Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Mar 7: In view of fast approaching agriculture season in Leh district and to systematize all the projects and schemes of Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, the Executive Councilor for Agriculture Sonam Dorjey convened a meeting of councilors at Council Secretariat, here today.
Addressing the meeting, the EC Sonam Dorjey put forth some important agendas before the meeting for open discussion which included early completion of cold storages at Leh, Nubra and Khaltsi, mechanism for distributing certified potato seeds to all nine blocks of Leh district and formulation of progressive farmers’ lists constituency wise.
The EC informed the meeting that the consultant engaged for setting up of a cold storage at Leh has already done all necessary works and tender for the same is likely to be flouted soon and by the end of this summer season the cold storage at Leh will be completed. He urged all the councilors of Nubra and Khaltsi divisions to identify land in their areas for constructing the proposed cold storages at earliest.
Highlighting Council’s vision to make all produced potato of  entire Leh district certified for exporting potato seeds to other parts of India, the EC Sonam Dorjey  said that Agriculture Department is in active process to produce high quality certified potato seeds from imported Breeder Seeds, which will be distributed in all nine blocks of Leh district on subsidized rate and urged upon the councilors to submit their requirements ensuring smooth distribution of the seeds.
The Councilors who attended the meeting were Councilor Panamik Tsering Angchuk, Councilor Tegar Rigzin Wangdus, Councilor Diskit and many others.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: A deputation of Coordination Committee Hill district Shopian today called on Chief Secretary, Mohammed Iqbal Khandey and presented a memorandum to him regarding the burning demands of hill district Shopian.
They said that Shopian was always ignored in development.
They demanded special and due attention be paid towards development of this hilly district.
The members of delegation included Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Punnoo its general secretary, Parwaz advocate, A R Tak, Farooq Ahmed Malik and A S Tugg.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: Various KP organizations including All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), Kashmiri Pandit conference (KPC) and Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) today demanded that the migrant employees appointed under PM’s package be absorbed in migrant offices and camp schools in Jammu in view of the post Guru situation in Kashmir valley.
In a joint statement issued here today ASKPC president H L Chatta, KPC chief, Kundan Kashmiri and JTC president Shadi Lal Pandita said till situation limps back to normal in Kashmir the PM package employees be adjusted in migrant offices and camp schools in Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: Hindustan Shiv Sena (HSS) today criticized all mobile operators in the State for not accepting the Aadhar Card for giving new mobile connections.
While addressing the media persons here today, National president of Hindustan Shiv Sena, Dimpy Kohli and general secretary, GI Singh, said that Aadhar cards are issued by Government of India as a proof of identity and these cards are acceptable throughout the country as per the guidelines of Government of India. But mobile operators in our State are dishonoring these cards and not issuing new numbers on the basis of Aadhar card.
What is the reason behind this the mobile companies will know better, he said adding people who are applying for new connections on the basis of this card are getting harassment from the hands of mobile companies. He appealed the Government to direct mobile operators to accept this card.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: Highlighting various demands of the teaching fraternity, J&K United School Teachers Association has threatened to launch an agitation if the Government does not pay any heed to their issues.
The Association convened a meeting under the chairmanship of Hari Singh and discussed its demands, which included filling of vacant posts of Headmasters and Lecturers, removal of pay anomalies, earned leave encashment benefit, regularization of EVs as general line teachers who have completed seven years in service, transfer policy for ReT teachers, etc.
The Association also demanded release of salary of the EV teachers of Kishtwar, who are without pay for the last several months.
Those who attended the meeting, included Rajeev Kumar, Chamel Singh, Zulfikar Ali Malik, Pardeep Singh, Darshan Lal, Sajjad Mirza, Seva Ram and others.

Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, Mar 7: Representatives of Employees Joint Action Committee Leh and Kargil called on the Finance Minister A R Rather and demanded release of Special Duty Allowance and enhancement of Compensatory Allowance to the employees working in Ladakh region.
The Finance Minister assured positive action on the demands, which he termed as genuine, said a handout.
The JAC representatives were led by Minister of Science and Technology Feroz Ahmed Khan and MLA Nobra Tsetan Namgial.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Mar 7: Eight persons including six children were injured after a school-bus over turned near the town here this evening.
The mishap took place when the bus ( JK-11/2619), carrying students of Dream Land School, was moving towards Rajouri town from near by Muradpur area. Near PHE water point, the bus went out of control and over turned.
Two women who had taken lift in the bus, were also among the injured. The injured were removed to local Rajouri hospital. They were identified as Kanta Devi, Shahida ( both local women), Pardeep Singh, Danish, Roshni, Khushi, Shivali and Darshna. The police has taken cognizance of the matter.

Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Mar 7: The Government High School, Salwah in Zone Mendhar, which was established in 1947, still lacks proper infrastructure and other facilities for the students.
The school has only four rooms despite the fact that strength of the enrolled students is over 429, who are forced to study in open. “The students have to study in the open because the class rooms are in pathetic condition while on a rainy day, the school remains off, informed a villager.
According to Head Master of this school, Utmul Nissa, the matter was brought into the notice of concerned department and higher officials but nothing has been done so far.

Excelsior Correspondent
NOWSHERA, Mar 7: A free eye operation-cum-treatment camp organized by Viklang Chhatra Trust of Akhnoor in collaboration with Health Department at Sub District Hospital, Nowshera, concluded here today.
More than 500 patients were checked up and treated during the camp out of which 109 matured cataract patients were referred for surgery. On March 5 and 6, 55 cataract patients were operated upon with intraocular lens surgery at SDH Nowshera, while remaining more than 50 patients are scheduled to be operated on March 25.
Dr Rajeev Sharma MS, Dr Arti Sharma, MS, Senior Eye Surgeons of Health Department assisted by Ajay Anand and Ram Krishan Sharma, Ophthalmic Assistants rendered their services during the camp.

Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Mar 7: A medical and dental camp was organised at Marhot village, Surankote for the people of border villages yesterday.
The camp was organised by the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, under the aegis of Counter Insurgency Force (Romeo), as part of the ongoing Op Sadbhavana. The basic aim of the camp was to provide the healthcare to needy people at their doorstep with the help from Civil Administration Department.
A team of civil and Army doctors spent quality time in medical checkup and provision of free medicines to the people. Approx 778 persons including 318 male, 430 female and 30 children were examined by the team of doctors and also provided free medicines to the patients. This camp has brought much required succor to the locals, who otherwise, owing to remoteness of the area are deprived of medical facilities.