Institution of Engineers celebrates World Habitat Day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu Centre, celebrated World Habitat Day by organising a seminar on the topic ‘ Cities Magnets of Hope’ at Gandhinagar here today.

A number of engineers from various departments participated in the seminar. Hony Secy, Samir Sharma welcomed the invitees and others present on the occasion and briefed them about the topic and importance of the World Habitat Day. He said the world has been witnessing a greatest migration from its past history into the towns and cities from rural areas. By the year 2050, some 6 billion people representing two-third of humanity will be living in towns and cities.

A total eight technical papers were presented on the occasion. The speakers included- S K Sharma, Rabinder Shekhar, Anil Gupta, H R Phonsa, Chetan Verma, V N Sharma, Santokh Singh and B B Gupta.

V N Sharma (FIE) highlighted the unplanned construction activities and the traffic chaos in Jammu city and urged upon the Jammu Municipal Corp authorities to act on a war footing so that city of temples do not turn into an urban slum. The other speakers pointed out that never before in the history has the world witnessed such a rapid urbanization.

Vinod Malhotra, Chief Town Planner Jammu in his concluding remarks stressed the need of revising the Master Plan of Jammu city. He advocated the concept of land pooling as prevalent in Ahmedabad.

7 CRPF personnel honoured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Seven personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were honoured and given Director General’s commendation certificates/ letters at a function held at Force headquarters, Ban Talab here today.

Inspector General of CRPF, J C Davas, who was the chief guest at the function distributed the DG’s commendation letters among the CRPF personnel who have rendered distinguished services and shown exemplary act of bravery while fighting militancy in the Jammu and Kashmir State.

Deputy Inspector General Y K Mathur and DIG Rana were also present on the occasion. The officers lauded the services of these CRPF men and hoped that others will also take inspiration from them.

Those honoured in today’s function included- Assistant Commandant G. Dinesh from 63 Bn, Sub-Inspector Jagdish Singh from 68 Bn, Head Constable Nirmal Singh from Gp Centre Ban Talab, Head Constable Rajinder Singh from 20 Bn, Head Constable (Driver) S K Roy from 148 Bn, Head Constable Vinod Kumar Singh from 81 Bn and Sepoy Pritam Chand.

Talwara migrants criticise Govt,warn agitation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Migrant Committee Talwara Camp has criticized the State Government for its failure in redressing the genuine grievances of the camp inmates who have been forced to flee from their homes by terrorists.

"The Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad has failed to keep his promise made with the migrants of Talwara last time" said general secretary of the Committee, Balwan Singh while talking to reporters here this afternoon.

"The Chief Minister had promised the agitating migrants putting up at Talwara that they will be provided free rice , flour and kerosene oil for three months but later the Government backtracked from this promise", he alleged.

He said only rice and flour was supplied for two months and not the kerosene oil as promised.

He said the camp inmates at Talwara are at the verge of starvation and authorities were looking as mute spectator to all this.

Mr Singh, who reiterated his demand that migrants from Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Udhampur be also provided the ration and cash assistance at par with Kashmiri migrants warned that in case the Government continues its dilly dallying tactics , the Talwara migrants will come to streets and march to New Delhi to hold a demonstration in front of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Mr Singh also made an appeal to J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) supremo Prof. Bhim Singh to approach the Supreme Court once again to seek justice for these migrants.

Expressing concern over the plight of the Talwara migrants, Anita Thakur incharge of the migrants affairs alleged that some camp inmates lost their lives after epidemic gripped the camp last month due to the supply of contaminated water. She alleged despite the repeated pleas the Government has failed to redress the grievances of these migrants.

TCL penetrating in global market

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: With a brand valuation of over USD 4.1 billion , the TCL is emerging a global major. It is a rapidly growing multinational with presence in over 100 countries worldwide.

This was stated by Sandeep Uppal Branch Manager TCL, Arun Mahajan the TCL’s Jammu Distributor and Brahm Dutt its Assistant Manager at a joint press conference here, today.

They said in a short span of 24 years, the TCL has become the largest manufacturer of television sets in the world with 22 million sets were sold in 2005 alone.

They said the TCL Holdings Pvt Ltd has already 24 branches and dealer network of over 5000, supported by 120 service franchisees. The Company has launched a wide range of products in India including 50 models of colour televisions, LCD’s Projection, Plasma’s six models of DVD players, eight models of Washing Machines, around 15 models of split -type air conditioners and an extensive slew of innovative small home appliances.

They said the TCL India’s Plasma T V category starts from Rs 109,990 with DDHD and HDTV-ready technology. The LCD range starts from 15 inch to 40 inch in 10 models.

The company’s objective is to consolidate TCL’s global leadership,position, offer a diversified high quality product range from basic to high end innovative products and address all key markets competitively, the disclosed.

They said TCL India Holdings Pvt Ltd is all set to enter its next phase of growth, pioneering the superior DDHD (Digital Dynamic High Definition) vision engine. The Company has also won the T V Oscar awards three times, they added.

They said TCL is going to launch many new products like High Speed Coolers, attractive fans ,switches, lights, blowers etc in the coming season. The company has already announced a Diwali Unlimited offer. This offer has started from September 25 and it will continue upto October 28, they added.

The company is offering gifts on all its products purchased during the period, they said,adding TCL is planning to hold an exhibition in Jammu in first week of next month.

Mahila Adhikar Samiti of SP holds demonstration

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: The Mahila Adhikar Samiti of Samajwadi Party (SP) held a demonstration in front of Divisional Commissioner’s Office here, today demanding reservation for women in legislators and other institutions.

The demonstration was led by the chairman of the Samiti and ex MLC Deepinder Kaur.

The protesting activists of the organization also with pla-cards and banners in their hands also raised slogans in support of their demands.

Later a memorandum highlighting the demands was submitted to State Governor through Additional Commissioner by the SP leaders.

The demonstrators were demanding amendment in the state constitution to increase the strength of the Assembly to 120 from 89 by earmarking 30 seats for women.

Supporting the demand Sheikh Rehman urged the Government that the session of State legislature should be convened immediately for amending the Constitution in this regard.

He also urged all the political parties to support this demand instead of raking up the issue of Afzal Guru. He said granting of clemency to Guru should be left to judiciary and President of India.

Expressing grave concern over the declining growth rate of women in the country in general and J&K in particular Mrs Kour demanded that strict punishment be given to those involved in conducting the sex determination tests. She also favoured that the punishment in this regard be doubled.

She also demanded that parents of girl child living below poverty line be provided incentives by the Government which should bear 75 percent of the expenditure on their education, marriage and health care. Earlier the activists of the organization took out a procession outside the Radio Station Station Panjtirthi Jammu to Divisional Commissioner’s Office Mubarak Mandi.

ADDC inspects schools

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4 : Additional District Development Commissioner Jammu Sourabh Bhagat conducted surprise inspection today in respect of punctuality of various schools which includes Government Middle School Barjala, Sure Chack, Mandal Bhura Chack, High School Raipur and Sohajna, Primary School Parladhpur and Higher Secondary School Mandal.

While inspecting the GMS Barjala he found that Headmaster Vijay Bashin was absent from duty. Accordingly CEO Jammu was directed to place him under suspension alongwith Usha Bakshi Incharge headmaster who failed to maintain the decorum of the school.

The ADDC inspected the CRC building in Middle School Sure Chack and found that the material used were very poor in quality Accordingly CEO wasdirected to stop the salary of Engineer Amit Bloon of the said building.

Mr Bhagat also inspected middle school Mandal and found that maximum staff members were on leave Accordingly CEO was directed to deduct one day salary from Sadhna Sharma Incharge headmaster for sanctioned leave to more than one third of teaching staff. He also inspected middle school Bhoura Chack where Vijay Sharma Incharge headmaster had sanctioned second half day leave to four teachers with the result the studies of students were suffering. He also inspected Girls HS Sohanjna at 2 p m where school timing was not changed as per Government order because of memorandum of understanding between teachers and parents of students.

The ADDC inspected developmental works executed by irrigation and flood control division-I which includes steel garden bridge at upper Beli Charana, number of works at lift irrigation schemes Lalyal and Sohanjna.

Comprehensive policy for welfare of
disabled soon: Hajji Nisar

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 4 : Minister for Social Welfare Hajji Nisar Ali today said that very soon the Government would come out with a comprehensive policy for the welfare of disabled persons of the State.

Various deliberations involving administrative and legal implications in this regard have already started, he added.

The Minister was speaking at a meeting held to discuss the draft of the said policy to incorporate various measures ensuring welfare of disabled and other physically challenged persons. Various proposals were discussed at length and certain recommendations made. It was decided that a website of Social Welfare Department serving as a handy reference for any information regarding the department would be launched soon. It would have a free access for suggestions and recommendations, the meeting was told.

The meeting was told that at the moment the State has about 1 lakh disabled persons out of which 50,000 receive pension saying that efforts are being made by the Government to cover the remaining lot. Also there are about 36,000 children in the State who are in need of special care and out of which 23,000 stand registered with the government.

Hajji Nisar said that the need of the time is that the State should catch up with the latest trends being followed by developed societies in ensuring social welfare which are required to be emulated. In this regard Information Technology can play a vital role he added.

The Minister stressed upon the officers of various departments present on the occasion to ensure the welfare of the society particularly the weaker section by putting up extra labour while rendering their services. He said that Government will take steps to keep seats reserved for disabled persons in Railway coachs in the State. He added that besides institutional rehabilitation of the disabled persons, the Government will also go for community based rehabilitation.

Among others the meeting was attended by Principal Secretary I&C S. S. Kapoor Principal Secretary Agriculture S. S. Sahni, Principal Secretary Higher & Technical Education Ashok Angurana, Commissioner Secretary Law A H. Kochak, Secretary Social Welfare Dr. Asgar Samoon and other officers drawn from various fields and departments.

Issue white paper on legislators, ministers property : BJP

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a white paper containing details of both moveable and immovable properties of legislators and ministers in the Congress led coalition Government and also on the tehsil wise appointments made on gazetted, non gazetted and daily wage basis between 1996 and March 2006.

This demand was made by the senior vice president of the Party Prof. Hari Om and Party general secretary, Ashok Khajuria at a press conference here, today.

Prof Hari Om said comprehensive white papers containing all such details alone can convince the people that Congress led Government is really committed in eradicating corruption and treating the people of Jammu region equally with those of Kashmir in vital service sector.

Expressing grave concern over the rising corruption in the State, Mr Khajuria said the BJP believes that J&K is number one and not two as the corruption at political level is concerned.

Ridiculing the Government claims on curbing the corruption he said, how can the fairness and transparency be expected from the coalition partners in the State as the alliance Government had shown the expenditure during 2004-05 less than 30 per cent under capital head ending December 31, 2004 when snow Tsunami engulfed the entire Kashmir valley, Poonch and Rajouri districts. The rest amount was spent between January First, 2005 and March 31, 2005 in Pulwama district despite the fact that no work was possible due to snow Tsunami, he added.

He also urged the Government to stop harassing low paid officials on the name of corruption. "If the Government is really interested in rooting out corruption, it must first expose and bring to justice those ministers and legislators who are on looting spree", he demanded.

Mr Khajuria also expressed grave concern over the alleged discrimination facing the Jammu region in employment saying the rate of unemployed in Jammu region is over 69 percent while the same is less than 29 per cent in Kashmir valley.

Jugal reviews status of on-going projects

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 4 : Minister for Rural Development and Panchyati Raj, Jugal Kishore Sharma has called upon the officers of his department and other departments associated with the execution of developmental works in rural areas to dedicate themselves in achieving optimum results on the ground both quantitatively and qualitatively thereby leaving no scope of any complaint from any corner.

The Minister was addressing a meeting of District Officers of Rural Development Department, PHE. PWD, ICDS and Social Welfare convened to review the status of various on-going projects of their respective departments, here today.

MLA Udhampur, Balwant Singh Mankotia, District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, O. P. Kalandria, Additional Secretary, Rural Development, Director, Rural Development, Director, Rural Sanitation, Additional DDC, Udhampur, Khurshid Ahmed Bhat, Assistant Commissioner Development, Anil Gupta, Executive Engineer PWD, PHE, Project Officer DPAP, Assistant Project Director, DRDA, Chief Agriculture Officer, Programme Officer, ICDS and District Social Welfare Officer were also present in the meeting.

He said functionaries of Rural Development Department should take into confidence the local elected representatives into confidence while formulating the cases under Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) and Sampoorn Gramin Rozgar Yojna (SGRY) so that benefits percolate to maximum deserving people.

Responding to the demand of local MLA for providing drinking water, power supply and road connectivity to the model villages, the Minister directed the officers to fix priorities in accomplishment of this demand. Threadbare discussions were also held on status of works executed or under execution by the agencies like DPAP, DRADA, ICDS, Social Welfare, PHE, Rural Sanitation and Roads and Bridges.

Dilawar for stringent action against touts

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 4 : Saying that safeguard of the interests of fruit growers was supreme to Government, Minister for Horticulture, PHE, Irrigation and Tourism, Mohammad Dilawar Mir today directed for stringent action against touts responsible for creating artificial scarcity of trucks for transportation of fresh fruits from Valley to the terminal fruit markets of the country.

Speaking at a high level meeting held here today to review availability of trucks for transportation of fruit from the Valley, Minister asked the fruit growers and traders fraternity to help in identifying touts and fake transport agencies so that stringent action under law is taken against them. He said a delegation of the senior officers of agricultural production department and representatives of fruit growers and traders would be sent to neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana to arrange adequate number of empty trucks for transportation of fruits from the Valley.

MLA Shopian, Ghulam Hassan Khan, Transport Commissioner, Tikoo, Principle Secretary Agriculture S S Sahni, secretary Agriculture K. B. Jandial, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Showkat Ahmad Zargar, Director Horticulture Kashmir, RTO Kashmir and representatives of the various fruit growers and traders associations of the Valley were present in the meeting.

Responding to the suggestions of the fruit growers and traders, Minister said a modern weigh bridge would be installed at Lower Munda to check overloading of fruit by the truckers. He said Government would leave no stone unturned to promote horticulture industry on modern lines. He said Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) has been launched to provide price support to the fruit growers which would also help to improve grading and packaging of the fruits to withstand stiff market competition. He said cold storage facilities would be extended up to all fruit and vegetable mandis of the State. Besides, market Regulation act has been implemented to generate resources for up-keep of the fruit mandis and to create best possible basic infrastructural facilities there.

The Minister assured the fruit growers and traders that a perspective plan would be formulated for development of various fruit mandies of the State on modern lines.

Javeed Mustafa urges telecom companies
to strengthen network

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 4 : An amount of Rs. 480 crores has been spent for strengthening the mobile system service in the J&K State by AirTel company. The company is planning to explore possiblities to add more features in its existing incoming more on popularizing the services in every nook and corner of the State.

This information was given at a high level meeting of various company heads of tele-communication including Information and Technology Department, Airtel, Aircel and BSNL here today. The meeting was presided over by Minister of State for Rural Development and Information Technology, Javeed Mustafa Mir.

Reviewing the functioning of various tele-communication companies operating in the state, the Minister said that BSNL and AirTel are doing yoeman’s service to the public. The Minister said that there are some initial difficulties being faced by their companies, but hoped that with the devotion and hand washes, they would be able to provide best service to its consumers in near future. He said that there is great potential for these companies in the State as more and more consumers are opting for mobile connections as per the changed scenario overall, the Minister added.

Among others the meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Science and Information Technology, Director NIC , General Manager BSNL, General Manager AirTel, Deputy Secretary Information Technology and others.

Anganwari workers, helpers hold mass demonstration

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Oct 4: Under the aegis of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), the Anganwari Workers and Helpers held mass demonstration here in which workers from Mandi, Poonch and Surankote expressed their resentment against Government regarding regularization and enhancement in wages.

Prominent leaders of EJAC including Dushyant Choudhary, Faiz Akber Chowan, Mohd Nazir Moughal and S Amrik Singh, while addressing pointed out that some of the workers who have put in more than 10 years service have not been regularized.

The speakers held that candidates appointed on clear cut vacancies by the Department have not been paid for the past eight months and in some cases the centres were being run by the workers from their own pockets, while authorities have not paid any heed to their basic requirement.

They not only demanded release of wages but enhancement also. Others who spoke on the occasion and supported the cause were Gopal Dutta, Bharat Bhushan, Pankaj Sharma, Akram Hussain Shah, Miss Harjeet Kour, Harpinder Kour, Shamim Akhter, Shobika, Vijay Kumar, Vipul Kumar, Prem Nath and Mehraz.

Later employees took out a procession which were raising slogans in support of their demands culminated at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner Poonch.

Mian Altaf asks Govt to address unemployment

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 4: Former Minister and a senior National Conference leader Mian Altaf Ahmed urged the State Government to address the alarming problem of unemployment among backward and marginalized communities of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said there were thousands of unemployed youth belonging to Scheduled Tribe, SC and OBCs, who were idle after attaining various degrees and diplomas, who could be absorbed in various Government, semi-Government and other organizations in and outside the State.

Mian Altaf demanded that criteria for appointment of teachers fixed at 50 percent marks should be reduced to 40 percent so that educationally backward candidates could also apply.

The NC leader alleged that Public Service Commission and SSRB normally take three to four years to fill the posts referred to them by different Government agencies, which practice was creating alarming situation for those educated unemployed youth who were at the verge of crossing the age limit to getting a Government job.

Mian Altaf expressed concern over pathetic condition of the roads, erratic power supply posing various difficulties to the people residing in Kangan and Ganderbal area. He also accused the present Government of neglecting the far flung areas mainly in the sector of education.

Poonch woman gives birth to quadruplet

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 4: A young woman, hailing from Mendhar area of district Poonch gave birth to quadruplet in district hospital here today.

Identified as 28-year-old Naseema Akhtar, wife of Muneer Hussain of village Chhajla in Mendhar tehsil, the woman while undergoing normal delivery gave birth to a male baby at her residence at around 10 pm last night. As after first delivery, her condition deteriorated, her family members shifted her to Rajouri hospital in private taxi. She deliver three more babies here including two female.

According to Dr Neeru Gupta of Rajouri hospital, the woman gave birth to three more babies under the supervision of a Medical team during early morning today. She stated that the mother and babies were healthy and perfectly alright. No need was felt to operate upon the woman and she was allowed to undergo normal delivery. The woman will be discharged from hospital shortly, the doctor added.

Charak inspects various development works

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 4: Saying that a massive road connectivity programme has been launched in the State under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Minister for Works Gulchain Singh Charak said that Government is making vigorous efforts to provide better road connectivity to all the areas of the State under various State and Central schemes like Bharat Nirman Programme, CRF, NABARD, State and district plans. He said that at present R&B departments is maintaining 16395 kms of road length in the state. He said of which 7308 kms roads are black topped 4430 kms metalled, 1851 kms shingled and 2766 kms are fair weather roads.

The Minister today inspected various developmental projects under execution in Srinagar city and took stock of the pace of progress on these projects. The Minister also inspected macadamization work of Regal chowk to Alamdar bridge, Badshah Chowk to Women college, repairing work of foot paths Lal chowk, Naid Kadal, Lal Bazar and Idgah Bagwanpora road fencing of shaheed Mazar new colony Lal bazar. He directed the authorities to construct a fountain at the central verge of Lal Chowk and speed up the pace of work on all roads and complete them within stipulated time. He also instructed for installation of sign boards with necessary information for the public besides advised the authorities to take all necessary steps for cleanliness of the roads in city.

Mayor Srinagar Municipal Corporation Ghulam Mustaffa, and team of senior engineers accompanied the Minister.

Interacting with the people at various project sites the Minister said that considering the less working season in the Kashmir especially in snow bounded areas double shift working has been introduced and 119 schemes are being implemented in full swing adding it is expected that all these schemes will be completed by the end of current year.

NCSU urges CM to reform functioning of JKPSC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: National Conference Students Union (NCSU) has lambasted the functioning of the State Public Service Commission (PSC) for not maintaining transparency in the exams conducted by it.

Talking to media persons, here today, NCSU provincial president Parveen Singh Lucky expressed serious concern over the allegations of irregularities in the conduct of KAS exams and demanded a thorough probe into the matter for strict action against the culprits.

"Such allegations have eroded credibility of the PSC which has also utterly failed to conduct the KAS exams regularly because of its dilly-dally functioning," he said and appealed Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to reform the working of the Commission by appointing honest and sincere officers there.

Mr Lucky also threatened to launch a vigorous agitation by NCSU in case the grievances of the aggrieved KAS candidates are not addressed within a fortnight.

During the press conference, Mr Lucky also dissolved the Jammu University unit of NCSU and announced that the new body shall be declared very soon.

The other NCSU office bearers, who were also present on the occasion, included Vikrant Sharma, Binder Paul Singh Romy and Varun Mangotra.

GMC doctors donate blood on National Blood Donation Day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: To commemorate the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, the Department of Transfusion Medicine organised a blood donation camp in Government Medical College Hospital today.

Dr Kum Kum Sharma, Professor and Head of Department of Transfusion Medicine GMC Jammu, Dr Anil Mahajan, Dr Anil Dhar, Consultants in Medicine Department, Dr Hardeep, Dr Mukesh, Dr Avinash Gupta and Surinder Singh were among the first voluntary blood donors.

The camp was jointly organised by Doctors and Para-medical staff of Government College Jammu and educational institutions—MAM College and GGM Science College. Mr Varinder Mahajan of Young Blood Association was also present on the occasion.

Dr Kum Kum Sharma, in her address, emphasised that in Jammu province the annual requirement of blood is 42,000 units. Of this, 36000 is only in the Government Medical College and rest in the District and Sub-District Hospitals.

But the annual collection is only 38,000 units thereby creating shortage of 4000 units annually. To bridge the gap between demand and supply, promotion of volume of blood donation is the only solution, Dr Kum Kum said.

Dr T R Raina, Associate Professor, Dr Vijay Sawhney, Dr Kamaljit Singh, all Assistant Professors, Dr Pardeep Khajuria, Dr Meena Sidhu, Lecturers and Dr Sushma Mattoo, Demonstrator actively participated in the coordination of the blood donation camp.