NEW DELH, July 24: There is a shortage of about 1,651 IAS officers in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
The total authorised strength of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is 6,270. Of these, 4,619 officers are in position, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
A maximum of 139 vacancies exist in West Bengal as against the authorised cadre strength of 359, followed by 118 and 108 in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, respectively. The authorised strength of IAS officers in UP is 592 and for Bihar it is 326.
Besides, 97 such shortage exists in Madhya Pradesh, 93 in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT cadre), 92 each in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat against their sanctioned strength of 417, 337, 376 and 297 respectively, among others. (PTI)
Shortage of 1,650 IAS officers in country: Govt
Info artists mesmerize audience of SKUAST-J
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: The artists of Cultural Wing of Information Department today organised a cultural bonanza in the conference hall of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) for entertaining visiting delegation to the State from different agriculture institutes of the country to participate in two-day national symposium organised by the university on the topic ‘Natural resource management and sustainable hill farming systems for livelihood security”.
On the occasion, Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-J, Dr Pardeep Kumar Sharma was the chief guest. Dean Dr JP Sharma, Cultural Officer Information Department Raman Joshi, Head of Departments of various departments, scientists, teaching and non-teaching staff were also present.
The two-hour long programme was compeered by Dr Sachin Kumar.
Cultural Officer, Information Department Raman Joshi besides other dignitaries from Jammu and Kashmir Police including Jail inmates in large numbers enjoyed the 2-hour long cultural programme with full joy.
The artists of Information Department who presented a scintillating cultural programme included Vijay Anand, Sunil Sharma, Jony Kumar, Amit Anand, Palvi Koul, Zulikha Farid, Nirmal Koul, Usha Handoo, Surjit Singh Sumbaria and Kamal Kumar.
SGEJAC discusses demands
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 24: A meeting of State Government Employees Joint Action Committee (SGEJAC) was held here at Town Hall under the chairmanship of Sushil Sudan to discuss their demands.
The meeting discussed various demands of the employees including regularization of all adhoc, contractual, consolidated, daily wagers and need based employees, removal of pay anomaly of clerical staff, enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000, reduction of qualifying service from 28 years to 20 years as per Central Government employees, release of 10% DA and 4th installment of 6th Pay Commission in cash with immediate effect.
The speakers urged the Government to fulfill the demands of the employees without any delay. It was also decided in the meeting that all the employees will participate in Kashmir Chalo Programme on August 20, 2014. The speakers also decided to hold a meeting of all State Government employees at Town Hall in District Udhampur.
Governor hosts Iftaar
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 24: N N Vohra, Governor, hosted Iftaar at Raj Bhavan, here this evening.
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister; Mubarak Gul, Speaker, Legislative Assembly; Ministers; Legislators; Northern Army Commander; GOC-XV Corps; Vice Chancellors; senior Civil, Police and Security Forces officers and prominent citizens participated in the Iftaar.
The participants offered prayers after breaking their fast.
NSF stages protest against officers
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: Coming in support to numerous candidates, coming to Jammu University for getting admission and who are facing hurdles due to absence of officials from their offices, activists of National Secular Forum (NSF) today staged a demonstration in front of Examination Block for around one hour.
Following the complaints of students who had come to Jammu University for getting admission, NSF activists led by Forum leader Papinder Singh reached the examination block, where he was joined by several students and NSF activists.
The NSF activists launched protest amid raising slogans against concerned officer for more than an hour. Later the officer, reached to his office, after which NSF activists had a detailed discussion with him.
The protesters appealed Vice Chancellor MPS Isher to take strict action against the officers, who remained absent from their offices without any valid reason.
Among those who were present in the protest included, Amit Sanotra, Shubam, Rakesh Kumar, Jugal, Pawan, Amit, Tanveer Amhed, Sanjeev Kumar, Amit, and others.
J&K tennis star Sumitpal bags double title
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: Ace tennis player of Jammu and Kashmir and trainee of Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, Sumitpal Singh bagged double title in the ongoing All India Talent Series at Chamund Centre for Tennis Excellency, JS International School Farmana Gohana, Sonipat in Haryana.
In the singles Under-18 final, Sumitpal defeated Himanshu Mor of Haryana by (7-5, 6-3), while in the semifinals, he got better of Abhishek Gor by (7-6, 6-3).
Earlier, in the quarterfinals, Sumitpal drubbed Sagar Serawat of Haryana by (6-4, 6-2), while in the pre-quarterfinals and the first round, he prevailed over Rohit Kumar of Haryana and Himanshu Saini of Haryana by (6-4, 6-1) and (6-1, 6-3) respectively.
In Under-18 doubles event, the duo of Sumitpal and Daksh of Haryana thrashed the pair of Mayank Yadav and Harshit Yadav by (4-0, 4-1) in the summit clash, while in semifinal and quarterfinal matches, the duo defeated Rohit Kumar and Krishna of Haryana and Himanshu Saini and Yubraj of Haryana by (5-4, 2-4, 7-4) and (4-0, 5-3) respectively.
The pair of Sumitpal and Daksh was awarded bye in the first round.
With this performance, the ranking of Sumitpal has improved and his rank now is 70 instead of 100, which makes him eligible for the main draw of major tournaments.
Sharma demands double laning of Siot-Kalakote road
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: Former legislator and senior Congress leader Ashok Sharma has demanded double laning of Siot-Kalakote road at the earliest as it is essential for development.
In a statement issued, Sharma said that the Siot-Kalakote road was to be handed over to GREF as per the decision of District Development Board, Rajouri. The work was kept pending in the wake of the tendering of the same by ERA in the year 2006-07, he added.
He further stated that the Chief Minister during public meeting about two and half years back had assured that the Siot-Kalakote road shall be constructed very soon, but unfortunately nothing has been done till date.
Sharma urged the concerned authorities to make the said road double lane at the earliest.
1650 IAS officers short
NEW DELHI, July 24:
There is a shortage of about 1,651 IAS officers in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
The total authorised strength of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is 6,270. Of these, 4,619 officers are in position, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
A maximum of 139 vacancies exist in West Bengal as against the authorised cadre strength of 359, followed by 118 and 108 in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, respectively. The authorised strength of IAS officers in UP is 592 and for Bihar it is 326.
Besides, 97 such shortage exists in Madhya Pradesh, 93 in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT cadre), 92 each in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat against their sanctioned strength of 417, 337, 376 and 297 respectively, among others. (PTI)
Pooja of Central Asia’s oldest Lord Buddha statue performed
Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, July 24: Lama Gurfil Rinpochay performed first pooja of the Central Asia’s oldest Lord Buddha statue at Appatee here.
Lama Gurfil Rinpochay visited the status site at Appatee along with dozens of monks and offered prayers. This was the first pooja in the history which was performed by Lama Gurfil Rinpochay.
While speaking, Lama Gurfil Rinpochay said that this is the oldest statue of Buddha in Central Asia after Afghanistan.
He stated that the Muslim population of Kargil protected this statue, which is an example of integrity and communal harmony.
He also expressed gratitude to the Muslim community people for protecting this statue of Lord Buddha.
“If the Tourism Department highlights this precious statue, there will be heavy inflow of tourists as this statue site falls in the way between Kargil and Batalik”, he added.
Adopt industries as means of employment: Kichloo
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 24: Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo today on second consecutive day paid surprise visit to various industrial units in Srinagar city to have on spot review of functioning of these units.
The Minister was accompanied by Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and senior functionaries of Industries Department.
On the occasion, Mr Kichloo said that the aim behind visiting industrial units is to assess the performance of industrial units at ground level and to look into the demands being projected by unit holders from time to time.
Mr. Kichloo said a comprehensive plan has been formulated for up-gradation of functional industrial units besides revival of sick industrial units, adding that the industrial sector is one of the most important sectors of the State economy.
The Minister directed the concerned officers to work with more dedication and make concrete efforts to bring more and more youth under the ambit of the schemes launched in industrial sector in the State. He underlined need for establishing industrial units in rural areas also so that new opportunities of employment are opened for educated youth there.
Mr Kichloo said that though our State economy is agrarian in nature and mostly depends upon agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and tourism like sectors, yet industries is playing important role in the field of State economy. He said time has come when our youth should made paradigm shift from service sector to industrial sector.
Earlier, various deputations of unit holders met the Minister and presented their charter of demands. The Minister assured them that their genuine demands would be looked into and resolved at the earliest.