Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: A joint deputation of various Sikh organisations of the State today called on Member of Parliament from Jammu-Poonch Constituency, Madan Lal Sharma, and put up its demands including release of funds for the development of refugee basties.
Led by Mohinder Singh, chief organizer, Bhai Kanahiya Nishkam Seva Society, the deputation urged the MP to resolve the grievances of refugees, who have been neglected by the successive Governments for last 65 years.
The deputation demanded MP to provide a relief of Rs 30 lakh to each refugee family, reservation in Government jobs and frame an apex committee to look into the welfare of the refugees of Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK), before Parliamentary elections.
The senior Congress leader not only gave on the spot order to release funds for some refugee basties of RS Pura but also assured the deputation of early approval of refugee package from the State Cabinet.
Sikh deputation calls on Madan
Shabir inspects new hospital complex
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 29: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan today inspected the pace of progress of under construction District Hospital Ganderbal. He directed the concerned executing agency to redouble the efforts for ensuring the time bound completion of the hospital complex for early benefits of the people.
The Minister was apprised by the concerned that construction of DH Ganderbal was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 52.53 crore against which, so far Rs.18.50 crore have been expended and during current fiscal Rs. 5 crore is being expended on the project.
The Minister also paid surprise visit to MMC Hospital, Wasun, Gousia Hospital Khanyar. He inspected the functioning of these hospitals and directed the hospital staff to ensure all possible medicare facilities to the patients with assurance to ensure free treatment to pregnant women and infants.
The Minister went round each section of these hospitals, inquired the welfare of the patients and asked the hospital administration to ensure cleanliness in and around the hospitals. He cautioned that any laxity found in providing healthcare facility to the patients would be viewed seriously. He directed the Director Health Services, Kashmir to initiate the necessary steps for providing laparoscopic and generator to Gousia Hospital. He also directed concerned for initiating process for setting up of Sub- Health Center at Wakoora during his visit to Madr-e-Meharban School.
Meanwhile, the Minister also reviewed pace of progress of under construction hospital projects of Kashmir division at an officers meeting. He took review of each project.
SIC takes serious note of denial of information by CID
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: State Chief Information Commissioner, G R Sufi has directed the Public Information Officer of CID SBK Srinagar to explain as to why penalty under Section 17 of the State RTI Act may not be initiated for denying information to the complainant/applicant.
According to the brief facts and grounds of the appeal before the Commission, one Irshad Ahmad Dar had filed RTI application before the PIO, CID SBK Srinagar seeking information regarding departmental enquiry against Selection Grade Constable Abdul Aziz Mir for demanding illegal gratification in 2010.
However, the PIO passed an order informing the applicant that CID Department/Organization is an organization kept out of the purview of RTI Act by virtue of SRO-86 dated March 12, 2012 issued by the State Government.
On this, the complainant/applicant filed first appeal before the First Appellant Authority—SSP CID SBK Srinagar for ordering the disclosure of information but he also refused to furnish the information on the plea that CID was kept out of the purview of RTI Act.
While treating the complainant’s communication to the Commission as complaint, the SIC observed, “PIO and FAA have not gone through the provisions of State RTI Act. No doubt there is an SRO which keeps CID out of purview of State RTI Act issued under the provisions of Section 21 of the Act but the PIO and FAA should have carefully gone through provision of Section 21 of the RTI Act”.
“Had they done so, they would have found that information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violation has not been excluded under Section 21”, the Commission said, adding “this Section clearly lays down the mechanism for providing such information which has not been unfortunately followed by FAA and PIO”.
“The information which concern occurrences of corruption cannot be suppressed because that would negate the relevance of the Act”, Commission said and directed the PIO to explain as to why penalty under Section 17 may not be initiated as the so called order as relied upon by the PIO is not an order in the eyes of law.
House gutted after LPG cylinder blast
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Jan 29: A house was completed gutted after an LPG cylinder exploded in Ward No. 2 of the city here this afternoon.
A police spokesman said that the mishap took place at around 12.30 pm when the cooking was going on in the house of Mohd Zameel. As the cylinder gas started leaking, it suddenly caught fire. The woman engaged in cooking rushed outside the kitchen and raised alarm. The family members moved away in panic. Suddenly cylinder exploded and the large flames engulfed the entire kitchen and then other portion of the house. The neighbourers rescued the family and also some goods but entire house was damaged in the fire. The fire tender could not reach the site for long as area was located in area where approach road was not so wider.
Awareness prog on ESI scheme held at Katra
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: With the sole objective to educate the stakeholders and make them aware of the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme, a seminar on the subject was organised by the ESIC Regional office at Katra today.
President Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu Y V Sharma, who is also member of ESIC Regional Board while speaking on the occasion said that the Board has passed a proposal to establish an ESI dispensary, along with a branch office and staff quarters at Katra as the number of employees covered under the scheme in the area have reached over 1000 at Katra Station. Another proposal for establishing another ESI Dispensary at Udhampur is in the pipeline to provide better medical aid to the employees and their families at the district.
Regional Director, ESIC Arvind Kumar underscored various salient features and unique employee friendly features of the scheme such as eligibility for treatment of self and dependant family members for 90 days immediately after registration of an employee and on providing temporary I-Card to him by the employer. Under the scheme there is provision for grant of advance for treatment, super-specialty treatments, reimbursement of cost of treatment to employer or employee in case of treatment or employee in case of accident etc.
He pointed out that there is provision of cash compensation under the scheme in the State. For treatment, there are 9 ESI dispensaries, one ESI Hospital in the State and tie up with 17 reputed hospitals and Labs ( for tests) for the ailing employees. They included ASCOM Sidhra, Bee Enn General Hospital, Center for Sight , JK Lasers, Kalindi Nursing Home, Dr Lal Path Lab, M/s Gupta Hospital, Sudan Heart Care Centre, Triveni Nursing Home, M/s Trikuta CT Scan, and many other institutions. He said many employees are not aware of the empanelled hospitals. The ESIC has its main hospital at Bari Brahmana which provides quality treatment to the ailing private sector employees. The employees can get more details on official mobile No. 9419295822 in this regard. He said Smart Pehchan cards are being provided to the employees and teams of ESI would be deployed to this town to cover all the employees.
Dy Director, ESIC Sunil K Mehto also spoke on the occasion and explained provisions of ESI Act 1948, relating to contributions and consequences in default.
SSC to hold exam again after reports of unfair means
NEW DELHI, Jan 29:
Staff Selection Commission is set to conduct Combined Graduate Level Examination-2013 at some test centres again, following reports of use of unfair means at those exam venues.
SSC had conducted CGLE-2013 in two phases — Tier I on April 21 and May 19, last year and Tier II on September 29, last year.
There have been reports of use of unfair means at a number of centres identified by investigation agency in Tier I and II examinations.
“Keeping in view the sanctity of the examination, interest of the candidates and the investigation report received from Delhi Police, it has been decided by the Government to hold re-examination of Tier-I and II at identified centres from where reports of use of unfair means have been received,” the Ministry of Personnel said in a release issued today.
The list of these centres will be placed on the SSC’s website — www.Ssc.Nic.In — shortly, it said.
Candidates who had satisfied the age criterion in the earlier exam, but are above age-limit now, will be permitted to appear for re-examination, the release said.
The Combined Graduate Level Examination is held to select candidates for majority of Group B and C posts including assistants in central ministries, income tax and central excise inspectors, assistant enforcement officers, sub- inspectors in CBI and inspectors in Central Bureau of Narcotics, among others. (PTI)
1 injured in road mishap
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 29: One person was injured in a road accident in Bijbehara in Anantnag district.
A police spokesman said a Tavera vehicle, JK03/8685, hit and injured a pedestrian, Mohammad Ismail Khari of Kullar near Sub District Hospital Bijbehara. The injured was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
ICDS Supervisors Union to hold protest on Feb 17
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: J&K ICDS Supervisors Union has decided to hold protest in favour of their demands on February 17 at Press Club.
This was disclosed by Ashok Dev Singh, general secretary of the union during a press conference here today. Mohammad Gafoor Dar, State president, J&K Nation Trade Union was also present.
Singh demanded separate ICDS mission Directors, replacement of SRO 223 by fresh recruitment rules by making 50 per cent promotion quota from supervisor to CDPO, posts of ACDPO may be re-designated as senior supervisor, enhancement of the honorarium of workers upto Rs 9,000 per month, release of pending honorarium and salary without further delay, removal of pay anomalies of ICDS supervisors at par with other states of the country and finalization of the seniority list of ICDS supervisors.
While speaking, Gafoor Dar, appealed to all the supervisors and workers of ICDS to participate in the protest for immediate settlement of their demands.
SIT to probe anti-Sikh riots
NEW DELHI, Jan 29: Delhi Government today decided on a probe by a Special Investigation Team into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots here, two days after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said some of the partymen were probably involved in the violence but were punished.
The politically sensitive decision to form the SIT to investigate the riots which left around 3000 Sikhs dead following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 may create trouble in the relationship between AAP and Congress which has been providing outside support to Kejriwal dispensation. But the move was welcomed by riot victims with one of their prominent lawyers saying it gave them a “ray of hope”.
“Government is going to form a SIT to probe the 1984 riots. The modalities of the probe will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Friday. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has in-principle agreed to the proposal to appoint the SIT,” PWD Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal discussed the issue with Jung.
To a query on effectiveness of SIT as the riots had taken place nearly 30 years back, Sisodia said “honest efforts will definitely yield results”.
Two days back, in an interview to a TV channel, Gandhi had admitted that “some Congress men were probably involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots and they have been punished for it”.
Gandhi had insisted that the Congress Government in 1984 “was not aiding and abetting the riots” but had tried to stop the violence.
Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar are facing allegations of involvement in riots after Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984.
Claiming that effective investigation into the anti-Sikh riots was part of AAP’s agenda, Sisodia said the party had held a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with the victims.
Senior lawyer HS Phoolka, who joined AAP recently, said, “The decision of Government to form SIT has given a ray of hope to riot victims that justice would be done to them.”
Phoolka has been taking up the causes of victims of anti-Sikh riots.
Phoolka said SIT should be formed on the lines of the special team which probed Gujarat cases.
“Police officers from other states should head the SIT while Delhi police should only assist them,” said Phulka.
Delhi Police and CBI have investigated the riots cases so far. (PTI)
Warm farewell given on retirement
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Jan 29: Mendhar NSS unit of the college organised a function to bid farewell to Dr Mohd Zaman Choudhary, Principal GDC Surankote with additional charge of GDC Poonch on his superannuation from Higher Education Department.
The programme was presided over by Prof Shabir Husain Shah, Principal GDC Mendhar. The speakers spoke high of the qualities of head and heart of retiree and wished him a happy and healthy post-retirement life.