Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 11:  State President Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has warned that any move to discontinue centrally-sponsored schemes like NRHM and ICDS will be resisted tooth and nail.
“The ASHA workers have been instrumental in providing better medicare to the rural people, especially the women folk and their young ones, besides ensuring social mobilisation,”  he said.
Tarigami has urged the Government of India to remove apprehensions of ASHA and Anganwari workers who cater to health and elementary education of millions of women and children in the country.
Addressing a day long convention of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held in Budgam, Tarigami said that privatization in the form of restructuring of Integrated Child Development Scheme be stopped and instead all Anganwari workers be regularized as Grade III and helpers as Grade IV Government employees.
He demanded enhancement of State share in the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers on the pattern of Haryana Government and stressed on regularization of the services of the daily wagers including electricians/plumbers in PHE department, releasing the wages of casual/need based/CPWs.
Tarigami called upon all the workforce of the State to come on a common plate-form and intensify the struggle against the anti-workers policies of the Government.
Tarigami said that social security benefits including gratuity, pension, provident fund, medical facilities etc should be provided to all Anganwari workers and helpers; constitute national level welfare fund for anganwadi employees with contribution from the central and State Governments to ensure this.

Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, June 11: The unemployed youth of Kishtwar district in a meeting here, today have expressed the hope that the management of Rattle Project will keep its promises made in a meeting with them under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar recently.
Addressing the meeting social activist of the area Shamsher Singh Bhandari said that the youth are fully satisfied with the assurance given by the Director GVK Company in presence of DC Kishtwar and Assistant Labour Commissioner that the unemployed youth of the area will be provided jobs in the Rattle project.
The meeting said that the youth are satisfied with the decision and compliment the management of GVK as well as DC Kishtwar and Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kishtwar for showing a positive response towards the demands of unemployed youth.
The meeting among others was attended by Farooq Ahmed Tapal and Tilak Raj Shan.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 11: In its general body meeting held here today, PWD (R&B) Contractors’ Association (PWDCA) dissolved its nominated body and nominated senior most contractor, Radhey Shyam Khajuria as working president of the Association till the election of new office bearers.
The meeting which was held under the presidentship of Yogeshwar Singh also decided to conduct elections through ballot paper to elect new office bearers within month’s time under the supervision of Sham Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: Minister of State for Industry and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo today said that efforts are being made to give fillip to minerals and coal industry in the State.
The Minister was reviewing the pace of progress of J&K Minerals at a high level meeting here.
MLA, Kalakote, Rashpaul Singh was also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, it was given out that 13000 tonnes of coal valuing Rs. 7 crore is available for sale at Kalakote coal mine.
The Minister directed the Managing Director J&K Minerals to put extra efforts for proper marketing of the coal so that resources could be generated to a greater extent for the Corporation.
The meeting also discussed various issues relating to workers in the coal mine.
The Minister approved enhancement of project allowance from Rs. 125 to Rs. 300 in favour of eligible workers of coal mines. The Minister directed the MD to conduct DPC on regular basis to encourage dedication among the coal workers. He also directed for submission of all pending SRO 43 cases for approval.
The meeting also discussed issues regarding opening of new mines, status of consolidated and daily rates workers and enhancement of dearness allowance besides other issues and was given out that all pending demands would be considered in a time bound manner.
Among others, Financial Commissioner Industries and Commerce, Kurshid Ahmad Ganai, Managing Director J&K, Minerals, Abbid Sohail were present in the meeting, besides President, State Central Labour Union Naar Singh and other representative of coal mine.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 11: Displaced Kashmiris Front (DKF) in a meeting at Jagti township today held under the chairmanship of Satish Pajnoo its president appreciated the steps taken by the Union Government for the rehabilitation of displaced Pandits in Valley and incorporating the same in Presidential address to joint session of Parliament.
The DKF said that the Pandits should be re-settled in Valley in such a way that they are not forced to flee again as community in last 700 years has faced seven exoduses through the hands of anti social elements who are hell bent to annihilate the community who are real aborigines of Kashmir having a civilization and culture of thousands of years.
The DKF made it clear that Kashmir belongs to KPs as it belongs to any other community. So it is the Constitutional right of the community to protect its culture and identity who are living refugees in their own country.
The DKF, while expressing full faith in Narendra Modi Government expressed the hope that the Government will take steps for rehabilitation of Pandits at a single place so that they can lead an honourable and dignified life.
The meeting demanded that GoI should take all the prominent leaders of the community including those living in camps into confidence while framing a return policy and a special package be given to unemployed and over-aged youth.
P N Pandita senior vice president of the Front, T K Dhar its general secretary, Makhan Lal Bhat, J L Pandita, T K Bhat, Babloo Goswami, Nitu Ji Pandoh, Shubam Raina, Anil Kumar Dhar and others were present in the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, June 11: Water Works (PHE) Employees Association, Krimchi, held a meeting under the chairmanship of Som Nath, vice president, Jammu province, in which various burning demands of the workers and employees of the department were highlighted.
All the employees of Mali section and employees of Panchari section participated wherein Som Nath while addressing urged the Government that first list of 9313 workers whose date has been submitted to Government with photos be regularized. He said there is shortage of staff at present as one worker is discharging the duty of four to five workers while water supply schemes have increased by ten times.
Som Nath demanded ban on employing estimate and imprest workers and called for adoption of new policy with rules for class IV employees of the Department as also creation of new posts which have not been created for the past 50 years. He said there should be only two categories of workers, regular and daily wagers, so that problems may not arise in future.
Demanding release of DA from January 2014, Som Nath also  called for increase in Medical Allowance to Rs 1000. He appealed the Minister for PHE, I&FC Sham Lal Sharma for preparing new policy for the department and implementation of Minimum Wages Act in the Department.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Vijay Kumar Sharma, Rattan Singh, Suraj Parkash, Janait Ali, Luxman Singh, Balbir Singh, Saraj Din, Kuldeep Kumar, Om Raj, Joginder Singh etc.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 11: Annual congregation of Binaloch and Raina Biradari is being held at Devsthan of Maa Bua Datti Ji at village Jakh, near Vijaypur on June 13, 2014.
Biradari president Yash Pal Sharma said Hawan and Yagya will start at 11 am onwards which would be followed by day and night Bhandara. All Biradari members have been requested to participate and obtain blessings of Maa Bua Datti Ji.
Meanwhile, bi-annual congregation of Pandotra Biradari is going to be held on June 13 at Devsthan Bua Bal Kanya, Chak Panotra, Mandal Phallian. According to Biradari president Asha Nand Panotra devotees from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir will be participating in the mail. Pooja will be performed at 8 am and Langar will be served at 1 pm onwards.