Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 6 : Dogri play ‘Suno Eh Kahani’ conceived written, designed and directed by Balwant Thakur was staged at Natrang Studio Theatre, in Sunday Theatre Series. The play is highly experimental and has the credit of being largely staged Natrang production.
Today’s play was based on the story of a young girl ‘Guddi’ representing a major section of rural lower middle class adolescent young girls, who are forced into matrimony at a very tender age. Guddi is fully aware of the strains of early marriage, as it has taken its toll in untimely death of her mother. She wants to grow and get educated before she takes up the responsibility of married life. Her dreams are shattered, a ‘suitable’ groom is found and marriage date is fixed. While the marriage ceremonies are being performed, help comes in the form of intervention by legal authorities and decision of marriage is deferred for appropriate time. The play highlights the plight of young girls who are sacrificed at the altar of rotten, redundant customs of illiterate and ignorant sections of our society.
Suresh Kumar played the role of ‘Baap’ whereas Sakshi Parkash played the role of ‘Guddi’ with full theatrical versatility. The narrators of the play Anil Tikoo and Sanjeev Gupta did multiple roles thus demonstrating their hold over acting. Pawan Verma as clownish groom generated repeated laughter through his comic acts. Rahul Singh as ‘Police Man’ was also very impressive. Others who performed as chorus and various characters in this highly innovative play include Dimple Sharma, Tajasvi Sharma, Shivika Verma, Atin Tikka, Rohitashiv Sharma, Vinay Manhas, and Sachin Saini. Neeraj Kant executed the Lights. Sumeet Sharma coordinated the show & also did the presentations.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Minister for Medical, Education R S Chib today sought expeditious execution of various welfare programmes and development project in a time bound manner as avoidable delays adversely impact the efficacy of such initiatives.
Speaking at the 72nd Foundation Day of Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital (SMGS) this afternoon the Minister recalled how this hospital complex had been constructed and completed within a short span of three years over   7 decades ago though technology had yet to be developed.
“Why do we lack grit and determination in the accomplishment of various projects and schemes, even though funds are no constraint,” the Minister said and urged the executing agencies to take advantage of available technologies for having various facilities in place timely so that benefit percolate down to the targeted segment.
The Minister referred to the endeavours being made for upgrading health services and improving infrastructural facilities with an  objective of ensuring best available medical services to the people. Focussed attention is being paid towards rural and far-flung areas to minimize torrential cases to reduce pressure at the city hospitals and to provide respite to the patients and attendants at their doorsteps.
He said that during the last three years a number of healthcare projects have been launched in the state under Pradhan Mantri Swasth Surksha Yojna.
Mr Chib said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Health Minister, Gulam Nabi Azad, are periodically monitoring execution of various mega projects taken up across the state. “We have involved a mechanism to have in house system of follow-up of various initiations to ensure their effective implementation,” he maintained.
The Minister paid rich tributes to Maharaja Gulab Singh terming him as pride of Duggar land in particular and State of Jammu and Kashmir in general, saying the people will remain indebted to his contribution for upliftment and development in the State.
Mr Chib exhorted upon the people to take inspiration from the great rulers who have left indelible mark in every sphere of activity by dint of their selfless services. He said that glorious heritage of the State stands testimony to the fact that the people lived in a spirit of togetherness and harmony. “This spirit is to be imbibed in the younger generation so that Jammu and Kashmir becomes a great legacy of the ancestors who environed it as an abode of peace and tranquility” he added.
Officiating Principal GMC, Aniece Chowdhary presented a detailed description of functioning and performance of SMGS.
Later, the Minister distributed momentous to medicos and para medicos for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields.
Among others present were MLC, Ravinder Sharma, Administrator GMC, Reva Gupta, HODs, Medical Superintendant, medicos, para medicos and students.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 6: J&K Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) today called upon the employees to observe a complete two days strike on May 8 and 9 and participate in Secretariat Gherao programme at Srinagar on May 9.
Addressing a press conference here S Kulwant Singh state vice president, EJAC (K) and JCC member appealed the employees to make the two day strike and May 9 programme a total success. He took serious exception to the anti employees and anti workers policies of the State Government, which he alleged, has adopted the delaying tactics and side tracked the issues concerning the working class.
He also accused the Government of backtracking from the agreement made with the JCC leaders on September 15 last year and compelling them to resort to strike.
The EJAC leader castigated the Government for being oblivious towards the burning demands of the working class particularly in view of the inflation and sky rocketing prices of essential commodities. The Government has done nothing to formulate the policy for regularization of educational volunteers, casual, seasonal, contractual and daily rated workers who are working since long, he added.
He said the Government has constituted the committees for enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years and removal of pay anomalies in different cadres but has done nothing till date.
Mr Singh said besides the public sector employees are being deprived of Sixth Pay Commission arrears. The EJAC (K) felt that Government has betrayed the employees by not implementing its agreement in letter and spirit regarding the pending demands of the employees and workers, he added.
Shahid Hussain, Viyas Sharma, Ranjit Singh, Kulesh Kumar, Rohit George, Raju Kumar, Narinder  Singh, Banarsi Das and other employees leaders were present in the press conference.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 6: Jammu and Kashmir Police has been playing a bigger role to maintain law and order and ensure the security of the people of the State. In order to enhance its capability and manpower, the organization has been focusing to strengthen its all wings with a view to meet the challenges efficiently.
This was stated by the Director General of Police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda while addressing the newly recruited Constables at Bakhshi Stadium here this afternoon. He said that besides professional policing the organization is sharing its responsibilities in other fields effectively and the people of the State are whole-heartedly cooperating with it to redress the problems faced by them while carrying out their day-to-day activities. Police-Public relations have improved considerably and the people have been very cooperative in tackling the criminals and other social evils, he added.
Giving details about the recruitment, the DGP said that the drive has been initiated to recruit energetic youth from the un-represented areas of the State. This has helped the organization to conduct the drive in a transparent manner without consuming much time. He said that by this way the eligible youth from the areas having almost negligible representation in the Jammu and Kashmir Police are enrolled in the organization.
Congratulating the new recruits, Mr. Khoda stressed that their sole aim must be to serve the public devotedly and build the image of the organization among the masses by dint of their hard work and dedication to duty.
Mr. Khoda further disclosed that today’s drive was carried out for two Niabats of Nandpora and Juzvi Khanyar of Srinagar district.
During the drive more than 100 eligible youth were selected as Constables on the spot after putting them to various physical and other tests. Those youth recruited today included 35 graduates and 39 10+2. The recruitment drive was conducted by a committee framed for the purpose under the supervision of the DGP.
Among others the recruitment drive was conducted by IGP Kashmir, S. M. Sahai, DIG, Central Kashmir Range, Afadul Mujtaba, AIG Personnel (PHQ), Ghulam Hassan Bhat and SSP Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari.

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, May 6: Masters and Teachers of district today held a meeting under the banner of Jammu Kashmir Teachers Federation (JKTF) under the chairmanship of provincial vice president Satish Dutta.
While speaking, Satish Dutta exhorted the gathering to observe complete strike on May 8 and 9 on the call given by JCC.
He urged the Government to implement the agreement already reached between the JCC members and representatives of the Government pertaining to their demands.
Rajeshwar Singh, district president, appealed the Director School Education to bring back all the masters who have completed their two years outside the district to their native districts.
Among others present were Dharmavir Singh, zonal president, Romesh Kumar, zonal president, Ghagwal, Bipin Chander Singh, Sudarshan Singh, Devinder Kumar, Kewal Verma, Tara Chand Sharma, etc.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Association of Parents of Hearing Handicapped today held a meeting under the chairmanship of its president Bashir Ahmed Dar, in which large number of parents and guardians of deaf and dumb children and persons participated.
During the meeting, various problems faced by the deaf and dumb by way of their education and career were discussed.
While speaking, Bashir Ahmed Dar highlighted the injustice with these less fortunate children by pointing out that under Disability Act 1998, there was a reservation of 1 per cent in Government services for deaf and dumb persons (hearing impair).
But in SRO 62, the benefit was given to the hearing of hard persons with 40 to 60 per cent hearing impairment ignoring the persons with severe disability of hearing impairment of 100 percent, he added.
Chief Patron of the association and Principal of School for Hearing Handicapped Roshan Lal Bhan, said that their deaf and dumb children are physically and mentally fit to undertake any assignment and therefore the Government should encourage and allow these students to undergo training in ITI, Polytechnic, Computer Courses, to earn their livelihood.
Among others present were Gopal Sharma, vice president, Parveen Singh, General Secretary, Qasim Salaria, cashier, Prabhu Dayal, Nanak Chand, Prabhu Singh, Ajay Rana, Abdul Hamid, Nisar Ali, etc.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Katra police today arrested two persons and recovered a large quantity of intoxicant capsules and liquor from their possession.
Police intercepted a Tempo Traveller No. 6861 JK02AG and arrested a person identified as Suresh Kumar alias Kalu son of Kartar Chand R/o Parthal, Katra. Police recovered 150 intoxicant capsules and 65 pouches of liquor from his possession, which were being smuggled to holy town of Katra.
Police arrested another person from Tempo Traveller No. JK02AK 6287 at Moori check post and recovered 38 pouches of liquor from him, which were also being smuggled to Katra. The accused has been identified as Nirmal Singh son of Sunit Singh R/o Garnie Lota, Udhampur.
Both the accused have been booked at Katra police station.
Police parties headed by SHO Katra Inspector Pradeep Gupta under the supervision of SSP Reasi Raghubir Singh and SP Katra Mohan Lal made arrests.