Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 10: Police today lobbed water cannons and detained dozens of state government employees to foil their plan to stage a protest demonstration in Lal Chowk AREA in support of their demands.
The arrested include the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) member of the State Government employees, Mohammad Khursheed Alam.
Scores of employees owing allegiance to different factions of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) assembled at the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department complex and raised their protest over the alleged negligence of the state government towards the demands of the employees. The employees raised slogans and reiterated to carry their struggle forward.
Addressing the protesting employees, JCC member and President of his faction of EJAC, Mohammad Khursheed Alam said that the State Government has backtracked from its commitment of fulfilling the demands of the Government employees. He said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had himself committed to fulfill the demands of the government employees.
“Last year in September we struck a deal with the state government according to which all our demands were accepted. However, with the passage of time some of the demands were not met and the situation continues to be same even today. There are some people within the bureaucracy who want that government and employees should be at loggerheads always,” said Alam.
The JCC member said that the demands of the State Government employees are just and government should not have any hesitation in fulfilling the same. demands. He alleged apathy from the Government saying that four and half lakh employees would observe one day strike in support of their demands on September 17.
The protesting employees after raising their protest at the CAPD complex intended to take out a protest rally upto the Lal Chowk. Led by Khursheed Alam the protesting employees wanted to make their presence felt at the city centre, however their plans were subverted by the police personnel present there.
Alam along with some of the employees were arrested near the Shaheed Gunj police just outside the CAPD complex while as the others managed to give police the slip and moved ahead.
As the protesters reached near the Old Secretariat the police cops swooped on them and asked them to refrain from moving towards the Lal Chowk. However, this did not go well with the employees and they moved ahead. On this the police cops pressed the service of a vehicle that is used to spray water cannons.
Due to the strong pressure of the water cannons the protesting employees could not move ahead and they dispersed.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: An amount of Rs 775 crore has been spent under MG NREGA during the year 2011-2012 for accelerating the socio-economic development of rural and far-flung areas of the state.
The information was given at a high level review meeting of the Rural Development chaired by the Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar.
The Commissioner/Secretary Rural Development, Farooq Ahmad Peer, Directors Rural development Jammu and Kashmir, Shafeeq Raina, Jahangir Mir, Director Rural Sanitation, Tufail Mattu, Member Secretary MGNREGA Dr. Hanif Balkhi and other senior officers of the department were present.
While asking the officers to speed up the implementation of the flagship scheme, the Minister said that focus should be laid to ensure that the spirit of the scheme to provide much needed employment and accelerating the development of rural areas is maintained. He said that remarkable progress has been achieved in the implementation of the scheme by ensuring that the benefits percolate to the targeted populace. “We have also put in place mechanism by which the scheme can be monitored and effective feedback can be obtained”, he added.
He asked the officers to conduct tours on weekly basis to assess the impact of the scheme on the ground besides getting the requisite feedback from the locals as well as their representatives. He said that local representatives of the area should also be involved in the implementation the scheme.
He also asked the officers to ensure that MIS of the scheme is uploaded regularly so that the pace of implementation of the scheme can be made available online as well. He also directed that the codal formalities should be strictly observed for administrative expenses.
Directing the Commissioner/Secretary to ensure that proper action be initiated against the officials who are found deviating from the proper implementation of the welfare schemes, the Minister said that laxity will not be tolerated in any case and those found lacking in performing their duties would face strict action.
It was also given out in the meeting that an amount of Rs 2030 crore has been earmarked as labour budget under MGNREGA for the current financial year.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr, 10 : Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana today said that BJP is spreading fanaticism and creating communal disharmony which has dangerous connotations for the unity and integrity of the state.
Addressing a public meeting at Bantalab in Raipur Domana Assembly constituency, Rana said Jammu and Kashmir is a sterling example of secularism, communal harmony and brotherhood and it is the duty of secular forces to join hands to defeat all communal and divisive forces for the good of the state and its people.
He said BJP has always used the communal card to hoodwink the people and it is imperative that the people see through their nefarious designs and together take a pledge to isolate them and defeat their machinations which have always proved counterproductive to the welfare of the people of the state.
The Political Advisor said the Omar led coalition government took over the reins of the state after 2008 turmoil and despite all odds steered the state from most difficult time to peaceful 2011 only because of a secular ideology and steadfastness. He said this all has been possible due to the visionary leadership of Omar Abdullah, equitable accelerated development and revolutionary initiatives of the Government. He said the time has come when the dividends of peace must reach the people of the state which alone can lead to a resurgent and vibrant Jammu and Kashmir.
Rana said the menace of unemployment is a great challenge for the state and the Coalition government has taken the issue head on and initiated measures to tackle unemployment as well as employability by skill development and capacity building.
He said Omar led Coalition Government in the last three and half years has taken some very revolutionary steps like promulgation of Public Service Guarantee Act, setting up of effective RTI Commission, revival of the State Accountability Commission, holding of the panchayat elections after three decades, setting up of new degree colleges, polytechnics and ITIs, launching of SKWEPY for the unemployed youth besides accelerated pace of development.
Addressing the gathering, Provincial President J&K National Conference Rattan Lal Gupta said that National Conference has astutely led people towards a prosperous future and has always felt concerned for the speedy and balanced development of all regions with a special focus on under developed and in accessible areas. He further said that National Conference will continue to uphold the principals of secularism and work for strengthening democratic institutions to translate developmental policy of the party into reality.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Satpal Lakhotra ex-MLA, K.D. Singh, Bhramanand, Ram Saroop Sharma, Ashok Singh Manhas, Subash Bhagat, Joginder Singh, Sham Lal and Th. Ranjeet Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: The daily rated workers from PDD, PHE, I&FC, R&B, Forest and Education Departments held protest demonstration in support of their demands here today.
A large number of workers under the banner of J&K Daily Wagers Joint Action Forum, assembled near Press Club and held demonstration. Forum leaders Gurnam Singh Slathia, Rajan Sharma, Kamal Verma, Swarn Kumar, Surjeet Khajuria, Kuldip Sharma and Subash Chander were leading. They criticized the Government for its anti-worker policy.
All the members present expressed serious concern over the indifferent attitude of the State Government which has miserably failed to frame policy for regularization of daily rated workers for about two decades. They said the Government reached the agreement with the JCC members 19-2-2009, 14-5-2010 and then on 15-09-2011 but did not bother to implement the same. They pointed out that Government representatives including Chief Secretary, Chief Minister’s political advisor Devinder Singh Rana, Principal secretary to CM, Pr Secy Home and Commissioner Secretary GAD during meeting with the JCC members on 15-9-2011 at Srinagar had assured to announce the regularization policy before March 2012 but unfortunately, they have breached the agreement. The employees have no trust in the agreements of the Government and they have now resolved to go for intensified agitation. They said the Government has been forcing the workers to adopt the path of confrontation. The daily wagers are also demanding Rs 250 per day and regular payment of their wages besides regularization of all the workers who have completed seven years in service. The Forum announced strong protest and ‘kam chhor Hartal’ on April 17. The employees will conduct gherao of the Civil Secretariat on this day, a Forum leader claimed.
Some senior JCC members also visited the agitating daily rated workers and assured full support. They included R A Khaniyari, Ram Kumar, Parshotam Sharma, Amrik Singh, Mohd Aslam, Balwan Singh, Madan Sangral, Kulwant Singh, Yashpal and others.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: A delegation of representatives of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, met A K Thatai, Commissioner of Income Tax, J&K, who has recently taken over the new assignment.
The delegation comprised of Y V Sharma, president, Tara Chand Gupta, senior vice president and Deepak Aggarwal, treasurer.
The Chamber representatives expressed the hope that the relations between the traders and Income Tax Department would remain cordial during his tenure.
A K Thatai, CIT, assured the delegates that Department would take all steps to ensure that no harassment is caused to the assesses but at the same time he advised them to ask their member to fulfil their obligations in the matter of paying their taxes correctly and honestly.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: One person was killed and 21 others sustained injuries, when a bus they were traveling in, skidded off the road and rolled down near Khaleni in Doda district.
The ill-fated SRTC vehicle bearing registration number JK02Y-0396 was on its way from Goha Marmat to Doda when it met with accident. On the receipt of information, a police party rushed to site of the accident and started rescue operation.
All the occupants of the ill-fated vehicle were brought out of the gorge and rushed to District Hospital where one of them was pronounced as brought dead. The condition of injured was stated to be out of danger when reports last came in.
The deceased has been identified as Javed Ahmed, son of Ghulam Rasool of Prabal.
The injured have been identified as Shoqat Ali, son of Hilal, Kirti Devi, daughter of Kamal Singh, Palsa Devi, Shadi Lal, son of Sain Dass, Parmeet Kumar, son of Shadi Lal, Zakir Hussain, son of Mohd Sadiq, Sunita Devi, daughter of Pyar Singh, Ram Krishan, son of Phool Ram, Bihari Lal, son of Kunj Lal, Jagdish Raj, son of Man Chand, driver Mohd Hussain, son of Ghulam Haider, Dhani Ram, son of Jagdish, Saidullah, son of Bashir Ahmed, Bodh Raj, son of Duggu Ram, Abdul Sattar, son of Ghulam Qadir, Ganga Ram, son of Dev Raj, Shadi Lal, son of Sunit Ram, Aijaz Ahmed, son of Rehmatullah, Riyaz Ahmed, son of Rehmatullah, Naresh Kumar, son of Bishan Dass and Roshan Lal, son of Mela Ram.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Doda provided interm relief of Rs 5,000 to the family members of deceased and Rs 1000 each to all those injured in the accident out of Red Cross Fund.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: A deputation of J&K Post Graduate Teachers Association (PGTA) led by Naresh Kumar, convener of the Association met Commissioner cum Secretary, School Education Farooq Ahmed Factoo and apprised him of various problems which the PG teachers are facing.
The delegation urged that while scrutinizing the degrees and service particulars of incharge lecturers who are claiming their regularization in pursuance of Cabinet decision, the I/C lecturers possessing PG Degrees through distance mode, PG Degrees followed by 10+2+2 pattern in graduation without bridge course or 10+2+3 pattern in graduation after 30-06-1989 and those who had done PG Degree in science while in service without availing monetary leave that too by drawing full salary during the course of PG should not be cleared for regularization.
The Association demanded that I/C Lecturers holding valid degree should only be cleared and those having invalid degrees are required to be weeded out and rights of those who have acquired the Post Graduation from genuine universities through genuine means are not prejudiced in any manner.
The Government vide order no 305 Edu of 2010 dated 01-04-2010 has taken note of aforesaid aspects while placing the post -graduate masters/ teachers as I/C lecturers in Mathematics. The Association urged the Commissioner Secretary School Education Department to issue promotion lists in all subjects in accordance with this order.
Other members of the delegation included Paramjeet Singh, Rajinder Kumar Sharma, Ajay Kumar, Sharat Chander, Surinder Kumar, Naresh Kumar Banto, Parvez Ahmed, Dr Rakesh Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Madhu Bhatti and Neeraj Malhotra.