Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: The election of the office bearers of the Managing Committee of the Municipal and Urban Local Bodies Pensioner Association Jammu Province was held today under the chairmanship of Kartar Singh Lakhanpuria, after dissolving the existing Managing Committee.
All the senior members of the Association unanimously elected BS Jamwal as president, BD Verma as general secretary, KG Khajuria and RK Gupta as senior vice-presidents, Badri Nath Bhat and Kartar Singh Lakhanpuria as vice-presidents, JR Sharma as working president, CL Jalali as secretary, Tarsem Lal Gupta as financial advisor, Latief Massih as cashier, Indu Bhushan and Jawahar Lal as publicity secretaries and Shiv Kumar as organising secretary.
Besides, S Attar Singh, KS Sambyal, Balbir Singh Jamwal, Lal Singh Nag, ML Gupta and Raghubir Singh Sambyal of Samba, Mohd Aslam of Udhampur, HR Sapolia of Reasi, Teja Singh of Poonch and Bodh Raj of Kishtwar were elected as senior executive members of the Association while Daya Singh, Kher Chand, Baha-ud-Din, Mrs Iqbal, Mrs Rachana and Sardar Massih were elected as other executive members.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, today said that the distinct culture of J&K will be preserved for posterity and dovetailed with heritage tourism promotion.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of Heritage Week at SKICC. During the week, several operas and films on cultural ethos of the State will be presented at the Convention Centre here today.
Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Chairman, INTACH, JK Chapter, Saleem Beg and several cultural oficinadoes were present on the occasion. World Heritage Day is celebrated on April 18 every year.
Addressing the gathering, Nasir Aslam said the Government is spending nearly Rs. 150 crore for promotion and conservation of heritage tourism in the State. “The Naagar Nagar project will restore the pristine glory of the downtown Srinagar city. The conservation and restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is currently under way,” he said, adding three more mega projects of Rs. 50 crore each cleared by the Union Tourism Ministry will be launched in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.
The Minister urged the civil society to make people aware about preservation of heritage treasure trove so that we cater to both foreign and domestic visitors who prefer interest in oriental culture. He said the Government in the last three years has declared several heritage sites and buildings as protected monuments.
Earlier, the audience was treated to traditional Kashmiri folk dances, film on Dal lake conservation and INTACH presentation on restoration works on Kashmir heritage sites.

Excelsior Correspondent

REASI, April 15: Senior Congress leader and Member Legislative Council, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that the people should be aware of their rights so that they could be able to overcome lack of development, poverty and illiteracy.
The Congress leader was addressing a largely attended gathering at village Gori Mitti near Ladda in Bhamag region of Reasi district, assembled there to accord felicitation to their leader during his maiden visit after his election as MLC.
People from Ladda panchayat welcomed their leader with drum beats and slogans in his praise at picturesque locales of Gori Mitti where the reception had been arranged.
Besides the people of Ladda panchayat, more than thousand villagers, sarpanchs and panchs from more than 10 panchayats participated in the welcome ceremony.
Folk songs and dance programmes were also presented on the occasion by the villagers.
Addressing the gathering, newly elected MLC called upon the people to exercise their right to franchise in a judicious manner so as to avoid a wrong choice, which could hamper the developmental process.
Jugal said that service to the public is his main motto and he would leave no stone unturned for the development and prosperity of Bhamag area.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Hoshiar Singh, Dina Nath, Kailash Devi, Gandharab Singh, Munshi Ram and Ramesh Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: The J&K National Trade Union Front has decided to support April 17 strike call given by the members of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) and appealed the employees of various Government departments and PSUs to observe `Kaam Chhor’ Hartal on Tuesday.
Talking to media-persons here today Mohd Gafoor Dar, president of the Front said that in the executive committee meeting held here yesterday it has been decided by the members to observe one day token strike on April 17, call for which has been given by the JCC. He said the Government has failed to honour its commitment made with the employees’ leaders and now the employees have been left with the only option to resume the strike.
Mr Dar alleged that Government has failed in providing pending 6th Pay Commission arrears of the employees and moreover, it has not taken any decision regarding enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years. Pay anomalies of the employees remained un-attended, there was no decision on framing policy for regularization of daily wagers/ contractual employees and release of 7% DA in favour of State employees. He said Government had reached an agreement on certain issues with the employees’ leaders but it has backed out. It has failed to implement the agreement before March 31, 2012. It shows the anti-employee stance of the Government. The employees are being forced to resort to the path of agitation, Dar maintained.
He said the units of the Front at various district and tehsil headquarters shall stage protest dharnas/ demonstrations on Tuesday in support of the pending demands of the employees. He condemned the Government for its attitude and said that employees will be forced to intensify the agitation in near future.
Senior members of the Front including Arun Moza, Muneer Ahmed, Rajinder Kumar and Raj Singh were also present, who spoke on the subject.

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Apr 15: Over 1.40 lakh visitors including men, women and children of all faiths witnessed 3-day Historic Devika Baisakhi Mela which concluded here last evening.
The mela is celebrated at the bank of sacred Devika rivulet from the time immemorial which is having a number of temples of different deities including famous and ancient Kamehswar Mahadev and temples of Ganga, Hanumana, Rama-Laxmana and Radha-Krishna on both sides of Devika. The visitors in addition to enjoying festivities of the mela, offered prayers in these temples to seek the blessings of Lord Mahadev and other deities.
Like previous year, the district administration had made adequate arrangements of barricading, security, sanitation, first-aid, drinking water and power supply during the mela.
Three-day Baisakhi Mela, which attracted thousands of people of all faith & beliefs, also an end at Naaz Khel Maidan in Billawar today.
Speaking on the came to occasion, Minister of State for Cooperatives, Finance & Planning, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma termed the Mela a successful event. He lauded the members of the organizing committee for their untiring efforts to make Mela a grand success.
Dr Sharma said such melas help in providing platform to the budding local talent to present their art. He added that Government is keen to organize such melas at different places to provide a stage to the local artist.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: The second phase of pulse polio campaign was held across State aimed at reaching 17 lakh children.
The second phase of pulse polio campaign was inaugurated by Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports, RS Chib in presence of Ashok Khajuria, MLA, Jammu East and Chairman, Hospital Development Committee, SMGS Hospital, at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital, Immunization Clinic in New Paediatric Block.
Speaking on the occasion, RS Chib, appealed the public to avail this opportunity of free polio drops being administered to their children below the age of 5 years, which is a step forward to eradicate the dreaded disease “Polio”. He said that more than 17 lacs children are going to be vaccinated across the State.
Among others present were Dr Rajinder Singh, Principal, Government Medical College, Dr Aniece Chowdhary, Head, Department of ENT, GMC, Dr Arvinder Sharma, Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital, Dr Rekha Harish, Prof and Head, Department of Paediatrics, GMC, Dr GS Saini, Associate Prof, Department of Paediatrics, GMC, Dr Dara Singh, Deputy Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital, faculty members and staff.
Minister of State for Health and Medical Education, Javed Ahmad Dar today started Pulse Polio Immunization campaign by administrating OPV drops to new born baby at Government hospital Gandhi Nagar.
Speaking on the occasion, Dar said that 25 lakh OPV doses are being administrated to an estimate population of more than 17 lakh children in the State. He said over 12000 booths have been setup for the purpose apart from 735 mobile teams moving house to house to ensure that no child will left un-attended.
In Kargil, pulse polio immunization programme 2nd round was held today, in which parents got their wards administered drops of polio vaccine.
Health Department Kargil has established 386 polio booths in the district and engaged 1544 workers and 76 supervisors for successful implementation of the national programme.
Dr Gurjeet Singh, Chief Medical Officer Kargil inaugurated the 2nd round of pulse polio immunization programme.
CMO Kargil Dr Gurjeet Singh while speaking said that, 85 per cent target of the whole district has been achieved till 3 pm toady and the house to house campaign will continue for next two days for 100 per cent coverage.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: All Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Teachers Federation (AJKLTF) expressed concern over the delaying tactics adopted by the Government towards the demands of the teaching fraternity.
Addressing a press conference, Balwan Singh Jamwal, president of the Federation, said that inspite of repeated memorandums, Government has failed to promote the under graduate trained teachers working in the Education Department since 2004.
He said that headmasters and lecturers are still working in their own pay and grade inspite of Cabinet decision taken to regularize all the headmasters and lecturers working in their own pay and grade since 1998.
He added that the tentative seniority list of the headmaster which was published in the month of December, last year was still lying pending with the Directorate of School Education, where as on the other hand, hundreds of schools are working without teachers, masters and headmasters badly affecting the education of the students of the rural areas.
Jamwal further stated that due to lack of proper transfer policy the students of the rural areas are suffering due to the lack of subject teachers.
He appealed the concerned authorities to concede demands of the teaching community by promoting all trained under-graduate teachers in the selection grade, regularization of headmasters and lecturers, filling up of vacant posts of teachers, masters, headmasters and lecturers so that the education of the students may not suffer.
AJKLTF appealed the teaching community, employees of the State to observe Kaam Chhor Hartal on April 17, hold rallies and demonstration in their respective tehsils, blocks and district headquarters to ventilate their protest.
Among others present were Ram Kumar Sharma, chief spokesman of JCC, Manga Ram Sharma, Joginder Singh Manhas, Som Nath Banathia, Kewal Sharma, Inderjeet Gupta, Sudershan Sharma, etc.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: Thakur Master Bhagat Ram, a renowned teacher of Doda-Siraj area and a complete institution in himself, breathed his last at his native village ‘Ganika’ located on Doda-Dessa road at the age of 97 after a brief illness. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.
Born in a poor peasant family in 1915, Master Bhagat Ram did his primary schooling from Government Primary School, Doda, sixth from Government Middle School, Udhampur and later with the upgradation of Primary School to Middle School his seventh and eighth from Government MS, Doda and Matriculation from Government High School, Bhaderwah. He passed FA from the then University of Punjab. With poverty coming in his way, he could not continue his studies.
He was appointed as a teacher on 15th October 1935. His first appointment was in Government Primary School, Chinta (Bhaderwah) and worked in many other schools at Khalani, Trigam, Batote, Ramban and Udhampur. He served for a major part of his service spanning over 19 years in Government Higher Secondary School, Doda where he attained superannuation in 1970.
As a teacher, Master Bhagat Ram was known for its strict discipline and dedication besides high moral values. He was a model of simplicity and high thinking. The best teacher award was conferred on him by the then Governor Jammu and Kashmir Mr. Bhagwan Sahai, on the Republic Day in 1968.
Though he is gone, his plantation that he nurtured with so much care and commitment is blooming and flourishing in this vast area of Chenab valley.
Acknowledging his services, the citizens of Doda organised a function in 1997 to express their indebtedness to this great saint teacher who used to teach his students English, Math, Persian and Sanskrit with ease.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla on today dedicated Rs. 30 lakh Community Facility Centre (CFC) building including Rural Sanitary Complex to Bhour Camp people.
Director Rural Development Shafiq Ahmed Raina, Assistant Commissioner Development K K Sidha besides other senior officers of RDD, PHE and R&B accompanied the Minister.
Addressing a large gathering, Mr. Bhalla said that the CFC building would facilitate the people of Bhour Camp, Bhour Kothey and its adjoining areas in arranging their social as well as religious functions there on nominal fee.
The Minister said for the convenience of Upper Gaddigarh people, instructions have been issued to RDD to identify suitable place for construction of Community Facility Centre in the area. He said a multipurpose community hall is under progress on war-footing at Bhour Kullian at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 lakh, adding that the project would be completed by September this year with the facilities of kitchen, toilet and lawn.
Responding to the locals demand, Mr. Bhalla asked the PHE to prepare estimates for construction of one more deep drill tube well at Bhour Camp so that the people could get relief from drinking water scarcity.
Regarding upgradation of 14-km Karan Bagh-Chatha Mill approach road, he said Government has released Rs. 1.50 crore for this purpose for speedy completion of widening and blacktopping works adding that the projects are under execution and would be completed within prescribed time frame.
The Minister said Government has earmarked Rs. 2.20 crore for construction of 45 meter span trussed bridge over Landoi Choi nallah near to Flouriculture garden at Bhour Camp.
For construction of 3.5 meter long road including 12 box type culverts from Matador Stand to Cremation Ground at Bhour Camp, he said Government has earmarked Rs. 1.92 crore under NABARD RIDF-16 funding, the work on the projects are under progress on war-footing.
Earlier, Mr. Bhalla laid foundation stone of Panchayat Ghar at Bhour Camp, coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 lakh.
Later, Mr. Bhalla visited Digiana Camp and Dashmesh Nagar in Gangyal and kick started modernisation work of local nallah, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 4 lakh.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, APR 15: The Omar led Coalition Government is committed to equal development of all the three regions of the State.
was stated by the Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone while addressing a public gathering in Ajas Bandipora today.
The Speaker said that the Government is making every effort to provide all the basic amenities to the people of Ajas in a phased manner. He further said that a hospital would soon be constructed in the area to cater to the health needs of the locals.
Mr. Lone asked the people to cooperate with his Government which has always worked for the upliftment of the downtrodden.
MLA, Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi and Senior Leader of National Conference, Ghulam Rasool Naaz also spoke on the occasion.