Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Feb 1: There are more reports of farewell functions on retirement of Government officers/officials after attaining age of superannuation.
Mushtaq Ahmad Ahanger, Financial Advisor/Chief Accounts Officer in the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, J&K, was given a warm farewell on attaining age of superannuation after rendering 30 years of service in different capacities. Commissioner Secretary Peer Farooq Ahmed and others officers lauded the services of retiring officer and wished him a happy post-retirement life.
A warm send off was accorded to Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Ghatwan on his retirement as Driver in R&B Department. A farewell at Dak Banglow, Doda was organized wherein services of Ghatwan were appreciated. On the occasion Chief Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) was also present.
A simple but impressive farewell function was organised by the staff members of J&K STRC Load Division, Narwal to accord warm send-off to Khalil Ahmad, Fitter, on his superannuation from the service. The staff members and colleagues handed over a memento as a token of love and respect to the retiring official and wished him a very happy post retirement life.
Chief Education Officer, Udhampur and staff members accorded warm send off to Mohd Gulzar, Head Assistant on his retirement after rendering 35 years of services.
Warm send off accorded on retirement
Bimla Luthra distributes IAY cheques among BPL families
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: MLA Bimla Luthra today convened a meeting of women workers of National Conference at Bishnah constituency and distributed cheques worth Rs 10 lakh under IAY among the BPL families for their welfare.
While addressing the gathering, Bimla Luthra highlighted the achievements of Coalition Government headed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the measures taken to empower the women folk. She also appreciated the move of the State Government to involve more and more women folk in the panchayats to develop rural areas in the State.
The NC leader alleged that some parties in the State have no welfare programmes for the people and in sheer frustration, they were raising sentimental issues and misguiding the people. The Coalition Government is committed to fulfill all the promises made to the people of the state and provide all basic facilities to them, she said and sought support of people in further pushing forward developmental tempo in the State. She appealed the people to strengthen the hands of Dr. Farooq Abdullah and young Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Those who were present in the meeting included Veena Oberio, Sham Lal Sadhotra, Radha, Rano and others.
PDD casual labourers hold protest
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: All J&K Casual Labourers Union, Power Development Department (PDD) today held a protest demonstration regarding non-publishing of the list.
The protestors raised slogans against the Government and the concerned authorities and demanded immediate publishing of list.
Addressing the gathering, Sampuran Singh, president, All J&K Casual Labourers Union, Power Development Department (PDD), Jammu province alleged that the concerned AEEs and Executive Engineers have not cleared the verification of the causal labourers.
“The list of the casual labourers will be published and till date nothing has been published by the concerned authorities”, he alleged.
As the authorities failed to publish the list, we resumed our suspended strike, he added.
He said that till 2012, seventy five casual labourers have sacrificed their lives during services and 150 causal labourers got handicapped while performing their duties, but this has not awakened the Government, thus compelling them to resume their strike.
The protestors urged the Electric Employees Union PPEU and Daily Wagers Union to press upon the authorities for publishing of the list at the earliest in order to provide relief to the casual labourers and their families.
Gloomy start for India, Ranjeet goes down tamely
New Delhi, Feb 1:
India badly missed its top players as rookie V M Ranjeet suffered a straight-set thrashing from Min Hyoek Cho, allowing Korea to grab a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie, here today.
It was a forgettable India debut for the 27-year-old Chennai lad as he was trounced 1-6 0-6 1-6 in one hour and 23 minutes in the first singles of the first-round tie at the R K Khanna Tennis stadium.
Going by the slow nature of the surface, it was clear from the first game itself that hanging in and putting more balls inside the lines was all that mattered.
To his credit, Ranjeet did run hard, retrieved a good number of balls but Cho hardly missed a shot or point.
Korean captain Yong-II Yoon’s decision to field 26-year-old Cho, who served his country’s Army for two years before resuming his career, proved absolutely correct as he gave his side a flying start in the absence of home team’s star players.(PTI)
MIER organizes Orientation Programme
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: The Alumni and Placement Committee of MIER College of Education, organized an Orientation Programme on the topic, ‘How to Prepare a Resume’, here today.
Brig PN Sharma, Head of the MBA Department, Model Institute of Education and Technology (MIET) was the chief guest and resource person for the programme, while Dr Adit Gupta, Joint DirectoR MIER was the guest of honour.
Earlier, Dr Adit presented welcome address and gave details of the programme.
Brig PN Sharma while addressing the students taught them various techniques for writing an impressive resume.
The students interacted with the expert and clarified their doubts.
The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Vishali Razdan, Convener of Alumni and Placement Committee.
Jora speaks on various issues confronting Ladakh
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies on Friday said that Ladakh is one of the most important regions of Jammu and Kashmir State. He said though region having its own cultural and linguist identity, the people of Ladakh are very peace loving people, like co-existence, and natural born of communal harmony society.
The Minister was speaking at a seminar on Ladakh, organised by Institute of Peace and Conflicts in collaboration with India International Centre here today.
Highlighting varied issues faced by the people of Leh and Kargil, its empowerment, functioning of Ladakh Hill Development Council, its empowerment, problems being faced by the Council, influx of tourists in the region, impact of fast growing tourism industry and tourists on Ladakhi society and culture, positive and negative aspects on education and environment.
The seminar was also addressed among others by various prominent scholars having in-depth studies of Ladakh including S .S Blouria, Vice Chancellor, Central University, Jammu, Sadiq Wahid, former Vice Chancellor, Islamic University Kashmir, Motup, Dr.Kavita Suri and put light on various issues confronting the people of the Ladakh region with the new scenario emerging in this Himalayan region.
Mr Jora said the seminar has provided a platform to the students of Ladakh in studying various Universities of National Capital, including Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia to present their view papers and express their view points before the galaxy of scholars.
The Minister said that Ladakh remains landlocked between November to June as Srinagar-Leh and Leh-Manali highways remain closed because of snow and rigorous winter, the people of the region are facing tremendous problems and hardships.
Calling the Ladakh the roof of the World with an elevation of 11000 kms from the sea level best tourist destination, he said that in the ancient times, the Ladakh was a hub of trade activities. He said presently Leh has emerged a main tourist centre and one can usually find foreign tourist in all the places of Ladakh region. He said that Ladakh region has its glorious past history because of co-existence, communal harmony, religious spirituality, hospitality and peace loving society.
Mir asks Spain to lift negative advisory on J&K
Excelsior Correspondent
MARDID, Feb 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has requested the Government of Spain to lift the negative travel advisory issued to its citizens against visiting the State as the situation here has improved considerably.
The request to lift the advisory was made by Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir during his meeting with Spanish Tourism Officers here on Friday.
The Minister during his meetings and interaction received positive response from the Spanish functionaries and hoped that Government of Spain would also lift the negative travel advisory and allow its citizens to visit and avail holidays in mesmerizing tourist destination of the State.
The Tourism Minister along with the officers of Tourism Department is on the 4-day visit of Spain, where they represent the State in International Trade and Travel Event to showcase the world famous tourism potential of the Jammu and Kashmir.
The State Government has installed various stalls depicting varied tourism potential of all the regions of the State, besides publicity counters to familiarize the participants about serene beauty of spots, besides adventure, heritage and spiritual tourism of Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation will also utilize the trip as promotional campaign in the cities of Spain and motivate Spanish people about the innovative measures taken by the State Government for developing new destinations like Yousmarg, Doodpatheri, Lolab- Bangus valley, Mughal road etc., besides creating of world class tourism infrastructure with focus on development of new attraction like gondola riding and eco- tourism.
The Minister said lifting of the negative travel advisory by Spain will also attract tourists from Commonwealth countries like Australia, Newzeland and Canada to visit Kashmir.
The Tourism Minister said the Spain is known for its romantic flavor and Kashmir is the destination for romance.” We offer a beautiful blend of natural beauty and hospitality. Kashmir has lots of adventure activities in winter whereas Gulmarg is one of the key destinations offering Skiing, Heli-skiing, Gondola and many more. Similarly for spring, we are blessed with flowers and one of the major attractions is the Tulip garden in spring at Srinagar”, he said.
The Minister assured Spanish functionaries that Kashmir is as safe as Spain or for that matter any other country in Europe.
Divisive forces fear NC’s secular credentials: Rana
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: Saying that National Conference is the voice of commoner, representing aspirations of all regions and all sections of the society, Provincial President of the party Devender Singh Rana said that divisive forces, who try to wedge apart the society on communal grounds and regional politics, are highly afraid of the secular credentials of National Conference.
Addressing the meeting of District Working Committee Doda here at party headquarters, Rana said that National Conference would continue to be the fortress of secular and democratic forces and work for the equitable and comprehensive welfare of all sections of the society.
The Provincial President said that Jammu is dominated by secular population nurturing and upholding high principles of communal amity and democracy and they exist as silent activists. “National Conference is going to give them voice and bring on forefront to be involved in building a classless society where everyone will receive justice equally”, he said adding that brotherhood, communal amity and mutual love has always been the standard of public perception and trait of the people here and National Conference will provide platform for its voicing and practicing.
“Though communal and divisive forces tried their best time and again to put wedge between various sections of the society and indulged in creating conflict between different regions, yet the people of Jammu and Kashmir exhibiting their faith and trust in harmony and brotherhood defeated these forces under the banner of National Conference and the stewardship of its leaders”, he maintained.
The National Conference Provincial President said that whether in power or outside National Conference has stood for public good and welfare of all the three regions of the State. “This is the reason National Conference is equally popular in all the three regions of the State”, he said adding that the development policy for holistic progress and prosperity of all regions and sub-regions being carried forward by the present Coalition Government led by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah represents the agenda of equitable development irrespective of creed, caste, colour, region and religion upheld by National Conference all along.
Addressing the meeting, Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy, MLC and District President Doda also called upon the party rank and file to unitedly work for the party in their respective areas and increase public rapport. He told them to be actively involved in the implementation of development policy of the Coalition Government led by Omar Abdullah.
Vice Presidents Peer Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari and Rattan Lal Gupta also addressed the meeting.
Man crushed to death under train
Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Feb 1: A man was crushed to death under a train near Vijaypur Railway Station in district Samba today.
A police spokesman said that one Mohd Abbas (25), son of Mohd Sharief, resident of Rajouri was crushed under a goods train when he was crossing rail track near Vijaypur at around 10.30 am today. The police shifted the body of the deceased to the mortuary of local hospital and informed family. Investigation has been started into the matter.
Gupta demands action against MS
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: J&K Congress (I) Committee today criticized the Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital regarding theft of newly born infant from the hospital premises.
Addressing a press conference, Rajesh Gupta, senior Congress leader said that this is the second theft of the infant from the SMGS Hospital in the last three months.
He said that the theft of the infant has disclosed the working of the hospital staff.
Gupta demanded transfer of the Medical Superintendent and also necessary action against him.
Among others present were Ashok Anand, Varun Mahajan, Rohit Kapoor, Vikram Singh, Arjun Singh and Vasu Mahajan.