Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Week long “Waste to Wealth Workshop” for the under privileged organised by Ammucare Charitable Trust at New Modern Educational Society, Sainik Colony concluded today.
On the valedictory function, the chief guest was Gulzar Ahmed Qureshi, Director Industries, whereas the guest of honours were Amjad Parvez Mirza, SSP Security, MS Bhatti, Director Social Welfare, Pawan Parihar and Tarun Bahl, Chairman New Modern Educational Society and Chairperson of the Ammucare Charitable Trust PK Mohan. Sham Lal Bhagat, MLC was the special invitee.
The event started with the inauguration of the exhibition of the products made during the workshop by the dignitaries.
MS Bhatti spoke about the amount of paper wasted in the country and the damage caused by the same on the ecology.
Amjad Parvez Mirza encouraged the effort being taken by Ammucare towards better use of waste paper.
Pawan Parihar spoke about the amount of wastage happening around the world and how this kind of workshop can help the mother earth.
Gulzar Ahmed Qureshi said that such skill training workshops should be organized all across the country. The skills through which the underprivileged can earn and uplift themselves should be encouraged.
PK Mohan spoke about the aims and objectives of Ammucare.
Dignitaries were presented with mementoes and a basket woven by the participants.
Later, the participants were given the certificates for successfully completing the paper weaving workshop.
The sponsors were Punjab National Bank, Kingsway Tent and Light House, Krishna Caterers, M/s Madan Lal Rajesh Kumar, AG Enterprises, Madhuban-Stavic Restaurants, Abhishek Gupta.
Anjali Kamat and her three participants—Shobha Rani, Asha Kumari and Ravi shared their experiences about the workshop.
Earlier, Sumit Partap Gupta presented the welcome address, whereas in the end, Sakshi Gupta, President Ammucare Charitable Trust presented vote of thanks.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Patron of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the incompetence of political leadership and mis-governance is responsible of prevailing financial crunch in the State.
He said that inefficiency of the present leadership has thrown the State into unprecedented financial crisis and gravity of the prevailing mess can be gauged from the fact that the State Government has failed to even arrange matching grants for various Centrally sponsored welfare schemes.
Addressing a meeting of the SC-OBC wing of the party here today, Mufti pointed towards Centrally sponsored welfarist schemes are defunct in the State because the State Government has failed to provide matching grants for these schemes. “Instead of arranging matching grants to make such welfare schemes functional, the State Government is more concerned about disbursing funds to its blue-eyed boys in irrational manner “, he said.
He said that prevailing financial bankruptcy in the State is depriving weaker sections of the society of the benefits of various schemes especially formulated for their upliftment. “Others States are taking benefits of the revolutionary Centrally sponsored schemes meant for the socio-economic growth of the weaker and marginalized sections of the society but in J&K these schemes are defunct because State Government has failed to arrange even matching grants”, he said and regretted that ruling elites of the state are more concerned about their own luxuries instead of addressing problems of the deserving lot of the society.
Mufti said that unemployed educated youth are the worst victim of the prevailing financial bankruptcy in the State because Government does not have funds to create job avenues for the unemployed youth.
“It is result of the prevailing financial anarchy in J&K that State Government has even failed to secure normal plan funds from the Centre”, he said and  pointed out that during the previous financial year also the centre had forfeited Rs 1300 crores out of plan allocations for State Government’s inability to spend funds in time and properly.
Pointing towards financial position in the State, he regretted that Government does not have funds to release pensions for widows, aged old and handicapped. “Where the money approved in the Assembly during last Budget Session for these pension schemes has been gone?”, he asked and maintained these amount for these welfare schemes has been diverted to provide luxuries to the ruling elites.
He further said that bills worth hundreds of crores had remained unpaid for months together due to financial crunch.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Minister for Planning, Labour and Employment, Ajay Sadhotra has instructed the authorities of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to take necessary measures and address the sewerage problem of the people of Gole Gujral area in a time bound manner.
The Minister, along with senior officers of ERA, R&B and Irrigation Departments, today, visited Gole Gujral and took stock of the problems of the people, especially those living in Mohalla Singh Sabha.
The Minister went round the interior lanes of the affected area and discussed the issue in detail with the officers to find out a permanent solution of this problem.
The Minister was told that water blocking in the drains is directly entering into bases and lawns of the residential houses caused severe damage to public property. He was told that the lanes are submerging whenever it rains causing inconvenience to the common people particularly old aged persons and children.
Ajay Sadhotra directed authorities concerned to start work immediately and ensure that the problem of the people is resolved before water is released in the irrigation canal flowing from the area. He called upon the officers to sit together and formulate a comprehensive project so that this issue is addressed once for all.
Later people, while talking to the Minister, demanded construction of community hall and public park on the land available in the area besides erecting of new electrical poles to improve the power supply.

Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, Jan 25: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma today laid foundation stone of Lift Irrigation Scheme (Check Dam), and a Panchayat Ghar in Chowki Chowra area.
The proposed Lift Irrigation Scheme will be developed over Kharara Nallah at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.50 crore.
Similarly, the new type Panchayat Ghar has been constructed at village Salyote at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh under MGNREGA and 13th Finance Commission. The building comprises one large conference hall, five medium rooms and toilet.
Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sushil Aima, Chief Engineer, PHE, K.K. Gupta, Superintending Engineer (Hydraulic), Jammu, Rajiv Malhotra, ACD, Rural Development, K.K. Sidha, Executive Engineers of PHE, Irrigation, Flood Control, Ground Water and sectoral officers of various departments also accompanied the Minister.
Addressing large gatherings of people at Chowki Chowra, Rah and Salyote, the Minister said that agriculture sector is priority area of the Government and efforts are afoot to create irrigational facilities in the potential areas, especially in the hilly and dry belt. He said Government has formulated a comprehensive programme to tap the irrigational potential by developing check dams and lift irrigation schemes, adding that these measures will help in improving the socio-economic profile of the people living in the kandi belt.
Maintaining that Central Government with the special initiatives by the UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi have helped in providing adequate funding for undertaking major development projects in the State during the past over five years.
He said Government’s main thrust was to upgrade the essential sectors including, road connectivity, drinking water, education, health, electricity and other social services, which are key to the development and prosperity of people.
Responding to the demands of locals, the Minister said that Government was seriously considering the genuine demands of all areas with regard to setting up of new administrative units. He said all such demands will be examined on the basis of set criteria by the Government and all deserving areas will get their due share. The initiative will open new chapter of fast track development in the rural areas which are spread over vast geographical topography and large population.
The deputations of several hilly villages, Sarpanchs/Panchs called on the Minister during his tour to this hilly belt and put forth their demands. The demands mostly pertained to upgradation of basic services. The Minister assured them to address these issues on priority. He issued instructions to the officers to attend the problems of locals on priority.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: J&K PWD Casual Labourers Union held a protest demonstration in front of Lok Nirman Bhawan, Pamana Chowk, demanding regularization policy for the workers engaged after 1994, here today.
Raising slogans in support of their demands, the protestors urged the Government to frame regularization policy for all causal workers, who are working in the department for the past over a decade.
They also demanded release of wages under proper wages head and release of all pending wages of various divisions of Jammu province especially Samba and Akhnoor divisions.
Due to retirement of the permanent employees all the important assignment are being run by the casual labour of the department, they said, adding that in this situation these casual labours deserve favorable regularization policy.
Addressing the gathering, Mohammad Gafoor Dar, president, J&K National Trade Union Front warned the authorities that further delay in fulfilling the demands will compel the workers to launch agitation.
Among others present were Rajinder Kumar, Molvi Naazir Ahmad, Ajay Kumar, Satish Kumar, Sanjeev Suri, Ravi Manhas etc.
Gafoor Dar has appealed to all casual labours of PWD, PHE, Irrigation, Forest and other allied departments to partipate in large number on Febuary 12, 2014 to march to Assembly programme.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: All Jammu Province Passengers Transport Welfare Association has decided to go on indefinite strike from January 28 and held that no passenger vehicle will ply on road from Lakhanpur to Srinagar.
The decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the Association held here under the chairmanship of Bharat Bhushan Gupta, vice chairman of the association. Representatives of all modes of transport including buses, mini buses, taxis and autorickshaws, participated in the meeting.
The speakers in the meeting expressed the view that Transport Minister had convened an emergent meeting with the association on December 31, 2013 in which he had assured revision in passenger fare and that the same would be announced after the cabinet meeting, but nothing has transpired after that thereby forcing the passenger transport association to again resort to path of agitation.
The speakers said while the prices of diesel is increasing twice a month and the price has been increased by Rs 8.50 per litre during the past one year and things have been made more complicated with the hike in third party insurance of the vehicles as a result of which transport operators were finding it hard to ply their vehicles on roads.
The association members said they approached the Government a number of times and also proposed a hike of 40% in passenger fare to the authorities concerned so that passenger transport services could be plied smoothly but since nothing has come out till date, they were constrained to issue a call for indefinite strike with effect from January 28, 2014.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: While doubting the intensions of Pakistan, Panun Kashmir (PK) today asked the Government to rethink and recast its Pakistan policy as well as its policy on Jammu and Kashmir before it is too late.
The Government should review its dialogue policy with Pakistan in view of the seizure of huge quantities of narcotics from a truck commissioned to carry trade items from PoK to India across the Line of Control (LoC) recently, said PK chairman, Dr Ajay Chrungoo while talking to reporters along with O N Trisal a senior KP leader, Kuldeep Raina, general secretary PK and others.
He said the seizure of narcotics has raised serious questions about the entire character of cross LoC trade flaunted as one of the successful components of the peace engagement with Pakistan.
The detention of scores of Indian drivers by the Pakistani Government as a response to the arrest of the Pakistani driver, in whose truck brown sugar worth crores was recovered is in fact a very eloquent repudiation of the peace process which India claims it is pursuing with Pakistan, he added.
He said Pakistani Government has so many times in the recent past repudiated and rejected the peace process with India. For the purpose it has used its Parliament, various international foras as well as acts of terrorism inside the State and aggression along the LoC.
Dr Chrungoo said Indian soft approach towards Pakistan is not seen as its commitment to peace but as its weakness to stand up to challenges which endanger peace. PK has no hesitation in saying that policies of GoI on Pakistan and J&K have been counterproductive, he added.
He said PK rejects the claims of GoI that its handling of Pakistan or the affairs of J&K has contributed to peace and national interests as the entire process has jeopardized both peace and the national interests.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: In recognition to their meritorious service for the development of Civil Defence Organisation, Divisional Warden Civil Defence town Jammu, Shashi Kohli and 7 others got Govt of India Ministry of Home Affairs-Director General of Civil Defence’s (GDCD’s) Commendation Certificate and Disc.
Others included Dr Mehmmad Farooq Naqshbandi, Deputy Chief Warden, Civil Defence Baramulla; Swantantra Dev Kotwal, Dy Chief Warden Civil Defence Udhampur; Bihari Lal Mangotra, Sec. Warden Civil Defence Udhampur; Kewal Krishan, Sec. Warden Civil Defence Udhampur; Shabir Ahmad Dar, Deputy Divisional Warden Civil Defence Baramulla and R Vijay Magotra, Deputy Divisional Warden.
They have played an important role during eventualities while helping the general masses through Civil Defence Organisation by importing awareness with regard to Blackout exercises, provisioning of Food and shelters, besides First Aid and Rescue and other Civil Defence demonstrations.
Mr Kohli has remained affiliated with Civil Defence Organisation since 1993 and by his sheer-dint of hard-work and extraordinary dedication he was elevated to the post of Deputy Divisional Warden in 1996.
Mr Kohli has helped the Civil Defence Organisation in organizing a number of medical camps, plantation drives and blood donation camps during the tenure of his service.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: To commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India and to enhance the participation of the voters, especially the youth, in the democratic electoral process, the ‘4th National Voters’ Day’ (NVD) was celebrated at a function organized by Chief Electoral Office J&K at Police auditorium here today.
Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey was the chief guest on the occasion. Chief Electoral Officer J&K Umang Narula, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Ajit Kumar Sahu and officers from State administration and Election Department besides various political party representatives, senior citizens and large number of young boys and girls participated in the event.
“Setting up of the Election Commission of India on January 25, 1950 was indeed a landmark chapter in the history of free India, a step which facilitated peaceful, orderly and democratic transfer of power through delivery of free, fair and credible elections to the people”, Chief Secretary said.
“The addition of over 3.5 lakh new voters who turned 18 during last year, to the list of registered voters reflects the success of ‘Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation’ SVEEP campaign” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir today has over 69 lakh total registered voters, who will be exercising their franchise, their right to vote in the upcoming elections to choose a Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Electoral officer, Jammu and Kashmir Umang Narula informed that as many as 3.5 lakh new voters have been enrolled to the voters list and now the state has over 69 lakh registered voters, following the recently concluded roll Revision exercise. He said that out of these 92 per cent of our voters have given their photographs and we will be providing new EPICs to all which will become standard card for a voter. He said that people can also visit our website www.ceojk.nic.in, with facility for online registration, online electoral Rolls, e-filling of claims for getting name added, to electoral rolls, deleted from electoral rolls and modifying the particulars of an elector.
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ajit Kumar Sahu on the occasion informed that in the coming days awareness programme “wake up Jammu” will be launched to encourage all young eligible boys and girls to get enrolled and participate in the election process.
On the occasion, young artists of Natrang presented very creative and skits highlighting the importance and power of each vote in democracy and how right use of vote can lead towards ensuring that best leaders are put in position of power and responsibility. The skits titled ‘Loktantr ka Mantr’ were written and Directed by eminent theatre Director Balwant Thakur.