Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 5: The Bari Brahmana Industrial Association (BBIA) conducted a training programme for the industrial fraternity with the support of Ministry of Labour here today.
The senior officers from the Ministry including JA Khan and Devinder Singh besides Factory Inspector Jammu province Raj Kumar were present on the occasion alongwith several members of BBIA. While welcoming  the officials  and members of the industrial fraternity, Raj Kumar highlighted the various benefits provided to the Industrial sector by Labour Department.
General secretary BBIA Lalit Mahajan stressed upon the officials of labour, Govt of India and Factory Inspector  Jammu province to provide latest information about the implementation of  various acts related to industrial sector in the State, enabling members from the fraternity to submit their requisite returns in time. He said the Labour Department should work as facilitator for the industrial sector avoid any legal action in haste, rather units holders should be given sufficient time for the compliance of various acts, creating friendly atmosphere.  Mr Mahajan also requested the department to introduce the system of online filing of various returns related to Industrial sector which will save their precious time. He also demanded that renewal of license be conducted after five years and not every year as the unit holders face problems.
The officials from Ministry of Labour assured that necessary steps would be taken to improve the relationship between Labour Department and industrial fraternity.  Prominent among others present on the occasion included Romesh Badyal president Birpur Industrial Association, R P Aggarwal from Kathua Industrial Association Gagan Jain from BIA  and Sidharth Dogra from BBIA.

Excelsior Correspondent

BARI BRAHMANA, Aug 5: DIG Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range Shakeel Ahmed Beig alongwith SSP Samba Anil Magotra conducted meeting with prominent citizens, respectable elders, Sarpanchs and Panchs of district Samba.
Beig was also accompanied by Suram Singh Addl. SP Samba, Shamsher Singh Sambyal SDPO Vijaypur, Sazad Salaria SDPO Bari Brahmana, Suresh Kumar DySP DAR Samba etc.
DIG Jammu while speaking on the occasion urged upon the participants to remain united as brotherhood is key for progress of the nation. Beig also cautioned that some mischief mongers indulge in objectionable activities during important religious festivals/functions which sometimes lead to law & order problem. He further said that in view of forth coming Janamashtami festival/ Independence Day celebration, some mischief mongers may become active. Participants were asked to identify and monitor the activities of anti social elements who often indulge in objectionable activities to ensure communal harmony.
Beig reiterated that various programmes have been organized by the J&K Police under Civic Action Programme to encourage youth in sports activities and to keep them away from drugs besides keeping them mentally and physically fit.  He also said that more such programmes shall be organized in the near future also.
The participants also shared their views on communal harmony and shown their solidarity to stand united to defuse any ill designs of the anti social elements.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 5: With the twin objectives of making the students easily employable and making a positive contribution to the nation’s economy, Desh Bhagat University (DBU) is starting some new courses in the Marine Engineering stream from this session.
These courses are B Tech in Marine Engineering and Diploma in Marine Engineering. While giving these details, Chancellor, DBU, Dr Zora Singh said that the students have enormous amount of opportunities in India and abroad after the completion of these courses in Marine Engineering and the students can expect high salaries.
There are a lot of career openings in Government and Private Shipping Companies which normally offer high wages. Our aim is to prepare the students for future so that they may get lucrative jobs easily, she expressed.
Director, University Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Dr Pardeep Singh Cheema, said that the starting salary package that is offered to a Marine Engineering Graduate is very attractive, in private as well as in public sector jobs and it increases with experience. The most attractive aspect of these courses is that all these courses are highly in demand and result oriented. Lateral Entry in these courses is also available, he added.
Pro-Chancellor, Tejinder Kaur said that Desh Bhagat University is one of those few universities in North India where courses in Marine Engineering are available and this will prove highly useful to the students of this region. She hoped that these courses will prove a blessing for the students of this region and they will get full benefit from them.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 5: “Ensure regular touring of districts to assess the problems of the people living in rural and far-flung areas of the State”.
This was stated by Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah while chairing a review meeting of senior officers of different departments at Civil Secretariat here today.
The Minister while stressing the need for regular touring of far-flung areas of various districts asked the head of departments to ensure monitoring of the various developmental works and implementation of centrally and state sponsored schemes for the benefit and welfare of masses especially those living in hilly, rural and farthest areas of the State.
Underscoring the need for quick and prompt response to the public grievances especially during summer, the Minister directed the officers to keep their men and machinery on toes for quick redressal of the people’s grievances.
The Minister held a detailed review of the essential services including power, water, health and other civic facilities.
While reviewing the stock position of CAPD ration, LPG, kerosene oil, the Minister asked the concerned officers to ensure the availability of these essential commodities at their respective outlets in every district.
The Minister also reviewed power scenario in Jammu region and directed the PDD authorities to ensure better maintenance of transmission and distribution network to avoid  inconvenience to the consumers due to power breakdown.
The Minister while reviewing water supply position directed the PHE authorities to ensure adequate water supply to the people. He also directed Irrigation and Flood Control Department to maintain adequate discharge in all irrigation canals besides taking required preventive measures to check any loss due to floods.
Saifullah also reviewed functioning of Social Welfare, Agriculture, R&B, Transport and Forest Departments.
The meeting was attended by IGP Jammu, Rajesh Kumar, District Development Commissioner Jammu, A.K. Sahu, Vice Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Sushma Chouhan, Additional Commissioner Jammu Rehana Batool, Chief Engineers of PDD, PHE, PWD, Irrigation and Flood Control besides various others.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 5: Unemployed female dental surgeons under the banner of Dental Surgeons Association (DSA) continued their chain hunger strike for 24th consecutive day, whereas the dharna by the association entered 36th day today.
The unemployed dental surgeons assembled at Ambphalla Chowk and raised slogans against the Government for not redressing their demands including complete absorption of unemployed dental youth, recruitment of dental surgeons on yearly basis and establishment of separate Directorate for Dental Health in the State.
Continuing the chain hunger strike, Dr Sakshi Sharma was sitting on fast to carry forward the movement of the association.
While speaking, Chairman of the association Dr Pawan Singh Jasrotia condemned the illogical statement of the Health Minister regarding financial implications if the dental professionals are given job opportunities in Government sector.
“Why the Government is running dental colleges if they do not require dental surgeons”, he questioned.
As per Health Minister’s statement, Rs 15 lakh and 3 trained technicians are required to engage single dental surgeon, he said and asked the Health Minister to mention any health centre in the State or outside, where three dental technicians are engaged to assist one dental surgeon and an expenditure of Rs 15 lakh is spent to establish a dental unit.
Dr Jasrotia said that the unemployed dental surgeons are ready to establish the dental setup of their own if they are given employment opportunities, which will not cause any financial implication on Government exchequer.
He also said that their agitation will not be called off till their demands are fulfilled by the Government.
Meanwhile, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) has also extended support to the agitation of the unemployed dental surgeons. In a statement, president of the association Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan urged the Government to shun its stubbornness and redress the grievances of the unemployed dental surgeons.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 5: The fast unto death of consolidated Safaikaramcharis in the premises of Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, entered second day, today.
Those employees who are sitting on fast unto death are Abdul Gani, Ashok Kumar, Mohd Kabir and Mohd Iqbal. They are sitting on fast unto death under the aegis of All Consolidated Safaikaramcharis Association (ACSA). The employees who are supporting the striking employees with their presence on the site of fast unto death included Mohd Sideeq, Jeet Raj, Mohd Uzman, Shahbaz, Surya Begum, Khadam Hussain, Bitu and others.
It is pertinent to mention here that Consolidated Safaikaramcharis yesterday went on fast unto death for pressing the Government to consider their genuine demands including regularization of their services and release of their wages, which have been pending for about last two years.
The protesting employees said that they have already submitted a charter of demands to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah for regularization of their services.
The president of Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation, which is the parent body of ACSA, has extended support to the agitating employees and appealed the Government as well as higher authorities of the concerned department to concede the just and burning demands of the Safaikaramcharis at the earliest.