Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23 : Governor N. N. Vohra inaugurated a multipurpose hall at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi here today.
Usha Vohra, First Lady, was present on the occasion.
Speaking after unveiling the inaugural plaque of the newly constructed hall, the Governor observed that if an enabling environment and the required infrastructural support is provided to the educational institutions there would be no reason whatsoever for our children not excelling in their academic and other chosen fields of activity. He added that the boys and girls of J&K are highly talented and, with quality education, they can contribute in a big way for ensuring a bright future for the State.
Referring to the set of Encyclopedia Britannica presented by the Lady Governor to the School on this occasion, the Governor advised Sureshta Dogra, Principal of the School, to keep these volumes at such a place where the students can make best use thereof to gain knowledge in different subjects.
Lauding the high quality of the composite cultural programme comprising Dogri, Kashmiri, Ladakhi and Punjabi folk songs and dances presented by the students on the occasion, the Governor announced an award of Rs. 50,000 for them.
The Governor felicitated the former Principals of the School by presenting them a shawl and a memento each.
The First Lady presented a set of Encyclopedia Britannica to the School comprising 34 volumes. She also gave away certificates to the meritorious students of the School who had got positions in the various Board examinations in the past.
Earlier, on arrival at the School, the Governor and the First Lady were received by Ashok Khajuria, MLA, senior officers of the Education Department, prominent citizens of the locality, Principal, teachers, staff and students.
Ashok Khajuria, speaking on the occasion, announced a grant of Rs. 9,99,999 out of his Constituency Development Fund, as first installment, for construction of another hall in the School. He assured that the entire amount required for the completion of this hall would be provided by him out of his CDF.
In her welcome address, Sureshta Dogra, Principal of the School, dwelt on the achievements of the institution in the academic and extra-curricular arenas. She also threw light on the history and evolution of this School.
Ramesh Singh Slathia, Senior Lecturer, presented a Vote of Thanks.
Governor inaugurates multipurpose hall at GGHSS Mubarak Mandi
Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena announces executive body
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena (RSS) today announced the formation of its executive body.
In a statement issued here today it said the national president Jai Bhagwan Goel has already nominated Kuldeep Luthra as chairman, Vipin Hindu as president and Ashwani Gupta as working president of the RSS.
These leaders today formed the executive body which besides Kuldeep Luthra, Vipin Hindu and Ashwani Gupta as chairman, included Shiv Kumar Sharma as Deputy Chairman, Vipin Hindu as president, Ashwani Gupta as working president, Vikas Dewan and Rakesh Kak as general secretaries, Ravi Verma as organizer, Rajinder Gupta as senior vice president, Ranjit Singh Bali, Ch. Nathpal, Darshan Devi, Surinder Mahajan, Puran Singh, Ashok Pandey, Pawan Gupta, Ashwani Gandotra, Dushant Basur and Sanjeev Kumar as vice presidents.
Rajan Gupta was nominated as president Yuva Sena, Vikrant Sharma as president Vikrant Sena, Rajesh Kumar Dutta and Sudhir Raina as press secretaries and Shyam Lal Gupta, Nitin Gupta, Rattan Sharma, Varun Gupta and Govind Ram Sharma as secretaries.
The Sena will strive for justice for West Pakistan refugees, fight for justice for the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions, fight against anti national and anti social elements, irrational hike in water and electricity tariff and protection of the temples of the Kashmir Valley by getting passed Shrines Protection Bill.
Sham inaugurates fruit,veg market
Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, Apr 23: With a view to further strengthen marketing facilities for the farmers, Minister for Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today dedicated fruit and vegetable market to the locals at village Daskal.
The market has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.22 crore by the Horticulture (Planning & Marketing) Department, which is spread over a land of 20 kanals. The project comprises 2 numbers of auction platforms, 1 administrative block, 1 toilet block and other basic facilities for the business community.
MP Madan Lal Sharma, Vice Chairman, OBC Advisory Board, Master Kuldeep Verma, former MLA and senior Congress leader, Th. Shiv Dev Singh, Congress Block President, Ram Saran Bhagat, Director Planning & Marketing, Javed Ahmed Khan, Director Floriculture, K.K.Sharma, Director Horticulture, J.N.Sharma, were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Government was committed to provide marketing facilities to the farmers at their doorsteps. He said horticulture is the mainstay of state’s economy and all out efforts are being made to further boost this industry in the State.
Maintaining that Jammu division has great potential of horticulture and floriculture, he advised the farmers to switch over to cash crops like mangoes, Amla, Alo-vera, guava, lemon, strawberry and flowers instead of traditional crops, adding that these crops have great demand in the market. He said Government also provides attractive incentives for the promotion of horticulture and people should come in a big way to avail these benefits.
The Minister also allotted 38 numbers of shops to the deserving applicant through draw of lot. He said there is still a provision of another 45 shops which will be allotted in the second phase. He asked the traders to start the business activities immediately at the newly set up market.
He also handed over incentive cheques amounting to Rs. 13.32 lakh amongst the 306 progressive floriculture farmers on the occasion.
Madan Lal Sharma said that farmers of the area will be directly benefitted and local produce will be marketed in a systematic way. He asked the farmers to focus on the horticulture and floriculture activities to improve their economic.
Govt mulls adoption of Maintenance of Parents-Elders Act’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: The State Government is contemplating to formulate a policy to ensure social and economic security to senior citizens, besides adoption of the Maintenance of Parents – Elders Act in the state, the Parliament Law in operation in other states of the country.
The proposed Policy would pave way for the protection of rights and dignity of the old aged parents and other senior citizens in the society and within the family, besides ensuring certain concession for them in the delivery of public services, including health, travelling and others. The policy would also enshrine the provision for establishment of Old Age Homes and day care centres on the pattern of centre.
The issues were dealt upon at a meeting of State Level Advisory Council for Senior Citizens (SLACSC) chaired by Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, who is also Vice- Chairperson of the Council and attended by the Council members from across the state, besides Government functionaries representing various departments and representatives of Non- Governmental Organisations and Welfare Associations working for the welfare of the old aged and destitute.
The Council was constituted by the Government some years back, with Chief Minister as its Chairman.
The meeting held threadbare discussions on the problems confronting the senior citizens, while the Council members and other participants gave various suggestions to ensure formulation of a comprehensive policy to meet the aspirations of the senior citizens and the protection of their rights and social security.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that the government was sincerely working for formulation of the Senior Citizen Policy, including the adoption of the Maintenance of Parents -Elders Act. She said that the Government has already issued instructions to every department, including, health, transport and other service providing departments to ensure that the senior citizens will get special care with certain concessions. She assured the Council members that the Government was keen to implement the laws for the protection of the dignity and rights of the senior citizens with a focus for their social security.
Rather reviews Ladakh supplies
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: Minister for Finance & Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather reviewed the stock and supply position for Ladakh region at a high level officers’ meeting today.
Minister for Tourism & Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora and Minister for CA&PD and Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon were present in the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Rather asked the concerned agencies not to show any slackness in the supply, dumping and carriage of essential supplies and building material to Ladakh in the coming summer season.
The meeting decided to direct the concerned agencies for making available bitumin and steel on priority for Ladakh dispatch. He also directed timely release of funds to the concerned Departments for providing supply of diseal and kerosene etc.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Jora and Mr. Akhoon impressed upon the concerned agencies to take benefit of the coming months and lift the supplies as early as possible so that the same is used there before the onset of winter.
The meeting also decided to take up with Centre increasing the tankage capacity at Leh and Kargil.
The meeting also decided to repeat the monitoring mechanism put in place last year for the traffic movement on Srinagar-Leh highway. The Traffic Department was asked to station one recovery van at Captain Morh to facilitate easy movement of traffic.
The meeting also decided to take a mid season appraisal of the stock position in July.
MLC, Aga Syed Hassan Rizvi, Chief Executive Councillors of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils, Leh and Kargil, Deputy Commissioners of the two districts, several heads of Department, officers of Army and BRO were present in the meeting.
Special police recruitment rally organized at Reasi
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: In an effort to provide employment to the youth in the unrepresented areas, special recruitment rally was organised by Jammu and Kashmir Police in District Police Lines here today. The recruitment was conducted for 192 villages in four Nyabats of the district.
A large number of aspirants, including female candidates had reached to the venue early in the morning to excel in the ground. Senior officers, including DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, Jagjit Kumar, AIG (Personnel) PHQ, Ghulam Hassan Bhat and SP Reasi, Atul Kumar Goel conducted various physical tests of the candidates and Director General of Police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda personally supervised the process.
A total of 101 youth, including 2 female and 27 SPOs were selected on the spot in a transparent manner. Out of the selected candidates 12 are graduates and 40 with 10+2 qualification, who were put to various physical tests and selected on the basis of their performance and qualifications.
Giving details, Mr. Khoda said that the drive was organised in different areas of Jammu and Kashmir with the aim to provide employment to the eligible youth of the unrepresented areas and also add effective strength to the department. He said that today’s rally was organised for 192 villages of Nyabats Reasi, Katra, Pooni and Thakrakote. A criteria has been adopted to absorb the eligible SPOs under the reservation rules, disclosed the DGP. He said that the Department has kept a special criteria for SPOs in the recruitment process by giving them special points .
After completion of selection process, Mr. Khoda addressed the selected candidates and stressed upon them to keep themselves available for the service of the people.
SMF discusses demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: A meeting of Samajwadi Minority Forum, (SMF) J&K State was held under the chairmanship of Inderji Labroo wherein their discussed their grievances.
The meeting discussed about the wrong policies of the Government and held that it was persistently pressing hard for electrical charges which is totally wrong policy adopted by the Government. It said that poor migrants are unable to pay electricity monthly charges from a meager amount of Rs 5000 as cash relief paid to a family.
In the meeting stress was laid for enhancement of the relief upto Rs 12000 per month and other allied demands.
Those who addressed the meeting included Kuldeep Koul, Ashok Radhu, Bharat Bushan Koul, Bharat Bushan Dhar, Dileep Bhat and others.
4 injured in road accidents
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, April 23: Four persons were injured in different road accidents across the Kashmir valley today.
Police said a Maruti car bearing registration number JK01K/0658 hit and injured Habibullah Bhat son of Abdul Khaliq resident of Amargarh Sopore near Lalad. The injured has been hospitalized.
Meanwhile, a Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK01D/1791 skidded off the road near Sagam, in the jurisdiction of police station Kokernag , Anantnag, resulting in injuries to 02 passengers namely Mubeena, 30, wife of Gulam Hassan Shaksaz and Sakib Ahmad, 13, son of Nazir Ahmad resident of Bidder Kokernag. Both the injured have been shifted to Sub District Hospital Kokernag.
In an another accident, a Maruti car bearing registration number JK05/3909 skidded off the road while on way from Watergam to Kalantra near Munagam, Baramulla, resulting in injuries to driver of the vehicle, Abdul Ahad Rather son of Gulam Ahmad Rather resident of Watapora Bandipora.
The injured was shifted to Sub District Hospital Kreeri where from he was referred to SKIMS Soura Srinagar for further treatment.
3 burgalary cases solved
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: Police in Srinagar achieved a major breakthrough by arresting 3 burglars from Jammu when they were trying to flee with stolen gold items worth Rs 20 lakh, besides, arresting a domestic help for stealing gold jewelry worth Rs 10 lakhs.
The SSP Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari said that Rainawari police received a complaint from Ather Mustafa resident of Saida Kadal that gold items worth more than Rs 14 lakh missing which were kept in a safe place inside their house.
The SSP said that a case (FIR No: 16/2012 U/s 457,380,12B RPC) was registered in Rainawari police station and swift action was launched. “Few suspects were rounded up where in a clue stuck that a vehicle Wagon-r bearing registration number JK2S-9840 was seen in suspecious condition near the ill-fated house. When the registration number was confirmed from the concern authorities, we found the cell number of the owner of the vehicle”, he added.
The SSP said that after investigations it was found that the suspected person was heading towards Jammu and a police team of Rainawari rushed to Jammu and arrested the suspected persons, Ahahaan Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat resident of Panjtirthi Jammu, Yougesh Dogra son of Ved Prakash Dogra resident of Janipur Jammu and Akshay Kumar son of Kripal Chand, resident of Janipore Jammu.
SSP said that the sustained questioning of the arrested persons revealed that they had conceded the stolen gold items in the door of the vehicle that was parked near Gaw Kadal Srinagar.
“The vehicle was seized near Gaw Kadal and when the plastic covering of the door was opened all stolen gold items were found concealed inside the door. The case was solved within 24 hours and the accused have been put behind the bars, gold items recovered and vehicle used has been seized”, he added.
The SSP said that in another burglary case, on March 20 Police Station M R Gunj, received a complaint from Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh son of Mohammad Khaleel Sheikh resident of Saraf Kadal that gold items worth more than Rs 10 lakh were missing from his home.
It was observed that the domestic help of the victim family Gulzar Ahmad Wani Son of Abdual Gafar Wani resident of Kathran Beerwah was behaving strangely.
During Wani’s sustained questioning he admitted that he had committed the theft with the help of one Jahingir Ahmad Waza son of Ali Mohmad Waza resident of Tanki Mohalla. “The stolen gold items worth more than Rs 10 lakh were recovered from different places mostly from the house of the Gulzar Ahmad Wani”, he added.
The SSP said that in another burglary case (FIR NO 18/2012 U/S 457,380 RPC of Police Station M.R Gunj) all stolen electronic items worth Rs 50,000 were recovered from two accused Hilal Ahmad Rah son of Abdul Rahim Rah, resident of Urdu Bazar and Gulzar Ahmad Dar son Ali Muhammad Dar resident of M R Gunj. “The case was solved in two days of reporting with recovery of all stolen electronic goods”, he added.
Bandipora Awami Mahaz wins traders elections in Bandipora
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, April 23: The Bandipora Awami Mahaz, a recently formed party by civil society in Bandipora, won the Traders Federation elections by defeating People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Congress and National Conference supported candidates.
The secretary of Bandipora Awami Mahaz Mohammad Yusuf Para was elected as president of the Federation.
The Mahaz candidate Para got 375 votes while his nearest rival PDP supported candidate Nasir Ahmad Matoo got 169, Congress supported candidate and former chairman of Bandipora Municipal Committee got 106 and NC supported candidate Mohammad Mir got 54 votes.