Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Reiterating Government’s determination for providing better basic amenities to the people of the State, Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture, Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla today said the Government has taken several innovative measures for improving the living standard of rural pocket people.
He was interacting with the people of Dharap, Rohi and Babliana village after launching Rs. 39 lakh development works which included construction of lanes, drains besides upgradation of 1.5 kilometer Rohi-Babliana approach road, here today.
The Minister said fulfilling of people’s aspirations and developmental needs was top agenda of the Government. He assured the people that all their genuine demands and development needs would be fulfilled in a phased manner. He said there was no constraint of funds in providing all basic amenities to the inhabitants of rural pockets at par with urban areas likes safe drinking water, electricity, road connectivity, healthcare, education besides better lanes and drains.
Mr. Bhalla stressed upon the concerned engineers and officers to redouble their efforts and accelerate pace of all ongoing works in their respective jurisdictions. He directed them to ensure use of quality material in execution of the works, adding that the objective of the Government was to build concrete basic infrastructure across the State for providing concrete facilities to the people.
The Minister said that Government has taken some bold and historical steps to revive overall developmental profile of the State. He said PHE, Health, R&B, Education, Tourism, Power among other sectors have received focused attention of the Government, adding ‘it was the only pro-people policy that the masses have been benefited by quality education, healthcare facilities at their doorsteps.
Responding to demand of locals, Mr.Bhalla asked the R&B engineers to immediately start the construction of Babliana-Kumarian Mohalla link road so that the inhabitants could get relief from long journey road to Babliana village.
Regarding upgradation of power scenario in Babliana, Gangyal, Kumarian Mohalla, Jeevan Nagar, Raina Colony and its adjoining areas, he said Government has already upgraded existing 6.3 MVA station upto 10 MVA receiving station at Babliana. He said with the commissioning of it, the power scenario in Babliana and its adjoining localities has been improved.
Listing the measures taken by the Government in Babliana village, the Minister said Government has dedicated Rs. 60 lakh multipurpose community hall to the people for arranging their social as well as religious functions there on nominal fee.
For providing adequate drinking water facilities to the people of Rohi and Babliana village, Government has launched Rs 2.29 crore Water Supply Scheme (WSS) in the area.
On its completion, the drinking water supply scheme would benefit Rohi Morh village, Shergarh, Dharap, Kashipuram Ashram, Babliana, Ajeet Nagar, Sant Rocha Singh Nagar, Karan Bagh, Azad Nagar, Lower and Upper Gaddigarh areas.
Earlier, the Minister also inaugurated Madhuvan Kids pre-nursery branch at Shastri Nagar.
Innovative measures to improve living standard of rural people: Bhalla
India in with chance to rise in ICC Test rankings
Dubai, July 7:
The Indian cricket team has a chance to go up a rung and be third in the ICC rankings if it beats England in the upcoming five-Test series starting July 9.
As things stand at present, India occupy fourth position with 102 ratings points, while England are a spot behind with 100 ratings points.
Depending upon the outcome of the Test series, both teams can go as high as number three or drop to as low as number seven.
For India, the equation is straightforward — a series win will be sufficient to help it leapfrog Pakistan into third position, the ICC said in a statement.
However, a vault up the rankings is a bit trickier for England, who need to win the series by a difference of no less than two Tests to take on the third place. Victory by just one Test will help them swap places with India.
Meanwhile, both teams can potentially drop to number seven. If India win all five Tests, Alastair Cook’s side will plummet to seventh position, while a 4-1 series result will see England slip to sixth. Conversely, if England win the series 4-0 or better, India will drop to seventh spot.
Movement is also expected on the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen. (PTI)
Number of child labourers in country has declined: Govt
NEW DELHI, July 7:
The Union Government today said the number of working children in the age group of 5-14 has declined in the country.
“The total number of working children in the country has declined from 1.26 crore as per Census 2001 to 43.53 lakh as per Census 2011,” Labour and Employment Minister Narendra Singh Tomar informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
Tomar said considering the magnitude and nature of the problem of child labour, the Government is following a multi-pronged strategy to deal with it.
The Union Minister said the strategy comprises statutory and legislative measures, rescue and rehabilitation, providing universal and primary education along with social protection, poverty alleviation and employment generation.
“The objective is to create an environment where families are not compelled to send their children to work,” Tomar said.
He said to make provisions of child labour law more stringent, the Government is amending the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986.
“The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2012 has already been placed in Parliament,” he said.
The bill inter-alia covers complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years and linking the age of the prohibition with the age under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, prohibition of adolescents (14-18 years) in mines, inflammable substances or explosives and hazardous processes as defined in Factories Act 1948, among others. (PTI)
Romesh posted as MS SSH
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Following dismissal of a petition, filed by Dr Reyaz Ahmed, the State Government today appointed Dr Romesh Gupta as Incharge Superintendent of Super Specialty Hospital Jammu.
According to Government Order Number 404-HME of 2014, dated 7-7-2014, Dr Ramesh Gupta, Superintendent of Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, is transferred and posted as Incharge Super Specialty Hospital Jammu on inter-cadre deputation.
Dr Dara Singh, Incharge Medical Superintendent SMGS Hospital Jammu, shall look after the responsibilities of Superintendent Gandhi Nagar Hospital in addition to his own duties till further order.
Earlier, the State High Court dismissed a petition filed by Dr Reyaz Ahmed, outgoing Deputy Medical Superintendent Super Specialty Hospital Jammu challenging his transfer to the Indira Gandhi Government Dental College Jammu vide Government Order dated January 8, 2014.
While dismissing the petition, Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur observed, “petitioner (Dr Reyaz Ahmed) is not eligible to hold the post of Deputy Medical Superintendent in Super Specialty Hospital”.
The High Court directed State to allow only a duly qualified person as per the Rules to hold the post of Deputy Medical Superintendent/ Medical Superintendent.
The Government vide Order dated January 8, 2014 had directed Dr Ravinder Rattan Pal, Incharge Medical Superintendent, Government Medical College, Jammu to hold the additional charge of the post of Medical Superintendent, Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu.
Senior Advocate KS Johal with Advocate Shahla Rafiqi appeared for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG Gagan Basotra with Deputy AG Neeru Goswami for the State.
75 SPs promoted as SSPs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra today ordered promotion of all 75 SPs of 1999 batch KPS officers as SSPs.
The promotion would come into effect from July 1, 2014, official sources said.
The order said all SPs and Selections Grade SP, who has completed 15 years of service has been promoted as SSPs.
As per the order, a total of 75 SPs have been promoted as SSPs.
The promoted officers included SP Airport Ashok Sharma, SP Crime Branch, Jammu Shakti Pathak, SP Rajouri Mubassir Latifi, SP Samba Anil Magotra, SP Kathua Mohan Lal, SP Traffic Jammu Pawan Parihar, SSP Police Headquarters Rajeshwar Singh, SP Rajinder Gupta (who is on Central deputation as Passport Officer), SO to IGP Railways, Benam Tosh, SSP Kishtwar Sanjay Kotwal, SP Police Control Room (PCR) Jammu JS Johar, Ghulam Rasool Dar, Rajnish Pran, Bashir Ahmad Nazar, Mohammad Yusuf Shah, ML Mehra, Mohammad Sayeed Punnu, Bashir Ahmad Maqdoomi, Aftaab Ahmad Kakroo, Haseeb Mughal, Javed Ahmad Koul, Vikas Gupta, Dr Ajit Singh, Suhail Munawar Mir, Rashmi Wazir, Randeep Wazir, Anita Sharma, Zahid Manhas, Joginder Singh, Tej Ram Katoch, Manzoor Ahmed Dallal, Altaf Hussain Khan, Ranjit Singh Samyal, Sanjeev Khajuria, Rajesh Bali, Romesh Angral, Shailender Kumar, Kulbir Singh Choudhary, Mohammad Arif Reshu and all SPs of 1999 batch.
Batwals urge Govt for sub-categorization of SCs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Stating that sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) is the only solution to the grievances of Batwal Community, Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Welfare Association (JKBWA) today emphasized the Government to authorize amendments in J&K Scheduled Castes Reservation Act 2004 and Article 341 of the Constitution of India.
The division of 13 Scheduled Castes into sub-groups with each bloc assigned a fraction of the Dalit Quota would ensure better distribution of the reservation benefits, the JKBWA members said in its meeting held here today.
The speakers said that since 67 years of independence, the Union as well as the J&K Government have done a lot for the upliftment and betterment of all socially and economically weaker sections but so far nothing has been done for the poorest Batwal Community which is lagging behind in all fields.
They said that the Community has not been given any sort of representation in the Rajya Sabha, State Legislature, State Development Board and District Development Boards despite the fact that Batwals has the maximum strength among the Scheduled Caste communities.
Alleging that all the communities have been allotted land by the Government in the vicinity of Jammu for the construction of community halls except the Batwal Community, they urged the Government to allot a suitable piece of land in the Jammu city to his community for the construction of a Community Facility Hall.
Adding further, the members said that during the year 1994, the Government of India with an object to ameliorate the living standard of the Batwal Community, launched a study to assess their socio, economic and cultural life in J&K State. But even after passage of 20 years, nothing has been done by the Government for the upliftment of the Batwal Community, they regretted and urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant an ‘Economic Package’ in favour of the Batwal Community on the basis of its Survey Report.
UPA responsible for mess, Govt will keep prices under check:FM
NEW DELHI, July 7: Prices of food items are under control and there is no need for panic, the Government declared today in the Rajya Sabha which took up an impromptu discussion on inflation on the opening day of the Budget session after the opposition pressed for it.
The short-duration discussion saw the Government put all the blame for the current situation on food prices as also the recent hike in railway passenger fares and freight and diesel prices on the previous UPA Government, saying it had inherited a “legacy” from it.
During the debate, the opposition, including Congress, BSP, SP and Trinamool Congress, ridiculed the Government and NDA’s poll slogan of ‘achhe din’ (good days), wondering whether it was reflected by the rise in prices of food items like onion and potato and hike in rail fares and diesel cost.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while replying to the discussion, said the 41-day-old Narendra Modi Government had taken immediate steps to contain prices of food items unlike the previous dispensation during which cost of onion rose even up to Rs 100 per kilo.
He said the Government was being attacked even though it was yet to outline its financial roadmap in the Rail Budget to be presented tomorrow and the General Budget on Thursday.
Members of the opposition, including Congress, BSP, Trinamool Congress and CPI(M), staged a walkout, expressing dissatisfaction over Jaitley’s reply.
“Government is committed to contain it (inflation) because we consider it a serious and sensitive matter. There is sufficient supply (of potato and onion) and therefore there is no reason for panic,” the Finance Minister said.
Jaitley said that Food and Consumer Affairs Department would continue to take steps to contain the rise in price of onion and potato and noted that the output of these two essential kitchen items have increased.
Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said strict action would be taken against hoarders and middlemen as they are responsible for price rise.
Listing the steps already taken by the Government, Jaitley said the Centre has issued directive to the states to crack down on hoarding, put a cap on stockholding and hiked minimum export price for onion and potato.
“For the last two years, prices of onion and potato have been rising. The then Government used to wake up after prices had already risen….We started taking steps immediately when the prices touched Rs 25 per kg,” he said.
To a specific question by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury whether futures trading on various farm commodities would be banned, the Minister did not give any commitment but said “the Government will keep the suggestion in mind.”
Responding to the attack on hike in 14.2 per cent hike in rail passenger fare and 6.5 per cent raise in freight charges, Jaitley said this decision was actually taken by the UPA Government on February 11 and the present Government only implemented it.
Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Jaitley said, had a “Hobson’s choice” as railways’ financial health was extremely bad.
“Does he (Railway Minister) follow the weak-kneed policies of his predecessor that unpopular decisions can’t be taken even if they are in national interest or does he then take this decision and place this fact before the country that to run the railways this decision was necessary,” he said.
Jaitley said that although the decision to raise the rail fare and freight was taken with the approval of the then Prime Minister in February, it was withdrawn within hours of implementation on May 16 as the UPA realised that it was being voted out of power.
When targeted by TMC member Derek O’Brien, he hit back indirectly targeting Trinamool chief and former Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying, “I do not know whether those who handled railways in the past are the original sinners for the current situation.”
On the Re 1 hike in diesel price, the Finance Minister said the Government is implementing the previous UPA’s policy of gradual monthly increase. (PTI)
Rajendra sanctions meritorious scholarships for 111 police wards
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 7: The Director General of Police (DGP), K. Rajendra Kumar today sanctioned scholarships in favour of 111 school going children of police personnel, who have secured distinction in annual examinations of class 8th and 9th. The scholarships have been sanctioned for the Academic Session 2013-2014.
Announcing the scholarships, the DGP stressed upon the wards to receive modern education with excellence in different fields and examinations. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police Organization is providing assistance to the wards to boost their morale so that they could continue their studies and excel in future examinations also.
Giving details, Mr. Rajendra said that the beneficiaries include 111 meritorious wards of serving police personnel, who have secured 75 per cent marks or above in class 8th and 9th. He said that the students are studying in different schools across the state and the organization has been providing scholarships to the wards of serving police personnel and martyrs to encourage them and refine their talent in future studies. He said such scholarships are given to the students from class 8th up to P.G. level and professional courses. Free coaching is also provided to such wards enabling them to compete at different levels to build their career.
The DGP said that in the modern age responsibilities of parents have doubled and they have to pay proper attention towards their wards from the very initial stage. He said that the parents have to make their wards able to face the challenges in the modern times and make their future bright. He said that quality education has assumed more importance in the present day and every child has to perform better and shape his future.
BSP leader accuses Govt of not implementing Central schemes
Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, July 7: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Bishnah constituency, Bharat Bhushan Kundal today criticized the NC-Congress Government in the State for not implementing Centrally sponsored schemes meant for the poor people in the Bishnah constituency.
Addressing a meeting of party workers and general public at village Joian in Bishnah constituency Kundal said the local MLA not making even a single statement in the Assembly to force the Government to make some policy for the implementation of the Special Component Plan, Tribal Plan and Special Central Assistance for the development of the Scheduled Castes and poor people of the constituency.
The BSP leader said, “He visited whole of the constituency and found the condition of the roads and drainage system of the village in worst form. Major roads like Bandrali-Chaimna Chak, Seora-Panjgrai, Bishnah-Arnia via Pandorian are also in bad condition. There seems no development on ground level”
Earlier, the BSP leader interacted with the people and also took stock of the main problems faced by the people. The villagers informed the BSP leader that an iron bridge on the small canal passing through the village is the long pending demand of the area, which was promised by the local MLA during election campaign but was not fulfilled till now.
Kundal appealed the people of the Bishnah constituency specially youth and women to believe in the policies of BSP and make him winner in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Aashad Navmi celebrated with fervour, gaiety
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: The Aashad Navmi “Har Navmi’’ the birthday of Shree Sharika Bhagawati was celebrated at Sharika Peeth, Subash Nagar Jammu with religious fervour and gaiety today.
The function started with morning prayers and it was followed by Pushp Archana and Prasad Vitran. A large number of devotees participated in the function which was organized under the chairmanship of president of the Sharika Peeth Sanastha, M K Jalali. On this auspicious occasion an appeal was made to the Government for enactment of Shrine Bill for the protection of Hindu Shrines in Valley.
Meanwhile, Shri Jawala Ji Samiti Khrew Kashmir in its meeting held here today decided to celebrate the yearly Jawala Chaturdashi (Har Chodah) falling on July 11 at Shri Jawala Ji Asthapan Khrew in Kashmir Valley with traditional religious fervour and gaiety. The meeting appealed all Hindu devotees in general and Kashmiri Pandits in particular to participate in the function.