Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, MAY 05 : Exhorting medicos and paramedics to be more responsive and prompt towards patient care, Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, R S Chib today urged them to ensure that visiting people in the hospitals are not made to unnecessarily wait.
Chairing a high level meeting convened to review the functioning of Associated Hospitals of GMC, Jammu, the Minister cautioned that no laxity or carelessness will be accepted, as for as patient care is concerned.
“Government will not hesitate to initiate stringent action against those indulging in indiscipline or negligence towards their noble profession”, he maintained.
Chib took stock of various services being extended to the ailing in Associated Hospitals and directed the concerned to devise an effective mechanism to deal with heavy rush of patients in summer season. He also asked the administrative units of GMC and hospitals to redouble their efforts for smooth and people friendly functioning of health institutions which is pre-requisite for establishing a healthy society.
Terming collective approach and team spirit as essential for the success of any institution, the Minister asked all the medicos, paramedics and the managements to work in tandem to meet the responsibilities of their pious profession. He also asked them to be vigilant against those who work only for their vested interests and blemish the image of this noble service.
Deliberating upon the non-functioning of several sophisticated diagnostic equipments at times, the Minister made it clear that all necessary measures should be taken to put them in place on priority basis. He also directed the medical authorities to ensure that all the necessary equipments are being serviced and checked for their proper working.
In this regard, he fervently appealed to the people to cooperate with the authorities instead of losing patience as it affects the treatment of their own people.
Chib also expressed dismay over presence of large number of attendants, having potential of creating avoidable obstacles in treating the patients and jeopardizing the efforts of maintaining health and hygiene. He directed the hospital administration to regulate the inflow of visitors so that the patients and hospital staff is not disturbed anyway. He also reviewed the security scenario in hospitals and asked the SP Headquarter Shailendar Singh to ensure that adequate security personnel are deployed in hospitals for better management.
Later, the Minister interacted with the delegation of Union Employees and directed the Principal GMC to complete the process of DPC at the earliest,. Among others present were Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma, Officiating Principal GMC Aniece Choudhary, HODs, Medical Superintendents, senior doctors, officers of R&B, PDD and other departments.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has taken strong exception to discrepancies in voter lists of Bishnah and various other constituencies.
Citing glaring discrepancies in voter lists received from Election Office for election to Municipal Committee Bishnah, Senior BSP leader, Yash Pal Bhagat pointed out that many voters’ name have been listed in more than one wards with the ulterior motive to defeat the cause of free and fair polls. For example, the name of Romesh bearing Epic No 399/OSN-375 H-96 existed in Ward No 3 and again his name appeared in Ward No 8 bearing Epic No 620/OSN- 626 H-117.
Bhagat maintained that similar reports have been also received from other Municipal Committees’ voter lists.
BSP leader stressed upon the concerned authorities to rectify such type of bungling by adopting fool-proof method with the help of local leadership of parties before going to the process of election.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, MAY 5: Divisional Commissioner Jammu Pradeep Gupta today conducted an extensive tour of Kathua and inspected ongoing developmental works being executed by ERA and other executing agencies in the district. He also inspected pace of works on Lakhanpur Toll Plaza.
He reviewed physical and financial achievements registered under various sectors at an officers meeting.
During the meeting, DDC Kathua Zahida Khan, gave a detailed resume of the status of developmental works and flagship schemes like MGNREGA, PMGSY, NRHM, NRDWP and PMRP, through a power point presentation.
Divisional Commissioner inquired about the drinking water supply situation to various areas, status of pumping stations and standby machinery, staff position in health and education sector, status of land acquisition with regard to BRO, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Railway, PMGSY projects, issue of land compensation on account of construction of check dam and guide Bunds for water storage scheme on Wajooh Nallah at Khokyal, plugging of breached portion of earthen embankment due to floods in August 2011 on right side of Ujh River near Village Bhamberwan.
Divisional Commissioner emphasised the need for   redressal of issues of public concern in a time bound manner. He also called for sorting out issues with the (NHAI), Railways and BRO to remove bottlenecks, if any,  to ensure that the works taken up by these agencies are completed in a time bound manner.
Among others ADDC, ADC, ACR, SDM Billawar and Basohli, CPO, SCs , Xens of various works departments were present in the meeting.
Later, Divisional Commissioner held a meeting with prominent citizens of Kathua wherein they apprised him about the various issues and problems related to the district.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5:  Governor  N. N. Vohra, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today greeted the people on Buddha Purnima and hoped that the auspicious occasion would be the harbinger of sustained peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the State.
In his message of felicitations, the Governor described Lord Buddha as an apostle of peace whose message of ahimsa and non-violence assumes much greater relevance today when the world is faced with growing intolerance, violence and terrorism.
The Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the State.
In a greetings messag,e the Chief Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir symbolizes pluralistic ethos and rich tradition of celebrating festivals and holy occasions in amity and brotherhood. He expressed the hope that this trait of the State would get strengthened with passage of time.
The Chief Minister prayed for peace and development of the State and the Country.

Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, MAY 5 – Minister for Health, Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today inaugurated Water Supply Scheme (WSS) at village Tarodian-Tacharwan in Akhnoor block, developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 81 lakh. The scheme will cater to the drinking water needs of over half a dozen villages with an approximate population of 4000 souls.
The Minister also inaugurated a Primary School at village Tarodian, constructed under SSA at an estimated cost of Rs. 9.45 lakh and laboratory block of Government Higher secondary School, Nardi Bala. The Laboratory block has been developed at a cost of Rs. 16.31 lakh under Special Plan Assistance.
Addressing a largely attended public meeting at village Nardi-Tacharwan, the Minister said that Government was according focused attention to upgrade the infrastructure of basic facilities in every nook and corner of the State. He said development of all three regions is the agenda of the coalition Government headed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah which is fully supported by the Central leadership. He said during the past over three years massive development has taken place in all vital sectors.
Seeking people’s active support in the development process, the Minister said that Government has envisaged the role of people through Panchyat institutions, adding that grass root institutions have been empowered to ensure development of their areas after fixing the priorities on merit. He reiterated the resolve of the Government to fully empower the Panchayati Raj system and said that he fully supports restoration of powers to the panchayats, which would lessen the burden of MLAs, whose main role is policy, planning and monitoring. He asked the Panchs to adopt proactive approach and attend people’s problems on priority. He asked them to monitor the functioning of ground level functionaries of identified departments to ensure transparency, accountability and efficient services to the people.
Responding to the people’s demands, the Minister announced separate tubewell for Bala-Godhan to overcome the drinking water problem of this dry belt. He also announced construction of boundary wall and additional accommodation for HSS, Nardi Bala and cremation ground in the area. He also assured that irrigational tubewells will also be developed in the kandi belt to improve the irrigational facilities.
Earlier, the Minister also inaugurated 13th Himayhat Training Center in St. Francis Higher Secondary School, Akhnoor. The training center has been sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India for training the rural youth for different trades to make them eligible for different jobs in the market.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Samooh Theatre today staged a Hindi play “Maa Mujha Tagore Bana Do” at Vasudhaiv Kutumbankan School, Kasim Nagar.
The play is a deep philosophical journey of a child whose cravings for writing the poetry and go Rabinder Nath Tagore is broken when his poor father working in a brick kiln meets with an accident and turns bed ridden. The boy, who used to go to school and recite his poetry to everybody, has to leave the school and take place of his father’s work to earn the livelihood.
In the process, his poetry too starts vanishing and he too loses his art and life working in the brick kiln. The story idea of the play is just a reflection to the society that there are many Rabinder Nath Tagore and others in the society, who could not make up their destinations due to manifolds reasons.
On the occasion, Prof Ved Ghai, a renowned scholar of the State and social activist was the chief guest, who while speaking said that the drama and theatre play a vital role in order to imbibe and inculcate values among the children and also develop the personality and refine the sensitivity, which is the ultimate aim of the children.
The play was acted by Lucky Gupta and directed by Ravinder Sharma.
At the end, Dr Sudhir Mahajan, Director, Samooh Theatre, presented vote of thanks.
Among others present were Prof Champa Sharma, Prof Archana Kesar, Suman Chiber, Dr Raj Kumari, Yogita Jamwal, Principal, Vaisudhaiv Kutumbankan School, Mohan Lal, teachers, staff and students.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, MAY 05 : Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla today inaugurated lanes and drains at Rampura and Ashok Nagar, completed at a cost of Rs. 17 lakh.
Addressing a large gathering, Bhalla said the Government has formulated  a Tube Well project costing Rs. 2.5 crore for  Rampura, adding that   the site for the construction of tube well has already been identified  at Vijay Park.  He said after commissioning of the tube well drinking water supply in the area would be improved to a large extent. He called upon the inhabitants of Ashok Nagar, Rampura and Nai Basti not to waste drinking water and use it judiciously.
The Minister appealed the people not to dump debris in the lanes, drains and open spaces such practices create unhygienic conditions and leave a bad impression on the   visitors coming to Jammu. He asked the JMC to prepare estimates for modernization of   left out lanes and drains in the area and submit the same for funding to ensure early start of work.
For providing better place to the inhabitants of the locality, the Minister said the Government has developed Rs. 70 lakh Vijay Park on available open space in Rampura and 200 meter available space on the edge of Nai Basti nallah as recreational park. He asked the people not to encroach open spaces in their localities, adding that such places are   meant for construction of public assets.
Mr. Bhalla informed that Government has earmarked Rs. 4.70 crore for construction of parking slot near cremation ground Shastri Nagar by covering the Landoi Choi nallah.
To improve the power scenario in Shastri Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Rampura, Ashok Nagar and some parts of Nai Basti, the Minister said the work on 10 MVA 33/11 KV Receiving Station at Shastri Nagar is under progress on war footing and the project costing Rs. 3.26 crore would be completed by August this year.
At K C Colony, Ajeet Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Hargobind Pura, Mr. Bhalla launched construction work of lanes and drains and toilet complex, for which Government has earmarked Rs 16 lakh. He asked the executing agencies to complete the projects within stipulated time frame for the benefit of general masses.