THEDAILY

VOICE OF SRINAGAR

SRINAGAR, SUNDAY, 02 RAMDHAN 1433 AH ; 22 JULY 2012

Email:-editorvosgr@gmail.com

NEWS

Kupwara seasonal coolies, casual labourers without wages for years

Kupwara July 20 (VOS): The seasonal and casual labourers of irrigation and flood control (I&FC) department’s Kupwara division are without salaries for last three years, a group of labourers told VOS.

They alleged that the department has withheld their salaries due to inefficiency, callous approach and incompetence of its office bearers.

“Since 2010 we have been denied our due salaries. We approached our officers for release of salary but they say the department has no funds available at present and the salary would be disbursed shortly”, a delegation of the employees told VOS.

Refuting shortage as funds to be responsible for non payment of wages, the labourers said the department releases billions of rupees in favour of the contractors leaving them high and dry especially when the holy month of Ramazan has begun.

“All this while they (our officers) have been telling all lies that our salaries would be paid in a day or two, but they never kept their word. How do we trust them now?”, they asked.

The labourers said they have been making rounds of division office Kupwara every week for their salaries, however, to no avail.

A “seasonal coolie” who identified himself as Parveez Ahmad said his wife has been ill for past six months but he does not have money for her treatment. He added his grocer has refused his domestic supplies following his increasing debt.

One more employee namely Abdul Majeed says that he needs money as he has to pay monthly tuition fees of his children who have been threatened by the school administration to be expelled if they failed to liquidate their outstanding dues by 30th of this month. “My family has nothing to eat I desperately need to purchase eatables like rice and spices.”

 “They (officials) keep promising, but do not release our salaries,” he alleged. Demanding stringent action against the irresponsible officials at its division office the delegation however threatened to come on roads to protest the official apathy if the department fails to release their salaries immediately.  

As per Executive Engineer I&FC Kupwara’s letter vide no 3172-73 dated 11/01/2012 addressed to local Superintending Engineer Hydraulic the department owes forty eight lakh rupees to casual and seasonal labourers working with the division.

Meanwhile Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control department Kashmir Muzafar Lankar said the demand of these labourers and coolies in genuine. “The matter has already been brought into my notice and I will try my best to arrange funds for paying wages to them”, he said.  (VOS) 

Expansion, consolidation of development goes hand in hand: Omar

‘Government striking balance in employment generation, retirement age enhancement’

Dooru, July 21 (VOS): Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Saturday said that his government has not closed the chapter of enhancement of retirement age of government employees but is striking balance to address both the aspirations of educated unemployed and those of government employees. “We are working on a viable and comprehensive via medium in this direction”, he added.

Addressing a public gathering after he and the Union Minister for Human Resources inaugurated the Degree College at Dooru, Omar Abdullah said that delinking of age factor from the release of 6th Pay Commission arrears in favour of teachers by the Centre Government is a welcome decision.

 “We have not closed the chapter of enhancing retirement age but the issue is under consideration of the government alongwith the demand of educated youth for absorption in the government services”, he said adding that government is engaged in dialogue with employee leaders in this regard.

The Chief Minister said that expansion and consolidation in development sectors especially in education and health sectors is going on hand in hand. “We do not want to announce colleges and schools without faculties, laboratories and necessary paraphernalia”, he said adding that it will be a funny thing to deceive people.

 “My government has flagged consolidation as important ingredient in the expansion programme to make schools, colleges and other higher educational institutions functional and delivering”, he said maintaining that his government would address the demands and aspirations of the people for more and more educational institutions across the State in a befitting manner.

Omar Abdullah said that there has been remarkable improvement in the growth and development of education in the State. The enrolment in schools and literacy rate has shown upward trend. He said that enhancement in female education is being focused and the State Government has initiated various measures with the help of Union Government to make headway in this direction.

The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the UPA Government particularly Minister for Human Resources, Kapil Sibal for granting two Central Universities to the State besides helping in setting up various degree colleges to cover uncovered areas. He also referred the assistance of the Centre Government for setting up offsite university campuses and extending support to the State Government in the field of technical education.

Referring to the development in Dooru Assembly Constituency, the Chief Minister said that 150 new primary schools have been opened in the Constituency besides upgrading 200 as upper primary and 60 middle schools as high schools. He said 408 ReT teachers have been engaged and scores of school buildings constructed in the Constituency by the present coalition government.

The Chief Minister said that Rs. 10.50 crores have been spent on the development of roads in 200-11 while the expenditure in 2011-12 on this sector was Rs. 12 crores. He said 50 kilometers of roads have been macadamized in Dooru Shahabad and work is in progress on the construction of 11 bridges involving over Rs. 25 crores.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Human Resources, Kapil Sibal said that UPA Government is keen to see Jammu and Kashmir moving fast on road to progress and prosperity. He said that Centre has provided enhanced support to the State during the last three years and will continue to do so in years to come.

He said that the Centre has increased the plan grants to the State from 0.9 percent to 2.7 percent in three years. “UPA Government has provided assistance for setting up of 45 degree colleges in the State besides granting two Central Universities and seven offsite campuses.

The Union Minister said that UPA Government has earmarked Rs. 170 crore for the development of higher education sector in the State and Rs. 85 crores have been released out of this. He said HR Ministry has also sanctioned Rs. 5 crores for Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Islamic University and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. He said a proposal to grant Rs. 118 crores to Kashmir University for expansion and upgradation is being considered actively.

Kapil Sibal said that Union Government has delinked the age factor from the release of 6th Pay arrears in respect of teachers making way for the State Government to pay arrears to the teachers.

Referring to the demands put forth by the local MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir on the occasion, the Union Minister said that his Ministry will consider all the proposals put forth to it by the State Government actively and render all possible help in this regard.

Earlier, the Chief Minister and Union Minister for Human Resources inaugurated Dooru Degree College complex constructed at a cost of Rs. 476 lakhs.

Mehbooba visits Rathsuna shrine

“Such incidents demand serious response from govt”

Srinagar 21 July (VOS): PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today visited the dargah of Hazarat Baba Hanifudin at Rathsuna Beerwa which was gutted in a fire incident recently. She was accompanied by Chief Spokesperson Naeem Akhtar and MLA Beerwa Dr Mohd Shafi Wani. The shrine is located on a plateau near Rathsuna at an isolated high point without any population around.

Addressing the gathering on this occasion there Mehbooba expressed deep sense of loss at the fire incident. She also expressed shock at the insensitivity of the government in its response to the tragic incident. She said shrines are the spiritual nerve centers of our society and we need to protect the legacy of tolerance preached by our saints and seers. She said Dastgeer Saheb tragedy, the Ratsuna incident and the attempt at damaging Khankah Faizpanah at Tral, demand a serious response from the government.

Mehbooba said a project should be prepared for the development of the shrine tastefully in view of its location and its inspirational significance.

On this occasion the local MLA Dr Mohd Shafi announced a grant of  Rs 12 Lacs for reconstruction of shrine out of his constituency development fund.

The locals led by Sarpanches Master Abdul Ahad Mir and Abdul Ahad Dar demanded an inquiry to find out the cause of fire. They also complained that not even an official had visited the site. 

Honor Instrument of accession, Restore Autonomy

Revoke AFSPA as a ‘goodwill’ gesture in Ramadan NC to Centre

Srinagar 21 July (VOS): The National Conference on the commencement of Holy month of Ramadan today reiterated its stand by appealing the centre to restore Autonomy and revoke AFSPA as a goodwill gesture to address the mistrust while inviting all the shades of thoughts to converge on a common platform to ensure that such steps are given impetus

Appealing the centre to restore Autonomy the Party Spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said that our elected government had sent a well thought out, thoroughly studied report passed by both the houses of the legislature to the Central Government which recommended autonomy for the state, the essence of which is very similar to Justice Sagheer Group report which was formed by the Prime Minister.

“There is absolutely no doubt that our autonomy has been unconstitutionally eroded from time to time and that center has for all practical purposes stacked away that report in cold storage” said the spokesman “Even then we have no doubt in the sincerity of the GOI but the mistrust among the people has to be addressed and the only way to do so is to honor the instrument of accession and restore Autonomy”, said Tanvir “any more delay might be disastrous” he added

“For a lasting solution, we need convergence of views and consensus on a possible solution like Autonomy otherwise everybody will be toeing their own way” he remarked

Reiterating the commitment of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to revoke AFSPA the Spokesman said that the party stands committed to ensure that AFSPA is revoked and added that militancy-related incidents have gone down.

“The Holy month of Ramadan has started and what better time could it be for the centre as a goodwill gesture to withdraw Armed Forces Special Powers Act from areas not affected by militancy anymore” said Tanvir.

“Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has all along been saying that the implementation of AFSPA should not be equated with the law and order situation” said Tanvir adding “The Act was not implemented in the state to meet the law and order situation but to deal with the militancy and one can easily figure out that militancy has declined over the years”

“The Army has done their job but now is the time to address a genuine demand like AFSPA which has mass support” he said

“We have close to around a million odd tourists who visited Kashmir for vacations till now and around half a million Yatris performing Darshan of Shri Amarnath Ji, If this is not an indication to withdraw AFSPA I wonder what is” asked Tanvir “I have yet to come across any tourist who would visit a place which is not safe” he concluded