Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: Welcoming the proposed meeting between Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today stressed that Jammu and Kashmir centric Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) should be discussed apart from other ongoing issues.
In an informal chat with the media-persons on the sidelines of World Health Day function at Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu University this morning, Mr Omar said, “sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan in an amicable atmosphere to address all bigger and smaller issues should be a continuous process”.
“The issues between India and Pakistan cannot be resolved in one meeting as such there should be continuous dialogue between the two countries to address the problems and find out solution to all the issues”, he further said.
About the expectations from the meeting between Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari, the Chief Minister said, “we would like that all the Jammu and Kashmir centric Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) like cross-Line of Control bus service and trade be discussed in the meeting apart from other bigger issues”.
“There is a need to strengthen the cross-LoC trade on both routes of Poonch-Rawalakote and Uri-Muzaffarabad”, said Mr Omar, who recently called for restoration of telephonic link between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) to facilitate cross-LoC trade and replacement of barter system of trade by financial transactions.
It is pertinent to mention here that on the appeal of the Chief Minister, Legislative Assembly unanimously urged Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari to take up the issue of cross-LoC trade and travel during their meeting being held tomorrow.
“The Rehabilitation Policy for the return of youth from PoK and cross-border infiltration should also come up for discussion during the meeting so that benefits trickle to the State”, the Chief Minister stressed, adding “unless Pakistan accords permission to those misguided youth, who want to leave the gun and come back to join mainstream in Jammu and Kashmir, the Rehabilitation Policy framed by the State Government in consultation with Union Home Ministry, would not yield encouraging result”.
Responding to another question, Mr Omar said, “the visit of Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram to the State is a routine one”, adding “the issues relating to the security scenario would be discussed with the Home Minister”.
“The issues relating to revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and reduction of troops would also come up for discussion”, he said.
About the report of interlocutors, Mr Omar said, “we desire that interlocutors’ report should be made public and talks held on it before implementation of the recommendations”, adding “we will also make request to the Union Home Minister in this regard”.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering on ‘World Health Day’ function, the Chief Minister underscored the need for active involvement of civil society in stopping the evil of female foeticide in the State and contributing in the successful implementation of ‘Save Girl Child Programme’.
“Jammu and Kashmir has earned bad name for the higher graph reported about the female foeticide which should be great concern to every member of the society”, he said, adding “to discriminate girl child against boys and considering male children important than girls is a sick mindset which requires early addressing”.
He further said, “this disease developing in the minds of people and making them to indulge in female foeticide is the worst kind of sin for which there is no forgiveness from the Almighty”, adding “while Government has geared up its machinery in health and other concerned departments to focus on the issue and create public awareness about the far reaching consequences and dangerous effects of female foeticide, the civil society has an important role to play in this direction”.
Reiterating his Government’s endeavour for universalization of quality health service across the State, the Chief Minister said that healthy Jammu and Kashmir is his mission. “The benefits of development can only be relished when the people are healthy. Creation of schools and colleges, construction of roads and bridges, providing employment and bringing socio-economic betterment can be of positive utilization only when the people are healthy”, he said while flagging health sector the most important one in the process of development.
“The revival of ASHA scheme is proving highly beneficial in facilitating health facilities to pregnant women and children in rural areas”, he said, adding Government would further strengthen the scheme to enhance its reach and impact on the society and create awareness about ‘girl child safety’.
On the slogan ‘good health adds life to years’ flagged for this year’s ‘World Health Day’, the Chief Minister described it more relevant in the present day life style, adding “the changes in our life pattern due to modernization, mechanization and industrialization have put question mark to the health of a person. In order to add life to the years, necessary correction is required in our life style, food habits and other day to day activities”.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma said that due to the efforts of Health Department and because of the overall guidance of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, the State has registered tremendous improvement in service delivery to the people in health sector.
In her welcome address, Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, Tanveer Jahan highlighted the significance of observance of ‘World Health Day’ on 7th April every year with a theme, adding that this helps the functionaries of the department to focus on the subject and make necessary dent.
Director Health Service, Jammu, Dr Madhu Khullar, Director NRHM, Dr Yash Paul Sharma, Director Indian System of Medicine, Dr Kabir Dar, Director Family Welfare and other senior officers of the Health Department besides a large number of doctors, para-medical staff, ASHA workers and citizens were present on the occasion.

By Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Apr 7: Though Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been providing liberal financial assistance to the State Health Department through various Centrally Sponsored schemes, the latter has failed to submit Utilization Certificates thereby hampering actual implementation of many of these flagship programmes.
This has happened despite the fact that senior officials of the Union Health Ministry have sent several reminders to the top officials of the State Health Department through a number of letters.
Expressing its displeasure over the state of affairs of Health Department in the State the Union Ministry officials have categorically stated that the issue of pending Utilization certificates pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir State hadn’t been resolved despite several meetings.
“Despite regularly correspondences followed by several reminders, meetings with the State Government officials and telephonic conversations, etc. the issue of pending Utilization Certificates in respect of your State has not been resolved”, says a communication sent by Union Ministry vide D.O No. V.15011/18/2010-PH- I(Pt.), which is in possession of EXCELSIOR.
These observations had been made by the officials while referring non-seriousness on part of State officials, in implementation of National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) — a special program, which had been launched by the Government of India keeping in view the heavy burden of mental illness in the community, and the absolute inadequacy of mental health care infrastructure in the country to deal with it.
The official communication written by Joint Secretary, Sujaya Krishnan of the Health Ministry, which had been addressed to the Commissioner cum Secretary (Health), Health and Medical Education Department stated, “a copy of the fact sheet containing details of various schemes of NMHP under implementation in your State is enclosed for your reference. However, the Utilization certificates have not been issued in respect of the above mentioned funds, which is hampering the implementation of the programme in your State due to non release of further installments of funds”.
“May I therefore request your personal intervention in the matter of submission of Utilization Certificates and Audited Statement of account in respect of funds released under various schemes of NMHP so that the Utilization Certificates can be issued by this Ministry and further installment of funds could be released for implementation of the National Mental Health Programme in your State”, the letter said.
Official sources while corroborating the delay in the submission of Utilization Certificates said this had happened despite the fact that the Union Ministry officials have given clear directions to the State Health Department to utilize the funds strictly as per the provisions of the scheme communicated to them from time to time and submit the required Certificates.
The gravity of situation can be gauged from the fact that State Health Department hasn’t provided Utilization Certificates of even the grant released for the implementation of District Mental Health Programme in the State during the financial year 2004-05. In this year, the Union Health Ministry had released nearly 26 lacs to Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri and Udhampur districts each with the objective of implementation of this programme in J&K.
In a recent communication vide letter no. F. No. V.15016/18/2010-PH-1, the Union Health Ministry has written to Principal Secretary (Health) & Mission Director (NRHM) while directing them to expedite the submission of year-wise Utilization Certificates (duly certified by the State Nodal Officer) as per the proforma and the Audited Statement of Accounts upto financial year 2009-10 starting from the year, when the first installments of funds was released in respect of the above districts along with the information regarding expenditure incurred till date.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: Fifty senior members of the Delhi Advertising Club (DAC) are on a visit to city of Temples on the invitation of Editor In Chief, Daily Excelsior, S D Rohmetra.
The delegation led by Delhi based Advertising Bureau Chief of Daily Excelsior, Mr H S Paul arrived here this morning by a special train. The delegation is on a two days tour of city of temples. The delegation conducts the rotation wise tour of all states in the country every year.
The delegation consists of leading newspapers and international advertising personnel. The lunch was hosted to them by Dr Karan Singh, MP and sole Trustee, Dharmarth Trust, J&K. President of the Trust Th. Diwakar Singh along with his senior members of the Trust received the delegation at historical Raghuanth Temple and briefed them about the history of the holy temple. Secretary of the Trust Shashi Khajuria was also present on the occasion.
They performed Pooja at Shree Raghunath Ji temple, Natraj Ji temple and paid tributes to Maharaja Ranbir Singh at his Samadhi in the temple complex. The delegation also went around the outer Parikama and appreciated the goodwill gesture of Maharaja Gulab Singh Ji who constructed this one of the biggest temple of Northern India in Jammu.
Later they visited Amar Mehal Museum and were informed about the historical artifacts preserved there. They also visited Bawe Wale Mata to pay their obeisance there.
Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand hosted dinner to them later. Before their departure to Delhi the delegation will be hosted dinner by Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Zora tomorrow.
According to President of Delhi Advertising Club (DAC) , Mr R C Tanwar, the delegation’s visit on the invitation of Daily Excelsior is fabulous and such a personal attention was never given by any host in the history of Advertising Club. The others who attended the tour included Mukesh Gupta Chairman, Graphisads Advertising, Anil Sharma MD Interads Advertising, Narinder Sharma, MD Critique Comm, R C Tanwar, P P Grover, Arun Soni, Rattan Sharma, Parmodh Kumar, S B Goel, K K Padmanabhan, K Rajendran, Dinesh Srivastava, K K Malhotra, Satbir Singh, Chander Mohan, Naresh Sachdeva, Rohit Gora, Nitin Dhingra, Rajinder Sharma, R K Chopra, H S Paul, Kailash Arora, Surinder Malhotra, Sandeep Sen, Ajay Sharma, Mr Ayyappan, Paramjit Singh, Amitabh Gupta, Manmohan Gupta, Umesh Bhardwaj, Ashok Sharma (IA) J P Singh, Sriram Gopal, Devender Sharma, Rohit Sahi, Surinder Rana, Narinder Khanna, Rahul Srivastava, Raj Kumar, Ashok Sharma and C S Paul.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: Asserting that terror infrastructure across the border is intact and militants are operating there, a senior police officer today said there is no change in the intention of Pakistan to continue terrorism in the State.
“There are different figures of different agencies as far as terrorist camps, launching pads and militants (operating across the border) is concerned. But launching pads are there, militants and their training camps are still there”, Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda told reporters here. “The intention in the capability of our neighbouring country (Pakistan) to continue terrorism in our State—that continues”, he said.
As far as infiltration is concerned, he said the reports are that there is no change in the intention—whether it is training camps or launching pads.
“Therefore, we have to keep up the vigilance. The way there has been improvement in the border management, I am confident that their designs would not succeed”, the DGP said.
Expressing happiness over the situation, he said “this year militancy-related incidents have decreased. In the first three months of 2012, 26 militancy-related incidents took place as compared to 48 last year, showing a 45 percent overall decrease”.
Khoda said there was 47 percent dip in militancy during first three months of 2011, as compared to the same period in 2010.
Civilian killings this year have decreased by 50 percent and there was no killing of security force or police personnel this year as compared to last year’s figure of three jawans, the DGP said.
Referring to the cross-border infiltration, he said “there is no report of successful infiltration with us in the entire State. That is also a big achievement. There is increased vigilance along the border”.
Khoda further said the performance of three of months this year has been better than the last year and the previous year. “There is the best synergy between police, army and other security force agencies. This example you can never see in the rest of the country”, he added.
“Due to this synergy, we have achieved these results and also people have given full cooperation to us in restoration of normalcy and peace whether it is law and order or militancy”, he said.
To another question about the number of militants operating in J&K, he said “our figures suggest they are in the range of 85-90”.
Regarding a question about apprehension of “hot summer” this year, the DGP said “the point is that we have to be alert. However, the number of militants was much higher than last year. We ensured that militancy level decreases from last year and that effort continues”.
“The presence of militants is decreasing in the State due to better operational capabilities of the forces and we are sure that we will be able to ensure peace in the summer”, Khoda said. Answering a question about stone-pelters being brought under the ambit of youth clubs set up by Police, the DGP said “we do not discriminate for sports activities. The focus is on youth.
“We have got positive results in those areas where we have set up youth clubs. Those areas witnessed peace. We will open more youth clubs and the focus this time would be those areas, which were not attended to last year including that of Jammu, he said.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Apr 7: Three persons including a couple, were killed while three others seriously injured after a water tanker skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge near Bhimber Gali today.
A police spokesman said that the mishap took place at around 11 am when the ill-fated water tanker No. JK02A 7697, attached with the PHE department Rajouri was on way to Kanga Gali village in Balakote from Bathuni in Rajouri. A couple hailing from Thrati village falling enroute was also traveling in the tanker along with their two children. The tanker was carrying drinking water to the Balakote area.
As the vehicle reached near BG, the driver lost control due to some mechanical failure and the vehicle landed in to a gorge. While driver and the couple were killed on the spot, the children and cleaner were seriously injured. The securitymen from the nearby camp and some villagers rushed to the spot. The police also reached there after sometime.
The injured were rushed to the Rajouri hospital and the dead bodies were also later removed to hospital for completion of legal formalities by police. The deceased were identified as driver, Mohd Moilis of Tharati, Mohd Kabir and his wife Nahima Kouser, residents of Tharati. The injured undergoing treatment in Rajouri hospital were identified as cleaner of the tanker, Iftikhar Ahmed, Alisa Kouser (4) and Habib Khan (3), children of the deceased couple Kabir and Nahima. The police has registered a case in this connection.