Sir,
We tend to forget our heroes of yesteryears who might have contributed a lot to bring honour and prestige to this country. It is further deplorable that the Government too, including the NGOs mushroomed over the years too do not care for such people. A glaring example is of Gyan Chand a resident of Pishwalian Mandi in Samba District having remained twice a National champion , a good performer in Asian games and Olympic events, is down with paralysis and reduced to a penury.
Neither the State nor the Central Government have cared to take care for this ex- hero from our State and of our country. An arch marksman, Gian Chand has trained scores in the art of shooting in his life time and has earned medals for this country. He deserves and all like him, honour from the State and the Centre plus all monetary assistance that he may be in need of. We are respecting our great country if we respect those who brought laurels for this country.
Yours etc…..
Sunil Sharma
Gangyal
Heroes of yester years
Rangyatri’s maiden performance opens with Ibsen’s ‘Ghosts’
Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Dec 29: Performance of the Urdu translation of Henrik Ibsen’s well known play ‘Ghosts’, marked the maiden production recently formed theatre group of winter capital, Rangyatri, here at the K L Saigal Hall, here today.
Translated by Mohammad Kazim and directed by Mushtaq Kak, the play revolves around one Helen Alving who is about to dedicate an orphanage she has built in the memory of her dead husband, Captain Alving. She reveals to her spiritual advisor, Pastor Manders, that she has hidden the evils of her marriage, and has built the orphanage to deplete her husband’s wealth so that their son, Oswald, might not inherit anything from him. Pastor Manders had previously advised her to return to her husband despite his philandering, and she followed his advice in the belief that her love for her husband would eventually reform him. However, her husband’s philandering continued until his death, and Mrs. Alving was unable to leave him prior to his death for fear of being shunned by the community. During the action of the play she discovers that her painter son Oswald (whom she had sent away so that he would not be corrupted by his father) is suffering from inherited syphilis, and (worse) has fallen in love with Regina Engstrand, Mrs. Alving’s maid, who is revealed to be an illegitimate daughter of Captain Alving, and thereby Oswald’s own half-sister. The play concludes with Mrs. Alving having to decide whether or not to euthanize her son Oswald in accordance with his wishes. Her choice is left unknown.
By performing Ghosts as its first production, Rangyatri has tried to make a statement about its commitment to innovation and experiment. This was also obvious from the design of the set, which unlike conventional frontal approach, was designed as a room with four transparent walls around which the spectators were made to sit and watch the inside dramatic action.
Today’s performance sponsored by Ministry of Human Resource, New Delhi, due to the limitation of small space of K L Saigal Hall, provided an intimate actor/audience relationship where in the subtle nuances actor’s voice modulation and body movements were closely observed and enjoyed.
Delight Sarah William in the role of widow, Mrs. Alvin, was impressive for diction, especially the delivery of Urdu-English mix of dialogues. Aparna Kapoor as Ragina Engstrand, Mridual Raj Anand as Osvald Alving, Sandeep Verma as Pastor Manders and Sunil Sharma as Jacob Engstrand gave good performance. An overall good performance which had all the novelty in set design and props, the only jarring note was the flatness of dialogues which at time gave a feel of monotony thus letting down the good work of director, to some extent.
Ghost of jasoos
Sir,
It sounds really interesting that Pakistan sees everywhere an Indian spy in their country, even in the highest educational institutions.
It is extremely sad to see how a student of our State, a resident of District Budgam, Kashmir, Ishrat Naveed was ill treated and very badly harassed by his university teacher in Qaid-e-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan. A student of PhD, Naveed was termed as a RAW agent by the teacher under whose guidance he is doing research under the SAARC agreement. No action was taken by the University authorities in Pakistan against the accused Professor even when Naveed lodged a protest in writing . See the difference , here in India how we treat students from that country. Recently the University of Kashmir conferred the degrees of Doctorate of Philosophy on two students from Pakistan who really experienced a total difference in this country as compared to their, in terms of treatment, behaviour, love, assistance and above all non suspicious and co-operative attitude of all and sundry. Naveed was not allowed to even mourn the death of his younger sister. The appreciable amount of money given to him for research work amounting to nearly Rs. 95 lacs was attempted to be taken away from Naveed by Pakistan authorities. It should open the vision of those who criticize India and preach separatism.
Yours etc…
Mohd Amin Malik, Srinagar
Two killed, one injured in road accidents
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: Two persons were killed, while another was injured in road accidents at different locations of the winter capital. As per reports, a motorcyclist was knocked to death by a speedy truck near Panama Chowk, falling under the jurisdiction of Trikuta Nagar police station. As per reports, 22-year-old Anil Gupta, son of Chajju Ram of Sanjay Nagar was seriously injured, when the motorcycle (JKO2AT-2011) he was riding was hit by a truck bearing registration number JKO2AJ-9808 near Panama Chowk. He was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where doctors pronounced him as brought dead. The body has been handed over to family members for last rites after completing legal formalities. The accused driver identified as Mushtaq Ahmad, son of Alam Din, resident of Dhansal has been arrested. A case under FIR number 262/13 has been registered at Trikuta Nagar police station and investigation started. In another incident, one person was killed, while pillion rider was injured, when the motorcycle, they were riding on was hit by a Bolero vehicle near Purkhoo, falling under the jurisdiction of Kanachack police station. As per reports, Mangal Singh of Kanachak and Gara Singh of Dhyaran were riding on a motorcycle, when a Bolero vehicle bearing registration number JKO2BC-5591 hit their motorcycle near Purkhoo. The duo was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where Mangal Singh failed to respond to the treatment and succumbed to his injuries. The condition of the injured Gara Singh was stated to be out of danger, when last reports came in. A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Kanachack police station and investigation started.
Neglected agriculture
Sir,
It is without any doubt that our agricultural sector is not getting its due attention from the State Government. It may be because of many factors including easy availability of food grains from our neighbouring states. One of the biggest problems faced by this most important sector of our State economy is that there are no proper, well defined and ever building relations and co-operation between the farming community and the Government. It seems now the same is being addressed in a small way. It is perhaps for the first time that the Government has created Kissan Advisory Board to work as a bridge between the Government and the farmers of the State. The farmers through this platform can raise the difficulties faced by them from time to time so that they could be resolved. Not only putting up their problems, KAB can open channels of interaction, discussions, suggestions and even constructive criticism regarding various policies of the State Government. The need is to provide facilities at the doorsteps of the farmers by the Government agencies in all respects. The need is to further strengthen institutions like KABs and similar platforms to ensure that the farmers can put forth their problems in an effective way. We must underline the importance of the highest order our agricultural sector is having for the growth of the State economy.
Yours etc…
Nek Chand
Reasi
Housing dreams of poor
Dr Ashwani Mahajan
According to Census 2011, population of Mumbai Island City declined by 5.75 percent between 2001 and 2011. Though population of Delhi did increase by 21 percent during this period, it has actually decelerated significantly from 47 percent decadal growth between 1991 and 2001, and rate of growth has declined to less than half now. Population of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area, declined by 25 percent, during this period.
Deceleration in the rate of growth of population of Delhi and Mumbai is raising questions about future of population growth of metro cities. Urbanisation is a natural phenomenon of economic growth. Though economic development and urbanisation cannot be considered synonymous, it does play an important role in improving living standards and thus human development.
Urbanisation may bring improvement in the lives of the people, provided there is sufficient provision of food, shelter, clothing, education, health, transportation etc. Today Governments are washing their hands off from their basic responsibility of providing these services. Education, health transport etc. are becoming costlier, as in absence of Government; private sector is entering into these sectors for profit. Housing is the biggest problem today. Earlier slums, even which are no less than hell but which used to be the hope for housing poor people are not much available as option. Non-affordability of housing rentals and non availability of building jhuggis as option, are behind slowing down of population growth in big metro cities. Metros like Delhi, Mumbai, etc. are no longer habituating poor people.
After partition of India, those who migrated to Delhi could easily purchase a house with merely five hundred rupees. Despite their limited resources, they used to manage the amount by selling their family gold and silver. Today this is not possible. To purchase a small flat one needs equivalent of 2 to 3 Kilograms of gold, which is beyond the imagination of an ordinary household. Today no ordinary person with a package of even 10 lakh annually, can think of owning a house (flat or plot). Even unauthorised colonies carry a price tag of rupees one lakh a yard. In authorised colonies, prices vary between two to five lakh per yard. Flats carry a price tag of fifty lakh to 2-3 crores. Barring a few rich people, house is beyond the reach of commoners. Situation is no different in cyber centers like Bengaluru and Hyderabad; and other metros.
Even in small cities, it is becoming more and more difficult to own a house for commoners, as property prices are multiplying there too. A cursory look at all 53 big cities with population of 10 lakhs and more, as per Census 2011, we find that in the last 5 years or so property prices have gone manifold; killing the dream of mango man to own a shelter of his own.
Scenario Changed in Last Two Decades
Though building a house in Delhi and Mumbai, has never been an easy task, however there has been a sea change in the last two decades. It is notable that price of plot in authorised colonies of Delhi was between three to four thousand rupees per yard. Whereas today, despite so called ‘recession’ in the last 3-4 years, land prices are keeping around 4 to 8 lakhs per square yard. That is, more than 130 times increase in the last two decades. Flats prices have also undergone a big increase, though less than proportionate to land prices. Owing a house in Delhi is no longer a possibility for an ordinary person. The reason for such a trend is growth of black money generated through unassuming scams. It is no secret today that black money is generally invested in property or gold. In property deals 50 to 80 percent of the deal money is in ‘cash’ (black) and rest 20 to 50 percent in cheque (white). ‘Loot money’ from commonwealth scam, 2G scam, coal scam and host of other scams has diverted to property in Delhi, Mumbai and even in small towns; leading to an unprecedented increase in property prices in the last few years. In the meanwhile, many foreign investors have also started investing in property in India, which has fuelled fire to this trend.
Learning from Other Countries
It is notable that in US, whose per capita income is 35 times that of India, a 1000 square feet flat is available for US$ 5 lakh, that in rupees 3 crore only. In national capital of India, same 1000 square feet flat is available between rupees sixty lakh to one crore (that is 1 lakh to 1.8 lakh US$) or even more, which is highly disproportionate, when compared with per capita income.
Developed countries have judicious land price policies to keep housing within the reach of commoners. For instance Singapore, which has attained the status of a developed country recently, has a wonderful land price policy. Despite being a capitalist country, Singapore government does not allow capitalists to play with land prices. Nearly 90 percent of the housing needs are fulfilled by the government, which opens registration for new houses from time to time. Government sells houses of reasonable sizes at government determined prices, which range between 2.5 lakh Singapore dollars to 5 lakh Singapore dollars. Given exchange rate of rupees fifty per Singaporean dollar, it mean people get houses at a price ranging between 1.2 crore rupee to 2.4 crore rupees, whereas income of an average Singapore citizen is 24 times that of an Indian.
Imperative to Adopt Pro-People and Policy
Under the circumstances, Government has to adopt pro-people policies in housing. Firstly we need to discourage use of black money transactions in property deals. We can fix circle rates (land price, at which property registration are made), in tandem with the market rate. This would necessitate people to show their full property transactions legally. Some may argue that this step may increase the prices of properties due to higher registration cost. But in fact by discouraging involvement of black money, this would help property prices to decline in the long run. Moreover, this problem can easily be overcome by reducing the registration fee proportionately. Thus Government revenue will remain intact and black money will be avoided in property transactions.
Secondly, Government should itself distribute land at reasonable prices, after acquiring the same. Banks may finance such purchases of land by common people. Dream of poor for shelter cannot be realised unless Government actively engage itself in this task, with proactive pro poor land policy. We cannot leave this task to the private sector.
(The author is Associate Professor, Dept. of Economics, PGDAV College (University of Delhi)
BJYM protests against Congress over re-induction of Kichloo
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: BJYM activists of district Jammu under the leadership of district president Ishant Gupta today protested outside the Press Club here against Congress over the re-induction of Kichloo in Council of Ministers. Ajay Pargal – State general secretary BJYM & Incharge Gandhi Nagar Assembly was also present in the protest demonstration.
Activists of BJYM burnt the effigy of the Congress Party and the portraits of Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad. They strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi,Omar Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Justice (retd) R C Gandhi. The activists were carting postcards against all of them.
Speaking on the occasion, Ishant Gupta said that on the one side the family of innocent boy Arvind Raj Bhagat who was killed and all the innocent people who lost their shops and houses in Kishtwar violence are demanding justice which the State Government has failed to provide, and on the other side re-induction of Kichloo in whose presence the Kishtwar riots took place is like rubbing salt on the wounds of victims of Kishtwar riots. It appears that the so called enquiry was stage managed in which both Congress and NC are equally responsible and all this has happened with the consent of Rahul Gandhi, Omar Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad, he added.
He said that people of J&K reject this interim report which has been given under political pressure as the evidence against Kichloo has not been considered and demanded immediate resignation of Kichloo.
4 injured as Taxi slips into gorge
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Dec 29: Four passengers were injured when a taxi rolled down into a deep gorge on the National Highway near Thurld, around 5 kms from the Udhampur town.
According to reports, an Innova Taxi, bearing number JK01AM/1712 and on way from Srinagar to Jammu, slipped into deep gorge when its driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve.
The injured passengers were evacuated by the jawans of 137 BRTF, who were on patrolling in the area. They were shifted to District Hospital Udhampur for treatment and their condition was stated to be stable.
They were identified as Mushtaq Ahmed son of Jalal Din, Gulam Nabi son of Mohd Sadiq, Habib Ulla son of Mohd Lone and Ribba daughter of Habib Ulla.
Sant Nirankari Mandal organizes Bal Samagam
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: Sant Nirankari Mandal, Branch Jammu, organized its Bal Samagam at Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan here today at Shastri Nagar.
The Samagam was inaugurated and presided by Saint Rakesh Sethi Ji, who while addressing the gathering of around 2200 Saints, said that Sant Nirankari Mission is unique, unparalleled and matchless as it does not discriminate between people belonging to different religions and it takes whole humanity as one world family of God.
He said that children’s are the future of Country and their future depends upon the company they get. In Bal sangats their social as well as spiritual life gets brighter. This is all due to grace of True master, who is nurturing them with brotherhood, love, humility and humanity.
The Sant Nirankari Mission endeavors to establish a world-society of the spiritually enlightened, where there is no place for duality, hatred, jealousy, lust, anguish, greed, attachment and ego, discord and division, war and violence and oppression of the weak by the mighty, he added.
Various cultural activities with a message of human values were presented by the Bal Saints on the occasion. A spiritually Quiz and Antakshri competition was also held.
Ajit Singh, Zonal Incharge, J&K Sant Nirankari Mandal, presented the vote of thanks.
PDP Minority Wing flays Govt for denying RBA to migrants
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: PDP Minority Wing held a meeting at Muthi today under the chairmanship of senior Party leader A K Sidha in which various issues of Kashmiri migrants were discussed.
Highlighting the problems of migrants especially living in the camps, the meeting said they face non availability of ration, water, power cuts etc. The meeting accused the Government of denying the RBA status to migrants which is a grave issue and tantamount to negation of citizenship rights of Kashmir to these people.
It criticized the Government for the slow pace of PM’s employment package and said thousands of displaced youth are waiting for years together but no appropriate steps are being taken to implement the package in letter and spirit.
The meting demanded that M Forms should be deleted for the migrants as it has made the voting procedure for them cumbersome.
K B Kaw demanded constitution of Core Committee for migrants which will coordinate with Party High Command. M K Bhat (retd) DyS P cautioned the people against those who divide them on the basis of religion.
The meeting among others was addressed by Nana Ji Watal, S K Raina, Durga Nath Bhat, A K Dhar etc.