Dr Jaipal Singh honoured for contribution
in Holistic Health

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: Dr Jaipal Singh, Consultant in the Department of Medicine, Government Medical College Jammu will be honoured with an award for his outstanding contribution in the field of Integrated Holistic Health by the World Congress being held at Bombay in January, 2002.

In may be recalled that Integrated Holistic Approach also known as Mini-Body Medicine in the West, is based on latest scientific research in the field of medicine, age old wisdom and psychodynamics of human behaviour and consciousness and aims at treating the whole person rather than the disease alone and has rapidly gained world wide acclaim as perhaps the best way of treating most of the chronic ailments prevalent today.

Dr Jaipal Singh who has participated in numerous International and National Conferences and organised a number of workshops in India and abroad has been a pioneer in propagating and practicing Integrated Medicine in Jammu. Dr Singh who is also a Reiki Grandmaster and Pranic Healer apart from being a specialist in stress management and Integrated Medicine says that the scourage of humanity today is in stress and strain of the so called modern life style.

According to him, this is the main reason why despite scientific and medical advances, diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart disease, various cancers, depression, anxiety disorders etc are on the rise and hence only a holistic approach towards overall health is the answer.

Dr Singh who also operates such a center of Holistic health—COSMIC hopes that one day all the premier institutes in India would include this methodology and knowledge, not only as a speciality but also incorporate it in the curriculum for undergraduates as well as postgraduates.

In fact major institutes in the West have already started separate departments of Integrated Medicine. In India too a number of institutes like AIIMS, Apollo Hospitals and a few others have opened such specialities with extremely encouraging results.

Shangrilla Public school celebrates Christmas

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: Students and staff of the Shangrilla Public High School celebrated Christmas, here today.

Father Rev C M Khanna, priest of St Paul Church, Residency Road, who was the chief guest, threw light on significance of this day and also life and message of Lord Christ. Mr O P Sharma, Special Correspondent, DAILY EXCELSOR and Mr Anil Padha were the guests of honour.

Father Rev Khanna on the occasson spoke about the divine message of peace, compassion and brotherhood as preached and practised by the son of God who made supreme sacrifice for the good of humanity. Tolerance, understanding and respect between various religions is essential for peace and harmony in the world, Rev C M Khanna said.

The students had prepared paintings on Christmas and tastefully decorated the school for the celebrations. Santa Cruz distributed sweets and gifts among the students on the occasion.

Ms Swetha Khajuria, Principal, Shangrilla Public High school stated that the school has been celebrating the important festivals of all religions in the school every year. The idea is to acquaint the students about various religions in our secular polity.

Mr O P Sharma and Mr Anil Padha also spoke on the occasion underlined the rich Indian tradition of respect for all religions and celebrations of festivals jointly by all sections of the people.

The students presented a prayer song and also recited poems on the importance of Christmas. They also exchanged greetings.

After the Santa Claus, Principal and Hon’ble guests distributed gift and sweets among the students. A vote of thanks was later presented by the Principal.

Secy Cultural Academy releases Ek Zindagi Nirvasit

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: Mr Balwant Thakur, Secretary, Academy of Art, Culture and Languages released a book : " Ek Zindagi Nirvasit", a novel authored by Mrs Santosh Kaul, at a function held here this evening.

The Secretary underlined the importance of writers and poets in sensitising the society about the social issues and problems for seeking their solution for overall development.

He announced that a separate hall shall be got constructed for conducting literary functions like book release or writers’ meets free of charges. This hall with various amenities will be completed within a year, he said.

It is also has proposed that books will be purchased in bulk by the Academy to encourage bwider readership and the writers. Mrs Santosh Kaul, while talking to EXCELSIOR on the sidelines of the function, she was feeling happy and humble on release of her maiden novel. She said I plan to go on writing.

Mrs Kaul stated that she has portrayed in the book the prevailing socio-economic conditions of the Kashmiri migrants.

Dr R L Shant presided over the function. The function was attended by large number of literary luminaries, academicians and prominent citizens

Kwik Fit awarded certificate of achievement by MUL

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 24: M/s Kwik Fit, Maruti authorised service station, Ambphalla has been awarded a Certificate of Achievement by Maruti Udyog Limited for the third consecutive year.

This hat trick comes as a mark of recognition of Kwik Fit as a service station par excellence at Jammu. The Certificate of Achievement was awarded to Kwik Fit amongst 123 Maruti authorised service stations, out of 1454 all over the country.

This award comes as a timely recognition of the exceptional leadership and humane management of the Managing Director of Kwik Fit Mr Rajinder Jamwal. M/s Kwik Fit Service Station has been providing excellent services in total car care of Maruti automobiles at Ambphalla.

The award is also a recognition of the highest consumption of MGP Spare Parts by M/s Kwik Fit Service Station. The Service Station offers fully computerised establishment and services of skilled mechanics and engineers trained by Maruti Udyog Limited, Gurgaon.

The award was received by Mr Vijay Jamwal, General Manager, Service of M/s Kwik Fit Service Station at Hotel Interconitental New Delhi from the Managing Director of Maruti Udyog Limited Mr Jagdish Khattar in presence of Directors from Suzuki Motors Japan.

The management of Kwik Fit Service Station said that this achievement is infact a tribute to the hard work, skill, efficiency and dedication of its workers and staff who have toiled to make the venture a great success. The management of Kwik Fit also expressed gratitude and thanks to various customers and clients for their continued support, patronage and loyality which has been a source of great inspiration and strength for them and has won them laurels year after year.

Exhibition of sub-tropical fruits at Raya
Agri, Horticulture on priority in J&K in next 5-year
Plan: Ramzan

Excelsior Correspondent

RAYA SUCHANI, Dec 24: Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives Choudhary Mohammed Ramzan has has said that Agriculture and Horticulture will be on top priority in J&K state, in the next Tenth Five-Year Plan which is commencing from April next year.

Addressing Scientists, senior and junior officials of Departments of Horticulture and Agriculture, farmers and other people from Rural belt of Vijaypur in Samba Sub Division at Raya village after inaugurating Exhibition of sub-tropical fruits (Bagwani Mela) today the minister said that the economy of a state depends on its agricultural produce. Punjab state farmers with the dint of their hard work have reached a destination where they have not only become self sufficient but also sending food grains to other states.

The state was once dependent on the other states but with the use of modern seeds, fertilisers, modern implements and technology, the food-grain produce has reached very high and this state has come in the list of five top food-grain rich states of the country. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre and even the State Government has resolved to keep Agriculture/ Horticulture sector on priority in next Five-Year Plan.

Appreciating the work of Scientists of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology at Regional Research Sub Station for Sub-Tropical fruits at Kandi belt of Raya in district Jammu, the minister said the exhibitions and ‘Farmer Melas’ will be considered as real success if the farmers are educated about various diseases in fruit plants and imparted knowledge about the sub-tropical fruits and the new techniques to get more produce from trees.

The minister further emphasised the need to have interactive session of the Scientists and Horticulture experts with the farmers and other locals of the area. In the afternoon, a lively interactive (Question-answer) session regarding various problems being faced by the farmers, was held.

Referring to development of Shivaliks in Jammu region, the minister said the Government had formulated an ambitious Rs 100 cr project for Japanese agency funding, however, the plan could not be implemented in view of the sanctions imposed by the donor countries in the wake of nuclear tests performed by India.

He further claimed that State was actively pursuing with the Centre a special package for the development of Horticulture in the State on the pattern of special package to North- Eastern states. Mr Ramzan said the State has tremendous potential in Horticulture sector and J&K is earning over Rs 1000 crores annually from this sector alone. He laid emphasis on taking up such plantations in Kandi areas which are suited climate.

Minister for Power Mr Surjit Singh Slathia, who was guest of honour at the function, stressed for updating the knowledge and adopting latest techniques for the benefit of the farming community. He stressed the need for taking up Horticulture activity in Kandi areas on a large scale that would boost the economy of the people of the area.

Mr Slathia said work on Raya Lift Irrigation Scheme is being taken up shortly and laid stress for digging of tube wells for boosting the Agriculture production in Kandi areas. He also appealed the people of the area to support the ruling party and maintained that the NC would ensure the over-all development of the state. Maj Gen G S Jamwal (Retd) who is also MLC and hails from the same area also spoke on the occasion raised several problems of the local people and suggested ways for the development, water conservation and environment protection.

Other who spoke on the occasion included—Vice Chancellor of SKUAST, Dr M P Gupta Director Extension, B L Bhat Director and Dy Director B L Bamzai. The VC gave account of the university Research teaching and extension activities.

In the afternoon session, Principal Secretary Agriculture Production Department Mohd Shafi Pandit presided over. He presented his valedictory address and distributed prizes among 50 farmers for better produce and the contest held at the exhibition.

Earlier, immediately after inauguration, both the ministers inspected various stalls of fruits/ vegetables displayed by atleast 20 societies at the exhibition.

Consumer Column
No check on Mushrooming nursing homes

AVTAR BHAT

It is a common notion among the people that nursing homes provide better medicare facilites to the paateints than the Government hospitals. With this intension those who can afford to bear the charges generally take the patients to the nursing homes for treatment. But this notion proves totally wrong when they confront with realities after seeking admission in the nursing homes whose number over the years has mushroomed in the state.

Let us take up the case of the nursing homes which have come around the Jammu City or in other towns of the region. They charge exhorbitant rates for the admission and treatment of the patients especially in surgery cases. These include the charges of operation, room and services. However, except a few the condition of many nursing homes is not better than the Government hospitals where the same treatment is provided comparatively at a very low cost.

Even the rules and regulations framed from time to time by the Government are not being followed by the management of these nursing homes which have been converted into the money minting machines by the them.

But every nursing home in the region does not fall in this category. There are some which have made the patient service their main moto by obeying all the rules and regulations framed by Government from time to time. They take utmost care for the safety of the patients.

The problem has become complicated due to the authorities’ negligence.

The authorities supposed to maintain a check on the nursing homes are sleeping over the issue. Had it not been so their management would have not dared to maintain monopoly.

To point out there are so many drawbacks with the working of these nursing home in Jammu region. The first thing is that the charges are not uniform and the rates differ from one nursing home to another even when their is no difference in the facilities available.

For example some nursing homes charges Rs 2000 for anesthesia while others charge RS 1500. There is no check from the Government side on the same. When the patients or their attendants make query they are told that the rates have been approved by the Director Health Services.

It has been observed that some nursing homes are not hygienically good. They have small rooms with no proper ventilation facilities. But when you will enquire of the charges they are too exhorbitant even more than an air conditioned room of a five star hotel.

Besides with some nursing homes the medical shops are also existing which charge from 10 to 12 percent local taxes on the MRP. A patient who was recently admitted in a nursing home in the City was charged Rs 216 for the medicine on which the MRP was Rs 194. And the protest made by him for over charging yielded no results. The poor patient was left with no alternative except to pay the bill.

And at the time of discharge instead of printed bills, the patients are given the bills on ordinary papers when under rules the management is supposed to give a printed voucher to the patient. This is being done for tax evasion on which unfortunately their is no check.

Moreover, the norms fixed by the Government are not properly maintained by the majority of nursing homes and like Government hospitals no body bothers to clean the bathrooms which are stinking and shabby. No doubt these nursing homes may have employed the sweepers but they hardly take interest in cleaning the bathrooms.

A patient charged over Rs 500 for a room can not get the facilities of a separate bathroom in some nursing homes. But he has to share the same with the another patient in the adjacent room.

The management and staff in some nursing homes is so callous towards the patients that they will never oblige with a more blanket though he may shiver in the biting cold of winter during the night.

Some nursing homes even play with the lives of patients. The doctors employed there are so obsessed with earning money that they totally forget that they are the part of a noble profession.

Some times they discharge the patients without taking proper care. Many patients who were discharged in past from some of the nursing homes after conducting operations developed major complicacies and had to under go lot of trouble.

Christmas celebrations in Udhampur
Shah asks Pak to learn lesson from Afghanistan,
lay off hands from Kashmir

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 24: Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah today warned Pakistan to learn from its misadventures in Afghanistan and lay off hands from Kashmir as the secular, democratic and sagacious people of the State have tied their destiny with great Indian nation by rejecting 2-nation theory.

Addressing a public meeting at Chopra Shop Udhampur this afternoon, the Minister said Pakistan has suffered humiliating defeats from India in the past and is destined to meet the same fate in the proxy war unleashed since past over 12 years. Any misadventure will entail the neighboring country a lesson that they will never forget, he warned.

The Minister also decried the demand for trifurcation of the State on the basis of religions. This will be playing in the hands of Pakistan and against the national interest, he added.

Enumerating the achievements of the present Government, he said the overall development witnessed during the past five years is reflective of sincere efforts initiated to better the lot of militancy-suffered masses. The main plank of the Government has been to reconstruct the damaged infrastructure and steer the state to new heights of progress and development.

He also took to task those leveling biased charges of non-performance against the State Government and said that people could not be misled by their false propaganda as they know for themselves about the achievements even in the wake of very hostile conditions created by the enemy from across the border. Despite financial constraints, the prosperity of people has been the main agenda of the government that has been accomplished. Though the government does not claim that everything has been achieved but whatever achieved should not be undermined, he said.

Deputy Chairman, Legislative Council Mr Chuni Lal Khajuria and Mr S M Gill also spoke in the public meeting. They appealed the people to maintain unity and amity, that they described as the biggest weapon to foil enemy’s designs.

Later, the Minister, while addressing a congregation at the Union Church here this evening, deplored Pakistan’s machinations in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the peace-loving people of the state have been subjected to reign of terror and atrocities in the name of religion. The assembly was held on the eve of Christmas celebrations.

‘They are doing immense dis-service to the great religion of Islam that preaches brotherhood, peace, compassion and love’,the Minister said, adding that all religions stand for fostering the bonds of amity and brotherhood and if these tenets are followed strictly, there will be no chaos or tension in the society. In fact, adhering to the religious teachings would bring harmony in the society and help in bringing people of various faiths closer, he added.

Referring to the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, the Minister said that these are all the more important in present times when the humanity is faced with greatest danger of violence and terrorism. How sad it is that the vested interests are engaged in class war and so called crusade against fellow beings, unfortunately in the name of religion. This is negation of the essence of the religions, Mr Shah said.

Lord Christ strived for human dignity and classless society, the Minister said, adding that the essence of his philosophy was based on social justice, harmony and peace. This spirit has to be inculcated in the younger generations, which have to shoulder the responsibilities of the future.

He extended his warm Christmas greetings to the people and hoped that the festival would be celebrated in true spirits of the state’s composite culture. He prayed for peace and tranquility in the state.

Deputy Chairman, Legislative Council, Mr Chuni Lal Khajuria and Mr S M Gill, MLC were also present on the occasion. Mr Gill threw light on the life and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ and said that the great Lord steered the people from darkness to light.

Rev. Father Santosh Joseph also spoke on the occasion.

Youngsters from various parts of the country presented Christmas carols. A large number of people were present on the occasion.

Rs 82 lakh WSS inaugurated
Self-employment schemes to be prioritized: Sagar

Excelsior Correspondent

BUDGAM, Dec 24: The Government is prioritising self employment schemes in the State to tackle the unemployment problem, particularly with regard to the educated youth. The schemes would be widely publicised to attract maximum number of unemployed youth establish income generating units.

This was stated by the Minister for Works, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar while presiding over a joint meeting of legislators, officers and citizens here today.

The Minister said the Government is not in a position to provide jobs to all the unemployed youth whose number is swelling every passing day. To create alternate job avenues for the unemployed youth, he said, the Government have launched attractive self employment schemes offering soft loans for setting up of small scale units. Mr. Sagar called upon the concerned authorities to give wide publicity to these schemes so that more and more educated youth avail the benefits of the programme.

The Minister said despite financial constraints the present Government have, during the past five years, provided jobs to more than one lakh youth in various departments including police, education, social welfare and health. He said with thousands of educated youth passing out of the educational institutions in the State every year, the Government was not in a position to provide jobs to all of them. Mr. Sagar said the Government have instructed all the banks to speed up the disposal of self employment cases speedily so that the prospective beneficiaries do not face any problems in availing loans.

The Minister said that the purpose of holding such mid-term meetings in each district is to review the progress of developmental works at the grass-root level and assess the public problems at their doorstep. To further strengthen the road communication network in the State, Mr. Sagar asked the engineering departments to send as many projects for NABARD funding as are viable. He said the NABARD authorities have, during their recent meeting with the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah agreed to sanction all the projects from the State. He said such projects would also be taken up in the Irrigation and Flood Control sectors to ensure assured irrigation facility to the fa rmers.

The Minister, on this occasion, announced setting up of a Special Sub Division of PHE Department at Beerwa besides installation of a filtration plant at the Water Supply Scheme Beerwa. He asked the R&B Department to complete the DIET building at Beerwa immediately.

The Deputy Development Commissioner Budgam, Mr. Baseer Ahmad Khan, earlier enumerated the achievements recorded in various sectors in the district during the current financial year. He said the district plan was originally approved for Rs 45.27 crore. However, an additionality of Rs 5 crore was provided by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah during the board meeting out of which Rs 2 crore were earmarked for construction of district hospital building. The plan outlay constitutes NABARD assistance of Rs 4.73 crore under R&B sector, Rs 90 lakh under PHE sector and Rs 95 lakh under irrigation and flood control sector.

Mr. Khan said in the R&B sector 105 schemes are under progress at an estimated cost of Rs 57.84 crore, out of which Rs 14.83 crore were spent upto March 2001. During the current financial year Rs 1.48 crore have been earmarked for these schemes. Under PHE sector 40 schemes are in progress at an estimated cost of Rs 30.93 crore. The cumulative expenditure on these schemes ending March 2001 is Rs 16.33 crore. For the current financial year Rs 2.93 crore have been earmarked for these schemes.

Mr. Khan said 572 teachers have been appointed in the district under Rehbar-e-Taleem programme.

The meeting was attended by legislators, Mr. Abdul Gani Naseem and Ghulam Hussain Geelani and SSP Budgam besides all the district officers and citizens of area.

Later, the Minister inaugurated a water supply scheme at Gaggerpora, Narbal. Completed at a cost of Rs.82 lakh, the scheme would provide safe potable water to a population of 7500 souls in the area who were facing acute shortage of drinking water.

Addressing a public meeting on this occasion, Sagar enumerated the achievements recorded by the present government in various sectors during the past five years. He flayed the opposition for resorting to character assassination of the Chief Minister and his team of ministers to hoodwink the public. Mr. Sagar said the people are, however, the best judges and they know who has done what for them.

Symposium on Women empowerment

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec.24: A symposium on the theme of women empowerment and creating awareness among women folk and public in general about the right of women was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir State, Commission for Women in collaboration with Vriaj Kala Kendera at MAM College here today.

The Chairperson, J&K State Commission for Women, Dr.Girija Dhar was the chief guest while as Principal of the College, Dr.R.R.Sharma presided over the function.

About a dozen speakers took part in the symposium and expressed their views on the rights of women. Prof. Rita Jatinder, President of the Organisation in her welcome address elaborated the theme of seminar.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr.Girija Dhar said that there is a need of creating awareness among the women folk in rural and far-flung areas about the rights of women and their amelioration. She said that women have equal rights and have every right to achieve success in every sphere of life. She said that although the general discrimination is on its last leg but there are still a number of reports regarding bride burning, dowry system and girl child discrimination.

The Principal, Prof. R.R.Sharma, Additional Secretary of the Commission, Farhad Qureshi, General Secretary of the organisation, Miss Raj Bharti also spoke on the occasion and expressed their views.

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