Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Feb 25: Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages organized a function to honour an eminent contempary poet Mehmood-ul-Hassan Mehmood at Dak Banglow here today.
MLA Poonch, Ajaz Ahmed Jan, who was the chief guest, stressed that tireless effort need to be made to promote cultural and literacy activities especially Urdu language.
Responding to demands of literary personalities and intellectuals of Poonch, MLA said that concerted efforts should be made to publish Urdu Newspapers from Poonch and Rajouri towns besides Urdu subject be introduced and taught in all private and Govt. schools as compulsory subject.
He said Urdu having rich vocabulary and sweet in listening and singing has binding force among various communities of the country. On the occasion, MLA assured the audience that all expenditure incurred upon repair and renovation of three rooms allotted in the Poonch fort by district administration for opening of sub office of the Academy would be meted out of his CD Funds.
An intellectual and literary personality Nazir Hussain Qureshi and Lecturer Nazak Hussain Shah red out separate papers in detail pertaining to life and literary activities of Mehmood renowned poet of the State.
M.N.Qureshi another literary personality and author of many books said that Mehmood adopted teaching profession as holy duty towards mankind, rather than a profession as usual. He has authored “MITAH-E-KHAYA” book to collection of his poetry work.
Dr. Alamdar Adam, Special Officer for Cultural Activities of J&K Cultural Academy said Academy has launched “meet the eminent, contemporary” programme under which eminent literary personalities and artists are honoured.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Month -long activities in connection auspicious Magh  month culminated in various Ashrams  today on the occasion of Magh Purnima which is commonly known as Kaw Purnima with solemnization of Maha Yagyas.
The Ashrams where the spiritual activities were held for entire month included Bhagavaan Gopinath Ashram, Swami Gokal Nath Ashram and Swami Kumar Ji Ashram.
In the function held at  Bhagavaan Gopinath Ashram, Udaywala Bohri a large number of devotees participated. The Hawan started yesterday evening and culminated this afternoon with Puranahuti. The  devotees were served prashad after Puranahuti.
The spiritual activity was held in the morning daily from 4-30 am to 7-30 am. During the month one and half crore Vedic Mantras were recited for the welfare of the mankind besides the recitation of Shalokas from Guru Geeta, Bhagvad Geeta, Panchastavi and also Shalokas from Sahastranaam and Maha Mantra were recited.
A large number of devotees drawn from different parts of Jammu thronged the Mata Vaishno Shailputri Ashram, Gokal Dham, Ambica Vihar Gole Gujral and participated in the Maha Yagya which started yesterday.
A social activity was also held in the ashram in which the poor children were given the note books and stationery items.
The devotees were served with prashad after puranahuti. During the month- long function Bhajan Kirtan and satsang was held daily in the Ashram said P L Hangloo its chief administrator.
The month long spiritual function also culminated at Swami Kumar Ji Geeta Satsangh Ashram Muthi with solemnization of Maha Yagya.
A large number of devotees attended the function. The devotees were served with Prashad after Puranahuti.
Swami Kumar Ji gave religious discourses and threw light on the auspicious day of Kaw Purnima as per Hindu mythology.
Annual Maha Yagya was also held in Shiv Mandir  Adarsh Nagar, Bantalab by Welfare Committee Adarsh Nagar.
A  large number of devotees attended the function, besides NC MLC Vijay Bakaya. The Hawan started yesterday evening and culminated with Puranahuti this afternoon.
The devotees were served with Prashad after Puranahuti. The Bhajan and Kirtan continued in the temple for entire night.
Addressing the gathering Mr Bakaya announced one community hall and one more transformer for the area.

Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Feb 25: Former Minister and MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori during his extensive tour today visited home town of former Chief Minister and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Addressing the gathering, he referred that Azad had done tremendous work for the overall development of the State without any disparity during Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress Party regime.
Without mincing any word Saroori said that the funds which come from Centre get delay in Congress led constituencies. He appreciated the step taken by present coalition Government led by Omar Abdullah who launched special police recruitment drives in remote areas like Marwah and Dacchan. He urged the Government to launch such recruitment drives in other backward areas like Khara, Bunjwah, Chatroo etc.
Various deputations met Saroori during the tour at various places and every one complained about unnecessary power cut by PDD Department for about 15-18 hours a day. Saroori assured them that he put forth demand of more power supply for Doda and Kishtwar district and special police recruitment for ignored areas, in front of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Saroori also distributed cheques amounting to Rs 12.20 lacks among IAY and BRGF beneficiaries at Khara and Bhalessa area of Doda District. He inspected all ongoing works and took stock of the various measures put in place by the Government in view of ensuing summer.
Later at Thatri Dak Bunglow prominent workers of different parties along with their supporters today joined the Indian National Congress (INC) party. Saroori appealed to the new incumbent, party workers and leaders to strengthen party at ground level and to act as a voice of people in redressing their issues and problems.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Minister of State for Technical Education, Power and CAPD, Vikar Rasool today said that the work on 45 MW Micro Hydel Project to meet the short fall of power supply in Banihal tehsil and its adjoining areas will be started very soon.
The Minister was interacting with deputations of various areas of Banihal which include Khari, Mandvas, Chambalvas, Trehgam, Surachi, Mohumangat, Pogulparistan, Maaligam, Nowgam and Teethar at Banihal today.
Mr. Vikar said that  Government is abreast with the problems being faced by the people living in hilly and far-flung areas of the State and every care is being taken to address the same within the shortest possible time. He said that the instructions have already been passed to the concerned officers to ensure that the people get the requisite supply of food items, power, water and other essentials commodities especially during the winter months.
The deputations further projected the demands of filling up of vacant posts in schools and health centres so that they can work more efficiently besides demanding road connectivity to various areas of Banihal and opening of more health centres.
The Minister assured them that all their genuine demands would be looked into and redressed at an earliest.
The Minister later inspected 50 MVA Grid station at Teethar, Banihal. He was accompanied by the senior officers of PDD Department.
Mr. Vikar directed the officers to ensure that the people get the requisite power supply and a complete synergy should be there between the various units of the department, so that the damages to transformers and other related things are controlled.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: The National Secular Forum, Jammu University unit today organized one-day convention for its activists on the campus and discussed various issues related to the youth.
On the occasion Dr Vikas Sharma,  State president NSF, was the chief guest while  State senior vice-president Surjit Choudhary presided over the convention and Dr Shafqat Malik general secretary NSF, was the guest of honour.
Through a resolution, NSF demanded that the unemployed youth of the State be provided Government job, construction work in Central University of Jammu be started and responsibility in functioning of Central University Jammu should also be fixed. The NSF also demanded action against all the mismanagement in ETT Colleges of Jammu Province.
Addressing the convention, Dr Vikas Sharma alleged that the CUJ administration was ignoring the youth of Jammu region in jobs, which were being awarded to non-Jammuites. “The varsity administration has violated the norms by recruiting the retired teachers and other staff members,” he added.
Others who addressed the convention, included Surjit Choudhary, Dr. Shafqat Malik,
Ravi Choudhary, Narinder Singh, Kamaldeep Singh, Rishikesh Rana and Pushpinder Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Feb 25: With the objective to provide first hand information to the people especially unemployed educated youth of the Marmat area regarding various State and Centrally sponsored self employment schemes, two day employment fair was inaugurated by the District Development Commissioner, Doda, Farooq Ahmed Khan in Kalhota Marmat which was organized by I/C Deputy Director Employment & Counseling Centre, Doda, Bipan Pandita  in collaboration with other line departments.
During the festival 21 stalls were established by different departments like Health‚ Social Welfare‚ District Industries Centre Doda, Handlooms, Agriculture, Horticulture, Handicrafts‚ Fisheries, J&K SC/ST/OBC Development Corporation, Sheep & Animal Husbandry‚ Sericulture‚ Army‚ Jammu and Kashmir Bank and other line departments.
While speaking on the occasion, DDC stressed upon the unemployed youth of the area to come forward and avail benefits of various self employment schemes. He enjoined upon the officers, Sarpanchs and people of the area to motivate youth for setting up their own income generating units and become job providers rather than job seekers. He said various benefit and welfare schemes have been initiated by the State and Central Government i.e SKEWPY, SES, VSA, PMEGP, etc for effectively tackling the growing unemployment problem in the District.
Deputy Director Employment, Doda, Pandita and Assistant Director Employment Doda, Mohd. Amin Misgar said that this employment fair is a part of Government initiative to create massive awareness among educated youth about the SKEWPY (Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for youth) and other self employment schemes initiated by the State and Central Government for benefit and welfare of unemployed educated youth of the District.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla has said that UPA Government led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is providing liberal funding under developmental sectors, which has greatly helped in raising the socio-economic standard of the people of the State, adding that several projects are under pipeline to develop urban and rural pockets with improved basic amenities.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the people during public grievances redressal camp held at Gangyal, here today.
Mr. Bhalla said Government is fully aware of the problems of every section of the society, adding that in this connection every effort is being made to mitigate the same on priority. He called upon the people to cooperate with the executing agencies in completing the ongoing projects within stipulated time frame.
The Minister said that the Government is  endeavouring hard to develop all the areas of the State with modern and need based infrastructural facilities, adding that in this regard all the departments are working in a more organized manner for ensuring better services to the people.
Laying stress on maintaining quality standards, the Minister asked the senior functionaries to conduct regular inspections of the under execution works to keep a check on quality of material being used on developmental works.
Mr. Bhalla said people’s cooperation was imperative to make Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous State. He called upon the people not to pay any heed to the nefarious designs of those who mislead people by false slogans to meet their personal interests and  asked the people to extend their whole hearted cooperation to the Government for maintaining peace and prosperity in the State.
Regarding improvement of power scenario in Gangyal, the Minister said Power Development Ministry has formulated a new plan for upgradation and installation of new transformers in every locality of the State. He called upon the people to use power judiciously and voluntarily disclose their house load so that improved power could be provided to them.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: The State President, Janta Dal (United), Ghulam Qadir Wani today nominated Neelam Thappa as State general secretary of Women Wing.
Besides, he also nominated Mudassar Hussain Wani as general secretary of Youth Wing for Chenab Valley.
The announcement for the appointment of these office bearers was made at a meeting of the party held here.