THEDAILY

VOICE OF SRINAGAR

SRINAGAR, MONDAY, 15 SHAWAAL 1433 AH ; 03 SEPTEMBER 2012

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NEWS

Political party with vested interests trying to mislead people: Sagar

Lays foundation community centre at Doulatbad, Khanyar

            SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBE 02- Asking the people to come forward and extended their active cooperation in ongoing developmental agenda of the government, Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that the same is imperative for ensuring sustained development and everlasting peace in the state.

            The Minister was addressing a huge public gathering after laying the foundation stone of community centre at Doulatabad, Khanyar being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.90 crore. District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr. Baseer Ahmed Khan, Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Srinagar, Dr. G. N. Qasba, Ex-Mayor Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Mr. Salman Sagar and other senior officers of JKPCC, SMC and district administration were present.

             Mr. Sagar said that the people have to understand the importance of peace for undertaking various developmental, economic activities and it was due to the tireless efforts of the present government that peace was restored in the state and now the people are reaping peace dividends. He said due to the peaceful environment in the state a record number of tourists visited the state which will ultimately boost the economy of the state. “The Government has already undertaken measures to put the historical Srinagar city on the tourist map which will result in boosting the economy and also providing job opportunities to the people of the area”, he added.

            Taking a dig at the statements of two senior leaders of the political party, the Minister that by their utterances they have made their motives clear and want to bring instability in the state by making these hypothetical assumptions. “It is a recorded history  that this particular political party has always preferred their interests to that of the people of the state and by making such callous statements they are trying to mislead the people for their own ulterior motives”, he maintained.

            Referring to the various landmark initiatives undertaken by the government for ensuring participatory governance and hassle free public services to the people, the Minister said legislations like Public Services Guarantee Act, Right to Information Act have ensured that the people get the requisite services within the stipulated time besides acting as a deterrent to the corruption. He said that the government has also ensured democratic decentralization of powers by putting in place a vibrant Panchayati Raj System and empowering them with powers of 14 vital departments.

First attempt for overall development must be achieving quality education: Mir

‘Stressed for further enhancing of education standard’

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBE 02:  States most renowned and prestigious educational institution “The Mallinson Girls” Srinagar which was established at Fateh Kadal in 1912 at the time when there was no concept of education among the people of the valley, celebrated its 100^th year of existence at an impressive function organized here at Indoor Stadium.

Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir was the chief guest on the occasion.

While addressing the jam packed gathering in the stadium yesterday afternoon the Minister underscored the importance of education in present time and called for further enhancing of its standard which he said is imperative for brighter future of the students besides building of a strong nation.

The Minister urged upon the students to concentrate completely on their studies besides actively taking part in extracurricular activities which is vital for all round development and prosperity of the state.

“First attempt for all round development must be achieving quality education”, the Minister exhorted.

Mr. Mir said that the government is expanding the reach of education especially Information Technology (IT) besides computer education, including high tech, technology related to modern era, in the nook and corner of the state enabling the talented youth of far-flung, backwards and remote areas to compete at state, national and international levels.

Lauding the role of management of Mallinson Girls Schools (MGS) and Tyndle Bisco School (TBS), Srinagar. The Minister said that the management is doing yeoman’s job in providing quality education. He said these institutions has produced galaxy of scholars, intellectuals, philosophers, doctors, academicians and politicians from time to time since its centenary old existence who have not only brought laurels for the state but have reshaped the state on developmental sector also. He expressed optimism that the institute will continue its noble mission for imparting quality education with the same spirit and sincerity.  

The jubilant students showcased their skilled in different cultural activities which mesmerized the jam-packed audience. The amalgamation of the programmes “Jaanat-e-Kashmir” and Let us Celebrate” depicting historical events of Kashmir and the centenary old history of Mallinson Girls school impressed the gathering and received applause from the audience. The students also presented musical drill, umbrella drill, ribbon drill, flag drill following by Kashmiri Chakri.

Later, the Minister released a book titled “History of 100 years” and distributed cash prizes among the best performances.

The Principal of the school Mr. Parwez Samuel Kaul gave a detailed resume of achievements of the school.

Among others, Wajahat Habib-ullah, Bollywood Actors, Scholars, Management and staff members, students, and their parents, prominent citizens, media persons and a large numbers of people witnessed the day-long programme prepared by the school in connection with centenary celebrations.

Slathia Commissions Rs. 2.5 crore modernization Project   for Bemina Woollen Mills

Appreciates overall performance of JKI

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBE 02- Assuring full support to Jammu and Kashmir Industries  Limited (JKI)to make it  a profit earning Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), the Minister for Industries & Commerce ,Mr. S. S. Slathia today asked its employees & Workers  to fullfil the assigned targets so that they able to get benefits of the 6^th Pay Commission recommendations.

            Speaking at an impressive gathering of employees & Workers of JKI and the Sr. Officers of Industries & Commerce  Department, after commissioning the modernized and upgraded  Bemina Woollen Mills here   today Mr. Slathia said that coordinated efforts  all the Stakeholders are needed to make  the Corporation a sustainable economically viable and technically feasible PSU. The Factory has been modernized at a cost of Rs: 2.50 crores under Revival Package of the State Govt. He said JKI’s  one of the sick PSU which has been revived after remaining in red for about 15 years due to turmoil with the  strenuous efforts of the management    and liberal    financial support of the dynamic Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah.

            M.L.A Batamalloo, Mr. Irfan Ahmed Shah, Commissioner/Secretary to Industries & Commerce Mr. Shantmanu, Director Industries  & Commerce Mr. Mehraj-Ud-Din Kenu,  MD JKI Mr. Javid Iqbal, Director Handicrafts Mr. Muzaffar Hussain, MD JK Cements Mr. R. K. Razdan, MD J&K Handloom Dev. Corporation Mr. Showhat Ali, MD SIDCO Mr. M. Mazom, Secretary KVIB Mr. Ravinder Singh and Mr. Khurshid Ahmed Addl. Secretary I&C Deptt. were also present on the occasion.

            Lauding the Workers and Officers of JKI for excellent work done during last one year, the Minister announced unreleased COLA & HRA in favour of existing employees as a token of appreciation and encouragement.  However, he asked the workers not to be complacent  and continue to put in their best efforts and hard work to make the JKI one of the best PSUs. He said Govt. Silk Factory is also being modernized at a cost of Rs. 2.50 crore for enhancing production of  world famous silk fabrics.  A state of art Silk Showroom has already been commissioned at a cost of Rs. 1 crore to promote sale of Kashmiri silken cloth among tourists & visitors. He said all these measures have been taken to boost the production of silken products. He said  the machinery  for modernization of  both these factories has been procured in  a transparent manner, after consulting the workers & all Stakeholders.  He congratulated  the Managing Director for giving a positive direction to the Corporation and producing quality stuff of cloth, which he said, was imperative to meet the stiff market competition.

            Commissioner/Secretary Industries & Commerce, Mr. Shantmanu also appreciated the management and workers of the Corporation for good performance and assured full support to it both in the capacity of being one of its Board Director as well as being Commissioner/Secretary Industries & Commerce Department.

            Mr. Javid Iqbal, informed that modernization of  Woollen Mills would facilitate to produce high quality woollen & worsted tweed suiting, serge, Angola /Terricot, Blankets. He said after its modernization the production capacity of the  Bemina Woollen   Mill will  increase to 1.60 lac meters valued at Rs.10.00 crore as compared to 75000 meters (Rs.250 lacs) during the current fiscal.  Similarly, after  modernization of Govt. Silk Factory Rajbagh the production of silken fabric will increase to 3  lac meters valuing Rs. 15.00 crore against 72000 meters valued at Rs. 225 lacs  during the current financial year. He  said  Rs: 17 crore have been earmarked for the JKI in Five Year Plan for undertaking modernization of its units.

J&K has ample scope for establishing dairy units: Mir

‘Pivotal for ameliorating socio-eco condition’

Anantnag, SEPTEMBER 02: Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir today said that J&K has a enormous scope for setting up of dairy units for achieving the goal of self reliance in dairy products which also help for generating employment opportunities particularly among the youth of Gujjar & Bakerwals community.

The Minister said this while addressing the delegation of Gujjar & Bakerwals at Dak Bungalow, Anantnag here this morning.

Ex. MLA Mr. GM Bhawan, Mr. Nazir Dailgami, Mr. Farooq Jan, Mr. Muzaffar Reshi were present on the occasion.

Mr. Mir said, in this direction, the government has launched different schemes for setting up of dairy units for which beneficiaries are being provided incentives to help them for their progress.

Asking the Gujjar & Bakerwals community to come forward to avail the benefits of the welfare schemes, the Minister asked to set up such dairy units on modern lines in their respective areas as it would help in ameliorating their socio-economic conditions and assured that department of animal husbandry would facilitate them by providing technical and financial assistance.

Mr. Mir said that the government is committed to uplift the socio-economic standard of backward communities of the state, adding that for which various welfare schemes have been launched. He asked the people to come forward and take the benefit of these ambitious schemes. He also said that in developmental front various flagship programmes have also been launched in every nook and corner of the state particularly in far off areas to facilitate the people.

Referring the other demand of the community, the Minister assured that their genuine demands would be taken to the concerned departments for their early redressal. He said the facility of mobile vertinary centres are being provided across the state to provide medicare facilities to the live stock at respective pastures.

Gul visits Eidgah Constituency, takes stock of developmental works

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 02:– Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. Mubarak Gul today conducted an extensive tour of Eidgah Constituency and took stock of the pace of developmental works being executed in the area under various schemes.

During the tour, the Advisor visited various areas including Noor Bagh, Palpora and  Goripora.

Addressing series of meeting at different places, Mr. Gul said that the government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has initiated several projects for development and beautification of Srinagar City.

The Advisor was accompanied by the officers of PDD, R&B, SMC, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and other concerned departments. Mr. Gul directed concerned authorities to speed up pace of the ongoing developmental works of the area and asked them to redress the genuine grievances of people on priority and provide better services to them.

 Making a mention of the developmental programmes executed in Eidgah Constituency, the Advisor said that a network of road connectivity, latest health care facilities, infrastructure for educational institutions, development of playing fields, improvement in electricity and drinking water, besides repairs of various drains and lanes have been done, adding that it needs more to be done for the betterment of the people of the area.

Mr. Gul said from last several years various developmental projects have been executed in the Constituency to improve the socio-economic profile of the people and with the completion of these projects better facilitates are being extended to the people. He urged upon the people to come forward and avail benefits of the Centrally and State sponsored welfare schemes meant for them. He also called for people’s cooperation for carrying forward the development tempo for bringing the State on the new horizons of development.

During the tour, the Advisor paid a surprise visit to Government Higher Secondary School, Palpora and took stock of its functioning. Responding to the demands put forth by the Principal regarding introduction of Commerce stream in the school, deployment of adequate faculty and additional computers for the Information Technology department, he said that the matter would be taken up with the concerned department.

 Mr. Gul said Primary Health Centre, Sangam and new Palpora Primary Health Centre are likely to be completed and shall be made operational soon adding that the construction of Maternity-cum- Child hospital at Noorbagh is at the  final stage and would be completed by the end of current year.

Recalling the contribution of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah for the cause of the people of the State, Mr. Gul said he was Sheikh Abdullah who ushered a new era of development in healthcare and education sector.

Earlier, a deputation of Abrar Construction Workers Union Srinagar headed by its chairman Mr. Manzoor Ahmad Khan called on the Advisor and apprised him about the problems being faced by them.

The deputationists highlighted several issues pertaining to the welfare of the labour community and drew the attention of the Advisor for addressing these outstanding issues at the earliest. They requested the Advisor to take up their issues with the Government which included better educational, health and other basic facilities for their families. They also demanded special incentives for their children, including stipend, free education and demarcation of land for developing colony for the labour class.

Mr. Gul gave patient hearing to the deputationists and assured that their genuine demands would be taken up with the concerned authorities for early redressal.

 Officers of labour department who were also present on the occasion gave a detailed overview of welfare schemes being extended to the workers in the State. They informed that for the assistance of marriage of wards of labour an amount of Rs.25000, assistance for permanently disability Rs. 75000, relief for temporary disability Rs. 10000, ex-gratia relief in case of death Rs. 1.00 lakh, funeral expenses Rs. 5000 and for chronic disease upto Rs 1 lakh are being provided by the Government to  the laborers. Besides, the Department also takes care for the welfare of the labour community according to the need and occasion.

They also informed that 10396 laborers are registered with the Labour department and Rs.58 lakh have been disbursed for the education of the children of laborers. Besides, Rs. 2 lakh for the studies of their wards in professional courses have also been provided. It was also informed that Rs. 1.05 lakh as compensation for death and Rs. 23 lakh for the marriage assistance have been disbursed among the needy families.

Governor summons Session of J&K Legislature on 1^st October, 2012

            SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 2 – The Governor, Mr. N. N. Vohra, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under section 53 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, has summoned the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature to commence session on 1^st October, 2012.

             The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council shall meet at Srinagar on Monday, the 1^st October, 2012 at 10.00 A.M and at 10.30 A.M, respectively.

Ganderbal encounter, toll 2

Srinagar: Death toll in the ongoing encounter between the forces and militants in Kangan area of north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district rose to two with Army claiming that one more militant was killed on Sunday.
"One more militant has been killed in the operation launched in the wee hours yesterday. The operation is still in progress," said Army’s Srinagar based spokesman Lt Colonel J S Brar.
One militant was killed in the initial firefight on Saturday, he said.
The spokesman said that one weapon was recovered from one of the slain militants. 

Bush, Blair must stand trial for war crimes: Tutu

South African Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu has called for the trial of former US President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for their role in the Iraq war.

“The immorality of the United States and Great Britain's decision to invade Iraq in 2003, premised on the lie that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, has destabilized and polarized the world to a greater extent than any other conflict in history,” Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote in an article in The Observer on Sunday.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner called for the trial of the pair at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Tutu added that, instead of recognizing the sophistications and issues of the world, “the then-leaders of the US and UK fabricated the grounds to behave like playground bullies and drive us further apart.”

He further argued that, the suffering and loss of the victims of the war were beyond the killing fields, “in the hardened hearts and minds of members of the human family across the world.”

Tony Blair, however, responded to Tutu in a statement saying that “this is the same argument we have had many times with nothing new to say.”

This comes after Tutu boycotted the one-day Discovery Invest Leadership Summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday, saying it would be “inappropriate” for him to share a platform with Blair, because of his “morally indefensible” support for the US-led war in Iraq.

Tutu has been a prominent peace icon in South Africa, and he won the Noble Peace Prize in 1984 following his campaign against apartheid.

Syrian expatriates rally against foreign interference

Hundreds of Syrian expatriates have held separate protest rallies across the world, demanding an end to the foreign meddling in Syria's internal affairs and attempts to wage a war against the Arab state.

A crowd of around 1,000 people gathered in front of the Opera House in the central German city of Frankfurt on Saturday to express their strong opposition to any form of foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, SANA news agency reported.

They shouted slogans in favor of President Bashar al-Assad and his ruling Baath Party. They also waved Syrian national flags and signs with photos of Assad.

And in the southern Turkish city of Antakya, near the border with Syria, demonstrators slammed foreign meddling in the Syrian affairs. The protesters voiced their solidarity with the Syrian nation, and chanted slogans in condemnation of imperialism.

A large number of Syrians also staged a protest rally in front of the US Embassy in Moscow to denounce Washington’s policies against Damascus, and its attempts to exploit Syria’s resources.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011, with many people, including a large number of security forces, killed in the turmoil.

While the West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of the killings, Damascus blames outlaws, saboteurs and insurgents for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.

South Africa prosecutors drop murder charges against miners

South Africa’s public prosecutors have provisionally dropped murder charges against 270 miners whose striking colleagues were shot dead by police forces.

"The murder charge against the current 270 suspects, which was provisional anyway, will be formally withdrawn provisionally in court on their next court appearance," Nomgcobo Jiba, the acting national director of prosecutions, said at a news conference.

She added that, "the decision and pronouncement on final charges to be preferred against any persons involved will only be made once all investigations have been completed."

The decision came a few days after South Africa's justice minister demanded prosecutors to give an explanation over the decision to charge the miners with the murder of 34 striking colleagues.

"There is no doubt that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s decision has induced a sense of shock, panic and confusion within the members of the community and the general South African public," South Africa’s Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said on Friday.

On August 16, the police opened fire on striking miners, who were demanding higher wages, killing 34 strikers and injuring dozens of others at the Lonmin platinum mine in the town of Marikana in the North West Province.

A day after the incident, South African President Jacob Zuma said that he was "saddened and dismayed" at the “shocking” events and offered "sincere condolences" to the families of all the victims. He also ordered an inquiry into the tragic killings.

On August 20, the platinum giant Lonmin backed off from its previous ultimatum to fire 3,000 of striking workers if they did not return to their work.

Lonmin, whose operational headquarters is located in Johannesburg, is reportedly the world's third-largest platinum producer with approximately 28,000 employees.

South Africa is home to nearly 80 percent of the world’s platinum reserves. of the world’s platinum reserves.

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