High Level Team reviews health facilities at  Yatra Camps

           SRINAGAR, JULY 16 - On the directions of the Governor, Mr. N. N. Vohra and Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah, a High Level Team led by Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, Health Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Javid Ahmad Dar, MoS, Health, Jammu and Kashmir, and Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board visited the Yatra Camps at Nunwan, Sheshnag, Panjtarni, Holy Cave and Baltal today to review the medical facilities being made available to the pilgrims of the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra.

            Health Minister and members of his team had inspected all Medical Aid Centres established at the aforesaid Camps, checked the number of Doctors and Para-medical staff on duty, and the availability of medicines,  essential diagnostic and treatment equipments and Oxygen cylinders. The team found that the Medical Aid Centres are operating virtually round the clock and providing the required aid to the pilgrims. After his visit, the Health Minister directed the immediate augmentation of critical life saving medicines, particularly at the high altitude Medical Aid Centres (MACs) at Sheshnag, Panjtarni and Holy Cave. The team also visited the MACs which are being run by the Army and Para-Military Forces and directed that all MACs should run in close coordination and pool their resources in an efficient manner to effectively serve the pilgrims in need of medical help.

           Health Minister enquired from the Doctors and other medical staff on duty regarding the reason for the deaths due to cardiac arrest which have been regularly taking place and was informed that many Yatris do not come with adequate clothing and commence climbing without any acclimatization attempting to complete the Yatra in the shortest possible time. Many of them start the Yatra from Baltal or Panjtarni on an empty stomach with the firm believe that they can not consume any food or drink before concluding their Darshan. The Doctors informed the Health Minister that in many cases persons with existing medical problems have been able to obtain registration after furnishing Compulsory Health Certificates which are obviously invalid. In one case, a Yatri who had recently undergone bye-pass surgery had been able to obtain a certificate which declared him fit for undergoing such an arduous Yatra at this high altitude.

            While taking note of the continuing efforts made by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board over the past several months to create awareness among the Yatris regarding health issue and other Do’s and Don’ts through electronic and print media as well as printed pamphlets, the Health Minister stressed the usefulness of the State Health Department and the Shrine Board continuing the campaign to enhance awareness of Do’s and Don’ts among the Yatris during the remaining part of the Yatra. He directed the Doctors and Yatra Officers at the Base Camps at Nunwan and Baltal to position themselves at the Entry Gates to have a visual inspection of Yatris crossing the Gate and any Yatri seen with any symptom of illness should not be allowed to proceed further and necessarily brought to the MAC for appropriate treatment. He also directed the Police authorities that all such Yatris who have faced medical problems at the Base Camp and are undergoing treatment should, under no condition, be allowed to proceed on the Yatra. Side by side, the Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board directed all Camp Directors to effectively use Public Address System and advice Yatris to approach the nearest MAC in case they felt ill or even slightest uneasiness.

Autonomy is the only acceptable solution to Kashmir: Sheikh Nazir

Srinagar, July 16(VOS): The National Conference today reiterated its stand that autonomy is the only acceptable solution to the people of Jammu and Kashmir

National Conference General Secretary Advocate Nazir Ahmad Sunday said that New Delhi and Islamabad had have already taken a lot of time in finding a solution but the delay has only added to the miseries of the people.
According to a statement issued by Party spokesman, Party General Secretary said that New Delhi and Islamabad have already wasted many years finding a solution but and solution has been kept in the cold storage. He said a conducive atmosphere has been created and its time to address the aspiration of the people by restoring autonomy

“Now is time to act, otherwise people will lose patience, there is a lot of hope attached with the talks going on between the neighboring countries, and Sincere and bold initiatives should be taken” said Nazir

“People to people contact are better, road, railway and air links are intact, confidence building measure have worked. Now responsibility lies on political leadership to act, otherwise further
delay will again create uncertainty” he said.
He said the party will strive for a solution and ensure that people long pending demands are addressed. Sheikh Nazir said that autonomy has become the aspiration of people after
it was passed by the state assembly. He said even Justice Sageer has endorsed the autonomy as the viable solution of Kashmir problem. 
On functioning of coalition government, Sheikh Nazir said Omar Abdullah is committed for equitable development of all regions of the state. 

Kamal spitting into Sky: Hurriyat G

‘Geelani’s assembly stint part of a mission’

Srinagar, July 16 (VOS): Hitting back at National Conference Additional General Secretary Mustafa Kamal, Hurriyat Conference has termed his statement against Syed Ali Geelani as “akin to spitting into the sky”.

“We don’t believe in blame games, however, the realities need to be passed on to future generations of Kashmir”, the Hurriyat spokesperson said in a statement.

Hurriyat Conference gave point by point reply to the allegation leveled against its Chairman by Mustafa Kamal.

The Hurriyat Spokesperson said the octogenarian Hurriyat leader neither has any bank balances nor owns a house. “The house where he lives is the office of Tehrik e Hurriyat”, he said.

Hurriyat Conference said Geelani had no personal interest in getting elected for the assembly. “It was part of a mission which has been accomplished”, he said.

He also denied the suggestions that Geelani was getting any pension from the government. The Hurriyat Conference said Geelani comes from a poor family, which he has accepted in his biography. “He has not accumulated any wealth and the same can be compared with thet property accumulated the Abdullah family whose profession was shawl weaving”, said the spokesperson.

“Geelani does not take any dictation from anyone including Pakistan, which is evident from his clear dissent to former President General Musharaff’s formula”, the spokesperson said.

Chenab Valley worst hit of bad governance: Mehbooba Mufti

‘Dismal developmental index, locals yet to reap benefits of natural resources’

Ramban , July 16 (VOS) : Terming PDP’s brief period of rule under the leadership of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed an era of peace, development and prosperity PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today blamed the coalition government led by National Conference for the socio-economic deprivation of people living in backward areas of the state.

Addressing a well attended public meeting at Pugal paristan in district Ramban, Mehbooba said the bad and corruption ridden governance in the state is responsible for poor development in the mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Party general secretary Thakur Balbir Singh, district president Ab Ahad Wani, youth general secretary Showkat Javaid Deng, Bahar Rouniyal, Imtiyaz Khandey, Qazi Mohd Hussain , Ab Aziz Malik and Mohd Iqbal Katoch were also present and spoke to the occasion.

“Though there is no significant development in other regions of the state but the dismal developmental scenario of Chenab Valley speaks volumes about inefficiency, corruption and the bad governance in our state,” she remarked.

The PDP president observed that despite being rich in natural resources like water, power mineral and forests, the region is still far off from the basics of quality life standards and the much needed infrastructure.

“The people of this valley as prime stake holders in their natural resources should have been the beneficiaries of electricity the government produces from their waters,” she asked adding that the National Conference has always befooled the people of backward areas through rhetoric and political gimmickries. Mehbooba termed the demand for renegotiation of terms with NHPC on various power projects as genuine. However, she said it would require people support to actually have a breakthrough on the issue.

 “PDP believes that with the people’s support and adopting democratic means we could make government of India understand what we have lost in last more than four decades through emotional politicking and vested interests of National Conference,” she said.

 Referring to latest road mishap in which around 15 Amarnath pilgrims were killed, and the connectivity crisis in the region, Mehbooba termed the roads of the region as “Death Traps”. “Hundreds have perished on these dilapidated roads and all those precious lives seem to have gone unnoticed. The present government has no time to address this grave issue. By announcing the ex gratia reliefs in favour of the deceased and injured, the present government has always regressed from ground reality when it comes to these tragedies especially in this region,” she said.     

 The previous coalition government led by PDP had started ambitious plans for connecting the region with Kashmir via Simthan pass. “Unfortunately there is no headway on those projects. Even the present government has failed avail benefits from the central government sponsored road connectivity projects,” she regretted.

 Mehbooba said that many areas in Chenab Valley are yet to have trafficable roads and some places remain accessible only by foot and cut off by snow for most part of the year. “There is a dire need to help out people of this region from this administrative inertia. I assure you that with your support things will not remain the same and you will witness a holistic change in this region,” Mehbooba pledged.

 Expressing concern over the poor medical facilities available in the region, Mehbooba said it was highly remorseful that ailing people of this region are supposed to cut a distance of hundreds of kilometers to get treated either in Srinagar or in Jammu. “Similarly, there are reports that doctors are no available in many primary health centres in this region. The present government is trying to hoodwink the people of this region through false sloganeering. This is absolutely pitiful,” she remarked.

On this occasion people of the area put forth various demands before the PDP president including Direct police recruitment, a degree college in the area and upgradation of schools, sports stadium for the the local sports men, a branch of JKBank in the area,PHC and CAPD sale centres including proper water and power supply as the people are facing immense scarcity of these essential services in the area . The people also urged for the development of tourism in the area.

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