Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 3: National Heritage Trek Expedition 2012 commenced today with the first batch of 50 trekkers flagged off by President Youth Hostels of Association of India (YHAI), M.S. Pandit.
The trekking expedition has been organised by Youth Hostels of Association of India in collaboration with Directorate of Education and Tourism Jammu, District Administration and Patnitop Developmental Authority.
While addressing the trekkers, Mr. Shafi said “we in Youth Hostelling Movement believe in “Wandering we gather honey” and that is why we are promoting such adventurous activities throughout the world”. He said that Youth Hostelling promotes the participation of youth belonging to lower middle income group in such activities by providing them facilities at no profit no loss basis. He said that the National Heritage Trek has brought Udhampur on the tourist map of India and is marching ahead to find a place in the international tourist map for adventure related activities.
He further said that it was a holistic programme aimed at making the trekkers physically fit, mentally alert and socially useful. He further said that many interventions like understanding of the earth and the universe, the flora and fauna, the wild life, personality development and awareness about Right to Information Act have been added to make the programme more useful and more attractive. He further said that YHAI will open more avenues for trekking in the State like the Mughal Route, the seven lake of Pir Panchal Ranges etc.
District Development Commissioner Udhampur, P. K Pole, said that apart from other benefits trekking expedition will promote National Integration to a greater extent. He assured that the District Administration would provide all possible logistic support for this programme. He further asserted that YHAI should take initiative to expose more areas of the district like Dudu Basantgarh and Ramnagar for such activities.
Chairman YHAI, J&K State branch, Padam Shree S. P. Verma, explained that the programme has succeeded year after year and now the number of trekkers from outside the State has increased from 60 to over 225 during 2012. He further said that efforts have been made to encourage the foreign trekkers to participate in this programme.
State Director Adventure Promotion, YHAI, J & K State Branch, K. K. Gandotra explained that the trekkers will move from Udhampur to Lander in bus via Krimchi temples, Kainth Gali, Deoder Forest Panchari and then trek to Sanasar Nathatop, Patnitop, Mantalai via Karla Temple, Gauri Kund and Sudhmahadev where they will be sensitized about the Flora and Fauna of the state. Rock climbing, rappelling, cricket match and personality development would be the part of the programme, he added.
Among others, Chief Executive Officer, PDA, Dr. Raman Kesar, Chief Education Officer, O.P Sharma, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anil Amla,  Officials of YHAI were present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: A deputation of Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation met  Director Health Services, Jammu, under the leadership of Sushil Sudan, president MEF, here today.
The Federation leader discussed the problems of the employees of the Health Department particularly holding of DPC of different categories. The Director Health Services, Jammu listened to the problems patiently and fixed the date of DPC on May 10 and 11, 2012.
The other demands in the meeting included are 80% promotion as Heath Educator to Female Multipurpose Health Workers, step up to all categories working in health department, creation of posts of section officers in CMO’s office and head assistants at all CHC level where DDOs are available, delegation of drawing and disbursing powers to the Medical Officers at PHCs where posts of Ministerial staff are sanctioned.
The Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation thanked Director Health Services, Jammu for listening to the demands of the employees and holding of DPC meeting.
The members in the deputation included Vinod Kumar Sharma, Jugal Kishore, R P Singh, Rakesh Hangloo, Suresh Suri, Pawan Singh, Shafkat Hussain, Jarnail Chowdhary, Kamaljeet Sawhwey, Deepak Khajuria, Reham Din, Angrez Singh, Gurnam Singh, Jagjeet Singh and Anil Keser.

Excelsior Correspondent  JAMMU, May 3: Police have rescued a minor girl, kidnapped from Domana, from Bhatindi and arrested the kidnapper. The girl, whose identity has been kept secret as she was minor, was rescued from a rented house at Bhatindi, police said, adding that her alleged kidnapper was arrested from the spot. The kidnapper has been identified as Tariq Hussain son of Mohammad Latief, a resident of Bhatindi. A case has been registered against him under Section 363/109 RPC under FIR No. 64/2012 at Domana police stations. Police said the girl was restored to her family after medical examination. Police parties headed by SHO Domana Inspector Ajay Jamwal made the arrest.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: The protest of All Kargil Students Association Jammu (AKSAJ) against Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and Transport Minister for their failure in providing hostel facility to the students studying in Jammu entered third day today.
Addressing a press conference here this evening, Shakeel Ahmed, president, AKSAJ alleged that the LAHDC has failed to facilitate the students of the Kargil studying in Jammu by providing them hostel.
He said that the construction work of hostel for Kargil students at Channi has been completed, but due to some unknown reasons, the same has been put on hold, creating anguish among them.
He said that the taxi cabs are charging Rs 2,000 per person to travel to their native home at Kargil, which is very unfortunate on the part of the transport ministry, as they failed to keep regular check on the vehicle plying to the hilly and snow bound region of the State.
He said that the students were facing many problems, but no one from the Government side or from the LAHDC side are coming forward for their rescue.
He said that the their association held several meetings with Qamar Ali Akhoon, Minister for CAPD and Transport, regarding hostel facility issue to the students of Kargil and each time he promised to provide hostel facility at the earliest, but nothing has been so far.
AKSAJ has served seven days ultimatum to the administration and Transport Minister to fulfill their demands, otherwise they will come on to roads and for any untoward incident, the Government and LAHDC will be fully responsible.

Excelsior Correspondent

SAMBA, May 3: Director Social Welfare Jammu, M H Bhatti, reviewed the functioning of the department in district Samba here today.
Accompanied by the officers of the Directorate of Social Welfare Jammu, Mr Bhatti, who recently took over the charge, held review meeting in the office of  District Social Welfare Officer, who is also Nodal officer of the ICDS projects, Samba. All the officers of the department including CDPOs attended the meeting.
During deliberations, Mr Bhatti stressed upon the officers to monitor the functioning of Anganwadi Centres and conduct routine inspections of these centres. He directed all the officers to submit tour diaries in advance and work done statements to the respective Programme Officers and District Social Welfare Officer. Mr Bhatti asked the CDPOs to ensure the availability of quality nutrition in all the Anganwadi Centres. He said that nutrition should reach up to the beneficiaries as per the prescribed scale.
The Director also called on Deputy Commissioner, Samba Mubarak Singh and discussed with him various issues regarding timely sanction and disbursement of  Pre-Matric Scholarships and tendering process of nutrition items required for Anganwadi Centres. He requested the DDC to conduct periodic review of Social Welfare department.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: Noted Dogri singer, Nidhi Kaila has been upgraded as B-high music singer by All India Radio (Prasar Bharti).
Ms  Nidhi, an approved singer of Radio Kashmir Jammu has many songs to her credit. Daughter of Dogra Harish Kaila, president of Nami Dogri Sanstha, Nidhi has bagged many State and National awards. She has been felicitated by University of Jammu and the State Cultural Academy in programmes like “Display Your Talent’’ and on the spot music competition. She has also secured first prize at All India Devotional Songs Competition at Katra. Programme Head, RKJ Ravi Magotra, has lauded her performance.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: JAKFED Employee’s Welfare Association’s (JEWA) strike in support of their demands especially implementation of 6th Pay Commission and SRO 43, entered 4th consecutive day today.
The Association supported by INTUC State vice president, Jugal Kishore, today decided that the aggrieved employees would continue their strike and if the Board of Management did not consider their demands at the earliest, they would be forced to come on roads and launch hunger strike and even go for self immolation for which the Board would be responsible.
President of the Association, MJ Mir, told that some of the members of JEWA managed to meet the Union Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was on visit of the State.“The association conveyed the aforesaid demands of the JAKFED to the Minister who expressed displeasure in the matter and assured to convey their grievances to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah”, he told.