Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Apr 8: Subdivision police in collaboration with 80 Infantry Brigade and Revenue authorities organized an awareness camp on mines at Jhangar for the locals and the labourers from outside the State.
The camp was aimed at educating the locals and the labourers who were living and working in close proximity of old vintage mine field, about mines, their identification and Do’s and Don’ts on finding them.
Commander 80 Infantry Brigade, Milan Mathur, Additional SP Nowshera, Rakesh Kumar and SDPO Nowshera, Sargun Dhukla interacted with the general public of the area and reiterated that remnants of war in the form of mines, unexploded shells and grenades are a threat to life.
About 400 people attended the camp and were educated on various types of mines and unexploded shells which can be found in this area and also the actions which should be taken in case any unidentified object is found by them.
A small skit play giving out Do’s and Don’ts on finding of such unidentified objects was also organized. Practical tips were given and locals were informed not to venture inside any barricaded area. The participants were also introduced to the warning Signboards besides providing them with posters depicting various aspects of mine awareness. Simultaneously, these posters were also placed at vulnerable areas.

Excelsior Correspondent

SAMBA, Apr 8: In connection with celebration of 440th Prakash Divas of Guru Nabha Dass Ji Maharaj an impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out in the Samba township here today.
The Shoba Yatra was flagged off by MLA Samba,Dr Divinder Kumar Manyal and a large number of devotees including former MLA Samba and NPP leader Yashpaul Kundal another former MLA Som Nath were present on the occasion.
The Shoba Yatra started from Budhwani Samba and after passing through various markets it culminated at Indira Colony.
The devotees enroute were singing Bhajans in praise of Guru Nabha Dass Ji. A Satsang was also organized on the occasion and various scholars threw light on the life and teachings of Guru Ji.
The function concluded with serving of Preeti Bhoj to devotees.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: The National Secular Forum (NSF) has castigated the State Government, in general, and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), in particular, for surrendering the interests of Jammu region before the dominating Kashmiri leadership.
Addressing a press conference here, NSF, senior vice-president Surjit Choudhary said BJP had been raising issue of discrimination at all the forums but ever since it joined the Government as coalition partner its leaders have themselves adopted a silent posture.
He said, “Centre announced establishment of AIIMS in Jammu but the Kashmiri leadership manipulated the whole things and cleverly managed to say that AIIMS will be established at Kashmir but the BJP Ministers and leaders maintained absolute silence over the issue while the other regional parties have been fighting the issue on roads.”
He also flayed the Mufti led State Government for ignoring the interests of Jammu region and playing with the emotions of the people and added, “People will not tolerate discrimination at any cost and will oppose tooth and nail the discriminatory policies and anti-Jammu decisions.”
Among those who were present in the press-conference included, Narinder Singh, Qayoom Malik, Amit Sanotra, and Bhupinder Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: Minister of State for Power, Industries and Commerce, Mohammad Ashraf Mir while replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Asgar Ali Karbalai in Legislative Assembly today said that power to areas of Kargil town, south areas up to Barche, Hardesh and Drass up to Lamochan, Shargole block up to Wakha and TSG block is being supplied from Chutuk hydroelectric project.
Further Baroo Colony and District HQ are being fed from Iqbal HEP. Due to break down in Iqbal HEP on April 6 the said areas have also been shifted on Chutak HEP, he added.
The Minister said that, Zanskar block DG sets are in operation and High Speed Diesel (HSD) has been stocked for catering upto 1st week of May. He said that cheque amounting to Rs. 61 lakh for procurement of HSD is lying in the Districts Treasury since March 25. The amount will be transferred to IOC as and when the amount is cleared from the District Treasury and the DG sets will be re-started and power to these areas restored, he added. Further, this amount will cater to the requirement of HSD for running of these DG sets for 30 days, the Minister said.
Moreover, Hydro Power from Chutak Power House to the areas being fed from newly constructed 3 No 66/11 KV Substations Khangral, Shargole and Sankoo could not be provided due to non commissioning by NHPC/incompletion in 66/11 KV Substations and also due to damage of one tower on March 31, 2015 at location no 21 near Trespone village in Gramthang-Sankoo 66 KV line.
The Minister said that the NHPC authorities have been accordingly informed for rectification of the same and deputation of officers/officials for commissioning of the Substations.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: Describing the rehabilitation of flood-ravaged people of J&K as a huge challenge, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the Government will start disbursement of relief from April 15 to small-time businessmen and the impoverished who were not having insurance cover and were affected by floods of September 2014.
The Chief Minister said he has emphasized the issue of providing immediate relief to the flood victims in his meeting with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi yesterday.
Mufti Sayeed said this while intervening during Question Hour in the Legislative Council today.
Flagging the issue of compensation to small-time traders who lack insurance cover and destitute as his priority, the Chief Minister said a phase-wise disbursement of relief will begin from next week to provide some solace to these victims who were devastated by the State’s unprecedented floods in decades. “I met the Prime Minister who has assured Centre’s support to rehabilitate the victims and restore the public infrastructure damaged in the floods,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Government will also frame a policy for construction of houses with strong foundation in wake of threats posed by such calamities.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: The State Government is set to roll out National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) to achieve the goal of ‘Digital J&K’.
The information was given in review meeting chaired by the Secretary, Information Technology Department, Saurabh Bhagat here today.
It was given out in the meeting that the programme would be rolled out through Common Service Centres (CSCs) and other training partners to impart training to 55,000 persons in five selected blocks of Anantnag, Baramulla, Pulwama, Shopain & Doda districts. The main objective of the programme is to declare the blocks selected under it 100% digitally literate.
Anganwadi workers, Supervisors of Social Welfare Department, ASHA workers and Fair price shop owners/dealers are also being covered to train a total 1.1 lakh persons under the programme.
The meeting was also told that Skill Development of youth would be taken so that they can set up their own entrepreneurial units and contribute their bit in e-Governance.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) today held one-day protest demonstration at Tehsil Headquarter Akhnoor.
A large number of teachers and masters under the leadership of general secretary of the Forum, Ganesh Khajuria, assembled at Tehsil Headquarter Akhnoor and staged demonstration to press the Government to settle their genuine demands.
The demands of the Forum included release of pending seven to 14 months salary of teachers and masters working under SSA/RMSA/NPS schemes, release of pending arrears of regularized ReTs, removal of pay anomalies of masters in the pre-revised pay scale 6500-10500, genuine transfer policy of teachers and masters, rationalization of posts and according selection grade to under-graduate teachers.