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Work for ruralites, uplift
BPLs; Prez to legislators Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 28: Asserting that the vision of prosperous, happy and peaceful India is within the realm of certainty, the President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said this mission has to be achieved by value ...more Husband arrested for setting ablaze wife Excelsior Correspondent RAMNAGAR, June 28: A husband was arrested for setting ablaze his wife at village Dehari in Ramnagar tehsil today. According to police ........more Increase of 51 marks gave her 14th position Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: A blunder by the State Board of School Education (BOSE) .......more Metlife India opens Srinagar office Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 28: Metlife India Insurance Company today celebrated the formal opening of its new.......more Auction
of MFP in Doda Distt Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: All J&K Forest Contractors Association, under the presidentship of Qazi Jalal-ud-Din, .........more |
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Detached teachers hold protest alongwith their children Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: All the teachers of Jammu province, who have been detached from their postings in the various districts, today held demonstration alongwith their children infront of the office of ........more Arena Multimedia Jammu Centre celebrates 3rd successful year Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Arena Multimedia Jammu II Centre today celebrated its third successful year of imparting quality multimedia education in Jammu. ........more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Three persons were injured and a PDD lineman received severe electric shock. Police said that one Gian Chand of Gadigarh......more Children
stampede for Prez autograph at Raj Bhavan Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGR, June 28: Asserting that no religion permits killing, President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam today said that violence and terrorism . .........more |
Work for ruralites, uplift BPLs;
Prez to legislators Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 28: Asserting that the vision of prosperous, happy and peaceful India is within the realm of certainty, the President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said this mission has to be achieved by value addition and optimal use of technology in the farm sector. Interacting with the legislators here this afternoon after giving them power point presentation on ‘Vision for Developed India’, the President said that the State has tremendous human and natural resources, adding that if these are properly developed and channelized by adequate use of technology, J&K could become one of the most developed State of the country. He called upon the legislators to move out to the rural areas, interact with people, know about their problems and find solutions thereof. He said this will help in faster socio-economic development of ruralites. The President stressed upon the legislators to give top priority for harnessing State’s vast hydel power potential as this resource could make Jammu and Kashmir a front line developed State. He said tourism is another area which has to be promoted in a big way for generating employment avenues and economic activity. He said both these sectors have been listed as thrust areas for the State by the union Government. He said tourism has started picking up in the State giving much hope to those associated with it and more efforts are required to promote it. He said you have to develop upon the core competence of the State. Explaining his vision of India as a developed country by 2020, Dr. Kalam said that the country is primarily agriculture based and so is Jammu and Kashmir. He said education is vital for transforming it to a vibrant economy by making technological interventions. Similarly, to make India a developed nation by 2020, we have to move from agriculture society to industrial society by taking recourse to value addition. He said another stage would be the electronic connectivity that will lead it to information society followed by knowledge society and ultimately an economic society. Replying to a query raised by a legislator about the less number of teachers and schools in the State, the President said this shortcoming can be overcome by using IT tools like internet whereby 10-15 class rooms with good teachers can teach the children of whole State and provide them quality education. He said every child has right to education and this could be ensured by proper use of IT. Dr Kalam stressed the need for having peace in the State to provide equal opportunities of development to every individual. He shared with the legislators some of his experiences during his 3-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. He said during his visit to village Saboo in Leh he found how Budhists, Muslims and Sikhs are working together for the development of the village. The President said Jammu and Kashmir has several leading technical institutions like RRL in Jammu and Software Technology Park which could help it in faster development. He said he has visited Vaishnodevi shrine in Jammu, Gompas and Pather Saheb Gurdwara in Ladakh and Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar which give peace and lead to development in the State. Dr Kalam asked the legislators to work for uplifting the people from below the poverty line by ensuring important ingredients of education, infrastructure development, information and communication, health care, social and food security and employment to all. He said infrastructure development will have to take care of drinking water requirements, road and telecommunication facilities, remote sensing, environment mapping and linking of rivers to minimise droughts and floods. He also stressed for providing vocational knowledge to the students along with academics so that they could earn their livelihood after passing out from the educational institutions. On a question of women empowerment, the President said that it is bound to take place as they are equal partners of India’s development. The presentation was followed by a lively question - answer session during which the President replied to the queries of legislators pertaining to devolution of more powers to the States, availability of resources for tapping hydel power sources etc. The Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) S.K. Sinha and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed were also present. |
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Husband arrested for setting ablaze wife Excelsior Correspondent RAMNAGAR, June 28: A husband was arrested for setting ablaze his wife at village Dehari in Ramnagar tehsil today. According to police one Reena Devi aged between 24 and 25 years, wife of Bishan Dass, working as Accounts Assistant at District Treasury Udhampur, was brought to Ramnagar Sub-District Hospital on May 31, 2003, with over 90 percent burns from where she was referred to Government Medical College Hospital Jammu. However she breathed her last while being shifted to Jammu from Ramnagar. The body was handed over to her parents after post-mortem, who, however, preferred to cremate the body in front of the house of her in-laws in protest against alleged murder of their daughter. Formal FIR was registered at Ramnagar Police Station on June 18 under Number 49/2003. Investigation was carried out by Dr S D Choudhary, Probationary DySP and Inspector M I Malik, who during investigation observed that husband of the victim was having extra-marital relations and that on the fateful day, he had, while performing his duty at District Treasury Udhampur, proceeded on a short leave and proceeded to his village in Ramnagar, but stopped his scooter three kilometer short of his house and covered the rest of distance on a passenger vehicle and after committing the crime, against left for Udhampur to resume his duties. The accused Bishan Dass, son of Mr Beli Ram, was formally arrested under sections 306/498-A RPC. Further investigations were on. |
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Increase of 51 marks gave her 14th position Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: A blunder by the State Board of School Education (BOSE) made a brilliant student spend sleepless nights as she was given 51 marks less in the results of Secondary Class, declared on June 20. Neha Tickoo, a student of Dream Land Public School, New Plots was shown to have secured 403 marks in the results. Parents of Neha approached BOSE authorities, who ratified their mistake. Her marks in Math were raised from 49 to 100 (100 per cent), a jump of 51 marks. This way, her total marks went upto 454 and she secured 14th position in the merit-list. |
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Metlife India opens Srinagar office Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 28: Metlife India Insurance Company today celebrated the formal opening of its new Srinagar branch office. The event included speeches by Mr MY Khan, Chairman J&K bank, Mr Stephan Rajotte, VP Sales and Marketing, Metlife USA and Mr Venkatesh Mysore, Managing Director, Metlife India. The Metlife India office provides support to its partner J&K Bank and the residents of Srinagar to promote and sell its life insurance products. Metlife has recently initiated several insurance Education seminars in Kashmir valley to demystify life insurance and make its benefits known to the people in rural areas. "We believe that Kashmir offers great business opportunities and we look forward to making it more convenient for its residents to obtain high quality life insurance and financial advice", said Stephan Rajottee on the occasion. "We are happy to see Metlife India open a full-service office in Srinagar", were the words of Mr MY Khan. He said that Metlife India has also a support office in Jammu to serve clients in Jammu region. Metlife India was incorporated in April 2001 as a joint venture between Metlife International Holdings Inc, the J&K Bank, M Pallonji and Co Private Limited and other private investors. The Metlife India offers a range of innovative products and aims to build financial freedom for everyone. It is headquartered in Bangalore and has offices in nine cities and an additional 1,000 outreach points through its distribution channel partners. |
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Auction of MFP in Doda
Distt Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: All J&K Forest Contractors Association, under the presidentship of Qazi Jalal-ud-Din, today boycotted the auction of MFP of Chenab Circle and demanded action against the erring officials. The contractors in a letter written to Conservator of Forests, Chenab Circle, Doda, Camp Batote, submitted that they attended the Batote Camp as per Auction Notice No: 277-92 dated June 6, 2003. The said auction notice was issued for Minor Forest Produce as per directions of Forest Minister of Jammu and Kashmir vide his Letter No:" 816 dated 25-5-2003. The contractors held that when all contractors reached the venue of auction at Batote, they came to know that there will be no auction for divisions of Kishtwar, Bhaderwah and Doda, while the auction of Marwah division was already deleted from the auction notice. The contractors alleged that it seemed that contract was being allotted in favour of some influential person or persons, which was wrong by all parameters of justice, as in that case all genuine small contractors would be rendered jobless. Keeping in view all the newly developed circumstances, the contractors of MFP decided to boycott the auction for the remaining two Forest divisions viz Batote and Ramban, till auction for all the divisions was not ordered and mentioned in the auction notice. The forest contractors stressed for holding of open auction and stringent action against the erring officials who have connived with the big contractors at the cost of livelihood of small contractors. |
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Detached teachers hold protest alongwith their children Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: All the teachers of Jammu province, who have been detached from their postings in the various districts, today held demonstration alongwith their children infront of the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu. The demonstration was held under the banner of Affected Inter-District Teachers’ Forum and participants demanded immediate review of the Government Order No.661-Edu of 2003 dated June 21, 2003. The affected teachers appealed the authorities concerned not to play with the lives of not only teachers but their whole family and allow them to continue in their respective postings in the interest of academics. "These detachments have been enforced in the mid session of the academic year which is also contrary to the norms of transfer policy", they said and decided not to join the places of new postings. They said that their struggle will continue till the decision of detachment of teachers was not taken back by the Government. The children of affected teachers, who took part in the demonstration, demanded undertaking from the Education Minister for the protection of their parents. They asked the Education Minister has he though about the fate of the affected children in the absence of their parents, who are bound to suffer because of their detachment order. The Forum appealed the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter and came to the rescue of the teachers. |
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Arena Multimedia Jammu Centre celebrates 3rd successful year Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Arena Multimedia Jammu II Centre today celebrated its third successful year of imparting quality multimedia education in Jammu. A creative competition was organised on the occasion. Present on the occasion were Surojit Daw, Regional Sales Head, Arena Multimedia and Mr Rakesh and Mr Rajan Gupta, Centre Heads, Arena Multimedia, Jammu Centre. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Surojit Daw said that multimedia and animation are increasingly being used across a diverse range of industries and applications, spawning a wide array of career opportunities and added that Arena Multimedia, with its range of career courses offers students the perfect opportunity to make the most of this exponentially growing industry and make a mark for themselves. Mr Gupta, Centre Head, Arena Multimedia Jammu II Centre, Luthra Building Kachi Chawani said that Jammu Centre has trained a large number of students in multimedia technologies and have provided placement opportunities to them both within and outside the State. "All this is possible due to Arena’s stress on the latest industry relevant courseware, world class training methodoplogy, state of the art infrastructure and highly trained faculty", he further said. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Three persons were injured and a PDD lineman received severe electric shock. Police said that one Gian Chand of Gadigarh received severe injuries after he was hit by a speeding scooter bearing registration number JK02J-248 at Gadigarh. He has been hospitalised and his condition was stated to be critical when reports last came in. In another accident, one Aadlil Iqbal, son of Javed Iqbal of Bhadrote Sartingle in Doda district was injured after he was hit by a scooter bearing number JK02G-8336. He has been hospitalised. In yet another accident, Rinku Sharma, son of Kasturi Lal of Sangpur Nariyan Rajouri received severe injuries after he fell down from a bus number JK02L-676 at Nowshera. He has been hospitalised. Meanwhile, an employee of PDD—Sham Lal of R S Pura received severe electric shock at Bakshi Nagar Pulli. He has been hospitalised and his condition was stated to be critical. |
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Children stampede for Prez
autograph at Raj Bhavan Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGR, June 28: Asserting that no religion permits killing, President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam today said that violence and terrorism are acts against God. Interacting with over a hundred school children at Raj Bhavan here this evening before winding up his 3-day visit to the State, Dr. Kalam said that perpetrators of violence and terror not only injure others but their own selves also. He said the killers of innocent might pose that they are happy, but actually they hide their guilt. The President narrated the students the story of Kalinga war in which about two lakh people have lost their lives which ultimately led emperor Ashoka to renunciate war for conquering territory. He stressed the need for combination of learning and value systems to enable children to save the society from the aberrations of religious, technological and market warfares. He said children can do a balancing act. He called upon the children to be bold and face the challenges courageously. ‘Problem should not defeat you, you should defeat the problem’, he advised the students to have this attitude in their life. He said how Hellen Keller achieved excellence in life by virtue of her strong will power despite being handicapped. The President also gave some tips to the students to achieve hundred per cent marks in examinations and said this is possible only with planned hard work. He said it is not necessary that scientists are born genius, adding that one can become so by putting in hard work. Dr Kalam explained some scientific facts to the students like rotation of earth, its orbiting around the sun, forming of days and nights, shining of the sun, etc. He also told them a story which was narrated to him by a student during his visit to Chennai pertaining to creation of planets by the God. Highly impressed by the talent of the students, the President appreciated the President appreciated the President appreciated the President appreciated them and posed some questions to them. He also asked them about their aims in life and was happy to know their replies. Some of them wanted to become good human beings while others celebrated personalities. A girl student told him that she wanted to become a person like the one whom she admires the most. ‘Who is that guy’? the President asked curiously. ‘Like you, excellency’, pat came the reply. After listening to various dreams of students, he asked why nobody wants to be a political leader, generating laughter from the audience. But then a girl stood up to say that she wants to be a political leader. Dr Kalam also shared his childhood experiences with the children and said he had dreamt to fly (pilot) but ultimately became a scientist and now the first citizen of the country. There was almost a stampede for President’s autographs. He could oblige some but given to time constraint, his staff distributed his printed photo with autograph and a small message. The Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) S.K.Sinha and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed were also present. |
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High level meeting to discuss Yatra arrangements today Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: A high level meeting to discuss the Amarnath Yatra arrangements is being held here tomorrow. The meeting will be chaired by the Union Minister for Home, Mr Harin Pathak. According to sources, besides the arrangements the meeting will also discuss the growing demand for opening of fresh registration counters at Jammu and in view of today’s Fidayeen attack at Army Station, Sunjwan it has become more significant. The meeting, besides other civil and police officers will also be attended by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr Lokesh Jha. The officers from BSF and CRPF are also participating in it the, sources said. The Minister will leave for Srinagar the day after tomorrow and discuss the arrangements for the pilgrims there also. He will later visit Pahalgam and Holy Cave. The sources said, in view of today’s Fidayeen attack at Sunjwan the authorities are going to take no chance so far as the security arrangements for the Amarnath bound pilgrims are concerned. The security agencies have taken the possession of M A Stadium Yard, the Base Camp for the Yatris and all the bushes and grass around it has been cut. Yesterday the Minister of Tourism and Urban Development, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir also visited the Stadium and interacted with the authorities to discuss the yatra arrangements beginning on July 12. Meanwhile, the quota for registration has exhausted at all 85 counters across the country and the people visiting for registration have to return high and dry. The registration counter at Jammu has been closed three days back as the quota allotted had exhausted earlier. A large number of pilgrims and Sadhus who came from different parts of country for seeking the registration at this counter had to return in utter disgust seeing the counter locked. Some yatris who had come from Ahmedabad Gujarat, Puri from Orissa and Rajasthan told this reporter that they have been visiting for last three days to the counter but no body heeds to their woes. Any more stay for registration will prove expensive for us, they added. They said despite the assurances of authorities yesterday, that the registration will be opened today nothing was done. This is the conspiracy of the State Government to debar us from having the darshan of Holy Cave, said Mukesh Pawar from Gujarat. He said, on the three registration counters in his state opened by J&K Bank at Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat, the quota of 2400 pilgrims had exhausted on very first day i.e June 16. |
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Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 28: President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in a style true to himself today spread the message amongst the young students to envision a dream for themselves and then to work with indomitable spirit and a firm pledge to fulfill it. He asked them to remain unmoved with the hardships and strive hard to achieve it. This accomplishment will ultimately transform the society and establish India as a developed country. He asked students to be brave and not get frightened at the sight of a problem. "You should defeat the problem confronting you rather than the problem defeating you", he told the tiny tots of Delhi Public School here this afternoon where he had a delightful and intimate interaction with them. Governor Lt. Gen. (Rtd) S K Sinha and the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed accompanied the President. Asking the students of the Delhi Public School with here to sing with him the lines highlighting the importance of having dreams and then toiling for its transformation into action. ‘Dreams, dreams, dreams. Dreams transform into thought. Thought results into action", he recited and the children followed him in chorus. The President shared interesting and meaningful incidents conveying in the simplest manner the importance of facing challenges and remaining dedicated towards one’s goal. When asked by a student to name the person whom he admired the most, the President described Dr. Vikram Sarabhai as his role model. He said that this great scientist was the visionary of the space programme of the country and is known for his cosmic ray research area that led to evolving the space research programme of the nation. Answering how the country will rediscover itself as a strong developed nation, the President said that there are millions of youngsters of the country the minds of whom would constitute most powerful resource as compared to any other source on the earth. The sweat and determination of this mighty force of the nation will transform developing India into a developed nation, he added. Conversation of the President had such a vibrant impact on students that a child of first standard when asked by Dr. Kalam as to what would he like to become when he was grown up replied, "I want to become you". Other students confidently answered the question by saying that they want to be a Divisional Commissioner or a rocket scientist or a lawyer. Significantly, none of them chose politics for an answer. When the amused President asked if anyone of them wanted to be a politician, no one raised his or her hand. The President called upon the teachers to impart leadership qualities to the students to make them strong citizens. He shared his experiences with the kids that how one of his teachers named Mr. V. Subramanya Iyer inspired him in childhood. The way that teacher explained the procedure involved in flying of birds invented a dream in his mind to become an aeronautical scientist. He said that teaching is the most suitable profession for those who have dedication to serve the nation. So this community must work with a missionary approach and help building a constructive nation. Earlier, the kids presented a colourful cultural programme in honour of the President. A Kashmiri song and dance sequence with playback by noted singer Jameela Khan was a stunning presentation by small children aging below 8 years. Famous Kashmiri poet, Rasool Mir’s song, Roshi wala maini poshey dilbaro, was another presentation that enthralled the audience. The students also sang the prayer, Lab pe aati hai dua ban ke tamana meri, penned by the Poet of the East, Dr. Iqbal. The president later posed for a photograph with the tiny tots who presented the cultural programme. |
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Series of cancer screening camps for females being held Excelsior Correspondent AKHNOOR, June 28: Two medical camps were arranged at Akhnoor and also border village of Shungal for medical check up and service for maternity and child health problems, here today. Dr Kasturi Lal, former Principal of Government Medical College, Jammu and now heading Hospital for Women, Lajwanti Medical Trust, Bye Pass, Jammu told EXCELSIOR that the objective of holding such camps is to create awareness about health-related problems and especially detection of cancer among females. The female patients, from various areas of Akhnoor tehsil, were checked up by experts and given medical advice. Some of the patients found at pre-stage of cancer were advised early treatment. The timely detection of cancer and its early treatment is crucial for management of this deadly disease. Dr Kasturi Lal Gupta and a team of his staff are to hold nearly 30 camps till September-end this year to create awareness about preventive and curative aspect of various female health-related problems especially cancer. More than ten camps have already been held so far and remaining will be organised in different parts of Jammu region shortly, he added. The camp at Aknoor was attended by a large number of patients and other persons who were imparted health education. In the afternoon the medical camp was held at Shungal village. In the two camps patients from Jourian, Akhnoor, Khour, Amb Gharota, Naryanam, Pallanwala and many village of tehsil headquarters, Akhnoor attended. The screening programme for cancer, more frequent in low socio-economic groups, to chart new innovation procedures and communication with the population to provide proper facilities and evolve new strategy for community participation. While the screening camps would lead to new strategy to prevent cancer in the female, these would also provide data which would be eye opener for other agencies who make available non-profit, non-governmental services to tailor their programmes for health needs of the poor in this specific sphere. The long term benefits of these camps, Dr Gupta opined was to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the community. At the same time, during the camps a lot of awareness is created about need for immediate detection of cancer and its early treatment as also its preventive aspects . The awareness is spread for healthful living, better hygiene, nutrition and sanitation. Dr Kasturi Lal stated that a survey is being conducted of the 41 slums of Jammu with a population of 40,000 for coverage of maternity and child healthcare as also provision of services whether in public or private sector for the socio-economic low level population. For this proper funding has to be arranged and essential manpower as also material mobilised for the needy persons. The aim is to reduce maternal and infant mortality, he said adding optimum use has to be made of available services. Another purpose is to promote family welfare programme to reduce net reproduction rate which is in consonance with policy of Health For All. |
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President for herbal gardening and e-governance in J&K border areas Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, June 28: President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has called for generating commercial activity in the border belt in Jammu and Kashmir to improve economic conditions of the people. Interacting with the State Government authorities on economic development of Jammu and Kashmir at a high level meeting here last evening, the President suggested that the Government should encourage establishment of herbal gardens in the border belt. He said the medicinal plants with readymade market and value addition can transform the economic conditions of the people who are staying put as country’s sentinels. Another area, he suggested for promotion, in the belt is small scale and cottage industries, which too has tremendous potential. J&K Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S. K. Sinha, Chief Minister, Mr. Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Mangat Ram Sharma, Chief Secretary, Dr. Sudhir S. Bloeria, Financial Commissioner, Finance, Mr. Muhammad Shafi Pandit, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, Mr. Vijay Bakaya attended the meeting besides GOC-in-Chief Northern Command Lt. Gen. Hari Prashad, GOC 15 Corp Lt. Gen. V. G. Patankar. Dr Kalam who himself gave power point presentation at the meeting, listed several measures to boost economic development in Jammu and Kashmir with special emphasis on border areas and advised the State Government to take steps for unleashing knowledge in different parts of the State. He suggested that the border areas need e-governance more than any other area and the information technology should be utilized to improve governance in this hilly State. Dr Kalam said that in the present day, application of information technology has become almost a necessity for the nation and Jammu and Kashmir must keep pace with the new trends. He said computer education should be provided in all schools of the State. The President also stressed the need for strengthening infrastructure in the border belts and said coupled with commercial activity, it would really transform the overall economy of the border areas. Making a strong plea for taking the technology advancement to rural areas in the State, Dr. Kalam, known for his in-depth knowledge about science and technology, observed that he found cities of Jammu and Srinagar highly congested. He said that the inflow from the rural areas to urban areas needs to be reversed by creating urban type facilities in rural areas. He said the focus of industrialization should also shift from urban to rural areas. The Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Mr. Vajay Bakaya in his presentation, apprized the President about the infrastructure already created in the State under the border area development programme. The programme, which is implementing 44 border blocks in 9 districts of the State, is receiving major thrust from the Central Government as well. He told the President that now annually Rs. 100 crores are spent on these schemes under the Prime Minister’s package. He said that in the border areas, road connectivity and milk and agriculture production have increased under BRDP schemes. |
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Jehadi leaders’ messages intercepted Pak takes India,US for a ride By B L Kak JAMMU, June 28: News flash from Muzaffarabad: Hizbul Mujahideen has not been officially declared an outlawed outfit. Contrary to Islamabad’s well-orchestrated propaganda drive highlighting the authorities’ ‘ban’ orders, the Hizbul Mujahideen is facing only certain curbs in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The outfit is not banned. In fact, according to the news flash from Muzaffarabad, which, significantly, has been confirmed by classified intelligence inputs, the Hizbul Mujahideen has received a shot in the arm with a top Pak Minister informing the outfit that Islamabad has "no plans" to declare it unlawful. This piece of sensational information was conveyed to the Hizb leadership by Pak Interior Minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, at a time when India and international community, particularly the United States, had been informed about Islamabad’s administrative action against some jehadi organisation, including the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen. Islamabad’s announcement, in this regard, was welcomed by the US administration. India, however, decided to be indifferent, considering the fact that, on more than one occasion in recent times, Islamabad’s word has not matched action purported to have been taken officially on the other side of the border. Why is Pak Government sympathetic towards Hizbul Mujahideen? According to Pak Interior Minister, whose views on the subject were repeated on two consecutive days by Government-controlled electronic media in Muzaffarabad, the Hizb is an organisation "functioning in Kashmir under Indian control and so the ban on Pakistan-based militant outfits is not applicable in its case". The list of banned organisations released by Pakistan does not contain the name of Hizbul Mujahideen. Pak Interior Minister obviously was communicating to the international community: Government of Pakistan would step in if the Hizb indulged in any illegal activities. And by saying that Hizb would not be permitted to carry out any activities either from the soil of Pakistan or PoK, Faisal Saleh Hayat was suggesting—indeed, encouraging—that the Hizb cadres should now onwards intensify their activities from the Indian soil in Jammu and Kashmir. This development was, significantly, followed by Hizb supremo, Syed Salahuddin,openly threatening (in Rawalpindi) to continue the jehad. His threat was followed by the interception of highly ominous messages. One message quoted Salahuddin as saying that his organisation has pressed into service "mobile militant camps in Kashmir and Poonch and Rajouri, besides Doda and Jammu sector". The message also quoted Salahuddin as saying that the "peace initiatives seeking restoration of relations between India and Pakistan will not have—and should not have—any impact on the activities of the mujahideen in Jammu and Kashmir". Another radio intercept revealed broad contours of the Jaish-e-Mohammed’s re-structured strategy for J&K. The JeM’s esprit de corps, Masood Azhar, as suggested by the intercept, wants "all categories of jehadis to re-unite, to accomplish the unfulfilled mission in Kashmir—that is, to drive out occupation forces— and make the region as an exclusive zone for Muslims". Sharing this information with EXCELSIOR, a highly-placed intelligence source revealed that two organisations, namely, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba, besides the Hizbul Mujahideen, had succeeded in building "somewhat frightening anti-India infrastructure on the soil of PoK, particularly close to the Line of Control (LoC), with the unpublished support of the military-mullah combine". The source said that this phenomenon "cannot be under-estimated in view of the presence in Jammu and Kashmir of a large number of foreign mercenaries". He also shared with EXCELSIOR `official statistics’, making it clear that two-third of the terrorists operating in J&K are foreign mercenaries. These mercenaries, all events so far have confirmed, are more ruthless in carrying out killings of human beings, both civilian and uniformed. The source said: "It has already been established, beyond doubt, that the trends in terrorism during the past few years point to incremental use of suicide bombers, while the targeting witnessed a changeover from primarily civilians to militarily sensitive targets, religious places and symbols of national power". |
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PWD, Transport deptt.
under a cloud Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Public Works Department (PWD) as well as Transport Department of Jammu and Kashmir have provoked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to publicize their acts of omission and commission during the period ending March 2002. The PWD incurred expenditure of Rs 1329 crore on construction of 900 km of road during the five years ending March 2002. The CAG has charged PWD with having executed 502 works without administrative approval and technical sanction. This, the CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2002 revealed,resulted in unfruitful, wasteful and extra expenditure of Rs 2.40 crore on five test-checked works. Funds aggregating Rs 9.59 crore meant for specified schemes like construction of gutted bridges were diverted to activities or schemes not connected with the programmes. The audit tests have found that there was cost overrun of Rs 25.89 crore on completion and implementation of 131 schemes in Jammu and Kashmir divisions and in respect of 6 works under National Highway Bypasses Programme. The State was deprived of Central assistance of Rs 26.14 crore under Central Road Fund and National Highways Bypasses Programme during 1995-2002, as the PWD, according to the CAG report, failed to furnish utilisation certificates and full details of expenditure. The report says that executive engineers in Poonch, Rajouri, Sopore and Budgam, without any authority, executed works in absence of any budget provisions, thereby creating liability of Rs 2.46 crore during the 1997-2002 period. The liability had not been cleared (September 2002) due to non-provision of funds for these works. Funds aggregating Rs 331.10 crore were provided by the Central Government during 1996-2001 period for reconstruction of 157 major and 244 minor bridges gutted during militancy. Of these, Rs 139.04 crore only were released by the Planning Department to the executing agencies. These agencies, according to the CAG report, unauthorisedly diverted Rs 6.23 crore to other schemes not connected with the programme. In Kashmir, against the target of construction of 413 km of roads during 1997-2002, the shortfall in achievement was 47 per cent. In Jammu region, against the target of construction of 546 km, the achievement was 680 km. The report said that in respect of village connectivity, the shortfall in achievement was 91 per cent in Kashmir and 56 per cent in Jammu division. Far-from-satisfactory performance of the Transport Department has also been highlighted by the CAG in its latest report. It reveals that non-monitoring of records relating to registration, issue of permits and fitness certificates of motor v vehicles, non-application of revised rates of fees/taxes and non-implementation of various provisions of Motor Vehicles Acts and Rules resulted in loss of revenue of Rs 2.13 crore. Records of Transport Commissioner, Regional Transport Officer, Jammu, and five Assistant Regional Transport Officers in the State for the period 1997-2002 were test-checked in audit during November 2001 to March 2002. According to the report, 1060 permits and certificates of registration and fitness had remained unrenewed during the 1996-2002 period, resulting in non-realisation of fees aggregating Rs 31.24 lakh. Audit scrutiny of the records of the ARTO, Lakhanpur, has revealed that offences on account of over-loading were booked against 3992 vehicles from February 2000 to November 2001. The vehicles were, however, allowed to move on payment of compounding fee only without off-loading the excess weight. thereby contravening the provisions of the Act. The report has regretted that penalty at the minimum rate of Rs 2000 prescribed under the Act was also not recovered. This resulted in loss of revenue of Rs 79.94 lakh in these cases. |
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Labour officer trapped in Vigilance dragnet Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Labour Officer Doda was caught red-handed for demanding and accepting bribe by the Vigilance Organization, Doda-Udhampur Range Headquarters, Jammu. On a written complaint by a local resident of Doda Mr Om Parkash, with the Vigilance Organization Doda Udhampur Range headquarters Jammu that the Labour Officer Doda namely Abdul Rashid Dass, son of Mr Ghani Dass, resident of Braw, Bandana, tehsil and district Pulwama of Kashmir, was demanding a bribe amount of Rs 2000 in connection with issuance of as Certificate of Registration to work a Motor Transport Undertaking to be issued in his favour. The Vigilance Organization acted swiftly and a special team of Vigilance Officer alongwith Magistrate and independent witness was organized and rushed to lay the trap and consequently the labour Officer was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount in a tea stall after the office hours, the place already fixed for the deal. Interestingly the date of issuance of the Certificate in question bore the date as June 26, while the deal was fixed for June 25, when the said officer was caught red handed. The Certificate was also seized on spot as a proof. Vigilance authorities are investigating the case further and the labour officer has been arrested in the case and presently lodged in Police Station Pacca Danga Jammu. |
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Sahai asks Govt to encourage industrial development Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Mr Ram Sahai today asked the State Government to create atmosphere where the entrepreneur feels delighted and encouraged to invest in the industrial development of the State. Addressing a press conference, Mr Sahai demanded "the State industrial policy due to be announced by the Government should be much more better and different better and different than the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal where the North Eastern States package has been also extended giving set back to our State". CCI president further said the single window system should be such that it satisfied the aspirations of the investors and officers should be easily accessible and capable to give all the clearances in a time bound programme. "The investors from outside are facing lot of avoidable problems and if continued are likely to be shifted to Himachal and Uttaranchal where the system is really providing friendly atmosphere", he said. Pointing towards statement of the Finance Minister on June 26, Mr Sahai said that the Finance Minister has vindicated their view regarding privatization of health care, education, tourism and power sector to ensure better services to public, also to ensure the efficacy of the services and also to do away with red tapism and lack of accountability. "We hail the statement and assure the full support to the bussiness community in his endeavour to implement to what he said in the statement", Mr Sahai asserted. Highlighting achievements of his tenure as president of the CCI, Mr Sahai said, "during my tenure Chamber has been trying to develop and promote the trade and industry by advising and persuading the Government authorities to make such policies which are trade and industry friendly". Regarding forthcoming elections of the CCI, Mr Sahai said office bearers of the CCI were committed to hold free and fair elections. Speaking on the occasion, Ch Piara Singh, election commissioner for conducting elections of the Chamber, said that there were certain rumours deliberately spread to vitiate the atmosphere for smooth conduct of our elections and to create doubts in the minds of the members regarding elections. "We have issued a code of conduct in which directions have been given that campaign should not be done in a way to create bickering amongst the members", he said, adding, "further we have directed that any body hosting or arranging parties, dinners, lunch etc, through himself and any body else, shall be liable to be disqualified from contesting elections". |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28 : The District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal who is also the Chairman of District Flood Control Committee visited various flood prone villages of Nikki Tawi and Pargwal alongwith members of the committee yesterday to assess anti flood measures undertaken by various connected departments to meet any eventuality in case of floods and their level of preparedness. The District Development Commissioner inspected the Dewatering Pumping Station, Qasim Nagar being operated and maintained by the Mechanical Irrigation Construction Division, Jammu and issued on spot instructions to the Executive Engineer to complete the process of de-watering in this habitation as soon as possible by deploying all required manpower in order to prevent any epidemic to spread in the area and also to mitigate the sufferings of the people of the area due to stranded water in the congested lanes. The people of the area demanded desiltation of existing pond which acted as a sump for the drain water of the inhabitants and from where the water was finally lifted through de-watering pumps. The DDC assured them that the matter would be taken up with Executive Engineer, Municipality, Jammu and the de-watering operation intensified. At Tawi bridge, the DDC directed the SE, PWD to restore the natural flow of Tawi water in to both the Nikki Tawi and Wadi Tawi channels which had been altered to the left by the PWD authority in the wake of the construction of 3rd Tawi bridge. The DDC also visited the areas of Nikki Tawi to see the extent of scouring/ soil erosion being caused on the left bank of the Nikki Tawi at some vulnerable points viz; Upper Khandwal, Lower Khandwal, Lalyal, Nandwal, Gujjar Basti and also saw the soil erosion on the right bank of Nikki Tawi at Chak Sardar Desa Singh. He issued instructions to Executive Engineer, Flood Control, Jammu to take remedial measures immediately before the onset of monsoon. The Executive Engineer, Flood Control assured that the work will be taken up for execution out of the plan funds amounting to Rs. 8 lakh only and the balance funds amounting to Rs. one crore are required to be arranged. The DDC issued instructions to XEN to take this matter with the department. The DDC also visited Pargwal and inspected the flood protection works undertaken by the Irrigation and Flood Control authority on the left bank of the river Chenab from RD 18000 mtr. upto Sujwal and issued instructions to plug the vulnerable points immediately. The District Development Commissioner directed that the contingency plan be prepared to cope with any emergency, if arises, due to floods during the ensuing monsoon season and asked that precautionary measures like stock of medicines, ambulances, BA wire crates, EC bags filled with sand, setting up of control rooms, telephones, de-watering pump sets at vulnerable spots and coordination with defence authorities be undertaken immediately. MEA discusses problems with GMC Principal Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Medical Employees Association held a meeting today at Government Medical College with the Administration of GMC Jammu. A charter of demands was presented to the Principal Medical College Jammu Dr H L Goswami. A threadbare discussion was held on all points mentioned in the charter. Several issues were raised by the presidents of various units of the Associations. GMC Principal Dr Goswami, Mrs Dev Lata, Personal Officer, Dr Rakesh Khajuria, Medical Superintendent SMGS Hospital, Dr Y P Sharma, Deputy Medical Superintendent GMC Hospital Jammu, gave patient hearing to office bearers and clarified the stand of the administration on different issues and also disclosed the action taken for redressal of various issues. Dr Goswami assured the Association of all possible help to mitigate their sufferings and appealed them to work with more zeal and enthusiasm to serve the ailing humanity thereby bringing a good name to the institution. The meeting was concluded by Mr Pradeep Kumar who assured the Administration that employees will strive for enhancing the reputation of the institution and hoped that Administration will also reciprocate. Those who participated in the deliberations included Messrs Tilak Raj, general secretary MEA, Manga Ram, chairman MEA, Farooq Quaser, president SMGS Hospital, Ram Lal secretary MEA, Ashok Kumar, president GMC Jammu, Ashok Manhas president Lab technicians, Vinod Magotra president Dental Hospital, Mrs Kamla, convenor TMA, Mrs Gopi, general secretary TMA, Ajay Kumar and Deepak Koul, president and general secretary respectively of Class IV Employees SMGS Hospital, Rajinder Sharma, president Mech DV, GMC Jammu, Raju, president, Safaikaramchari Union GMC Jammu and Umesh Singh, senior vice president of SMGS Hospital Jammu. Bhim Singh allots assignments to JKNPP office bearers Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 28: Chairman of J&K National Panthers Party Prof Bhim Singh has allotted new organisational works among the State, and provincial office bearers. The JKNPP president Mushtaq Ahmed Khan has been assigned the task of supervising all organisational works and take decisions in consultations with the party chairman. Bansi Lal Sharma, general secretary, has been appointed incharge of the youth and students affairs while Anita Thakur will look after Nari Shakti (women wing of the party) and cultural affairs. She has also been authorised to set up Nari Shakti at village and block levels. MLA Chenani Mr Faqir Nath and Javed Qadri (both general secretaries), have been made incharge of the membership and organisational affairs for Udhampur-Kathua and Pulwama-Anantnag districts, respectively. Faqir Nath will be assisted by Jagdev Khajuria in party affairs. Mr H S Jamwal will coordinate in respect of inter-provincial matters. He shall also look after the JKNPP Srinagar office with the help of Nazir Mir and Mr Jamwal. JKNPP vice-president Mr Naveen Bakshi has been made incharge of the the financial matters of the party in State while Sardar Bhupinder Singh shall look after media and publicity besides holding additional charge of the organisational affairs of Jammu rural district. Advocate N D Parey and Ghulam Mohd Shan shall look after the legal aid work for Jammu and Kashmir regions, respectively. Advocate B R Kundal has been appointed incharge of SC, ST and OBC affairs. Mr Kuljit Singh, vice-president has been made incharge of trade unions and authorised to fix Panthers trade unions at the village, Panchayat and district level. R S Jamwal, Ghulam Ali Rajinder Manjoo, Daljit Singh, H S Jamwal have been made incharge of the party affairs in Doda-Jammu (urban), Rajouri, areas along International border, Kupwara-Baramulla and Srinagar-Budgam districts, respectively. The districts of Kargil and Leh shell be directly looked after by Prof Bhim Singh. JKNPP chairman also appointed national general secretaries of JKNPP and nominated B B Kotwal, B S Billowria, Ashok Bapna and Ashish Mishra for the post. Mr Kotwal shall hold interaction with regional parties in different States while Mr Billowria shall be responsible for international affairs. Jagdev Singh shall coordinate among the various office bearers of the party, said a release. |
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