multinationals and Government organisations. The accounts of an estimated half a million companies were being on Tally with thousands getting added each month. Even in Jammu and Kashmir State the Tally is one of the widely used accounting software and most of the business houses, organisations, Chartered Accountants etc were using Tally for maintaining their accounts. The Centre Coordinator also highlighted the benefits, a student would have by undergoing this course at the Centre. The course material is prepared by Tally Solutions Private Limited, the makers of Tally. and is a self-paced comprehensive course which allows a student to learn at his or her own speed. The certification is provided by the Company itself thereby eliminating any doubts regarding the validity of the course. Apart from that a students is also provided with a Tally Graduate CD with a fully functional, date restricted Tally 5.4 release 5 (b2) the latest version and also the printed course material for on-going practice and reference. The students will also be provided transferable tally discount scheme for the purchase of full fledged version Tally for commercial use. The Tally Graduate Programme also helps the students name to be listed on the Tally Website for job opportunities in India and abroad and an automatic membership of Tally Graduate Club with existing schemes, awards and rewards continual benefits. The MIER is offering special schemes and scholarships for students, who enroll themselves for Tally Graduate Programme. |
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Arrangements for Haj pilgrims finalised Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Elaborate board and lodging arrangements for the Haj pilgrims of Jammu division, Leh and Kargil districts have been made by the Divisional Administration, Jammu. This information was given at a meeting of officers held here today. The Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Mr B A Kichloo presided. The Minister was apprised that 20 Haj pilgrims from Ladakh region and 357 pilgrims including one infant belonging to various parts of the Jammu division are reaching here on 18th and 20th of this month respectively. The arrangements for their board and lodging have been made at Danish Kadha (Talab Khatikan), Jammu. The Minister was further apprised that the pilgrims will leave for Delhi on 22nd of this month and the Indian Airlines have made the arrangements for three special flights. The first batch will leave Jammu at 11 a.m, 2nd batch at 12 noon and 3rd batch at 1 p.m. A reception committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu for Haj pilgrims has been constituted. Besides there shall be no power curtailment from 18th to 22nd February 2000 in Talab Khatikan. In case of power failure necessary arrangements for generator set has also been made. The PHE Department have made arrangements for adequate supply of safe drinking water at Danish Kadha. Regarding transport arrangements, the Minister was informed that the SRTC Jammu has been directed to provide seven A Class 35 seater buses for transportation of Haj pilgrims from Shaheedi Chowk Jammu to Airport on Feb 22. Besides, SRTC will deploy one bus for carrying 20 Haj pilgrims of Leh and Kargil districts from Airport to Danish Kadha on 18th of this month. The Divisional Engineer Telephone informed that necessary telephone connection will be installed at Airport for the convenience of pilgrims. Besides, the arrangements with regard to security and medicare facilities for the pilgrims have been made by the Police and Health Departments. The meeting decided that the relatives of the pilgrims will not be allowed to accompany the pilgrims in Danish Kadha as well as to Airport for security purpose. The Haj pilgrims have been advised to carry their passport, travel documents, vaccination card, identity card, Apran and the Holy Quran in their handbags. In addition, they have been advised not to carry any inflameable items like K oil, gas cylinder and stoves etc. Regarding bringing of Zum Zum, the Hajies will being the same on the return on their own cost and risks as the Indian Airlines has shown its inability to bring the Zum Zum seperately. Addresing the meeting Mr Kichloo impressed upon the concerned officers to ensure all the arrangements well before the scheduled date of reaching Haj pilgrims at Jammu so that they do not face any difficulty. He said that the special arrangements of drinking water and other allied facilities should also be made at Airport. The meeting among others was attended by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr Anil Goswami, Commissioner/Secretary, Revenue, Mr A R Parrey, Director Airport, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Mr R K Tripathi, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr R K Goel, IGP, Jammu, Mr R V Raju, SSP, Jammu. Mr M A Anjum, SE, PHE, Mr I C Jandial besides, senior officers and representatives of Auqaf. |
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Alienation increasing among Kashmiris: Puri Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Prominent intellectual Mr Balraj Puri is of the view that anti-India sentiments among people of Kashmir have been increasing. Speaking at a public meeting organised by Suvidya Prakashan on Kashmir Today, Mr Puri observed that Kargil misadventure, army coup in Pakistan and hijacking of the Indian plane were universally condemned by the people of Kashmir but anti-India sentiments also increased meanwhile. He further said that events in 1999 have again underlined the bankruptcy of India’s Kashmir policy which failed to gain any advantage from people’s disillusionment with Pakistan. Accumulated discontent against the three year National Conference rule, for lack of an effective secular opposition and free elections, was being forced to seek a secessionist violent outlet, he added. Kashmiri Muslim, according to Mr Puri, were being forced to choose between a Chief Minister, who was the most survile ally of the Hindutave forces on the one hand and extremist Muslim militant on the other hand. Many Muslims were tending to consider the latter to be a lesser evil, he added. He further held the present centralised unitary form of constitution imposed on the State, as the major source of regional and communal tensions which added complications in the situations. Mr Puri pleaded for extension of Indian democracy to Kashmir, with free elections and a secular opposition party to differentiate between loyalty to India and loyalty to Government. He also wanted a federal set up of the state with regional and decentralisation of power to enable the people to realise the value of democracy. On this occasion, Mr Puri released a book on Kargil and Security of India by veteran socialist leader, Panna Lal Surana. Bhai Vaidya, the president of the Samajwadi Jan Parishad, who presided over the meeting, described Mr Puri as the leading thinker and leader of the country. A large number of deputations of socialists workers, intellectuals, NGOs and youth met Mr Puri during his two day stay in Pune. |
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SAD concerned over dubbing Sikhs as militants Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: State Akali Dal (SAD) has expressed serious concern over associating the name militant with the Sikh Community which it alleged is being done to defame the community as a whole. Talking to media persons here today, the SAD state president Mr Jagdev Singh said that it appears all the sacrifices made by the community for the country since the Mughal rule are being ignored. He said hundreds of members of the community sacrificed their lives during freedom struggle of the country for the emancipation of India from foreign rule and later in the three wars with Pakistan and latest Kargil war hundreds of Sikh jawans attained supreme sacrifices for the integrity and unity of the nation. He said dubbing the entire community as militants has hurt the feelings of patriotic Sikhs and the jawans guarding the border. Terming it a big conspiracy to defame the community, we said no such word like Muslim militants was ever used over the decade long proxy war in Kashmir. Mr Jagdev Singh said when the Khalsa Panth is celebrating tercentenary celebrations hundreds of Sikh youth are still behind the bars in various jails of the country. He maintained that SAD is not against the punishment to the anti national elements and it will not mind if such persons are hanged but at the same time the community will not tolerate harassment of innocent people. Supporting the greater autonomy demand Mr Gajan Singh, spokesman of the SAD said by giving more powers to states will help in their all-round progress. He said the Centre should keep only defence, currency, External Affairs and Communication under its control and rest should be given to states like USA. He also expressed the hope that Chief Minister will keep up his word and issue orders for introduction of Punjabi language in schools. Demanding immediate release of innocent Sikh youth languishing in various jails Mr Balbir Singh general secretary of the SAD took both the Central and state governments for playing with the future of the hundreds of community youth. He said it is a cause of concern for entire community that one Barkat Singh of Upper Gadigarh who is languishing in the jail for last seven years without trial. In an appeal to President of India he sought his intervention in the matter so that no innocent person is harassed. Terming the Akal Thakat as supreme body of the Sikhs, he said the Bibi Jagjeet Kour should bow before the Thakat on whose instructions Guru Purab was celebrated on February 5 in some parts of Punjab while in the rest of country it was celebrated on February 14. He also said the District Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (DGPC) should also apologize from the Akal Thakat for celebrating the Gurupurab in Jammu on February 5. He said this was done under a hatched conspiracy to create a wedge between Sikh and Hindu communities. |
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Low grade employees elect new body Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: A meeting of the All J&K Low Grade Employees Federation New Secretariat was held today under the chairmanship of Mr G M Bhat, president Low Grade Employees Federation and accordingly an adhoc body was framed. According to a press release, Mr Showkat Hussain was elected president and Durga Dutt as vice-president. Other office bearers are Bashir Ahmed Lone as secretary, Surjeet Singh as publicity secretary, Mohammed Amin as cashier, Abdul Majit Sheikh as organiser, Farooq Ahmed Malik as office secretary, Som Nath, Lal Mohammed Khan, Fazal Hussain, Mohammed Shafi Shah, Yashpal, Krishanjeet Singh, Nazir Ahmed, Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, Mohammed Shafi, Ghulam Qadir Dar, Mohammed Yousuf Thakur as members. |
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District status for Samba demanded Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: District Action Committee, Samba has reiterated its demand for creation of a new District with Headquarters at Samba. In a statement issued here today, the Committee alleged that despite the assurances given by Government the demand is still hanging fire. Mr Sukhdev Singh Sambyal, president District Action Committee Samba said that Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had given him the assurance recently that the demand will be conceded by his Government and meanwhile the post of SDM will be created for the Samba. Mr Sambyal during his recent meeting with Revenue Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom apprised him of the problems being faced by the people of Samba. He told the Revenue Minister that SDMs have been posted for Basohli, Kishtwar, Ramban, Badarwah and Reasi while Samba being an old tehsil with historical significance has been ignored. |
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Dharmarth Trust Employees Asso warns agitation Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Dharmarth Trust Employees Association in a general body meeting here held under the chairmanship of Mr Lakshman Ravinder Singh, senior leader of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) discussed various demands. As per a release, the meeting demanded pay scales for the Trust employees at par with Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board employees, one month pay as bonus, pension benefits prior to rule 1972, formation of promotion policy, regularisation of daily wagers, gratuity benefits, implementation of insurance scheme and maintenance of service books. While addressing the meeting Mr Karnail Chand, president of the Association strongly criticised the Dharmarth Trust management for adopting delaying attitude towards employees demands and not taking any decision so far. The Association also alleged that president of the Trust was terminating the services of some employees illegally and appointing some favorites in their place. The Association demanded that employees be allowed to resume their duty failing which it will go for action. The meeting also decided to launch agitation in case the management fails to settle the demands by February 20. Others who spoke on the occasion include Messrs Pritam Sharma, Daljeet Singh, Mohinder Kumar Baru, Chanderjeet Singh, Bachhan Massih, Ram Paul, Kundan Lal and Baldev Singh. |
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ASSI depu meets Sinha Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI) has demanded North Eastern type economic package for the promotion and development of industries in J&K. This demand was made by a delegation of ASSI led by its president Mr Rattan Dogra that called on Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha in New Delhi on February 12. The delegation emphasized that establishment of industries can only create employment avenues in the state. It also urged the Minister to honour his commitment made during his visit to Jammu in April last year and bring both new and existing units under the ambit of economic package based on North East pattern. The delegation further urged the Minister to fix a meeting of the chief executive officers of the nationalized and scheduled banks to devise and implement their respective schemes for providing interest and other reliefs to industrial units to reduce their liabilities suffered on account of prolonged militancy. It also demanded to honour the commitment made by the Prime Minister to grant interest and other reliefs on loans above Rs 50,000 as contained in the recommendations of the Inter Ministerial Committee specially constituted in this regard. Mr Sinha however, informed the delegation that package on the pattern of North Eastern type can only be granted to J&K after the identification of specified areas which the State Government has yet to do. He while endorsing the Central Government’s intentions to help promotion and development of industries in the state assured the ASSI representatives to convene the CEOs meeting in Jammu before the Darbar move to take the appropriate decisions on the recommendations of Inter Ministerial Committee. Meanwhile, the ASSI has appealed the Chief Minister, J&K and Industries and Commerce Minister of the state to direct the concerned authorities to take appropriate steps regarding the discussions held in the exclusive meeting of State Cabinet under the chairmanship of Dr Abdullah and ASSI delegation on January 31. It demanded freezing of power tariff as proposed in ASSI memorandum to pave way for fresh investment in industrial sector to create more employment opportunities. It also appealed the Government to remove the bottlenecks that have hampered the extension of North Eastern type of economic package for J&K. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: A meeting of Central body of Youth National Conference (YNC) was held in Sher-i-Kashmir Bhavan in which the decision of party chief Dr Farooq Abdullah and general secretary Shiekh Nazir Ahmed to appoint Mr Bodh Raj Bali as provincial president, M S Tariq as central secretary and Nisar Ahmed Khan as incharge Poonch Rajouri and Govind Ram incharge Jammu, Udhampur. As per a release, the newly appointed leaders were accorded warm welcome by YNC. Those who spoke on the occasion include YNC senior vice president Dr Shafi, general secretary Messrs Wani, organisor Ravi Mahajan and provincial president women wing Miss Daljeet Kour spoke on the occasion. |
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Sham-i-Gazal organised Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Feb 5 : In connection with celebration of New Millennium Sham-i-Gazal was organised by As per a release, he said the people in these villages are facing the scarcity of K Oil. He said despite the various representations the administration has failed to open a separate K Oil Depot at Kulwanta. He demanded that K Oil be issued to people in Ramnagar daily so that the people in far flung villages do not face hardships. He alleged the Departmental officers were violating directions in Integrated Water Shed Development Programme (IWDP) Shivalik Project Second Ramnagar by engaging the employees on muster roll instead of casual labour. Mr Mohinder Singh who called on Chief Executive Officer of the Project apprised him of the various shortcomings . The CEO expressed his inability in undertaking the spill over works and plantation for damaged projects due to shortage of funds. However, Mr Thakur warned agitation in case the motivators were not replaced by local and proper implementation of project not ensured. Mr Thakur who visited villages of Kulwanta, Keya, Chigla Balota, Joffar, Lehar to assess the problems of the people interacted cross sections of the people enroute and listened their problems. |
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JU Academic Council meeting today Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 15: After a long gap of more than two years, the University of Jammu is going to hold its Academic Council meeting today. Besides, the election of a member for the Syndicate, a number of academic matters will be taken up by the second highest body of the University after the Council. Almost all the members who are around 50 are expected to attend the meeting which will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Prof R R Sharma. Although, the clear picture for the number of contenders for the election of the Syndicate member would emerge during the meeting, but two names are on the top list of the Academic Council members. They are Prof Shashi Kant, Head of the Department of Botany and Dr Rajeev Gupta, Head of the Department of Chemistry. It may be recalled that all the Head of the Departments and Deans of the University are the members of the Academic Council, besides Deans of the Kashmir University and six college Principals. The Council also included four college teachers. According to reliable sources, on the top of the agenda of the meeting is the election of the Syndicate member, which will be followed by the other academic issues. However, the sources mentioned that the Academic Council meeting which should be held frequently, is being held after a long gap of more than two years. |
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