Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) urged the newly appointed Chairman of the 7th Pay Commission to recommend sanction of 20 per cent interim relief in favour of Central and State Government employees and pensioners in its interim report.
In a memorandum sent to Retired Justice Ashok Mathur, Chairman of the Commission, president of NMC Subash Shastri urged him to start negotiations with representatives of associations, unions and federations of Central Government employees and pensioners so that report could be submitted within stipulated period.
Pleading the cause of both Central and State Governments employees and pensioners, Shastri appealed the Commission to suggest for early merger of 50 per cent of present DA being paid to employees and pensioners, with the basic pay as recommended by the earlier pay commission. Delay in merger of DA will create financial problems of the salaried class, he added.
“Pay visit to all states of the country to obtain views of Government employees and pensioners organizations”, he added.
Shastri urged the Chairman of the Commission to formulate National Pay Policy for both Central and State Government employees and pensioners.
NMC submits memorandum to Chairman 7th Pay Commission
Complete renovation work on Abhinav Theatre, Tagore Hall in double shifts: Bhalla
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla, has asked the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department and Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to work in double shifts for speedy completion of renovation work on Abhinav Theatre in Jammu and Tagore Hall and SPS Museum in Srinagar.
The Minister was interacting with the officers of Tourism, Culture, R&B and JKPCC at a high level meeting convened here this afternoon.
Secretary Tourism and Culture, Zaffar Ahmed, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Khalid Bashir, Managing Director, JKPCC, T R Bhagat, Chief Engineer R&B, Sheikh Hamid besides other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Bhalla said Government has approved revised cost worth Rs.6.83 crore for restoration work of roof top, plaster work on walls, white wash inside and outside the theatre including sub-office, painting of all wooden, steel work, new modern lighting system inside and outside with power saver electrification, modern lighting for stage, wiring system of audio system, stage with teak wood, central office building, old water tank, air condition, green rooms, wash rooms besides repair of K L Saigal hall and installation of firefighting equipment.
Regarding renovation of Tagore Hall in Srinagar, the Minister informed that Government has released Rs. 12.46 crore, of which, works worth Rs. 9 crore have been completed. Besides, remaining projects would be completed within prescribed time frame in double shifts.
Bhalla said that the released funds for renovation of Abhinab Theatre has been kept at the disposal of Chief Engineer R&B Jammu for carrying out necessary renovation works of both the places and renovation work of Tagore Hall in Srinagar, the funds kept at the disposal of JKPCC.
The Minister asked the R&B engineers to immediately replace old chairs with quality chairs as per specification approved by the committee members of JKAACL.
Bhalla revealed that promotion of culture and art has received focused attention of the Government, adding that all other cultural centres would be modernized and equipped with high-tech audiovisual systems in a phased manner across the state.
The Minister said Government has also submitted a detailed project report of Rs. 9.25 crore to Central Government for construction of one more state of art auditorium in 5 kanal available land at Kala Kendra near Bikram Chowk. Besides, Rs. 50 lakh have been released for face lifting of Kala Kendra.
9 injured in road mishaps
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: Nine persons were injured in different road accidents across the Valley today.
A police spokesperson said seven passengers, including two drivers, were injured when a Tavera, JK01R 8852, collided with an Innova, JK01T 6490 at Frestbal Pampore in Pulwama district.
The injured were shifted to Sub District Hospital, Pampore for treatment. One of the injured Zeba Begum, wife of Ghulam Nabi Dar of Laddermud, Sangam has been referred to SMHS Hospital for treatment.
In another accident, an Alto car, JK03C 3352, driven by Bashir Ahmad Misgar hit and injured two pedestrians, Ghulam Mohammad Khan son of Mohammad Jamal and Safia Jan daughter of Bashir Ahmad Khan of Iqbal Mohalla, Bijbehera in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Both the injured were shifted to Sub District Hospital, Bijbehera.
Police said it has registered cases in these accidnets.
Amarnathji Yatra: Insurance Cover for service providers
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: As per decision taken in review meeting chaired by N.N. Vohra, Governor, who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the CEO of the Board, Navin K. Choudhary, has finalized arrangements to procure Accidental Insurance Cover for the various categories of service providers including Dandiwallas, Pithoos and Ponywallas and their Ponies for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2014. CEO has concluded this task in collaboration with the State Government Animal Husbandry and Labour Departments.
Giving further details, the CEO of the Board informed that all service providers including Dandiwallas, Poniwallas and Pithoos who are registered with the State Labour Department prior to the commencement of the Yatra would be provided Accidental Insurance Cover of Rs. 1.00 lakh. This will be applicable for the entire Yatra duration after they get registered and move into the Yatra areas. To be covered by this benefit, all categories of local service providers shall need to register with the State Labour Department.
Similarly, all Ponies which get registered with the State Animal Husbandry Department prior to the commencement of the Yatra shall be covered with an insurance of Rs. 30,000/- per Pony. All Ponywallas have been advised to register their Ponies with the State Animal Husbandry Department after getting their animals medically checked. The dates for the commencement of registration for various categories of service providers will be announced shortly by the respective State Government Departments.
The Governor has also reiterated his earlier directions for ensuring speedy settlement of all insurance claims to ensure that those who have suffered losses are quickly compensated so that they can continue to earn their livelihoods. Accordingly, claims regarding the death of 88 Ponies during Yatra 2013 were got settled by the CEO within one month time of the conclusion of Yatra and a compensation of Rs. 26,35,000/- was paid to the owners of the Ponies killed in accidents.
SRTC VRS employees hold protest, highlight demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Demanding clearance of their pending dues and arrears, All J&K SRTC Volunteer Retired Employees (VRS) Association staged a protest here today.
The VRS employees led by president of the association Dev Raj Bali assembled at Press Club and started marching towards Civil Secretariat but were stopped by police.
The employees raised slogans against the Government for not clearing 126 slabs of Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) pending since January 1, 2006, ex-gratia grant and pending arrears from 1999 and implementation of Sixth Pay Commission from January 1, 2006.
“The Government has failed to pay attention to our repeated protests. They have turned a deaf ear towards our demands”, Bali told reporters.
“We want the Government to pay us all the dues and arrears of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). We will continue our protest till our demands are met”, he said.
He asked the Chief Minister to look into the matter personally and redress their demands at the earliest.
Among others present were Surinder Singh, general secretary, Kulbir Singh, JD Singh, BV Sharma, Prem Nath, DN Sharma, Surjit Singh, Sain Mohammad, Subash Singh, etc.
Vikar reviews stock, supply position of essentials, power scenario
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: Minister of State for Technical Education, Information, Hospitality and Protocol and Rural Development, Vikar Rasool convened an officers meeting in Winter Secretariat today to review the stock and supply position of essentials and power scenario in the Valley.
The meeting was attended by the District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Chief Engineers of Power and PHE, Joint Commissioner SMC, Joint Director CA&PD and other line officers.
The Minister asked the officers to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the consumers and strictly adhere to the curtailment schedule and asked the concerned to ensure timely repair and replacement of the damaged electricity transformers. He asked the CA&PD authorities to make essentials including LPG available to the consumers and expedite the home delivery process of the LPG cylinders to the people.
The District Development Commissioner informed the meeting that the district administration has geared up his men and machinery to restore all the basic facilities to the people post snowfall. He further informed the meeting that all the roads, link roads have been cleared off snow in the city.
The Minister was further informed that during the current month 280700 quintal of rice, 208427 quintal atta, 400776 KL of K-Oil and adequate number of LPG cylinders have been distributed among the consumers while adequate quantity of essentials have been dumped in 373 sale counters of the areas which remain cut off during winter months.
Ex-police persons highlight demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Ex-police personnel of State Police today held a meeting here in District Police Lines and highlighted their various demands.
The meeting which was held under the umbrella of J&K Police Retirees League, was presided over by SP (retd), PR Sharma, while it was attended by president of the League, KS Sambyal along with others.
The meeting urged the Police Department to constitute a committee of IGP level at Police Headquarter (PHQ) with a sole motive of settling the retirees after retirement in the public or private sector and a Pension Cell at PHQ level for settling the pension cases in a short time.
It was also urged the department to reserve 15% quota for the ward of the retirees and in-service policemen, enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 and arrangement for reimbursement of medical bills of the retirees from welfare funds available at PHQ/ZPHQ/RPHQ/ DPHQ.
The participants further urged the DGP to direct the Superintendent of Police Hospitals to provide life-saving drugs to the needy police retirees and frame a committee as envisaged in the Government order and follow instructions given therein with regard to the welfare of the retirees.
The Union requested all police retirees to be united and attend its monthly meetings, which take place on 6th of every month, to press the department for redressal of their demands.
Action plans should capture all environmental concerns: CS
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey today highlighted the importance of remedial action plan that captures all environmental concerns likely to negatively impact proposed construction project surroundings.
Chairing the 83rd Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting here, Chief Secretary said that balance between development needs and conservation of natural environment should always be maintained besides an approach that carefully studies the unintended consequences of a project especially in environmentally sensitive zones should take prime focus.
The Forest Advisory Committee discussed and considered various proposals to allow use of forest land for road construction projects in Poonch, Sindh and Kargil Forest Divisions besides it also reviewed report on Mubarak-Mandi- Maha Maya Ropeway project coming up in Jammu Forest Division.
While discussing a detailed power point presentation on muck disposal plan of Zojilla Tunnel project presented during the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that muck disposal sites should be carefully selected besides the user agencies have the responsibility to carry out eco-restoration of muck dumping sites through engineering solutions and biological means.
He also directed the Forest Department to monitor developmental projects in each Forest Division besides carrying out necessary afforestation to offset any negative impact of development projects.
The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Dr. Arun Kumar, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas and other senior officers.
‘Thanwadi Kirtan Darbar’ held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Sikh Sangat held an impressive “Thanwadi Kirtan Darbar” at Gurudwara Harkrishan Sahib, Indira Nagar, Miran Sahib.
On the occasion, Mahant Manjit Singh, Nangali Sahib, was the chief guest.
“Thanwadi Kirtan Darbar” which stands for “Thanks to God” was organized by Harpreet Singh Chohalla.
Hundreds of devotees reaped the transcendental benefits of chanting the bhajans. Many kirtan teams participated in the event which included the team of Kathwachak Bhai Hardeep Singh Ji, Delhi Wale, Dhedi Katha from Anandpur Sahib (Punjab), Bhai Harpal Singh Ji.
Mahant Manjit Singh in his message asked mankind to be God loving personas and also love humanity. Keep the devotional sprit in heart and ready to help the needy persons irrespective of cast creed and colour, he added.
Guru Ka Langar was also served to devotes on the occasion.
State kho-kho teams leave for Sr Nationals
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Jammu and Kashmir men and women teams left for 47th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship to be held at Vasco in Goa from February 12 to February16, 2014.
The team was flagged off by the president of the Association, S Manmeet Singh and vice president B S Tirthi in a simple function today.
The teams:
Women: Heena Khan (Captain), Suman Lata, Reva, Rafeena, Akshi Bhardwaj, Bhanu Priya, Ambika Jasrotia. Pooja Sharma, Komal, Dollya and Anuradha.
Men: Pankaj Malhotra (Captain), Sukhdev Singh, Palbinder Singh, Jagdev Singh, Varundev Singh, Mohd Arif, Charanjeet Singh, Shubham Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Kamal Kishor Raina, Vishal Malhotra, Ramandeep Kralia.
Tarmeet Raina, Rohit Sharma, Abhishek and Anil Kumar will accompany the team as coaches and managers.