Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 19: Work in all the state Government offices was affected today as the employees observed a one day strike on the call given by the J&K Government Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) in support of its demands.

The EJAC has given the strike call on December 16 after the State Government decided to credit the arrears of two DA installments to employees GP Fund.

The EJAC is demanding release of arrears along with pay and hike in the rate of daily wagers.

An EJAC handout issued here today claimed that the strike was total in the entire Jammu Province.

It said various teams of its volunteers who visited different offices in the City and outskirts found that the strike was hundred percent in the Medical College, C D Hospital, SMGS Hospital, Directorate Health Education, Ayurvedic College, PHE and Irrigation complexes, forest offices, school, D C Office, Custodian Department, PDD offices, COlleges, SRS Library, Handicrafts,Agriculture, Horticulture, Government Ranbir Press, Geology and Mining, Estates Department, Mechanical Divisions, JDA, Animal and Sheep Husbandry and almost all offices in Old Secretariat Complex.

It also claimed that total strike was observed in Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Doda and Poonch districts besides the tehsil headquarters of R S Pura, Akhnoor, Samba and Bishnah in protest against the Government’s what it alleged callous attitude towards the demands put forth by EJAC.

The EJAC leaders also addressed employees rallies at different places in the city and district headquarters in which the employees were urged to fight tooth and nail till their demands were not accepted by the Government.

The work was also paralysed in all the Government offices in the Doda district. A handout issued by the Joint Employees Front today said the employees held gate meetings at different places in the district in support of EJAC call.

It said at Kishtwar the gate meeting was addressed by Mr Rehmatullah Malik, district president Joint Employees Front. He while supporting the demands put forth by the EJAC urged that the wages of daily wagers of Forest Department, Anganwari workers, PHE Hand receipt workers be released immediately.

He also demanded regularisation of daily wagers and enhancement of Compensatory Allowances.

While showing the full solidarity with EJAC he said the employees in the district will also observe total strike on December 21.

Meanwhile the Civic Safai Karmacharis Union has also shown its total solidarity with the strike call given by the State Government employees.

The Union president Mr Jagdish Khokhar urged the Government to accept the demands put forth by the EJAC immediately.

All J&K Estate Employees Association held a meeting early in the morning today in which grave concern was expressed over the Government’s negative attitude towards the demands of the State Government employees.

The meeting was addressed by Mr Prem Singh president of the Association. The Association handout issued today said total strike was observed by the employees in all the estates offices which affected the routine work.

Chamber deputation meets J&K Bank chairman

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 19: A deputation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Mr Romesh Chander Gupta, president, called upon the Chairman of J&K Bank, Mr M Y Khan. Other Chamber leaders included Messrs Parveen Gupta and Mr Bhuvneshwar Gandotra.

As per a release the Chamber president thanked the chairman for taking a lenient and considerate view towards settlement of loans (non-performing assets) of traders and industrialists by giving reasonable concessions subject to clearance of dues in one lumpsum instalment. The chairman settled three such cases on spot on the request of the president.

Mr Parveen Gupta requested the chairman to create a permanent post of General Manager of JKBL in Jammu so that prospective borrowers’ request for grant of working capital and loans could be sanctioned without delay. The chairman assured to look into the matter.

Mr Bhuvneshwar Gandotra requested the chairman to provide depository facility for investors as the concept of demat trading on the bourses has already commenced. The chairman assured the deputation that J&K Bank shall be the first in the State to provide depository services.

In the evening a deputation of J&K Bank Officers Association led by Mr Arvind Gupta, president, called on the the Chamber president Mr Romesh Chander Gupta at Chamber House and assured of full cooperation and quick and speedy processing of loan cases besides providing efficient banking services.

Doda employees observe strike

Excelsior Correspondent

DODA, Dec 19: Employees of district Doda observed complete pen down strike on the call issued by Joint Employees Front Doda.

As per a release those who addressed the employees included Messrs Bhoori Singh, Shabir Ahmed Butt, Ram Parshad, Pardeep Singh Rana, Anayatullah Butt, Shakeel Ahmed Mir, V K Kotwal, Shadi Lal, Sanaullah Butt and Faquir Chand.

Research scholars hold seminar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 19: One day research scholars seminar was organised by the Urdu Department of Jammu University here today in which four research scholars presented their papers.

The seminar was presided over by Prof R K Mishra, head of Department of Buddhist Studies, a release, issued here today said.

The papers were presented by Messrs Mehmood Hussain, Mohammad Azam, Abdul Haq Naimi and Padam Kumar.

After the presentation of each paper a lively discussion ensued in which most of the students and scholars participated by putting questions or making observations.

The faculty members who participated in the discussion appreciated the efforts of the scholars.

In his presidential address, Prof R K Misra appreciated the efforts of the Department in organising such a seminar which he said was the begining of a new movement.

He further said such programmes will provide training to the participants to enable them to face the future academic challenges.

The proceedings of the seminar were conducted by Mr Abdul Haq Naimi who also presented the vote of thanks.

Others who participated in the function include Prof Zahur-ud-Din, Dr Nusharat Choudhary, Dr Zia-u-Din and Shohabiyat Malik.

Dogri Manta Din celebrated

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 19: The post-graduate department of Dogri celebrated the Dogri Manta Din at the University campus here today. The day is observed as Sahitya Akademi recognised Dogri language in 1970.

On this occasion, an inter-college and post-graduate departments of Jammu University elocution contest on the topic: "Cable TV is a great threat to the Indian culture" was organised. The students who participated in the contest spoke about the ill-effects of western channels on the Indian ethos and culture and stressed for having some sort of checks on foreign TV channels beaming programmes highlighting violence, sex and scandals. They generally pleaded for projection of Indian culture values and education programmes.

Mr Bikram Singh, student of MAM College,Jammu; Miss Ruchika Sharma, and Miss Prabha Angotra,both students of Government College for Women, Gandhinagar secured first, second and third positions respectively in the contest.Miss Ansuya Jamwal got the consolation prize.Others who took part in the debate included: Vishali Sharma, Mamju Sharma, Niti Khajuria, Lok Sevak,Sonia Kumari, Ashima Badyal, Ganesh Dutt Kimat Lal and Munisha.

The trophy was bagged by the Government College for Women, Gandhinagar.

Mr Nilamber Dev Sharma, former Secretary of Cultural Academy, in his presidential remarks said that on this Dogri Manta Din everyone must work so that this language gets its due status in the Constitution. He

lamented that the programmes over the local PGF centre, Jammu has been curtailed when the people of Dogri speaking region had been demanding full-fledged Doordarshan Kendra at Jammu and promotion of Duggar’s language and culture.

He stated the Centre had not only closed its eyes to the cultural aspirations of the people in this part of the country. The people, he said will stand up to fight against the onslaught on their culture and language.

Prof Champa Sharma, Head of Department of Dogri exhorted the Dogri-speaking people to struggle for attaining rightful place for language. She criticised the curtailment of programmes from PGF Centre, Jammu by the Information and Broadcasting ministry recently hurting the sentiments of the people.

Dr Samishta Sharma and Dr Shashi Bajaj, who have recently done doctorate in Dogri, were given memento on the occasion. While Dr Shivdev Singh Manhas conducted proceeding, Dr Veena Gupta presented vote of thanks.

JAKFED employees threaten fast from Dec 26

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 19: The JAKFED Employees in a meeting held today resolved to start hunger strike from December 26 in case till them the implementation of 5th Pay Commission was not ordered in their favour.

As per a release, of the All JAKFED Employees Welfare Association, the members made a fervent appeal to the chairman of the Federation and Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives as also the other bureaucrats at the helm of affairs to implement the report of 5th Pay Commission in their favour, regularize consolidated salaried employees and withdraw deputationists from the Federation at an earliest so that the employees were not forced to take extreme step of resorting to fast.

Meanwhile JAMMU Vikas Sanstha in a meeting of its office bearers extended full support to JAKFED employees in their strike programme of hunger strike being launched from December 26. They also appealed the authorities at the helm of affairs to concede the genuine demands and aspirations of the Federation employees.

JAKFED employees threaten fast from Dec 26

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 19: The JAKFED Employees in a meeting held today resolved to start hunger strike from December 26 in case till them the implementation of 5th Pay Commission was not ordered in their favour.

As per a release, of the All JAKFED Employees Welfare Association, the members made a fervent appeal to the chairman of the Federation and Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives as also the other bureaucrats at the helm of affairs to implement the report of 5th Pay Commission in their favour, regularize consolidated salaried employees and withdraw deputationists from the Federation at an earliest so that the employees were not forced to take extreme step of resorting to fast.

Meanwhile JAMMU Vikas Sanstha in a meeting of its office bearers extended full support to JAKFED employees in their strike programme of hunger strike being launched from December 26. They also appealed the authorities at the helm of affairs to concede the genuine demands and aspirations of the Federation employees.

2 Rajouri students selected for National Festival

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 19: Miss Shashi Sood and Harpreet Singh students of International School Rajouri have been selected to participate in the National Youth Festival to be held at Luckhnow in Uttar Pradesh from January 12 to 16.

The selection of two students was made in a district level painting competition here today which was organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra.

A 325 metre long painting will be displayed in this festival which will be made by the students selected from the different schools of the country.

Two students from each district will participate in this competition.

According to Nehru Yuva Kendra 210 metres of the painting have been completed so far. They said this will be ever biggest painting in the world to be displayed in a festival.

Today’s competition was held in the international School Rajouri.