Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, May 8: The State Government employees’ strike today paralyzed the functioning of Government offices across the Kashmir Valley. The strike was called by Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of State Government Employees for non-fulfillment of their demands.
In the meantime, as part of the Civil Secretariat ghero programme, hundreds of Government employees reached Srinagar from winter capital today. These employee are led by Ram Kumar Sharma, Purshottam Sharma, Babu Hussain Malik, Dinesh Khajuria, Balwant Singh and Kulwinder Singh.
Security has been beefed around the Civil Secretariat and police has been put on alert to thwart assembly of Government employees near the Civil Secretariat. Police personnel in large numbers are being deployed around the Civil Secretariat to thwart the move and all entry points of Srinagar are being sealed for Government employees by the police.
The Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Rural Development Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar today said that Government is in favour of solving the issues of the employees adding that Government does not believe in confrontation. He said that employee, leaders should come forward for dialogue with the government.
As the essential services including hospitals, public health engineering posts and power development department installations were kept out of the purview of the strike, the common masses didn’t face much problems due to the strike.
In the Government run educational institutions teachers did not turn up for their duties. However, there was no strike in the private schools and Banks.
The main gates of most of the offices including Agricultural complex, Engineering complex, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department and Directorate of Education were locked. As a result of this nobody could enter these offices and activities remained paralysed.
Reports from the other district headquarters and towns said that the strike was almost complete in all the Government departments.
The strike did not evoke much response in the Civil Secretariat and the offices functioned normally there. Most of the Civil Secretariat employees attended to their duties and the attendance was almost normal in all the offices.
The strike call was given by JCC and the different employee organizations against the alleged failure of the Government to fulfill their demands. The employees are demanding enhancement of the retirement age from 58 to 60 years, regularization of daily wagers engaged in various Government departments and removal of the disparities in the pay structure.
Meanwhile, the leaders of JCC and other employee organizations are meeting tomorrow morning to chalk out the further course of action. After the meeting these protesting employees are likely to march towards the Civil Secretariat and gherao the Civil Secretariat as part of their scheduled protest programme.
“The Civil Secretariat gherao programme is a reminder to the Government that they have failed in fulfilling their commitment made with the employees last year. If a Central Government employee retires at 60 years then what is the problem in applying the same parameters vis-à-vis the State Government employees,” said Mohammad Abbas, general secretary, ITI Employees Union while talking to Excelsior.
Abbas, who is associated with the Qayoom faction of the Employees Joint Action Committee said the Government has failed to implement in letter and spirit the commitment made regarding the regularization of the daily wagers. He said Government has also failed to remove the pay anomalies of the employees.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, Prof Mohan Pal Singh Ishar met with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) “UDAAN” Coordinator Priscilla Vincent and discussed possible avenues to promote the training cum employment initiative “UDAAN”.
While speaking, Vice Chancellor mentioned that a structure bringing together University and colleges from around the region has been established to reach out a greater number of youth.
It is to mention here that NSDC has entered into partnership with eight corporate giants, including TCS, Wipro and HCL to provide employability to youth from J&K.
The information relating to the employment opportunities will be provided to the youth through “UDAAN” website and is aimed to train and make employable 40,000 graduate and post graduates of J&K over a period of 5 years.
It calls for corporates across the India to select, train and place deserving candidates from the State either within their own organizations or in another corporate organization.

Omar reviews status of transfer of powers to panchayats

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 8 : The Government has decided to hold the elections of Block Panchayat Councils completing the task by middle of June this year and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah gave nod to a proposal to this effect presented by the Rural Development Department at a high level meeting here today.
Reviewing the status of transfer of powers to Panchayats, the Chief Minister directed the Administrative Secretaries to ensure that the roadmap approved by the Government for the establishment of empowered Panchayat Raj in the State is implemented in letter and spirit. He said he would review the status of implementation of orders issued in this regard in the next meeting to be held after 15 days.
He also directed for formulating memo for the approval of Cabinet for constitution of Finance and Election Commissions as provided under Panchayat Act. He said Government is committed to an empowered Panchayat Raj System in the State and all necessary measures required to realize this goal need to be taken in a time bound manner.
The Chief Minister announced about Rs. 11.60 crore from the Planning Department for Panchayat Fund. He said this amount should be utilized for making panchayat offices functional. The amount will also pave the way for obtaining accommodation on rent for panchayats which are without accommodation.
Speaking in the meeting, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that presently MGNREGA is being implemented through panchayats. He said payments to the labours are made only after sarpanches sign the master rolls and certify the attendance. He said plan formulation and identification of beneficiaries under total sanitation campaign and payments have been entrusted to panchayats. He said identification of beneficiaries under IAY has also been entrusted to panchayats.
The Minister said that 75 percent panchayats have already held Deh Majlis ratifying plan proposals of MGNREGA.
Present in the meeting were Minister of State for Rural Development, Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretaries, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, B. B. Vyas, Sudhanshu Pandey, various Administrative Secretaries and senior officers.
In a PowerPoint presentation, the Commissioner Secretary Rural Development Department, Farooq Ahmad Peer said that the funds to the tune of over Rs. 41 crores provided by the Planning Department under the directions of the Chief Minister to panchayats have been distributed to each Panchayat Halqa at the rate of Rs. 1 lakh.
He gave resume of the measures underway to make panchayats more effective and viable units to deliver at grass root successfully.
Matters relating to the remuneration to panches and sarpanches, e-governance for panchayats were also discussed in the meeting besides reviewing the action taken on the decisions of previous meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 8: Haji Abdul Rehman Mir, father of veteran trade unionist of the State and General Secretary Low Paid Government Employees Federation, Mir Ghulam Rasool Butwani breathed his last yesterday after a brief illness. He was 90.
He was buried at his ancestral grave -yard in village Butwani in Ganderbal district. People from all walks of life including the leaders of LPEF and Kashmir Electric Employees and Workers Association (KEEWA) attended his funeral procession.
Haji Rehman a social activist and a progressive leader had also taken part in freedom struggle during late forties. The trade unionists of the State have expressed shock and grief over the demise of Haji.

Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, May 8: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will start protest and dharnas in support of regularization demand of SPOs and VDC members and enhancement of their salaries at tehsil and district headquarters on May 14.
This was stated by Ashok Kaul, State General Secretary (organization), of the Party while addressing the district executive members meeting at TRC here. Kaul, who took as organizational general secretary recently is on his first visit to the district.
He urged the Party leadership to conduct interactive meetings at district and Mandal levels and also decide dates for conducting orientation cum training workshops separately for each Mandal so that the Party workers could be educated upto grass root level about Party’s ideology and future goals in J&K.
Later addressing a workers Sammelan at Party office Kishtwar, Kaul also familiarized himself with the working of different morchas including Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha in the district. He declared that Party leadership would work with dedication to spread its ideology in nook and corner of the State.
Mr Kaul was briefed by Sunil Sharma State secretary, about the working of Party in Kishtwar and also gave the detail of the 13 wards of the two municipal committees of the township in view of the forthcoming urban body elections, while district president Capt (retd) Hukam Chand, provided details of the discrepancies and errors in the voter lists.
Mr Kaul assured the party activists that the issue would be taken up with election authorities and that the Party has already demanded extension of few days for revision of voter lists.
Brij Mohan Sharma suggested convening of a district level “Sammelan’’ of Sarpanchs and Panchs to educate them about the merits of 73rd and 74th amendments of constitution and Government’s lack of will to grant full financial and administrative empowerment to local bodies.
Among others present were Basant Raj Thakur, Roshan Lal Sarpanch, Vijay Parihar, Chuni Lal Shan, Ravi Badyal, Jatinder Sharma and Hari Krishan.
Mr Kaul who also visited Doda addressed a meeting of office bearers and mandals of the district at Bhadarwah. On the occasion Mr Kaul and Somnath Khajuria were felicitated by the Party workers. The meeting was attended by the senior leaders of the Party including Satish Chander Kotwal, Daleep Singh Parihar, district president, Desh Raj Katal, Koshal Dogra and others.

Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, May 8: Amidst long drama at Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point in Poonch, the traders from Pak Occupied Kashmir (PoK), returned 21 trucks loaded with goods (dry chillies) to the Indian traders today.
They retained hardly two trucks out of total 23, alleging that goods were of low quality. The value of the goods sent on that side was put at around Rs 6.31 lakh.
Out of the 11 trucks loaded with goods which arrived here today, three of them were sent back by the Indian traders on the similar charges. The goods worth Rs 98.28 lakh including dry dates, grapes ( Kishmish), almonds came from the PoK side.
It may be recalled that the trade at this LoC point was resumed after the gap of two weeks. It was resumed today after foreign secretary level talks between the two countries. But today’s experience at the LoC point has indicated that cross LoC trade could be suspended again at any time.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 8: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today said that Government is committed to provide all facilities to the Kashmiri Pandits, who are living in various colonies constructed for their rehabilitation. He said that various measures are underway to provide them basic needs and other amenities in around the colonies.
The Minister stated this while inspecting the flats constructed for Kashmiri Pandits at Sheikhpora Budgam.
The Minister of State for R&B, Javid Dar and Minister for Home and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani accompanied the Minister.
While speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that under PM’s package all the necessary infrastructure and other facilities would be provided to them.
Mr. Bhalla said that the Pandit community is the part of Kashmiriyat and they should contribute for the development and peace in the Valley.
The Minister was informed that 200 flats at an estimated cost of Rs. 22.91 crores have been constructed at Sheikhpora, out of which 108 flats have been allotted to the families besides 68 flats are ready for handing over and will be allotted to the concerned within shortest possible time.
The Minister instructed the engineers to complete the renovation and other pending works in a time bound manner.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani said that Coalition Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is determined for the rehabilitation and safe return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley and the Chief Minister is personally monitoring the facilities being provided to them.
The Minister for State for Roads and Buildings, Javed Ahmed Dar said that the Pandit community is part and parcel of our culture and they must play their role for the all round development of State particularly Valley. He assured that all infrastructure facilities would be provided to them under PM’s package.
The Minister later held the meeting with concerned officers and directed them to complete all ongoing works on priority basis in the housing colony.
The Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Chief Engineer R&B, Managing Director, JKPCC and Relief Commissioner, Migrants besides various officers were present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 8: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today reviewed the progress on institutional reforms related to ADB funding for Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) at a high level meeting here.
Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister of State for Housing, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretaries, B. B. Vyas and Suresh Kumar, Administrative Secretaries, Chief Engineers and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
It was stated in the meeting that the J&K Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP) was approved by ADB under Multiple Tranche Financing Facility (MFF). An amount of $ 485 million was allocated to be expended on economic growth in the State through expansion of basic urban infrastructure in Jammu, Srinagar and other towns. The MFF was scheduled to be available in 4-6 tranches during the implementation period of 8 years.
Under the first tranche seven packages of sewerage, solid waste management and water supply were taken up for execution in the duo cities of Jammu and Srinagar while under the tranche two 10 projects involving 29 contract packages are being taken in hand. The ADB has approved advance contracting for Jahangir Chowk Flyover for which bidding is underway and Management Consultancy for which EOI has been floated.
The meeting discussed matters pertaining to institutional reforms under ADB funding and the projects in pipeline for infrastructure development. Issues pertaining to the creation of urban infrastructure in five towns as per Economic Opportunity Development Plans (EODP), construction of 19 tube wells, laying out of new distribution PHE network, Chenab water supply scheme for Greater Jammu, sewerage and drainage sub-projects for Jammu and Srinagar were also discussed in the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Ex-Police men League discussed a number of issues pertaining to the welfare of retired police officials, in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Deputy Superintendent (retd), KS Sambyal.
In a lengthy discussion, speakers alleged that some police personnel are in the grip of serious ailments requiring costly treatment that they cannot afford and they are expecting some help from their parent Departments.
The League repeatedly requested DGP, J&K to take SRO 458-P dated October 13, 1999 with the Government for revival, as it protects and takes care of all the problems of retired police personnel.
The league members demanded that on spot payment of Rs 5000 be made to the family of police personnel for last rites through a special representative of Police Department in the event of death of a retired police official.
Moreover, all the members expressed strong resentment against the way adopted by the Government for the physical verification of pensioners and their pension books. They added that all the retirees are the senior citizens of the State and feel embarrassment while standing several hours before the treasury offices.
Those who participated in the meeting were retired SSPs, Ch Chirag-ud-Din, Ch Bachan Singh and retired SPs, SM Koul, R K Bali, VP Gupta, PR Sharma and many others.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Nirvana Academy today staged Aaditya Bhanu’s “Ehsaas” at Performing Art Studio, Kachi Chawani Jammu with the financial assistance given by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Jammu.
The play is all about the conflict between the sentiments and reality. All the relations that emerge out of love are important in one’s life but not at the stake of the other. The conflict between the love and inner voice has been well woven in the play.
The play begins with a happy note where the central character of the play, Raj is busy to take his career to a new height as he had finished his exams. The play proceeds with the worriness of Raj’s father about the carreer of his son and of course the marriage of his daughter, Kashish, as he is going to retire within months. Anyhow Raj managed to work as an Architect with a firm where he meet Poonam and falls in love with her. His friend Sahil advised him to be vigilant as love sometimes leaves a bad effect on mind. Ultimately, Poonam ditches Raj, due to which he fails to manage his daily routine and of course his relations with the family and friends. In the end, Raj’s inner voice gives him enough strength to come out of this trauma and finally he prefers his relations with family than to his love. The proverb “Blood is thicker than Water” is well portrayed in the play.
The artists who performed in the play included Atul Sharma as Raj, Neha Varma as Poonam, Paramjeet Kour Pammy as Kashish and Prince Nagotra as Sahil. Lights were executed by Neeraj Sharma, make-up by Paramjeet Kour and music composed and executed by Kuldeep Kumar. The play was written and directed by Aaditya Bhanu Sharma. Meenakshi Sharma general secretary Nirvana Academy presented vote of thanks. She thanked the Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Jammu for their kind cooperation and financial assistance to organize such memorable play. Hitesh Badyal President Nirvana Academy, Neeraj Sharma VP Nirvana Academy, Nishant vaid, Vinay Daggar, Anmol Amla were present on the occasion among the others.