Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 2: Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, MLA from Jammu West, today announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to improve the working condition of the lawyers community.
The announcement was made by Prof Gupta in a function organized by Bar Association Jammu to felicitate him.
Speaking on the occasion, Bar president, B S Slathia, and general secretary Vikram Sharma lauded Prof Gupta for his contribution towards mitigating the grievances of the lawyers fraternity.
They said that by utilizing an amount of Rs 5 lakh contributed by Prof Gupta, law books have been provided free of cost to the young members of legal fraternity across the Jammu province.
Prof Gupta, while addressing the gathering, eulogized the services of lawyers towards in making the better civil society, adding lawyers can direct the development of society in right direction.
He announced further assistance of Rs 5 lakh for improving the working conditions of the lawyers community.
Among others vice-president M U Salaria, joint secretary Parimoksh Seth, treasurer Sandeepa Sambyal, designated Senior Advocates and the members of Bar were present on the occasion.
Gupta announces Rs 5 lakh to improve working conditions of lawyers
PoK refugees’ deputation meets Div Commissioner
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 2: A deputation of PoK refugees today called on Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pardeep Gupta, and projected the burning demands of the displaced persons from the Pak Occupied Kashmir.
Led by refugee leaders, Rajiv Chuni and Dr Gurmeet Singh, the members of the deputation put forth the issues being confronted by the refugees. They stressed upon the new Divisional Commissioner to pay visit to the refugee camps and assess on the spot problems of the camp dwellers. They said on the spot inspection has been necessitated because of the constant neglect of these destitute refugee’s camps since long.
They also stressed for a uniform rehabilitation policy for all the displaced persons irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion or region. The delegation further apprised the Divisional Commissioner that former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad constituted a Committee headed by GD Wadhwa with Divisional Commissioner as member, SOS International Chairman Rajiv Chuni as non-member, which has already submitted its report. It is needed to be implemented with letter and spirit, they maintained.
The delegation also projected the issue of rehabilitation of former spy Vinod Sawhney who has been sitting on indefinite dharna outside Press Club of Jammu.
The Divisional Commissioner assured the members that he was keen to do justice with the PoK refugees. He said in due course of time a meeting shall be called in his office chamber involving the concerned Government officers and the representatives of PoK refugees to discuss the problems being faced by them and suggest some remedial measures.
JAKFED employees continue strike on 3rd consecutive day
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 2: JAKFED employees of both the Divisions of the State continued their strike for the third consecutive day strongly protesting against the decision of Board of Management taken on April 28, 2012 for not implementing the 6th Pay Commission and conceding their other genuine demands.
The protesting employees alleged that the meeting that was not concluded on April 28, 2012 was rescheduled for April 30th, but instead of any assurance to employees, the Board meeting was again deferred, which was purely discriminatory and arbitrary, as 6th Pay commission has already been implemented in all the Government Departments or cooperative institutions.
Meanwhile, vice-president, INTUC assured the JAKFED employees that INTUC would remain supportive to JAKFED employees till the demands of JAKFED employees are not addressed.
Com Secy reviews functioning of RDD
Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, May 2: Commissioner Secretary Rural Development. Farooq A. Peer along with Director Rural Development Jammu Shafiq Ahmed Raina today visited Doda to review the functioning of Rural Development Department.
District Development Commissioner Doda Farooq Ahmed Khan, Additional District Development Commissioner Doda G.N Balwan, Assistant Commissioner Development Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban besides PO DPAP , PO DRDA and Block Development Officers of the all three Districts of erstwhile District Doda were present in the meeting.
While speaking on the occasion Mr. Peer impressed upon the field functionaries of the RDD to create mass awareness among the rural people about the various welfare schemes of the Department. He said that various schemes have been intiated by the Department in the erstwhile District Doda for upliftment of poor and needy people. He said that 100 days guaranteed employment in one year is being provided under MGNREGA and asked the concerned officers to provide more and more awareness to the newly elected Sarpanches and panches so that the Panchayati Raj Institutions could actively participate in the planning and implementation of various welfare. He directed the officers to make payments under MGNREGA with in time so that the poor job card holder get the wages within the stipulated time. He also reviewed various other schemes like IAY, SGSY and other schemes.
He also said that under convergence various works of other line Departments can be executed through MGNREGA and asked the officers to explore the areas under which convergence of works could be initiated for creation of viable and visible assets for the upliftment of the society. He directed the officers to personally monitor the developmental activities in their respective areas for time bound completion of works. The Commissioner took the first hand information from the BDOs and said that the problems being faced by them in implementation of schemes on ground would be discussed and sorted out soon.
Bee Enn General Hospital conducts first Micro-Discectomy of Spine
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 2: Bee Enn General Hospital conducted first successful Micro-Discectomy of Spine through minimally invasive surgery. So far for this type of surgery, patients had to travel to Chandigarh or Delhi, which used to be very uncomfortable and painful journey.
Dr Bias Dev, Orthopedics Surgeon along with Dr Farooq, operated Ashok at Bee Enn General Hospital. Patient was made to move out of the bed and start walking by the same evening and within the period of three days, the patient was discharged and is expected to resume his work by another ten days.
Dr Bias Dev stated that in conventional surgery, large incision and more bone resection are responsible for late recovery and delayed mobilization of patients. This makes recovery painful and longer and the chances of complication and infections are also very high.
He said that the advantages of the Micro Discectomy surgery are, quick recovery owing to very small incision as well as no instability of the architecture of spine, with minimal blood loss and making it possible for patients to resume his routine very quickly.
With the availability of this service at peoples door step, the hospital management feels that not only the inconvenience will be lessened for spine injury patients who travel outside the State, but the patients will also have considerable monetary advantages as the cost of these surgeries is far less in Jammu as compared to that are available outside.
Security at Railway Station reviewed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 2: Security at Jammu Railway Station and track came up for a high level review at a meeting held at Railway Station this morning under the chairmanship of newly appointed SP Railways Shiv Kumar Sharma.
Senior officers of all security agencies, Railways administration and others participated in the security review meeting that last about two hours.
Security arrangements for upcoming annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath ji yatra were reviewed at the meeting. The pilgrimage is starting on June 25 and would continue till August 2.
Authorities decided to make tight security arrangements for Amarnath yatris, who would arrive here by trains from different parts of the country.
Congestion and overcrowding at Railway Station also figured at the meeting.
Mr Sharma said some measures were discussed and would be shortly put in place to decongest the railway station where thousands of people, mostly the pilgrims of holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, arrive daily.
All agencies decided to share Intelligence inputs to thwart any terror plot.
Govt to ask CBI to fast track Tatra trucks case: Antony
NEW DELHI, May 2:
Defence Minister A K Antony today said the Government will ask the Central Bureau of Investigation to fast track the case relating to irregularities in supply of Tatra trucks.
In a reply in the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour, Mr Antony said,”we have nothing to hide in the Tatra case. Our hands are clean. We are ready to answer all questions on the issue in Parliament. However, outside Parliament, I do not like to have a running commentary on the issue.”
The Defence Minister said he had already referred the matter for a comprehensive enquiry by the CBI.
“I hope the CBI will complete it as fast as possible. I will ask the CBI to fast track the enquiry so that the situation becomes clear,”Mr Antony said.
The Defence Minister said whatever procurement was made was done on the request of the Army and any decision in this regard is taken as per the requirement.
Terming the situation in this regard as quite complex, he said that because of the involvement of big countries, decisions in this regard are taken with utmost caution. He said that on the one hand, it was alleged that the Government delays the procurement while on the other hand, the Government was blamed for not taking action.
In this context, he said that whenever the Government knows about any irregularities, action is taken in the matter which in turn leads to some delays.
Mr Antony said the Ministry had blacklisted six companies with whom no commercial dealings would be undertaken.
He further said that in future all the deals would be done after obtaining the advice of the Central Vigilance Commission.
In reply to another question, the Minister said that with regard to Army officers working for arms companies after their retirement, a standing committee on Defence had recommended that there should be a period of five years before the retired officials seek employment with private companies. (UNI)
Obama visits Afghanistan; says al-Qaeda’s defeat within reach
KABUL/WASHINGTON, May 2:
Making a sudden and secretive air-dash to war-torn Afghanistan, President Barack Obama today declared that US will “finish the job” in the country and was near its goal to defeat al-Qaeda and deny it a chance to rebuild.
Slipping into Afghanistan under the cover of darkness, Obama said the “tide of war” in the country had already been turned and pledged that the US will not abandon it as he inked a strategic pact to set out a long term role in the nation.
“We have travelled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war. Yet here, in the pre-dawn darkness of Afghanistan, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon,” he said in a telecast live to US from the Bagram air base on the first death anniversary of Osama bin Laden.
But in a blunt reminder of the fragile security situation in Afghanistan, a series of explosions and gun fire erupted in the capital just hours after Obama’s departure leaving at least six dead. Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
The new Kabul-Washington Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) signed by Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai provides for American forces to be involved in counter- terrorism and training of the Afghan military after the planned final withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops in 2014.
“This time of war began in Afghanistan, and this is where it will end. … With faith in each other, and our eyes fixed on the future, let us finish the work at hand and forge a just and lasting peace,” Obama said as he assured the Americans, who are “tired of war”, that the winding down had begun in Afghanistan, just as it has already ended in Iraq.
“Over the last three years the tide has turned… We have broken Taliban’s momentum. We have built a strong Afghan security force. We devastated al-Qaeda leadership taking out 20 of their top 30 leaders and one year ago from a base here our troops launched the operation that killed bin Laden.
“The goal that I set—to defeat al-Qaeda and deny it a chance to rebuild—is within our reach,” Obama declared.
Obama’s fourth trip to Afghanistan, third as Commander- in-Chief, comes months ahead of the November presidential polls where the war is becoming a major election plank.
Nearly 3,000 US and NATO soldiers have died during the Afghanistan war since Taliban was ousted in 2001.
Announcing that the US was building a global consensus to support peace and stability in South Asia, Obama said alongwith pressure on the militants, negotiations were being pursued for peace.
“In coordination with Afghan government, my administration has been in direct discussions with the Taliban. We have made it clear that they can be part of this future if they break with al-Qaeda, renounce violence and abide by Afghan laws,” the US president said.
Obama said that many members of the Taliban – from foot soldiers to leaders – have indicated an interest in reconciliation. “The path of peace is now set before them, those who refuse to walk it will face from Afghan security forces, backed by the US and other allies,” he warned.
Turning to Pakistan, the US president said that Washington has made it clear to Islamabad, “that it can and should be an equal partner in the peace process.”
After that he said reductions would continue at a steady pace and most of the forces would be home by the end of 2014.(PTI)
NDA, small parties to be consulted for Prez post name: Gadkari
INDORE, May 2:
Against the backdrop of reports about fissures in the NDA over the name of the presidential candidate, BJP national president Nitin Gadkari today said that the name would be finalised only after consulting the NDA leaders and small parties.
Gadkari was speaking at the Indore Press Club here. “Before finalising the names of the candidates for the posts of President and Vice-President, talks would be held with the NDA leaders individually as well as collectively.”
“Talks will also be held with small parties, since the regional parties have assumed a lot of importance today,” he said.
He said that the possibility of arriving at a consensus with some political parties, which are now part of the UPA, would also be explored.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had recently said that the party was open to the idea of backing former president APJ Abdul Kalam if parties like the Samajwadi Party mooted his name.
Clarifying his stand on Swaraj’s comment, Gadkari said she had only mentioned that Kalam was among some good names in the race for the top post. “However, it does not mean that a final decision on the matter has been taken within the BJP,” he said.
JD-U President Sharad Yadav had yesterday snubbed the BJP on Tuesday for “unilaterally announcing its stand” on the issue. “Whatever Sushma Swaraj has said is the opinion of the BJP. This is not our party’s view. The issue was not discussed in any NDA meeting. BJP has not discussed the issue with us,” Yadav had said.
The BJP President said that his party want to take all the parties with it to decide a candidate for the top post. He said that he would try to hold talks with Sharad Yadav and the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the issue today.
Gadkari said that the Congress should have initiated discussion with the BJP on the post of the presidential candidate, which it has not done so far.
He said that there can be no discussion with the Congress if it wants to have a consensus on its nominees for the President and the Vice-President.
“The President of India should be independent, impartial and one who should bring laurels to the country. It is not important whether the person comes from a political background or not,” Gadkari added. (PTI)
New heart defect baby screening method ‘could save hundreds’
LONDON, May 2:
British scientists have claimed that a new screening technique, called pulse oximetry, could help detect the most serious heart defects in newborn babies and thus save hundreds of lives worldwide every year.
A number of babies are born globally every year with what doctors call critical congenital heart defects – physical abnormalities so severe that they will probably die very early in life unless they receive surgery.
However, usually there are no outward signs that anything is wrong, and the first a parent knows about it is when their baby suddenly becomes extremely ill. Current screening methods which rely on pre-natal ultrasound and clinical assessment are thought to pick up about half of cases.
Now, a team at Queen Mary, University of London, says in ‘The Lancet’ journal, that the two-minute pulse oximetry test could raise that to nearly three-quarters.
The test involves a simple clip being placed on a toe, which measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. Babies with low blood oxygen are sent for further tests, according to the scientists.
Dr Shakila Thangaratinam, who led the team, said: “Heart defects in newborn babies are thankfully rare but their potential impact is devastating. This study is really important because by including such large numbers of babies, we can show that pulse oximetry is effective at picking up defects, without misdiagnosing healthy babies.”
For their research, the scientists analysed 13 previous studies, looking at results from almost 230,000 babies. They found pulse oximetry could identify 76.5 per cent of critical congenital heart defects as compared to just half using the current methods, ‘The Daily Telegraph’ reported.
Dr Thangaratinam added: “We know that of those babies with undiagnosed heart defects which go on to die, 50 per cent die at home or in the emergency room, because they never make it to surgery. The whole point of pulse oximetry is to make sure more are identified earlier and get surgery they need.”
The scientists emphasised that pulse oximetry could not flag up congenital heart defects which manifested themselves later in life, such as those which caused heart attacks in apparently healthy young adults. (PTI)