Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH , July 6: Dy CLP leader & MLA Bhaderwah Mohd Sharief Niaz today urged the Government to depute a team of Animal Husbandry doctors in Bhallesa area in which an animal disease broke out and many buffaloes died.
Niaz said the disease Galghootu , Kharouroo broke out in buffaloes and sheeps in Kanthi and Kantha Baggri area in Bhallesa and added that the livestock should be saved as earlier as possible.
Send team of AH doctors for Bhallesa: Niaz
PSU employees discuss demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 6: An emergency meeting of PSEJAC was held under the chairmanship of Suresh Sharma, chairman of the committee to discuss various burning demands of the PSU employees. While addressing the meeting, which was attended by all the constituents, Mr Sharma lamented that in spite of the fact that PSU employees are governed by the same Price Index, they are treated step motherly by the State Government.
As on date many PSUs have not implemented 6th Pay Commission report with effect from the date the same has been given to Government employees and arrears on this accounts are pending, he said adding that DA has not been given in full while and no policy has been adopted to revive the working of different corporations.
As there is no participation of workers in the managements and the heads /other managerial postings are being made by the Government, the employees are made scapegoats for none of their fault, he said and demanded setting up of an independent commission to look into the reasons for losses if any in the PSUs and pinpoint the responsibility for the same for punitive action.
Mr Sharma also demanded increase in the medical allowance to Rs 1000/-, mediclaim policy at subsidized rates, inter-corporation transfers and bridging the gap of DA at par with State Government employees. He appealed the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene and solve the grievance of this section of employees forthwith failing which the employees of PSUs will have no alternative but to resort to agitational path.
The meet resolved to support the call given by the State Government Employees Joint Action Committee (SGEJAC) on July 10.
Those who attended the meeting, included Anchal Bakshi, C K Sudan, A K Tandon, Rakesh Rampal, Sandip Sharma, Parveen Kumar, R L Bhat and others.
SNCF organizes voluntary blood donation camp
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 6: Sant Nirankari Charitable Foundation (SNCF) organized a voluntary blood donation camp at Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan, Domana in the memory of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Maharaj.
A total of 125 donors donated the blood during the camp.
The camp was inaugurated by Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control. He appreciated Sant Nirankari Mission for this noble cause and said that by holding such camps mission is giving the message of love, compassion peace and tolerance to the society.
Dr Rubia, Ram Mehta, Gurmukh Singh Sanchalak and several prominent citizens of the society were present on the occasion.
Parshotam Singh Mukhi, Domana welcomed and said that the mission ordinantly stands for universal brotherhood and oneness of mankind.
Sansar Chand Sanyojak Branch Akhnoor presented the vote of thanks.
The camp was held in collaboration with Blood and Transfusion Department of Government Medical College Jammu, Indian Red Cross Society and JKSACS.
3 out of 10 in India are poor: Rangarajan panel
NEW DELHI, July 6:
A panel headed by former PMEAC Chairman C Rangarajan has dismissed the Tendulkar Committee report on estimating poverty and said that the number of poor in India was much higher in 2011-12 at 29.5 per cent of the population, which means that three out of 10 persons are poor.
As per the report submitted by Rangarajan to Planning Minister Rao Inderjit Singh earlier, persons spending below Rs 47 a day in cities would be considered poor, much above the Rs 33-per-day mark suggested by the Suresh Tendulkar Committee.
As per the Rangarajan panel estimates, poverty stood at 38.2 per cent in 2009-10 and slided to 29.5 per cent in 2011-12.
This is at variance with the Tendulkar methodology under which poverty was estimated at 29.8 per cent in 2009-10 and declined to 21.9 per cent in 2011-12.
The Planning Commission’s estimates based on Tendulkar Committee had drawn flak in September 2011, when in an affidavit to the Supreme Court it was stated that households with per capita consumption of more than Rs 33 in urban areas and Rs 27 in rural areas would not be treated as poor.
The Rangarajan Committee was set up last year to review the Tendulkar Committee methodology for estimating poverty and clear the ambiguity over the number of poor in the country.
As per Rangarajan panel estimates, a person spending less than Rs 1,407 a month (Rs 47/day) would be considered poor in cities, as against the Tendulkar Committee’s suggestion of Rs 1,000 a month (Rs 33/day).
In villages, those spending less than Rs 972 a month (Rs 32/day) would be considered poor. This is much higher than Rs 816 a month (Rs 27/day) recommended by Tendulkar Committee.
In absolute terms, the number of poor in India stood at 36.3 crore in 2011-12, down from 45.4 crore in 2009-10, as per the Rangarajan panel.
Tendulkar Committee, however, had suggested that the number of poor was 35.4 crore in 2009-10 and 26.9 crore in 2011-12. (PTI)
Natrang presents ‘Haye Mera Chanda’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 6: ‘Haye Mera Chanda’, a play in Hindi staged here today at Natrang Studio Theatre in its Weekly Theatre Series, Sunday Theatre.
The play originally written in Bengali by Rabindra Nath Tagore and translated in Hindi by Nami Chander Jain, was directed by Neeraj Kant.
The play was a very humorous situational comedy which presented before us the situation when we expect something else and exactly the opposite happens which turns the scene comical from a particular perspective.
In the play, ‘Dokodi Dutt’ a lawyer by profession is shown very miser and materialistic, who values nothing else but money but on the contrary the people who come to meet him are not the types he want, satirically, they themselves want to extract some money from him. A person comes to him for seeking some donation for his organization, this was enough for ‘Dokodi’ to get irritated and through that person out of his place.
On Humiliated, the person resolves to avenge his insult. Next day, he gets false news published in the newspapers that ‘Dokodi Dutt’ has donated a huge amount to his organization. ‘Dokodi’ was very happy on this false publicity but it proved counterproductive as scores of people arrived at his place to seek donations considering him a very generous person.
He was so much bugged up by the visitors that by the evening he loses the control over his senses and started treating everyone very harshly. He even assaults one of his permanent clients, misunderstanding him to be a donation seeker. Though in a humorous style, the play suggests us to be discreet and genuine.
The Natrang artists who performed in the play were Ashwani Bali, Mohd Yaseen, Vrinda Bakshi, Uplaksh Singh Kotwal, Susheel Raina, Varun Sharma, Sachin Saini, Shekhar Sharma, Namrata Chib, Rajan Thakyal, Mahikshit Singh Langeh and Pankaj Verma.
The lights were operated by Neeraj Kant while Varun Sharma operated the music. The show was coordinated by Sumeet Sharma whereas Namit Dubey did the presentations.
Manohar Lal convenes public meeting
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, July 6: Minister of State for Fisheries, Cooperatives, Finance and Planning Dr Manohar Lal Sharma visited Baggan Panchayat and convened a public meeting.
The inhabitants of Upper and Lower Baggan Panchayat highlighted the issue of road connectivity. Sarpanch Baggan demanded early start of Baggan – Faroli road under PMGSY. The demand of bridge on Baggan -Faroli road was also projected by the Sarpanch. He also demanded up gradation of High School Baggan to the Higher Secondary level.
Dr Manohar Lal Sharma while speaking on the occasion said that road connectivity is the priority of the Government, adding the State funded schemes and PMGSY have immensely helped to give fillip to the road connectivity scenario in the State. He said schemes like MGNREGA if utilized in a planned manner by the Panchayats can pave the way for development.
Dr Sharma while responding to the demands disclosed that the tender of the Baggan- Faroli has been floated and assured that the work of PMGSY road will commence soon. He said the demand of up gradation will be addressed on priority.
JKNPP resolves to have no alliance with BJP, others
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 6: One-day stormy session of the Panthers Party activists was held today in Brahmin Sabha, Jammu under the chairmanship of Harshdev Singh, MLA and chairman JKNPP.
Nearly six hundred delegates from every district participated in the session to reach a unanimous resolution that, “there shall be no alliance with any communal party in the coming election and the JKNPP shall contest the coming Assembly election on its own”.
District presidents, Young Panthers leaders, members of the secretariat participated in the discussion on the relevance of political alliance in the election and on the reorganization of J&K.
Earlier, while inaugurating the session, Prof Bhim Singh, chief patron and founder of JKNPP in his speech made it clear that the Panthers Party cannot and shall not enter any alliance with a BJP for any other anti-people party. He also elaborated on the scope and meaning of the reorganization. He declared that after reorganization of J&K there shall be three states namely Jammu State, Kashmir State and Ladakh-Gilgit State. He further clarified that reunion of the entire state is essential and inevitable.
Dalai Lama greeted on his 79th birthday
DHARAMSALA/SHIMLA, July 6:
Dalai Lama was today greeted on his 79th birthday by Tibetan Government in-exile, which vowed to resolve the Tibet issue with the Chinese Government using the spiritual leader’s Middle Way Approach.
In a message to the spiritual leader, the 14th Kashag or Tibetan Parliament in-exile attributed the unity of its people to Dalai Lama, saying “the fact that the Tibetan people are united like an iron ball regardless of their regional or religious affiliations and in spite of the Chinese occupation is mainly due to his enlightened leadership”.
Dalai Lama is currently in Leh for ‘Kalchakra’ also known as the Wheel of Time in Buddhist philosophy.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born July 6, 1935, to a peasant family in Taktser village in the Amdo region of Tibet. Ever since he left Tibet in 1959, the Tibetan spiritual leader has travelled to more than 50 countries and met their political and spiritual leaders.
He has been bestowed with over 150 major awards, prizes and honorary doctorates, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, United Nations Earth Prize in 1991, US Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 and the Templeton Award in 2012.
Lobsang Sangay, the first democratically elected Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile, said the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is observing this year as the “Year of the Great 14th Dalai Lama” to express appreciation of the spiritual leader’s accomplishments for the cause of Tibet and the promotion of peace, inter-faith harmony and human values.
“The Middle Way Approach continues to receive support from Governments around the world and from the international community, including a growing number of Chinese citizens and the CTA has launched an international campaign to continue this awareness and support for the Approach,” he said.
Sangay said the Secretaries of the CTA will visit Tibetan settlements and generate mass awareness about the Middle Way Approach so that all Tibetans participate in this effort.
On the larger issue of Tibet, he said the Kashag’s believes that this will only be resolved through dialogue with the Chinese Government.
“It is our hope that the new Chinese leadership will soon realize the fact that the Middle Way Approach is a mutually beneficial solution to the Tibet problem,” he added. (PTI)
Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal shifted to Mizoram
NEW DELHI, Jul 6: Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal, who had frosty relations with Narendra Modi when he was Chief Minister of the State, was tonight sent off to Mizoram in a reshuffle of Governors effected by the Government.
87-year-old Beniwal, whose tenure ends in November and who had a running battle with the Modi Government over the appointment of Lokayukta and some legislations, will take over from Vakkom Purushothaman.
Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva, who will demit office exactly in a month, will shift to Ahmedabad to take additional charge.
During her confrontation with Modi, Beniwal appointed retired Justice R A Mehta as Lokayukta in Gujarat against which the State went in appeal to the High Court and later the Supreme Court which upheld it last year. However, it was another story that Justice Mehta did not take up the post and Modi’s Government named a new nominee.
Beniwal also sat over legislations passed by the state Assembly one of which provided for 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.
Announcing these changes, a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said Governor of Gujarat is transferred and appointed as Governor of Mizoram for the remainder of her term vice Vakkom Purushothaman.
Purushothaman is transferred and appointed as Governor of Nagaland for the remainder of his term, it said adding that he would also hold additional charge of the office of Governor of Tripura.
Alva, the Governor of Rajasthan would discharge the functions of Governor of Gujarat, in addition to her own duties, until regular arrangements for the office of the Governor of Gujarat are made.
Earlier there was speculation that new Governors would be appointed before the budget session of Parliament starting tomorrow in place of those who had quit. Many of them were asked by the new Government to put in their papers.
Those who resigned after the Government’s signals are B L Joshi (Uttar Pradesh), M K Narayanan (West Bengal), Shekhar Dutt (Chhattisgarh), Ashwani Kumar (Nagaland) and B V Wanchoo (Goa).
Wanchoo’s resignation on July 4, the day he was questioned by CBI as a witness in the AgustaWestland helicopter purchase scam. A few days earlier former National Security Advisor M K Narayanan also quit as West Bengal Governor after similar questioning by the CBI.
Two Governors – H R Bharadwaj (Karnataka) and Devanand Konwar (Tripura) were allowed to stay in the post till their tenure ended last month.
However, a few other Governors appointed by the previous UPA regime continue to remain in office. They include K Sankaranarayanan (Maharashtra), Sheila Dikshit (Kerala), Jaganath Pahadia (Haryana), Shivraj V Patil (Punjab) besides others. Sankaranayanan was among those asked to quit. (PTI)
Vodafone awards scholarships, certificates to meritorious students
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 6: As part of its Vodafone Delights initiative in J&K, Vodafone India, one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, has awarded scholarships and certificates to over 200 students from the Jammu region.
The scholarships were awarded to those who achieved a perfect 10 CGPA score in the CBSE Class 10 exams or scored 90 percent and above marks in the J&K State Education Board and CBSE Class 10 and 12 exams for the academic year 2013-14.
Vodafone had initiated the Scholarship Programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative by any telecom company in the State, last year. The number of scholarship applicants in Jammu has increased by over 50 per cent as compared to last year. Vodafone India had announced the second edition of the Scholarship Programme in May 2014 for Jammu students excelling in the Class 10 and 12 board examinations.
Lauding the success of the Scholarship Programme, Asit Shekhar, Business Head, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh & J&K, Vodafone India, said, “The idea behind this initiative is to connect with our customers. Last year’s incredible response has encouraged us to continue with the Scholarship Programme, which will go a long way in promoting academic excellence and preparing J&K students to develop that competitive spirit in order to excel in their respective careers. This time, the response has been even better. This endeavour is a small initiative towards the larger objective of nurturing academic excellence among students in J&K, which will help a lot in shaping their careers.”
Earlier this year in February, Vodafone had awarded scholarships to over 100 students from the Kashmir region under the Scholarship Programme. Results of students from Kashmir are announced earlier than those from the Jammu region due to the different academic sessions followed by the two regions.