No
overcharging of commission, lorry cut on
fruit trucks
Excelsior
Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 17: In a big relief to
the fruit growers of Jammu and Kashmir,
the Minister for Agriculture Produce
Market Committee (APMC) and Delhi
Agriculture Market Board (DAMB), two
regulating bodies of the fruit trade in
the capital, today assured the Minister
for Horticulture, Irrigation and Flood
Control, Mohammad Dilawar Mir that there
would be no overcharging of the
commission on the fruit sent from the
state. They also assured him of doing
away with the present system of 3 per
cent lorry cut on the trucks bringing
fruit in the capital. The drivers of the
trucks, it was decided, would be paid the
next day of the freight delivery at
Azadpur.
The
assurances came in a joint meeting of
fruit growers of J&K and
representatives of APMC, DAMB and Azadpur
mandi. The meeting decided that no extra
amount be paid except the prescribed
commission charge to the forwarding
agents which, henceforth, would be
charged on the statement of accounts and
not on the gross income of the growers.
The
representatives of APMC and DAMB assured
Mr. Mir that they are morally committed
to see that no unfair trade practices are
resorted to at Azadpur fruit mandi. They
appealed the growers from J&K to come
forward with complaints whenever they are
overcharged.
The
representatives made it clear to the
Minister that no lorry cut is deducted at
their level and offered to convene a
meeting of Kashmir Apple Merchants
Association (KAMA) with the labour union
of the Azadpur mandi.
Speaking
on the occasion, the Minister asked APMC
to give wholehearted support to the fruit
industry that is the mainstay of
state’s economy. The representatives
of APMC and DAMB assured the Minister
that they would ensure the fruit growers
of J&K do not face any difficulty in
their business operations in the capital.
Present in
the meeting were Chairman, DAMB, Brahma
Yuadav, Chairman, APMC, Bansal, Principal
Secretary, Agriculture Sonali Kumar,
officers of Horticulture, Planning and
Marketing and representatives of fruit
growers of J&K.
Earlier,
the Minister visited the New Kisan Ghar
at Shalimar Bagh and announced that Rs 30
lakh have been earmarked in the first
phase for the construction of one hundred
more rooms to provide accommodation to
the farming community of the state
visiting the national capital.
Mangat
for single window loan clearance
for educated youth
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: Under Self
Employment Scheme (SES) loans to the tune
of Rs. 33.69 crore have been advanced to
1799 unemployed educated youth of the
State for setting up their income
generating units during current financial
year.
It was
given out in a State level meeting
convened to review physical and financial
achievements under the scheme here today.
Minister
for Labour and Employment Mangat Ram
Sharma chaired the meeting whileas
Principal Secretary Labour and Employment
B. L. Nemesh , Director Employment Azad
Ahmad Lone, Secretary Employment R. K.
Thusoo, Special Secretary M. Y.
Shora,Deputy Directors of all Districts
and representatives of Reserve Bank of
India, State Bank of India, J&K Bank,
Punjab National Bank and other banks
participated in the meeting.
Threadbare
discussion was held regarding
implementation of the Self Employment
Scheme in the State.
The
meeting was informed that 7325 cases have
been sponsored under SES against the
target of 5700 for advancing loans from
various banks and incentives like
marginal money and capital subsidies
across the State during current financial
year so far.
It was
given out that marginal money of Rs. 6.16
crore has been released to 1618 unit
holders during last financial year. The
meeting was informed that J&K Bank
has advanced Rs. 23 crore to 1178
unemployed educated youth for setting up
of their ventures under the scheme.
The
meeting was further told that obtaining
of collateral guarantee from the working
Government employees, as demanded by some
financial institutions, from the
self-employment entrepreneurs has been
dispensed with as no such pre-condition
was prescribed in the guidelines of the
scheme.
The
Employment Minister exhorted the bankers
to process the loan cases of unemployed
youths separately and disposes these
under Single Window System, so that they
do not have to run from pillar to post
while perusing their loan cases.
Mr Sharma
emphasised the need for diversifying the
scope of schemes with innovative approach
to make SES more attractive and viable so
that more and more unemployed youth could
feel motivated for setting up of their
ventures under the scheme.
He said to
every Lead District Manager should send
monthly progress reports to employment
department with regard to clearance of
loan cases and progress under the scheme
should be reviewed after every six months
by the concerned authorities with the
bankers.
BJP
Beopar Cell expresses concern
over traders problems
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: Traders Cell of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today
demanded that Value Added Tax (VAT)
should not be imposed on any item over
four percent in J&K State as is case
with other States of the country.
This
demand was made at a joint press
conference here, today by BJP Beopar Cell
state convenor, Kulbhushan Mahotra and co
convenors Janinder Jain and Deepak
Aggarwal.
They
demanded that all registered traders of
J&K should be given an insurance
cover of Rs two lakh each on the pattern
of Uttar Pradesh the premium of which
should also be borne by the Government.
The Cell
leaders also demanded that the traders
who have taken the Custodian, Auqaf, JDA
and Municipality shops on rent be given
the ownership rights on them, big
companies should not be allowed to open
Mal at Jammu as this will affect small
and marginal traders and the yatris for
Mata Vaishno Devi and Swami Amarnath Ji
should be provided bus services from bus
stand instead of Railway Station.
The Cell ,
while expressing concern over the
problems being faced by small and
marginal traders demanded that loans of
traders be waived off on the pattern of
farmers so that they will not be forced
to commit suicide, abolition of Service
Tax, promotion of pilgrimage tourism in
Jammu and the factory owners from outside
who have established their units in
J&K be asked to provide the jobs to
J&K youth.
Mr Mahotra
said the traders and members of business
community have played a great role in the
nation building including the freedom
struggle and Government can’t ignore
this. He urged the Government to take
immediate steps in mitigating the
sufferings of trading community in
J&K.
He alleged
that J&K Government seeks crores of
rupees from Centre as assistance but it
is totally being misutilised by spending
on unproductive works. This money should
properly be utilized for the welfare of
the people of the state, he added.
Jammu
Festival to be colourful package
of fortnight long events
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: The fortnight long
Jammu Festival, starting from April 1,
would be a colourful package of
traditional fairs and festivals to be
held across the province with prominent
artistes performing in cultural events to
showcase the winter capital as a major
tourist destination.
This year,
the festival would be a vast improvement
over the past years for an extended
period of 15 days with the main
attraction being a car rally through the
tourist places falling under all the
tourism development authorities of the
division. The organizers propose to rope
in the famous singer and actor, Sonu
Nigam to perform at the M A Stadium here.
Besides, local artistes and a nationally
reputed singer thrown up by talent hunt
competitions organised by TV
entertainment channels would also perform
during the festival at Jammu city.
Rural
sports competitions and cultural events
would be organised at the district
headquarters. A sound and light show is
proposed to be held at Mini Stadium,
Parade Ground while illuminated and light
music would be organised at the Mubarak
Mandi Palace Complex and heritage
buildings. The Bahu Fort would also be
illuminated. A handicraft and handloom
exhibition, nukkad shows, hot air balloon
and helicopter joyrides, Dogra marriage
scene and city walk are other attractions
of the festival.
A high
level meeting chaired by the Chief
Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad here today,
discussed the events to be organised at
the provincial and district headquarters
of Jammu during the 15 days celebrations.
The
meeting was attended by Minister for
Health and Medical Education, Mangat Ram
Sharma, Minister for Rural Development,
Mula Ram, Minister for R&B, Jugal
Kishore, Minister for Higher Education,
Gulchain Singh Charak, Mayor, Jammu
Municipal Corporation, Kavinder Gupta,
legislators Yogesh Sawhney and Raman
Bhalla, Chief Secretary, B. R. Kundal,
Director General of Police, Kuldeep
Khoda, Principal Secretary to CM, Anil
Goswami, Principal Secretary, Planning
& Development, Iqbal Khanday,
Commissioner/ Secretary, Finance, B. B.
Vyas, Secretary Tourism, Naeem Akhtar,
Secretary, Academy of Art, Culture &
Languages, Dr. Rafiq Masoodi and other
senior officers.
As a build
up to the festival, he told officers to
start cleanliness drive from March 24 at
provincial and district headquarters by
involving student community. He said the
Government had already passed law against
the use of polythene and would strictly
implement it.
Mr. Azad
called for adequate publicity of the
festival to attract large number of
people from within and outside the State.
He asked the organizers to put up
hoardings at railway station, airport and
Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
Meanwhile,
Mr Azad asked Deputy Commissioners of
Kathua, Udhampur, Poonch, Kishtwar and
Doda to arrange accommodation for the
newly sanctioned offices of the J&K
Academy of Art, Culture & Languages
in these districts.
Paharis
organise seminar, demand ST status
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: J&K Pahari
Cultural and Welfare Forum in a seminar
organised on the topic, " Paharis- a
neglected community" strongly
projected their cause and stressed upon
the Government to provide ST status to
the Pahari speaking people.
MLA Kulgam
and CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami was the
chief guest while programme was organised
under the chairmanship of Sharafat Ali
Khan, chairman of the Forum. A large
number of social and political leaders
besides students participated in the
seminar.
Mr Khan
pointed out that this population of
Paharis scattered in Uri, Tangdhar,
Keran, Rajouri, Poonch and some other
areas has been neglected a lot and
fighting for the justice since long. They
should be granted ST status for their
over all development at the earliest as
merely lip sympathy and assurance would
not do any service to them.
On this
occasion, a book titled " Pahari
Tribals and political Commitments"
written by Sharafat Ali Khan was released
by the chief guest. In the book the
author has substantiated as to how the
Paharis were politically exploited by
various parties and groups for their vote
bank. The speakers demanded the
fulfillment of promise of ST status to
Paharis made by the Central Government
before elections.
Mr
Tarigami viewed seriously the total
neglect of the Paharis at the hands of
government and stressed upon the top
leadership in the country to fulfill its
promise made with the struggling
community.
Khandey
releases publications of Economics &
Statistics
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: Directorate of
Economics and Statistics, J&K
organized a welcome function in honour of
Principal Secretary to Government,
Planning and Development Department,
Iqbal Khandey here today.
Speaking
on the occasion, Director Economics and
Statistics G. A. Qureshi gave an overview
about the usual activities and the new
initiatives taken by the Directorate
during the last couple of years and also
highlighted the enhanced role of the
Planning Officers in the wake of changing
growth scenario in the State.
He
emphasized the need for horizontal and
vertical expansion of the Economics and
Statistics cadre for generating reliable
besides timely data at various levels
helpful in framing the appropriate
policies and plans for balanced and
faster development of the State.
Recent pay
revision in a few categories of posts has
laid to certain pay anomalies, which were
brought into light not only by the
Assistant Directors (P&S) but also by
the JSAs and SAs of E&S cadre. Non
gazetted staff also demanded for grade
revision at par with the Accountants and
Account Assistants respectively of
Finance Department.
Mr Khandey
gave a patient hearing to all the
proceedings and appreciated the efforts
put in by the Directorate of Economics
and Statistics for taking innovative
measure for the improvement in generating
reliable database and further ensured
that the issues raised and the genuine
demands put forth by various officers/
officials will be given due attention and
positive consideration.
Later, the
Principal Secretary Planning and
Development released two publications of
the Directorate which include
"District Domestic Product (DDP)
Estimates" and Study material of
"Statistics Familiarization
Programme".
Taing
releases Zahoor-ud-din’s book
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: MLC M Y Taing today
released "Tanqeedi Mubashisey Wa
Tajziye", a book authored by eminent
Urdu scholar Prof. Zahoor-ud-din, in a
function organized by Jammu and Kashmir
Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
(JKAACL) at Sehgal Hall in Cultural
Academy.
The
programme was attended by noted scholars
and academicians. Farooq Nazki, former
director DD Jammu was the guest of
honour.
In his
address, the MLC appreciated the author
for coming out with such a book, which
will immensely help all the scholars of
literature as academicians in general.
The book,
published by Seemant Prakashan, New
Delhi, is a collection of some 18-20
articles written by the author in the
past five years during his visit to
different seminars and conferences,
including abroad as well.
All these
articles generally deals with the
literary criticism of the contemporary as
well as past period and its impact on
Urdu Literature.
Panchayats
must use technology: Mula Ram
Excelsior
Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Minister
for Rural development and Panchayat, Mula
Ram, today said that the Panchayati Raj
system should be strengthened by using
the latest technology and skilled
manpower through the development of human
resource in a systematic and sustained
manner so that this would give access to
different markets for familiarization
with latest trends of market and other
related spheres of information and
knowledge.
This
facility should further guide the farmers
about developing their own strategies and
roadmap for diversification and adherence
to the package of practices, availability
of finance and market trends on different
accounts.
During
two-day "National level consultation
with Panchayats on opertationalisation of
National Policy for January 2007",
the Minister presented a status paper on
the issue of 3 tier Panchayati Raj system
set up at District, Block and Panchayat
level in the State to carry forward
different developmental programmes
through participatory management.
The
Minister said that due to turmoil in
J&K for more than one and a half
decade the activities of Panchayati Raj
were circumvented by which the process
leading to de-centralization also got
impaired. Now, with the prevalence of
peace de-limitation of Panchayats has
been carried out in the State in
conformity with the J&K Panchayati
Raj Act 1989.With Panchayats becoming
stronger, these institutions play a key
role in convincing the community about
the need for development on scientific
temper.
Mula Ram
also raised the issue of National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and a
host of other community related
activities, which have direct bearing on
Agriculture and is a genuine awakening in
the public about using Panchayats as a
most potent tool for taking Agriculture
and related policies forward.
In order
to ensure a right head-way through
Panchayati Raj institutions, The Minister
emphasized on self ventures like Samporan
Grameen Rozgar Yojna (SGRY) and other
allied activities to be brought under
same umbrella, self help groups should be
charged with commonality of objectives
and banking institutions should have to
be convinced about their role for coming
closer to the farming community so that
the Panchayati Raj institutions could
play the role of inter-mediary in this
whole exercise.
The
Minister also met the Union Minister for
Panchayat Mani Shanker Aiyer and
highlighted the rural developments in the
State.
Puri
presents vision document for
Higher Education to Charak
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: Former Vice
Chancellor of University of Jammu and
Chairman of the organizing committee for
the workshop on "improving the
quality of Higher Education" Prof.
M.R. Puri presented a copy of
"Action Plan For Academic Excellence
In Higher Education" to the Minister
for higher education Gulchain Singh
Charak at a function. The action plan
comprises of various recommendations for
bringing academic excellence in the
State.
Prof Puri
was accompanied by other members of the
committee Prof. J.R. Rathore, Prof A.
N.Sadhu, Prof. Lalit Mangotra, Prof.
Indira Rathore and Prof. Vijay Kotwal.
Important
recommendations include establishment of
State Advisory Board of Education and
constitution of State council for Higher
Education, creation of infrastructure in
colleges, creation of two provincial
level Directorates of Higher Education,
introduction of Honors Courses and
setting up of colleges of specialized
streams.
In a press
briefing, Minister appreciated the senior
academicians and veteran educationists,
who participate in the workshop and
assured the members of the organization
committee that the recommendations would
be given very serious considerations by
the Government. He said the action plan
will act as a road map for growth of
higher education. The minister said
similar workshop will be help in the
valley and the suggestions of the
workshop would also be included in the
policy formulations of the higher
education in the State.
Mr Puri
said that about 35 senior academicians,
educationists including retired teachers
of Jammu University and colleges
Principals participated in the extensive
workshop. The participants deliberated in
sixth session spread over two days on
various key aspects of higher education
in the State concerning the
Infrastructure building, Policy planning,
Academic improvement and related
Administrated issues
Ward
8 seeks development, vocational centres
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: Welfare Committee
Ward Number 8, held a function here today
in which president, Parshotam Thappa
submitted a memorandum of demands to
Minister for Health and Medical
Education, Mangat Ram Sharma, also chief
guest in the function. Deputy chairman,
Legislative assembly, Arvinder Singh
Micky and Corporator of the ward, ND
Rajwal were main guests in the function.
As per the
memorandum, the committee demanded
repairs of lanes, bylanes, restoration of
street lights, pension to the deserving
widows, oldage persons, covering of
nallah, removal of slaughter house,
augmentation of water supply in some
areas, issuance of PRC to Safai
Karamcharis, regularization of
state/JDA/nazool land occupied by
economically weaker sections of the
society, construction of park, opening of
vaccination centre and opening of
computer/anganwari centres for the poor
people.
During
their formal addresses, Rajwal and Micky
assured to provide seven lacs and two
lacs respectively for the developmental
works in the ward whereas Mr Sharma
announced five lacs for the development
of the ward. Sharma also assured that the
genuine demands would be taken up with
the concerned authorities for their
fulfillment.
Members of
the committee who spoke on the occassion
were ML Gandotra, Anoop Singh, Satish
Bhasin, KK Ganotra, Om Prakash Kesar, BD
Naryal, Ramesh Bhagat and KL Bargal.
Army
officials pay respect to soldiers killed
in encounter
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 17: Top Army officials
today paid their last respect to Lt Col M
S Kadam and Jawan Pradeeep Kumar, who
were killed in an exchange of fire with
militants in Baramulla district of Jammu
and Kashmir yesterday.
Lt Gen P C
Bhardwaj, Gen Officer Commanding-in-Chief
northern command, Lt Gen Mukesh
Sabharwal, Gen Officer Commanding 15th
Corps and other top ranking army officers
laid wreaths on the bodies of Kadam and
Sepoy Pradeep Kumar at B B Cantonment
here.
The two
soldiers attained martyrdom after killing
a self-style Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) chief
operation commander identified as Hafiz
Nasir, a Pakistan national, at Dangiwacha
area yesterday.
Meanwhile
search operation was continuing at the
site of the encounter to recover bodies
of more militants, believed to have been
killed in the action, a defence spokesman
said.
Giving an
eye-witness account of the encounter, the
spokesman said on seeing troops
approaching, a hiding terrorist opened
fire at them in which a few security
force personnel were injured. However,
taking control of situation, Kadam fired
back at the fleeing militant and injured
him.
The
terrorist entered a house and continued
firing. Kadam, with total disregard to
his life, led his team and continued to
fight. In the ensuing exchange of fire,
the officer also received fatal bullet
injuries to which he later succumbed.
Sepoy
Pradeep Kumar, closely following Lt Col
Kadam, also laid down his life while
fighting.
Conduct
survey of contract labourers: Mangat
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: First Contract
Labour Advisory Board meeting was held
under the chairmanship of Minister for
Labour and Employment Mangat Ram Sharma
here today.
Various
issues including implementation of
Contract Labour Act 1970, payment of
minimum wages, gratuity, bonus, leave
with wages, wages slips and medical
allowance to the contract labourers
working in industrial units and
corporations were discussed.
Members of
Advisory Committee, MLC Ashok Kumar
Sharma, Principal Secretary Labour and
Employment B. L. Nimesh , Labour
Commissioner Prithpal Singh Betab,
Secretary R&B Shalindera Kumar,
Secretary Labour, Additional Secretaries,
Industries and Commerce and Forests,
President J&K State Central Labour
Union, President Indian National Trade
Union Congress and president Bharatiya
Mazdoor Sang J&K were among others
who attended the meeting.
The
meeting was informed that labour
department has registered 207 principal
employers in the State and 464
contractors has issued licenses while as
1578 inspections have been conducted to
various industrial units during last 3
years.
It was
told that the department has launched
prosecution against 404 principal
employers and 236 prosecutions have been
disposed off. The meeting was also
informed that Rs 1.79 lakh revenue has
been realized from the principal
employers of various industrial unit for
non implementation of labour laws.
The
Minister directed concerned authorities
to conduct survey of the contract
labourers working in various industrial
units of State and submit the report in
the next meeting of the Board for making
decisions for their welfare. He also
instructed for submitting the proposal
for enhancement of daily wages of skilled
and unskilled contract labourers.
Mr Sharma
stressed for ensuring implementation of
labour laws in letter and spirit in all
factories, industrial units and
corporations and said that the concerned
authorities should intensify their
efforts and make frequent inspections of
the industrial units for safeguarding the
rights of labourers. He under scored the
need for developing such a mechanism
under which no labourer would be
victimized by principal employers.
Lok Adalat
held
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar
17: A Lok Adalat was held by tehsil Legal
Services Committee Hiranagar under the
chairmanship of Yash Pal Sharma. The
bench was comprised of Judicial
Magistrate first class Hiranagar, Yash
Paul Sharma and Additional Judicial
Magistrate first class Hiranagar, Noshad
Ahmed.
A total
number of 62 cases were taken up in the
Lok Adalat out of which 42 number of
cases were disposed off and a fine of Rs
25,550 was also released on the spot. Bar
president Hiranagar, prosecuting officer,
secretary Bar Association as well as
advocates were also present on the
occassion.
PDD
employees hold protest, block road
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: The employees of
Power House, Janipur today held massive
protest demonstration against police and
blocked the road for about one hour.
The
employees were protesting against the
arrest of their colleague by police in
connection with the missing of a female
employee of the Power House.
Shouting
slogans against the police, they said
that while the real culprits were moving
freely, the innocent employee was
arrested and put to torture by the
police. They demanded immediate release
of the ‘innocent’ employee and
arrest of real culprits.
On the
receipt of information about the protest
and road blockade, senior police officers
rushed to the spot. It was only after
their assurance that the real culprits
will be arrested shortly and rounded up
employee will be released that the
agitating employees lifted the road
blockade.
One
held for smuggling sapphire
Excelsior
Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Mar 17: Police today
arrested a villager and recovered 34
grams of sapphire from his possession.
Police
spokesman said that a police party from
Basantgarh Police Station led by SHO Arun
Sharma intercepted one Mohd Jamil, son of
Ali Mohd of Panara and subjected him to
frisking.
From his
possession, police recovered 34 grams of
sapphire which was being smuggled to
Jammu by the villager. The sapphire was
immediately seized and the villager
arrested.
A case
under 4/5 Sapphire Act has been
registered against him and further
investigations were on.
3
injured in clash over land dispute
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: Three persons were
injured in a clash at Raipur under the
jurisdiction of Domana police station
this morning.
They have
been identified as Amar Jamwal and Sameer
Singh, both brothers and sons of Joginder
Singh and Surinder Singh son of Saudagar
Singh, all residents of Raipur.
Police
said they were attacked in their house by
the neighbors in a land dispute case with
a sword and other weapons causing them
serious injuries.
Accused
managed to escape. Police have registered
a case against the accused and started a
search to nab them.
Condition
of injured Sameer Singh was stated to be
serious.
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