Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 31: Natrang Theatre Festival concluded with Balwant Thakur’s Dogri play ‘Gatte-ch Maanu’ (Man in the ditch) at Natrang studio theatre.
Based on Krishna Chander’s famous Urdu classic short story ‘Khadda’, the play is a hard hitting satire on the decay of human values. Balwant Thakur has adapted it in such a contemporary manner that the audience is put to a situation to feel it as the happening of the day and much closer to their surroundings and life sufferings.
Five plays featured in Natrang Theatre festival-2015 which included ‘Apne Hi Putle’ directed by Neeraj Kant, ‘Entertainment Unlimited’ directed by Anil Tickoo, ‘Hawa Hawai directed by Sumeet Sharma, ‘Man who married dumb wife’ directed by Aarushi Thakur and ‘Gatte-ch Mannu’ directed by Balwant Thakur.
Dogri play ‘Gatte-ch Maanu’ shows that one and all tend to shrink their own responsibilities and work and pass it on to others. The play reflects the plight of the poor masses who continue to suffer for want of help from those at the helm of affairs.
Pankush Verma as Aadmi took his performance to all-time heights with his sheer excellence in histrionics. He was supported by the talented artists of Natrang which included Mohd Yaseen as Karamchaari-1, Mahikshit Singh as Karamchari-2, as Sadhu, Rahul Singh as Policeman, Syed Mudassar Ali Shah as Foreigner, Shekher Sharma as Aashiq-1, Shivam Singh as Aashiq-2, Rajan Thakyal as Mantri and Pankaj Verma as Chela and Gopi Sharma as Child.
The lights were designed and executed by Neeraj Kant and Sachin Bamba did the presentations. Aarushi Thakur coordinated the show.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 31: The Upper House passed two bills received from Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, today, which included a Bill to authorize payment and Appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the Jammu and Kashmir State for the services of Financial Year 2014-15 (LA bill No 1 of 2015) and a Bill to provide for the withdrawal of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the Jammu and Kashmir State for the services of the Financial year 2015-16 (LA Bill No. 2 of 2015.
The Minister of State for Finance, Pawan Gupta, on behalf of Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu moved both the bills in the House.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31: A delegation of Legislators from Ladakh met here today with the Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Ch. Zulfkar Ali.
Minister of State for Cooperatives, Chering Dorjey was also present on the occasion.
The Legislators who met the Minister include MLA, Leh Nawang Rigzin Jora, MLA, Nobra Deldan Namgyal, MLA, Zanskar Aga Sayeed Rizvi and MLA, Kargil Asgar Karbalayee.
The Legislators projected various demands related to enhancement of Kerosene Oil quota, opening of new ration depots, improvement in LPG distribution system, additional quota of rations, issuance of new ration cards as per the census of 2011 and other issues pertaining to their respective areas.
The Legislators demanded the approval of existing ration stores which are not approved till date and enhancement of food grains for the region, besides opening of Petrol pump outlets in Nobra, Nyoma and other areas.
The Minister gave patient hearing to the demands of the Legislators and assured them that their genuine demands will be met on priority basis.
The Minister asked the Secretary, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution to take all necessary steps to fulfill their demands as soon as possible.
Secretary, CA&PD, Satish Nehru apprised the meeting about the steps taken to streamline the functioning of the department in Ladakh region.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 31: Expressing serious concern over the tardy response shown by the Government of India vis-à-vis natural calamities faced by the Jammu and Kashmir, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has called for an immediate intervention from the Prime Minister’s office to meet the imminent flood threat looming over Kashmir.
In a statement issued here today, Tarigami said that seven months have passed since the last devastating floods struck the Valley, the Government of India is yet to approve the financial package for rehabilitation of flood hit people proposed by the previous Government. “When Government of India acted without any delay in flood hit Uttrakhand why is it delaying the rehabilitation of flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir particularly the traders who have lost their dwellings and the bread and butter? Unfortunately there is brewing perception among the flood stricken people here that Jammu and Kashmir is a no priority State for the Government of India,” Tarigami observed.
Referring to the devastation caused by river Jhelum’s major and turbulent tributary Veshu that washed away villages and cultivatable land in south Kashmir, particularly in Kulgam district last September, Tarigami urged the present dispensation in the State to depute a team of experts to come out with a disaster preventive strategy in the district.
While expressing deep shock and grief over the deaths caused by the landslide in Budgam district, the CPI (M) leader took a strong exception to the delayed response in evacuation shown by the administration. He said that many deaths could have been prevented, if the administration would have acted promptly and evacuated the vulnerable families in the area. Tarigami also demanded immediate disbursement of ex-gratia amount to the families who have lost their near and dear ones in the landslides.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 31: Three private members today withdrew their bills after the Government opposed them on introductory stage. Two private members Bills moved by Nazir Gurezi on behalf of his Party colleague Mohammad Akbar Lone were withdrawan by the MLA after made a statement in the House that existing laws are sufficient and there was no need to make more laws as it will amount to repetition of laws while the joint private members bill moved by two PDP MLAs was later withdrawn by them on the assurance of the Government that it will frame an education policy soon covering the all aspects in the Bill.
PDP MLA Syed Farooq Ahmed Andrabi and Abdul Rahim Rather withdrew their Bill to provide for establishment of a residential and technical University in the State of J&K to offer higher learning in various streams on the assurance of the Government that it will come with an educational policy taking care of this all.
The members said that the purpose of establishing the Mehboob -ul-Alam University is to provide opportunities for education to a large section of population of the State, to promote the education for the welfare and betterment of the society. In their statement they said the University shall organize its activities in higher education to carry out research, teaching and extension work. It shall spread education all over the country without any discrimination on the ground of caste, creed, gender and religion. The goal will be achieved only with the cooperation and coordination of the people at large. So that future generation could get benefit from the latest teachings from the University.
The Minister of Rural Development Haq Nawaz who opposed the Bill said the Government is brining an education policy and besides public sector the private sector will also be included in it. He said Government is committed to take educational institutions ahead and the post graduation courses are being started in colleges. On the minister’s assurance the members withdrew the Bill.
The another Private Member Bill which was moved in the Assembly by Nazir Ahmed Gurezi on behalf of his party colleague Mohammed Akbar Lone was later withdrawn by the MLA after the Minster of Rural Development Haq Nawaz Khan insisted the member to with draw the Bill as the law has been already made in this regard and the repletion of laws should not be there. The Minister said we have Pollution Control Board and the Government will enforce the existing laws and when there will be any need of strengthening the law the Government will seek the suggestions from the embers.
The MLA earlier said that environment is a global concern and a significant area necessary for survival of mankind. He said the J&K State known as paradise on earth has this reputation because of its beauty and grandeur of the physical personality. The State has been, despite focus on the area, apparently apathetic towards environmental concerns, he added.
He said despite laws, resources and awareness drives, we have not been able to restrict the trend of damages to environment. Keeping in view the importance of this subject, it would be in the fitness of the things that separate provision is included in the directive principles of State policy by amending the Constitution.
The deadline of 2020 in the Constitution itself shall always keep the authorities at the helm of affairs and the people at large constantly cautious of the importance of pollution free environment in the State.
However, later the member withdrew the Bill after the Minister’s statement who earlier opposed it.
The MLA also withdrew another Bill to provide for prohibiting child labour in the State after the Government said that there was no need to bring the Bill as already law is in force against the child labour in the State.
The Minister of Rural Development Haq Nawaz while opposing the Bill on its introduction appealed the member to withdraw it. He said that Member’s intension is good but in view of the existing laws there was no need of brining the Bill. He said in first offence there is fine to the tune of 10,000 while in second offence there can be from six month to two years imprisonment in the existing laws. The Minister assured the Member that Government will implement the existing laws in letter and spirit and those violating the child labour will be punished.
The Minister said hence there was no need of new law as it will be repetition otherwise government would have allowed the member to move the Bill. The Bill was introduced by Nazir Ahmed Gurezi on behalf of his Party colleague Mohammed Akbar Lone.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 31: Though Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on Central assistance even for meeting the expenditure on account of salaries of its employees, it has no hesitation in spending huge amount for providing security cover to the un-categorized political activists. Moreover, the security cover to such a large number of political activists is contrary to the tall claims about improvement in the security scenario.
These startling revelations were made by none else than the Chief Minister, who is also holding the portfolio of Home Department, in response to the question of BJP MLA from Jammu East, Rajesh Gupta in the Lower House.
The Chief Minister informed the House that as on date 1472 political activists have been provided security cover by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Of these, 803 are categorized and 669 are un-categorized political activists.
The maximum number of un-categorized political activists enjoying security cover belong to Jammu district (109) followed by Doda (93), Srinagar (83), Anantnag (49), Kishtwar (38) and Poonch (37). Shockingly, the number of categorized political activists enjoying security cover in Jammu district is far less than the un-categorized political activists.
What to talk of security cover, 294 uncategorized political activists have also been provided secured hotel accommodation.