JAMMU : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his government has equipped people with effective legislations to identify corrupt elements and seek their punishment through independent institutions established in the state by his government in the last five years.
“To curb the corruption has remained our first target and we brought historic initiatives to empower people to be important players in achieving this goal,” Mr Abdullah said while addressing a public gathering at Vijaypur in Samba district.
He mentioned the legislations about Public Services Guarantee Act, Right to Information Act, Re-constitution of Accountability Commission and establishment of Vigilance Commission giving powers to people to utilize these institutions to book the corrupt elements and seek their severe punishment.
“These institutions were established to make government functioning transparent, give good governance and ensure time bound service delivery in basic amenities providing sectors,” said the Chief Minister adding that his aim is to bring the functioning and the functionaries of government under full “public scan, as such, he equipped the people with the important laws and authorized them to ask questions to every government department about its performance, financial transactions, allotment of tenders, besides demanding services in a fixed time frame.
“Some eighty basic services from thirteen departments have been brought under the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act to be delivered to consumer in a fixed time frame,” he added.
Services like issuance of ration card, driving license, state subject, revenue papers, SC, ST, OBC certificates, water and electricity connections and FIR copyare covered under this Act for delivery in a fixed time frame, he said. Mr Abdullah said entire government machinery and the public representatives from Chief Minister to Legislators have been brought under the ambit of Accountability Commission and Vigilance Commission where under their conduct and performance could be questioned by common citizens.
The Army Medical Corps its 250th Anniversary on 01 Jan 2014 and walk down memory lane to recollect the multifaceted changes through which this Corps has evolved to its present commendable status. In embracing the Mission Statement of the Corps ‘3C Through 3C’, from Combat to Comprehensive Care through Complete Career Concept, the Armed Forces Medical Services are moving towards an All Specialist Corps to provide specialist medical care to its clientele at all tiers. The flagship medical unit of the Armed Forces Medical Services in the Northern Command, Command Hospital Northern Command, located in Counter Insurgency(CI) Operational area also readies itself to bask in its glorious history of professional excellence, a cutting edge infrastructure for provision of contemporary tertiary level healthcare and relive the nostalgia of its transformation and achievements.
This hospital was raised as 148 Indian General Hospital at Lucknow in Jul 1948 and moved to Udhampur in Dec 1948. It was further restructured as 148 Base Hospital on 15 Jul 1970 and redesigned as Command Hospital Northern Command on 12 Apr 1989.
This Command Hospital has the unique distinction of being the only tertiary care hospital of the Armed Forces Medical Services to be deployed in CI Ops and narrates the saga of combat Medical support to the Indian Army since its inception. The hospital has taken active participation in various operations. A large number of Casualties/Battle Accidents with life threatening injuries have been successfully managed in this hospital. The hospital was awarded the coveted Raksha Mantri Trophy for being the best Command Hospital of the Armed Forces in years 2001 and 2006. In Jan 2007 the hospital was awarded Unit Appreciation by GOC-in-C Northern Command for its commendable performance of exceptionally high order in Jammu & Kashmir.
This hospital boasts of a fully equipped 13 bedded Intensive Care Unit with specialists in Critical care manning the hospital round the clock. The ICU of this premier hospital with a state of the art infrastructure is the lifeline for advanced life support in the state of J&K. An advanced licensed Blood bank with facilities to provide component therapy is a game changer for this super speciality hospital. Blood donation camps are routinely carried out from time to time to ensure easy availability of blood and blood products.
The hospital laboratory and pathology services provide for fully automated Haematology and biochemistry analysis; Molecular Biology tests based on the Polymerase Chain Reaction are routinely carried out. The laboratory is completely automated with the state of the art automated Microbiology and Serology analysis. Histopathology remains the mainstay of diagnosis in malignancies and the laboratory boasts of advanced Immunohistochemistry facilities which are available only in a few laboratories in this country. The dept of Imaging and Radio diagnosis is armed with advanced radiology equipment with C Arms and fluoroscopy, besides conventional ultrasound, Colour Doppler, a 16 slice CT machine and MRI with advanced resolution.
An ideal blend of super speciality centres in both Medicine (Cardiology, Neurology, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology) and Surgery ( Joint replacement centre, Orthopaedics and advanced arthroscopy, Urology, Neurosurgery and Gastroenterology surgery, Plastic Surgery and Paediatric surgery) provide comprehensive & holistic healthcare to the clientele. The cardiology centre provides state-of-the-art non-invasive management of cardiac emergencies as well as chronic cardiac cases. A cardiac cath-lab is likely to be installed in this hospital soon which shall provide the much awaited cutting-edge technology.
The other basic specialities like ENT, Ophthalmology, Obs & Gynae, Psychiatry, Dermatology and Accident & Emergencies with its Critical care centre remain the Achilles tendon of the Hospital. The Gynaecology and Paediatric centres provide the ideal mother-and-child care, being equipped with the latest neonatal intensive care unit and a PICU set up. This hospital has embraced the philosophy that prevention is better than cure and Cancer detection camps and Well women clinics are routinely done for the dependant clientele to provide health education and screening for many possible disorders and diseases in the reproductive age group.
This hospital has the exception of having the ideal ambience in a pollution free environment with its wards and departments spread over a large eco-friendly expanse. The various speciality and super specialty departments are linked for convenience of the clientele. The work culture and ethos of this hospital is a blend of patient and disabled friendly values leading to high levels of satisfaction by its clientele. The infrastructure including equipment and treatment facilities are comparable to the best in the country despite this hospital being located in a CI/CT environs.
This hospital has a rich legacy of being commanded by extremely illustrious and accomplished leaders in the past. Maj Gen Bipin Puri ,the present Commandant leads a very committed, dynamic and vibrant team of specialists and super specialists in this premier multispecialty Hospital. Every year, the hospital’s outreach programs, under the aegis of OP SADBHAVANA, a brainchild of HQ Northern Command, has attempted to provide contemporary tertiary level health care to the civil populace in the remotest corners of J&K. The Corps motto of ‘Sarve Santu Niramaya’ is practiced in totality by the Doctors and Nursing officers of the hospital who have been rendering yeoman service towards the health care of troops, families, dependants veterans and the AWAAM. At Command Hospital (Northern Command) Excellence through Professionalism is the keyword.
SRINAGAR : Security forces today averted a major tragedy as they detected an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants by the roadside in Baramulla district of Kashmir, police said.
A foot patrol of security forces detected a tin canister containing an IED at Janbazpora in Baramulla district this morning, the police said.
A bomb disposal squad was called in which destroyed the IED without causing any damage, they added.
The IED was planted by militants by the roadside apparently to target the security forces vehicles passing through the area. (AGENCIES)
SRINAGAR : Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with rest of the country, was closed for traffic again after remaining open for a day.
The 294-km highway was closed last night following snowfall at many places along it.
“The highway was closed late yesterday following snowfall. It has been decided not to allow any fresh traffic today,” an official of the traffic department told reporters.
The stranded vehicles, which were stopped near the Jawahar Tunnel yesterday due to snowfall, will be allowed to ply towards Srinagar later in the day, he said.
The highway was opened for traffic yesterday morning after two days following its closure due to snowfall on Wednesday.
Most parts of the Valley experienced fresh snowfall during the night even as minimum temperatures at many places went further down the freezing point.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.3 degree Celsius compared to the previous night’s low of minus 0.7 degree Celsius, a MeT Department official said.
The city received 0.6 mm of snowfall during the night, he said.
The mercury in Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir plummeted by over 7 degrees from the previous night’s low of minus 6.8 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 14.3 degree Celsius.
The tourist resort recorded 20.2 mm of snowfall, the official said.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg registered a low of minus 11.2 degree Celsius last night after recording a low of minus 10.8 degree Celsius the previous night.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.0 degree Celsius and received snowfall of 8.4 mm during the night, the official said.
The mercury in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 4.5 degree Celsius, down by almost four degrees as compared to the previous night’s minus 0.7 degree Celsius, he said.
The night temperature in south Kashmir’s Kokernag settled at a low of minus 4.0 degree Celsius, same as the previous night, he said, adding, the town recorded 11.1 mm of snow till 0830 hours in the morning.
Leh, in the frontier region of Ladakh, was the coldest recorded place in the state with a low of minus 15.6 degree Celsius compared to the previous night’s minus 17.2 degree Celsius.
Kargil, also in Ladakh, registered a minimum of minus 9.0 degree Celsius against minus 8.6 degree Celsius the previous night, the official said.
The MeT office has said rains or light snowfall could occur at isolated places over the state, but the weather would improve from tomorrow. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : Chaos prevailed at the first ‘janta darbar’ organised by the AAP Government outside the Delhi Secretariat today, forcing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to leave the venue mid-way as thousands gathered to register their grievances.
A huge crowd thronged the venue where the Chief Minister and his entire Cabinet sat to resolve the problems of the people.
Delhi Police and Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel had a tough time managing the crowd as barricades at some places were broken down by the people.
The swelling crowd at the meet forced Kejriwal to leave the meeting half way through.
“We had not even imagined that so many people will turn out today. It was becoming difficult to manage them…If I had not left the venue, there was a possibility of a stampede,” Kejriwal told reporters.
Police estimated that 50,000 people had gathered in front of the secretariat. The crowd mostly comprised contractual workers from various Government departments like DTC, power company BSES, different Government hospitals, municipal corporations, among others demanding permanent status.
Sunita Kapoor from Mandawali in east Delhi reached the secretariat at 6 AM for the meeting that was to start at 9:30 AM. She met Kejriwal and complained about unauthorised occupation of her flat.
“I have been assured by the Chief Minister that I will be helped in the matter,” she said.
The complainants, who me the Chief Minister or the Cabinet ministers, were issued a receipt about their complaints.
Officials of various Government departments as well as of DDA, municipal corporations and police were also present at the meeting.
The entire stretch of road that goes from ITO towards Rajghat was closed and barricades put up on the divider so that people can sit on one side of the road.
The Chief Minister had earlier announced that the entire cabinet will sit in front of the Delhi Secretariat on Saturdays to receive grievances from people and efforts will be made to solve them immediately. On weekdays, one minister will receive grievances from the public.
“Public grievance is another major issue. It is a major issue for any Government. It is the duty of every Government to resolve those grievances. Public grievance is just a symptom, the disease lies somewhere else,” said Kejriwal.
Grievances will be segregated into five categories depending upon their urgencies.
“The urgent cases related to school admission or admission to a hospital will be resolved on the spot. In the next category, ministers will mention the time frame to resolve the grievance.
“Those related to policy matters will require time. They will be forwarded to the respective ministers for their considerations, he had said.
The next category will be for taking suggestions from the public. A team will be formed to look into them and regularly put up best of the suggestions to the Chief Minister. Another is miscellaneous category and the last is for those which are not related to the Government, he had said.
Kejriwal had said that unlike previous Governments, he will not go by the compliance reports filed by the officials but will ensure that the complainant is absolutely satisfied. (AGENCIES)
Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Jan 10: Elite Sports Body of the State, Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council, initiated the development of huge infrastructure in the State and constructed major portion of the same in almost all the districts of the State in the year 2013.
While, the construction work is in progress on over a dozen projects, the same has been completed on half a dozen other projects.
Sources said, that the Sports Council has taken-up laying of synthetic turf for football at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) ground, Srinagar at the cost of Rs 450.00 lacs and the base for laying of the turf has been constructed and turf is expected to be laid shortly.
The renovation work of Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex, Srinagar at the cost of Rs 5.00 crore has been initiated by the Council to make it functional and update the same on modern lines. This complex was badly damaged due to the occupation of Security Forces for many years. Central heating system, electrification and change rooms will also be taken by the Council shortly, sources added.
When contacted by EXCELSIOR over this major initiative by the Government, Secretary State Sports, Dalip Thussu said that the development of sports infrastructure in the State was the need of the honour, with regard to providing sufficient facilities to the budding sportspersons to hone their skill and talent at the grass-root level. He further said that the State Government is keen to develop sports infrastructure in nooks and corners of the State.
The ongoing construction of New Indoor Complex at MA Stadium in Jammu at a cost of Rs 7.00 crores, under USIS Scheme of Government of India is one of the mega projects that State Sports Council has taken-up. The establishment of this infrastructure has overcome the long pending problem of holding indoor activities in a hall vacated by Agro Industries. Construction work for the same is still in progress. This Complex will enable the sportspersons of this region to polish their skill at standard infrastructure.
Roller skating being one of the medal winning sports disciplines in the State was lacking standard infrastructure. Athletes of Jammu have the proficiency in this sports discipline and possess all that is required to blossom at the higher levels. For that matter, a new Skating Rink constructed at a cost of Rs 26.00 lacs at MA Stadium will cater to the needs of the budding skaters of Jammu and help them in excelling at the highest level. Otherwise, the existing Rink at MA Stadium was not of standard specifications.
Sources said that the swimming pool at MA Stadium Jammu has remained non-functional for last 10 years due to defects as a result of which the activity has suffered a lot and to overcome this problem, the Council has initiated renovation of Swimming Pool at a cost of Rs 177.89 lacs and the construction work is under process.
“Apart from these projects, the State Sports Council has initiated the construction work of synthetic basketball court at Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Complex, Srinagar, pavilion at Sports Stadium, Tulibal in Sopore, Pavilion at kabaddi court Jammu, basketball court at MA Stadium Jammu, Indoor halls at Bana Singh Stadium, RS Pura, pavilion at KK Hakhu Astroturf Hockey Stadium Jammu, Sports Stadium at Anantnag, Indoor Stadium at Baramulla and Multi Sports Activity Centre Rajbagh in Srinagar at a cost of 25.50 lacs, 238.00 lacs, 40.00 lacs, 25.80 lacs, 1.00 crore, 130.62 lacs, 18.00 crores and11.50 crores respectively,” sources further added.
Meanwhile, Heads of many Sports Associations and young sportspersons of the State were ecstatic over the development of sufficient sports infrastructure in the State and hoped for better results of Jammu and Kashmir contingents at the national scene. Talking to EXCELSIOR, Heads of some prominent Sports Associations praised the State Government, Sports Ministry and the Council Head for their commitment in building sports infrastructure in the State.
Vadodara, Jan 10:
Jammu and Kashmir skipper Parvez Rasool continued his brilliant all-round performance with a five-wicket haul as their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match seemed heading for an exciting finish with Punjab leaving them with a target of 324 for a historic victory here.
At stumps, J&K were 77 for two needing another 247 runs with eight wickets in hand to make it to their maiden semi-final appearance in the national championship. Hardeep Singh (20) and Ian Dev Singh (17) were at the crease at close on an eventful third day’s play.
Although two days are still left in the match, an outcome is expected tomorrow with Jammu and Kashmir batsmen showing a lot of positive intent in the 20 overs they batted today.
After scoring a sparkling century to keep the first innings lead down to 24, Rasool grabbed five for 58 in 14.2 overs, polishing off Punjab’s middle and lower-order to bowl them out for 296. This was Rasool’s sixth five-wicket haul in 29th first-class match.
Mandeep Singh (101) and Gurkeerat Singh (66) had a 113-run partnership for the seventh wicket after Punjab were reduced to 112 for six with the dismissal of India discard Yuvraj Singh (40).
Rasool got into the act with his classical off-breaks as he first dismissed Yuvraj, who after hitting the offie for a six tried to repeat the the shot only to be caught by Samiullah Beigh at long on. Yuvraj hit six fours and a six in his 58-ball knock.
Mandeep and Gurkeerat scored runs at a quick clip as they added 113 runs at an average of over four runs per over.
Mandeep in his 151-ball knock hit 14 boundaries while Gurkeerat faced 77 deliveries to hit nine fours and a six.
Gurkeerat was finally dismissed when Rasool got one to turn enough as the batsman missed the line to be adjudged leg before.
Harbhajan Singh tried to play an ugly hoick across the line and was caught plumb in-front as Rasool had his revenge in the ‘battle of captains’ after being hit by his opposite number in the first innings.
At 225 for eight, Mandeep found an able ally in Manpreet Gony (31), who used the long handle to good effect spanking four boundaries and a six.
Mandeep-Gony duo added 52 runs for the ninth wicket before Gony was caught behind to give Rasool his fourth victim.
En route his seventh first-class centuries, the 22-year-old Mandeep hit some lovely pull-shots as he reached the century with last man VRV Singh for company.
He was finally bowled when he went for a slog shot and missed the line of the ball to give Rasool his fifth victim of the innings.
Starting the chase of 324, Adil Reshi smacked six boundaries in his knock of 34 as J&K batsman showed a lot of positive intent without being bogged down.
Reshi’s opening partner Bandeep Singh (4) was caught by substitute fielder Vinay Choudhary.
But that didn’t deter Rishi from going for his shots as he played the cuts and drives at will in company of Hardeep before VRV got an outside edge to keeper Gitansh Khera.
Ian Dev Singh, who hasn’t had a great season, started off well hitting Harbhajan over mid-wicket for a big six and also hit a boundary taking 12 runs off the only over he bowled on the day. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, Jan 10: India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan and joint efforts with the US were being made to nab him, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said today.
“As per our information, Dawood is in Pakistan. When I went to America last year to discuss inland security, I met the Attorney General who looks after the FBI.
“I talked to him and we decided that we will pass whatever information we have on Dawood amongst each other. We decided we will make joint efforts,” Shinde said when asked about the whereabouts of Dawood who is wanted in a number of cases by Indian agencies including the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
The minister was addressing his monthly press conference here.
The Home Minister, on the same question about Dawood last year, had said all such wanted elements will be brought back “one by one”.
“All will come. Just wait,” he had said.
Dawood, who heads a vast and multifaceted illegal business, has emerged as India’s most wanted terrorist after the 1993 Mumbai bombings, which he allegedly organised and financed.
An INTERPOL red corner notice is still pending against him.
According to the US, Dawood maintains close links with terror outfit Al-Qaeda. As a result, the US declared him a “global terrorist” and pursued the matter before the United Nations in an attempt to freeze his assets across the world and crack down on his operations.
During the tenure of Shinde as Home Minister, security agencies successfully brought back several wanted terrorists including Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, key plotter of Mumbai attack terrorists Fasih Mahmood aka Fasih Mohammed, Abdul Karim Tunda and Yasin Bhatkal.
Shinde became the Home Minister on July 31, 2012.
The NIA probe into the circumstances leading to the arrest of alleged Hizbul Mujahideen militant Liaqat Shah is still on, Shinde said.
Without elaborating further on the case, Shinde said any decision on the role of officials of Delhi Police or security agencies in the matter could only be taken once the probe was completed.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the circumstances leading to the arrest of Shah, who was nabbed while returning from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last year as per the surrender policy of Jammu and Kashmir Government.
Talking about the security situation in J&K, Shinde said that Indian forces had killed more infiltrators this winter as compared to the last.
“We have alerted local police and central paramilitary forces in this regard,” he said, adding that the infiltration this winter in the area had come down as compared to the last.
Replying to a separate question during the Minister’s monthly press conference here, Home Secretary Anil Goswami said that a “detailed investigation” was underway into the role of senior Delhi Police officers during the December 16, 2012, gangrape case in Delhi.
“We will soon be giving a report in this regard to the Home Minister,” Goswami said.
The Centre will ask all State Governments to set up review or screening committees to assess role of minority youths languishing in jails on terror charges without trial.
Shinde said he will again write to the Chief Ministers this time asking them to set up screening or advisory committees on the lines of Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) to review cases of minority youths languishing in jails.
“I am again writing to all Chief Ministers saying we will appoint a screening or advisory committee like in the case of POTA. These will be state-level committees,” he said in reply to questions after presenting his report of Ministry for December.
Shinde said that he had earlier asked all Chief Ministers to ensure that no innocent minority youth is wrongfully detained in the name of terror.
“I had written to all Chief Ministers to be careful while arresting youth of minority community. That I said in my earlier letter and it was not one community but all those who are concerned.
The Government will push its six anti-graft framework bills during the short Parliament session next month fulfilling the agenda set by Rahul Gandhi.
Shinde said the bills would be pushed when Parliament meets next month to pass vote on account.
“Rahuljee Gandhi”, as Shinde referred to the Congress Vice President, “has been working for passage of these bills and it was only to fulfil the promises made to the people rather than scoring any political points”.
He said the decision was taken at the Core Group meeting of the Congress party held earlier in the day.
The Bills likely to be pushed during the session are the Public Procurement Bill, the Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment) Bill, the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill, Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, The Right of Citizens for Time-bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill and the Whistleblowers Protection Bill.
To a question as to whom did Congress find as bigger challenge — Narendra Modi or Arvind Kejriwal, Shinde said “none” and elaborated further that Congress had weathered many storms during its 128-year-long history.
“We were ruled out of power in 2004 as we had just faced defeat in six states. However, we came to power and continue till date,” he said and also referred to the anti-Congress wave of 1977 which lasted only three years till Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980.
Asked whether the AICC session on January 17 was to announce Rahul as Prime Ministerial candidate, Shinde said the party is of the view that he is a natural choice for the post. “We have always been saying this that we need him and so does the country,” he said.
Shinde said a security cover is being provided to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal without his knowledge and despite his repeated rejection for it.
This was being done as it was the “duty” of the Government and the Home Ministry to take care of the security requirements and protection of VVIPs and others based on threat perception, he said.
“It is the duty of any State Government and the Centre to protect such VVIPs. When he (Kejriwal) was elected as the Chief Minister he was immediately provided with security. We are now giving him security cover without his knowledge,” the Home Minister told reporters here during his monthly press conference.
Shinde said the security agencies have thrice asked Kejriwal to take security and he has refused twice.
He said the task of ensuring security to Kejriwal is being carried out by the Delhi Police even as the Police Commissioner of Delhi has talked to the SP of Ghaziabad to take care of security requirements in his area as the CM lives there and also the office of Aam Admi Party is located in the neighbouring district.
“Recently there was an attack on AAP office in Ghaziabad…. We have asked the local police that if not directly they can post their men in the vicinity of these locations,” Shinde said.
The Home Minister agreed with the view that the common man has to face difficulty when traffic is held up for VIP movements but he said he has asked the police to make sure that regular movement is resumed as soon as possible.
To a question on the increase in the number of vehicles in the Home Minister’s security apparatus, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, who was present at the press conference, said it has been done on the basis of threat perception.
Goswami said new vehicles (Tata Safaris) were included based on security requirements and threat perception to the Home Minister. As the SUVs were not immediately available off-the-shelf, they were included in his cavalcade recently, he said.
Shinde said he has never taken security in his political career of 40 years and even during his stint as the Union Power Minister, he only had one personal security officer (PSO).
“I am a Home Minister who remians with the ‘janta’. But due to some action and activities in the Home Ministry, my security is like this,” he said, hinting at the execution of terrorists like Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab and arrest of some terror masterminds since he took over in July 2012.
Shinde said that based on the inputs received on security “risk” to Gujarat Chief Minister Narenda Modi and BJP leader L K Advani, they have been given appropriate security cover.
He also said the Home Ministry will examine the issue of security arrangement if the AAP-led Delhi Government decides to hold a Delhi Assembly session in Ramlila Maidan.
“I have not heard something like this before but we will see when it comes to us,” he said. (PTI)
