Excelsior Correspondent
Udhampur, Apr 9 : 47 Air Defence Regiment celebrated its Golden Jubilee with pomp and show on completion of fifty glorious years of its service to the nation. Raised on April Ist, 1962 at Namkum, Ranchi, the Unit has been serving the nation in times of peace and war in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. The Unit has proved its mettle in every major battle the country has fought since its raising has also contributed tremendously in maintaining internal security of the country and provided relief during various natural calamities and other disturbances in internal peace. A large number of officers, JCOs and jawans, both serving and retired along with their families participated in the celebrations.
The occasion was marked by conduct of a blood donation camp at the Unit premises. The Addl Director General of Army Air Defence, Maj Gen H Gopalan congratulated the Unit on the auspicious occasion. He presented the DG AAD Trophy to the Commanding Officer, Col Aman Puri and also released the First Day Cover of the Unit. A solemn wreath laying ceremony to pay homage to the valiant martyrs of the unit culminated the events.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, April 9: All J&K Gaddi Sippi Tribes Welfare Association (GSTWA) today organised a convention at Town Hall here.
MLA Udhampur, Balwant Singh Mankotia was the chief guest on the occasion.
A large number of Community members from different parts of the State participated in the convention.
During the convention, various speakers reiterated the demands of the Community, which included establishment of Advisory Board for Gaddi Sippi tribes, restart of pre-matric scholarship in favour of Gaddi Sippi tribes students, 1% reservation in all professional colleges of the State exclusively for the students of the Tribes, recognition of Gaddi language in the sixth schedule of the Constitution of the State, nomination of one member belonging to Gaddi tribe for upper house of State Legislature and motorable road connectivity to all Gaddi Sippi habitations.
Mankotia assured the Community that he will take up their long pending demands before the State Government and also on the floor of the State Assembly in forthcoming Assembly sessions for redressel.
He also appealed the Community to educate their children as education is the only means for the development of the backward communities like Gaddi and Sippi.
After the convention Mankotia formally laid the foundation stone of the Gaddi Sippi Hostel.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: National Gurjjar-Bakerwal Welfare Trust (NGBWT) will educate and work on all round development of about fifteen crore Gujjar community including 40 lakh Gujjar and Bakerwals living in Jammu and Kashmir, and also constituted its body, here today.
Addressing a press conference, Er Ghulam Ali, national president, Gujjar-Bakerwal Welfare Trust told media personals that Trust will educate the Gujjars for maximum enrolment in different educational institutions and work for their due share as per their population; Educate the community for maximum avenues and share in employment in Government, public and private sector; To promote and preserve Gujjar Bakerwals culture; Manage the study, teaching, research of Gojri language and its inclusion in 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution.
Other developmental issues raised pertained to work for promotion of Gujjar news bulletin, folk songs through/TV channels and works for due space in these channels, and also to work to educate the community for political empowerment and other allied works.
On the occasion, national working committee members were also announced, who included Jagdish Caparana, (MP), Qumr Rubbani, (Rajasthan), Choudhary Abdullah (Kashmir) and Lal Husain Lodha (Jammu) as vice presidents, Rajendra Singh Gurjar as general secretary, Manzoor Badana (Udhampur) and Sonia Chodhary (Reasi ( as secretaries). Various other members were also announced for other districts.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: A Samohik Yagnopavit (wearing of sacred thread) of 18 boys was solemnized by Swami Kumar Ji Geeta Satsang Ashram in the Ashram premises at Muthi camp.
The three -day long function started on April 7 evening and it concluded with Puranahuti this evening. Minister of Revenue Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bahlla was the chief guest on the occasion. The function among others was attended by Mubarak Gul, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Sartaj Madni, Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly, Vijay Bakaya MLC, H L Pandita, general secretary PCC, Migrant Cell, Dr K L Chowdhary, K K Khosa senior vice president KP Sabha, Dr Sushil Wattal, Dr Ramesh Bhat, Kuldeep Riana and members of Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust.
Addressing the gathering Mr Bhalla said that Government is ceased of the problems of the displaced people and many steps have been taken in mitigating their sufferings.
He urged the migrants to cooperate with Government in implementation of PM’s rehabilitation package. Maintaining that Government is committed to rehabilitation of the community in Kashmir Valley with honour and dignity he said the Rs 7.50 lakh package for construction of a house per family has been revised and fresh proposal of Rs 20 lakh has been submitted to center in this regard.
He said the appointment on 800 dereserved posts and 700 non joining posts is in pipeline while the 3000 posts under state sector will also be advertised soon.
Swami Kumar Ji also gave religious discourses and highlighted the importance of holding the Samohik religious functions. On the occasion copies of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta were distributed by Kuldeep Raina among the gathering.
The devotees were served with prashad after Puranahuti.

Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu Apr 9: Nav Durga Kala Manch honoured Abhishek Bharti, Director Natraj Natya Kunj, Jammu and the team of Dogri play “Agni Barkha” for their third time win in a row in Annual Drama Festival in a function organized at Performing Art Studio, Jammu.
In Annual Drama Festival 2012 which was organized by J&K Academy of Art Culture and languages Jammu, Natraj Natya Kunj perfomed Dogri Play Agni-Barkha, Dogri adaptation of Girish Karnard’s english play “The Fire and The Rain” and got many awards.
Earlier, Natraj Natya Kunj had got Best production awards for the play Visarjan and Gagan Damama Bajyo in Drama Festivals – 2010 and 2011, respectively.
In this Drama Festival Natraj Natya Kunj got Best production (Agni-Barkha), Best Director (Abhishek Bharti), Best Actor (Mukesh Bakshi), Best Make Up (Manoj Damir Shammi and Nidhi) and Best costume (Kamal Mohini) and Certificate of Merit to Rishi Kumar, Raman Bakshi, Nidhi and Rupali Sharma.
The ceremony was conducted by Shashi Bhushan, Director NDKM , Mementos were given by Rakesh Dogra, President NDKM and among the eminent personalities were Kumar A. Bharti, Director NNK, Rajeev Rana well known theater artist and Aaditya Bhanu, Director NDKM.
The ceremony was followed by a group discussion between the artists of NNK and NDKM regarding the opportunities and threats in modern time theater.
At the end vote of thanks was delivered by the Ashok Gupta, Gen. Secretary, NDKM.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu, Pawan Dev Kotwal today framed corruption charges against Assistant Sub-Inspector Nayeem Hussain Shah, who was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Organization on August 20, 2011 while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 6000 from the complainant Mohammad Yunus of Kanara Chak, Nowshera.
According to the Vigilance case, ASI was demanding bribe from Mohd Yunus for weakening the case registered against him and others regarding a land dispute in Police Station Nowshera. Acting on the complaint of Mohd Yunus, Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and caught the ASI red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora released a National Travel Magazine ‘Romancing Himalayan” here today.
Among others, Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture, Atal Duloo and Editor in Chief, Romancing Himalayan, Babar Afzal were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jora described the national art, culture, heritage and travel magazine ‘Romancing Himalayan’, as a great initiative of Mr. Babar, for attracting global visitors twoards Jammu and Kashmir through concepts and brands that are based on strong themes of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Himalayas.
He said that Himalayas have an evolutionary history with a visible dynamism and Romancing Himalayan is all committed to portray this and take it to its lovers who have all their lashes spread on the way to welcome something they have waited for so long.
The Minister said the publication is coming with a broad scope and a multi-coloured spectrum displaying all true, rich and vibrant colours of nature. He said Himalayas are not just mountain ranges, but an institution which finds place in every soul.
He said “It is a true initiative at national level to attract travelers from all over the world to the rich and vibrant culture of Jammu, the scenic Kashmir and mystical Ladakh.”

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Minister of State for Power, CA&PD and Transport, Shabir Ahmed Khan today laid foundation of 3.15 MVA receiving station Bhatian in Rajouri.
The receiving station would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs.2.97 crore while Rs. 50 lakh have been expended on its execution during the current year. The receiving station would improve electricity supply to the villages of 10 Panchayats of the area.
Addressing a public gathering after laying foundation of the receiving station, the Minister said that the development of power sector in the State has received focused attention of the Government, adding that State’s huge hydle power potential was being harnessed by taking up new macro and micro hydle projects. He said to reduce the power losses infrastructure is being strengthened across the State under State and Centre Plans. He said several new grid stations and high transmission lines are coming up in different areas of the State, which after completion would also prove beneficial for improving voltage and reduce power losses to a large extent in the State.
The Minister said that electricity facility in more 28 towns of the State would be modernized, for which a proposal has been forwarded to the Centre for approval and funding.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated a week long medical awareness camp at community health Centre, Thanamandi. The medical camp was organized by Gurunanak Charitable Organization, Jalhander in collaboration with State Health Department.