Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 21: A meeting of drivers of SRTC was held today at District & Tourist Fleet, Rail Head Complex, here to review the aftermath of memorandum of demands submitted to  Manager District & Tourist Fleet and to M D through G M Operations on various occasions. It was observed that management in spite of solving the genuine problems of the drivers, was bent upon harassing the drivers.
The demands which were discussed in the meeting include conducting of fuel survey of vehicles particularly in respect of   Amarnath yatra, arranging of at least one room at Base Camp, Bhagwati Nagar for drivers who have to spend night there, implementation of enhanced Trip Order, cancellations of claims against drivers, time bound promotion system for drivers upgradation of regularized driver from Helper to driver, fixation of consolidated pay of Rs 12000 p.m against 225/day as the drivers have no fixed working hours, regularization of drivers who have completed 08 years of  service, releasing  drivers on bail involved in road accidents, adoption of Group Insurance Policy for drivers etc, disposing of arrears at the time of fixed by court in  petition.
In order to further strengthen the union some minor changes in the Organization were also made and President Mohinder Singh Saini was made Vice-Chairman and Kulbushan Singh Chib was appointed as President of Tourist Fleet.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 21: A joint meeting of Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) and Soan Kashmir Front (SKF) J&K was held here today under the presidentship of Shadi Lal Pandita, wherein all the participants expressed resentment over 14-hours power curtailment in the camp. They warned the Government to block National Highway at Nagrota in case the power is not restored in the camp.
Since the migrants were shifted to Jagti Camp, they have been put to suffering due to unscheduled and long duration power cuts, which have made their lives miserable, Shadi Lal Pandita said and disclosed that in last 15 says more than 33 persons have died in the camp due to sun strokes.
The other demands highlighted during the meeting included repair of cracks developed in different residential blocks in Jagti Camp, checking of leakages, ensuring availability of medicines, ambulance and male and female doctors in the existing dispensary in the camp, etc.
Pandita also demanded construction of three townships for the safe and honourable rehabilitation of displaced Pandits in Valley.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 21: In order to strengthen the union and solve the issues of the linemen and workers pending since long, All J&K Electric Department Linemen and Worker Union (EDLWU) today announced its affiliation with Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Trade Union (JKPDTU).
This was disclosed jointly by Suresh Anthal, State president, Vijay Gupta, Chairman, Tara Chand, president, Ashiq Hussain, vice president and Girdhari Lal, general secretary of the EDLWU.
They hoped that union will get support from the JKPDTU in its renewed effort to solve long pending demands of the employee of the Electric Department particularly linemen and helpers.
Suresh Sharma, State president of the JKPDTU while speaking criticized the Government and the PDD authorities for not redressing the long pending demands of the linemen, workers and employees.
“There is lot of discrimination with the employees of Jammu region for implementation of SRO-59 of 1990 in letter and spirit. Hundreds of daily wagers, helpers are working/discharging duties against the vacant posts of linemen in the department at the risk of their lives and in case of any mishap like death and disability these are not given financial and other benefits of linemen in spite of the fact that they are actually performing the duties of the linemen in the field. Lot of cases of relief from the Welfare Fund are pending disbursement at different levels”, he added.
Sharma demanded implementation of SRO- 59 in toto in Jammu Province, allowing of grade of 3050-4910 to the linemen, proper insurance and service security, financial benefits to the helpers and staff working as linemen in the department, settlement of all pending ex-gratia and compensation cases and conduct of DPC at the earliest, clearance of cases for financial relief from the Employees Welfare Fund and regularization of daily wagers.
He appealed Chief Engineer Shehnaz Goni to personally intervene and solve these issues on priority basis.
Among others present were District presidents JKPDTU BN Singh, Jasmit Singh Madan and Randip singh Jasrotia, Mangat Ram, Girdhari, Brij Mohan, Kala Ram, etc.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 21: Up in arms against failure of supply of drinking water and power, people of Khanad village in Ramnagar tehsil protested against PHE Department and PDD.
The protesting villagers held a demonstration and raised slogans against the PHE and PDD authorities for their failure to make supply in Khanad village.
The protest demonstration was addressed by Sarpanch Saifu Din, Umar Din, Mohd. Sadiq, Shokat Ali and Mohd. Imran who threatened to gherao the PHE and PDD offices if their grievance is not addressed immediately.

Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, June 21: One person died and other sustained critical injuries in a collision of Motorcycle and Scooter at Trintha in Reasi, here this evening.
The deceased was identified as Kewal Krishan, son of Hans Raj who was riding motorcycle JK20-3528. The injured, riding scooter JK02N-7148  on way from Reasi to Geeta Nagar, was identified as Mushtaq Ahmed. He  is an Assistant Sub-Inspector and presently posted at Police Training Centre Reasi.
The accident took place around 8 pm and Kewal Krishan reportedly died on the spot while Mushtaq Ahmed has been shifted to GMC Hospital Jammu in view of critical injuries.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 21: The Municipal Veterinary Officer, Dr Zafar Iqbal along with field staff conducted a drive against adulterated milk at Janipur, Muthi, New Plot, Pando Colony, Roop Nagar, Bantalab and various other areas during which 20 litres of milk was found unhygienic and discarded on the spot.
Besides, a fine to the tune of Rs 3500 has also been realized from the defaulters.
The drive was conducted on the directions of Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Kiran Wattal.
Meanwhile, all the shopkeepers and food establishments running in the markets have been are strictly warned and directed to ensure the supply of good quality milk to the citizens.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 21: The lecturers, demonstrators and vocational instructors who were hired on academic arrangement in various polytechnic colleges and Industrial Training Institutes in the state have demanded that the Government should frame a policy for their regularization.
Shahnawaz Qadir, one of the candidates, said that they have been appointed in various polytechnic colleges and ITIs from many years and some have over-aged while working.
“Till now no policy has been framed for our regularization as we have been working on academic arrangement for a paltry monthly rumeneration,” Qadir said.
The candidates appealed to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to look into their matter as soon as possible.
“We appeal to the Chief Minister and Minister for Technical Education to frame a suitable policy for them and also withdraw the posts that have been referred to recruiting agencies as such posts are already occupied by us for years now, and we deserve them,” they said.