CM
releases Dogra Art Museum Brochure
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16 : Chief Minister,
Ghulam Nabi Azad today released Dogra Art
Museum Brochure which is the unique
compilation of entire state history
pertaining to the ancient period
projected in the shape of rare of the
rarest work in marble hall, manuscripts
pertaining to the great epic Ramayana
written in Persian script, 17th century,
meticulously illuminated and illustrated
manuscripts of Moughal period- Shahnama
Firdosi calligraphed by Syed
Jalalu-din-Bhukari and Punjgunj Nizami
calligraphed by Inayatulla- Sherazi.
Other
famous items are Terracota belonging to
5th and 6th century, terracota heads from
the famous Kushan site Ambaran, Akhnoor
situated on the right bank of river
Chenab about 32 kilometers from Jammu,
stone sculptures from various places of
Archaeological/ historical significance
in Jammu region, inscriptions on stone,
fossils and bronze etc.
Art
Gallery was inaugurated by Ist President
of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad on May 28th,
1954 at Gandhi Bhawan Jammu.
Subsequently, over the time period from
1954 to 1991, there was tremendous
accumulation of cultural heritage in the
Art Gallery which had taken the shape of
museum. Later, the museum was renovated
and established in the pink Hall of
Mubarak Mandi complex, Jammu and was
inaugurated by the then Governor of State
Girish Chander Saxena in 1991.
The Chief
Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad after taking
the charge of government took immense
interest into the museum’ which
houses over 5500 works of exquisite art,
spanning over the last 1600 years. The
Museum is known for its sumptuous and
world famous collection of Rasmanjari
series of Basohli Paintings.
The Museum
collection comprise of Miniature
Paintings of different schools,
manuscripts, Dogra Arms and Armory,
Numismatics, Archaeology, Dogra Costumes,
Jewellery, Metal ware, Musical
instruments and Gallery of Modern Art.
The Dogra
Costumes section contains various Dogra
Costumes, Shawls, Chamba Rumals, Phulkari
items etc. Besides, the Numismatic
Section showcases coins in silver, copper
pertaining to Kushan, Hindu, Sultanate,
Moughal, Afghan, Sikh, Dogra and British
Period and the Arms and Armory section
contains Dogra Arms and Armory, 1 to 8
Barrel Riffles, Old Pistols, Swords, Zera
baktar and Cannons. Another attraction of
this section is the metallic bow of
Moughal period, decorated and inscribed
in gold carrying the name of Moughal
Emperor Shah-i-Jahan.
Mr. Azad
immediately called for carrying out
extensive up-gradation and modernization
drive for not only updating the record
but its compilation in such manner so
that general public becomes aware of the
state’s treasure.
The newly
released brochure carries all the
information about the museum collection.
Among
others Minister for Higher Education
Gulchain Singh Charak, Divisional
Commissioner Jammu Sudhanshu Pandey,
Director Archives and other senior
officers of the concerned departments
were also present on the occasion.
ASKPC
condemns Mufti’s statement
Excelsior
Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 16: All State Kashmiri
Pandit Conference (ASKPC) in a meeting
here, today held under the chairmanship
of Kundan Kashmiri has condemned the
statement of former Chief Minister Mufti
Mohammed Sayeed for demanding use of
Pakistani currency along with Indian, in
J&K State.
Mr Kundan
Kashmiri, while reacting to Mr
Sayeed’s demand said that KP
community in general and ASKPC in
particular reject all such unacceptable
and impracticable demands of PDP and its
like-minded groups like dual currency,
power sharing arrangements between India
and Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir as well
as creation of regional council for
J&K and PoK by redesignating the
Upper House of the State Legislature as a
regional senate for the undivided
J&K.
Kundan
Kashmiri said PDP leaders have no mandate
from J&K State to make such
statements. The others who attended the
meeting included B L Thusoo, M L Malla, H
K Razdhan, Prof. Sheera and R L Raina.
Refresher
course on wild life protection organised
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16 : To cross the
threshold limit in the performance, the
training skills as inculcated during the
training courses have to be translated
into action for better results, Minister
of State for Forests G. M. Saroori said.
He added that the training and
development of individuals has always the
potential of bringing out the maximum
from the individual with regard to his
work out put.
The
Minister was speaking during two week
Refresher course for frontline staff
organized by the department of Wildlife
Protection in collaboration with
Directorate of Forest Education Dehradun
at Manda Jammu today.
Mr.
Saroori hoped that such training
programmes will be periodically organized
so that the capacity and professional
competence of all the frontline staff
managing the natural resources of the
State is increased.
The
Minister said that to deal with the
situation of man-wild animal conflicts,
substantial strengthening of the
department of Wildlife Protection is
called for in terms of the mobility,
communication, equipments, trapping and
translocation facilities, rescue centers,
compensations package, honorarium to
eco-development committees and awareness
raising etc.
Speaking
on the occasion, Principal Secretary,
Forests, Madhaw Lal said that trainings
were essential to upgrade the knowledge,
skills and attitude of the employees.
Chief
Wildlife Warden, Department of Wildlife
Warden, presented welcome address and
threw light on the two week refresher
course.
Regional
Wildlife Warden, Nisar Ahmad Kichloo
offered the vote of thanks on the
occasion.
Among
others who spoke on the occasion
including Chairman, Pollution Control
Board C. M. Seth.
RPPUF
demands hill development
council
for Rajouri-Poonch
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: The Rajouri Poonch
People’s Unity Forum (RPPUF) has
blamed successive State Governments for
under development in the twin border
districts (Rajouri and Poonch) and
demanded the formation of hill
development council for the speedy
development of these districts.
Addressing
a press conference here today, Advocate
Wahid Kassana, president of this newly
floated forum, highlighted several
problems being faced by the people of
these districts in the absence of
adequate development.
Kassana
suggested the formation of hill
development council for Rajouri-Poonch,
on the pattern of Leh-Ladakh, along with
allocation of separate funds from Centre
for the development of these districts.
He also
took up the demand for parliamentary
constituency comprising of Rajouri and
Poonch and sought to increase the number
of Assembly segments, as all the segments
comprises over a lakh voters.
The
several other demands also highlighted by
the forum included employment package for
youth, carving out of more districts,
promotion of tourism, strengthening of
people to people contact across the
border and relief to victims of 2005
earthquake.
The forum,
however, asked the people of these two
districts to remain united for the
realization of their demands and also
impressed upon the State and Centre
Governments to mitigate grievances of the
people.
The other
members of the forum also present were
Advocate Altaf Hussain (general
secretary), Haq Nawaz (senior vice
president), Advocate Wajahat Hussain
Kazmi (vice president), and Advocate
Nisar Ahmed (secretary).
Industrialists
hold protest demonstration against CCE
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Industrial
fraternity of Jammu province under the
banner of Federation of Industries
organized protest demonstration against
Commissionerate, Central Excise and
Customs, Jammu and Kashmir today.
Those who
participated in the protest demonstration
included all the elected representatives
of Bari Brahmana Industries Association
(BBIA), Association of Small Scale
Industries (ASSI, Gangyal), Birpur Small
Scale Industries, Association of Small
Scale industries (Digiana) and Industrial
Associations of Samba, Kathua and
Udhampur.
The
demonstration was held against the
harassment being meted out to the
industrial units by the office of the
Commissioner, Central Excise, J&K,
which has added to the woes of the
industry which has already been
protesting against the virtual withdrawal
of Central Excise exemption by the
Government of India.
They
complained that Commissionerate Central
Excise (CCE), J&K, in a well planned
move, has declared most of the industrial
units ineligible for availing exemption
on the basis of their location (notified
Khasra numbers), this act of Commissioner
has put the final nail in the coffin and
ensure that hundreds of entrepreneurs
will be forced to close down their units
and another 30,000 workers would lose
their jobs.
They added
that the CCE has issued hundreds of show
cause notices on the basis of Khasra
numbers, the verification of which is
deliberately taken up after every three
to four months just to harass the
entrepreneurs.
The
speakers who included Federation chairman
Annil Suri, secretary general T S Reen
and presidents of all the affiliated
industrial associations under FOI),
wanted to ascertain the intentions of the
Government, whether it wanted industry to
grow in Jammu province clearly, so that
prospective entrepreneurs were restrained
from falling into the trap of putting up
their industry in this State.
J&K
Anti-discrimination Forum floated
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Newly floated
J&K Anti-discrimination Forum of
Jammu has strongly criticised the present
and the past rulers of the State for
causing discrimination with the Jammu
region.
Addressing
a joint press conference members of the
Forum including Maj Gen (Retd) Goverdhan
Singh Jamwal and Madan Dogra (Retd SE)
alleged that Jammu region continued to
face discrimination despite the assurance
of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who
himself belongs to this region. No doubt,
Mr Azad was trying to provide equal
justice to all the three regions but even
then he alone seems to be unable to do
fairly well with the people of all the
three regions due to pulls and pressures
from Kashmir dominated leaders.
They
alleged that due to weak leadership in
Jammu region, the people of this area are
facing this discrimination. Majority of
funds are spent in Kashmir. Tourism
sector in Jammu often receives a raw
deal. In civil secretariat, hardly 10 %
of the employees are from Jammu that too,
on lower posts. No efforts were utilised
to create a balance.
Again,
daily rated and community participation
workers engaged in PHE are getting Rs 500
per month in Jammu but those in Kashmir
are being given Rs 2100. Class IV (
Chowkidars) in Social Welfare Deptt in
Kashmir are getting Rs 1500 per month but
those in Jammu are getting only Rs 800.
J&K Bank guards in Jammu are given Rs
2300 per month while those in Kashmir are
getting Rs 3000 and Rs 500 as food
allowance. These are some glaring
examples which are needed to be addressed
immediately.
Mr Dogra
said the Forum will gather all the
relevant information about the major
issues, study them with professional
inputs and bring it to the notice of
public and the Government. To achieve
this forum will seek support from
intellectuals, professionals like
judges,lawyers, social scientists and
retired bureaucrats of eminence. The aim
is to get justice to all irrespective of
religion, region or community and
educate, motivate and move public opinion
against such discrimination.
‘Gouri
Maa Ke Kale Bachey’ play staged
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Ek Sath Rang Mandal
staged Vijay Malla’s famous play
‘Gouri Maa Ke Kale Bachey’ at
Darhal (Rajouri) in Folk festival,
organized by Academy of Art, Culture and
Languages.
The play
written and directed by Vijay Malla was
appreciated and enjoyed by all the people
of the town as it exposed mis-doings of
our new generation in the society.
Rashid
Qamar, Cultural Officer of Academy
conducted the proceedings of the play.
Col M K Joshi, CO 48 RR was the chief
guest, who said that such kind of plays
should be staged again and again in this
Urdu knowing remote area.
He
distributed gifts among the actors. Those
who acted in the play were Irfan Ganai,
Amarjeet Kour, Arti Kapoor, Ishfaq,
Pardeep, Parvinder Singh, Ajay Dhar,
Inderjeet Singh Sambyal, Farid Iqbal and
Vijay Malla.
Zargar
inaugurates SKUAST seed processing centre
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16 : Minister
for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Abdul
Aziz Zargar today inaugurated a mega seed
processing centre and training programme
on scaling-up of water productivity in
agriculture for livelihood through
teaching-cum-demonstration of trainers
and farmers at SKUAST Jammu.
The main
objective of the project, which has been
established at a cost of Rs 3.93 crore
was to build capacity for improved seed
production, to undertake rapid
multiplication and sapling production
including tissue propagation besides
creating human resource involving
trainers and farmers.
While
addressing the big gathering of
scientists and farmers on the occasion,
the Minister said that agriculture needs
to be strengthened for enhancing its
productivity, sustainability as the major
chunk of people are involved with the
sector. He said that the establishment of
the quality seed development project was
yet another step towards the development
of the sector and the welfare of the
people. He said that the university has
earned its name and is included amongst
the biggest universities of the country
at present.
Mr. Zargar
added and said that "our State has
rich resources of aromatic and medicinal
flora having high economic value which
need to be explored."
The
Minister distributed ‘farm health
card’ a composite card for farmers
on the occasion. The farm card is a new
and unique concept introduced where the
farmers can be updated about the quality
of soil, crops, fertilizers, natural
resource management, animal husbandry,
pest management and use of fertilizers.
The card in first phase would be
introduced in two villages adopted by the
university on trial basis.
Vice
Chancellor Prof. Nagendra Sharma in his
welcome address earlier said that the
University is doing its best job for the
welfare of farming community of the
State. He said in order to promote the
fields of agriculture, live stock and
allied sectors, the state of art
facilities developed at the campus would
be helpful to enrich farmers life and
livelihood. He said this facility would
also provide alternative means of
sustenance and generate employment
opportunities thereby improving the
social economic status of farming
community.
Rs
36.95 crore annual plan earmarked for
Ramban
Excelsior
Correspondent
RAMBAN, Apr 16 :The Annual
Plan for the current financial year for
Ramban district will be of the order of
over Rs.36.95 crore. This includes
Rs.34.50 crore as capital component and
Rs.2.45 crore as revenue component. In
addition, an outlay of over Rs.12.71
crore is expected to be made available as
Central share under centrally sponsored
schemes.
This was
stated at the Ramban District Development
Board meeting held here today under the
chairmanship of Minister for Technical
Education, Youth Services and Sports,
Haji Nissar Ali who is also Chairman of
the District Development Board, Ramban.
Minister
for Roads and Bridges, Jugal Kishore
Sharma, Minister of State for Finance,
Aijaz Ahmad Khan, MP Choudhary Lal Singh,
Legislators, Moulvi Abdul Rashid and Dr.
Chaman Lal, Principal Secretary, Planning
and Development, Iqbal Khandey, Principal
Secretaries, Commissioner/Secretaries,
Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner,
Jammu, Heads of Departments and District
Officers attended the meeting.
The Chief
Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad was to chair
the meeting but due to bad weather his
helicopter returned to Jammu from Reasi.
The
meeting reviewed the action taken on the
decisions of the Board meeting held last
year and discussed in detail the physical
and financial targets proposed for the
current fiscal.
Earlier,
in his welcome address, the District
Development Commissioner, Ramban, A.D.
Shanas said that during last financial
year. It was stated in the meeting that
construction of new district setup has
been taken in hand at Maitra- Ramban with
a project cost of Rs.38.70 crore. In the
first phase, Deputy Commissioner’s
office and Conference Hall will be
constructed, he added. Essential feeder
of Emergency Hospital, Ramban has been
setup to ensure 24 hours power supply for
the hospital.
Similarly
under NABARD and State Plan, 18 roads are
being constructed to provide 142 km road
network while as under PMGSY, 112 km road
length has been taken up out of which 25
km has been completed. A 3-storey
building of Patwarkhana is under
construction at Patnitop with a cost of
Rs.96 lakh, the meeting was informed.
Likewise,
under Rural Development Sector, four
model villages are being developed at
Ghandhri, Ukhral, Thethar and Budhan .
Under Indira Awas Yojna and Rural Housing
Scheme, all the 200 targeted houses have
been completed in the district. Under
National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme, 27786 rural families have been
registered and issued job cards besides
generating 927248 man days.
During the
current financial year, a road length of
22.20 Kms will be black topped, 29.50 Km
metalled, 70 km shingled and 73 km fair
weather roads constructed under PWD
sector.
In
Education sector, text books will be
supplied to 19500 students while 47485
students will be covered under mid-day
meal scheme.
Addressing
the meeting, Haji Nissar Ali emphasized
for time bound execution of development
works and welfare schemes so that
benefits of these reach to the people
speedily.
Jammu
Festival over; Kashmir, Ladakh carnivals
to
follow this summer: Azad
Excelsior
Correspondent
Jammu, Apr 16 : Chief Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that 2007, as
well as the ongoing year, had been a
period of brisk development activities
and the least violence in the State, even
as he hoped that the State would march
ahead on the road to complete peace and
progress. He said on the pattern of just
concluded Jammu Festival, similar events
would be held in Kashmir and Ladakh this
year, adding that the rich cultural
diversity of the State would be also
showcased in different parts of the
country.
Azad was
addressing the concluding function of the
fortnight long Jammu Festival here on
Tuesday evening. During the festival
started on April 1, around 370 different
events were held throughout the Jammu
province, following the decision to make
the annual event a whole-province and
15-day affair instead of 3 days as was
done earlier. The concluding event held
at the Zorawar Singh Auditorium was a
mega multi cultural event produced and
directed by theatre personality, Balwant
Thakur.
Noted
singer and wife of Chief Minister, Mrs.
Shamim Azad, Minister for Health &
Medical Education, Mangat Ram Sharma,
Minister for Higher Education, Gulchain
Singh Charak, legislators, Divisional
Commissioner, Jammu and Chairman,
Steering Committee, Jammu Festival,
Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Tourism,
Naeem Akhtar, senior officers and
prominent citizens and a large number of
men, women and children were present.
Describing
the State as a bouquet of multi-colour
flowers, the Chief Minister said unity in
diversity was its distinctive feature. He
said each of the three regions of
Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh had
individualistic cultures that
complimented each other in making the
State a pluralistic society. He said
different cultures, languages, food and
dresses of people of various areas of the
State made it a unique place. He prayed
that the walls of hatred sought to be
created by some elements disappear and
their hearts fill with compassion so that
the State and its people progress and
prosper.
The Chief
Minister alluded to various measures
initiated by him to improve the work
culture and usher the State into an era
of unprecedented development activities.
He said whether it was construction of
roads, hospitals and schools or waging
war against corruption or improving the
security situation, the scenario told a
different and positive story today. He
said during the past two decades, last
year and the current year so far had been
the best in terms of least violence,
killings of civilians and security
forces’ personnel and human rights
violations. The period also witnessed
zero incidence of custody disappearance,
he added.
The Chief
Minister called the holding of Jammu
Festival as very successful and said that
on his directions its duration was
extended from three days to 15 days and
from being a Jammu-city affair to a
whole-province event. He said different
programmes were held in all the 10
districts of the division. He said Jammu
division was a kaleidoscope of diverse
colours and there was a new Valley and a
new language or dialect beyond every
mountain. He said the festival
highlighted this diversity. He said about
quarter to four hundred different events
were held across the province during the
festival. He said according to the
feedback he received, as many as 5,000 to
15,000 people attended each event at
different district headquarters and other
places. He said similar festivals would
be held this year in Kashmir and Ladakh
regions. He also called for holding an
event based on cultures of all the three
regions, at Delhi and other parts of the
country to showcase the State’s rich
cultural heritage.
Azad
complimented the organizers for
successfully holding the Jammu Festival
and retaining the interest of the
audiences. He had a word of special
appreciation for Balwant Thakur for
presenting a colourful mega multi
cultural event depicting unity in
diversity of the State.
Earlier,
Chairman, Steering Committee, Jammu
Festival and Divisional Commissioner,
Sudhanshu Pandey gave a brief account of
the events organised during the festival.
The
Director Tourism, Jammu, Ajay Khajuria
read vote of thanks.
Romesh
inaugurates water reservoir
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16 : Minister
of State for PHE and Industries, Dr.
Romesh Chander Sharma inaugurated a water
reservoir at Mangla Devi in Nowshera
constituency. The reservoir with a
capacity of 50-lakh gallon of drinking
water is expected to facilitate the
inhabitants of Mangla Devi village as
well as devotees visiting the Mangla Devi
Temple.
Minister
also paid obeisance at Mangla Devi temple
on Ram Navmi where near about 1,50,000
devotees visited for darshan during
Navratras.
During his
tour to the constituency, Minister while
addressing series of public meetings at
Sia, upper Athal and Makole said that the
Government has undertaken numerous
development projects for providing
potable water, road connectivity to the
uncovered areas. He said that various
steps have been taken in industrializing
the State for ensuring self-employment
opportunities for unemployed youth.
People of
Mangla Devi, Talain and Breri have
demanded for construction of suspension
bridges for connectivity with the other
areas of the district.
|
