|
|
| DGP inaugurates all women police station in Jammu Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Mar 3: The Director General of Police, Mr A. K. Suri inaugurated all women police station at the busy Residency Road, Jammu today. This is second in......more Girl
dies of burn injuries Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Body of a missing person was fished out from Mansar Lake while as a young girl died of severe burn injuries and a youth committed suicide...........more Transportation
of Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Mar 3: Jammu and Kashmir Government today decided to put a blanket ban on import of all kinds of chemical fertilizers in the State through any mode except by rail. The step is aimed.........more 24 structures demolished in Shaheedi Chowk area Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Resuming its demolition drive, Jammu Municipal Corporation today demolished 24 concrete structures at Shaheedi......more Doshi’s
Dogri book Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: A book in Dogri," Kamlo", a collection of Short stories by noted Dogri writer, Mr Rattan Doshi, was released by Mr Jugal Kishore Sharma......more |
 |
25
vehicles recovered from different areas Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Police has busted a gang of inter-state vehicle lifters and arrested its six members including kingpin. A total of 25 vehicles were recovered from different places of the State on their disclosure....more Bus
Operators Union Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Jammu Province Bus Operators Union in its meeting today while expressed grave concern over the hike in the cost of P O L and H S D warned to go on strike in case the State Government fails to take decision regarding hike in bus fares............more Ladakh has
rich cultural and Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: The Academy of Art, Culture and Languages organised an interaction of eminent scholar Mr Abdul Gani Sheikh from Ladakh, here this evening..................more Jugal for
setting up of Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Mar 3: With a view to facilitate the pilgrimage to holy cave shrine Shiv Khori, the Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Mr Jugal Kishore has ordered setting up of pony shed at Ransoo. He directed the revenue authorities to make land available for the purpose.......more |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Question Hour in
Legislative Council Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Minister for Education Harshdev Singh has said that fifteen private schools which have violated the provisions as laid down in the Private Educational Institutions and Control Rules 1969 have been closed down. While responding to a question of Mrs Depinder Kour during Question Hour in the Legislative Council, the Minister said that all the private / Government aided schools are to function under Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Act 1967, read with SRO 259. Responding to a supplementary question of Mrs Kour, Mr Singh said all the orders in this regard have been issued on different dates for the closure of these institutions. He offered to provide the list of the schools which have sought closure orders to the member in the House. In response to the written reply of another question of Mr Mohd Iqbal Bhat, the Education Minister said that upgradation of six High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools was approved recently in its joint meeting of Cabinet -cum- District Development Board and the implementation of this decision is in progress. The schools, he said, will be upgraded with due consideration of norms such as topography, enrollment, infrastructure, distance from nearest school etc. However, the upgradation of primary schools to the middle schools can be made under SSA as well as on need basis. Meanwhile, Minister for Revenue and Relief, Hakim Mohd Yasin has said that 1.46 lakh Revenue pass books have been issued to the farmers in the state. While replying to a question of Mr Brij Mohan Sharma in the Upper House today the Minister for Revenue said that almost 95 % of the Agrarian work has been completed and residual work has remained unfinished due to various court proceedings. It is expected to be completed before the expiry of current financial year. The Government was considering the proposal to rehabilitate families displaced due to Pakistani shelling from Kaksar area of Kargil. Responding to a question of Aziz Mohd Qari, the Minister for Finance, Planning and Ladakh Affairs Mr Beig said that about 106 families from that area are taking shelter at Kargil and Deputy Commissioner has been instructed to identify the safer place for them for their permanent rehabilitation. These families are being provided ration and other relief items by the Government and the issue regarding their permanent settlement has also been taken up with the Central Government. JAMMU, Mar 3: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Jammu and Kashmir is the lowest across India, with its countrywide share coming to a paltry 0.03 per cent. Among all the States, Jammu and Kashmir is at the bottom, 28th to be precise, so far as the share of the FDI inflows are concerned, official sources said here today. "J&K along with five other North-East States have failed to attract even as little as 0.10 per cent of the FDI in 34 States and Union Territories in the country," they told PTI here. Of the Rs 68925 crore FDI in India between March 1991 to March 2002 by multinational companies and other agencies, J&K received Rs 8.41 crore, they said. The State which continues to remain engulfed in proxy-war sponsored by Pakistan, approved five proposals, they added. "The failure to attract FDI is due to militancy, poor infrastructure and high degree of corruption during the 11-year period," they said. Of the 34 States and UTs, 22 States receive less than one per cent of FDI share, the sources said adding only 12 States get more than one per cent of FDI with Maharashtra at the top with 16.92 per cent. Other States which received more than one per cent of FDI included Delhi 13.07 per cent and Karnataka with 8.08 per cent, the sources said. These States were followed by Tamil Nadu with 7.68 per cent, Andhra Pradesh with 4.91 per cent, Gujarat got 4.53 percent, Madhya Pradesh 3.71 percent, West Bengal 3.40 percent and Orissa 3.24 per cent, the sources said. "It shows that most foreign companies were not interested in J&K due to troubled situation, corruption and poor infrastructure," they said. The State has great potential for attracting FDI in tourism, power, minerals, handicrafts sectors. "We are making efforts, now, to build infrastructure, weed out corruption and change wrong notion about the militancy in the State by bringing peace here," the sources added. (PTI) No discrimination in
providing security: Veeri Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Even as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abdul Rehman Veeri has denied any discrimination in providing security to the Legislators on party basis, National Conference leader and former Minister, Ali Mohammed Sagar today said that security of the NC leaders was abruptly withdrawn without any reason. Mr Sagar said that for the last six years, 725 NC activists have been killed by the militants. Pointing towards the killings of former Minister of Law, late Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Mr Sagar said that gruesome killing of Mr Lone and his borther was an indication that NC workers were on the top of the hit list of the militants. "We are not begging for the security, it is your constitutional duty", he told the Government. Dr Mehboob Beg, Saif-Ullah Mir and other NC members also joined the issue and expressed grave concern over withdrawing security of the NC workers. Congress member, Yogesh Sawhney also criticised the administration for not providing adequate security to the MLAs and MoS. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abdul Rehman Veeri while denying any discrimination with any legislator, assured that specific complaints would be earnestly looked into. Replying to the supplementaries to a question by Mr Prem Sagar Aziz, the Minister said the Government would examine the cases where security has been withdrawn from any legislator or a protected person. In reply to the main question, the Minister said the vehicles are being allotted to the ministers, legislators and protected persons on the basis of threat assessment. A State level committee decides the security categorization of each individual and the type and quantum of security to be provided to threatened persons and dignitaries. He said the vehicles are also allotted on the basis of categorization by the security review committee keeping in view the latest threat inputs from the intelligence agencies. Giving details about the provision of escorts being provided to the VVIPs and VIPs, the Minister said that a single escort is being provided to them at the headquarters, Jammu and Srinagar, and double escort for journey outside the headquarters. Due consideration is being given to the security of the most threatened persons as per the reports of the intelligence agencies and such protected persons are being provided double escorts for their movement both at headquarters as well as outside the headquarters. He said the legislators hailing from militancy affected areas are being provided single or double escort as per threat perception for their tours in their constituencies. He clarified that the vehicles or the security is not being provided to the VVIPs, VIPs and protected persons on the basis of rank or position but on basis of security categorization and their threat perception. He said that the old vehicles allotted to some of the legislators would be replaced as soon as the new ones are purchased. If any member has any specific complaint about insufficient security cover or non-availability of vehicle, the matter could be examined and every effort made to provide these facilities to him, Mr Veeri assured. RCC deputation meets DDC, SSP Rajouri Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Mar 3: A deputation of newly constituted Rajouri Citizen Council, comprising its executive members met the District Development Commissioner Rajouri under the chairmanship of Mr Kuldeep Raj Gupta and patron Nazir Ahmed Mir. The district administration was apprised of the main objectives of the formation of the Council which pertained to maintaining communal harmony and mutual understanding and co-operation to all fronts amongst the either communities and the political groups belonging to various parties against any provocation. The Council also expressed its resolve to mobilize and divert the resources already available for speedy development works in the town. The deputation protested against inadvertant and illogical ward formation and demanded immediate review of the same. It was also decided to ask the Government for upgradation of NAC to Municipality status. The DDC Rajouri as also SSP interacted very patiently and assured that valuable suggestions would be considered in a planned and systematic manner. Snow shatters normal life
in Ladakh, LAHDC Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Ladakh has been experiencing heavy snow fall for the past one week. Nearly 3 feet of snow has been recorded at Khardong La, the world’s highest road point and 2 feet of snow at Fotula. Various routes have been closed due to heavy snow avalanches resulting in stranding of several passengers at district and block headquarters. As many as 250 passengers bound for Leh and 500 passengers bound for Nobra are stranded enroute due to hevy snow fall at Khardong La. The road from Leh to Kargil is blocked for the last three days due to snow avalanches at Fotula and Namkila. The road over Changla pass connecting Leh with Durbook block is also blocked for the last 10 days. The Himank Project of Border Road Organization, maintaining these roads, have assured to undertake massive operation to clear these roads when the weather improves. The heavy snowfall experienced after a dry spell of almost 5 years have brought much relief to the agriculturists of Leh as the dry spell had degraded the pasture area of Changthang, the home of Pashmina goads and yaks. But at the same time, the consistent snow fall has posed a serious threat to the nomads of Changthang as they apprehend permanent covering of their pastures with snow. The district administration has been fully geared up to meet any untoward eventuality. The Chief Executive Councillor, Mr. Thupstan Tsewang today reviewed the stock position of feed and fodder for the live-stock of Changthang and essential commodities for the population of remote areas. The meeting was attended by the Executive Councillor, Mr. Rigzin Spalbar, Mr. Tsultim Phuntsog and Mr. Ghulam Abbas Abidi. The Deputy Commissioner, Leh Mr. Tashi Dorjey and Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Mohammad Ismail Baji were also present in the meeting. Ajaz announces Rs one cr for Narwal fruit Mandi Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: The Government will provide Rs. one crore for further improvement of fruit Mandi at Narwal during the next financial year. This was Stated by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Ajaz Ahmed Khan at a function organized by the Jammu Fruit Association at Narwal near here today. Addressing fruit growers, the Minister said that those businessmen engaged with fruit industry would be provided more facilities for their stay at the Mandi. For this purpose construction on Kisan Ghar(Growers Sarai) will be taken up at Narwal within a month at a cost of Rs. 47 lakh, he added. To maintain the grading of different varieties of fruit being exported, the Minister emphasized for strict adhere of the quality norms particularly in the wake of stiff competition from the neighboring Himachal Pradesh. In order to give fillip to fruit industry, Mr Khan said that views of experts in the fruit industry had been sought in recently held Horticulture Conference in Srinagar. The recommendations are being examined to give a big boost to this vital sector of economy in the State, he added. The Association presented a memorandum listing demands to the Minister which include infrastructure facilities, drinking water, sewerage and drainage, providing of electric transformer, sulabh block, canteen, dispensary and improvement of green belt park. Responding to the demands, Mr Khan assured that these will be looked into sympathetically and remedial measures initiated soon. He sought cooperation of the growers for promotion of horticulture and asked them to come with suggestions in this regard. Among others who spoke on the occasion include Mr Yogesh Sawhney, Mr Raman Balla, Mr Ashwani Kumar all MLAs, Director, Horticulture and Marketing and President Fruit Association, Mr Rajesh Gupta. Migrants term CM’s visit to camps as goodwill gesture Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Welcoming the visit of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to the migrant camps on the eve of Maha Shiv Ratri, the leaders of various Kashmiri organizations have termed it a step in right direction and as a good will gesture. Commenting on the visit of Chief Minister, Mr R L Bhan, president All India Kashmiri Hindu Forum said this is for the first time that the Chief Minister visited the camps to greet the hapless people on the eve of Shiv Ratri. He said this reveals that present Government is equally concerned for the welfare of displaced people from the Valley. "Visit to migrant camps and organization of Shiv Ratri Milan at Delhi is a part of the new Government’s healing touch formula", he added. Mr Bhan expressed the hope that the coalition Government will fulfill its commitment and take a bold initiative for rehabilitation of the community in Kashmir valley with honour and dignity. Expressing his satisfaction over the visit Mr Mufti, the vice president All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), Mr R K Raina, said this is a good will gesture on the part of the Chief Minister. By visiting the migrant camps on the eve of Shiv Ratri one gets the impression that this Government has some definite policies and programmes for restoration of peace and normalcy in the Valley and rehabilitation of the community. He appealed the community members to extend their cooperation to Chief Minister in this task so that the wall of hatred is dismantled once for all and era of peace and prosperity returns to this trouble -torn state. Welcoming the initiative, the PDP leader Mr Avtar Krishan Jyotshi termed it a bold step. "This way the Chief Minister has proved all those people wrong who were spreading canards against his Government and Party for their vested interests". He expressed the hope that Government will take quick measures in redressing the long pending demands of the community and rehabilitation of community with honour and dignity. Same views were expressed by Gyan Ji from Muthi Camp Phase first and Nath JI from Phases Second. They expressed the hope that the assurances given by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in the camp will be fulfilled without any delay. Work with missionary zeal, Sofi asks forest officials Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Minister for Forests and Environment Mr. Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Sofi today called for greater co-ordination between various wings of forest department for achieving optimum advancement in various sectors. Interacting with employees of state forest corporation here today, he asked them to make the SFC more profitable. Responding to their demands for promotion, he said that the Managing Director has been asked to conduct an exercise for removing stagnation. He said all the genuine demands would be redressed in a phased manner. The deputation presented the chatter of demands which include time bound promotion, enhancement of leave encashment, review of the SFC recruitment rules, clearing of SRO 43 cases, release of 5th pay commission arrears and other issues. Mr. Sofi emphasised upon the office bearers of the SFC to work with zeal and dedication for the betterment of the corporation and welfare of the state. Relay fast by unemployed Enggs enters sixth day Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: The relay hunger strike of All J&K Unemployed Engineers Association entered sixth day today with Mr Amarpal Singh and Mr Kanwaljeet Singh replacing Messrs Ramparshad and Naresh Dubey. The first phase of relay hunger strike will end on March 5 with a peace march starting from Divisional Commissioner’s Office at 10 am and conclude at Shalamar Chowk. Association general secretary Mr Sanjay Kotwal while talking to media threatened to intensify the agitation if the Government did not become serious about unemployed engineers. He appealed the Government to immediately take up the matter in Assembly on priority and in no case should test the patience of the engineers. He declared that he alongwith Mr Manmohan Singh will be sitting on hunger strike on the concluding day. Meanwhile a delegation of AJKUEA led by its president Rana Randeep Singh visited Hiranagar and addressed a gathering of unemployed engineers of Kathua district. Mr Rana in his address brought to light the facts and figures and the details about on-going agitation. Later Mr Narinder Pal Singh and Mr Naresh Gupta were appointed as co-ordinators for Kathua district. they will represent the Association in Kathua district. Other office bearers who accompanied the Association president included general secretary Sanjay Kotwal and committee members Sanjeev and Raman Sharma. Senior citizens, Central Govt pensioners hail Budget-2003 Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Senior citizens in general and the Central Government Pensioners in particular, have welcomed the Budget 2003 and congratulated the Finance Minister for having articulating the Government’s concern to ensure that pensioners ‘live their life with dignity’. The pensioners appreciated the Government’s attempt to compensate low returns on the life-long savings of pensioners due to declining bank rates, by increasing standard deduction limit and tax rebate limit which will benefit by and large all pensioners with gross pension upto Rs 2 lakh. While the budget has revealed a satisfactory road map for augmenting and supporting overall health structure in the country, it has ignored the serious concern of over 2.5 million central Government pensioners for cover under Central Government Health scheme. there is no direction to implement 5th Pay Commission recommendation to set up CGHS in every State capital for maximizing the coverage of pensioners settled all over the country but deprived of their ‘legitimate and constitutional right’. The meeting held that Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana assuring 9 percent return prima facie appears to be an innovative and attractive scheme for the pensioners and senior citizens, to make up for their declining bank rates on savings. They however expressed apprehension that the scheme may not meet the fate of UTI. ‘Sex
tourism’ is buzz-word! By B L Kak JAMMU,Mar 3: Sex tourism and trafficking poses a serious challenge to India, where it is "on the rise". This finding—sensational at that—is contained in a report of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNDFW). The report on women has identified three reasons behind the rise in India of sex tourism and trafficking. They are: Increasing migration of women for economic reasons, gender inequality as the victims are mostly women and girls, and the process of globalisation which has led to what is termed as "commodification of women". And the UNDFW has explained that, by definition, sex tourism is "travel to engage in sex for money". Ominous message from the UNDFW: India may soon be competing with Bangkok for the undesirable title of sex capital of the world. Indeed, the United Nations Development Fund for Women has reckoned: "Although Latin American countries, Bangkok and specially Sri Lanka in Asia have become infamous hot beds for sex tourism and pedophilia, India is fast becoming a leading destination for these criminals". UNDFW has also revealed: "The rapid rise of cheap and readily available sex, especially with young boys and girls, show that the present level of law enforcement is not effective". Stating that Goa and Kerala on the western coast and Mahabalipuram, Puri and Jagannath have been identified as "problem areas", the report argues that one has to plan beyond merely rescuing the victims, because "if they do not have means of income, they will fall prey to prostitution again to survive". The UNICEF, on the other hand, has somewhat frightening details on use of children for sex on the streets of Mumbai, universally known as India’s commercial capital. According to the UNICEF’s none-too-old report, there are about 50,000 children working in the brothels of Mumbai alone. And the city’s red light districts generate nearly Rs 2 crores annually. This assessment,obviously,has been based on the number of prostitutes (nearly one lakh) servicing men, averaging half a dozen customers a day, for under Rs 100. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received mind-boggling inputs from an Indian police officer, PM Nair by name on sex trafficking. One of these inputs runs thus: Sex trafficking in India is more lucrative than the illegal trade in weapons". Army undertakes development works Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 3: Army has undertaken a number of development projects in the remote areas of district Poonch. Electric supply scheme was rejuvenated for village Khet and Saujian at a cost of Rs 9.05 lakhs. Tanks for water storage upto 30,000 litres were constructed for Saujian and Chapryan and a 5 kilometer pipe line was laid costing 12.75 lakhs to eradicate problem of water supply in these villages. Drinking water is regularly supplied by Army with bowsers in Banwat, Natutac and Kadar. The Army has also constructed water storage tanks and check dams in Khari, Noonanbandi, Oulpur and resorted the irrigation canal from Gurpur to Pondipur at a cost of Rs 2.6 lakhs. In addition, Army constructed a primary school building at Islamabad, installed water pumps at Kasaliyan and got the school building renovated there and constructed bath rooms in Degwar school. A community hall with nine rooms has been constructed by the Army where vocational training in weaving, knitting, stitching embroidery is imparted to ladies of Sekhlu, Gulpur and Saujian. Recently artificial lamb was provided to Miss Saheen Akhtar of Khan Karmaga at Army Artificial Limb Centre at Pune. Army has been organising a number of medical/veterinary camps for treatment of locals in these villages. Such progresses work and continued involvement of Army for help civilians in every way has earned a lot of mutual trust and goodwill. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |
