JU organises 3-day national seminar on Hindi literature

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 9: The role and responsibilities of the writers during the 21st century were discussed at a 3-day seminar which commenced in the Auditorium of Jammu University here today.

Organised by the post-graduate Department of Hindi, University of Jammu, a number of eminent Hindi writers including Surinder Verma, Surya Prasad Dixit and others are participating in it. The Central Directorate of Hindi is collaborating in this programme.

Dr Surinder Verma, in his address, sketched the picture of literature and life during the 21st century. The old values and system are changing fast in the new era of science and technology as also Information technology, he said and added it will be reflected in the literature

Surya Prasad Dixit, a noted Hindi writer, spoke about the role and responsibilities of the writers in the new emerging values and technology.

Prof A N Sadhu, Dean, Academic Affairs, JU, said the writers portray the contemporary scenario and also provide a vision of future through their creative works. While India is emerging as a economic power in the world, he said and added alongside there is need for maintaining the moral value system to keep our head high in the world.

Dr Pushpa Taneja, Director, Central Directorate of Hindi, said sustained endeavours have to be made to have books and other source material in Hindi in the science, technology and information technology besides the literature on varied subjects. The Hindi Directorate has launched some schemes for promotion and popularising this language, she added.

Welcoming the participants, Prof Neelam Saraf, Head, Hindi Department, JU, said the 3-day programme will provide an opportunity to interact with literary luminaries from across the country who are participating in it.

Earlier, the programme commenced after lighting of traditional lamp and singing of Swarsati Vandana.

Leading writers, academicians, scholars and students are attending the programme. Dr Raj Kumar conducted the proceedings and also presented a vote of thanks.

Core Group reviews security in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 9: Army- Civil Core group meeting held at Security force headquarters reviewed security situation prevailing in district Doda in the light of sudden spurt in terrorist activities at Nagrota here today.

A defence spokesman said that Maj Gen M. Bhagat, PVSM presided over the meeting. It discussed in detail the current situation in the district and stance to be taken to thwart the nefarious designs of terrorists who are hell bent to derail the peace process. New strategies were evolved to put a cheque on the game plan resorted to by the terrorists. Some major key decisions were taken that will act as countervailing force to the vicious move and modus operandi adopted by the terrorist cadre.

Notwithstanding the need of this critical hour, emphasis was also laid on large scale civic action programme aimed towards achieving a major breakthrough in improving the living condition of the local population. Addressing the meeting, the senior Army officer complimented all the civil and police agencies for executing talks with grit and determination. The whole hearted support extended in combating terrorism and executing diverse civic action project in the district was unparalleled. He stressed upon the need of further enhancing cooperation.

Mr Shailender Kumar, Deputy commissioner Doda while speaking on the occasion appreciated the efforts put in by the security forces towards over-all development of district Doda as also making the period of ceasefire a great success.

Special arrangements to check menace of copying

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 09 - The Government is making special arrangements to check menace of copying during Higher Secondary Part-II and Secondary School Bi-annual examinations (Kashmir Division) scheduled to be held from May 16 and June 3 respectively.

A high level meeting in this connection was today convened by the Minister for Education, Mr. Mohammad Shafi, wherein important decisions were taken for ensuring peaceful and fair conduct of examination.

In order to check the menace of copying, vigilance and flying squads shall be constituted by the BOSE authorities and Education Department. The Vigilance squads of department of education in each district shall work under the supervision of concerned Chief Education Officer. Besides, Senior Officers such as Divisional Commissioner, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioner, District SSPs and SPs shall constitute additional squads in consultation with BOSE authorities for carrying out surprise checking of the sensitive centres.

The meeting decided that before the commencement of examination, frisking of candidates will be carried out by the police personnel right at the main entrance at each examination centre. Lady Police personnel will also be made available to undertake the frisking of female candidates contingents of police personnel around the examination centres will be deployed to present outside interference.

As usual the sealed packets of question papers shall be deposited with the Police stations, besides concerned police stations will accept the sealed answer book packets from the Superintendents and hand over the same to BOSE authorities against a due receipt.

To ensure free movement of the candidates from their residences to the examination centre, the permission cards (Roll Number Slips) should be deemed as passes in case of any restriction.

It was also disclosed in the meeting that a total number of 26,860 candidates are appearing in Secondary School examinations. The examinations will be conducted in 266 centres established throughout the Kashmir division. 40 centres were termed as the most sensitive centres. While as 161 centres are set up for 18,369 10+2 students in six districts, 36 centres are said to be most vulnerable centres. In case of 10+2 examination.

Those who attended the meeting included, Principal Secretary Education, Chairman, Board of School Education (J&K), Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and IGP, Kashmir.

Pilot project for development of Pashmina on anvil: Kamal

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, May 9: Jammu and Kashmir is poised to increase the production of pashmina wool to 1 lakh kgs annually against 32000 Kgs at present. A comprehensive Pilot Project in this regard has been formulated for development of Pashmina Wool in Ladakh and submitted to the Union Textile Ministry for inclusion in the plan programme.

Stating this here today, the Industries and Commerce Minister, Dr Shiekh Mustafa Kamal said that the project is mainly focused on processing of pashmina by setting up of common facility centres, Pasture Development, improving breeding techniques for producing high quality pashmina goats and setting up wool exchange and Mandi in Ladakh. The Minister said that the pashmina craft is a traditional industry of J&K and the raw material for this craft is obtained from the pashmina goats reared in upper reaches of Ladakh region. He said the production of pashmina wool at present is estimated at 32000 Kgs and there was an urgent need to expand the pastures in Ladakh to increase the production level of Pashmina Wool to 1 lakh Kgs annually. He said presently only 15,000 Kgs of wool is processed and woven into finest varieties of shawls in Kashmir valley after exquisite embroidery which gives maximum value addition to the Pashmina Wool produced in the State.

Dr Kamal said that the Government would take every possible step to promote Pashmina Industry in the State adding that the craft has recently been included under the schedule of "Village Industries" of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). He said about 50,000 artisans mostly poor women are involved in the Pashmina Trade and inclusion of this craft into village Industries would enable artisans to avail all incentives available under Khadi Village Programmes. Dr Kamal said that Government would take all possible measures to discourage machine spinning of pashmina wool as it would adversely affect the traditional glory of hand woven pashmina shawls, for which Kashmir has been famous all over the world. He said even KVIC has approved only hand spinning and weaving of pashmina wool under village industry.

Dr Kamal said that under Rural Employment Generation Programme of KVIC also the Pashmina activity will get boost as the programme covers all viable village Industry Projects to be set up in rural areas. The scheme envisages coverage of rural artisans, entrepreneurs and Institutions like Cooperative Societies, Trusts and NGOs registered with KVIC/KVIB.

Govt expedite settlement of compassionate
appointment cases — Kamal

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar May,9: The Industries and Commerce Minister, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal has said that the government is actively considering to work out modalities for expeditious settlement of SRO-43 cases envisaged to provide employment on compassionate grounds to the next of kin of militancy victims.

Speaking at a function held in connection with the World Red Cross Day at College of Education, Srinagar yesterday, Dr Kamal said one of the measures under consideration is to form a roster of applicants as per the dates of occurrence so that the dependent get job on his/her number in the roster. This will check the tendency of pick and choose at certain quarters, Dr Kamaal added. He said the rules governing provision of ex-gratia relief to the dependents of such victims have been amended bring under its ambit parents of the deceased persons also as earlier only wife or children were entitled to such relief.

The Minister pointed out that the centre has been approached to bear the expenses on account of ex-gratia relief and the salaries of employees appointed under SRO-43 under security related expenditure (SRE). Presently, about 3500 such cases are pending disposal in the State.

Paying rich tributes to Henry Dunant, the Founder of Red Cross Movement on his 81st birth anniversary, Dr Kamal said best way to observe occasion was to eradicate hatred, intolerance and violence from the society which were the root causes of all troubles confronting the State. The Minister said that there was no room for violence and hatred in the civilised society and called upon the youth to rise to the occasion and contribute their might in restoring peace and normalcy in the strife torn State so that people could live a peaceful and contented life. Dr Kamaal that the J&K being a welfare State, has since its inception taken up the role of a red cross body in providing relief and respite to the people of the State. Enumerating measures taken by the present government to provide relief to the militancy affected people in the State, Dr Kamaal made a special mention of Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), PMRY, Integrated Social Security Scheme and Anupurna/Antodaya Schemes aimed at providing immediate succour and relief to the people in distress. He said that Rs. 20000 grant in aid is being provided to the people whose houses get damaged in militancy related incidents under IAY while as about one lakh old aged persons get a monthly relief of Rs. 225 under Integrated Social Scheme. Besides, several self employment schemes are being generated all over the State through Rural Development Department for which the militancy affected persons are also entitled.

The Minister said that Madre Meharban was the first President of J&K Red Cross Society in 1947 and her services of restoring missing girls to their parents and respective families in the aftermath of the dark days of India-Pak partition and subsequent tribal invasion in Kashmir would be remembered for long time to come.

Responding to query of one of the speaker students, after conclusion of the function, Dr Kamal said that government was very much concern about the cases of missing persons and every such incident which comes into the notice is being thoroughly investigated through various agencies primarily by J&K Police. However, he said all cases of disappearance cannot be linked to security forces alone. He said it was quite likely that the actual number of missing persons may be far-less than 4000 as mentioned by the students.

The Minister of State for Food and Supplies, Mr Bashir Ahmed Nengroo and Secretary State, Red Cross Society, Mr Qazi Amin were also present on the occasion.

Dr Kamal distributed certificates among the students who spoke on the theme " wiping tears-Red Cross volunteers".

Govt to lay thrust on exploration of ground water - Sagar

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, MAY 9: The Works Minister, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar today said the Government, in future, would lay thrust on tapping of abundant ground water resources present in the State to meet the growing demand for potable water.

Addressing a review meeting of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department Kashmir here today, the Minister said that instead of relying on weather-specific running water, the Department should formulate schemes to explore ground water for augmentation of drinking water facilities in the State. He said for this purpose tube-wells and hand-pumps shall be dug in the areas facing water scarcity. Mr. Sagar asked the PHE officials to contact the private agencies for purchase of rotary rigs so that digging of tube wells can be taken up at the earliest.

The Minister said although the Department has done a commendable job and several new schemes were completed during the past couple of years, still a lot needs to be done in order to make available safe drinking water to every citizen of the State. He said the significant achievements made by the Works Department in development of infrastructure to provide basic amenities to the people, were appreciated even by his political rivals.

Mr Sagar urged the public to extend their cooperation to the Government in its endeavor to mitigate their sufferings. He said the people should keep an eye on the developmental works being executed in their areas in order to ensure transparency and accountability. The Minister said that if the people are not satisfied with the quality of the work they should immediately brought it into the notice of the Government. He said the Government would not desist from taking action even against the top officials for showing delinquency in their duties. Mr Sagar said that he received 129 complaints regarding the PHE sector, through mail and through newspapers, which were looked into and action was initiated into the complaints found reliable.

Giving a resume of the physical and financial achievements of the PHE Department Kashmir, the Chief Engineer, Mr. Naeem Ahmad Khan informed the meeting that Rs 21.06 crore were spent on improvement and augmentation of the ongoing water supply schemes in Kashmir division during 2000-2001. Mr. Khan said that 1.5 MGDs of potable water were added to the Srinagar City from the newly installed Service Reservoir and VT Pump at Doodhganga. Similarly 4 MGDs were added from Rs 9.70 crore Water Treatment Plant at Dal Bund Nishat. Besides Rs 95 lakh were spent on improvement of distribution system in the city benefiting a population of 25474 persons.

The meeting was informed that during 2000-01, Rs 6.97 crore were spent on various water supply schemes under execution in 11 towns of the State. For the exploration of ground water Rs 45 lakh were spent on digging of 25 boreholes. The meeting was told that 1000 gallons of potable water would be added to the city with the completion of Rangil Water Supply scheme under Master Plan Phase-II.

For the augmentation of the potable water in the rural areas the Department has taken into 370 schemes under the centrally sponsored Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP). Out of the 65 schemes completed so far, 46 were completed during 2000-01.

The Principal Secretary Works, Mr. B R Kundal, Special Secretary Works, Mr Naeem Akhtar besides senior officials of the PHE Department Kashmir were present at the meeting.

Martyrdam of Lxman

Excelsior Correspondent

Kathua, May 9: To commemorate the martyrdom of Shaheed Laxman Dass, Head Constable, JKP who had laid down his life at Sarthal in Bani block, while fighting against the militants, the Youth Development Centre, Bhagta organised sports-cum-cultural meet here yesterday.

During the meet, the final match of volleyball tournament was played between Drung club and Youth Development Centre, Bhagta who out shield their rivals by a low margin.

A colourful cultural programme based on national integration, communal harmony and brotherhood was also organised on the occasion.

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