Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: With infrastructural back up for the Super Speciality Hospital of Government Medical College Jammu in place, focus has now been shifted to engaging manpower for various specialties on war footing to have the mega facility operational in shortest possible time.

“Speed up the process for filling up the newly created posts and outsourcing certain key services, said Minister for Medical Education RS Chib while chairing a high level review meeting here this morning.

Secretary Medical Education, M.K.Dwevedi, Administrator GMC, Reva Gupta, Incharge Principal, GMC, Jammu, Dr. Aniece Chowdhary, Acting Principal, Dental College, Medical Superintendents, Dy Medical Superintendents, HoDs, Engineers of CPWD, R&B and other senior officers attended the meeting.

Mr. Chib set a deadline of 40 days for completing the process of engaging the staff for various disciplines. He also emphasized the need for expediting the tendering and other related processes with regard to outsourcing security, health and hygiene.

The meeting was told that 819 posts of various categories have been created for the Super Specialty Hospital and process to fill these has been set in motion.

The Minister directed all concerned agencies to evolve realistic strategies in a coordinated manner to complete the necessaries requirements vital for early operationalization of this special healthcare service in the region.

It was decided in the meeting that a state-of-art critical care ambulance will be procured besides having effective drug stores in the SSH on the pattern of AIIMS.

Mr Chib asked the concerned to devise an effective mechanism while taking over the equipments from the engineering department besides putting in place a viable plan for their maintenance. He also stressed the need for initiating a process for creation of departments on the pattern of AIIMS.

He asked the R&B Department to construct the parking in the SHS for which they will be provided required funds.

Other issues deliberated upon in the meeting included phase wise shifting of departments, laundry, diet, medical services, canteen, medical shops etc. The issues like parking, training of manpower in different super special services including handling of sophisticated equipments, residential facilities for the staff, besides various other matters relating to further streamlining the functioning of GMC, SMGS and Dental College were discussed.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: Police today arrested two thieves and recovered stolen amount worth Rs 84,000 from their possession in New Plot area.

A police handout said the thieves had stolen Rs 84,000 cash from Aggarwal Cement and Iron store at New Plot, owned by Ashok Aggarwal. The thieves had used duplicate keys to remove cash from drawers of the table of the owner.

Bakshi Nagar and Sarwal police teams identified the accused through CCTV and arrested both of them within two hours of the crime. A case has been registered against them under Section 380 RPC at Bakshi Nagar police station.

The employees of the shopkeeper had played an important role in identifying the accused, which lead to their early arrest.

Police parties headed by SHO Bakshi Nagar Inspector Naresh Sharma and Incharge Sarwal Police Post Nazir Ahmad made the arrests under the supervision of SDPO Bakshi Nagar Abdul Rouf Lone.

Police said as the accused were juveniles, their names have been withheld.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: The residents of village Purmandal in Samba district held a meeting today demanded shifting of Cremation Ground to down stream near Bus Stand at an earliest so that the people of the area will be relieved of their problems being faced by them due to existence of the same at its present location adjacent to Shiv Temple.

The meeting demanded that immediate steps be taken for shifting of Cremation Ground to the new shed constructed by Surinsar Mansar Development Authority (SMDA).

The meeting also decided to provide all cooperation to District administration in this regard. It also urged the SMDA Chief Executive Officer to ensure immediate completion of work of gate and fix sign boards at all places.

It also urged the Forest authorities to open the fire wood depot near the site of cremation ground and PHE authorities were requested to provide water connection to the cremation ground at the earliest.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: A deputation of Jammu Kashmir Contractual College Lecturers’ Association (JKCCLA) today met Minister of Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik, to seek support for the redressal of various issues of contractual lecturers and teaching assistants.

The deputation comprising of Chairman, JKCCLA, Suresh Sadhotra, vice-president, Supreme Singh, media advisor, Suresh Sharma, Rashpal Singh, KK Verma, Gurcharan Singh, Shallu Gupta, Bindu Jamwal, Arun Kumar, Surat Singh and representatives of 30 different colleges of Jammu province requested the Minister to take immediate action to redress the long pending demands of JKCCLA.

Their demands included regularization of all contractual lecturers and teaching assistants and till a policy is framed and all contractual lecturers and teaching assistants having three years of academic experience be exempted from annual re-apply process and not replaced by transfers or permanent appointments, monthly salary of Rs 21600 in their favour, reduced workload to four classes as per past practice, sanctioning leave when needed and remote area allowance.

They also demanded that the Department be allowed all contractual lecturers and teaching assistants to pursue M Phil and Ph D part-time and sought needful action by University of Jammu and University of Kashmir to allow them to do the same.

The Minister assured the deputation that their demands shall be addressed at the earliest.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: J&K Unit of Samajwadi Party has strongly criticized the State Government for its perpetual slaughter of constitutional democratic institutions like Judicial Panchayats, Local Bodies, Block Development Councils and District Development Boards.

In a meeting of the party office bearers held here today, its president Sheikh Abdul Rehman (Ex-MP) discussed the State and recent national level developments including situation in Assam and Mumbai violence. He alleged that Government has failed to tackle the situation.

Referring to delay being caused to strengthen Panchayats and other democratic institutions, the SP leader alleged that Government has no political will to go for strengthening of these institutions. He said the coalition Ministers are often claiming about holding of Panchayat elections in the State and even the Prime Minister in his address from Lal Qila referred to holding Panchayat elections in the State which is biggest ever joke with the people of the State as also the democratic institutions.

Mr Rehman pointed out that half hearted Panchayat elections held in the State have proved to be a fiasco. Every now and then, the Panchs and Sarpanchs are raising voice for empowerment in terms extension of 73rd and 74th Amendment to the Panchayati Raj Act, to remove nomination of chairman to District Development Board and formation of Block Development Bodies. Mr Rehman said in fact, legislators of the State do not want decentralization of powers.

Ram Singh Chauhan, Amrit Versha, Ch Mohd Yunis and Sheikh Mohd also attended the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU Aug 17: Nav Durga Kala Manch today staged a satirical comedy play entitled “No Complaint’ at Performing Art Studio Jammu in its ongoing Friday Theatre Series.

The play was an engrossing laugh riot that had all ingredient of a perfect drama enacted in comedy form and was highly applauded by the audience present at the venue.

“No Complaint” is a story about two hardcore enemies in Nawab and Mirza who always remain on loggerheads because of their children entering into brawl with each other making Mirza’s daughter as the centre of fight.

Both the boys of Nawab, one depicted as ‘Gay’ and the other as ‘Lost Case’ are trying to woo Mirza’s daughter who often comes to Nawab with a complaint of their sons.

The story turns hilarious when Nawab and his sons make fool of Mirza who succumbs to their tactics later to rise as a ‘Ghost’ for revenge.

The hilarious comedy in the sequences put the audience on the edge of their seats as the play progresses to anti-climax while Nawab later succumbing to Mirza’ histrionics.

The play was written by Dilshad Shazi in an improvised version and Directed by Aaditya Bhanu.

The cast that enacted into the comedy included Aaditya Bhanu, Dilshad Shazi, Sumit Sudan and Kamaljeet Singh.

Lights and costumes were designed by Atul Sharma, Make up by Reetu Manhas and the music was aptly handled by Kibu Bharat.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 17: A meeting of Jagti Tenement Committee was held today under the presidentship of its president, Shadi Lal Pandita to discuss their demands and grievances.

The meeting demanded that Government be go in for the construction of more TRTs at Jagti to accommodate the homeless migrants besides utilize the vacant space at old Nagrota camp and old Purkhoo camp for the construction of two room sets.

They also demanded for advertising the remaining 3000 posts under the Prime Minister’s Employment Package and also creating some 500 class IV posts to accommodate less qualified migrants youth.

The other demands included enhancement of cash assistance to Rs 5000 to Rs 15000 per month, construction of passenger sheds, dispensary, availability of shops, etc in the Jagti camp.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 17: A girl ended her life by consuming poisonous substance in Pattan area.

A police spokesman said that a 19 year old girl (name with held) resident of Nowlori Pattan, consumed some poisonous substance at her home, resulting in her death. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 CrPC have been initiated in this regard.

The spokesman said that a lady (name with held) resident of Sehgund Sallar, Srigufwara-Anantnag, consumed some poisonous substance and was shifted to Primary Health Centre Sallar from where she was referred to SMHS Hospital, Srinagar for further treatment.