School upgradation

Sir,

As per the news report published in this paper (Apr 8) NABARD has approved a loan of three hundred crores for the classrooms as well as other developmental purposes.

Government has over the years upgraded schools to high and higher secondary level. It calls for the building of about four thousand class rooms. The loan from NABARD (National Bank of Agricultural and Rural Development) has become crucial in this sector. Education is one of the most crucial sectors which needs a constant upgradation. Keeping in view the overall status of education in the State the upgradation process has to be ensured so that the new upgraded schools are not only self sufficient in space but are also equipped with latest and state of art facilities. Those schools which are of higher secondary level have to be equipped with all possible facilities. This is important because the higher secondary level is crucial to the students. It is from the level that students go to colleges or to higher professional courses. It has been seen that majority of Higher Secondary Schools in rural areas are difficient in men as well as in material. Staff is usually wanting. The space and building infrastructure is lacking. Labs are only in the name. Libraries contain some rudimentary books and few almirahs.

Funds have to be released in ample quantities for these upgradation. This will ensure that school infrastructure gets upgraded in the State.

Yours etc...
Jiwan Lal
Resham Garh
Jammu

Karvan-e-Aman

Sir,

Very few people thought that Karvan-e-Aman would be possible. The bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad finally took off thanks to the untiring efforts of the present Government.

A couple of days ago the bus service has completed three years. This is a good sign and good example of how things can be done under difficult circumstances. Steps which were seen as impossible a decade ago have become true. The Karvan-e-Aman is one such example. This bus service has helped more than six thousand passengers to travel to POK. Similarly hundreds of passengers have crossed the border through Chakkan-Da-Bagh in Poonch.

Karvan-e-Aman has proved valuable in fostering people to people contact. It has helped to bring the occupied part of Kashmir closer to the State. People, who have visited the State from the other side of the border were surprised to find so much development on this side of border. The multireligious faiths expoused by people here and the way in which the live in peace and harmony with each other has opened their eyes. They had to change their ideas about the State. Being fed with vicious propaganda of the Pakistan these people were made to believe that our state was backward. When they came here they were amazed at the sight of the size of Jammu and Srinagar.

Karvan-e-Aman has done its bit to promote peace between two countries. The frequency of the bus service has to be increased, so that even larger number of people visit the two countries.

Yours etc.
Sohan Singh
Nagrota

Conversion of COLA into DA

Sir,

It is to submit that a wage committee was set up to examine in depth the wage structure of the PSU workers and to evoke a suitable formula for periodic revision, taking into account the cost of living index and other relevant factors. The said committee submitted its final report and the Government accepted the same vide Govt order No. 19 GR of 1980 Dated: 26-04-1980.

As per the above said order, it was decided that for the purpose of determination of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), a comparison shall be made with the average All India Price Index for the 12 months from January to December each year and the payment of COLA shall be made in April each year after the price indices are notified. The amount will however, be due from 1st of January each year. At present the COLA is due to the employees for the last two years which have been kept withheld by the Govt without any reason with the result the PSU workers and their families are facing worst type of financial crices. This is most unfortunate that at the one hand the prices of the essential commodities are at sky and on the other hand the Government is adopting delaying tactics in releasing the COLA/DA in favour of PSU Employees. The Chief Minister has himself terms the COLA as misnomer of the DA and has announced/assured that the COLA shall be replaced by the DA during his address to the PSU Workers Rally on May Day 2006. Since two years have elapsed, but nothing has been done in the regard. The Chief Minister is requested to personally look into this vital issue and issue necessary orders for conversion of COLA into DA as already assured by him, so that the long pending demand of PSU workers is solved once for all in the best interest of workers.

Yours etc.
Shiv Kumar Sharma
Trikutanagar
Jammu