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Jammu boy shines on “Zee Cine Star Ki Khoj”

Excelsior Correspondent

Upcoming theatre artist from Jammu, Rahul Kumar performing with prominent comedian, Bharti at Zee TV reality show “Zee Cine Star Ki Khoj”.
Upcoming theatre artist from Jammu, Rahul Kumar performing with prominent comedian, Bharti at Zee TV reality show “Zee Cine Star Ki Khoj”.

JAMMU, July 16: Rahul Kumar, a promising upcoming theatre artist from Ameture Theatre Group Jammu has brought laurels to the State by entering into the studio rounds of National TV reality show “Zee Cine Star Ki Khoj” which is telecast on Zee TV.
Rahul had qualified five rounds before entering the Studio round. He has qualified two more rounds in Mumbai till now in which he was given an improvisation with Bharti (Lalli Comedian). This episode was telecast on last Saturday and Sunday.
In the upcoming episodes we will see Dance round which Rahul has qualified and he will also be performing with Sunil Pal (comedian). The show is telecast every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm on Zee TV.
Rahul’s passion towards acting led him to join theatre in the year 2007. He did his first play “Khamosh Adalat Jari Hai” under the guidance of renowned director from the State, Kavi Rattan. Thereafter he acted in various plays including Ghair Zaroori Log, Dak Ghar, Holi, Sada, Oma under the direction of well known theatre personality and bollywood actor of our State, Mushtaq Kak.
In the year 2011-13, he was awarded a scholarship in Theatre by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He also worked with Ifra Kak in a device project “Self Stories”. Rahul has acted in more than 50 shows of 15 plays in many National and International Theatre Festivals.
He also acted in the television serials like “Kache Dhagon Se Bandhe”, “Rishtey Naatey” and “Kali Barf”. Besides this, he has also done an album of devotional songs and commercial adds. Recently he completed his first Dogri film “Makhol Bnai Shodeya”.
He won the most versatile personality award in NIC camp at Banaras Hindu University in year 2008 and third prize for All-India level declamation contest in the same camp.
He also represented India in India-China Youth Exchange Programe at China in year 2011.

CEC urges DRDO to work for benefit of Leh farmers

Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, July 16: In an effort to make DRDO (FRL, Leh) more farmer friendly and work towards sustainable development of Ladakh, CEC LAHDC, Leh Rigzin Spalbar today convened a meeting with Lt. General DRDO Anup Malhotra, Dr. Manhas K. Mandal, Dr. Srevastava Director, DIHAR and Dr. Stobdan Scientist DIHAR at Council Secretariat.
Highlighting the potentialities of agriculture and allied sectors especially high quality Pashmina, Seabuckthorn, livestock, herbal plants and horticulture produces of Ladakh which can transform the economy of Ladakh towards boom, CEC Rigzin Spalbar urged upon the scientists of DRDO to work for the benefit of local farmers by implementing their research, technology and scientific knowledge in close coordination with SKUAST and other research centers working in Leh.
He also handed over the copies of Ladakh Vision Document 2025 and Ladakh Prospective Plan to the scientists so that research of DIHAR could go in-tandem with these plans.
Lt. General DRDO Anup Malhotra while assuring his utmost support to LAHDC Leh for guiding Leh district towards sustainable development asked CEC to fix priority sectors on which DIHAR could focus on and directed Director DRDO to generate knowledge in their institution and make it accessible to farmers of Ladakh.
Terming farmers of Ladakh their top priority, he said that our medium is local farmers through which supply of vegetable is possible to army placed in Ladakh.
Earlier, Dr. Srevastava Director, DIHAR, Leh explained in detail the ongoing research and plans of DIHAR.

DIET organizes training programme for Masters

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: First phase of ten-day Induction Training Programme, organized by DIET Jammu for Masters of Jammu district in Science, Maths and Social Science, began today at three centres.
Induction Training Programme for Masters posted in high schools upgraded under RMSA in different subjects is organized to make trainees aware about the RMSA frame work, RMSA interventions, NCF-2005 and practical implementation of various schemes at Secondary levels. Apart from these, focus will also be laid on imparting subject specific training to the Masters in six subjects (Science, Maths, Social Science, English, Hindi and Urdu).
The first phase of the programme was inaugurated by CEO Jammu Tarsem Lal. He encouraged the participants and stressed to impart quality education to the students in order to raise the standard of education in Government schools.
Roshan Lal Gupta, Incharge Principal DIET Jammu laid emphasis on the importance of teacher training programmes and highlighted the need and importance of activity based teaching/learning.

Cannot cross the line, cannot be physical: Dhoni

London, July 16: The raging controversy over James Anderson’s alleged altercation with Ravindra Jadeja today gained momentum with India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hitting out at the English fast bowler, stating that he was the one who crossed the line during the first Test.

Anderson is said to have abused and pushed Jadeja on the way to the dressing room inside the pavilion during the lunch break on day two of the Nottingham Test.

“It (abusing and pushing Jadeja) is not something that we have done. Let’s realise this fact,” Dhoni said ahead of India second Test against England, starting at Lord’s here tomorrow.

“Like in a press conference you can ask me tough questions. I have the right to answer them or not to answer them, but in no way can I go and touch you. Or you can come and touch me. You can put it in whatever way you want to but there are certain things that need to be followed, and it should be followed.

“We talk a lot about the spirit of cricket and everything else, and there are guidelines that need to be followed. There have been a few individuals from our side too in the past who have crossed this line. You can be aggressive, you can be vocal, but there are certain guidelines that are laid out and we should follow that,” added the Indian captain.

A level 3 charge has been levelled against Anderson and if found guilty by the ICC’s judiciary committee he will miss at least two and a maximum of four Tests. The ICC has not set a date for the hearing and with a short turnaround time between the first two Tests, Anderson will be playing at Lord’s tomorrow.

However, the gravity of the charges levelled isn’t lost on anyone.

“Definitely, we think so,” replied Dhoni, when asked if the incident was serious enough to amount to physical abuse.

When asked specifically if Jadeja was in any way to blame for that incident, Dhoni replied, “No, I don’t think so.

“It was good on Jadeja’s part to not really do something in retaliation. It could have gone a bit far, but I felt he addressed this in the most appropriate manner. That’s something we will have to learn and move forward.

“Someone has to back off at the right time. At the end of the day we play sport and lot of people look up to us, and there is a lot of responsibility on us,” he added. (PTI)

 

Safai Karamcharies strike enters 15th day

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 16: On 15th day of their ongoing indefinite strike, protesting Safai Karamcharies of Municipal Committee Udhampur held a dharna outside the MCU office Udhampur.
They raised slogans in support of their demands and against the Municipal Committee Udhampur as well as the State Government.
The protesting Safai Karamcharies are demanding their regularization and enhancement of daily wages.
Due to the ongoing strike of Safai Karamcharies, the entire Udhampur town is gripped by unhygienic atmosphere as heaps of garbage are lying here and there emitting foul smell.

Natrang honours Neelu Dogra

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: Neelu Dogra- the first girl from J&K who made it to prestigious National School of Drama New Delhi, was honoured by Natrang for conducting a unique theatre workshop ‘Discover the Actor in You’ at Natrang Studio Theatre in Jammu.
The honour was made by the founder of Natrang, Padamshree Balwant Thakur, during an exclusive function organized on the valedictory of the workshop.
Currently working in Singapore, Neelu Dogra started her career in Acting from Natrang.
After completing her professional education, she joined the National School of Drama Repertory Company and did major lead roles in most of the repertory productions under the direction of eminent theatre directors. In Film and Television world, she performed in Star plus “Kasauti Zindagi ki” and “Kumkum”, in Sahara “Raat Hone Ko Hai” and in Sony “Crime Petrol”. In films in she appeared in ‘Bombay Central’ by Kaizad Gustad, ‘Perzinia’ by Rahul Dholakia, Dreams Unlimited by Vimukth Singh, 1972 by Amrit Sagar, Music Meri Jaan by Tanuja Shankar Khan and a Singapore based short film Honor Bound by Warren Tessler. She also holds the credit of having played lead role in most celebrated Dogri film ‘Bobo Kadun Aoug’ directed by Ved Rahi.

94 alleged graft cases against IAS officers in three yrs: Govt

NEW DELHI, July 16:
As many as 94 cases of alleged corruption were registered against IAS officers, of the level of Joint Secretary and above, in the past three years by the CBI, the Government said today.
“In so far as the CBI is concerned, after following due procedure, it has registered 94 cases against officers of the level of Joint Secretary and above during the last three years and current year, i.E. 2011, 2012, 2013 and up to May 31, 2014,” Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh told Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The investigation in 55 cases were disposed off, he said.
“Out of the total 55 cases disposed off from investigation during the last three years, 28 cases have been sent for trial, nine cases recommended for regular disciplinary action (RDA), 17 cases ended in closure and in one case no action was recommended against the officer,” Singh said. (PTI)

ICC no good in handling on-field showdowns: Chappell

Bangalore, July 16: Former Australian captain Ian Chappell feels incidents like the alleged fracas between Ravindra Jadeja and James Anderson in the India-England Test series are increasing because the ICC has not been good enough while deciding on such issues.

England pace spearhead Anderson has been charged for allegedly “abusing and pushing” Jadeja during the first cricket Test at Trent Bridge.

“ICC should block this and start again – they are no good. Probably wasn’t good when I was playing. Tell me when was the last time a decision was made in the best interest of the game of cricket. The decisions are made money wise,” he told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Anderson has been charged under Level three of ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel following a complaint from India team manager Sunil Dev.

Anderson has been charged under Level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct. If proved guilty, he will face a ban of two to four Tests or four to eight ODIs.

Chappell said the old system of talking it out over drinks was good enough to sort out on-field conflicts.

“You often realised that both were trying to win for their teams. So the good thing about that system was you started with a scratch next day from scratch. There was no lingering effect of what happened on the field. Now they have got to find another way to sort it out,” he said. (PTI)

HC directs against filling agri land, constructions

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 16: High Court directed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shailander Kumar to direct the concerned police officers to ensure that no land filling and construction is carried out on agriculture land.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Hasnain Masoodi in a complaint alleging that illegal constructions are being raised and digging process is going on in saffron fields at Court Complex Pampore, directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir “to attend to the wakeup call” and “direct the concerned police officers to ensure that no land filling activity or constructions are carried.”
The Bench also directed that bailable warrants be issued against two brokers namely Tariq Ahmad and Nasir Ahmad Mir, who are involved in such activity and the warrants be executed by SP Awantipora.
“We also direct that Tariq Ahmad and Nasir Ahmad Mir be issued bailable warrants which is the only course left with the court to stop the illegal activities”, DB said.
Court also directed for furnishing of status of cases registered with regard to illegal construction at Pampore.
As per the earlier directions of the court Tehsildar Pampore Abdul Rehman Dar was present in the court and he said that illegal construction is in progress despite the fact that police has been informed by him through various reports with regard to these construction and also got the cases registered against these violators.
After these submissions by Tehsildar, court observed: “It appears that the directions issued by the court earlier are being violated with impunity and even the DC Pulwama has not taken any care to comply with the directions issued.”
Court earlier after taking serious note of violations of agriculture laws had clarified that if any direction of this court is violated, then SSP Awantipora was directed to file appropriate FIR against violators and also constructions raised found illegal be demolished.

1/3rd of world’s extreme poor in India; highest under-5 deaths

NEW DELHI, July 16:
One third of the extreme poor global population reside in India which has also recorded the highest number of under-five deaths in the world, the latest UN Millennium Development Goals report has said.
Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla, who released the report here, said its findings present a challenge to the Government under Narendra Modi and that they would be able to surmount it. “Good days will come,” she said.
“We don’t have to be proud of what we have done. Poverty is the biggest challenge… I am sure when the next report comes, we will have done much better,” she said, stressing on Prime Minister’s commitment to poverty elimination and “sabka saath sabka vikas (With all, development for all)”.
Though the report’s figures for various human development parameters are mostly specific to different regions of the world, it has made references to India none of which, she said, are “flattering.
Heptulla has had a long association with the UN programme and was closely involved with it during the previous NDA Government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
According to the report, almost 60 per cent of the people who defecate in open reside in India, which has also accounted for 17 per cent of global maternal deaths.
China, which has made rapid strides in reducing poverty, follows India in housing the extreme poor global population and was home to 13 per cent of them in 2010, followed by Nigeria at 9 per cent and Bangladesh at 5 percent, it said.
South Asia, of which India is the largest and most populous country, has fared worse than other Asian regions in most of the parameters.
The region has, however, done well in school enrolment.
Stressing the new Government’s commitment to improving human development index, Heptulla recalled the words of Mahatma Gandhi that validity of any action was the impact it had on the poorest of the poor and said this is also the “guiding principle” of Modi dispensation.
“Sadly, despite paying lip-service to Mahatma Gandhi we have been unable to fulfil his aspiration. And this is the challenge that our Government has inherited and is committed to fulfilling,” she said.
Modi has given highest priority to providing people adequate sanitation, drinking water, maternal and child care, particularly to the disadvantaged sections.
UN Resident Coordinator Lise Grande said India’s role in global development is the most important in the world and the Millennium Development Goals can’t be reached globally if they’re not reached here.
In some good news for Southern Asia region, the greatest increase in youth literacy rates between 1990 and 2011 was observed here as it went from 60 to 80 per cent.
The literacy rate among young women is growing at a faster pace than that of young men here. The youth literacy rates are over 97 per cent for both Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia, the report said. (PTI)