THEDAILY

VOICE OF SRINAGAR

SRINAGAR, FRIDAY, 12 SHAWAAL 1433 AH ; 31 AUGUST 2012

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NEWS

Cabinet meets under CM’s chairmanship

1083 posts of VLWs Created in RD

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 30:- The Cabinet which met here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah approved creation of 1083 posts of village level workers (VLWs) in Rural Development Department in the pay band of Rs. 5200-20200 with Grade pay of Rs. 1900.

The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the establishment of 71 Mobile Veterinary Centres and creation of 214 posts in Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments. Out of these 26 Mobile Veterinary Centers are in Animal Husbandry Jammu and 26 in Animal Husbandry Kashmir, likewise 09 centers for Sheep Husbandry Jammu and 10 for Sheep Husbandry Kashmir.

The Cabinet also approved establishment of Treasuries at Manjakote (Rajouri), Assar (Doda), Ramsoo (Ramban), Kahara (Doda), Warwan (Kishtwar), Awantipora (Pulwama) and Achabal (Anantnag) and creation of posts for the said Treasuries.  

The Cabinet accorded sanction to the upgradation of Sub-Centres of Trigam and Madwa in Bandipora district to the level of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and creation of posts for medical and Para-medical staff. The Health Department was instructed to make an assessment of the medical facilities using Geo-Mapping techniques.

The Cabinet accorded sanction to the construction of 18 hole Golf Course at Sidhra Jammu at a cost of Rs. 37.39 crores through Directorate of Tourism Jammu.

The Cabinet approved payment of compensation to the tune of Rs. 14.71 crore for state land measuring 23 kanals-14 Marals for the construction of flyover from Bikram Chowk to Government Women College Gandhi Nagar Jammu and its transfer to PW (R&B) department through ERA.

The Cabinet approved promotion of Officers (In-charge Directors) as Director Prosecutions. Ms Gurdev Kour w.e.f 06.09.2009 to 31.11.2009, Mr. Fazal Karim w.e.f 10.07.2010 to 30.11.2010 and Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Zaroo w.e.f 18.12.2011 to 31.03.2012.      

Sanction was also accorded to setting up of one State Transmission Company (Transco) and two State Distribution Companies (Discoms) one each for Kashmir Division and Jammu Division and one Tradeco (Holding Company) under companies Act 1956.

CS reviews BADP

Stresses on timeline completion of project

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 30: The State Level Screening Committee on Border Area Development Programme (BADP) headed by the Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Thursday, reviewed the status of the programme in Kupwara, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Chief Secretary while reviewing the sector wise proposed Annual Action Plan 2012-13 for each district, emphasized on taking concrete steps towards completing all ongoing projects and following appropriate convergence model. He also directed for proper documentation of the projects undertaken under the programme including photographic record and use of Geo-mapping technology.   

The Deputy Commissioners were also directed to ensure regular monitoring of the works by dispatching teams to the remote border areas in their respective districts to assess implementation progress.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Finance, M.I. Khanday, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B.B Vyas, Principal Secretary Home, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary PDD, Sudhanshu Pandey, Administrative Secretaries, District Development Commissioners of Kupwara, Rajouri and Poonch and other senior officers.

Cocoon rears will have value addition facilities within the J&K: Mir

‘Increases incentives on construction of rears shed from Rs. 50 thousand to 1 lakh’

            SRINAGAR, AUGUST 30: For revamping the heritage silk industry of J&K, Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir said that the department is going to setup Composite Units with the collaboration of Central Silk Board to have value addition facilities to the farmers within the J&K for their product.

            The Minister said this while inaugurating the auction of cocoon crop of this year at Aloocha Bagh here today. Director Sericulture and other senior officers besides rears were present on the occasion.

            The Minister said that our aim is to provide maximum benefit to the rears at their door step for which these composite units would be set up where rearing, reeling and twisting activities could take place  at one roof to the cocoon product of the state. He said that with the setup of these centres the cocoon rears will get higher returns to their product.

            Saying the future of the silk industry is very much bright, the Minister said that last three years trend shows encouraging figures in the growth of  number of cocoon rears across the state adding that the government has lunched various incentive schemes to motivate the farmers to opt it as profiting activity. He said this industry is the livelihood to the big chunk of the population mostly poor people and steps are being taken to equip them with technology of the trade so that farmers could produce quality cocoon production. He said that from this the farmers would get Rs one lakh for construction of rearing shed which was earlier Rs 50 thousand only.

            Referring to the today’s auction, Mr. Mir said that the farmers who have produced quality cocoons get maximum price of Rs. 725 per kg and asked the farmers to adopt the new techniques for quality production. He said that the sericulture department is making every effort to familiarize the farmers with latest trends and techniques to help them to produce the best quality of the cocoon to compete at national and global market. 

To provide genuine returns to the farmers, the Minister announced from next year the department would install latest equipment which could check the quality of cocoons and farmers could get the dividends of the produce.

Come up with legislation for regulating the Pvt. Coaching Institutions: Panel to Education department

            SRINAGAR, AUGUST 30: The Committee on Subordinate Legislation of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly headed by its Chairman Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta Thursday directed the officers of Education department to come up with the legislation for regulating the private Coaching Institutions to be taken up during ensuing Assembly session. The Committee also recommended amendment in the Education Act 2002 so that Private Coaching Institutions could be brought under the ambit of  Act.

            Legislators, Mir Zahoor Ahmad and Ch. Zulfikar Ali gave their valuable suggestions for improving the functioning of education department. The panel also suggested revision of SRO 123 of March 18, 2010 to make it more comprehensive and student friendly. The Committee urged the concerned authorities to frame rules for regulating the functioning of Private coaching institutions being run in the State.

            Secretary, Education Mr. Farooq Ahmad Fakhtoo, Secretary, J&K State Board of School Education (JKSBOSE), Director School Education Kashmir Mr. Mohammad Shafi Rather, Director School Education, Jammu Mr. Gulzar Ahmad Quershi briefed the Committee about the measures takens by the department of Education for regulating the functioning of the Private Coaching Institutions.

J&K Bank doing a wonderful job: Rather

Says flight of capital is unacceptable

                SRINAGAR, AUGUST 30: J&K Bank is doing a wonderful job by not only aligning itself with the peoples’ needs and financial aspirations but by practically devising financial solutions as per their specific and specialised requirements. The leadership capabilities of its management, commitment of its staff and extensive support of the people of J&K has turned this institution into one of the best in the country. Financial analysts, awards and awaam (people) acknowledge its uninterrupted growth and resounding success. The impressive targets of Rs 1000 crore for net profit and Rs One Lac Crore for business by the end of this financial year set by the bank for itself would be a milestone in the bank’s journey.

            This was stated by Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Finance & Ladakh Affairs, J&K, after he inaugurated bank’s new business unit at Chraripora, Pakherpora in district Budgam today. Tafazal Hussain, Bank’s Executive President, B.A Lone, Bank’s President and Zonal Head for Kashmir Central, Khursheed Ahmad, DDC Budgam, Vaqarul Mulk Nazki, bank’s Vice-President, Abdul Hamid Khan, bank’s Cluster Head for Budgam, M A Wanchoo, bank’s Incharge for Marketing, Mohammed Yousuf, head, b/u Chraripora, senior officiers of district administration, bank officials and a scores of customers were also present on the occasion.

            Describing J&K Bank as a peoples’ bank, Rather said that peoples’ association with J&K Bank is unequated and matchless. “The intensity of this envious association can be gauged from the fact that whenever people come to me with a demand for a bank branch in their respective areas, J&K Bank is their unambiguous choice. It’s all because J&K Bank has been able to establish its credibility as a people-friendly institution” he said.

            “People know and expect that a business dealing with J&K Bank is sure to better their economic fortunes, he added.

            Appealing locals to remain faithful and honest in their transactions with the bank, Rather stressed on the need to invest loans in productive ventures to ensure maximum circulation of money and individual economic empowerment, which can further lead to economic well being of the state as a whole.

            Asking J&K Bank authorities to further explore investment options with their home state, Rather reiterated his warning to other banking players operating in the state for their reluctance to extend loans and advances in the J&K. “Flight of capital is unacceptable and these bank should improve their CDR especially for Agriculture and other priority sectors. He asked the bankers to deal with people politely and affectionately adding that it was imperative for improving bank-customer relations. 

            Tafazal Hussain in his address revealed the bank’s plan to further improve the CD Ratio by taking it to around 65%.

            J&K Bank is exploring potential areas to invest in the state. “We are seriously eyeing on agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts and entrepreneurship”, he said.

            Describing financial inclusion as J&K Bank’s mantra, Tafazal said that bank was committed to reach every home of the state with a sole purpose of contributing in economic renovation of the people and economic revival of the state.

            He urged the locals to inculcate saving habits and avail various credit facilities available with the bank. “By the efforts of J&K Bank and state government, RBI has finally extended interest subvention available under KCC to J&K Bank. It is a wonderful product, available at highly subsidized rate of interest, as low as 4%, so avail it to better your agricultural produce as it helps you meet emergency financial requirements in a hassle free manner”, he said.

            The function concluded with the presentation of vote of thanks by Bashir Ahmad Lone, President and Zonal Head of the bank.

Divisional Level Inter District Cricket Tournament concludes

POONCH, AUGUST 30- Under 16 years Divisional Level Inter District Boys Cricket tournament concluded here at Poonch in which teams from 10 districts of Jammu Division participated.

 District Youth Services and Sports Office Poonch organized the tournament in collaboration with 39 RR Army.

Final Cricket Match was played between teams of Poonch and Doda Districts. Poonch team was headed by its captain Mr. Farhan who won the toss and played first, setting a target of 90 runs. Doda District team played under captainship of Mr. Ikhlaq Ahmed who displayed their sportsmanship techniques and won the match with great struggle at last moment.

MLC Mr. Jahingir Hussain Mir was the chief guest whereas SP Mr. Shamsher Hussain, Commanding Officer 39RR Mr. Munesh Sharma and Mr. K. K. Kapoor a prominent citizen attended as guests of honour. Officers of district Administration, especially of YSS, Sportslovers, other prominent citizen and youths participated in the final match.

MLC during his address appreciated efforts of DYSS office for organizing such tournament. He said talents of youth be utilized in such constructive activities.

Mr. Ikhlaq Ahmed of Doda team was declared Man of the Match where as Mr. Aman Deep Singh of Poonch team declared as Man of series on the occasion.

Omar’s U turns making him a laughing stock: PDP

Srinagar, August 30 (VOS): Advising the chief minister to go through his previous statements before issuing a fresh one Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said Omar Abdullah’s frequent U turns on important issues are seriously compromising the prestige of the position he is holding. “We sincerely advise Omar Abdullah to go through his own statements before contradicting them so that the institution of chief minister is spared the public ridicule invited against it as a result of his non stop u turns” the party general secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir said in a statement here today. He said there was a degree of sanctity attached to CM’s institution which Omar was compromising through his generally non serious observations that contradict him more than representing a policy of his government on issues of public importance.

Referring to the latest statement of the chief minister on the interlocutors Mir said it was a classic case of a political executive getting lost in a ‘blunderland’ of his own making. He said it was obvious that the chief minister did not mean anything that he ever said for or against the interlocutors and seems just shooting in the dark for gaining some relevance on political landscape. But in the process the institutions are becoming a laughing stock, Mir regretted.

Chief minister has described interlocutor’s report ‘as one of the most exhaustive exercises in the last two decades’ and something that could be ‘the basis for center-state dialogue’ just a day after dismissing the former interlocutors as ‘virtual nobodys’. Mir said it was easy to guess the reasons for such a brazen reversal of his position even as his national conference described the exercise as futile on the same day. Mir said it was significant that earlier his party had rejected interlocutor’s report because it had ruled out autonomy as a solution to Kashmir issue. “Omar Abdullah has through his childish actions and thoughtless comments reduced himself to a non entity that unfortunately can now be manipulated into make any statement at a tremendous cost to the state he heads”, Mir said.

Mir said Omar’s acrobatics on AFSPA have become a source of embarrassment for the entire state as he keeps setting new deadlines day in and day out. While the chief minister has now claimed that the roll back would ‘start in his tenure’ on the Independence Day parade, the most solemn state ceremony he clearly said situation was not conducive yet for such a move. Earlier, recalled Mir, Omar had set a timeframe of 2 to 3 days on October 21, last year for revoking the draconian law which he later changed to ‘just after the durbar move’. Mir said even when third Durbar move is round the corner the chief minister publicly complained that the previous chief of army staff had ‘not granted him an appointment’ to discuss the issue.

Mir said it is increasingly becoming clear that Jammu and Kashmir is not in safe hands and given chief minister’s habit of changing his statements so unabashedly the disastrous performance of his government becomes understandable. “This government does not need any enemies with such a chief minister at its head”, he added. He said it was unfortunate that serious governance had been replaced by casual and often self contradicting sloganeering under the present NC led dispensation and it would take a long and hard effort by people at rebuilding the prestige of state institutions.

Disclosing whereabouts of disappeared will be biggest CBM: Yasin

Srinagar, August 30 (VOS): Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Mohammad Yasin Malik has said disclosure of whereabouts of the disappeared persons in the state can be the most valuable confidence building measure.

“The land of Jammu Kashmir has witnessed the worst chapter of human history and violation of human rights. More than ten thousand cases of missing person who were arrested by Indian forces and disappeared in custody is a clear manifest of this fact”, said Malik while addressing a public rally at Chatergul Kangan.

Addressing the public meeting Yasin said that from early 1990 Indian forces started arresting and disappearing people in custody. “During last two decades thousands of our people have disappeared in custody. Today while we have lakhs of those who have been martyred, we have their families, their orphans, their widows’ and their old mother and fathers; we also have a large section of our society whose kith and kin have been forcefully disappeared in custody”, he said.

Yasin said that the agony of those who have a martyred son, husband or father according to the law of nature gets consoled to some extent with the passage of time but those families who have somebody missing constantly feel and tolerate this agony day in and day out. This is a constant torment and sorrow for them. “Today many of our sisters who have a disappeared husband cannot call themselves widows neither are they able to call themselves married. They have been named as half widows now. We have lakh’s of children who did not see their father from years on but cannot call themselves orphan. We have many old parents who in their eyes are set in a dream that their dear ones may return some day. Many eyes have died in this process”, he added.

Yasin said that the event of unmarked graves being opened at many places in which some  of the innocent person’s dead bodies who were killed by Indian forces in the name of foreign mercenaries were excavated ,raised hopes in the families of disappeared person but today when the whole civilized world is celebrating the day  the so called rulers of Jammu Kashmir have replied  to their own state human rights commission and asked it to put a blanket on this case as this case could not be pursued and truth cannot be established .

“How can people who call themselves “democrats” be such ignorant. Are their eyes blind to see the plight of half widows, are they not able to feel the agony of those who have their dear one disappearing. Are they not humans and did not have fathers and mothers”, he said.

Yasin Malik said that making any body disappear  in  custody is a major crime according to  all international laws and rules and India is too a signatory to these kind of  laws and resolutions.

“The civilized world after taking any body into custody prosecutes him in the court of law but India which claims to be the largest democracy in the world has been doing totally opposite to this civilized way”, he said.

Yasin Malik said that today from this protest public meeting in Kangan we demand to the whole civilized world, human rights organizations and civil society in India who believe in human rights, human values and international laws to put pressure on Indian government to disclose the whereabouts of thousands of those disappeared in the custody of its army, police and forces.

After the public Jalsa a protest rally relating to disappeared person was also held those who accompanied Yasin Malik to Chatergul included Bashir Ahmad Bhat Advocate, Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi,Mohamad Zaman Mir, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan ,Sheikh Ab. Rashid,Mohammad Sideeq Shah, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad,Siraj Ud Din mir, Prof Javed ,Sheikh Mohammad Aslam,Bashir A kashmiri,Showkat A Dar, Noor Mohammad Katjoo, Ghulam Rasool Hazari,Mushtaq Gabroo,Ab. Qayoom Lone,Distt president Ganderbal Bashir Ahmad Rather, Mehraj ud Din and Giyas ud Din etc,.

PDP pays tributes to Ayatullah Aga Syed Yousuf

Srinagar, August 30 (VOS): Peoples Democratic Party paid rich tributes to Ayatullah Aga Syed Yousuf Alsafvi Almosvi on his 30th death anniversary.

Paying rich tributes PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has termed late Ayatullah a great religious scholor and a prominent social entity who laid his service for the betterment of the people. She said Ayatullah had rendered his whole life by spiritual and religious teachings in service of the humanity.

Among others who paid their tributes to Late Ayatullah include party Senior vice President Molvi Iftikhar Ansari,General  Secretary Mohd Dilawar Mir, deputy speaker Mohd Sartaj Madni, Ab Rehman Veeri MLA , Javaid Mustafa Mir MLA , Dr Mohd Shafi MLA , Mohd Rafi Mir MLA , Gh Nabi Lone Hanjura, District President Saifudin Bhat , Mohd Yasir Reshi and others.

Panther’s Party to boycott ex-interlocutors
Srinagar, August 30 (VOS): Describing the interlocutors Report as damp squib and an exercise in futility, the JKNPP today decided in its meeting to boycott the interlocutors who are on visit to the State for one week to elicit public response pursuant to their submission of Report to Home Ministry. Chairing the JKNPP meet, Harsh Dev Singh working chairman of the Party said that interlocutors have not only shown disrespect and disregard for the sentiments and aspirations of Jammu people but have also made certain unsavory and offensive remarks which are not in tune with the national mood. He said that the interlocutors, right from the very beginning, created controversies and an atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust by using the words like ‘disputed’ for Kashmir, by entertaining the proposals for ‘Azadi’ mooted by certain quarters and finally describing Pak occupied Kashmir as ‘ Pak administered Kashmir’. He said that the interlocutors further stood exposed for their proximity and alignment with Kashmir centric parties and with separatist outfits by giving disproportionate converge to Autonomy, revocation of AFSPA, Pre 53 Status, demilitarization and making favorable recommendations on the said subjects to the utter neglect of issues of Jammu region.
Harsh Dev Singh said that the interlocutors during their earlier visits were apprised by NPP of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the then Coalition Partners in 2002 which was drafted and approved under the chairmanship of Dr. Man Mohan Singh which had categorically stated that Delimitation Commission shall be established in the state and fresh Delimitation of the constituencies would be held. He said that the interlocutors were requested by NPP to recommend Delimitation of Assembly constituencies so as to ensure justice to all regions of the State.
Making a further mention of the important issues raised by JKNPP in the said meeting with interlocutors, Harsh Dev Singh said that the issue of re-organization was discussed threadbare, besides apprising the interlocutors of the highly damaging and obnoxious contents of Autonomy Report. He said NPP talked of equitable treatment to all regions of the state with end to all forms of bias and discrimination against Jammu. He said that issues of Jammu region needed a focused attention in the Report of interlocutors and made particular mention of areas of neglect and deprivation of Jammu.
Harsh Dev Singh said NPP had made a special mention of the Finance Commission recommendations where in two members had given their dissenting opinions and alleged neglect and most hostile treatment doled out to Jammu region in 28 Deptts out of a total of 29 Deptts. He had sought compensation for Jammu region in all sectors including equitable devolution of funds, employment opportunities and development projects, Economic Package for Jammu region to fill the developmental gaps, professional institutions, separate Budget, separate competent Authorities, separate Recruitment Boards, separate Public commissions, adequate share in tourism promotion, road connectivity, Health sector, issues of Refuges and Migrants, neglect of Central University and agricultural university of Jammu, equitable share in Tourism sector, Adequate funds for lakes and water bodies of Jammu region on the analogy of Kashmir lakes, up-gradation of Jammu GCET to NIT level, grant of ST status to ‘Paharis’ and ‘Kolis’, Grant of Dogra Certificate to Dogras, besides others.
Harsh Dev Singh further said NPP had sought curtailment in the term of legislature to five years in conformity with the practice prevailing in other states of the country. He had further sought reduction in the size of Jumbo Ministry and illegal conferment of Status of Ministers upon the Advisor/Political Advisors, Chairmen and vice-chairman of corporations and various boards. He had sought dissolution of legislative council which already stands dissolved in 23 states of the country in view of the financial constraints. He had apprised the interlocutors that a state like ours which is dependent upon the centre for all its financial requirements can ill afford the luxury of legislative council which has outlived its utility.
Harsh Dev Singh said that the interlocutors summarily dismissed the various propositions mooted by the JKNPP and other Jammu based political and social organizations and thereby treated the issues of Jammu people with contempt and scorn. He said that with the Report already having been finalized and presented to GOI, the Interlocutors role was over and their present visit and further proposed meetings with political parties were devoid of any meaning.

Police seizes 590 bottles of Codeine Phosphate

2 held, vehicle seized

Srinagar, August 30 (VOS): Police has arrested two persons from whose possession 590 bottles of Codeine phosphate were recovered.

On Wednesday, a Naka was established at Undroosa by Awantipora Police under the supervision of Dy. SP Headquarters Awantipora. During Naka an Alto car bearing registration number JK01L/0186 driven by Mudasir Ahmad Raina son of Mohammad Shafi resident of Namblabal, Pampore and a person Zuhaib Subhan son of Mohammad Subhan resident of Namblabal was accompanying the driver. Later on it was established that he was his associate in the said trade.

The Alto car was intercepted and during the search of the vehicle 590 bottles of Codeine intoxicant drugs that were being carried by them towards Khrew area for further sale among youths against high rates were recovered. The vehicle along with contraband were seized in presence of drug Inspector Bilal Ahmad, both the individuals were arrested on spot for this illegal drug peddling.

In this context, a case FIR number 102/2012 under section 8/22 NDPS Act was registered and investigation set in to motion. Further recoveries and arrested are expected.

 Elections to BDCs and Urban Local Bodies by December: Omar

Srinagar, August 30 (VOS): The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to hold the elections for Block Development Councils and Urban Local Bodies by the year end, official spokesman said.

“Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has instructed Rural Development and Housing and Urban Development Departments to take steps necessary for the conduct of elections to Block Development Councils and Urban Local Bodies respectively by December this year”, the spokesman added.

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