WG
recommendations reviewed
Massive increase in
rentals after 60 years: Azad
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Chief Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad, at a high level meeting
here today, reviewed the recommendations
of the Working Groups constituted by the
Prime Minister on Jammu & Kashmir
following the second Round Table
Conference held in Srinagar in 2006.
The
meeting, attended by Deputy Chief
Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Chief
Secretary, B. R. Kundal, Financial
Commissioner, Home, S. S. Kapur, Director
General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda,
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,
Anil Goswami, Financial Commissioner,
Revenue, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai,
Commissioner/Secretary, GAD, Basharat
Ahmad Dhar and Secretary, Revenue, Masood
Samoon, in particular deliberated on the
massive increase in rentals of orchards
and land under the use of Army in
J&K.
Pertinent
to mention that the rent for the fruit
bearing orchards has gone up by 634%
while that of the land falling under
Srinagar and Jammu Municipal
Corporations, Poonch Municipal Council
and Srinagar and Jammu Cantonments,
municipal councils and municipal
committees has been increased by 500%.
Likewise,
the rent for class-I irrigated land has
been enhanced by 300% and irrigated
(double cropped) land by 242%. The rent
of the class-II irrigated land has been
increased by 284% and un-irrigated by
246% while the rent for class-III
(un-cultivable) land has gone up by 216%.
The
enormous increase in rent came about
after the Chief Minister had a meeting
with the Defence Minister, A. K. Antony
at Srinagar on October 27, 2007 and
pleaded the case of the poor orchardists
and owners of land in the State whose
rent had not been enhanced for a long
time. As a result of this meeting, Antony
asked the Chief Minister to make out a
case for increase in the rent. He assured
the Chief Minister that the Government of
India would agree to what the State
Government would propose.
The
J&K Government followed the assurance
by conducting a special survey across the
State by committees under the two
divisional commissioners. The committees
included deputy commissioners and
officials of revenue, agriculture and
horticulture departments who made a
detailed survey of the land under the
army’s use and the losses suffered
by the owners due to inadequate rent.
Based on the special survey, the State
Government forwarded recommendations to
Government of India for a massive
increase in the rent of the land and
orchards. The proposal of the State
Government was accepted by the Government
of India in toto.
The
enormous increase was affected for the
first time in 60 years and was the result
of the efforts made by the Chief Minister
who ably pleaded the case with the
Central Government.
On behalf
of the State Government, Azad thanked
Government of India for acceding to the
recommendation for the massive hike in
the rent.
Project
Manager among 5 suspended
Excelsior
Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Apr 9: To check
punctuality, regularity and work culture
in Government offices, the District
Development Commissioner, Udhampur, O.P.
Kalandria accompanied by the Chief
Planning Officer, Rakesh Jamwal today
conducted surprise visit of different
offices.
During
their visit to District Industries
Centre, it was found that the Project
Manager, Industries, C. M. Mansotra and
two Junior Assistants, namely Raghubir
Singh and Pramodh Kumar were absent from
duty unauthorizedly. Likewise Section
Officer, R.M. Sharma and Orderly, Romesh
Chander of Programme Officer ICDS office
were not present in the office. The DDC
placed these absentees of both the
offices under suspension with immediate
effect directing their district heads to
conduct an inquiry and submit report to
proceed further accordingly under rules.
In the
meanwhile, the DDC has called the
explanation of Sub Divisional Agriculture
Officer, Udhampur, H.K. Mankota and
Project Officer, ICDS, Gur Darshan Singh
who were also not available in their
respective offices.
Mr
Kalandria has directed all the district
heads and other officers to keep strict
vigil over the attendance, punctuality
and work culture in their departments
concerned. He called upon the employees
to work with sincerity and dedication and
complete the targets well in time.
Pak
pilgrims meet Governor, CM
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Governor, Lt.
General (Retd) S K Sinha today called for
hassle free travel for pilgrims and
facilitating more people to people
contact between India and Pakistan.
"I
have observed in newspapers some
Pakistani leaders suggesting free visa
between India and Pakistan", he
said, adding that a decision in this
regard will have to be taken by the two
Governments. He highlighted the essence
of great Indian philosophy of Vasudeva
Kutumbakam (the whole world is one
family),
Gen Sinha,
in his hour long interaction with
Pakistani Hindu pilgrims at Raj Bhavan
here this morning after their return from
the darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi, said
the normalization process has got new
impetus with positive signals emanating
from the new Pakistani leadership and
hoped this will fructify in lasting peace
and tranquility on the sub-continent.
"We are treading the right
path", he said, adding that the
people of India and Pakistan were bound
by a unique old relationship despite
being two nations now.
He said
smoothening of relations will open up new
vistas for people to people contact and
the day will not be far when more such
groups will be coming to pay obeisance at
the revered Dargah of Sheikh Moin-ud-Din
Chisti at Ajmer and Mata Vaishno Devi in
the State. He responded positively to the
demand of visiting pilgrims about
sponsoring groups from Pakistan to pay
obeisance at the Trikuta Hills cave
shrine and went ahead to offer seats for
Pakistani students in Shri Mata Vaishno
Devi University.
He
referred to the deep yearning among
Kashmiri Pandits to visit Sharada Peeth
in Pak occupied Kashmir and said "I
am optimistic that the aspirations of the
people will get fulfilled one day".
Mahesh
Kumar wanted Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Shrine Board to sponsor more groups of
pilgrims for longer durations.
"After experiencing the amount of
affection from the people especially the
Shrine Board functionaries, we are
encouraged to organize trips of our
elders in a big way', he said.
A famous
singer among the pilgrims, Sushil Kumar,
who has to his credit 100 albums of
Bhajjans and Kirtans, sang in melodious
voice the Bhaint of Mata, unmindful of
the geographical location of the revered
shrine. Believing it to be in Kashmir, he
went on singing "Kohinoor Ka Jalwa
Hai, Janat Ka Nazara Hai, Kashmir Ki Wadi
Mein Sheroonwali Ka Dwarah Hai, Hai
Kendra Tapasya Ka, Rishyoon Ki Yeh Dharti
Hai, Is Dharti Ki Kudrat Bhi Aradhana
Karti Hai '. He says this album has
become very popular in Pakistan and
abroad.
Meanwhile,
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has
asserted that warm bilateral relations
between India and Pakistan were in the
interests of the two countries as well as
of the world at large, saying that the
desire for peaceful and cordial ties,
seen for decades at the people’s
level on either side, was now showing
itself at the official plane also.
Interacting
with the pilgrims from Sindh province of
Pakistan, who called on him today, the
Chief Minister said that the yearning for
peaceful and friendly ties between the
two countries was always there among the
people on both sides. However, he said,
the two Governments had also realized now
that peace in the region and cordial
bilateral relations were in the interests
of both sides. He said during the past
four years the two governments took
significant initiatives, promoting the
kind of warmth in relations as was never
seen before.
Mr Azad
said that the peace process initiated by
the two countries had resulted in closing
the mouths of guns and mortars on the
border and opening of a new phase of
reconciliation and friendship. He said
border population on both sides had in
particular felt relieved as peace
prevailed on Indo-Pak border. The people
to people contact leading to exchange of
journalists, politicians, pilgrims and
students further improved the
environment. The atmosphere of mistrust,
he said, was replaced by optimism and
trust.
Mr Azad
hoped that this atmosphere would be
further consolidated following the
completion of electoral process and
installation of a new Government in
Pakistan. He said the internal situation
in the neigbouring country had slowed
down the dialogue process which, he
anticipated, would be now taken further
from where it had been left in February
2007. He said that India wanted cordial
and friendly relations with Pakistan and
wished its people all the best.
The Chief
Minister welcomed the pilgrims form
Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir and hoped
that the frequency of such visits would
be increased in future. He said the level
of the two countries coming closer to
each other was related with the frequency
of visits at the people’s level. He
said the arrival of the Pakistani
pilgrims in the State was a welcome
beginning, adding that he would like to
see pilgrims from Pakistan visiting the
Amarnath shrine in Kashmir also.
He
enquired from the visiting pilgrims about
their travel and stay in Jammu. He asked
the conducting officials to arrange their
visit to Raghunath temple, Bahu Temple,
Bahu Fort and acquarium before their
departure for Haridwar today.
Qarra
seeks support for SFC revival
SIDBI to facilitate
micro-lending in J&K
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 9: The Small
Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI) has decided to facilitate
micro-financing in Jammu and Kashmir in a
big way after having successfully
operationalized the scheme at the
national level.
This was
announced by SIDBI Chairman/Managing
Director R M Malla at his meeting with
the Minister for Finance & Housing,
Tariq Hameed Qarra here last evening. He
said SIDBI would do the micro-lending in
the State through designated NGOs to
facilitate small and medium entrepreneurs
establish new business or expand the
existing ones. He said SIDBI would
convene a meeting in this regard at its
Lucknow headquarters on April 17 and a
team of officers would visit the State on
April 18 to workout the modalities of the
scheme.
Mr Malla,
who is also the Chairman of the Credit
Guarantee Fund Trust (CGFT), informed the
Minister that SIDBI has also taken the
initiative to provide collateral-free
lending upto Rs 50 lakh to the
prospective entrepreneurs in the State
through various banks. He said under the
scheme the lending institutions are bound
to provide collateral-free loans to the
entrepreneurs so that the benefit reaches
the ultimate borrowers. He said a seminar
was organized by SIDBI in Srinagar
recently to educate the bankers about the
collateral-free lending under CGFT
scheme.
Seeking
intervention of the SIDBI in the revival
of the State Financial Corporation (SFC),
the Finance Minister said the Corporation
has, in the past, played a significant
role in the industrial development of the
State. He said due to the turmoil in the
State, the Corporation had to introduce
various settlement schemes from time to
time necessitating waiver of interest on
loans, eventually adding to the
Corporation's losses. He said the State
Government has already formulated a
proposal for the revival of the
Corporation and SIDBI has a crucial role
in the implementation of the proposed
revival program.
SIDBI
Chairman assured Mr Qarra that the Bank
would be forthcoming with the necessary
financial and technical support for the
revival of the Corporation.
Managing
Director SFC, Mohammad Aslam and officers
of SIDBI were also present at the
meeting.
Bar
to abstain work in all courts today
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Bar Association
Jammu will abstain work in all the courts
including High Court tomorrow in protest
against the barbaric act of the
Bagh-e-Bahu Police.
The
decision was taken in a meeting of the
Bar Association held under the
chairmanship of its president B S
Slathia. The members of the Bar expressed
serious concern over the assault on
Advocate Bhushan Singh Charak by the
police personnel from Bagh-e-Bahu Police
Station led by Sub-Inspector Paramjeet
Singh.
They said
that Advocate Charak was beaten up and
kept in the illegal confinement as the
Sub-Inspector has grudge against the
Advocates over a case against him in the
Court of law.
"Stern
action should be taken against the erring
cops including SI for irresponsible act
of manhandling and illegal confinement of
a respectable member of the Bar
Association", general secretary of
the Bar Pawan Kumar Maini said.
He said
that a complaint has already been lodged
with the senior police officers and
another complaint will be filed in the
court tomorrow.
The
meeting was among others attended by C M
Sharma, C S Gupta, Ajay Kotwal, M P
Singh, R K Kotwal, Amrit Sarin, M P
Sharma, Rakesh Khajuria, Ajit Badyal,
Parminder Singh, Rajesh Thappa, B S
Soodan, J P Nadna, Baldev Singh and
Karanbir Singh.
Strike
extended upto April 16
Clerical cadre employees
take out protest rally
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Clerical cadre
employees held massive demonstration and
took out a large protest rally in support
of their demands in the winter capital
city here today.
On the
call given by Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,
All Departments Clerical Staff
Association, the employees of clerical
cadre from different government
departments assembled at Exhibition
Ground near main Tawi bridge and held a
protest demonstration under the
leadership of Rehmat Ullah Malik,
convenor of the Association.
Besides Mr
Malik, R P Sharma, Ravi Singh, C L Koul,
Bashir Ahmed, Roshan Lal and A K Mehta,
several senior trade union leaders from
other organisations including Pardeep
Sharma ( All J&K Govt Employees
Federation), Abdul Qayoom Wani (EJAC),
Gafoor Dar (NTUF), Prem Pal Singh, Balwan
Singh ( Teachers JAC), Jaswant Singh,
Susheel Sudan, Gh Nabi Bhat, Parshotam
Singh Chib (GRP), Ganesh Khajuria, Abdul
Rashid, Devanand, Uttam Chand, Amrik
Singh and Prahlad Singh addressed the
gathering and stressed upon the
Government to mitigate the genuine and
justified demand of the clerical cadre
employees.
After
staging protest near Tawi bridge, the
agitating employees marched towards Civil
Secretariate after passing through Gumat,
Bus Stand and Indira Chowk. Carrying
banners and placards in their hands, they
were raising slogans against the
Government. When the rally reached
Shalamar Road, it was stopped by the
strong police contingent. The police had
erected barricades to stop the protest
marchers from moving towards civil
secretariat. After showing some
resistance, the employees dispursed from
this point.
Reports of
similar demonstrations have come from
various districts in the State including
Leh and Srinagar. In Poonch, a strong
rally was organised under the leadership
of Mohd Bashir Mir, president. Sham
Parsad, general secretary also addressed
the gathering.
The
employees’ strike continued to
disrupt the normal functioning in the
government offices. The agitating
clerical cadre employees are demanding
that a hike be given in their existing
pay grades as done in favour of employees
of various other cadres. Later, in a
meeting of the executive body of the
Association, it was decided to extend the
strike upto April 16.
Nursing
student’s porno CD case
Cop, 3 computer operators
arrested
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 9: Crime Branch has
arrested a police constable and three
computer operators for preparing and
circulating in market the pornographic CD
of a nursing student.
Senior
Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch,
Kashmir, A G Malik said that on March 8,
2008, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM),
Srinagar directed Crime Branch to
investigate the contents of a
pornographic CD allegedly being
circulated in the market.
The CD was
also handed over to the Crime Branch in
the presence of lawyers after it was
displayed in the court room. The CD was
presented to the Court by the office
bearers of FASE on March 31 after
receiving the same at its office on
February 10, 2008.
During the
course of investigation, the Crime Branch
ascertained that a police constable
namely Gulal Ahmad Najar indulged in an
illegal sexual act with a girl namely
Khalida alias Pati, daughter of Ghulam
Ahmad Dar of Bongam, Kulgam in 2004 and
video-recorded it by using his mobile
phone. Later, the obscene clipping was
circulated in the market through the
medium of some CDs.
As soon as
the senior officers noticed the
involvement of a constable they issued
orders for his immediate arrest and
accordingly the cop was nabbed by Crime
Branch on April 1, 2008 from his
residence in New Chinar Bagh, Gagribal,
Mr Malik said.
The
disclosures made by the cop revealed that
in 1999 while he was posted in Police
Station Kulgam he developed relations
with the girl and both decided to enter
into a wed-lock. In 2004, the girl got
admission in Nursing School of SMHS
Hospital, Srinagar for undergoing nursing
training.
During her
training period, she came closer to the
constable, who was already transferred
from District Kulgam to Srinagar. The
constable and the girl remained at
different rented accommodations by
projecting themselves as husband-wife.
When the
cop started facing financial crunch, he
sold his mobile phone to one Mirza
Muzaffar, son of Mirza Bashir of Lal
Bazar, Srinagar, who was dealing in
computer trade besides sale and purchase
of mobile phones at MAC Solution Software
Development, Hazratbal.
On the
request of cop, Mirza Muzaffar prepared a
CD of the obscene act and delivered it to
the constable and took away the mobile
phone on cash payment.
Subsequently,
the CD was passed on to two more computer
operators namely Mudasir Ahmad Reshi, son
of Ali Mohd Reshi of Lalbab Sahib,
Zakoora and Adil Nabi Methalie, son of
Ghulam Nabi Mathalie of Friends Colony,
Zakoora, who were working as employees
with AVRC Computer Point and CREST-DTP
Centre, Hazratbal respectively. These
computer operators circulated the CD in
the market.
Following
the disclosures of the cop, all the three
computer operators were arrested and a
computer alongwith porno CDs seized. The
statement of the girl was also recorded
and she corroborated the disclosures made
by the constable.
"The
case is being vigorously investigated and
some more disclosures are expected",
SSP Crime Branch said.
The case
was worked out under the Supervision of
IGP Crime & Railways Dr S P Vaid.
Lecturers'
Forum celebrates ‘Lecturers Day'
Mangat asks teachers to
perform their role whole-heartedly
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Minister for Health
and Medical Education, Mangat Ram Sharma
today called upon the teaching community
to perform its role with whole-hearted
approach to prepare the youngsters for
future challenges.
Addressing
delegates of plus two lecturers in a
function organized by J&K Plus Two
Lecturers' Forum at Govt Polytechnic,
Bikram Chowk to celebrate 'Lecturer's
Day', the Minister said that teachers
have to play a greater role in grooming
the young generation for future
challenges, as education was the only
tool to change the destiny of the
society.
Mr. Sharma
said Government was fully aware of the
importance of education and has taken
various innovative steps to modernize the
overall education scenario across the
State. He, however, assured the cadre
that Government would seriously address
to their genuine demands.
In his
address, Minister for Higher Education,
Gulchain Singh Charak, said that all
necessary initiatives would be taken to
redress the demands of the teaching
community. He appreciated the role of
community in the development of education
in the State.
He said a
new academic policy is in offing to
further streamline the education system
and for uniform academic calendar in the
State.
Ministers
Mula Ram, Manjeet Singh, Babu Singh, MLA
Kulgam M Y Tarigami, Secretary School
Education, G. A. Peer, Director School
Education Jammu, A. K. Raina, senior
officers of education department,
Principals of various higher secondary
schools and representatives of lecturers
forum were also present on the occasion.
On the
occasion, H D Qureshi, president of the
forum, highlighted several issues
confronted by the cadre including pay
anomalies of principals and higher
officers, eradication of inchargism,
benefit of running pattern in pay scale
of Rs 8000-13500 and review of SRO 83 of
1992 in accordance with strength of cadre
etc.
To mark
the day, an impressive and colourful
function was presented by the artists
under the guidance of Mrs Devinder Kour
and Kuldeep Raina. The function was
attended by over 1000 delegates of the
forum from across the State. The
programme concluded with vote of thanks
by D P Datta, State coordinator.
|
