Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Ch Lal Singh today said the Government is planning to dismiss from service all the willful absentee doctors of Health and Medical Education Department who are not present on their place of postings from last so many years and performing their duties out of the State in private hospitals.
The Minister was speaking at a function held at Kachi Chawni, here this evening.
MLA Doda Shakti Parihar, MLA Bhaderwah Daleep Parihar besides officers of Health and Medical Education Department and people in large numbers were present on the occasion.
Ch Lal Singh said that the Government has framed a new contractual policy for recruitment of doctors on contractual basis in Government Medical Colleges, District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and other health institutions. He informed that the contractual appointments will be made under Government norms.
The Minister appealed the people to avoid admission in private clinics and get treatment of their patients in Government hospitals. He said Government is committed to provide best possible healthcare facilities including medicines from the hospitals. He asked the medical fraternity to focus more on serving in the public hospitals and refrain from the private practice.
Later, several deputations of Doda, Rajouri, Budhal and Mahanpur and Poonch and met the Minister and put forth their demands before him.
Ch Lal Singh gave patient hearing to them and solved most of projected problems on-the-spot and referred others to the concerned departments for early redressal.
The Minister said that Government is fully aware of people’s problems and is making all out efforts to solve in a phased manner.
Chronic absentee doctors to be shown door: Lal Singh
‘Kashmir Calling’ package to increase tourist footfall: Mufti
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: In a bid to promote Valley tourism, the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today announced a ‘Kashmir Calling’ package for visitors to boost occupancy levels this season.
He also asked the hotel and houseboat owners to offer substantial off-season discounts for bringing in more tourists to the Valley.
Mufti Sayeed said this while interacting with various delegations affiliated to tourism and business associations, here today.
Those who met the Chief Minister included delegations from Houseboat Owners Association (HBOA), Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I) and Kashmir Hoteliers and Restaurateurs Association (KHARA).
Mufti Sayeed said several add-on packages like light-and-sound show in Mughal Gardens, Dunga and Shikara cruises in Dal lake and Jhelum, dedicated food streets and Bukharas in Srinagar, golf, river rafting and adventure sports packages to increase tourist footfall will be promoted this season. He said the heritage sector will also get a big boost by promotion of Shar-e-Khas of Srinagar city.
The Chief Minister said he has already taken up with Centre the issues of special chartered flights to counter rising air-fares, allowing night-landing facility at Srinagar Airport and starting international flights from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrims. “The travellers can now avail LTC on private airlines also. Previously, the facility was only available on Indian Airlines carrier,” he stated.
While interacting with the houseboat owners, Mufti Sayeed said he will promote Dal lake as a World Heritage site for which immediate steps are required to realign houseboats for facilitating collective sanitation. “Dal is an eco-system and it has to be preserved for posterity. We need to take steps to realign the houseboats so that proper sanitation is ensured. I will also explore several offered received by the Government in this regard,” he stated.
The Chief Minister said the Tourism Department will also operate Jhelum cruises for heritage visitors and beautify Chinar Bagh and Jhelum banks from Zero Bridge to Veer.
Favouring revival of Dunga cruises in the Dal lake, the Chief Minister asked the Houseboat Owners Association to offer attractive packages for visitors this season so that the occupancy levels are increased.
In his meeting with KHARA delegation, Mufti Sayeed said he has already passed directions for constitution of a Single Window system which will collectively examine issues of periodic renewals of hotel registrations, installation of STPs and obtaining of NoCs from all concerned departments to raise / renovate their assets. He said the Government will soon finalize master-plans for proper development of city and resorts.
Referring to the dovetailing of Handicrafts and food sectors with tourism industry, Mufti Sayeed said the handicrafts products will soon be patented and price-tagged to offer genuine indigenous goods to the visitors.
The Chief Minister said the Government will explore possibility of establishing a new institute of hotel management which will raise qualified personnel for services and hospitality sectors, which are prerequisites in high-end tourism. He was also briefed about the improvements to be made in Valley’s fruit mandis and the potential the State offers in cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants.
Mufti Sayeed said the Government will revive the market-intervention scheme to promote horticulture sector. He said he will also take up the issue of streamlining Haj & Umrah services in the State.
SABLO submits 85 applications to organize Bhandara
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: A delegation of Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organization (SABLO) submitted 85 applications to Jitendra Kumar Singh Addl CEO, SASB at Jammu office for taking permission to organize Bhandara at different locations of J&K for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2015.
SABLO requested Board to extend the last date for receipt of application so as to facilitate the NGOs in view of revised EOI and terms and conditions. Addl. CEO assured that after scrutiny the permissions shall be granted in the near future.
SABLO is an Association of various Bhandara Organizations organising bhandara from both the routes to the holy cave, which are engaged in rendering free food, distribution of blankets, night shelter facilities to the pilgrims during Shri Amarnathji Yatra every year.
The members of the delegation which were present are Harsh Rishi, Pankaj Soni, Charan Dass Gaba, Kuldeep Singh Raja, Sonu, Rajinder Singh, Kapil Kapoor, Shanky, Vijay Mehra.
Cong leader demands reinstatement of temporary teachers
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Nadeem Sharief Secretary (publicity) Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee (JKCC) has strongly demanded the Chief Minister and Education Minister for reinstating the temporary teachers who have been terminated from their services.
In a statement issued here, Nadeem Sharief said that termination of their services caused not only unemployment to the educated youth but also great loss to the education of students. Sharief said though these teachers have been on hunger strike for last 34 days but Government has paid no heed to their genuine demand.
Besides demanding the reinstating of terminated teachers, Sharief also demanded release of salaries of permanent ReT teachers and honorarium of ReT teachers appointed under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), who are suffering financially for last 10 months.
Condemning the lathi charge on teachers who were protesting peacefully for their right, the Congress leader said that if their genuine demands are not addressed at an earliest, Congress will also take out protest rallies against Government.
KCIS conducts Inter-House Spellathon competition
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: KCIS organized Inter-House Spellathon competition for classes IV to XI.
The students from all the houses including Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Topaz participated enthusiastically.
There were four rounds- General, MCQs, Chit and buzzer round. Four students per house were selected.
In Junior category, Ruby House bagged first position followed by Emerald as the runner-up. In senior category, Ruby won the first position and Topaz was the first runner-up. The overall winner of the competition was Ruby House and Topaz was the first runner-up.
Some interesting facts about spelling were also discussed during the programme. Randeep Wazir, the Middle School coordinator was the guest of honour. Vice Principal, Isaac Daniel lauded the efforts of the winners.
The programme was anchored by Sonia Verma and coordinated by Rajni Malhotra, Activity Coordinator.
PHE employees protest, highlight demands
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Apr 16: Water Works Employees Association (WWEA) held a protest demonstration the other day at Poonch.
The protest was held on Wednesday under the leadership of association president, Faiz Akbar Chowan, Vijay Tandon and Bharat Bushan, in which employees from Mendhar, Surankote, Mandi, Loran, Bafliyaz, Shindra, Haveli and other far flung areas participated.
The employees raised slogans in favour of their demands. Chowan while addressing the protesters appealed to the concerned Minister Sukhnandan Chowdhary to fulfill the genuine long pending demands of the PHE employees.
The demands which were highlighted include, release of pending wages, regularisation of daily wagers, need based workers and ITI Diploma holders, shortage of staff, release of pending 17 per cent DA, enhancement of wages, etc.
The protestors threatened to start 72-hours protest dharna at office of the Executive Engineer on April 21, if their demands are not met.
Ganga inaugurates free eye-camp
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga today inaugurated 16th free eye-camp at Sri Seva Kunj Ashram, Doulat Chack.
Being organized by the Ashram in conjunction with Community Health Centre, Ramgarh, the camp provided free of cost diagnostic and treatment facilities besides conducting cataract surgeries of poor patients.
Appreciating strenuous efforts of the Ashram in offering free service to the needy and poor ailing persons, the Minister emphasized the need of holding such camps on regular basis in rural and far-off parts.
“Service to mankind is service to God”, opined the Minister while asking the doctors to redouble their efforts in providing succour to people. He said that medical is a noble profession and sanctity of this pious institution should be upheld at all costs. “Doctors are considered as next to God so it becomes their prime concern to accomplish aspirations of people with all sincerity and honesty,” he said.
“We take our political responsibility as an opportunity to liberate the state from the cobweb of mis-governance and nepotism thus heralding an era of new beginning”, maintained the Minister.
The minister said that there are a number of schemes for socio-economic emancipation of people of the state but the need is to create enabling atmosphere for the implementing agencies and the beneficiaries to get optimum results.
Among others present were OSD, Block Medical Officer, doctors and prominent citizens.
Tawi Trekkers organizes adventure camp
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: As a part of its efforts to motivate young boys and girls into adventure activities Tawi Trekkers J&K in technical collaboration with Mountaineering Rescue Team of J&K Police organized an adventure camp at Nu in Samba.
Fourty Seven students including 18 girls of Light House Public School, Jammu along with 3 teachers participated in the highly professional one day camp.
During the camp the budding adventurers were imparted training in the art and various techniques of rock climbing including Rappeling, slithering, jummaring,Burma bridge and artificial river crossing.
Everester Ram Singh Slathia who headed the team of professional mountaineers informed the trainees that besides being part of a mountaineering expedition all these activities can be of great help in saving the precious lives in case of a disaster.
Initially, some of the youngsters were hesitant to undertake in the dangerous looking activities but the feeling of being in the safe hands of highly trained and experienced instructors made them enjoy rapelling down the 40ft high rock and negotiating an unstable Burma Bridge. The camp was a complete success as all the participants were over-enthusiastic to learn the intricacies of climbing and other life saving techniques.
Besides Everester Ram Singh, the Mountaineering Rescue Team of J&K Police included Sajad Hussain,Tariq Hussain, Bhushan Kumar, Mohinder Singh, Tahir Ahmad and Mohd. Saleem.
Shawetica Khajuria, General Secretary of Tawi Trekkers J&K was the organizing secretary who was assisted by other members of the club including Amit Khajuria, Anil Kumar, Shashi Kant and Aman Arora.
‘El Nino risks rising in India this yr;to hurt food inflation’
NEW DELHI, Apr 16: The El Nino risks for this year is rising in India and it could result in sub-par rains, hurting rural demand and food inflation in the country, says a report.
According to the Japanese brokerage firm Nomura, the possibility of El Nino conditions is developing this year and this could possibly push food inflation temporarily higher.
El Nino conditions often, although not always, result in below-normal rains and hence suggest risk of sub-par rainfall during the monsoon season (June-September).
The Australian Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology’s Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) dropped to -11.2 in March from 0.6 in February. A sustained SOI reading below -8 indicates El Nino conditions.
The bureau has raised the possibility of El Nino conditions developing this year to “at least 70 per cent” from 50 per cent earlier, Nomura said.
India’s agriculture economy is already reeling under the pressure of consecutive bad kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) seasons.
“A third consecutive bad agricultural season could severely impact rural incomes, force the government to announce higher Minimum Support Prices and possibly push food inflation temporarily higher,” Nomura India Chief Economist Sonal Varma said in a research note. (PTI)
NDRF to train men in saving livestock during disasters
NEW DELHI, Apr 16: In a first, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has decided to train its personnel in saving and handling livestock during calamities.
“We have decided to train our men in management of animals during emergencies and disasters. Our past experiences show that it becomes difficult to evacuate people from a disaster-hit area as they are financially and emotionally attached to their pets or livestock. We can proudly say that after the training, our men would be able to save them in a professional manner,” NDRF Director General O P Singh said.
While the personnel of the force are trained to save human lives and provide them succour, there are no specific guidelines for them as to how to save precious livestock.
The DG said the force has tied up with an international non-government organisation (NGO) working in the domain of animal welfare, even as it has inked a deal for training them in at least half-a-dozen reputed veterinary colleges across the country.
The first such training will begin soon at the NDRF base in Guwahati. “This training will be about a week-long. First, the master trainers will be trained and subsequently other troops will be imparted the skills. The training modules will make our troops understand the nuances of animal behaviour and characteristics before and during a disaster like floods or earthquake,” Singh, who developed the module after studying the best practises used in this domain across the world, said.
Officials said this is the first time that such a skill is being imparted to any agency in the country and only few countries like New Zealand and Canada have these procedures included in the training syllabii of their disaster mitigation and response teams.
“Not many countries have these drills charted out in their standard operating procedures. But, in India these skills are very important for disaster rescuers as we are an agrarian country and livestock is a valuable asset for people,” they said.
About 10,000 personnel-strong NDRF, under the command of the Union Home Ministry, is the mandated lead force to respond to any disaster like emergency. (PTI)