ABVP organises Gyan Pratiyougita test

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: To get the young generation inform about the glorious ......more

Dr Karan Singh to
release first issue of
Ranverishwar Panchang

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: Renowned Sanskrit scholar and former Union Minister, Dr ...more

State BJP leaders hail Gupta’s announcements

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: Pradesh Bharatiya Janta Party has hailed the decision of ....more

Paucity of staff, funds hit
Udhampur Degree College

BY MOHINDER VERMA

UDHAMPUR, Oct 17: The prevailing financial crunch in Jammu and ....more

Yatrika Niwas inaugurated

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: The second phase of Yatrika Niwas Katra constructed at a ....more

Training prog organised

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: A 5-day training programme on "Participatory Watershed ..more

Ban on sale of crackers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: The District Magistrate, Jammu, Mr PK Tripathi in exercise ....more

JDU leader ridicules
Mufti’s statement

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: Pradesh Janata Dal United (JDU) has ridiculed the former Home Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mr Mufti ...more

EJAC holds meet to garner support for Oct 23 dharna

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: The leaders of various district level associations and unions assembled at Town Hall today under the banner of Employees Joint ...more

ABVP organises Gyan Pratiyougita test

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: To get the young generation inform about the glorious history of India, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidharthi Parishad (ABVP), J&K today conducted a test in which about 2000 students of 10th, 11th and 12th classes all over the State participated. The test based on the history of Khalsa Panth and Dogra rule in J&K held at different centres included R S Pura, Akhnoor, Kishtwar, Assar, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Kathua and Jammu.

According to a press release, the paper was framed of 100 questions of multiple choice about the Khalsa Panth and Dogra rulers. In Jammu the test was conducted at DBN School, Talab Tillo in which 300 students participated.

The result of the test will be declared in the coming week and will be posted to the respective schools. Awards of first, second and third will be given to the winners in the state conference of the ABVP which will be held on November 13 at Jammu. The reward for the first three position consisting a cash prize of Rs 3000, Rs 2000 and Rs 1000 respectively.

Dr Naresh Padha, former president of the J&K ABVP was the chief examination controller and Mr Narinder Singh, state president ABVP was the convenor of the Gyan Pratiyougita test.

Dr Karan Singh to release first issue of
Ranverishwar Panchang

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: Renowned Sanskrit scholar and former Union Minister, Dr Karan Singh will release first issue ofRanverishwar Panchang at a function which will be held at Gole Gujar on October 20.

Talking to media-men, organiser of the Tercentenary Celebration Committee of Vijayshewar Panchang, Mr Omkar Nath Shastri said that it was dream of the late Mr Prem Nath Shastri to start Ranvireshwar Panchang for the people of Jammu. "To honour the last wishes of revered late Prem Nath Shastri and stick to his commitment made on May 8 to media we have decided to organise this function", he said.

Lt Mr Prem Nath Shastri Ji had decided to start new Panchang for Jammu people in connection with the tercentenary celebrations of the Vijayshewar Panchang.

The inauguration function will start at 3 pm and Dr Karan Singh, renowned Sanskrit scholar and authority on Vedanta has been kind enough to agree to be the chief guest on the occasion, he said.

Vijeshwar Panchang Tercentenary Celebration Committee has also announced a nine members reception committee with Pandit Mool Raj Shastri, a famous Sanskrit scholar as its president.

Pt Mool Raj Shastri, a well known Sanskrit scholar of Jammu said that Ranvireshwar Panchang would cater to the needs of the Jammu people in particular and people of State in general.

Among other noted dignitaries of national and international fame, eminent astrologer and editor of the esteemed Martland Panchang, Mr Priyavat Sharma has consented to be inaugurate the office complex of Vijayshwar Panchang at Jammu.

Mr Omkar Nath Shastri said that on the tercentenary of this Panchang, the Vijeshwar Panchang Karyalay has decided to convene a conference in Jammu on October 20 and conference would appeal for introspection and aim at reversing the process of degeneration of man kind which has been dehumanised with the growth of blind materialism and fundamentalism.

State BJP leaders hail Gupta’s announcements

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 17: Pradesh Bharatiya Janta Party has hailed the decision of Union Government to start direct flight from Mumbai to Jammu from first November.

In a joint statement issued here today, Dr Nirmal Singh, general secretary and spokesman of the State BJP and Mr Kavinder Gupta, secretary of the state BJP have appreciated the announcement of Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta that a direct flight from Mumbai to Jammu would be started for the benefit of Vaishno Devi pilgrims. BJP leaders said that people of State in general and Jammu in particular have high expectation from new Central Government led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and hoped that new Government would fulfill dreams of the Jammu people.

State BJP leaders regretted that for the last 52 years Jammu region has been facing step-motherly treatment meted out by the successive State Government. They hoped that BJP Government at Delhi would take effective steps to provide justice to Jammuites.

Mr Kavinder Gupta hailed announcement of Prof Gupta that Jammu Air-Port would be renovated and equipped with all modern facilities. While appreciating statement of Prof Chaman Lal Gupta that BJP would oppose tooth and nail any attempt to revert pre-1952 position, Dr Nirmal Singh asserted that State BJP would strongly oppose all anti-people policies of the National Conference Government. He hailed decision of the Central Government to strengthen Village Defence Committee and equipping them with sophisticated weapons.

Mr Kavinder Gupta, however, condemned the PDD authorities for imposing 9 hours unprecedent power curtailment on the people of Jammu region. He warned to launch an agitation in case authorities to failed to provide uninterrupted power supply in the Jammu region.

Paucity of staff, funds hit
Udhampur Degree College

BY MOHINDER VERMA

UDHAMPUR, Oct 17: The prevailing financial crunch in Jammu and Kashmir is taking a heavy toll of the educational infrastructure in the state not withstanding the fact that future of thousands of students is at stake.

Government Degree College Udhampur is one of the institutions, which has lost its sheen over the past one year slowly and gradually as it grappled with the financial crunch. The institution even lacks the basic facilities required for imparting education to the students of whole district.

But some insiders alleged that the college authorities were also responsible for dilapidated condition of institution to a large extent. An employee of the college on the condition of anonymity said that the only half of the funds allocated for improving the condition of the institution were used for this purpose.

The college is facing the proverbial ‘problem of plenty’. The existing building of the college are proving insufficient to take in the swelling number of students every year. All the class rooms of the college were seen crammed with students and teachers find it difficult to teach them. According to the records of the Degree College, every year 50 to 100 students in each faculty have been deprived of admission due to the shortage of the class-rooms in the college.

This year 692 students were admitted in Part-I, 490 in Part-II and about 300 in Part-III but the college building does not have rooms for the increasing number of students. "We have brought the problem of shortage of class-rooms in the college to the notice of Government a number of times but all efforts of the college to get funds for constructing new room have not yield any result due to the financial crunch in the state", said an official of the college.

The class-rooms of the college also lack basic facilities needed by the students. The window panes of the class-rooms are broken and without wire-gauge at many places and students find it very difficult or rather impossible to sit in the class-rooms during the winter season. The sitting benches of the college are broken and it seems that these have not been repaired since long. The electric fitting in the college also are in a bad condition. The live wires are loose at many places and pose great danger to the students. There is only a one fan in the each class-room and the students siting in the back benches failed to get the benefit of fans. "We have to bear with unbearable conditions during the scorching heat in the month of summer but concerned authorities did not pay attention towards this", said a student. Not only this, the college also lacks drinking water facility. The students have to go outside to quench their thirst.

"We have brought these problems to the notice of Principal of the College a number of times but inspite giving sympathetic hear to our problems, the Principal threatened us to resticate from the college," said a students of BSc Part-II on the condition of anonymity.

In 1990, the construction of library building for the college was started but till today it has not been completed due to the blockage in flow of funds for improvement of the college. The present library of the college is made in a class room and students have to scan every book to find out the needed one. The library also lacks the new editions of references books and virtually is of no use. "If we have to buy every book from the market for widening our knowledge then what is the fun of college library", said some students of the college. The college has also laboratories for the students with minimum possible facilities.

Besides education facilities, the College is eclipsed with the problems of inadequate staff. The shortage of the teachers in college further added to the woes of the students. Though, the college authorities have arranged some adhoc teachers to attend the students but still there is a dire need of 28 teachers. The adhoc teachers are also reeling under several financial hardship. They are getting minimum possible salary that too after 4 months. Sources said that due to the non-payment of salary in time adhoc teachers were left the college.

The hostel of the college can accommodate only 60 students while the number of room aspirants is many times more. Presently, two students have shared each room but there is urgent need of more rooms to accommodate 150 students. Due to non-availability of boarding facilities for girls, many parents, especially of rural areas, who do not have higher education facilities in their areas even shy away from educating their girls.

The hostel even lacks the basic facilities. Foul smell welcomes every visitor to the hostel. The sanitary condition in the hostel is worsening day-by-day. On the condition of anonymity some students of the hostel alleged that nothing has been done so far to improve the condition of hostel. The surroundings of the hostel is covered with bushes and it seems that these have not been uprooted months together. Notwithstanding the tall claims of the college authorities, there is no proper arrangement in the mess also.

The canteen of the college is housed in small room and even lacks basic facilities. There is no provision of electricity and sitting arrangement in the canteen as a result of which the students keeps themselves away from the canteen.

Though violent incidents in the college have been increasing for the last few months, authorities yet have to take any effective step to improve security arrangement in the campus.

Prof Hakumat Singh, staff secretary, when contacted by this EXCELSIOR Correspondent confessed that the college in dilapidated condition and said that there is a immediate need of repair work. "The library block is still under-construction and this can be completed only if we have sufficient funds," said Mr Singh added that college needed Rs 32 to 40 lakh for the completion of the library and for purchasing new books. He added that they have approached higher authorities a number of times to sanction more funds for the college but no action has been taken by the concerned authorities so far".

He said that Zoology, Sericulture and Botany departments are housed in one building but they needed separate blocks and three more labs for the college along with the equipments. He further said that the college in a dire need of eight class-rooms due to the swelling number of students every year.

"There is a acute shortage of the staff in the college and we have to manage some adhoc teachers for attending the students", Mr Singh said. He confessed that the hostel building is insufficient for the students and said that their is urgent need of girls hostel in the college. The staff secretary said that the lacks of funds is the main hurdle in the smooth-functioning of the college.