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| Snake appears in Temple, garlands Shiv Linga Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: In a rarest incident of its kind, a snake appeared in a city temple here today and later embraced the Shiv Linga for some....more Sadhotra
reiterates Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Oct.7: The Minister for Food and Supplies, Mr.Ajay Sadhotra has reiterated the Government’s resolve to make available.......more Excelsior Correspondent KATRA, Oct.7: The nine day long Navratra festivals concluded last evening here with the distribution of prizes......more Maa Shakti
holds annual Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: Maa Shakti, a NGO for welfare of children and youth organised their annual function to felicitate.....more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: A meeting of different camp representatives was held at Purkhoo migrant camp today to discuss the situation......more |
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Army opens community development centre in Uri Excelsior Correspondent URI, Oct 7: Kamalkote- a far flung and neglected group of villages on the LoC in Uri tehsil, has escaped the ken of regional development from time........more Poor
sanitation, rural By Gopal Sharma The consumption of unsafe drinking water, improper disposal of human excreta and lack of personal and food hygiene have been the major causes of many diseases in major towns of the country today. High infant mortality rate is also attributing largely to the poor............more MLA
reviews Dev Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: Mr Abdul Ghani Malik, MLA reviewed various development works in Gulabgarh and Mahore area........more Kashmiri
migrants Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: A deputation of United Migrant Camp Purkhoo Phase III led by its president...........more |
Snake appears in Temple, garlands Shiv Linga Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: In a rarest incident of its kind, a snake appeared in a city temple here today and later embraced the Shiv Linga for some minutes before it disappeared again! The incident occurred in Durga Mandir at Bakshinagar this morning when the office bearers of the Temple management were busy in a meeting to discuss the measures for development of the complex. According to Ch Raj Kumar, vice president of the Temple management, as the meeting was in progress, a snake suddenly appeared on the scene. It straightway found its way towards a Shiv Linga erected within the Temple premises and later positioned itself to garland the Linga. While the snake terrified some of the office bearers, it at the same time became an object of attention for many, as large number of people, on hearing about the incident, thronged the temple premises to have the "darshan" of this snake whom they termed as " Naag Devta". An extra-ordinary large snake in size, it remained embraced with Shiv Linga for minutes together. Some of the devotees tried to offer milk to it. They also held prayers and chanted hymns in praise of Lord Shiva. The devotees were moved by this rare phenomenon, as the incident took place on Dussehera festival. A devote of Lord Shiva photographed this rare incident before the snake disappeared. Meanwhile, the meeting of the office bearers of the Temple management, could not be held as the participants— Budhi Singh, Rajinder Singh Ghai, Shashi Paul, Shashi Abrol, Pritam Dass, Avinash Gupta, Rajesh Gupta, Chandershekhar and Rakesh Gupta had to leave it half way |
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Sadhotra reiterates Govt's on essential commodities Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Oct.7: The Minister for Food and Supplies, Mr.Ajay Sadhotra has reiterated the Government’s resolve to make available essential commodities to the people of the State. This was stated by the Minister during a visit to Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum LPG Bottling Plants at Bari Brahamna today. The Minister was apprised that the Indian Oil Bottling plant was coming up at Bari-Brahamna over an area of 40 acres at a cost of Rs.2700 lakhs and will starts by ending December this year. The plant will have installed capacity of 22,000 MTPA on single shift. The plant with latest machinery will have the filling capacity of 5000 cylinders per day. The plant will generate direct and indirect employment for 200 to 300 workers. Market coverage of the plant will be entire Jammu and Kashmir. The Hindustan Petroleum has also an installed capacity of over 15 lakh cylinders annually(22,000 MTPA) on single shift. The plant, primarily caters to the LPG demand of Jammu and Ladakh. With the successful installation of 24 carousel and major facility augmentation the operation capacity of the plant will further boost to 44,000 MTPA( 31 lakh cylinders) which is double the present capacity. Similar bottling plant is being constructed at Leh at a cost of Rs.40 crore. It will meet the LPG demand of entire Ladakh region. At Pampore. 12 MTPA bottling plant was also inaugurated last year which is meeting the demand of Kashmir division. At present, LPG cylinders demand of the Jammu division is about one lakh per month. With the commissioning of Indian Oil bottling plant and double shifting in Hindustan petroleum the State will have a buffer stock of LPG and will be in a position to supply it to other States. The Minister and Commissioner/Secretary, Food and Supplies Department Mr.R.K.Jerath also planted saplings in the premises of Indian Oil Bottling Plant. Among others Director Food and Supplies, Mr.S.C.Jandial, Regional Managers of Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil Company and other senior officers accompanied the Minister during the visit. |
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Excelsior Correspondent KATRA, Oct.7: The nine day long Navratra festivals concluded last evening here with the distribution of prizes among best teams and individuals adjudged best in the presentation of devotional songs and Bhaints. The competition was organised by the Tourism Department. A panel of three judges, namely Mr.Harish Sugand and Mr. Vikas Mohan films producers of Bombay and Mr. Ganesh Jain, Managing Director, Venus Records and tapes Mr. Ganesh Jain declared S.Paramjeet Singh winner of the first prize while Kamal Sharma and party of Jammu and Ravi Sharma and party of Jammu were declared 2nd and 3rd respectively. The Director Tourism Jammu, Mr.S.S.Bhalla presented cheques of Rs, one lakh, Rs.25,000 and Rs.15000 to the first three position holders. Trophies were also awarded to the best singers by the president Travel Association Jammu Capt Gohar. Mementos were also given to Narang Jee Delhi Wala for his great contribution in erecting the welcome gates and illumination of Katra town by the President Travel Association Katra, Mr.Surinder Khajuria, Kewal Padha President Shiv Mandli, Katra Mr. Vikas Mohan film Producer and the Director Tourism. On this occasion Hotel Association Katra announced two nights and three days free stay for the first prize winners at Katra and similar type of free stay at Jammu K.C.Residency. Earlier, a procession comprising various types of Jankies was taken out from Asia Chowk Katra which culminated at the Higher secondary School, Katra. Director Tourism and SDM Reasi lit the jyoti to start the procession and performed Kanya Poojan. Songs and Drama Division organised Maa Sheran Wali and other cultural programme during the Navratra festivals which were witnessed by the large number of locals as well as pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Jee on the concluding day. President Chamber of Commerce Katra, Mr.Jugal Sharma gave mementos to the programme incharge on behalf of Katra citizens. |
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Maa Shakti holds annual felicitation function Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: Maa Shakti, a NGO for welfare of children and youth organised their annual function to felicitate Swami Paul ji, chairman of the organisation on the completion of Navratra celebrations at their headquarters in Jammu which was attended by the volunteers of Maa Shakti and a large number of devotees, disciples and prominent citizens including Mr Chunilal Khajuria, MLC. The function began with a welcome address presented by Miss Veenu Gupta, president of Maa Shakti Youth Wing and was addressed by various speakers. Congratulating Swami Paul ji on the completion of Navratra festival, the president of Maa Shakti Mr Inderjit Singh Chamak (Retd SSP) said that Swami ji is a great visionary of human welfare and the mankind can reap abundant well being at his pious hands. Acknowledging the remarkable contributions made by Swami ji in social welfare Mr Chamak said that it is our great luck that we enjoy the guidance of such a spirited missionery of social service. He praised the personal efforts of Swami ji in intensively studying the children and youth welfare services in USA and UK during his recent tours of these countries and hoped that such efforts and various other programmes given by Swami ji would bring the requisite benefits of social development of our children. Mr Chunilal Khajuria MLC expressed his gratitude to Swami ji for giving a noble mission of Maa Shakti to our society which aims to highlight the cause of children and youth and further their welfare. He said that the State of Jammu and Kashmir has not been able to progress much even after independence and there has been deficiencies due to inadequate social upliftment. Speaking on the occasion Swami ji underlined the need of meditation for the inner development of the children and youth. He said that no education can be complete without meditation and explained that the need and usefulness of meditation has increased in modern times and the present day social life is burdened with numerous domestic and social tensions. Due to complex social living man suffers from fear, hatred, jealousy and intolerance. The moral and ethical standards are deteriorating and people are distracted from the path of peace, love and affection. In this scenerio, he said that the meditation is the best tool to liberate the soul from the worldly sufferings and release the hidden traits and real potential of our body and mind. He impressed upon the children and youths to make meditation a habit in life to achieve success and to experience the everlasting peace and joys of life. He announced the grant of educational scholarship of Rs 500 to Miss Reema Sharma of Ustad Mohalla Jammu and a financial assistance of Rs 300 per month to Miss Uma Devi of Reasi from Maa Shakti. Miss Payal Khurana, Miss Veenu Gupta and Miss Pooja Misri were adjudged the best teachers who participated in the educational and talent search programmes run by the organisation and awarded annual cash prizes of Rs 1000, 700 and 500 respectively. Mr Shrikant was also given a cash prize of Rs 1000 for best coordination work done by him for running these educational programmes. The programme concluded with the vote of thanks presented by Mr R K Bhan secretary general of Maa Shakti which was followed by a Preeti-Bhoj-sharing the langer. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: A meeting of different camp representatives was held at Purkhoo migrant camp today to discuss the situation created due to the merger of camp colleges with evening colleges. As per a release, the meeting was chaired by Mr B L Thusoo, president internally Displaced Samiti. The meeting while criticising the decision of the government said this way the State Government has openly started delinking the Kashmiri Pandit community from the Valley. The meeting said had the Government been sincere it would have offered more incentives and programmes to lure the displaced people to return to their homes and hearths in the Valley. The meeting said the steps adopted by the Government are against the national as well as community interests. It alleged that despite the repeated pleas of the displaced community leadership the posts held by migrants have not been transferred here till date while hundreds of people in Kashmir valley were absorbed against these posts. |
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Army opens community development centre in Uri Excelsior Correspondent URI, Oct 7: Kamalkote- a far flung and neglected group of villages on the LoC in Uri tehsil, has escaped the ken of regional development from time immemorial. The poor and hardy people of these villages have faced the burnt of Pakistani shelling, lost life and limb and bravely survived destruction to property and livestock owing to Pak action. It is but natural that the Army has taken the area under its wings and worked untiringly for its development. A new chapter was added to the saga of Army - Civil amity when, Brig R K Sharma, Commander Kala Pahar Brigade inaugurated the Rs 15 lakh Community Development Centre (CDC) in Kamalkote in an impressive and well attended function today. Forming a part of the Army Development Group Project, the CDC was constructed in record time by Army engineers and villagers. The Centre boasts of modern medical and vetinerary facilities and a recreational cum vocational training hall. Two colour TV sets with dish antenna. A well stocked library, recreation/games such as Cricket, Volley Ball, Carrom Board, Chess etc have been included. To enable the poor families to supplement their incomes, two sewing machines have been placed to train the women folk under a lady instructor. The Army is also constructing underground bunkers in village which are targetted by the enemy artilery. Assistance of the Army in construction of Uri - Kamalkote road construction of 30 community under ground bunkers to protect civilian population aginst Pak shelling, repairs of Mosques and houses damaged in enemy shelling, provision of compensation, recruitment of SPOs, running of coaching chesses for Army recruitment tests, holding of medical and veterinary camps, providing ambulance service in emergencies, monitoring of a fair public distribution system have all been the earnest efforts of the Army to bring succor to the people. |
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Environment Focus By Gopal Sharma The consumption of unsafe drinking water, improper disposal of human excreta and lack of personal and food hygiene have been the major causes of many diseases in major towns of the country today. High infant mortality rate is also attributing largely to the poor sanitation. The concept of sanitation was infact earlier limited up to the disposal of human excreta by cesspool, open ditches, pit latrines, bucket system etc. But presently, it connotes a comprehensive concept which includes liquid and solid waste disposal, food hygiene, personal, domestic as well as environmental hygiene. Therefore, a direct relationship exists between water, sanitation and health. The Central Government launched Rural Sanitation Programme about 14 years ago with the aim to bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in the rural areas, creation of awareness about health and environmental education and bringing about reduction in the incidents of water and sanitation related diseases. In 1986, the total resources required under the programme were to be shared by the State Governments and the Central Government on 50:50 basis but in 1991, the criteria and the norms under CRSP were modified and the State Governments were required to provide one-third of assistance received from the Central Government under the minimum needs programme. There may be good development in the rural areas of various states but the state of Jammu and Kashmir has suffered a lot in last ten years of militancy on account of development works. The Central funds worth crores meant for Rural sanitation programmes were not properly utilised and it affected the rural population badly, especially in hilly and remote areas of Kashmir valley, Poonch, Doda, Rajouri and Udhampur. Data compiled from the office of Chief Engineer PHE, Jammu indicated that out of the 1513 water supply schemes in Jammu region, hardly 17 percent of them are fully functional. The largest number of them ( 914) are partially functional while 283 are defunct. It has been admitted by the PHE authorities that water supply schemes are vulnerable to acts of nature. Due to rains and flood, the water sources and the supplies are affected. The quality of water also deteriorates. Though a large number of water supply schemes exists here but the quality of water being provided to the people is not very good as for making the water really safe, filtration of water through the installation of filtration plants is the major task for the department of PHE is yet to be done in most of the areas. A senior official in the Rural Sanitation department said that in our country 85 percent drinking water sources in rural areas are based on ground water and the people in rural areas usually use water from rivers , lakes, ponds and wells. Without being conversant with the effects the people do not use these water resources scientifically resulting in causing water borne diseases. This is the main cause of sickness and unhygienic conditions prevailing in the rural areas. The villagers are today required to be educated about the necessity of clean environment, consumption of safe water and the existence of effective sanitation in their respective areas. The Government agencies involved in the process have miserably failed in the state. Though the Department of Rural Development claimed to have spent Rs 3678 crores in last ten years in J&K under Rural Sanitation programme but it appears that the Department has failed to do justice with the ruralites in the state. The UNICEF is also providing huge funds under this programme but the misuse of the funds and diversion to other sectors by the State Government at its own will is also one of the major causes of discrimination with the rural people. The Government is answerable to the public representatives and it should come out with the details about the utilisation of funds meant for the rural people. |
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MLA reviews Dev works in Gulabgarh Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: Mr Abdul Ghani Malik, MLA reviewed various development works in Gulabgarh and Mahore area. According to a release, Mr Malik paid extensive visit to Bagga, Chasana, Sarsote Tukson, Nehoch and adjoining areas. He reviewed the construction work being initiated on various roads. Addressing series of meetings, the NC MLA said that Government is giving due attention towards the problems being faced by the people of the area. The staff in various health centres and schools where ever required, is being posted. Mr Malik also inaugurated a new primary school in Mahore. He said that efforts are being done to fill up all the vacant posts of teachers. The electricity will also be provided to Tukson, Arbais, Ingralla, Sherghari, Baddar, Neoch, Dabotal, Balmatkot, Barnelli and Kotli Damni. |
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Kashmiri migrants meet minister Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 7: A deputation of United Migrant Camp Purkhoo Phase III led by its president, Mr Ramesh Mahanoori called upon the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Mr Abdul Qyoom at his residence here today. According to a release, the camp dwellers highlighted the main problems being faced by the members of the community. They urged upon the minister to take immediate and speedy measures for transfer of Ration cards from different zones to Purkhoo. The problem of merger of camp colleges with Jammu university was also discussed. They sought the immediate redressal of this problem of the students. |
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