Plea to set up separate cell for monitor functioning of Pvt schools

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 29: Lack of control on the mushrooming growth of private schools similar to ‘open shops’ and in the absence of any proper monitoring body for these institutions is a matter of more concern today.

It was observed by a group of educationists and heads of various reputed private institutions of the region at a press conference here today. They raised certain very relevant points and drawbacks in the system regretting the non-existence of any clear cut educational policy in the Jammu and Kashmir State.

Prof J L Kotwal pointed out that Government is not giving fair deal to private institutions which are facing innumerable problems concerning recognition, grant-in-aid, confirmation of results, examinations, CP Fund scheme, affiliation with School Board etc.

He said that according to provisions of grant-in-aid rules of 1975 of the State Govt, a recognised school which has been running for ten years or more satisfactorily be granted permanent recognition where as the schools running for five years of more be granted recognition for ten years till this too completes ten years of its existence. And the schools running for less than five years be recognised for a periodical period of 2, 3 and 5 years till they enter the next category and granted permanent recognition.

Once recognition is granted there should be no need of revision unless institution ceases to function properly. The procedure of approval of managing committees and acquiring certificate of political non-involvement from District Magistrate about each member after going through the police routine of Thanas and police posts is uncalled for. The provisions of the rule under SRO 259 are bereft of reality and are far from actual practice.

He further pointed out that rules Governing grant-in-aid need a concerted review and the institutions fulfilling the conditions required must be granted the aid in an easy and efficient manner.

The system of conducting 8th, 9th and 11th exams introduced recently be abolished and the old system be restored. The procedure adopted by Board of School Education in accordance with recognition requires transparency and the schools established for more than ten years be granted permanent affiliation. The multi-set system of question papers be scrapped as it is creating chaos and confusion and also affecting the students as a whole. There is no coherence in syllabi which need a proper bridge at various stages. It requires clear cut transparency. Revaluation in 10th class should be allowed to save the students from anarchy and frustration created by examiners as is being done in the case of 12th class. There should be proper fee structure in schools and examination fees and a proper system should be evolved. A separate cell be constituted by the Education department to deal with the private institutions and to look into their problems.

Former Vice- Chancellor Prof M R Puri and Th Gulchain Singh Charack senior Congress leader and chairman of Dogra Accademy and Dogra Law College also raised some very relevant points.

Kawa Institute promises to provide better education

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 29: Kawa Institute, an affiliated Institute of Makhan Lal Chaturvedi National University, Bhopal, working in the field of computer and information technology since 1996.

Mr M S Katoch, CEO of the organisation told that Kawa institute is the oldest institution working in the field of computer education in the State of Jammu and Kashmir especially for University degree and diploma courses, since inception the institute has trained several hundred students and several hundreds are getting training for various courses at different places. Majority of the pass outs of Kawa are placed in different organisations and some are absorbed in Government departments whereas some are working in private sector.

In brief, the existence of Kawa institute has played a vital role in obtaining jobs and to reduce unemployment problems to some extent. But Mr M S Katoch says that some students don’t plan their career properly then join the courses without knowing the future prospectus due to which the uncertainty developed among them.

Further, Mr Katoch stated that Kawa is a well-equipped institution comprising of of 50 computers, over-head projectors and well-equipped library etc.

The faculty of Kawa is also well qualified, experienced and dedicated. He further added that the Kawa institute has also started a career counseling cell so as to felicitate the students of the State to choose and decided for better career. The counseling cell will be operational from July 1 on all working days.

One Vaishnodevi pilgrim killed, 4 injured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 29: One Vaishnodevi pilgrim was killed and four other were injured, two of them seriously when a Maruti car in which they were travelling skidded off the road and rolled down at Nomian near Katra.

According to police, the ill-fated vehicle bearing number PB10AR-3161 was on its way from Katra to Jammu when rolled down into 20 feet deep gorge.

Getting the report of accident, a police party from Katra Police Station led by Station House Officer (SHO) Katra Vijay Khajuria rushed to the spot and started rescue operation.

All the injured were rushed to Katra hospital where doctors pronounced one of them as brought dead. The injured were later referred to Government Medical College Hospital Jammu in view of their deteriorating condition.

The deceased has been identified as Nirmal Singh, son of Gurdev Singh of Ludhiana. The injured are Arun Kumar, son of Shakti Kumar of Haryana, Sumit Sharma, son of Ashok Sharma of Saharanpur, Kamal Singh of Ludhiana and Parmodh, son of Jag Mohan of Ludhiana.

The condition of two of the injured was critical till reports last came in.

High level official meet on Amarnath pilgrims today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 29: A decision regarding the opening of the current registration counters for the Amarnath pilgrims will be taken in a high level meeting here tomorrow morning which will be chaired by the Acting Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Mohi-u-Din Shah.

A ccording to official sources, besides the police and civil officers, the representatives of various Hindu organizations and NGOs have also been invited in the meeting.

The sources said there was mounting pressure on the Government to open the current registration centres for the Amarnath pilgrims at Jammu as the number of unregistered yatris for the darshan of Holy Cave will increase after the month long yatra begins on July 2.

It may be recalled that the advance registration counters for pilgrims coming from Punjab, Himachal and UT of Chandigarh besides Jammu province which started here on June 10 was closed on June 25 without extending it further. The pleas made by some Hindu organisations like Vishwa Hindu Parished, Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas, Bajrang Dal, Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Rajput Sabha and Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra were turned down by the Government in this regard.

Meanwhile, the VHP and other like-minded organisations have decided to hold a dharna in front of TRC tomorrow to register their protest against the non opening of current registration counters at Jammu.

VHP president and chief of the Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas, Dr Rama Kant Dubey said that the future course of action will however be decided after the meeting with acting Chief Minister tomorrow.

Centre approves scheme for Computer Information Centres at block level for J&K: Omar

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 29: The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries, Mr Omar Abdullah today announced that the Union Government has approved a special scheme for Computer Information Centre for Jammu and Kashmir State.

He was speaking at the Diploma distribution ceremony organised by National Council for promotion of urdu language( NCPUL).

The Minister said that the scheme will be implemented within a year’s time. These centres would be equipped with about five to six computers each having facilities of internet and E-Mail, he said adding that the centres would facilitate dissemination of information regarding developmental activities at block level. This would infuse a new life in the administration and introduce the concept of e-governance at block level. He said that through these centres, need based development of particular area will become possible as through these centres, the government will get appropriate feed-back.

Mr Omar said that for running these centres, the State needs IT professionals in abundance. He stressed the need of establishing multi-lingual computer centres to introduce IT technology in far-flung areas. NCPUL sets a good example in this regard by providing computer courses in urdu language, he added.

The Minister said that presently the State is severally lacking computer professionals. For the same reason the projects for computerisation of different Ministries had gone into deep freezing, he added.

He said, "though we are working amongst extremely difficult conditions yet we cannot afford to delay our march towards progress. We have to develop IT culture within our State so that J&K would be able to cope up with the rest of the world".

Mr Omar said that the State has developed Software Technology Park so that the students can go in the direction of software manufacturing and can set up their own units. The same will help in generating employment, he added.

The Minister said that with this objective in mind he has decided to give 30 to 50 lakhs out of his own parliamentary fund for the development of computer awareness centers. These centres would be utilized by the school students during school time and by the locals in afternoon by paying nominal fee. Three centres on this pattern have already been set up, he added.

Minister for Education, Mr Mohammad Shafi who was presiding over the function said that urdu combines all parts of the State together and if we want to render technological development to our rarest parts we must produce computer professionals in urdu language. NCPUL through 13 centres operating within the State are doing excellent job in this field, he added.

Mr Shafi said that in respect of computer education our state is lagging behind ten year as compared to rest of the country. To cope up with this situation we have decided to introduce computer and IT related courses in colleges and ITI’s in a phased manner. The government has also decided that from the ensuing academic session, the computer would be introduced firstly as optional and later as a compulsory subject at 10+2 level in most of the higher secondary schools in the State.

Mr Shafi said that it is disappointing that most of the computer institutes operating in the State are not working upto the mark and are merely commercial shops. Such institutes must try to prove their credibility and try to produce efficient professionals.

Mr Omar Abdullah and Mr Shafi later distributed prizes and certificates to the distinction holders. Director, NCPUL, Mr Hamidullah Bhat, Principle, SEM, Centre, Budgam also spoke on the occasion.

Sakina orders disciplinary action against tourism officials

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 29 - With a view to ensure punctuality in the offices, the Minister of State for Tourism and Floriculture, Ms Sakina Itoo today paid a surprise visit to the officers of Tourism Department, Floriculture and JKTDC. She was accompanied by Director General, Tourism, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf.

Five officials of JKTDC and Tourism Department were found absent from duty. These include two officials of J&K Tourism Department and three officials of the JKTDC. The Minister ordered disciplinary action against the delinquent officials.

Speaking to the employees during her visit Ms Itoo stressed upon them to attend duties with punctuality as their presence in the offices was imperative to serve the people and help them to overcome their problems. She said people of the State have witnessed great difficulties due to turmoil and they have high hopes with the present Government. She said it was bounded duties of the employees to rise to the occasion and come to the expectation of the people. She said it was our joint moral obligation to provide healing touches to the masses in the State.

Vakil calls for effective code for smooth conduct of parliament and Legislatures

Excelsior Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 29 - The J&K Legislative Assembly Speaker, Mr. Abdul Ahad Vakil has underlined the need to evolve an effective and result oriented code of conduct for to ensure smooth and orderly conduct of both the Houses of Parliament and State Assemblies

Addressing the Presiding Officers Conference here yesterday, the Speaker said that the menace of disorderly behaviour by legislators was against the basic ethics of parliamentary democracy and the standing rules and procedures of Parliament and Legislatures. Besides, he said, above all it sends out wrong messages to the people at large.

He said this problem has to be addressed in its totality and effective measures need to be taken to remove the social, political, economical, regional and other injustices to rebuild the confidence of the people in the parliamentary democracy. Besides, there was urgent need to respect regional aspirations, discourage political defections and stop constitutional distortions.

Mr. Vakil suggested holding of a meeting of all the Chief Ministers, leaders of all political parties including opposition leaders and presiding officers of all the states on priority, to discuss the matters so as to evolve an effective and purposeful methodology.

Mr. Vakil expressed his gratitude to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. Bala Yogi for convening the conference on "Orderly conduct of business in Parliament and Legislatures."

Govt launches special employment scheme for youth in private sector

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 29: The State Government have launched Special Package for Career Development and Private Placement of Educated youth of J&K to provide avenues for the placement of un-employed youth of the State in Private sector.

The Scheme envisages providing training to educated un-employed youth in the fields of Computers, Accountancy, Sales and Marketing, Fashion Designing, etc. and all other such courses which are in tune with the job market requirements within and outside the State.

Under the scheme, financial assistance to the tune of 50 per cent of the training fee of the course will be borne by the government and remaining 50 per cent is to be paid by the candidate directly to the Institute. The Institute will ensure hundred percent placement of the trainee by the institute on completion of the course.

The package also envisages setting up of coaching-cum-guidance schemes and necessary assistance for the purchase of books; study material, boarding and lodging expenditure would be provided by the Government. All this assumes significance in wake of the fact that representation of State’s educated youth in various All India Services and Central Government Establishments is negligible.

To make the unemployed youth aware of the fast growing technological opportunities outside the State, which will enable them to pursue meaningful careers, the Department of Employment is organising Career talks by the reputed counselors under the said scheme besides providing career counselling and vocational guidance.

Career corners too have been established at all employment exchanges, which are equipped with latest literature on job opportunities and Self-employment Schemes. Career Counselling is being made a regular feature in these employment exchanges. Besides, the government is also organising recruitment rallies from time to time in Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

An Employment Cell has also been opened at Delhi. The objective of the cell is to continuously liaison with the Private sector and other organizations so that maximum possible number of unemployed youth gets enrolled in these organizations. The Employment Cell has so far sponsored 847 candidates in 16 organizations.

The State Government has already provided employment to nearly one lakh persons in the government and public sectors and financial assistance to nearly 50,000 unemployed youth during the past four years but still there are 1.53 lakh persons un-employed as per the live register of employment exchanges.

The Special Package for Career Development launched by the State government would go a long way in solving the grave problem of under-employment and unemployment.

J&K to commercialize medicinal plants soon
CS for multi-pronged strategy for tapping new potential

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to set up a Medicinal Plants Development Board and formulate an ambitious project for conservation, promotion and commercialisation of medicinal plants which have huge export potential.

This was decided at a high level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, here today. The meeting was convened to discuss and finalise appropriate strategies for tapping potential of medicinal plants sector in the State.

The meeting has also decided to constitute a standing committee comprising experts from forests, agriculture, agricultural universities of the State and regional research laboratory to identify commercially viable medicinal plants and prepare bankable projects. The SKUAST will be consultant for the scheme.

The Forest Department has been asked to initiate action for making suitable antendments in the Kuth Act and other relevant laws to remove constraints in opening up medicinal plants sector for commercialisation as it has incredible potential to generate revenue and employment.

An incentive scheme will be formulated by the Agriculture Department to motivate farmers for cultivation of medicinal plants on commercial scale. The department will also draw up a scheme for promoting cultivation of such plants in consultation with the forest department, agricultural universities of Kashmir and Jammu and regional research laboratory.

The SKUAST will establish a comprehensive database on the medicinal plants of the State through intensive field surveys in different mountain habitats. The data will be made accessible through internet. Efforts will be intensified for conservation of bio-genetic diversity and preservation of bio-culture heritage of the State. Besides preparing a colour atlas of the medicinal plants, a detailed inventory too will be brought out. Possibilities will also be explored for setting up a national herbarium of the Himalayan medicinal plants.

The medicinal plants having high demand in the market will be identified for their holistic development besides bringing cultivar improvement and refinement of technology with target specific approach.

In addition, SKUAST will set up herbal gardens at district level as demonstration plots to create awareness among the farmers about medicinal plants cultivation practices. A scheme will also be prepared for setting up demonstration plots in the cultivable land of farmers.

The Forest Department will devise modalities for cultivation of medicinal plants in degraded forests. It will also evolve a regulatory mechanism to check cultivation of narcotic plants while promoting medicinal plants in the State.

To provide ready marketing facilities and ensure remunerative prices to the medicinal plant growers of the State, a buy-back arrangement will be worked out with the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, perfumery and food processing industries.

The meeting also deliberated upon vital aspects like introducing of modern technology, availability of trained man-power, improving harvesting and processing techniques, adoption of quality control procedures and strengthening of infrastructural facilities for effective exploitation of medicinal plants sector.

The important medicinal plants of the State having export potential include Amla, Harad, Bahera, Khair, Amaltas, Ashwaganda, Neem, Taxus, Bacata, Rheum emodi, Inula racemosa, Colchicum Luteum, Dioscorea deltoidea, etc.

The Chief Secretary said that in view of the ever-increasing importance of medicinal plants in the overall bio-diversity configuration as well as industry, multi-pronged strategies should be adopted for comprehensive promotion and management of medicinal plants of the State. He said promotion and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants should be a major thrust area for better return.

Mr. Jaitly emphasised standardization of harvesting and production technology of important medicinal plants to make these economically more viable to the growers.

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