Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 29: A valedictory function was organized at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Srinagar to mark the completion of a six day Kashmir Lavender Festival and Art Camp which was inaugurated on June 24, 2014. Dr. O. P. Sharma, Chief Conservator Forest, Eco-Tourism was the chief guest and Dr. Shah Faesal, Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, was the guest of honour on the occasion.
Kashmir Lavender Festival and Art Camp was the first of its kind organised in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The festival showcased and highlighted indigenous rich biodiversity of medicinal and aromatic plants with focus on the frontline aromatic crops like Lavender, Rose, and Rosemary etc. for which the institute has already developed end to end technologies and can prove to be an asset for employment and revenue generation in the State.
Dr. O. P. Sharma, in his valedictory address highlighted the importance of holding such events for the benefit of farmers, entrepreneurs and public at large. He welcomed the idea of IIIM to make this event an annual affair.
Dr. Shah Faesal visited the Art camp/painting gallery and appreciated the paintings made by artists and children of different schools. He also visited different stalls & interacted with local entrepreneurs.
On the occasion Tasaduq Jeelani, Director Information J&K was presented the award of honour by Dr. Y.S. Bedi, Head, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Branch Srinagar for his outstanding contribution for wider publicity of the festival through electronic and print media and help making the festival a success. The award was received by Dr. Farukh Paul, Information Officer on his behalf.
National Welfare Forum (NGO) was also given the award of honour for their excellent performance as the event manager for the festival.
Earlier, Dr Y. S. Bedi, Head, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Branch Srinagar presented an overview of various activities conducted during  six day Lavender Festival.
During the valedictory function prizes and certificates were also distributed among the winners of the painting competition, while mementos were presented to the artists, entrepreneurs and departments for their active participation in the exhibition. Nusrat Jahan Ara, CEO of Himalayan Agro Farms was adjudged the best entrepreneur for value addition of Aroma.
The valedictory function ended with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Qazi Parvaiz Hassan, Scientist IIIM Branch, Srinagar.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: A meeting of the Executive Council of TRT Nagrota was held at Nagrota camp today.
Addressing the activists of the Committee and the inmates of the Camp,  P L Dhar, president TRT Nagrota said, “the Kashmiri Pandit community is going through a very crucial phase at this moment in exile and it is our paramount duty to consolidate the rank and file of the community when every attempt is being made to destabilize the socio-political and economic interests of the K P Community”.
Dhar said “We the inmates of TRTs unanimously are of the firm opinion that any move to bail out the persecutors of the community by brushing aside the socio-political and economic fault-lines that led religious cleansing of the community is tantamount to trivializing the genocide. The only solution to reverse the holocaust and the religious cleansing of the community is carving out a separate Homeland with Union Territory status in Kashmir”.
He said the only document and model that can deliver justice to the community is the Margdarshan Resolution, 1991 adopted unanimously by the community.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: The 159 Infantry Battalion (TA) of Army organised a medical camp for the local people of Doda district today under the aegis of Delta Force Headquarters.
The camp was inaugurated by Lt Col BS Chahal, Officiating Commanding Officer of  159 Infantry Battalion, who took the opportunity to bring out continuous support and assistance being provided by the Army to the people of the State especially in the hinterland where it is difficult for other agencies to reach.
The medical team including four Medical Officers from Army and civil (including a lady Medical Officer) provided specialized medical cover especially to ladies, children and elderly people residing in far flung areas.
A large number of patients turned up for medical checkups from the nearby village of Puneja, Kothi, Jagota, Sharni, Rokali and Chirala.  The patients also included a large number of Bakerwals and Gujjars who come to these areas temporarily in summer.
The total number of patients treated in the camp were 432 including 154 males, 167 females and 111 children.

Excelsior Correspondent
BARAMULLA, June 29: A free health check up-cum-veterinary camp was organized by Army at Ranwar, here today.
The camp was conducted under the guidance and supervisory skills of three medical, one dental and one veterinary officers from the Army.
An overwhelming strength of 400 civilians of various age groups attended the medical aid camp. Around 600 animals also utilized the veterinary facilities established.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: A two-year-old girl died due to drowning in a water tank at Gandhi Nagar here today.
As per police sources, two-year-old Ambi, daughter of Pappu of Uttar Pradesh, presently residing in Gandhi Nagar was playing near her rented accommodation when she fell into a water tank and drowned.
The body has been shifted to mortuary of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for postmortem, which will be conducted tomorrow.
A case under relevant sections has been registered at Gandhi Nagar police station and investigation started.

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, June 29: Yuva Rajput Sabha (YRS) in its meeting held today here at Bishnah announced its area wise presidents.
Rajveer Singh was announced president for Paloura, Surinder Singh for Bantalab, Rakesh Singh for Shama Chack, Sandeep Singh for Souhanjna, Sanjeev Singh for Ghou Manhasan, Balwinder Singh for Akalpur, Kasturi Singh for RS Pura, and Sohan Singh for Ranjana Thathi.
A massive gathering of youth from Rajput Community participated in the meeting and shared their ideas for the promotion and upliftment of Rajput Community.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: A deputation of PHE Workers Welfare Association, Jammu Province led by Provincial President, Bakshi Singh and General Secretary, Subash Verma today called on the Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma  at his residence this evening and discussed all outstanding demands of daily wagers/daily rated workers/CP workers.
The leaders of the Association vociferously raised all pending demands before the Minister and requested him to address these on priority as the workers are hard pressed in absence of their regular wages and regularization. They requested the Minister for immediate release of wages to all types of temporary workers and making a permanent provision of regular wages, regularization of all such temporary workers who have rendered 5 years of service regularly. They maintained that the Association has been regularly raising the genuine demands of the workers before the Government and hoping a peaceful resolution of all these.
The Minister gave sympathetic hearing to the demands of the Association and assured that the Government will address their demands like regular disbursement of wages, regularization of daily wagers/daily rated workers/CP workers, holding of DPCs of various categories within a period of one month.
Urging the workers not to observe two-day strike call announced by the Association in support of their demands on June 30 and July 1, the Minister said the demands are under active consideration of the Government.
In view of the assurance by the Minister, the Association decided not to observe the already announced strike call on June 30 and July 1.
The other demands put forth by the Association include, holding of DPCs for all cadres of field staff, enhancement of daily wages Rs. 300 per day, release of pending wages, introducing concrete recruitment policy for daily wagers, creation of higher pay scale posts both in civil and mechanical wings and conducting DPCs of all cadres to remove stagnation and formation of welfare fund committee of employees.
Chief Engineer, PHE, Sushil Aima was also present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 29: Two structures were damaged in two separate fire incidents across the Valley.
Fire broke out in a canteen of Manzoor Ahmad Khan son of Abdul Gaffar resident of Nadigam at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Shopian, resulting in the partial damage to the canteen. Fire was brought under control by fire tenders and police.
Fire broke out in the shop of Khursheed Ahmad Wani son of Mohammad Subhan resident of Darhmuna Soibugh, Budgam. In this incident the shop was gutted completely. Fire was brought under control by fire tenders and police.