Nari Jagriti Kender organises symposium

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Nari Pragati Kender, organised a symposium on "Fashion shows and Indian culture" in Government Girls Higher Secondary School Shastri Nagar here. Mr Shiv Ram Sharma, Principal of the Institution was the chief guest.

As per a release Mrs Satya Jamwal, president NPK, spoke about the organisation and its activities for the past three years. She also spoke about empowerment of women and their potentialities.

Miss Sanna Khan bagged first prize, Miss Gitika Goswami and Miss Gurpreet Kour bagged second position while Ms Sugandha Samyal bagged third place. Ms Rattana Bharti lecturer conducted the proceedings of the symposium.

The prizes and mementos were presented to winners by the chief guest Mr Shiv Ram Sharma and Mrs Satya Jamwal.

Principal, staff and audience praised the conduct of the programme which was based on women empowerment.

Mrs Raj Sehgal, a renowned educationist presented vote of thanks, while Mrs Satya Jamwal had read welcome address.

CPI(M) hopeful of J&K Govt soon

CHANDIGARH, Oct 22: Communist Party of India (M) today said it was hopeful that an alliance of "secular forces" will form the Government in Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days.

"We are hopeful that an alliance (of Congress and PDP) will be formed. This will be useful. We want that non-communal forces should form a Government there and our party is also making efforts to facilitate Government formation at the earliest," CPI-M general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet told reporters here.

He said the people of J and K were eagerly waiting for a stable Government.

Earlier, addressing a rally here, he said National Conference had to "pay a price in J and K by joining hands with communal forces. The NC’s understanding with BJP proved costly for the party. The BJP itself was shown the door in the state election."

Attacking BJP for its "anti-people" policies, he said "BJP is going down with each passing day. Communalism is on the increase and gap between the communities is increasing. The recent elections in many states has shown that the party’s graph has touched a new low. Now people in Gujarat will give their verdict and expose the BJP whenever elections are held there," he said.

In Punjab, too, the Shiromani Akali Dal "had to taste defeat (in February state elections) by joining hands with the BJP," the CPI-M veteran said.

Criticising SAD and Congress in Punjab for politicising farmers’ issues, Surjeet said at a time when farmers in the State were doing badly, all political parties should come together and help them rather than being involved in "political bickerings."

He said 80 per cent farmers in the State had land holdings less than three acres, but they were being burdened by "increased power tariffs."

Instead of addressing the problems of drought-hit people in the State, Government had further burdened them by enhancing power rates and withdrawing facility of free power from poor peasants."

On the disinvestment issue, he said his party had always opposed it.

Surjeet also talked about change in the world order after the disintegration of USSR. "After the collapse of Soviet Union the American domination on the world has increased. The economic condition of USA is getting worse and now it wants control over Gulf oil which is why it is troubling countries like Iraq.

"It is also unfortunate that our country too is implementing and furthering the American agenda," he said.

In his address to the rally, the party’s state secretary Balwant Singh said his party would start "Jail Bharo" programme from November 18 to protest the alleged anti-people, anti-farmer policies of the State Government. (PTI)

Varsity notes
JU to change evaluation process of answer sheets

By Nishikant Khajuria

To minimise the complaints of alleged carelessness in evaluation of the examination answer sheets, the Jammu University has planned to evaluate the answer sheets thrice by different examiners.

The Examination section has got nod of the University Syndicate with some recommendations in this connection and the proposal now awaits only approval of the University Council.

Presently the mode of evaluation for Graduation classes involves two examiners for a single answer sheet and each of them checks it on fifty fifty basis. However for the Post Graduation level, an entire answer sheet is evaluated by an individual examiner.

However in the purposed amended procedure for evaluation, answer sheets will be evaluated at three stages by different examiners and the final score will be valued by calculating the average.

According to Controller Examination, Dr D K Jain, the amendment in evaluation system has been conceived to minimise the scope of error while making evaluation of the answer sheets.

Hoping that the University Council will give its nod to the proposal in its next meeting, Dr Jain stressed that the implementation of new procedure will further make the evaluation system foolproof and prefect. It will minimise the scope of error in evaluation thereby decreasing the number of cases of ‘change in result’ after the re-evaluation, he added.

The Controller Examination also disclosed that examination results of the last semester of most of Post Graduation courses in JU, are being finalised and the same are likely to be declared out by mid November. The result of MA Sociology has already been declared.

Declaration of the results by mid November can be termed as a big achievement of the Examination section since earlier, the same were declared in month of April i.e. about five months later.

Besides PG examination results, the B Ed results are also expected to be declared by mid November as against the last week of January, Dr Jain disclosed and added that after his assuming office of the Controller Examination, the section has also streamlined the calendar of Engineering exams which are likely to begin from November 7.

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The Department of Students Welfare Jammu University is going to organise an Inter College/Departmental Debating Competition on ‘Cooperation’ on October 26 at the Campus auditorium.

The competition is being sponsored by National Council for Cooperative Training, New Delhi and subject of the debate will be "In the opinion of the house-in the ongoing process of globalisation, the co-operative movement becomes irrelevant".

The competition is open to the colleges, running degree courses and teaching departments of the University. Each institution can depute only one team of two debtors to this competition, one in favour and other against the motion.

The University will select two teams of winners, one for English and other for Hindi languages and these two teams will participate in the National Debate which will be conducted separately in Hindi and English languages by the NCCT, New Delhi.

Meanwhile, according to DSW sources, Campus Cultural Committee is likely to meet after the Pooja holidays to finalise the calendar of cultural and literary activities on the Campus as well as the selection of teams.

Scheduled dates for the annual ‘Display Your Talent’ competition will also be finalised during the Campus Cultural Committee meet. It may be mentioned here that national competition linked activities has already began with holding of elocution contest in last week.

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Five day workshop of MA Urdu Professionals on ‘Journalism and Creative writing in Urdu Prose’ is undergoing at the Urdu Department since yesterday.

According to Incharge ‘MA Urdu Professional’, Prof Zahur-ud-Din, the students are being educated and trained in mastering about the headlines, editing, feature writing, format of a news item, format and arrangement of the newspaper as well as script writing.

Introduced two years ago in Jammu University, the ‘MA Urdu Professional’ course has four streams which included Computer Applications, Journalism, Translation and Creative Writing in Prose through Urdu.

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Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, is going to organise a student leaders’ conference at the JU auditorium on October 29.

Topic of debate in the conference is ‘Education and Employment. Prominent student leaders including Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president Mr Nakul Bhardwaj, ABVP national general secretary Mr Ramesh Pappa and elected presidents of various colleges are likely to participate in the conference.

50 kg polythene bags seized in JM’s drive

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22 : The Special squad of Food Inspectors have destroyed nearly 2½ Qtls. of unwholesome milk and about 60 kg. of rotten and stale food during the intensified checking food stuff in Jammu city on the eve of festivals.

The special squad headed by Health Officer, Dr. Anwar Choudhary inspected 110 establishments since yesterday and challaned 17 cases before the Municipal Magistrate under the provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. In the remaining 93 cases, the Health Officer compounded the offence and collected Rs. 12,850/- as compounding from the erring shopkeepers and defaulters.

During the drive the squad seized 50 kg. of coloured and recycled polythene bags from the Halwais and other shops dealing with eatables. The coloured and recycled polythene bags have already been banned by the Jammu Municipality.

During this drive nearly 28 Qtls. of milk was checked. The squad also inspected hotels and restaurants. These included Swagat, Moti Mahal, Swastik hotel, Big Bite hotel and Hotel International, Amritsari-di-Hatti, Kailash restaurant, Kudwali Halwai shop etc . In some of these places, stale and rotten food were noticed which was destroyed. The squad also checked cooked food and bakery items during its drive.

Besides keeping the hygienic conditions in the establishments, the Health Officer also advised restaurant owners and other eating establishments not to use recycled coloured polythene bags.

The areas inspected during the drive B. C. road, Bakshi Nagar, Canal Road, Paloura, Talab Tillo, Pullpar, University road, Railway Station, Raghunath Bazar, Purani Mandi, CPO, Panjthirthi, New Plot, Sarwal, Rehari Colony, Gurdwara Sunder Singh road.

The Administrator, Jammu Municipality, Mr. K. B. Jandial has directed the Food Inspectors to see that quality food is supplied in the city by various establishments. All restaurants in the city should be checked and initiate action under law wherever some lapses are noticed. The special drive has been launched in view of ‘Diwali’ festival

Campaign launched against dowry with a difference

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: A team of 15-trained social work animators under the leadership of Sr Elsa Zees FCC, with the cooperation of Mr Arul Sahayam Rajini the project officer of CSSS began the process of implementing the first phase of the programme by performing street play in the villages in Bishnah.

According to a release, the programme was held in Dogri in order to reach out to the local people and illiterate. A large number of villagers gathered to witness the programme. The women groups looked into the locals arrangements like place, dari, TV, collecting people etc. before the presentation of the street plays.

The main subject of this social awareness was on how the women play a major role in promoting dowry system among themselves and on what are various collective steps the women have to take up to curb this system. This street play highlighting how the women in the neighbourhood go and instigate the mothers-in-law of a newly married girl by enquiring about the things that are brought through dowry or as a gift to the in-laws.

Mr Arul, the project officer said that this programme is aimed at women empowerment and the women have been involved in it. There is immediate need to educate masses of rural areas and other areas will also be covered there-after. This social action team has been working at the gross root level since last one and half years promoting the goals of people’s organisation through animation, economical empowerment, 100 % literary , better health conditions, local leadership and sustainable development.

JK Cements continues to show profits

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 22: The J&K Cements Limited Employees Association, Khrew, reviewed the company’s performance at a general body meeting held today.

As per a release the Association through a resolution thanked the Managing Director of the Company Mr I C Jandial with whose efforts and dedication, the company continues to be in profits.

The meeting held that the company achieved profit of Rs 243 lakh during the year 2001-2002 and also achieved higher ever production of 1.35 mts in the first six months of the current financial year ending September 2002-2003.

The meeting held further that the company also earned profit despite one of its plant remained under maintenance for replacement of kilnshell even then the company registered a profit of Rs 195.99 lakh during six months.

The employees hailed the bold decision of Managing Director Mr I C Jandial who took full maintenance of the whole plant which no one of his predecessors dared to take. During the one month stoppage period the maintenance of the plant and machinery and installation of RPJ viz pollution control equipment was installed on cement mill and such installation on coal mill and raw mill was under progress.

They added that by such maintenance the hourly production has increased by 1.5 mt and besides the company is saving the pure cement which otherwise was going into atmosphere. The employees also hailed the efforts of Mr Jandial who managed to reduce coal consumption by 5.5 percent as compared to previous consumption which was 29.5 percent as compared to 24 percent now thereby saving Rs 1 crore within one year.

The JKCEA has expressed that their future was secure as Mr Jandial has managed to get the expansion of the existing plant approved by the Government. The hightech decision of Mr Jandial managed to reduce the purchase budget to a large extent and the consumption of inputs ratio also decreased to minimum and in turn the production reached to its zenith in all respects.

The other essential equipments viz weigh feeders, burning zone temperature recorder, showal and installation of RPJ in whole plant is in progress.

The association at the end while passing the resolution congratulated and thanked the State administration especially the Chief secretary and Financial Commissioner, Industry and Commerce and MD of the Company for taking bold decisions for betterment of this lone profitable industry, which continues to be in progress and has achieved higher production during the past six months of this year.

Arrangements for Darbar Move reviewed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: To review the arrangements for Darbar Move employees, an officers meeting was held here today. The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. Anil Goswami presided.

The meeting discussed various points including sanitation, street lights, security arrangements, medical aid, ration cards, transport, traffic, drinking water and electricity in Jammu city and accommodation for move employees.

It was apprised in the meeting that the employees will be accommodated in 3087 quarters besides 30 colonies in Jammu city.

Among others, the meeting was attended by DIG Jammu Range, Mr. Dilbag Singh, Administrator Jammu Municipality, Mr. K.B. Jandial, Additional Dy. Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. O.P. Kalandria, Director Food and Supplies, Mr. D.K. Nargotra, SSP Security, Chief Engineer, PWD, General Manager, SRTC, SE, PHE, Joint Director, Fire Services, Deputy Director Estates and other senior officers of various departments.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Zila Sainik Welfare Officer, Jammu along with staff members visited Jourian and Khour to have at and on spot study of the problems of the war widows and ex-servicemen living on this border belt.

As per a release, a large number of ex-servicemen, war widows, widows and their dependents met the delegation at Jourian, Khour and other adjoining areas.

Lt. Col Kiran Singh paid cash assistance of Rs 1,000 each to Mrs Soma Devi, wife of Late Faqir Chand, Mrs Sharda Kumari wife of late Sub. Maj Kamlesh Chander, Mrs Vaishno Devi, wife of late Hav. Ashok Kumar and Mrs Durga Devi wife of Late Sepoy Guran Ditta.

He also paid relief to Mr Puran Singh a disabled soldier. A sewing machine was presented to Mrs Parsino Devi wife of late Lance Naik Sain Singh at Khour.

The Zila Sainik Welfare Officer while going through the problems of the exservicemen and war widows solved many issues like issuance of identity cards, medical treatment certificates and completion of different types of relief forms .

He also informed the ex-servicemen and the widows about various concessions, reservation quota towards ex-servicemen and widows in MBBS, Engineering College and admission to various education institutions on producing CDP certificate as per SRO 126.

He also threw light on various concessions admissible to wards of Ex-servicemen and widows such as scholarship, book grants, one time incentive etc from the Rajya Sainik Board.

Col Singh also visited house of Late Lance Naik Surinder Pal of village Nikkian in Khour who laid down his life for the nation on August 31 this year.

R-47 observes awakening day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: R-47 today observed awakening day to commemorate the fateful day when Pakistan forces attacked Muzzafarabad on this day in the year 1947.

The refugees in Bakshi Nagar, Indira Nagar, Shiv Nagar, Badyal Brahamana, R S Pura, Moara, Garhi, Adarsh Nagar, Pouni and Reasi marched through the streets beating utensils.

Addressing the gathering in Udhampur, Balraj Bakshi, president of R-47 said that Pakistani forces had continued to butcher Hindus and Sikhs for more than a month in the year 1947.

Lambasting the then leadership, Balraj Bakshi said that everyone from Nehru downwards bungled and blundered. One lakh people were killed, thousands of women raped and abducted and whole of India and the world kept watching silently without shedding any tear.

Addressing the gathering at Bakshi Nagar, Mr R K Bali, senior vice-president of R-47 said that the attack on Muzaffarabad was the begining point of woes in which the PoK refugees still find themselves enmeshed. Raj Kumar Chandan, Susheel Bali and Vikas Bali also addressed the gathering.

Mr Surinder Pal Singh and Mr Rangeel Singh led the Prabhat Pheri at Pouni while Havildar Sewa Singh conducted the meeting in Reasi. A N Sharma presided over the function at Gegian Patri and P L Sharma led the Prabhat Pheri at Krishna Nagar.

Capt Khemnand Sharma and K L Khajuria addressed the meeting at Purana Pind and Capt Joginder Singh led the utensils beating group of PoK refugees at Badyal Brahamana in Garhi.