Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Jan 4: To improve the school education system and look forward the feedback on SAMPARK’s proposition as well as suggestions, the Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh Rigzin Spalbar, convened a consultation meeting with the principals of private schools of Leh district at Council Secretariat today.
Addressing the meeting the CEC informed that LAHDC was approached by SAMPARK Foundation, a Delhi based organization, proposing to help with a 5 year project aimed at transforming the way of teaching and learning taking place in Leh schools. The project envisages extensive capacity building of teachers in skills related to pedagogy as well as management and seeks to improve existing planning and review mechanism as well.
The CEC said that before signing the MoU, LAHDC intended to consult with the private schools and know their view points and suggestion to implement the programme collaboratively in Leh district for the larger interest of improving the education standard. He said that the inputs and partnership was important for a collaborative growth and the private schools were also expected to contribute to the fulfilment of certain social obligation and equitable development in education.
The principals of private schools put forth their view points and valuable suggestions and assured the CEC that they will provide every possible support in implementing this programme in Leh district.
Earlier, G.M Shiek Director TISS gave a brief introduction on SAMPARK’s proposed intervention and programmes.
CEC consults private schools to improve education system in Leh
PDP will provide justice to youth on basis of equality: Mehbooba
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 4: Stressing on the need of youth involvement in the governance system, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti today said it is the PDP’s vision to establish a system based on justice and equality for the young population.
Interacting with the students from various educational institutes of the Valley at her Gupkhar residence, Mehbooba assured them that PDP will take the fight against the present corrupt and inept system to its logical conclusion to build a just system which will guarantee justice and equality for all particularly the youth.
The PDP president said the BOPEE expose has further added to the woes of the youth, who had already faced the worst kind state suppression in the form of bullets, PSAs, FIRs, pellet guns, chilli grenades and harsh curfews during the last five years.
Mehbooba said the sanctity of the educational institutions has been totally destroyed over the last five years which has sent shock waves through the student community.
“With 400 retired persons like Mushtaq Peer being reemployed through backdoor channels with hefty salaries has further closed the opportunities for young people to find employment,” said Mehbooba.
She shared the concerns of the students for facing harassment from various agencies and facing corruption in education system and employment procedures.
Mehbooba assured them that youth will be the main focus of PDP’s future scheme of things and the party will involve them to get the State out of the present mess.
She said the youth of J&K have all potential and capability to rewrite a new future for themselves and for the State and the PDP will realise a system wherein they will use their creative potential to make their lives better.
JU NGEU threatens stir for regularization of leftover employees
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Non-Gazetted Employees Union of Jammu University today accused the JU authorities of backtracking from their promise of regularizing 64 Class-IV daily wagers and warned stir over the issue.
Talking to media persons, here today, the NGEU president Vijay Kumar said that Jammu University authorities have so far regularized only 50 employees instead of 64, as promised by the Vice-Chancellor. “The NGEU had suspended the indefinite strike and chain hunger strike after the Vice-Chancellor’s promise to regularize 64 employees in one go,” he said and alleged that JU authorities were now turning a deaf ear towards the repeated reminders given to them in this regard from time to time.
Mr Vijay asked the JU authorities not to adopt dilly-dallying tactics in regularizing the leftover 14 Class-IVth employees and warned to resume the strike.
“JU authorities will be responsible for any untoward incident and consequences arising thereof,” he said.
MPDA holds election
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Motor Parts Dealer Association (MPDA) held elections, under the chairmanship of S Balbir Singh Sethi at Transport Nagar, Narwal, here today.
A large gathering of general body members of association unanimously elected the office bearers for another 3 years.
Nishi Kant Khajuria was elected president of the Association, while Sanjay Dogra as general secretary.
After his election, the president assured the members of rendering service with enthusiasm to fulfill the demands of the Association with regard to development of Transport Nagar, Jammu.
Rajinder Kakkar was the election in-charge.
SC Youth Welfare Forum highlights demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: A meeting of the executive body of All Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Caste Youth Welfare Forum was held under the chairmanship of Charan Dass Naggalia for highlighting various demands and issues.
The meet demanded necessary changes in the recruitment policy for early filling up of the vacant posts, stipend to unemployed educated youth, pensions to widow and needy persons, regularization of daily wagers who have completed seven years of service, enhancement of the Dearness Allowance and regular power supply.
Those who attended the meeting, included Balak Ram Vinotra, Sham Lal Sadhotra, Bodh Raj Majhotra, Darbari Lal Majhotra, Madan Lal Thapa and Swarn Lal.
Luthra discusses demands of Bishnah
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: A meeting of women workers was held under the leadership of Bimla Luthra, MLA, wherein they discussed problems of village Majua in block Bishnah, today.
While addressing the gathering, Mrs Luthra exhorted women belonging to weaker sections to come forward and benefit from various schemes tailored for empowerment and economic emancipation.
On the demands of women workers, Mrs Luthra also discussed the problems like BPL, IAY, drinking water, electricity, tailoring centre, old aged pension, widow pension and also assured the people that all their genuine demands would be redressed.
Mir releases calendars of tourism, SKICC, RSGC
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 4: Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir today said that J&K Tourism is gaining momentum and popularity at national as well as international level and every step being taken for motivating tourists to visit the State is proving fruitful and significant.
The Minister was addressing an impressive function at Royal Spring Golf Course (RSGC) here today organized by Tourism Department.
The Minister released tourism calendar featuring future activities of Tourism Department besides calendar prepared by Royal Golf Spring and SKICC. He also launched the website of RSGC, www.royalspringsgolfcourse.in.
Director Tourism, Kashmir, Joint Director Information Kashmir, MD J&K Cable Car Corporation, Director SKICC, MD JKTDC, all CEOs of Tourist Development Authorities, Hoteliers and Tour and Travel Operators attended the function.
Mr. Mir said that Government has taken various initiatives for showcasing the beauty of Kashmir and its diversified culture. “The main objective of projecting the features of tourism activities is to multiply the employment avenues for unemployed youth of the State”, he added.
He said that Government is boosting sports and adventure tourism in length and breadth of the State involving enthusiastic youth from all walks of life.
The Minister hoped that year 2014 will be best in respect of tourism and asked people to play their role and put in efforts for the promotion of tourism industry of the State so that ample opportunities of employment for the people besides will boost their economical conditions.
AAP to contest LS polls
NEW DELHI, Jan 4:
Outlining its national ambitions, AAP today announced it will contest “maximum” number of seats in most States in upcoming Lok Sabha polls and the first list of its candidates will be out in the next 10-15 days.
However, amidst talk that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is its Prime Ministerial nominee, the party made it clear that the decision on it willbe taken after the results, senior leader Prashant Bhushan told reporters in between a two-day meeting of the National Executive of the party here.
Kejriwal and all the top leaders attended the meeting that will conclude tomorrow.
“AAP will contest Lok Sabha Elections in most States and in the maximum number of seats. We will try to declare the list of maximum candidates by mid-February or latest by the end of next month,” he said.
Asked whether Kejriwal will be declared the PM candidate, he said this issue was not to be decided today.
“Arvind Kejriwal is the supreme leader of the party but we have not decided on the name of our Prime Ministerial candidate. It does not hold importance to us who will be our PM candidate,” said Bhushan.
Another leader Sanjay Singh said “the first list of AAP candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be out in 10 to 15 days. The process which was followed during Delhi polls for selection of candidates will be followed in Lok Sabha also.”
He said the party will contest elections from States where it has a reasonable structure and where it will find honest candidates.
“During the next one month, the party will hold meetings in every State to finalise the name of Lok Sabha candidates. Candidates facing criminal and corruption charges and questions on their moral character will not be given tickets,” Singh added.
Singh said that like Delhi Assembly elections, the party will have separate manifestos for each constituency for Lok Sabha elections.
Responding to a query on whether AAP will cut into BJP’s urban votes and damage Narendra Modi’s Prime Ministerial aspirations, Singh said the party has emerged as an alternative to Congress and BJP and it is not contesting election to “benefit” or “hurt” any party.
“Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi are not poll issues for us, we are here to eradicate the problems of the people,” Singh added.
“People in rural areas are as excited about AAP as those in urban areas. There are places were people in villages are even more excited,” Bhushan said.
Bhushan added that people now want an alternative to Congress and BJP and AAP is a people’s movement, not just a political party.
“AAP believes that the Government should run as per the wishes of the people,” he added.
Singh, who is part of two-member sub-committee for Lok Sabha election of the party, said there’s excitement in States about the party’s prospects and a large number of people want to join AAP.
The party has already invited applications for the candidates wanting to contest Lok Sabha elections.
Apart from Delhi, key party functionaries from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are present for the national executive meeting.
Other than Kejriwal, his ministerial colleague Manish Sisodia, senior party members like Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Sanjay Singh, Anjali Damania and Mayank Gandhi were also present at the meet. (PTI)
Bhalla inspects upcoming maternity hospital at Gandhi Nagar
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla, who is also the Chairman of Rogi Kalayan Samiti (RKY) Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar, today said that the Gandhi Nagar hospital is being equipped with advance medicare facilities to tackle the increasing rush of patients aimed to reduce pressure on Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) and Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital (SMGSH) of Jammu city.
This was stated by the Minister while chairing a meeting of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) of Gandhi Nagar Hospital here this morning.
Medical Superintendent Dr. Romesh Gupta, Superintending Engineer, Roads and Buildings S P Manhas, Deputy Director Information (PR) Jyoti Rani Salathia besides other members of RKY were present in the meeting.
The Minister said that efforts are on to upgrade the facilities available in Govt Hospital Gandhi Nagar to match with GMCH and SMGS hospitals for benefit of the patients visiting the hospital.
He said Government has released Rs. 80 lakh for installation of digital X-ray machine and asked authorities to take necessary action in making the machine operational as early as possible.
Taking review of the ongoing developmental works in the hospital, the Minister asked the management of the hospital for face lifting of old hospital building besides repairing lights installed in the hospital, adding that Government has released Rs. 10 lakh for the purpose
Mr. Bhalla asked the concerned to prepare estimate for installing the air-conditioners in Gynaecology ward and newly constructed Dialysis wards so that the patient could not face inconvenience during summer. He asked the PDD to upgrade the existing installed transformers to ensure improved power supply to the hospital. He was told that a detailed project report of Rs. 1.09 crore has been prepared for ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the hospital.
Earlier, Mr. Bhalla inspected the ongoing works of 200-beded maternity hospital coming up at a cost of Rs. 70 crore. He asked executing agency to speed up work and ensure that hospital is ready on scheduled time. He was told that every effort is being made to dedicate hospital to the people by December 2014.
ADGP Armed visits STC Talwara
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Additional Director General of Police, Armed, J&K S.M. Sahai, today visited STC Talwara to review basic training of recruit constables, to inspect infrastructure development projects and to redress problems, if any being faced by Police personnel.
He was accompanied by P.R. Manhas, IGP Armed/IRP Jammu and K.L. Bhagat, DIG Armed North Range, Jammu reviewed progress of training of recruit constables who are presently undergoing Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at STC Talwara, Mohd Shabir, Principal STC Talwara briefed the ADGP Armed about training schedule of the trainees, other developmental projects which are under construction and also discussed various problems being faced by staff/trainees. ADGP Armed personally visited Parade Ground and Law Classes of the trainees to access the level of training being imparted to the trainees.
ADGP Armed also held Durbar of Police personnel and trainees and gave patient hearing to the trainees. Principal STC Talwara during his welcomed address thanked the ADGP Armed for his visit to STC Talwara. During Durbar, ADGP Armed, addressed the Police personnel and trainees and emphasized the need for innovative methods of imparting training and people friendly approach. A detailed briefing was given to the trainees about basic role of Police, human rights and to develop professional competence. The trainees were briefed that they have to perform multifarious duties like detection and prevention of crime and maintenance of law and order in their future career.