Pappa demands change in education policies
ABVP to hold rally in Delhi on Nov 26 against liberalization

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29: National general secretary Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Mr Ramesh Pappa today took the Union and State governments to task for the globalisation and introduction of liberalization policies in the country.

Addressing a conference of student leaders’ at Jammu University Auditorium this afternoon, he announced to protest against these policies and mobilize the public opinion. The ABVP, he said, is holding a mass rally of one lakh students in Union Capital on November 26.

He said contrary to common conception that the entry of multinationals and liberalization policies will end the unemployment, more people in the country have started losing their livelihood.

He said with the entry of multinationals in India, the small scale industry is at the verge of closure and the employees were facing the retrenchment.

He said despite the announcement by Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1998 that with the entry of multinationals one crore people will get the job opportunity, the situation is quite contrary this time. The unemployed engineering graduates and scholars are today idle and they have no surety of secured future, he added.

Regretting that the Government was framing the economic policies after ignoring the problems being faced by the nation, he said to force the Government to review its decision on these policies, the proposed ABVP rally will focus on the issue.

He also stressed on boosting of small scale industries for eradication of unemployment and cautioned that the fate of the country can not be changed till the growing unemployment is tackled.

He also took the Government to task on its faulty education policies saying the recommendations made by the Kothari Commission were not implemented so far. Despite the recommendations of this Commission over many years ago that 6 per cent of country’s GDP be spent on education, only three per cent is being utilised at present, he alleged.

While highlighting the problems of the student community he said the ABVP is for total change in country’s education policy and demanded that the Rashtria Education Commission should see what changes are needed in education and make recommendations accordingly.

Stressing that a proper policy be followed while granting admission to the students in various professional courses, he regretted that the saturation in computerisation has now led to the unemployment of computer engineers. The main reason for this problem is that no liaison is being maintained with industry that what kind of professionals are needed by it, he added.

He lashed out at opposition parties for criticising the Union HRD Ministry for change in NCERT books. It is regretted this change was termed as Safronisation and Bhagwa Karan of education by opposition.

Asking the student community to unite for future challenges Pappa said student unity is a great power who can change the fate of a nation.

Quoting the late Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan he said this great leader of India has once said that it is the responsibility of students to free the Government from corruption.

Advocating for separate statehood demand for Jammu he said our stand has been vindicated after the rejection of Chief Ministerial candidate from Jammu.

Asking the students to gear up for future struggle he said what can the people expect from the new political dispensation in J&K which has openly opposed the implementation of POTA.

While asking the students to unite and fight out the impending dangers he said"Let us create a history for the coming generation that our predecessors had fought to end discrimination to which this region was subjected to".

Among others the conference was addressed by Narinder Singh,state president ABVP, Pawan Sharma, state secretary and Ranjit Sharma, ABVP Jammu University Branch chief.

‘CMP equated martyr families with that of terrorists’
Cong, Panthers accepted pro-terrorist agenda
for lust of power: BJP

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29: Lambasting Congress for, what it called, outraging emotions of the people of Jammu region, Pradesh Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) today dubbed Common Minimum Programme (CMP) drawn by the Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run their coalition in Jammu and Kashmir as "anti-national and anti-Jammu".

Addressing a joint press conference, state president of BJP, Daya Krishan Kotwal, state general secretary, Dr Nirmal Singh and former MLA Ashok Khajuria smelt a deep rooted conspiracy, hatched by the Congress and PDP, in the controversial CMP to further enslave the Jammu and Ladakh.

"The Congress by accepting this pro-terrorist CMP, has not only once again ditched the people of Jammu region by shamelessly outraging their sentiments but also put in danger the integration of the nation by announcing concessions for terrorists", said Dr Singh while pointing towards clauses of CMP in which it was mentioned that family members of the terrorists killed in encounters will not only be given Government jobs but also properly rehabiliated. "By announcing this concession for the terrorists in the CMP, the Congress and PDP have equated families of terrorist with martyrs", he lamented and aired apprehension that this step will boost morale of the terrorists and secessionists forces. In a lighter vein, he suggested the coalition partners to announce Group Insurance Scheme for terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir and those have been killing innocent people including small children and women. He pointed out that the Congress-PDP has announced concessions for the kins of the terrorists but there has been little mention to help the destitudes caused by terrorism.

Taking a strong exception of abolishing of POTA and withdrawal of cases registered under this law, Mr Kotwal said that about 200 cases under POTA have been registered in the State. "By abolishing POTA and winding up Special Operation Group (SOG), the coalition was trying to demoralise security forces who have been fighting a proxy war unleashed by our neighbourer", BJP chief said and asserted that BJP will not remain a mute spectator and expose nefarious game plan of Congress and PDP to boost morale of the terrorists.

"For the last more than one decade, BJP has been fighting terrorism and hundreds of BJP workers have sacrificed their lives for maintaining integration and unity of the nation", he said and asserted that BJP will allow blood of the martyrs to go waste.

"We will not allow PDP-Congress to accomplish their nefarious designs", said Mr Ashok Khajuria, adding, "though we have only one member in the House but we will fight in streets to protect dignity and honour of nation". "Neither we will allow Cong-PDP to go scot free terrorists who were responsible for executing massacres at Rajiv Nagar or Kaluchak nor will we allow politicians to get funds from abroad through various Hawala channels to finance terrorism", he asserted.

Coming down heavily on Congress for not highlighting issues of regional disparities, Dr Singh said nothing concrete has been proposed to bring to an end to the step-motherly treatment being meted out to Jammu and Ladakh regions for the last 54 years.

Dr Singh asserted BJP activists were geared up to meet the challenges ahead "as our party is the legacy of a movement which was launched by late Pandit Prem Nath Dogra with the objective of defending Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of the country by frustrating any design of forces inimical to India".

Launching a scathing attack on Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers’ Party (JKNPP) for, what he alleged, its dubious role, Dr Singh said that party has won four Assembly seats on pro Jammu slogans, notwithstanding the doubtful credentials of the party supremo. "The people of Jammu had never expected that Panthers’ Party will stoop so low and become a party to the highly dangerous conspiracy hatched by the Congress and the PDP dismiss Jammu and Ladakh with contempt and nakedly abuse, taunt and insult them to achieve a few crumbs promised by Mufti and Sonia".

Interestingly State BJP chief today shifted blame on some Punjab Government employees, who were deployed in the State during elections, for totally wiping out of the party.

Wage earners are force to reckon with
Pro-bandh parties can’t take commoners
for a ride everytime

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Oct 29: The story of bandhs in Jammu is, precisely, the story of the average politician’s far-from-adequate knowledge of the changed psyche of the common man amid changing social and economic life across the region. And if the bandhs invariably flopped, the local populace was not to blame.

The failures of bandhs, calls for which were given differently by different groups and parties in the recent times, had one message—the average politician of Jammu cannot, and should not, ignore the aspirations and expectations of daily wage earners.

The number of this significant segment of society has already registered a phenomenal increase. Hence, an increase in the level of threat from them and thousands of others, particularly those involved in trade, business, commercial and transport sectors!

In other words, the continuing indifferent, if not aggressive, attitude adopted by this kind of huge crowd of the Jammu populace towards the obsolete "bandh philosophy" serves a warning on the political class to get ready for unpleasant consequences if it did not abandon the game of forcing bandhs and strikes.

For petty shopkeepers, vendors, drivers, conductors, who are solely dependent on their day-to-day earnings for their livelihood, the bandhs are, literally, a sword of Damocles.

Have frequent bandhs, which the politicians wanted to bring about in the past one year, helped improve Jammu’s economy? What specific purpose have these abortive bandhs served? These, in fact, are the million dollar questions which are being widely debated these days not only by daily wage earners but also by big businessmen, who too are becoming victims of frequent bandhs. Yet another question: Did the political class really benefit from their ‘bandh philosophy’?

Even during forceful bandhs, only daily wage earners become soft targets for no fault of theirs. On the other hand, restaurants, hotels and other big business establishments don’t get affected, simply because their owners and staff members don’t operate in the open like the rest of the wage earners.

Common people in general and analysts in particular have not failed to understand the average politician’s hidden agenda. The politician does not have sufficient strength and confidence to organise public expression in the form of protest rallies or public meetings. Hence, they everytime tactically resort to calls for bandhs. If politicians were so much concerned over the well-being of the Jammu people, they should keep in mind that poor people would be the main sufferer of bandhs which don’t, in any way, affect rich people and businessmen.

If one goes through the number of bandh calls given by the various organisations during the last one year one can easily imagine that all ended in futility and had not yielded any fruitful result. Hardly did any organisation opt for holding or organising massive protest demonstration for rectifying mistakes as a result of one action or the other of the powers that be.

It seems that as politicians are lacking public support and competence to organise massive demonstrations, they resort to giving bandh calls simply to ensure that they are not exposed in public.

Mr Ram Sahai, Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry is of the opinion that not only militancy even frequent bandhs are also responsible for the economic losses being suffered by State in general and Jammu region in particular.

"The closure of business establishments for one day means spoiling of business of coming one week", the Chairman of the Chamber said and added that due to one day bandh Jammu region is suffering a loss in crores but politicians are not ready to think on the line because for them their prestige is more important that region’s economy which is suffering a lot not because of militancy but also due to frequent bandhs.

Basically, Mr Sahai said, bandh should be last attempt of protest and bandh call should be given in case of any emergency but in Jammu bandhs have been losing sanctity and people are compelled to term it as mere a face saving attempt by politicians. "How can politicians organise a massive protest demonstration as they are lacking public support for their frequent and abortive bandh calls", he questioned.

Mr Kamal Sharma, chairman of Matador Workshop Union, said "frequent bandhs are actually assualt on our economical condition and slowly slowly driving us towards starvation".

"Politicians are befooling people by giving frequent bandh calls as they don’t have adequate strength to take out massive protest rallies instead of giving bandh calls which are fast becoming a formality.

According to Rajinder Singh, a Dhaba owner, they are the worst sufferers of the bandhs as on that day they don’t earn even a single penny but they have to give the wages of that day to the employees. He wants that Government should impose ban on giving bandh calls so that poor and common people could heave a sigh of relief.

Ladakh’s economic development needs fillip: Zotpa

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, Oct 29: Ladakh Hill Development Council is on the job of ensuring implementation of various developmental works in the landlocked region. And even as Lama Chosphel Zotpa, vice-chairman of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, has voiced satisfaction at the Council’s supervisory role, a message has just been dashed off, calling for a concerted drive to ensure that positive results from the economic development reached general masses across Ladakh.

The message has come from Lama Zotpa himself, shortly after he reached Leh on a 15-day visit to Ladakh. His mission in Leh and Kargil districts is to study different problems of different sections of the population in the region.

Soon after his arrival in Leh, Lama Chosphel Zotpa interacted with the officiating chief executive councillor of Hill Development Council, Rigzen Spalbar, and two councillors, Tsultim Phuntsog and Mohammed Abass Abidi. Lama Zotpa was given details about the various projects in hand in Leh district, involving funds from the Central Government.

As the discussions on the mechanism of implementing these schemes were in progress, the councillors urged Lama Zotpa to expedite the required flow of funds for various projects, including construction of Nimoo-Zanskar-Manali road.

Lama Zotpa not only highlighted the need to accelerate economic development but also made a pointed reference to promotion and preservation of cultural values of Ladakh in the Himalayan region. His message to the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association of Leh was to work for the preservation of Ladakh’s cultural values.

Various aspects of Buddhism in Ladakh came up for discussions Lama Zotpa had with top functionaries of Buddhist Association and Gompa Association. Tsering Samphel, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association, and Lama Lobzang Angchuk, president of Gompa Association, apprised him of their assessments on Ladakh’s Buddhism.

Two MLAs of Leh district, Rigzin Jora and Sonam Wangchuk Norboo, too, had a meeting with Lama Zotpa.

VARSITY NOTES
New Deans for JU Faculties nominated

By Nishikant Khajuria

As the triennial period of the existing Deans for various faculties in Jammu University is ending with the completion of the University Council’s tenure on November 18, new Deans have been nominated by the Vice Chancellor Prof R R Sharma.

While new Deans have been nominated for the six Faculties, Dean of Faculty of Science Prof Lalit Magotra, Dean Life Science Prof O P Sharma and Dean Management Studies Prof Ashok Aima have been accorded second term by the Vice-Chancellor.

Prof V P Magotra has replaced Prof N A Ganai as Dean Faculty of Law while Prof Hari Om will be new Dean of Social Sciences replacing Prof O P Sharma. Prof J R Panda has been nominated as Dean Behavioural Science. He will replace Prof S P Suri.

Prof Deshbandhu and Prof Neelam Gupta have been nominated as new Deans of Faculty of Commerce and Faculty of Arts, respectively. They will replace Prof R D Sharma and Prof Zahur-ud-Din. Prof Veena Gupta will replace Prof Neelam Saraf as new Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Science.

Principal Government Medical College and Principal GCET will be Deans of Faculty of Medicines and Faculty of Engineering.

The appointment of new Deans will take place with the issuance of notification of new University Council for the next three years.

* * * * *

For the first time in history of Jammu University, an independent body of the Campus students, having no affiliation with any political ideology, is being formed. Name and body of the new students’ union is likely to to be announced within days.

According to the university sources, the students’ union, which may be christened as ‘Jammu University Students Welfare Association’, will be a body of exclusively JU students. Aims and objectives of the JUSWA will be to highlight the problems of University students and the body will keep it limited to only with the Campus matters.

Sources further pointed out that the new students body will have no political affiliation or the ideology and it will be an independent body of students having sole objective of highlighting Campus students’ problems.

Besides concentrating on various University students’ problems regarding hostel boarders, admission seekers, examination, cultural, the new body will also highlight the alleged dictatorial behaviour of some JU administrators.

It is pertinent to mention here there are several students’ organisations in Jammu but no one is limited only to Jammu University and most of them have some political ideology. This will be for the first time that an exclusive University students’ body will come into existence.

* * * * *

The Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, is going to invite applications for admission to newly introduced MA Urdu and MA Hindi for the academic session 2002-2003.

Last date for receipt of application forms without late fee is November 20 and with a late fee of Rs 100 is November 10. The prospectus cum application form can be obtained from from the cash counter of the DDE by cash payment or through demand draft of Rs 50. Both MA Urdu and MA Hindi, have been introduced for the first time in DDE, JU. In 2002-2003 academic session, the Directorate has introduced three new PG courses. Admission applications for MA Fisheries, introduced this year, were invited only a few days ago.

* * * * *

For the first time, Bachelor programmes in Allied Health Science and IT Management, are being offered to Jammu students through popular mode of distance education as Allahabad Agriculture Institute—Deemed University, Allahabad, has opened its two study centres in winter capital of the State.

The Bachelor programmes in Allied Health Science includes; Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT), Bachelor of Medical Lab Technology (BMLT), Bachelor of Radiology and Imaging technology (BRIT) and Bachelor of Hospital Management (BHM).

Besides M Tech and B Tech in IT Management, the study centre also offer BCA, MCA, MBA, B Sc IT, M Sc IT and PGDCA courses through distance education mode.

People of Kargil will oppose trifurcation of State: IKT

SRINAGAR, Oct 29: The people of the border district of Kargil in Ladakh region will oppose any move to divide Jammu and Kashmir on communal lines, a senior leader of the Imam Khomani Trust (IKT) of Kargil has said.

"We will fight against any move of granting Union Territory status to Ladakh region as demanded by the recently formed Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF)", IKT general secretary Asgar Karbalyee said.

This is just a demand on communal lines, Mr Karbalyee said.

"The people of the Muslim majority Jammu and Kashmir joined secular India at the time of partition. How can we allow the division of the State now on communal lines", he said adding Jammu and Kashmir will remain one.

The LUTF played an important role in getting two independents Sonam Wangchok Nurboo (Nobra) and Nawang Rigzin(Leh) elected unopposed after the senior leaders of all regional and national political parties resigned from their respective parties and joined the LUTF.

The LUTF has been demanding Union Territory status to the entire Ladakh region—Leh and Kargil districts.

Mr Karbalyee said "we will not allow trifurcation of the State at any cost," but demanded due representation of the Ladakh region in the proposed coalition ministry and coordination committee.

"We welcome the announcement made in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) that Kargil district will also be granted an autonomous hill development council," he said.

This step would definitely help in the overall development of the Kargil district, he said.

He also demanded due representation of Ladakh region in the ministry.

"I felt very bad when there was no representative from the Ladakh region present during the release of CMP by Mr Sayeed at New Delhi," he said.

"We have extended our support to the coalition Government and it was the duty of the Congress and the PDP to give due representation to all the three regions of the State," he said.

The Zanaskar seat was retained by Mohammad Abbas for the National Conference while the Kargil seat was won by independent Haji Nissar Ali backed by the IKT and others.

Mr Karbalyee said "our one independent candidate has extended his support to the Congress-PDP coalition Government". Mr Karbalyee said "besides granting AHDC to Kargil, we demand an economic package for the area, which remained backward even after 55 years of independence".

He said because the previous National Conference (NC) Government failed to address the problems of the people of the area, they were defeated in the region. Against three seats in the previous Assembly they (NC) had just one member from this Himalayan region, he said.

Mr Karbalyee who headed the election campaigning of Haji Nissar said the people of the region, which remains cut off for six winter months from the rest of the world, have great expectation with the new coalition Government.

Our demand for diesel generator power sets, particularly during the winter months was turned down by the previous Government while the Leh district was given six such generator sets of 750 kw each. We are not against Leh, but at least the people of Kargil should not be ignored, he said.

"Our area has the vast potential of hydro power, which needs to be tapped to meet the demand of the entire region," he observed.

He, however was critical of sanctioning Rs 260 crore for a tunnel, which will connect Leh with Himachal Pradesh. "It was unfortunate that the package was sanctioned for the Jammu and Kashmir, but will be spent in Himachal Pradesh," he said.

Mr Karbalyee also pointed out that the entire Kargil district has only one college, which is yet to get affiliation from the Kashmir University.

Moreover, the college has not been receiving funds from the University Grants Commission since it has not been granted affiliation by the Kashmir University, he said.

He complained that the health care system in the district was very poor as compared to other districts of the State, and demanded that a sub-office of the School Board of Education should be opened in the region to conduct board examinations. (UNI)

Dr Ashwani Jojra honoured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29: In recognition to the commendable work for the welfare of blind, visually and physically impaired, orphans and destitutes, Dr Ashwani Jojra, Founder of SAHYOG, a reputed NGO, was honoured in the 16th Annual Conference of North Zone Ophthalmologic Society at Acharya Sri Chander College of Medical Sciences here.

The award was presented to Dr Ashwani by Director of the Institute by Dr S L Verma for his tireless efforts to wipe the sufferings of eye-sufferers in the areas out of reach.

In the award ceremony those who present and blessed Dr Ashwani Jojra were Dr D V Batra, vice president ASCOMS, Dr H L Goswami, Principal GMC Jammu, Dr H L Maini, Dr V K Pachnanda, Dr S S Soodan, Dr Subash Gupta, Dr S P Padha, Dr Madan Gopal Gupta, Dr R S Sood, Dr Dinesh Malhotra and delegates from AIIMS, New Delhi and other northern states.

Dr Jojra expressed his gratitude and sincere thanks to district administration, Principal GMC Jammu, Director Health services and all the well wishers, medical and para-medical staff for rendering all possible support, guidance and assistance to get good results in the camps.

He said he will always indebted to Dr S S Soodan, Prof and Head Ophthalmology Department ASCOMS and president NZOs and Mr Satya Pal Saraf, organisors Viklang Chhatra Trust Akhnoor for inspiring the management of SAHYOG.

SAHYOG is also involved in many other social activities for social, moral, national and human reconstruction to have value-based society, in addition to community eye care services. Till date SAHYOG has solemnized marriages of about 452 orphan and poor daughters.

Dr Jojra dedicates his services to his parents and describes his father Late Daulat Ram and his mother Mrs Karmawati Jojra as the motivating forces behind him and his social and philanthropic attitude and salutes them.

New sparkling Star Gold from Nov 3

Excelsior Correspondent

MUMBAI, Oct 29: This November 3, during the festival of lights, Diwali, which is celebrated all over, with fun and fervour, the viewers will witness a sparkling New Star Gold, in its new avtaar—young, bright, fresh and scintillating—in a sincere effort to relive the magic of movies—movies that one idolised and cherished, movies that mean more than reels of entertainment for the viewers.

Star Gold, in its new recast, take pride in bringing to the viewers a distinct flavour, which will set aparts bands and slots for different film genres thus bringing in a complete cinema viewing experience for the entire family. The genres will be Dopahar Gold, targeted towards housewives— a line up of women oriented, women centric and timeless love stories; Special Gold targeted to those who do not get to see Hollywood films.

In Special Gold, slot viewers will get to see the choicest Hollywood blockbusters dubbed in Hindi for the first time; Solid Gold, will consist of blockbusters and mega star-studded movies; Classic Gold, for all those golden moments lane, on Sundays; Gold Minor, a very special slot, on Saturday noon, for children. Films made in India, for children, will be aired on this slot. This is the first time any channel has a children’s movie viewing hour, with special movies for children.

Sunday mornings viewers will also be treated to devotional films on Star Gold. The channel will also telecast big star events, countdown music shows, exclusive premiers and also has a monthly contest, Catch the Gold Contest, with a soon to be released film. Viewers can win mega prizes like one kilo gold, diamond necklaces and even free tickets for vacations—all from November 3.

Army organises free Medical, Vet camp
under ‘Op Goodwill’

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 29: A medical-cum-veterinary camp was organised at Hartaryar, in Udhampur district under the auspices of the Sub Area as a part of ‘Operation Goodwill’, in the premises of Government High School Hartaryar.

It was coordinated and conducted by the Advance Field Veterinary Hospital on behalf of Sub Area. The camp provided free medical check up and medicines to the over 2000 population of villages Upper Hartaryar, Kareer, Suri Nala, Mathan, Pali, Sanali and Kal Dinga and veterinary cover to the 6000 animals of all these surrounding villages.

Lt Col S C Tomar and Lt Col L K Kapur of the Army Medical Corps alongwith Dr G L Dogra of the Primary Health Centre, Sanali, examined the treated the patients. Over 400 patients attended the camp. Medicines worth Rs 6000 were distributed to the patients free of cost.

Maj Ravinder Singh and Capt Pankaj Jain of the Remount Veterinary Corps of the Army alongwith Dr U K Sharma and Dr Gafoor of State Animal Husbandry Department examined and treated the animals. A Clinical Laboratory from the Field Veterinary Laboratory of the Army was set up to examine various laboratory samples for correct diagnosis of the diseases. Veterinary medicines worth Rs 6000 were distributed in the Camp. Special attention was given to animals suffering from parasitism and fertility problems.

During the health camp the Sarpanches of the villages were very grateful to the Army authorities for having provided succour to the ailing population. They profusely thanked Lt Col KGR Nair for the timely help rendered to them and their livestock. The Army organizers distributed about Rs 18,000 worth study material like black board, notebooks and textbooks and also sports items to the local schools.