Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: It will be the battle of equals as star-studded Kishan Chand Cricket Club (KCCC) will take on the combined stars of New Challengers Cricket Club in the final of the Chevrolet Cup T20 Cricket Tournament at KC Public School grounds, adjacent KC Sports Academy, here tomorrow.
Though, one gets a feeling that Manik-led KCCC may enjoy a slight edge over their rivals, yet cricket being the game of glorious uncertainties, especially the shortest format and New Challengers Club being the amalgam of good players from various clubs, a tough contest is on cards between the two formidable sides.
While KCCC possesses a strong batting line-up in Vimarsh Kaw, Dhruv Mahajan, Bandeep Singh, Shashi Kumar and Pardeep Bali, the batting trio of New Challengers Club in Parveen Singh, Hardeep Singh and Manjeet Singh is a hard nut to crack.
As far as the all-rounders is concerned, KCCC has a battery of them in skipper Manik Gupta, Shashi Kumar, Raman Dutta, wicketkeeper Raman Thaploo and Sameer Khajuria, not to talk of Dhruv, Kaw, Bali or Jain, while on the other hand, New Challengers have the all-rounders in dependable Ramdayal, Deepak Singh Manhas and not to talk of Manjeet, Hardeep or Parveen.
The New Challengers Club has a strong medium fast bowling duo in experienced Ramdayal Punia and youngster Rohit Sharma, while speedy Sahil Sharma and Soumay Jain of KCCC are also having the talent to counter.
In the spin Department, KCCC can boast of having hugely experienced Sameer Khajuria, Raman Dutta ad Pardeep Bali, besides Gutsy Dhruv and gritty Kaw, while the New Challengers will be fielding only one specialist spinner in Deepak Singh Manhas to be supported by part-timers Manjeet, Hardeep or Parveen.
Having said this, it will be a keen contest and the team which holds its nerves better in the crunch situations will be the winner.
Battle of equals as KCCC takes on New Challengers
PHEEA discusses demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: A meeting of District Executive bodies of PHE Employees Association (PHEEA) of Jammu district was held here at PHE Head Quarter of PHE (M) Division South at Gandhi Nagar to discuss burning demands of the PHE employees including release of pending wages.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of State president, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), J&K, Shiv Kumar Sharma, who is also the provincial president of PHEEA, Jammu province.
The speakers lambasted the authorities for not releasing the wages of daily wagers for last 20 to 24 months. The daily wagers are suffering severe financial hardships in the absence of salary, while the authorities are doing nothing besides giving assurances, they said.
The meeting discussed various demands of the Association including meeting shortage of staff in the department, holding DPC meeting as early as possible, change of designation of workers as per nature of working and enhancement of daily wages from Rs 150 to Rs 350.
Addressing the meeting, Sharma urged the Government for early release of pending wages of PHE workers. He also urged the Government to release 10% DA from January 2014, enhance medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 and create technical posts from top to bottom to remove stagnation. The speakers also appealed the PHE employees to unite and come on one platform to get their demands redressed properly.
Those who spoke on the occasion were Vinod Kumar, Raman Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Radhay Sham and many others.
Army organizes National Integration tour
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
BARAMULLA, July 19: A fortnight-long National Integration tour was organized by the Army for the students of Guru Nanak Dev Model High School, Baramulla.
The tour was flagged off on July 5 from Baramulla and went to Delhi and Agra to culminate again at Baramulla in a glittering ceremony, today.
The ceremony was attended by galaxy of dignitaries and parents of the students.
The unique initiative was undertaken by the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles Unit with an aim to give adequate exposure to the youth of Kashmir Valley and give exposure to the rich and diversified culture of the nation.
The tour gave opportunity to the students to witness historical monuments like Humayan Tomb, Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin, Tajmahal, Fatehpur Sikhri, Dargah Salim Chisti and many other places.
It also helped students to gain first hand information about electronic, food processing and shoe manufacturing industries.
The flagging-in ceremony was a grandeur show in which the locals thanked the Army for its endeavors and requested them for more such events.
J&K Grameen Bank renews MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Limited
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: J&K Grameen Bank, a premier Regional Rural Bank of the State renewed the MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) for the finance/sale of Maruti cars, today.
This is another joint step of J&K Grameen Bank and MSIL’s rural initiative to tap the vast business potential in prevailing rural market. JKGB is committed to provide hassle free services to the rural masses, a bank handout issued here today said.
The MoU was renewed in presence of Chairman of J&K Grameen Bank, Vagish Chander, General Manager Gurcharan Singh, Head of Advances, Krishan Lal Sharma and other officers of the Bank. The Maruti Suzuki India Limited was represented by Himanshu Asopa, Area Manager, J&K, Rushil Dembla and other representatives from MSIL.
The MoU will bring synergy in the business development of both parties involved, the handout added. It said the J&K Grameen Bank has large branch network in the State and the company Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has a vast dealership network across Jamu and Kashmir.
Woman hangs self
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: A woman allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence in Bhatindi area of the winter capital.
As per police sources, 60-year-old Khursheeda Akhter, wife of Kamar Din, a resident of tehsil Mendhar, district Poonch, presently at Bhatindi allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence.
Finding her hanging, family members informed the police and the body was shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where after conducting autopsy, the body was handed over to family members for last rites.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Bhatindi police post and investigation started to ascertain the reason behind such extreme step.
Managing of PM Relief Fund to be modelled on Gujarat scheme
NEW DELHI, July 19:
Major changes are in the offing in the way the PM’s National Relief Fund is managed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed that the Gujarat model should be emulated in selection of beneficiaries, giving priority to the poor and children.
Modi reviewed the functioning of the Relief Fund (PMNRF) and suggested several qualitative changes in the way the fund is managed, a PMO statement said.
Referring to the Gujarat model, he directed that the selection of beneficiaries should be done in a more comprehensive, scientific and humanitarian basis, giving priority to children, poor and cases from Government hospitals, the statement said.
Cases involving life-threatening diseases should be accorded priority and applications should be decided on need and merit, the Prime Minister added.
He also directed that pendency in appeals for help should be minimised and the draw to select the cases should be conducted in a manner that does not leave out any genuine case.
It was decided that a letter from the Prime Minister should be sent to all beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries whose appeals have been approved for grant of relief will be informed through an SMS alert, it said.
The PM National Relief Fund was established in 1948 with public contributions to assist displaced persons from Pakistan.
The resources of the PMNRF are now utilised primarily to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes and to the victims of major accidents and riots.
Assistance from PMNRF is also rendered for medical treatment like heart surgeries, kidney transplantation, cancer treatment etc.
The PMNRF fund consists entirely of public contributions and does not get any budgetary support.
The corpus of the fund is invested with banks in fixed deposits. Disbursements are made with the approval of the Prime Minister.
Modi also reviewed the functioning of the other Prime Minister’s funds — the PM’s discretionary fund, the PM’s National Defence Fund, the PM’s fund for student’s aid, and the PM’s fund for folk art.
The review meeting was attended by Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, and P K Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and other senior officials. (PTI)
Motorcyclist injured in road accident
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 19: A motorcyclist was injured in a road accident in Budgam on Friday evening.
A police spokesman said a Chevrolet vehicle DL 4C AD-2412 collided with a motorcycle at Durbugh crossing in Chadoora, resulting in injuries to motorcyclist Adil Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Nabi Bhat of Cherawani, Chari Sharief. He was shifted to Bone and Joints Hospital Srinagar for treatment.
The spokesman said police has registered a case in this regard.
AAP slams BJP for Pandey’s arrest
NEW DELHI, July 19:
The Aam Aadmi Party today slammed the BJP for the arrest of its Delhi unit secretary Dilip Pandey and said that it was trying to replicate Gujarat style of functioning in the National Capital.
“The BJP is trying to replicate Gujarat style of functioning in Delhi. Police in Gujarat also used similar tactics to supress its opponents and frame the innocents,” AAP leader and party’s Political Affairs Committee member Sanjay Singh told a news conference here.
AAP’s Delhi Secretary and four party volunteers were arrested for allegedly instigating people and putting up posters with proactive message against Congress MLAs in their area.
Singh said that Pandey was arrested without a “solid evidence”.
Senior party leader and AAP MLA Manish Sisodia said initially two party volunteers were forced to name senior party leaders. (PTI)
Man injured in accident
Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, July 19: A villager was seriously injured in a road accident at Ari in tehsil Mendhar this evening.
Reports said one Ashok Kumar Gupta, son of Nathu Ram, resident of Ari was hit by Tempo No. JK02AP/5339. The vehicle crushed the leg of the villager and driver sped away from the spot. The police registered a case against the driver Ramiz Khan, son of Farooq Khan of Salwah in Mendhar. The injured was removed to Mendhar Hospital and later referred to GMC Jammu.
Shiela parries questions on her resignation
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, July 19:
Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit today parried questions whether she will resign from her post.
“I will do so according to the will of God” she said with a chuckle gesturing towards the presiding deity at the famous Padmanabhaswamy temple here while accompanying President Pranab Mukherjee.
She was replying to a question by journalists whether she would resign in the wake of the Centre asking some governors to quit after the change of regime.
Asked whether she received any communication from the Centre asking her to quit, Dikshit replied in the negative.
“I have not received any letter,” she said. (PTI)