JAMMU, Mar 14: Socialistic Democratic Party (SDP) has expressed concern over plight of poor people of hilly areas of Ramban and Banihal and alleged funds for various schemes in these areas have been misappropriated and all such cases should be probed.
Addresssing a press conference, SDP president, Dr Darakhan Andrabi, said mis-information and deception is what has been ruling these backward areas of Ramban district and held responsible the politicians for all this.
She said, “solar lights meant for poor people were allotted to influential ones and BPL ration given wholesome to the rich, which has been an old practice and continued as a ritual”.
A large number of people of Backward area of Ramban and Banihal joined Socialistic Democratic Party (SDP) on the occasion. While welcoming new political activities of other political parties, she said that new enterents will strengthen party base in these constituencies for which a mega membership drive is going on.
The prominent political activists who were present on the occassion and joined the SDP included Mehboob Ali, Mohammad Ismail, Tariq Hussain, Khalil Ahmad, Abdur Rashid, Mohammad Maroof, Mohammad Aasim, Rafiq Ahmad and Ghulam Qadir.
JAMMU, Mar 14: Kandam Welfare Association Bus Owners Association (KWBOA) today put on service seven newly purchased buses in the presence of Minister for Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon, in a function jointly organised by Tata Motors India Ltd in collaboration with Fair Deal Motors here.
The new 32 seater semi-deluxe buses will replace the condemned 52 seater old buses from the roads in compliance to the court orders.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the new buses will ensure safe and comfortable journey to the commuters on the routes where they would ply.
Akhoon also assured every possible help to the association in its endeavours to introduce new buses to replace old ones in the issuance of road permits.
He added that Government was keen to make the journey safe. The Minister also advised the association to engage experienced and well trained drivers for plying these buses to avoid accidents and early wear and tear of the vehicles.
Transport Commissioner, Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo, Joint Transport Commissioner, Sheikh Fyaz, Vinod Dogra, Territory Sales Manager, Tata Motors Limited, Mandal, Area Manager, Saleem Bakshi and Bhagwan Dass were also present.
Jammu, Mar 14: The Chief Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Leh today convened a meeting of Executive Concillers Dr. Sonam Wangchuk, Abbas Abadi, Gyurmet Dorjey, Deputy Commissioner, Leh Tsering Angchuk, district officer and representatives of All Changthang Pashmina Grower Society regarding development of Pashmina in Leh.
The CEC informed the meeting that Punjab Wool Combers United (PWC), Ludhiana was interested to join hands with the LAHDC, Leh for joint development and enhancement of cashmere output from Ladakh though a commercial joint venture and on Public Private Partnership (PPP) establishment with a comprehensive Social Welfare Programme for the Nomadic peoples.
He said that though their proposal is good for development of pashmina in Ladakh and will boost the economy of nomadic people in short time but LAHDC, Leh will join hands with the Punjab Wool Combers United (PWC), Ludhiana only if they will establish the plant at Leh itself.
It was decided in the meeting that if the PWCL will agree to establish the plant in Ladakh by ensuring the utmost benefit to the sheep and goat breeders of Ladakh and economic boost to the local people, the LAHDC will extend full support.
JAMMU, Mar 14: The Forum of Recognised Colleges (FORCE) in collaboration with Indian Colleges Forum, New Delhi, is going to organise a national level summit titled Higher Education Summit-2012 at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu from March 16 to 17.
Harbans Singh, former Minister and President, FORCE, while briefing the media said the theme of the summit will be “Higher Education for Innovation and Change” wherein over 100 intellectuals from across the country are likely to participate.
He further said the objective of this summit was to highlight the problems and issues faced by higher education and to devise ways to make education socially relevant and employment oriented.
The summit would comprise of various technical sessions like Policy; Practice and Resource Constraint Hindering Innovation and Change; Making Higher Education responsive to innovations and change: Academic initiatives and use of ICT; Role of Private Sector in promoting Higher Education; Best Practices of Innovation and Change in Higher Education; Leadership role in Enabling Higher Education and Change etc.
Harbans Singh added that the report of the summit will be compiled and sent to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, UGC, Department of Higher Education for further necessary action in this regard.
The valedictory function will be held on March 17 at the same venue.
SRINAGAR, Mar 14: The State Information Commission (SIC) is mulling to impose penalty on Assistant Director (Planning) Department of Education who is the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the department as he has failed to provide information about the mid-day meal scheme within the stipulated time frame.
Chief Information Commissioner, G. R Sufi said that the PIO of the Education Department has failed to provide details about the mid-day meal scheme as sought by Haji Ahsan Ali Gonkhapa through a Right to Information (RTI) application within 30 days of the date of RTI application.
Sufi said that since information has been delayed to the RTI applicant by the Education department, the PIO of the department is liable for penalty from April 24, 2010. He said the Education Department should not have any hesitation in providing the information as it was a Government Department and relates to very important aspect of the Government expenditure.
On March 25, 2010 Ahsan had moved the RTI application seeking information about the details of mid-day meal scheme provided to the school children in the state with district wise details for the last three years. He also wanted to know the details about the meals provided to the school children and the expenditure incurred on the scheme in the whole state during the last three years.
Ahsan also wanted to know details about the mid-day meal scheme in Kargil district for the three years and how much money was spent in this district from 2007 to the date of application. He further wanted to know the menu of the mid-day meals being provided to the school children of the state.
The RTI applicant had sought information about the school buildings constructed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the state since the inception of the scheme. He wanted details about the money spent on the construction purposes under the SSA scheme in the state along with the criteria set out for the allotment of work in this regard.
Under provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009, the School Education Department was supposed to provide the information within a maximum period of 30 days to the information seeker, but nothing of that sort happened. The information sought by the RTI applicant was provided after one and a half year.
After not receiving the details, Ahsan approached the State Information Commission and filed a complaint on August 29, 2011. As the complaint was un-signed it was returned to Ahsan and following this he submitted a signed copy on September 19, 2011.
In his decision, the Information Commissioner said that as per section 7 of the State RTI Act 2009 order was to be passed as expeditiously as possible but no later than 30 days from the receipt of the RTI application.
JAMMU, Mar 14: State High Court today stayed investigation in the FIR No.6/2012 under Section 420 RPC registered at City Police Station against Madan Aggarwal.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi assisted by Advocate Sumit Singh, Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir issued notice to State through Principal Secretary Home, SSP Jammu, SHO Police Station City Jammu and IGP Jammu, Dilbagh Singh for filling objections within three weeks.
In the meantime, the High Court stayed the investigation in the case till next date of hearing.
SRINAGAR, Mar 14: Two hundred stranded passengers of Kargil were airlifted in special aircraft of IL-76 Indian Air Force from Jammu to Leh today. Another flight took off from Srinagar to Leh with 225 passengers, but had to return to Srinagar due to high velocity winds enroute.
In view of the cancellation of flight, arrangements have been made for airlifting these passengers on March 15 subject to fair weather.
The Kargil bound passengers at Srinagar, who are in possession of air tickets of Kargil courier from No: 16 to flight No: 20 have been advised to report Kargil House Bemina at 7.00 am and passengers of Flight No: 21 to flight No; 25 have been asked to report at 8.30 a.m on Thursday March 15, 2012.
Similarly, Kargil bound passengers at Jammu have been advised to reach Kargil House Jammu at 7 a.m on March 15, 2012.
JAMMU, March 14: To mark the hundred years of Civil Aviation, Department of Posts has brought out a commemorate stamp today.
The stamp was released in a special function at Jammu Airport today by State Chief General Post Master, John Samuel.
Director Jammu Airport was the guest of honour on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Samuel said Civil Aviation in India has been the success story of last 100 years adding that Philately has been closely associated with Civil Aviation, since the introduction of Airmail and aero philately.
He said aero philately has become one of the favourite areas of philately.
He also announced that a special stamp exhibition on airmail and Civil Aviation will be held in Srinagar in April 2012. The exhibition will display stamps on Aircrafts and Airmail across the world.
The new stamps on Civil Aviation will be available for the public at Gandhi Nagar Philately Bureau.
Director, State Airport Authority, M Suresh and Superintendent, Post Offices Jammu also spoke on the occasion. Besides, officers from all airlines, CRPF and police posted at the airport were also present.
Meanwhile Samuel dedicated a fully computerized and modernized post office established at Airport to provide art facilities to the passengers and members of airport authority and security personnel deployed there, which will also provide speed post services to the people.
Samuel apprised the gathering that all departmental post offices have been taken for computerization during the present financial year.
JAMMU, Mar 14: A deputation of Members of Gujjar Advisory Board today called on Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and discussed various matters relating to the welfare of Gujjar and Bakerwal community.
The deputation comprising of Inam Hafeez Choudhary, Choudhary Lal Mohammad Sabir, Arshid Chaudhary, Sardar Khan, A. G. Kohli, Masood Naseem, Choudhary Salam-ud-Din and Haji Mohammad Lateef discussed matters pertaining to the regular flow of funds under Tribal Sub-Plan for the development of Gujjars and Bakerwals. It also discussed the educational status of the students of the community and requested for grant of additional mobile schools.
Another deputation of Sarpanches and Panches from Reasi district in its meeting with the Chief Minister requested him for special packages for faster development of the backward and remote areas of the district. The deputation also discussed development issues pertaining to the upgradation of drinking water, power and road communication sectors in this district. It also sought special employment package in Police Department for the youth of backward pockets of Reasi district.
Both the deputations assured the support to the coalition government led by Omar Abdullah in its efforts for holistic and inclusive development of all areas and all sections of the society.
The Chief Minister gave patient hearing and said that the issues underlined by the deputations for the welfare and development of the people would be given due consideration.
Jammu, Mar 14: Owing to the violent students-police clash on Jammu University (JU) campus the other day, the atmosphere remained charged up on Wednesday as well as the students and non-teaching employees held protest separately to express their anguish.
The non-teaching employees boycotted work and held dharna near the administrative block. The students belonging to different organisations boycotted their classes and unitedly staged demonstration in front of University main gate amid the presence of storng posse of police personnel.
A large number of female students were also present in the protest who were shouting slogans against the police for subjecting them to brutal lathicharge in the campus yesterday.
They also disrupted the vehicular movement on the road. However, police dispersed them after some time.
Thereafter, they assembled in front of the Central Library and continued shouting slogans till the afternoon. On other side, the non-teaching employees also continued dharna demanding action against the students who indulged in man-handling and ransacking. They were also demanding adequate security at the work place so that yesterday’s incident would not be repeated. Till afternoon, the entire functioning in the campus remained absolutely paralysed.
The Vice Chancellor, Dr Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, himself intervened to end the dead-lock. According to Registrar, Dr Naresh Padha, “The VC twice met the non-teaching employee to pacify them. The first meeting was held at 10:30 in the morning. Thereafter, he met them at 2:00 in afternoon. He assured them of adequate security besides, action against the persons responsible for yesterday’s incident. On this, the non-teaching employees resumed work.”
After this he went to the protesting students and pacified them also with an assurance that committee is looking into the whole episode and guilty will not be spared, he added. The students too responded to the assurance of the VC and dispersed peacefully.
It is pertinent to mention here that a violent clash took place on the campus on Tuesday afternoon between police and students. A five member committee headed by HoD Education Dr Lokesh Verma is looking into the incident. The committee has started inquiring the episode and will submit the report within 15 days.
