The train of travails, challenges and unique difficulties but equally that of resilience and elasticity coupled with the spirit of rising to the occasion by the people to turn the corner was all about the year 2021. We bid farewell to it having faced the worst ever second wave of the dreaded COVID -19 virus pandemic which wreaked havoc both with the precious human lives as well as with the economy and, therefore, we hereby wholeheartedly welcome the new year 2022 with a hope to usher in a year of peace, progress and prosperity and with all the positivity but well prepared to face any eventuality befitting an impregnable people. While we wish our valued patrons and constituents a very happy and prosperous new year, the occasion, at the same time coincides with the Daily Excelsior entering 58th year of its inception with invigorating zeal and determination setting new goals and heights in fair, impartial and fearless journalism in pursuance of the legacy and traditions fortunately bequeathed by us from and in deference to the high principles of our illustrious father Late Shri S. D. Rohmetra , the veteran and a noted maestro of journalism widely known particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The occasion enjoins upon us to keep his mission going with all the professional niceties and high ethical values, gusto and strength .We reiterate to go even for a broke in the pursuit of achieving the noble objectives of reporting in respect of ‘where, when, how and why’ all to your satisfaction.
You will bear with us, dear patrons, that the Daily Excelsior , as usual remained in the forefront in coverage of all events that occurred in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and that of UT of Ladakh in the year 2021. We ensured that you received the copies of the daily edition of the paper right in the early morning uninterruptedly even though at times, we had to brave many humps due to unavoidable circumstances like the COVID pandemic . That there was no dilution, not even in the least, in bringing the latest with all details and information in respect of the events that took place in the UT, the country and the world community during the year, remained as usual the hallmark of our steadfast commitment to keep our readers abeam and enlightened of the happenings around. Referring to the most trying and arduous period of the second wave of the COVID-19 in April- May , we remained unparalleled and in the very front in spot reporting on day to day basis, voicing concern over certain initial deficiencies in management of the crisis while at the same time kept on educating the people how to vigorously pursue the COVID appropriate behaviour and precautionary protocol.
Even though Pakistan committed not to violate the sanctity of the borders and comparatively a sort of lull prevailed along the IB and the LoC and the resultant agricultural activities taking place on the Zero line , yet it did not refrain itself from pushing armed infiltrators to this side and fuel militancy and violent acts in the UT especially in Kashmir division, we kept you , our esteemed readers and patron, updated with the reporting . That the thrust on the economic development of Jammu and Kashmir to pick up as also improving upon the cooperation levels and deeper understanding on developmental issues between Jammu and Kashmir and the central government , as many as 70 Union Ministers including the Union Home and Finance Ministers visited the UT during a period of three months starting from September as a part of public outreach initiative and the entire reporting along with the requisite feedback was promptly provided by the Excelsior . Likewise, the much important electoral issue of Delimitation Commission headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai who visited the UT in early July and whose report is expected shortly for conducting of crucial Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir , all the issues pertaining to the Commission, were duly reported by the Excelsior.
Readers may kindly recall about the promptness in reporting every aspect of the establishment of the District Development Council in early last year as a result of amendment of J&K Panchayati Raj Act 1989 replacing dormant District Development Boards hence giving a complete and comprehensive shape to three tier Panchayati Raj System.
While we have been scrupulously reporting about various developmental projects initiated both under central and UT sponsorship, encouraging investment in various fields and varied reforms aggressively pursued especially in bringing in the culture of digitization in the working in the government departments and stress on e- governance , at the same time we have never been frugal in pointing out various lacunae in the working and even in achieving various administrative objectives , reforms and more transparency in working . Constituting of many committees and panels of officers by the UT government for multifarious purposes and submitting of reports and suggesting of remedial measures has critically regularly been appraised by the Excelsior especially when in most of the cases, reports are never submitted even much belatedly.
Importance of periodic audits and inspections , replying and rectifying irregularities pointed out in audit reports, removing shortage of manpower and doing away with ad-hocism especially in medical and public health areas as a long term policy and not conducting timely promotion exercises in all departments and not filling vacancies , more of public reach measures and addressing public grievances and day today problems , penalising no-performance and poor delivery in departments , fighting red-tape and corruption and the like have as usual been the pinnacle of our coverage .
Though Ladakh became a separate Union Territory, yet we all are emotionally attached with the place and the people living there and, therefore, reporting on every development emanating there-from including highlighting the status of various developmental projects to overcome developmental apartheid of several decades, has remained an inalienable part of our reporting. Visits of Union Ministers and Parliamentary Standing Committees to Ladakh has been the high spot coverage of Excelsior. The demand for full statehood and people’s democratic struggle for constitutional safeguards has prominently found due space in our columns.
We continue to acquaint our esteemed readers and patrons with varied views of opinion makers, journalists, writers, professionals of repute and experts in various fields and at the same time, duly encouraging the new talent in our editorial page columns . Our online edition (www.dailyexcelsior.com) and e-paper (epaper.dailyexcelsior.com), its Mobile App, video news channel (www.excelsiornews.com) and official social media platforms continue to cross newer milestones denoting the high levels of patronage and popularity, we enjoy from you, our esteemed readers, who are ultimately our best judges and appraisers. We assure to excel and do more. We duly acknowledge the hard work , dedication and steadfastness of the Excelsior staff whose undaunted professional efforts and working in a team spirit has made the paper continuously scale new heights of journalistic pursuits and highlighting of people’s aspirations and issues. We once again wish you, our valued readers a happy and prosperous 2022.
-Kamal and Neeraj
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