Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 17: Asserting that Coalition Government led by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is committed to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the downtrodden people of the State, the Minister for CAPD, Tribal Affairs Ch. Zulfkar Ali today said that several multi- pronged strategies  are being devised in this regard.
The Minister said this while addressing public meeting largely attended by Gujjar and Bakerwal community at Udhampur.
Minister of State for Finance Pawan Gupta, MLA Ramnagar, R. S. Pathania, MLA Chenani, Dina Nath Bhagat, besides Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Yasha Mudgal, Director CAPD,  G. S Chib, SSP Udhampur, Joint Controller Legal Metrology, Amar Singh, Deputy Controller Legal Metrology Manoj Prabhakar, other senior officers of various departments were also present in the public meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Ch. Zulfkar said that Coalition Government is serious to address the grievances of the Gujjar and Bakerwal community by providing them all basic amenities at their doorsteps. He said that our Government will focus on the areas which still lack basic amenities due to negligence and mismanagement on the part of previous regime.
The Minister listened to the grievances of Gujjar and Bakerwal,  which included involvement of Gujjar and Bakerwal in plan formulation for the community, provide safe drinking water in Gujjar and Bakerwal bastis, installation of handpumps, etc.
Mr. Zulfkar assured that their all genuine demands would be redressed at the earliest. He also appealed the Gujjar and Bakerwal community to provide education to their wards for their bright future.
Referring to the shortage of ration in various parts of Udhampur district, the Minister issued strict instructions to the officers to sort out the issues on priority basis so that the people may not suffer for lack of these basic amenities. He also informed the people that they would soon get their ration quota as per census 2011.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 17: Large number of men, women and children of all faith witnessed 3- day historic Shiv Parvati Moungri Mela  held at Sar Dabar in tehsil Moungri of district Udhampur. The Mela concluded today with traditional fervor and gaiety.
MLA, Reasi, Ajay Nanda, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that the local festivals  play a significant role in reviving the old traditions and generate   awareness among the masses about the various schemes of the Government. Such events also help in preserving and promoting the priceless multifaceted cultural heritage and strengthen the bonds of mutual brotherhood.
During the Mela, Youth Services and Sports Department organised rural sports competitions and cultural programmes by involving different schools of the area. The cultural troops drawn from various educational institutions presented folk dances and cultural programmes depicting the tradition of the area.
Among others, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Sunil Singh Samyal, Dy SP, Dr Azhar Rashid, ZPEO, Panchari,  Pawan kumar sharma , President J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association,  Shiv Kumar Sharma, Chairman Shiv Parvati Cave Shrine Development Board Moungri, Advocate Swantanter Dev Kotwal,  heads of different educational institutions, teachers and local mela committee members   were present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, May 17: Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar with additional charge of Puducherry, Lt. Gen. A.K. Singh today called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed a wide range of issues relating to island territory.
Dr Jitendra Singh told the Lieutenant Governor that Prime Minister Narendra Modi attaches high priority to the development of peripheral regions, including Andaman & Nicobar, Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir. He said, Andaman & Nicobar islands hold a special historic as well as emotional attachment for Indians because this is the place where Sawarakarji, the great nationalist ideologue, spent about ten years in solitary confinement in the Cellular Jail known as “Kalapani”. The national monument brought up at that place should indeed be projected as a place of pilgrimage by every patriotic Indian, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, inspite of its population of just about four lakh, 94% of its territory under forest cover and coastline extending up to more than 1900 kms., Andaman & Nicobar hold an important strategic place for India in the Bay of Bengal and could be developed as an exclusive economic zone in the region. Increasing the avenues of connectivity, both through air route as well as sea route, has been the focus during the last one year, with the consideration that it is an important prerequisite for the development of the area, he added.
Among the various highlights and recent landmark achievements Lt. Gen. Singh referred to the establishment of Medical college at Port Blair which had been pending for several decades and informed Dr. Jitendra Singh that the first batch of 1st year of MBBS will commence its session from July this year. There were several hurdles including lack of faculty which have been overcome through a series of visionary steps during the last one year.
Another remarkable achievement referred to by the Lieutenant Governor was in relation to the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, in which 100% households have been covered with cent-percent targets. Similarly, Government of India’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” was launched in Andaman & Nicobar islands on 1st February this year and it is a matter of pride that not a single girl child is not out of school in Andaman & Nicobar, he informed.

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, May 17: On the occasion of World Hypertension Day, a Cardiac Diseases detection Camp was organized at CGHS Wellness Centre here in which more than 120 patients were examined.
The camp was organized under the supervision of Dr. Sushil K.Sharma, Head department of Cardiology, Government Medical College Jammu along with a team of doctors which consisted of Dr. Rahul Gupta (HoD Chest Diseases), Dr.Nasir Ch, Dr.Arjun Singh, Dr.D Kapoor, Dr. Atul Viz, Dr. Kewal and supporting staff including Waryam Singh, Kashmiri Lal and volunteers comprising Gourav Sharma, Vikas Kumar, Karun Aggarwal, Lokesh Kumar, Balwan Rathore, Vivek Rana, Rakesh Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Romesh Sharma.
Dr Sushil Sharma highlighted the role of early diagnosis and treatment of Hypertension. “Management of hypertension involved two basic approaches improvement in life style and regular intake of antihypertensive drugs as directed by the physician which are most important for control of this disease,” he said.
In this camp, the patients were given benefit of diagnostic tests like ECG, biochemistry and free medicines. The patients were given advise for undergoing advanced tests like holter monitoring , echocardiography and coronary angiography so that their cardiac problems can be attended objectively.
Further, Dr. Sharma stressed upon the importance of control of hypertension ,which although a huge burden could easily be tackled with conscious steps such as regular blood pressure checkup, following the instructions given by the treating physician and not stopping the medicines without consulting the doctor.
The members of CGPWA, SS Wazir, IPS (retd), V.P.Sharma, JK Vaid,  BK Raina,  Prem Gupta (retd IGP),  P.P Sharma (retd Conservator Forest),   Ramesh Koul (retd DIG),  S.C. Rekhi and  KB Jandial former member JKPSC graced the occasion and expressed the heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Sushil and his team for organizing camp on World Hypertension Day and hope that same kind of cooperation in near future for CGHS beneficiaries and people of Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 17: Minister for Social Welfare, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Bali Bhagat today said that the Government is committed to provide equal opportunities to the people of all three regions and welfare of weaker sections of the society is the priority of the Government.
This was stated by the Minister after distributing cheques amounting to Rs. 1.32 crore under various welfare schemes among the beneficiaries at a function organized by the J&K State SC/ST & BC Dev. Corporation at Panchayat Ghaink (Sajwal) in block Bhalwal in Raipur-Domana, near here today.
Addressing an impressive gathering, Bali Bhagat said that the State and Central Governments are fully aware of the problems of the people and all out efforts are being made to mitigate the same on priority. He said that the Government is keen to reach out to the people in every area to address their grievances.
Mr. Bhagat informed that the corporation under its Direct Financing Schemes in collaboration with National Level Corporations has disbursed loans to the tune of Rs. 67.03 crore among 4558 beneficiaries to establish the income generating units under transport, agriculture, business and handicraft sectors etc and also set up 27850 units under Bank Tie-up scheme with the involvement of subsidy amounting to Rs. 15.49 crore and banks loan of Rs. 57.43 crore so far.
He called upon the Managing Director of the Corporation to give wide publicity to the welfare schemes available for the targeted group and cover each areas of the State. He underscored the importance of various welfare programmes aimed at to bring a change in the living conditions of poor and needy.
Y. P. Suman, Managing Director of the Corporation, while highlighting the schemes/programmes of the corporation informed that the corporation is working as state channelizing agency for the six National Level Corporations of the Government of India and working for the upliftment of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, Notified National Minorities, Safai Karamcharis and Handicapped categories in the State and also implementing welfare schemes in collaboration with the Banks.
Meanwhile, Mr  Bali dedicated two fountain parks at lower and upper Roop Nagar to the people, developed by the Jammu Municipal Corporation at a cost of Rs. 12.50 lakh each.
While speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that need of the hour was to sensitize the new generation about the importance of environment, adding that saving environment and protection of forests and wildlife has been prioritized by the present Government. The development of the parks is also a step in this direction.
The Mohalla Welfare Committee, Roopnagar put forth various demands including sanction for special connection of water for the maintenance of parks and fountain, engagement of Mali, installation of  lights for EWS Colony, repair of lights, engagement of Safai Karamcharis, engagement of permanent forest guard for Roopnagar Janipur Forest, etc.
The Minister assured that all their genuine demands would be addressed in a phased manner.