Sai College organises debate competition

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: Sai Shyam College of Education, Ghou -Manhasan, organised an inter-college debate competition on the topic " The Indian Culture has enough potential to face the future challenges of the Nation" here today.

As per a release, Dr O S Sudan Director Colleges Development University of Jammu was the chief guest. He spoke at length about the human values in general and Indian cultural values in particular. He was pleased to note that the college has come up to his expectations. He offered his compliments to the management committee members and the organisers for organising this programme.

Earlier, Dr Sudan was given warm welcome by the chairman managing committee, Principal, staff and students of the college. Dr Usha Thusoo principal of the college in her welcome address gave the background of the college and spoke about the programmes which the college has started.

Dr J L Raina and Prof Nancy Handoo were the judges on the occasion. Twelve students participated in the contest. Miss Manisha, Mr Rakesh Sharma and Miss Monika bagged first three positions. A consolation prize was given to other participants also. An impressive cultural programme was also presented.

Mr C L Tickoo, chairman Managing Committee presented a memento to the chief guest. The programme was compared by Prof Sunita Kadalbajoo. Prof Anju Kotwal proposed the vote of thanks.

RIMCS opens centre at Dayalachak

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Dec 14: Regional Institute of Management and Computer Sciences (RIMCS), a leading Software training institute in Jammu region opened its franchise centre at Dayalachak. Mr Girdhari Lal, MLA Hiranagar, and Mr B R Lachotra, CPO Kathua, inaugurated.

Mr Lakhvinder Singh has been elected as director of the RIMCS branch at Dayalachak. Addressing the gathering Mr Girdhari Lal promised to provide computer training to students of those families who are living below poverty line from his personal fund as early as possible.

Mr B R Lachotra appreciated the initiative taken by RIMCS to start a new branch at Dayalachak which would to the requirements of the border area people. He added that steps would be taken to help students belonging to SC/ST/OBC and BPL students. He promised to pay attention of District development Board agencies at Kathua to help the below poverty line students also.

Keeping in view the great demand for RIMCS courses by people from far off areas, Mr Baryam Munday promised to open more new branches in various sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr S P Kundal, Director RIMCS Kathua announced an inaugural Discount in course fee for various career courses at Dayalachak centre.

The Centre director Mr Lakhvinder Singh presented vote of thanks.

Maruti for Police Mela winner

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: The winner in the Jammu and Kashmir Police Mela which will start here tomorrow will get Maruti 800. This is for the first time that the winner of the Mela will go home with a good booty since the inception of the Mela.

The good news for the participants in this Mela has come after the Maruti Udyog Limited, the number one car company in the country has decided to sponsor the first prize to one who will be adjudged best during the Mela.

According to Police Department handout, the first prize winner will get a Maruti 800 from the Company.

All the three dealers in Jammu i e Shaurya Motors Limited, Highland Automobiles and Jamkash Vehicleades will be participating on behalf of Maruti Udyog Limited and are the part of the sponsorship.

R-Day arrangements finalized

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14 : Arrangements for forth coming Republic Day celebration were finalized at a high level meeting held here today with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Mr. Anil Goswami in the chair.

The meeting held deliberations for making elaborate arrangement to celebrate Republic Day 2003 with full vigour, enthusiasm and gaiety.

The state level function will be held at the conventional venue of MAM Stadium where the Tricolour would be unfurled by the Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena. This will be followed by impressive March past by the twenty-seven contingents. These include eleven contingents of Army, Air Force, CRPF, BSF, JKAP, IRP, District Police, Auxiliary Police, Fire Services, Ex- Servicemen, Sports Persons and National Award Winners and National Cadet Corps. Besides, this the Students from 16 schools too would participate in the march past along with the members of belt forces.

The 2003 Republic Day will also have the participation of as many as eight musical bands including those of Army, Police and melodious Flute and Drum Band of school children.

The Republic Day celebrations will start with Mangal Dhawni early in the morning at several places of Jammu City by the State Information Department.

As a part of these celebrations several cultural programmes would also be organized at the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Abhinav theatre. Prominent of these programmes includes music concert by Radio Kashmir Jammu on January 24' 2003, Cultural programme by Cultural Wing of Information Department on January 25, Ladies Cultural programme by Youth Services and Sports Department on January 27 and All India Urdu Mushaira by Cultural Academy Jammu on January 28. A colourful cultural bonanza by the students of various educational institutions too would be held focussing on the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.

Government buildings too would be decorated and illuminated tastefully on the Republic Day, informed Mr. Goswami.

The other arrangements discussed include adequate security, sanitation, barricading, uninterrupted supply of power and water, transportation, medi-care facilities and provision of ambulance, deployment of traffic staff, fire tenders, seating and public address system.

The meeting among others was attended by Senior officers of Army, para-military forces, Police and Civil administration.

Floral tributes paid to Capt P K Gour

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: The annual wreath lying ceremony on the martyrdom day of Capt P K Gour, Maha Vir Chakra (posthumous) was organised at village Dodwan near Dinanagar Pathankote today. Capt P K Gour, an aircraft pilot from a reconnaissance and observation flight took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. During the war he undertook several air missions every day and caused attrition to the enemy.

On December 14, 1971, he fearlessly engaged the enemy concentrations with medium artillery fire and caused havoc and confusion in the enemy lines. Defeated and demoralised by the gallant action of this unarmed pilot, the enemy called in his Pakistan Air Force Sabre jets. Capt Gour’s aircraft was engaged by enemy Sabre jets. With utter disregard he continued directing the artillery fire and continued to perform this task. Finally he went down with the aircraft at village Dodwan.

Capt R K Gour was awarded a Maha Vir Chakr during the 1971 war while serving the reconnaissance and observation flight of the Dhruv formation. In his everlasting memory, a memorial has been constructed at that very place where in the true traditions of the Indian Army Capt P K Gour went down with his aircraft. He, thus, made the supreme sacrifice as a true solider for his country.

After the wreath lying ceremony at the memorial, a get together was organised for the residents of Dodwan village. Col NJS Gill, Squadron Commander of the Army Aviation Squardron (R&O) presided over the function. School level competitions were organised in the games of Volley ball and cricket. The village school has been adopted by the unit.

Golfer Mufti likes golfer Farooq’s venture

By B L Kak

JAMMU: Playing golf is one of the hobbies of the present Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. This information was made public here the other day by the Mufti himself, immediately after a female scribe approached him to know from him his hobbies.

The Chief Minister, however, didn’t find it necessary to reveal further details on the outdoor game in which each player tries to hit a small hard ball into a series of 9 or 18 holes using as few strokes as possible. The Mufti did recognise the existing golf course in Jammu city as "quite good".

One ‘G’—that is, golf—for which Mufti Sayeed has weakness. Another ‘G’- that is, ghazal—also attracts the Chief Minister, although not to the level his predecessor, Farooq Abdullah, is known to have.

The two political heavyweights, the Mufti and Farooq Abdullah, differ with each other on numerous issues. But they seem to be united on one thing—that is,keeping golf-course here, there, everywhere in good order.

No wonder then that Mufti Sayeed chose New Delhi, on December 12, as the venue for offering a sweet puff to Farooq Abdullah. At a meeting organised by the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), the Mufti openly thanked Farooq for having laid what he termed as "the most beautiful golf-course in Kashmir". The Mufti said so as he extended an offer of playing golf to India’s top echelons of business houses.

Equally loaded was the Mufti’s offer of full cooperation from his Government to the country’s business community to invest in Jammu and Kashmir. The Mufti and his Government will have to wait, as the investor from outside the State will think ten times before coming forward to make available funds for different projects in the troubled territory of J&K.

True, encouraging signs are visible since the new Government came into being early last month. But the threat from terrorists continues not only in the Valley but also in parts of the Jammu region. This as well as the unabated militant attacks on security personnel and their camps are fully known to the public outside J&K.

Therefore, reservations or fear in the Indian business community as well as foreign investors are not without a basis. Mufti Sayeed was satisfied with his talks, in Jammu recently, with the US Ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill. But the US envoy, at the same time, highlighted the fact: Foreign investment will start flowing into Jammu and Kashmir only if peace and tranquility returned to the State.

If the US Ambassador succeeded in influencing the Mufti by his assessment of the situation along the Line of Control (LoC), Farooq Abdullah, though known for his pro-West stance, declined to praise the United States’ role. A measure of confusion prevailed after Robert Blackwill’s significant statement on the cross-border infiltration in J&K.

Infiltration of terrorists, according to Blackwill, is still taking place across the LoC from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. The assessment of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. S Padmanabhan, on the other hand was: Infiltration from across the border has reduced by about 43-44 per cent. Reduced infiltration on the border for this part of the year is reasonably good.

Farooq Abdullah had a different tale to tell. He went all the way from Jammu to Ludhiana to pronounce his judgement against the coalition Government headed by Mufti Sayeed. On December 11, Farooq told mediapersons that there was an increase in cross-border terrorism since the Mufti took over reins of power.

Farooq’s statement on the stepped-up cross-border terrorism ran against the statement, on the subject, made in Rajya Sabha, the same day, by the Union Minister of State for Home, Vidyasagar Rao. Rao informed the ‘House of Elders’ that there has been no spurt in terrorist activities in a month. This was a clear reference to the period begining from November 2 when the Mufti Government was formed in Srinagar.

The Mufti alone is not in the news these days because of his policy of "healing touch". Another Kashmiri of consequence, who has once again established that he possesses art and craft to magnetize people in power, is none other than the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited,M Y Khan —`MYK’ to his close associates.

‘MYK’ created history of sorts on December 13. He successfully wooed Mufti Sayeed to inaugurate J&K Bank’s 450th branch at Faridabad (Haryana). The Mufti,too, took many by surprise when, in his speech, after inaugurating the branch of the Bank, he lauded the enviable achievements of the J&K Bank and the "untiring efforts" of MY Khan.

State Govt committed to remove discrimination
with Jammu: PDP

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has assured the border migrants that their problems will be mitigated as soon as possible. PDP further assured the people that coalition Government will remove discrimination with all regions and sub-regions of the State. These assurances were given by PDP Rajya Sabha member Mr Trilok Singh Bajwa and general secretary Mr Ved Mahajan while addressing public meetings at Marh block and Biaspur, Seer and Barshal Pur in R S Pura.

According to a press release, while addressing the meeting at Marh, Mr Ved Mahajan said that State Government was committed to remove discrimination with Jammu region as equal development of all the regions of the State was top priority of the new regime. He said that decision of the State Government to appoint Chief Secretary from Jammu region and nomination of Trilok Singh Bajwa as Rajya Sabha member indicate that this regime was sincere in doing justice with Jammu region.

Pointing towards decision of the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to himself distribute appointment letters to the kith and kin of the militancy affected families, Mr Mahajan said that it was slapped on the face of those who have launched a malicious campaign against Chief Minister. He cautioned people against those forces who are hell bent to create confusion among masses. He further assured the people that equal treatment will be given to all sections of the society in every sphere of lives.

Mr Trilok Singh Bajwa, MP, while addressing public meetings at R S Pura, said that new Government headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is people friendly which is sincere in solving people’s problem. Responding to the memorandum presented by the public at different places, Mr Bajwa said that demands putforth by the people will solved. He assured the people that matter will be taken up with the concerned authorities.

Mr Bajwa said that with the installation of the new Government hopes of the people have been enormously raised. He assured the people that their problems will be solved in a phased manner. He asked the people to strengthen which has the agenda of people’s welfare.

Mr Baldev Slathia district president in his address said that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is very sensitive towards the problems of border migrants and assured the people that all possible steps will be taken to mitigate their problems.

Messrs Ranbir Manhas, Ashok Sharma, Sukhvinder Singh, Zaffar Khan, Suram Singh, Ch Chuni Lal, Baldev Singh Pappa, T R Dogra, Joginder Singh and others addressed the meetings.

Shastri Memorial Hr Sec School celebrates
cultural-sports day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary School organised sports cum cultural day.

According to a press release, in the Stackly Race contest Kavita got first prize while second and third prizes were went in favour of Aman and Sarthak. Reema won first prize in Spoon Race contest and second and third prizes were gone in favour of Vishnu and Robin respectively.

Simran got first prize in Forg Race while Shivali and Kunal were adjudged as second and third respectively in this race.

In Cycle Race it was Nitik who won first prize followed by Mehak and Rahil who won second and third prizes respectively. Nazia won first prize in Handkerchief Race while Arti and Vaishali respectively got second and third prizes.

Palak got first prize in Musical Race in which Shivam and Shally got second and third prizes respectively while in the Rope Race contest Lotiak, Ashia and Kashap got first, second and third prizes respectively. In the Simple Jumping contest, Mehak got first prize while Shivali and Vikas were adjudged as second and third.

Cultural programme presented by the students was highly appreciated by the audience. Tiny tots spreaded a message of patriotism and unity in the cultural programmes.

Harshdev for re-orientation of education system

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: The Education Minister, Mr. Harshdev Singh has called for re-orientation of education system in consonance with the requirement of 21st century. Chairing a meeting of officers of Education Department here today, Mr. Singh said that education system in the State needs innovative reforms to chisel the fledgling mind of the future generation for pragmatic results. He said Government has contemplated various state and central schemes to expand the horizon of education so that brain of every child is illuminated with the candle of education, imperative for developing homogenous society.

He exhorted the officers to work with missionary zeal with holistic approach for the eradication of illiteracy, which would prove a panecca for, all the ills gnawing the society.

Emphasizing for the urgent need of computerization in the educational curriculum, he said that education is incomplete without computers and the government is committed to introduce the same as a compulsory subject in all the schools. For properly implementing the Serva Sikshya Abhiyan and educational gruantee schemes, he said community involvement has become imperative.

Mr. Singh also emphasized for vigorous implementation of SSA & EGS Programme for achieving the goal of universalization of education. He said that introduction of English as a medium of instruction from first standard has also attained a significance and early measures will be initiated in this connection.

The meeting also discussed various programmes including construction of school buildings under NABARD, training and engagement of teachers under the SSA& EGS programmes, with preparation of perspective plans to be submitted to the Government of India.

The Director School Education, Mr. M. S. Khan also spoke on the occasion.

Joint Director Education, Joint Director Education (P&S), CEOs and DIET Principals and other officers of the department were also present.