Bhalla for immediate end to regional imbalances

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8: Senior Congress leader and MLA Gandhinagar, Mr Raman Bhalla has appreciated some people friendly policies adopted by the State Government. He however urged the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Syeed to take a stand on implementation of Wazir Commission and Gajendragadkar Commission reports.

Mr Bhalla was addressing the series of public meetings at Malik Market, Lower Gadigarh, Gadigarh Akala and Kour Singh Nagar today. These meetings were organized to convey his thanks to the voters of Gandhi Nagar Assembly segment for electing him to the Assembly with a huge margin.

He said the coalition Government was committed to end regional discrimination by giving a fair deal to the people of Jammu Region.

He said the only way to end the regional disparity was to implement to implement the recommendations of the two commissions.

He said so far only one recommendation of Gajendragadkar Commission report has been implemented by giving the post of Deputy Chief Minister to Jammu. He said to end the disparity with the region rationalization of the service ratio in the Civil Secretariat and other Government departments is necessary.

Mr Bhalla alleged that out of 1.58 lakh recruitments made by the NC Government during its six year rule only 20,000 unemployed youth from Jammu region were absorbed.

He demanded that the Government led by Mr Syeed should first of all end the regional imbalances by providing the Government jobs to the youth from Jammu region.

He also stressed on carving out of three more districts for Jammu and urged for establishment of Delimitation Commission for creation of more assembly seats in the region as Jammu has more voters and area than Kashmir.

He also lauded the Government measures for reducing the power curtailments by four hours.

Mr Bhalla was greeted by slogan shouting people who demanded his inclusion in the Council of ministers. He was accompanied by Block Congress Committee chief Gandhi Nagar.

Schedule for DDB meetings notified

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8 : The Government today notified the schedule for holding District Development Board meetings to discuss and review the Annual Plans 2002-2003.

These meetings shall be chaired by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

As per the schedule, the District Development Board meeting for Jammu district will be held on November 9, at 10 a.m at Banquet Hall Jammu followed by District Development Board meeting for Udhampur on November 10, at 10 a.m. at district headquarter Udhampur. District Development Board meeting for Srinagar is scheduled for November 11, at 3 p.m. at SKICC, Srinagar. The District Development Board meetings for Baramulla and Budgam will be held on 12th November at 10.a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively at SKICC, Srinagar. The District Development Board meetings of Pulwama and Anantnag will also be held at the SKICC, Srinagar on 13th November at 10.a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. The District Development Board meeting of Kupwara will be held on 14th November at 12 noon at SKICC, Srinagar while as the District Development Board meeting for Doda will be held on 15th November at 10.a.m. in the Banquet Hall Jammu.

Similarly, the District Development Board meeting for Rajouri and Poonch have been fixed for 16th November at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m respectively at Banquet Hall Jammu. The District Development Board meeting for Kathua will be held on 17th November at 10 a.m. at Banquet Hall, Jammu.

Only divisional level heads of the department shall attend these meetings in respect of their divisions.

The concerned District Development Commissioners would inform the schedule to all the MLAs concerned and district officers.

Plea to open Kishtwar-Anantnag-Srinagar road
AITUC demands reinstatement of retrenched
GREF workers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8: State Council of All India Trade Union Congress has expressed deep concern over the unabated retrenchment of casual paid labourers (CPLs) working with the Border Roads Organisation for the last several years.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Atam Jeet Singh president of the organisation alleged that in the recent past more than 800 CPLs have been thrown out by the BRO (GREF) authorities in the region while labourers from outside the state are being employed for the task. He regretted that despite intervention of State Labour Ministry and the High Court directives, the officers concerned in the Project Sampark and Beacon, in violation of all the set norms and laws are carrying on the task.

Hardly last year about 250 casual labourers had been thrown out and recently 150 CPLs engaged at Nandni tunnel where retrenched. It is amazing that these labourers are denied work at the places were work still exists. The construction work in a big way is in progress on Jammu-Pathankot sector of National Highway where construction of four-lane road is going on. The authorities are employing migrant labour in large number at the cost of retrenched labour who have rendered long years of service in various projects under BRO. As per norms, the local labourers are given preference in the task but unfortunately, the concerned officers through private contractors with some vested interests are engaging labourers from MP, Bihar and UP. The matter is needed to be investigated by some Central agency.

Patron of the Council, advocate S S Lehar alleged that it is illegal to retrench workers with many years service. He wondered some CPLs are working for the more than 15-18 years and even facing exploitation at the hands of concerned agency. Infact, as per the orders of the Department of Personnel & Trainings of Govt of India they ought to have been given the ‘Temporary Status’ long back. Not only CPLs are being retrenched they are also being subjected to other attrocities.

They are not paid wages in time, not paid bonus as per Government orders.

No Medical facility cover as per social security laws provided not compensation paid as per law and other facilities extended to them.

Demanding immediate reinstatement of all the CPLs retrenched in the past, the Council sought ‘Temporary Status’ for these workers under social security laws. There should be strict implementation of recruitment rules and guidelines and relaxation of certain rules to facilitate regular employment to CPLs as pioneers. He also demanded 100 per cent increase in the existing wages of the CPLs and special incentive for the labour engaged at difficult terrains.

Mr Singh also sought the immediate intervention of the new Government and said that the matter should be taken up with the Director General or the Ministry of Defence. It is again painful to note that the road from Kishtwar to Anantnag is not being used by the Government despite its completion two years back. The Mufti Government should immediately look into it and issue necessary instructions in this regard. The compensation to the people on Bani-Bhaderwah road be paid immediately to ensure speedy work on this road, he maintained.

Dy CM reviews PSUs, expresses satisfaction over
JK Cement’s performance

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8 : The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma today expressed his grave concern over the recurring losses being suffered by various Corporations in the State and called for strenuous efforts to bring them out of red.

In his first meeting with the senior functionaries of the industries and its allied departments here this evening, the Deputy Chief Minister underscored the need for improvement in the working of the Corporations as also making these viable and profitable. He said every effort should be made to bring these out of red and steps taken to make such of the corporations functional, which have the potential.

Mr. Sharma said the Government would explore possibilities to provide assistance for such of the units, which are feasible. He said, he will have a detailed review of all the corporations and asked their managements to come up with solutions for revamping the sick and viable units. He said the proposals pending for clearance with the Centre should be vigorously pursued.

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the good performance of the JK Cements, which has for the first time earned a profit of Rs. 2.43 crore last year. He said efforts should be made to re-double the capacity of the JK Cements to enable it meet the requirements of the people.

He was told that JK Cements has sold cement worth Rs. 27 crores during the first seven months of the current financial year, earning a profit of Rs. 1.25 crore. With the installation of anti-pollution device, the corporation would be saving cement worth Rs. 1 crore annually. Another cement plant with a capacity of 600 ton per day is proposed to be set up at Srinagar while a grinding mill is likely to come up at Jammu shortly.

The Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Mr. K. B. Pillai briefed the Deputy Chief Minister about the working of different corporations and steps taken to promote handicrafts, handlooms and khadi and village industrial units which contribute largely to the State’s GDP. He also apprised Mr. Sharma about certain problems faced by the corporate sector in the State. With the implementation of the special package sanctioned by Centre, the industrial sector particularly the handicraft and handloom would get a further boost. He said thrust is being laid on quality upgradation and provision of common facility centres.

Mr. Sharma was informed that the JK Minerals sales turnover of cement is expected to touch Rs. 13 crores this year and the corporation was extracting 33000 MTs of Gypsum annually. He was told that the handicraft’s corporation has a sale target of Rs. 10 crore this year. A Rs. 1.36 crore Urban Haat has been completed in Jammu while a similar facility at Srinagar involving Rs. 2 crore is being provided shortly. The corporation plans to set up Air Cargo Centre and Raw Material Bank in the State under the special package provided by the Centre. The Handloom Development Corporation is currently running 8 projects in the State, providing employment to 4000 waivers. Under the Special Central Package announced by the Prime Minister, Rs. 15 crore projects for integrated development of woolen fabrics and famous Kashmiri kani shawl are on the anvil, the Deputy Chief Minister was told.

Mr. Sharma was informed that the dry land import container involving Rs. 7.25 crore would be made operational by December end while work on export industrial promotion park has been taken in hand. The APEX committee has recently cleared several projects worth Rs. 366 crores, which would provide direct and indirect employment to over 5000 unemployed youth. The SIDCO has also a proposal to establish a food park at Jammu for which 300 kanals of land has already been identified.

Formulate need based plan for urban
development sectors:Mir

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8 : The Housing and Urban Development Minister, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir has asked the officers to work with sense of devotion and missionary zeal in implementing the various developmental and welfare programmes so that the problems faced by the people of the State are minimized.

Addressing high level officers meeting here today, the Minister said that the time has come that the administration should rise to the occasion to meet the growing expectation of the people and fulfill their urges and aspirations. He said accountability, transparency and effective monitoring of the development schemes at every level of administration, would help to achieve the desired results. The Minister stressed upon the officers to ensure early completion of projects so that its benefits percolate down to the larger sections of the society.

The Minister reviewed in detail the development schemes under execution in the urban development sector and asked the officers to formulate need based action plan within one week for the development of town and notified areas committees, so that the funds could be arranged. He also stressed upon the officers to release the grant-in-aid well in time in order to avoid un-necessary delay in the disbursement of pay dues to the employee of Urban Development Agencies.

The Financial Commissioner Finance, Mr. Jalil Ahmad Khan, Commissioner/Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Kurshid Ahmad Bhat and other senior officers attended the meeting.

Translate promises into action: SAC to State Govt

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8: A meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee was held under the chairmanship of its president Mr Hardit Singh Panchhi to take the stock of the situation after formation of the coalition Government headed by Mufti Mohd Sayeed.

As per a release, the meeting discussed in detail various problems being faced by the displaced person of 1947 from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). The meeting reminded the political parties which are partner in the coalition Government that they had made tall promises during elections about redressing the grievances of PoK displaced person and it is the time to translate promises into action.

The meeting expressed hope that the present Government would take up the matter with the Central Government and also convene a meeting involving SAC representatives to find out some significant solution.

The disbursement of compensation in lieu of deficiencies of land after obtaining undertaking from the Displaced Persons is nothing but a joke with the whole displaced community, the meeting further said.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Panchhi urged the Prime Minister to take some decision on the review petition already filed against the package of August, 2002 issued by Ministry of Rehabilitation, Government of India.

Messrs Hem Raj Sharma, Munshi Harnam Singh, Kartar Chand, Belati Ram, Lekh Raj, Joginder Singh, Kirpal Singh, Iqbal Singh, Kuldeep Sharma, Amar Singh, Harjeet Singh, Khem Raj, Uttam Chand, Krishan Lal and Bhagat Singh were among others who present on the occasion.

Awareness-cum-mobilisation camp organised
by Hastkala Kendra

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 8: Awareness-cum-mobilization camp was organised for the formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) of handicraft artisans by Gramudyog Hastkala Kendra at village Sallan in Hiranagar tehsil.

As per a release, the camp was sponsored by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Government of India, Ministry of Textile. Mr G H Khan, Director Handicrafts, J&K inaugurated the function while Mrs Shaheen, Deputy Director Handicrafts, GOI, Mr B M B Rao, AGM, NABARD, Mr V K Soni, Branch Manager, Jammu Rural Bank, Dayalachak, Mr K S Jamwal, Assistant Director, State Handicrafts, Kathua, Mr Virinder Bawa, Assistant Project Officer, CAD Jammu and Mr T K Koul, Assistant Director, Office of Development Commission, GOI were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khan praised the work done by GHK and wished all the success in running the cluster programme under AHVY scheme and assured the full cooperation for the success of the scheme. Mr Soni requested the villagers to be more honest in repaying the loans granted to the artisans present on the occasion so that banks may come forward to help them in bigger way. He assured full support for the success of AHVY scheme.

Mr B M B Rao, AGM NABARD explained the benefits availed by the SHG in different parts of the country including in J&K State and assured full cooperation in launching the AHVY scheme.

Mrs Shaheen appreciated the participation of lady artisans in cluster scheme and promised to give full support for successful implementation of the scheme. and advised to start the design development workshop, housing schemes etc immediately to the GHK.

Mr T K Kaul, Assistant Director Handicrafts, GOI assured his full devotion in implementing the scheme and to take up the matter with the concerned quarters on top priority. He advised the participating artisans to work honestly with the NGO for the success of the scheme.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8: Accusing the Jammu University authorities for commercialising the premier education institution, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad today grilled the JU administration for alleged misutilisation of funds, accumulated from the students.

"The Jammu University collects crores of rupees from its students on the name of fees for various activities but not even one fourth of the amount is spent on students," alleged ABVP president for JU unit Mr Ranjeet Sharma while addressing a press conference at the Parishad headquarters, here today.

He also warned an agitation against the anti-students and fascist policies of some JU administrators if the ‘Dadagiri’ of these officers was not checked immediately.

Listing several grievances of the university students, Mr Ranjeet alleged that notwithstanding a continuous hike in fees, the JU was not providing adequate facilities to the campus students. Armed with complete data of fees, being charged by the Jammu University from its students, he disclosed that crores of rupees were being collected on the name of different activities but the amount is not spent on the same.

"About Rs 1.75 lakh and Rs 1 lakh are collected from students for the cultural and social activities, respectively even as no extra curriculum exercises are conducted for the PG classes," he alleged and added that despite charging Rs 100 as Library development fund from each student, there was a complete mess in the JU library and students were not provided books there.

"There is no catalogue system as well as lockers facility which cause much inconvenience to the students who find it difficult to get books from the library," he said and demanded opening of third floor of the library for the students.

Alleging misutilisation of university funds, the ABVP leader demanded a CBI inquiry into the bunglings committed during the tenure of Vice-Chancellor Prof R R Sharma and claimed that a number of JU officials were involved in the scam.

"Before the retirement of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor Prof R R Sharma, a CBI inquiry should be conducted into the University scandals like backdoor appointments and missing of professional degrees from JU so that guilty persons could be punished," he said.

The ABVP leader also accused the Dean Students Welfare for adopting ‘anti-students and fascist’ policies and alleged that the Dean had resorted to virtual ‘Dadagiri’ by taking some arbitrary decisions regarding Campus cultural programmes without consulting JU Students Cultural Council.

ABVP’s State vice-president Miss Shweta Sharma, who was also present in the press conference, demanded immediate construction of an additional building for the girls hostel having the capacity of at least 200 seats.

Mr Adarsh Kumar, ABVP national executive member and a student of Law Department in JU, demanded that the University students union elections should be conducted so that an elected body could come forward to highlight the students’ grievances. However, at the same time, he demanded a complete ban on political functions on the campus.

ABVP vice-president for JU unit Mr Rakesh Sangral and Chandan Chouhan, president, Law unit, were also present in the press conference.

School children display talent

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 8: The school children from various educational institutions displayed their talent at the Sarveshwar Dance Mania-2002 show organised at Abhinav Theatre here this evening.

This programme of inter-school dance and fancy dress show was arranged by the M. Jackson Dancing Institute .

The students from a large number of schools enthusiastically took part in the dance and fancy show items. The programme was so absorbing and interesting that it went on for over four hours.

The children, especially the kids, in fancy dresses presented a fascinating spectacle and it was a main attraction of the show. An interesting feature of the show was the participation of small kids of three or four years with impressive dances.

Dressed in colourful costumes the students presented dance items on the tune of folk music of Dogri, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Rajasthani which was applauded by those attending the programme.

Mementos were given to the participating students whose performance was adjudged best.

Mr J R Sharma (Jackson) of the M Jackson Dancing Institute had organised the programme which was attended by a large number of students and staff from various schools, prominent citizens and educationists.