10-day multi media campaign concludes
Altaf cautions people against anti-national elements

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 12: The 10-day multi media publicity campaign on national integration and development organized by various field agencies of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India concluded at Samba today.

The Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mian Altaf Ahmed was the chief guest while the Director General Publicity, Government of India, Mr. Sahib Singh presided over the valedictory function.

Addressing on the occasion, the Minister congratulated the functionaries in organizing such programmes aimed at highlighting the programmes and policies of the Government in far-flung and remote areas to create awareness among the people about the welfare schemes launched for their socio-economic development. He said such campaign also help the people to know about the dreaded diseases like AIDS, Polio, etc and their preventive measures which could save many lives.

He said that the photo exhibition depicting the events of Kargil War will also help the people to know about the heroic deeds of our brave soldiers, who sacrificed their lives in guarding their mother land.

Mian Altaf said that our country is a symbol of secularism in the world and we have to preserve it at all costs. But our neighbour could not digest it and has thrusted upon us a proxy war by infiltrating militants. He cautioned the people against the anti-national elements who are exploiting the people on caste, creed, region and religious basis. He said the Government is making all out efforts to redress the grievances of the people. The Government has empowered the panchayats to monitor the working of Government employees in far-flung areas and recommend measures for bringing more accountability in their functioning, he added.

Earlier, the Minister had a round of various stalls displayed by the Rural Development, Animal Husbandry, Health and Medical Education, Social Forestry, Police and Army.

Mr. Sahib Singh, Director General Publicity, Government of India, Mrs. Bharti Vaid, Director, DAVP, Government of India and Mr. G. J. Singh, Brigade Commander also spoke on the occasion and gave the resume of the 10-day campaign jointly launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, DAVP, Songs and Drama Division and Field Publicity Units.

The Minister also distributed prizes among the healthy children adjudged first, second and third in the healthy baby show held at village Daboh and Talour.

The students the Government Higher Secondary School, Samba and other local schools presented a colourful cultural programme which was highly appreciated by the audience.

Among those present on the occasion included Mr. Som Nath, MLA, Mr. Prakash Chand, Ex-MLA, prominent citizens, students and teachers of the local schools, besides a large number of people of the area.

Sagar visits Talab Khatikan area

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 12: The Minister for Works, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar today visited Talab Khatikan and adjoining areas to inspect the arrangements made on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Minister accompanied by Dy. Commissioner Jammu, Administrator, Jammu Municipality and vice Chairman and PHE officials took a round of adjacent areas of Jamia Masjid including Talab Khatikan, Dalpathian, Shaheedi Chowk and Rajinder Bazar. He directed the concerned officers to ensure cleaning of lanes and by lanes and adequate water supply on the auspicious occasion of Shab-i-Qadr, Jamiat-ul-Vida and Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Minister also directed the R&B officials to formulate the project of widening of Jamia Masjid to Rajinder Bazar road at the earliest. He said the execution of work should be started within a month as desired by Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

Altaf orders deduction of one day salary from absentee
doctors and para medical staff

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 12: The Minister for Health and Medical Education Mian Altaf Ahmed today paid a surprise visit to the offices of Chief Medical Officer, ISM and Ayurvedic Hospital Jammu and found some doctors and para medical staff absent from duty. The Medical Superintendent Ayurvedic Hospital Jammu was also found absent from duty.

The Minister accompanied by Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Mr. H. L. Kadalbuju and Director Health Services, Jammu ordered deduction of one day salary from each of the absentees, besides calling an explanation about their absence. The absentees include four doctors and eleven para medical staff.

The Minister took serious note and gave on spot directions for ensuring punctuality and attending to the medicare need of both indoor and outdoor patients.

During his visit to the Psychiatric Hospital Jammu, the Minister was informed that 80-90 patients are treated in the outdoor on daily basis. He was told that during the current year nearly 27000 old and new patients were provided treatment in the OPD while 868 patients were admitted for treatment. He expressed satisfaction over the working of the Psychiatric Hospital.

Mian Altaf also inspected the pace of progress on the upcoming Eye Hospital in Jammu. He was told that Rs. 1.25 crore has been expended on it so far. He ordered early completion of the project so as to make it functional within next two months. He directed the concerned agency to get the pace of work expedited by JKPCC and if additional funds are required for its early completion that could be arranged by the Government.

Pharmacists holds dharna in support of demands

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 12: One day dharna of Jammu and Kashmir Government Pharmacist Association under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation was held in the premises of office of Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Udhampur in support of their long pending demands.

The dharna was held under the chairmanship of Mr J D Sharma, district president of Pharmacist Association. A large number of pharmacists and other medical employees drawn from various blocks like Chenani, Tikri, Majalta, Ramnagar, Reasi, Katra and Pouni took part in the dharna.

Addressing the dharna, provincial president of J&K Medical Employees Association Mr K S Chouhan criticised the concerned authorities for their failure in implementing agreements despite repeated memorandums and appeals.

The agreement includes implementation of written agreement reached between the Government and the representatives of the Federation on March 24, 1998 on the demands of pharmacists which included removal of anomaly in pay scale of Pharmacist under SRO 75 of 1992, RMP during service, creation of higher grade posts, rank promotion, full implementation of Government order No HME-48 of 1992, amendment in SRO 20 lying pending with Administrative Department since last nine years despite completion of all formalities by the Department, filling up of all vacant posts of different categories of Health employees, DPC of all categories of the employees, risk allowance and compensation of 12 hours night duty to employees.

The dharna was also addressed by Messrs Sansar Chand, R K Kotwal, Vijay Kumar, Bal Krishan, Khem Raj, Sham Lal, Sudershan Singh, K C Manhas, Varinder Singh, Ashok Singh, Om Parkash, Meena Devi, Naseem Akhter, Swarn Kanta and Puran Chand.

Workshop on handicrafts held
Artisans, NGOs urged to take up the handicraft schemes

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: As a part of celebrations of All India Handicrafts Week, a workshop titled "prosperity of the artisan is the prosperity of the nation" was organised here today by the Handicrafts Marketing and Service Extension Centre, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Jammu.

The workshop was inaugurated by expert handicraft artisan in Calico Printing and Sarpanch Block Pathinihal Jammu Thakur Dass. The workshop was attended by about 50 artisans, representatives of various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), societies, corporations, NABARD, DRDA, Women Development Corporation, Jammu Urban Development Agency (JUDA) besides Joint Director, Handicrafts, J&K Government and Manager District Industries Centre, Jammu.

The speakers highlighted various schemes launched by the Centre and State Governments for the welfare of the artisans to increase production and employment and to preserve cultural heritage of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director (Handicrafts), Handicrafts Marketing and Service Extension Centre, Jammu Mr V K Aima urged the artisans to come forward and avail the benefits of various schemes launched by the Government for the welfare of artisans and crafts-persons. He stressed upon the NGOs to take up the schemes under recently launched Baba Ambedkar Sahib Hastshilp Vikas Yojana.

He said that Indian craft represents the great cultural heritage and it occupies a prominent position in the economy of country. He further said that crafts provide employment to lakhs of people directly and indirectly in the country.

Earlier, artisans displayed their different crafts at the workshop. These included metal works, calico hand printing, embroidery crochet, decopauz impaste and soft toys.

The Office of the Development Commissioner (H) has been implementing various schemes which included skill upgradation, design and product development, market support, community empowerment-Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Youjana, common facility service centre, health package and group insurance, workshed-cum-housing, National Award for Master Crafts persons and Pension to Crafts-persons.

Culture Corner
Janpith Awardee with Kashmir connections

By O P Sharma

Recipient of highest literary honour, Janpith Award, Indira Goswami has deep understanding of human nature and a unique style of expression. She is the first woman writer to bag this coveted highest award for her rare literary contribution.

Mamoni Roysom Goswami, popularly known in the literary world as Indira Goswami, is today the greatest woman-writer in Assamese. This information is given in the " Masterpiece of Indian Literature" published by the National Book Trust.

While the entire nation is proud of her, Indira Goswami has special connection and association with Jammu and Kashmir. She was married at an early age, but before she could really find her sweet little-world, Mamoni found herself standing alone. Her husband was killed in an accident during 1967 in the Kashmir valley.

Sudden Turn

The shock was sudden and grave indeed. For quite sometime, she had sense of shock and wilderness. As destiny would have it, she came out of cocoon of her grief after her vital decision to fight her odds out. It was a turning point in her life. She drew inspiration from great writers like Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya. She pursued her studies at Guwahati.

With strong will she completed her research at Vrindavan on a scholarship completing her doctorate on " Comparative Study of Goswami Das’s Ramcharit Manas and Madava Kandali Assamese Ramayana from Guwahati University in 1973.

High Merit

Her love for Ramayana continued even thereafter and she produced voluminous work " Ramayana from Ganga to Brahmaputra" in the year 1996 and later was awarded the International Tulsi award.

Travelled widely, Indira Goswami has written over two dozen novels, numerous short stories and her autobiography as well. Many of these have been translated into several Indian and foreign languages. Some of them canned and also turned into TV serials.

Her inimitable style and themes around women have made her the most extraordinary literary figure of the Indian literature in the recent years. The characters in her novels and plays are real life-like and embedded deep in the social conditions. This distinguished author has come into contact with different categories of people and she has faithfully portrayed them in literature.

Unfinished Agenda

In her autobiography, Indira Goswami has sketched her life and philosophy. There is deep impact of the Kashmir on her mind and emotions. Artistic control she has on her creations, is best examplified in this " An Unfinished Autobiography". It gives vivid picture of gradual growth of her literary stature, not only in the Assamese but the entire Indian literature.

A prolific writer, Indira Goswami says: " Writing is in my blood, in my veins. If I stop I will die of suffocation. Without my pen I will die... With my writings I am free as a bird, to fly anywhere, to be anyone, to understand anything". Her emotions, her pain, her memories, her realities, her loneliness flow like the mighty Brahmputra- never without its mighty currents of life-line.

Indian regional languages are making steady progress and producing rich literature. The Dogri and Kashmiri, undoubtedly, have growth over the years but these still need greater advancement. Secondly, the works of merit of one language should be translated in other regional languages for higher readership. Thirdly, there has to be more inter-action between the writers and poets of various regional languages so that their harmonious development is ensured and real Indian literature is produced.

"Himsagar Yatra" for Uri children from December 18

Excelsior Correspondent

URI, Dec 12: These days instead of a gloomy weather prevailing in Uri, children in schools of Kamalkot, Basigiran, Bandi, Chappar, Madian, Dulanja, Dachhi and Shahdara villages under Uri tehsil are quite excited.

The reason behind an excursion named "Himsagar Yatra" is being organised by 15 Maratha LI under the aegis of Dagger Division from December 18 to January 4. The entire trip is being financed by the Army.

Around 25 children have been selected from these villages of age group between 9 to 14 years. There are 12 girls in this group. They will commence their journey on December 18 from Uri and visit New Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.

During their visit they will get an opportunity to visit historical sites, meeting senior Ministers, defence officers and film stars. The children are quite excited as this will be the first time they will be crossing the Banihal and visit places which they have been only hearing off.

As future of Kashmir, it will provide them an opportunity to look beyond the frontiers of militancy and appreciate for themselves the dividends likely to accrue if peace and transquility prevails in the area.

‘NC committed to development of state’
Hussain lays foundation stone of 2 roads in Darhal

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 12: Minister of State for Revenue Choudhary Mohammed Hussain has said that National Conference Government led by Dr Farooq Abdullah is committed to over all development of the J&K state.

Addressing a largely attended public meeting at Kotdhara in district Rajouri today, the minister said despite financial restraints, the NC government has taken up several development activities in various areas. He claimed that several roads, schools buildings, health centres, bridges and religious places damaged during 12 years of militancy in the state have been re-constructed and work on several other projects is going on.

The Minister, who represents Darhal constituency, a traditional strong-hold of National Conference for not less than last 25 years, also laid foundation stone for Kotdhara-Panihad and Kotdhara—Peeri road in two separate functions organised by the residents of these areas. Several prominent NC leaders, Sarpanches, Panches and other senior Government functionaries from tehsil and district Administration were present on the occasion.

Mr Hussain strongly criticised several opposition party-leaders for launching a propaganda against NC Government over Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) and Disturbed Areas’ Act. Supporting the stand taken by Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and the National Conference Ch Hussain said the Party always take the stand which is for the betterment of the people of the state. The NC Govt will certainly adopt the path which is in the larger interests of every peace loving citizen.

While appreciating the security forces for carrying massive operations against Pakistan sponsored militants in the area, Mr Hussain stressed upon the security forces to use maximum restraint while launching such operations so that innocents may not suffer. He favoured more confidence buildings measures among the local population by the security forces involved in the anti-insurgency operations.

The minister, disclosed that Kotdhara-Panihad road being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crores is expected to be completed within one year. Similarly, Kotdhara-Peeri road will also be completed within the same period and initially Rs 8 lakhs will be spent on the project.

During his extensive visit to the district, the minister also convened a review meeting at Rajouri in which the Deputy Commissioner and other senior officers participated. It was revealed in the meeting that in addition to the normal plan, an amount of Rs 10 crores will be spent on the different development works.

Ch. Hussain also released Rs 12 lakhs for the construction of a High School Kotranka, Rs 8 lakhs for Sub- District hospital Kotranka and Rs 2.09 crores for other works in Darhal constituency.

Div Comm reviews progress

Excelsior Correspondent

Kathua, Dec.12: Under the special package programme for drought affected areas, six tube wells are being redeveloped in Kathua district. Of them two tube wells, one each at Jatwal and Chak Sheikhan have been redeveloped.

This information was given to the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. Anil Goswami during his visit to Hiranagar, Billawar and Kathua areas today to asses the progress of work under the special package programme.

At Jatwal in Hiranagar block, the Divisional Commissioner was informed that the tube well has been dug at a cost of Rs.1.75 lakhs. Work on its development will be started soon. The tube well will provide 70,000 gallons of drinking water daily. This will augment the drinking water supply in this water scarcity area.

At Magloor in Billawar constituency, Mr. Goswami inaugurated the drilling of a handpump in the Middle School compound. The drilling is likely to cost nearly Rs.1.20 lakhs. With the commissioning of this handpump, the children of the Government Higher Secondary School and the middle school will be benefitted besides the locals of the surrounding area, particularly during summer.

Here, the Divisional Commissioner also interacted with the Panchayat members and the locals. The Sarpanch of the area putforth various demands. The Divisional Commissioner lent a patient ear and said that these will be looked into by the District Development Commissioner. He advised the locals and the District Development Commissioner. He advised the locals and the teachers of the higher secondary school that they should ensure that the plants grown in the school compound are well nurtured.

At Nihalpora Kathua, Mr. Goswami inspected the functioning of four handpumps installed at a cost of nearly Rs.4.50 lakhs. The locals expressed their satisfaction over the functioning of these handpumps.

He also visited Kanyara and reviewed the progress on the tubewell. Drilling of the tubewell has been completed and its development will be taken up within two months. Till November end Rs.8 lakhs have been spent on it. This tubewell on commissioning will benefit 1879 souls of the adjacent areas. At Chak Sheikhan, redeveloping of the tubewell is likely to be completed by March end.

Mr.Goswami was informed that 93 handpumps have so far been installed in Kathua district till November end. Of them, 30 handpumps were commissioned under the spcial package for drought affected areas. Another 59 handpumps were installed under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme while four were installed under MPLAD. Till ending November, nearly Rs. one crore we4re spent on these works.

The Divisional Commissioner exhorted the officers that they should make efforts to speedily complete the schemes of providing potable drinking water to the people aspecially living in kandi and hilly area.

The District Development Commissioner, Mr. B.D.Sharma, Additional Dy.Commissioner, Mr. U.C.Dingra, Chief Engineer, PHE, Mr. J.R.Gupta, S.E. PHE, Mr. Vinod Goswami, Executive Engineers, PHE and Mechanical, Kathua and Ground Water Drilling Division, Jammu and other engineers and officers accompanied the Divisional Commissioner during the tour.

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