Mailbag

Stray Animals on National Highway Kathua

Sir,

I would like to have some space in Mail column of your esteemed Daily Excelsior regarding these stray animals causing accidents and are also subjects to be crushed by the vehicles plying on the National Highway, in general and Kathua in particular. In Kalibari Kathua National Highway these stray animals are numbering from 150-200 are always wandering on the road and crossing it frequently. Actually these animals are owned by nearby villagers i.e Janglote, Khrote, Kalibari etc. Of course, these animals are useful cows, oxes for fields and are never a burden for their owners if cared properly by the them. But to their misfortune, they are Indian species. These cows can also provide sufficient milk if nourished like Jersey (American cows). Surprisingly, what the people are doing for their animals, rather have left them for being crushed on the roads. They are always after jersey or American specy cows (so called frogen cows). Anyway, the authorities are very much in the know about the stray animals, I may mention here an incident rather accident that on 13.8.99 at Kalibari right before H. P. Petrol pump a scooterist was coming from Pathankot side, struck with a cow as a result of which both scooterist and the cow breathed their last.

Hence, it is requested to the concerned authorities that some preventive steps be initiated so that the animals be saved from causing accidents and for the smooth plying of vehicles on the National Highway as well.

Yours etc...
Manohar Lal
Sarswati Vihar
Kathua.

Name of Agri Universities

Sir,

Agriculural and Horticultural Institutions in J&K prefixed with 'Sher-e-Kashmir' before their names. This must have been done by late Sheikh Abdullah's sycophants and hangers on because the prefix has little relevance to the actual state of affairs. In this connection I would like to quote an extract from an article by Dr Mohd Shafi Dar that was published in December 1996.

Quote ''The sectoral data on agriculture reveals that the net State product which was 63.77 percent declined to 43 percent. Towards the beginning of Sikh rule (1823) about 63 percent of the total population was constituting the cultivating class. Later (i.e. the Dogra rule) the agricultural population increased from 63 percent to 84 percent in 1946 and reached more than 90 percent by 1948. Since then the percentage has come down 57 percent by 1981 census....''Unquote. The Figure must have gone further down by now.

The peak figure of over 90 percent was reached at the end of Maharaja Hari Singh's rule and speaks volumes for his land use and agricultural policies.

It is only fair and logical and institutions connected with agriculture should have Hari Singh prefixed to their names.

Yours etc...
A. S. Jamwal
110, Exchange Road,
Jammu.

Students future at stake

Sir,

This refers to the notification of Kashmir University Sub-Office, Notification No. F(BG-3rd) KU dated 14-9-1999 published on 1st October 1999 in your newspaper that the examinations of the IIIrd year shall be commencing from 15th of November, 1999 for 1999-2000 session. But to the surprise a student group, which can be called as anti-students group have started protests regarding as according to them early examinations whereas most of the students are willing to appear in the examinations commencing from 15th of November, 1999. But these anti-students organisations are going to put the future of students at stake as already, this session students have paid an extra one year till date and yet have not completed their graduation.

It is clear from the college records that this group constitutes of such students, who have not yet all cleared in 1st and 2nd years respectively and it hardly matters whether they pass this year or not as they have to pass out their backlog papers as well so as to call them graduates. At present more than 50 per cent of syllabus has been completed by the students and in the next 20-25 days atleast 30 per cent to 40 per cent more syllabus can be completed and it is more than sufficient to appear in the examinations rather than to waste a year. The protestants are demanding for examinations in March, which is itself a burden on Kashmir University and students as well. Most of the competitive post graduate examinations are held in between March to June and now for appearing in State level examinations in BPO, UPSC and M.Sc at the time of appearing, a pass certificate is an essential document to be attached. It is also beyond the rules of a University to conduct mid session examinations which is neither helpful to them nor to the students appearing.

If the protestants postpone the examination date upto them decided date, it is hard to rely upon the assurance of Kashmir University as the live example is ongoing B.Sc. IInd year. The Kashmir University has never been an updated university particularly for our displaced students. In any case this step of protestants is going to cause a serious problem. This prominent anti-student group provokes the other students and are causing a self imposed/caused problem.

We on behalf of other parents of students of Kashmir University IInd year request the Education Minister and the Chief Minister and Kashmir University authorities not to postpone the examinations as already our wards have tasted the different flavours of such assurances and improper protests. We shall be highly thankful to the Principal GGM Sc. College to notify it to the students to join classes regularly and stop such protests. It shall be highly appreciated.

Yours etc....
Parents of Final Yr. Students
Kashmir University