Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 19: A deputation of Government employees of Ladakh led by Minister for Urban Development, Nawang Rigzin Jora and Minister of State for Science and Technology, Feroz Ahmed Khan this evening met Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and presented him a memorandum of demands relating to the welfare of the Government employees working in Ladakh division.
The Ministers pleaded their case before the Chief Minister and highlighted the employees issues requesting for their addressing.
The Chief Minister gave patient hearing and said that the genuine demands would be given due consideration.
Meanwhile, various members of the civil society also called on Chief Minister and brought to his notice different development demands.
The Chief Minister assured the members of the civil society that the Government is alive to the public demands and necessary measures are already afoot to upgrade basic amenities and ensure prompt public service delivery. He said wherever necessary additional focus would be concentrated to address the people’s demands.
Deputations call on CM
JKMEF highlights demands, warns to launch agitation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: Jammu and Kashmir Medical Employees Federation (JKMEF) today warned to launch agitation if their demands were not redressed at the earliest.
Addressing a press conference, Sushil Sudan, president, JKMEF condemned the delaying tactics of the Government and the authorities for not redressing their issues.
He urged that pending cases of regularization of adhoc, contractual and consolidated employees be settled and orders thereof be issued at the earliest. The services of adhoc, contractual and consolidated, who have already been regularized from time to time be also taken into account as they have served in the department for 10 to 20 years during odd hours and militancy period and are now are at the verge of the retirement, he added.
He said that the pay anomaly of Ministerial staff and drivers have not been removed despite repeated requests submitted to the Government, adding that Government has already issued orders for removal of pay anomalies of accounts personnel, patwaries, live stalk assistants, etc. Further the Ministerial staff also be given two and half days pay as they are performing duties on Sundays and gazetted holidays, he added.
The salary of FMPHWs borne on the establishment of 2211-Family Welfare be drawn on monthly basis, he said, adding that the matter was discussed with Director Family Welfare J&K Dr Baldev Raj Sharma, who intimated that funds under 2211 Family Welfare have been allotted to the concerned DDOs for withdrawal of salary of FMPHWs for 3 to 4 months and with regard remaining months and permanent solution, he (Director) is proceeding to Delhi accompanying Commissioner Secretary to Health and Medical Education Department to attend meeting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of India for the purpose and issue is likely to be sorted out once for all.
He stated that Divisional Departmental Promotion Committee has been conducted on April 31, 2014 for promotion of various categories but despite of more than one and half month period the orders in favour of the promotees have not been issued so. He impressed on the authorities to issue promotion orders at the earliest so that employees may not suffer any more.
The pharmacists, dental, laboratory, x-ray and opthlamic assistants have not been promoted to the next higher post after 2010-11 despite number of posts vacant in the department and public is suffering, he said, and urged that these vacancies be filled up by the DPC at the earliest so that employees are benefitted.
He added that the para medics engaged under NRHM scheme are being paid same salary for years while as salary of medical officers has been enhanced from time to time. The discrimination should be removed so that they work with more dedication.
The Federation will hold demonstration at Director of Health Services on June 28 to highlight their demands.
Among others present were Vinod Kumar Sharma, general secretary, CL Koul, Kamal Jeet Sawhney, Anil Kesar, Mohammd Saleem, RP Singh, Mela Singh, etc.
Diploma engineers highlight demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: All J&K Diploma Engineers Association held a meeting under the chairmanship of its president Upinder Singh, in which large number of diploma engineers of PDD, hydraulic and R&B (PWD) wings participated.
During the meeting, the members resented the callous attitude of the Government towards the diploma engineer cadre.
While speaking, Singh said that despite number of requests made through the various memorandums to the Government, no attention has been made to the genuine and long pending demands.
He asked the Government to evolve a mechanism whereby every diploma engineer must get promotion before the retirement for which he suggested promotion on the analogy of Government of Punjab.
He urged the Government to constitute a committee for early redressal to genuine and long pending demands, which include promotion of every diploma engineer on the pattern of Punjab Government, enhancement of fixed TA from Rs 30 to Rs 5000 per month, maintenance of cadre strength at every level and restoration of entry level grade from Rs 5000-8000 to Rs 6700-10700.
He warned that if Government failed to concede their demands within a time frame, then association may resort to the course of agitation.
Among others present were Vijay Sharma, general secretary, Narinder Singh, vice president, Rakesh Goswami, joint secretary, Naresh Sawhney, treasurer, Ravinder Singh, chief organizer, Rajesh Sharma, K Sharma and KC Raina.
Vikram kick starts development works in Purani Mandi
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: General secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Vikram Malhotra, today kick started work of laying tiles in lanes at Purani Mandi, Jammu.
The development work, which started today, was pending for a long time and people of the area were suffering because of uprooted lanes and drains.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, Vikram Malhotra said that people were facing hardships for want of immediate repairs and development work of lanes in their area and they made representation in this regard at several times, but the problem could not be solved due to unnecessary delays.
“Some prominent residents approached me in this regard and I personally took initiative. Now, the work has been started,” he said.
The said work is estimated at Rs 6 lakh, which have been provided by Amrit Malhotra, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, from his Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
On the occasion, the residents of the area also highlighted deplorable condition of other associated lanes in Purani Mandi, responding to which Vikram Malhotra also assured to address the same at the earliest possible time.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Balbir Singh, Vicky, Vicky Choudhary, Jyoti Vaid, Babu Shah, Sushant, Raju, Rinku and others.
Power shut down
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: In order to carry out the work of fixing of short members on 132 KV D/C Rajouri- Draba transmission line, the shut down of 132 KV D/C Rajouri- Draba Transmission Line on 22-06-2014 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. has been allowed.
As intimated by Chief Engineer, System and Operation Wing, Jammu, during the shut down period, the power supply to Poonch district will remain affected.
NDMA VC, 5 members quit
NEW DELHI, June 19: After some Governors, it was the turn of Vice-Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) M Shashidhar Reddy and five of its members to resign after the new Government asked them to quit their posts.
There were reports that the Government has also asked the Chairpersons and members of various Commissions like National Commission for Women, SCs and STs and the head of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to resign but there was no confirmation.
Apart from Reddy, the members who have resigned are former Director General of CISF K M Singh, former Civil Aviation Secretary K N Shrivastava, Maj Gen (Retd) J K Bansal, former Director of Bhabha Automic Research Centre B Bhattacharjee and former Special Director of CBI K Salim Ali.
“I have sent my resignation on Tuesday to pave the way for the Prime Minister to reconstitute the NDMA. Probably the Prime Minister has a view on it. I am hopeful that the reconstitution process will be completed soon,” Reddy said here.
The resignations came after calls were made by Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami to step down in the wake of change of Government. They were all appointed by previous UPA Government.
The NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister. The Vice Chairman enjoys the rank of a Cabinet Minister while eight other members enjoy the rank of a Union Minister of State.
The three members who have not resigned so far include former Director General of CRPF J K Sinha, medical expert Muzaffar Ahmed and former Secretary Department of Ocean Development Harsh K Gupta
Sinha said he was away from Delhi and would do the needful once he returns to the capital.
Reddy was first appointed as member of NDMA in 2005 and promoted as Vice-Chairman in December 2010.
A few members were appointed in 2005 and got reappointment after completion of their five year tenure. Others were appointed in the last two to three years.
The members met yesterday and today to discuss the issue of resignation and then put in their papers. (PTI)
BJP resolves to accomplish Mission 44+
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: “The office-bearers of the State unit of the BJP on June 15 resolved to accomplish Mission 44+ in Jammu & Kashmir and form Government in the State on its own.
This was stated here, today at the party headquarters, Pt. Prem Nath Dogra Bhawan, by State general secretaries Kavinder Gupta and Bali Bhagat while addressing a press conference. The formation of nationalist Government in Jammu & Kashmir is a national requirement.
They said the formation of BJP Government in the State would surely result in its complete political and constitutional integration into India, promotion of sound politics based on democratic and economic issues, elimination of fissiparous tendencies in the State and equal development of all the three regions – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”.
More than 50 office-bearers of the party, including party President Jugal Kishore Sharma (MP), J&K In-charge Avinash Rai Khanna (MP), Co-in-charge R.P Singh (MLA), general secretaries Kavinder Gupta, Bali Bhagat and Rajiv Singh Jasrotia, all the MLAs and members of National Executive Committee Ashok Khajuria, Dr Nirmal Singh and Shamsher Singh Manhas, first met at Bhaderwah on June 14 for two hours and then held a day-long meeting on June 15 at Jai to discuss the strategy to accomplish the party’s Mission 44+ and form Government in the state, Gupta and Bhagat said.
There was consensus that the political situation in Jammu & Kashmir is conducive for achieving the Mission 44+, the BJP leaders disclosed, and further said: “the Congress and the NC are in complete disarray. They have lost their sheen and appeal and become thoroughly unpopular owing to their acts of omission and commission, anti-people and anti-democratic policies and their pro-separatist politics and utter failure to deliver on any front. The pro-self-rule PDP, like the Congress and the NC, has also been rejected outright by Jammu and Ladakh”, they added.
Solar energy crucial for future progress: Dr Jitendra
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 19: While delivering the inaugural address as chief guest at a seminar-cum-workshop on “Solar Powered Water Pumping Systems” organised by “Institute of Public Health Engineers (IPHE) India” and “International Committee of the Red Cross” at the India International Centre (IIC) here today, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Science & Technology (Independent Charge), Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), Atomic Energy and Space said, solar energy is going to play a crucial role in future scientific and social progress and observed, just as electricity was a gift of 19th century and electronics a gift of 20th century, solar energy is going to be a gift of science and technology in 21st century.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, as the increasing requirement for power and energy sources becomes a major concern in a country like India, solar energy holds the promise to play a central role in day to day life of the people. “In a developing country like ours, where scarcity in water supply is rampant and there are also the issues of hygiene and cost-effectiveness, the concept of solar powered water pumping system can offer a new and viable alternative option”, he added.
Congratulating the organisers for holding an enlightening meet on the subject, he said, it is unfortunate that somehow science and technology does not enjoy its deserved priority and therefore, a scientific meet like this with wider involvement of society will help in bringing awareness among the common masses about the ways and means of energy available to the people and optimum methods of its utility.
“India is making rapid strides in every sphere of life and in its global march towards progress and prosperity, solar energy and its application is going to be a major contributor in India-2020 becoming a global leader,” he added.
Pledging every kind of support from the Department of Science and Technology for encouraging research and new projects by innovative scholars and particularly young scientists, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it will be his Ministry’s endeavour to open science and technology for wider social participation and thereby as a means of social transformation.
Prominent scientists present on the occasion included Mary Werntz, Benjamin Wahren, Dinesh Chand and S.K. Sharma.
Karan, others may be asked to quit
NEW DELHI, June 19: With the Government easing out political appointees of the previous UPA rule, the heads of various bodies, including National Commission for Women, SC Commission, ST Commission and Indian Council for Cultural Research (ICCR) could be in the firing line.
For the record, NCW Chairperson Mamta Sharma, SC Commission Chairman P L Punia and ICCR President Karan Singh, insisted that they had received no communication from the Government asking them to quit.
However, such a directive cannot be ruled out considering the Narendra Modi Government’s move to ease out political appointees of the former Congress-led Government from various significant positions.
The Government today asked all members of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to resign.
NCW Chairperson Mamta Sharma, when contacted, said, “I do not have any such information. These are all rumours.”
The Women and Child Development Ministry, the nodal ministry for NCW, refused to confirm it.
Sources in the ministry, however, said, “If somebody is appointed purely on political consideration, then it is expected that the person will tender his or resignation when a Government changes.”
ICCR President Karan Singh, who is in Srinagar, also said that he had not heard anything from the Government on the issue.
The tenure of Singh, the longest serving ICCR President, is anyway coming to an end on August 19 after three terms of three years.
National Commission for SC Chairman P L Punia also said he has not received any communication from the Government.
“I have not received any communication from the Government, formally or informally, seeking my resignation. Moreover, I cannot be removed from the post of NCSC chairman since, I am heading a constitutional body and the warrant of appointment was signed by the President,” Punia said.
Top sources in the ST Commission also denied the reports about the Government seeking resignation of its Chairman Rameshwar Oraon.
The chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Kushal Singh has already been asked to quit by the Women and Child Development Ministry.
Refusing to obey, she has moved the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Ministry not to remove her without following the procedure laid down in the Commission for Protection of Child Right Act. Her tenure ends on October 10 this year.
The Court has sought the Centre’s response to Singh’s plea and issued notice to the WCD ministry seeking its reply by July 28.
Singh had reportedly received calls from the WCD Ministry on May 30 and June 2, asking her to resign as the NCPCR chief.
“If ministries start giving orders like this, then Commissions cannot function properly. I believe people who are serving tenure should not be removed because of a change in Government,” she told reporters here today.
“I went to the court as there was a situation of indecision after I received calls from two ministry officials asking me to quit,” Singh said. (PTI)
Overseas Diaspora Youth meet Governor
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 19: A group comprising 39 Overseas Diaspora Youth, called on N.N. Vohra, Governor, here at Raj Bhavan today.
These young men and women are visiting Jammu and Kashmir on an Orientation Programme under the “28th Know India Programme” (KIP) sponsored by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India. The KIP participants are from Fiji, Malaysia, Mauritius, Netherlands, South Africa, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Israel and Sri Lanka.
In their interactions with the Governor, the participants were keen to know more about the history, geography, demography and culture of the State. In his responses, the Governor gave them a broad overview of issues relating to security, economy, women empowerment, tourist destinations, flora and fauna, establishment of infrastructure, programs for socio-economic growth and promotion of welfare of the masses, particularly the nomadic societies and other segments of the population of the State.
During their discussions with the Governor, the participants stated that they had found a safe and secure environment in the places visited by them and had very good things to say about the warmth and hospitality of all the people they had met in the State.
The Governor urged them to make their contribution towards the advancement of peace and prosperity in the world.