YASH KHAJURIA: Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lak...

While the state government is undertaking various projects and introducing latest technologies to revamp and keep police force fit for fighting the insurgency in the state, but there are many projects already taken by the police which because of .....
YASH KHAJURIA: Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lak...: Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lakhs wasted on defunct systems Yash Khajuria JAMMU, Jan 28: While the state government ...

Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lakhs wasted on defunct systems

Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lakhs wasted on defunct systems
 
Yash Khajuria JAMMU, Jan 28: While the state government is undertaking various projects and introducing latest technologies to revamp and keep police force fit for fighting the insurgency in the state, but there are many projects already taken by the police which because of unplanned acquisition and planning has cost state exchequer lakhs of rupees.

According to sources, in 2002, the Director General (Prisons) in order to automate the attendance system in jails for recording the attendance of prisoners and jail staff and also to prevent entry and exit of un-authorised persons from the premises, had ordered the purchase of three Imaging Identification System (IIS) and their allied accessories at a estimated cost of Rs 13.06 lakhs from a Jammu based firm. But within its warranty period all of them become non-functional owning to poor maintenance and lack of trained persons.

These sophisticated imaging systems were installed in the district jails situated at Poonch, Rajouri and at sub-Jail Hiranagar which house number of dreaded foreign and local terrorists.

Sources say that after the systems become non-functional the officials brought in the engineers from the company in March and July 2003, but even after the repairs carried out by them, the systems did not work and are still not working.

Sources further said that the working of these systems at district jail Rajouri and sub-district jail Hiranagar was unsatisfactory soon after the installation and the machine installed in Poonch jail could not be put to use because of non-availability of trained operator.

It is important to mention here that, even the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its Audit scrutiny in January 2006 had revealed that the department has not made either the purchases in proper manner nor had they any trained staff for maintenance of the system.The then Director (Prisons) had told the CAG that the systems would be repaired when trained persons will be available for handling of these imagers. But the question still remains why the purchases were made overlooking the facilities available.  But still they have not been made functional in the state.

YASH KHAJURIA: JK youth Redefining Patriotism on REPUBLIC DAY

“India the land of the martyrs who have embraced the gallows for their ideals, where every drop in the freedom fighter’s blood has fought not for itself but for
the nation, has today become indigent
instead of indigenous of ‘patriotism’”. Yes I am talking of ‘India’ where patriotism needs to be revived and redefined.
YASH KHAJURIA: JK youth Redefining Patriotism on REPUBLIC DAY: JK youth Redefining Patriotism on REPUBLIC DAY “India the land of the martyrs who have embraced the gallows for their ideals, where e...

JK youth Redefining Patriotism on REPUBLIC DAY

JK youth Redefining Patriotism on REPUBLIC DAY
 
“India the land of the martyrs who have embraced the gallows for their ideals, where every drop in the freedom fighter’s blood has fought not for itself but for
the nation, has today become indigent
instead of indigenous of ‘patriotism’”. Yes I am talking of ‘India’ where patriotism needs to be revived and redefined.

Yash Khajuria

Jammu, January 23: As the Republic Day is up to close everybody in the country is all set to witness the pride moments, especially the politicians are in the run very enthusiastically to prove them the greatest patriot by their actions. But after the session of national holidays and patriotic shows concludes nobody even think about the same.  

More often it’s being realized that at the time of a national event like Independence Day and Republic Day everybody like to talk about the feel of patriotism and announce him/her self proud to be an Indian. But don’t you really think that the incidents happening in the country from couple of months are irritating the meaning of our liberty and Republic could we really feel of the two honored Words?

Let’s have a small retrospective session. Ok I won’t stress your memory. Let’s talk about just a year back in time. So what did you really do on India’s 61th Republic Day? At home all day enjoying your holiday? Ok… made it for the function for the flag hoisting? Is it enough? Anyways, even if you did that, I am glad. But I can bet most of you just, looked up to the flag in great pride may be for a few moments and then you were back onto your home watching some latest CD/DVD movie and enjoying the holiday.

Interestingly, I heard two youngsters talking about a forthcoming holiday. That 'holiday' was The Republic Day.  The thing which upset me was that they treated this great day as just another holiday. Why we people have started taking these great days as days which have nothing very special about them.  They have become just another holidays, when we can relax, watch TV, sleep, and enjoy the day, like we do it on a Sunday!

Why this upsetting trend?  A number of factors are responsible for this. Firstly, the people have lost all hope on the politicians. They treat politicians as corrupt people who come to power not to serve the people but rather to serve themselves. Be it any political party, either at the centre or the state level, corruption does not stop, and the system remains marred with corruption .The various scams which the people come to know about, have frustrated the people and thus they no more care about 15th august, 26th January etc.
Due to high scale corruption prevailing in our country, the people feel that their money has gone to the politician's pocket. Thus the people feel looted by the politician. 

Secondly, the Governments have failed to deliver when it comes to punishing the guilty and send the culprits behind the bars. Even when the whole world knows that a particular person in the Government is corrupt, the Government in power looks the other way.

This fills prominently the youth among the common man with huge anger and therefore, realizing that there is little that he can do, he decides at that moment, that from that moment onwards, he will no longer cares about the government and will keep to his business. It is obvious that if the politician has looted the public money, why the public will be interested in the Government functions. Thus the Government can still put its act together by punishing the guilty and thus proving to the public that there is still some law left in our country.

But one cannot blame the whole breed; a class of social workers including saffron wearers (Anna Hazare group and Baba Ramdev with his followers) in recent past by aching their selves for the national goodwill has showed that in INDIA still there exists a minority of real patriots that puts efforts to make a more socially stable India. While the majority tries to draw mileage from every loop hole in the society and engages itself in building heavens of comfort and luxury, constructed on the debris of human purity.

  

For every soldier who sacrifices his life for the nation they echo only four words, “We will fight back”. But in that ‘We’ they are nowhere!
The common man of India is considered to be a puppet in the hands of the politicians, but in reality he finds his own profit in every act provoked by them. And what gets lost in this ‘unethical symbiosis’ is again patriotism!

Our feelings need to extend from those few moments you looked up to the flag to your entire day, from this one day in the year to the entire year, and yes certainly for your lifetime. And remember you are not the first one to do this… Martyrs have lived, died and relived in our hearts being as true Indians. Remember that Just an Indian citizenship doesn’t really make you an Indian from heart.

Youngsters who decide to stay away from the Republic Day celebrations have said,
 

1. Most probably we all remember patriotism when there is an Indo-Pak cricket match and whenever terrorist strikes our country. But we definitely forget it when we cast our vote in the elections, when a week long hungry beggar asks for a rupee, when we shamelessly bears and accelerate corruption and yet so many times more… Patriotism is observed as nothing else than the ‘pain on the prick of a pin’.
It is rather believed to be a formality, a formality of saluting the national flag and 52 seconds of a frozen figure during the national anthem. May be even a free zed heart with no gratitude                        for the martyrs because of whom we are living off so well.

- Lalit Katoch, Scholar- Jammu University
(from - Kishtwar)

2. Joining the Republic Day celebration does mean if the event make us feel at least something of ours Interest,  for example, After the Republic Day parade, and other events, the people should be invited to speak directly to the sitting Government officials. Suggestions should be invited from the public on increasing the efficacy of the Government in serving the people.  These suggestions, if found good and practical, should be implemented and this implementation, along with the name and address of the suggestion giver, should be publicized through the media. Thus the people will have a feeling that they are provided an opportunity of expressing their views on the governance of their state or country.  Without this and as traditional pattern of Republic days Celebrations it’s better to stay at home rather than spending time while listening a well decorated Speech for hours. 

- Gourav Sharma, Scholar Jammu University
(from - Kathua)

3. What I can say about the Republic and Independence, in the recent time the peacefulness and harmony of our state is often challenged more by internal disturbances than by external aggression. The diversity in the cultures of its subjects unfortunately is the prominent cause for hatred between religious opponents in J&K (Shree Amarnath Yatra Land row) and (Last Year’s High Profile Drama on Republic Day).

“India has subjects following a number of religions which have their own organizations to spread the greatness of their religion. Such organizations are very important in making a prosperous and patriotic India”.

It should be also important for these organizations to publicise patriotism as they find themselves amongst the biggest organizations in India. But sadly it never happens so. Religious aggression apart, we still distance ourselves with each other with castism.
 -Atul Bharti, Jammu University
(from - Sunderbani)

4. "In Democracy more often it comes to know that “In Democracy there is a Structure called ‘ Government’ of the people,  by the people, for the people but this all reflects completely deviated picture by only a single sight of Republic days Celebration".

 The Government will have to attract people to these functions through attractive advertising.  The function organized by the Government, should give the feeling of celebration to the people. The people should feel that they are 'celebrating ' the Republic Day of India and have not come there just to watch their child perform from his or her school. The people, of course don't want to go to a function where they are bullied by the police, nobody is there to welcome them, they have to wait for the netaji to come endlessly etc, etc.
It should appear to the public that the function is organized for them and not for the VIPs. Thus to observe this, the policemen should be asked to talk politely, at least, on these few days. VIPs should reach on time and must not keep the public waiting. The sitting arrangement for the general public should be good and comfortable and so on.  
This will send the message that the Government is not separate from them, the Government should send the message that the Government people are not inaccessible but are a part of the society we all belong.  They should learn from American President, who had danced with the children in our country.  And who appeared so accessible unlike Indian politicians.

- Radhu Rajput, Scholar Jammu University
(from - Kathua)

5.
I am not completely against of this Debate of National Days (Republic day and Independence Day) but there is a fact that the people should also keep in mind that there are good people also in our system. So there is still hope. Corruption is there in all countries. It is true that we stand among the toppers but still we can pin hopes on the people who have character and who are committed to fight against all odds to serve the country.

This situation should be unraveled in course of time and not suddenly.  What cannot be conquered should be tolerated. Patriotic emotions cannot be produced in a premium; they will have to be fixed on tender hearts that will remain peaceful in the storms of the puzzling future.

Our education policies thus need to be revalued and reformed. More national awareness and respect should be embedded into the scholastic curriculum. The paraphernalia could be nothing more than a sincere devotion for making a patriotic India.

- Wahid Wani, Scholar Jammu University
 (from - Doda)

Now let us consider what patriotism should be in true sense. Patriotism need not have a mass motive, it need not be national. Small things and actions persuaded with a concept of doing well to other countrymen is patriotism. Patriotism should be imbibed by us to put into our day to day lives.
We will have to give up the ignoble thinking that we have nurtured towards the society. That is the social divisions made by ourselves need to be blocked. Patriots don’t talk about taking life but of fasting until death for their country and being smashed for the nation’s goodwill.

At last I feel, what cannot describe patriotism better than this is –patriotism is like a needle that joins and unites and not a scissor that cuts and divides. 

YASH KHAJURIA: Massacre victim still waiting for the relief, runn...

Massacre victim still waiting for the relief, running pillar to post for justice

“I have sold all my property including, a piece of land, cows and buffaloes even my marriage gold ornaments for his treatment but he left us alone in this brutal world, after a year of fighting with his injuries in the Government Medical College Hospital Jammu”, said Sheila Devi, widow of Late Bal krishan.

YASH KHAJURIA: Massacre victim still waiting for the relief, runn...: Massacre victim still waiting for the relief, running pillar to post for justice Yash Khajuria JAMMU , Jan 23: After a long span of...

Massacre victim still waiting for the relief, running pillar to post for justice

Massacre victim still waiting for the relief, running pillar to post for justice
Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 23: After a long span of five years, widow of Late Bal Krishan still hopes for the long denied justice to her. She is the victim of unfortunate event which occurred in the month of May 2006 in village Thawa of Kulhand which is 30 Km away from the Doda town. During the unfortunate event 22 people were brutally killed and 14 people were injured by unidentified gunman. Late Bal Krishan was the only one of those injured people, who died in the hospital after one year of that unfateful night, as he had got 36 bullets in his leg. The family is unable to meet even two meals a day, as whole savings of the family were used in the treatment of Late Bal Krishan. The Government has given compensation to every sufferer of the massacre except to the family of Late Bal Krishan. Moreover family of the deceased has one living son, daughter in law and two granddaughters who do not have any source of income. Late Bal Krishan was the sole bread earner of the family. That massacre has shattered the dreams of the family of the deceased as the unfortunate night not only took away husband of Sheila Devi but also the lost hope which she had been expecting in terms of compensation. “I have sold all my property including, a piece of land, cows and buffaloes even my marriage gold ornaments for his treatment but he left us alone in this brutal world, after a year of fighting with his injuries in the Government Medical College Hospital Jammu”, said Sheila Devi, widow of Late Bal krishan. She further added that after that incident of the village, every sufferer got Compensation worth in lakhs and also SRO-43 benefits but I and my family members are always denied on the basis of lack of education. Furthermore, she added that Government has given one lakh rupees only that too, at the time of incident when every Political and social leader were roaming in the village chanting the slogan of providing benefits to every victim of the family then why the justice is denied to me? Today when nobody can escape from the growing claws of inflation, the situation is really challenging for the family of deceased. The family has lost every hope of justice. When everybody else who was the victim of massacre got justice, it is the family of Late Bal Krishan who still awaits the compensation. When the tears in the eyes are dried, and hopes are almost dead, it is the responsibility of the Govt. to look after the family of the deceased and give them timely justice. Late Bal krishan has passed away but Government should take outmost care to save the lives of the deceased’s family. On the other when contacted with the minister of Revenue and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla regarding this issue, totally unaware about the condition of this family he said that for the victims of militancy affected the government is providing everything which is possible, and if somebody approaches to the concerned authorities definitely there would be a door of hope for all. If there is anybody applicable for government job we will make it possible for them and on the other aspect we can provide financial assistance.

YASH KHAJURIA: Family accuses police of shielding accident accuse...

JAMMU, Jan 22: Call it the influence or the apathetic attitude of the police, parents of two minor accident victims are running from pillar to post despite the fact that police has registered a case under section 279/ 337 RPC, against the accused who hit the boys at Chinore. YASH KHAJURIA: Family accuses police of shielding accident accuse...: Family accuses police of shielding accident accused, who hit two minor children at Chinore Yash Khajuria 1/22/2012 9:00:00 PM JAMMU,...

Family accuses police of shielding accident accused, who hit two minor children at Chinore

Family accuses police of shielding accident accused, who hit two minor children at Chinore
Yash Khajuria	1/22/2012 9:00:00 PM
JAMMU, Jan 22: Call it the influence or the apathetic attitude of the police, parents of two minor accident victims are running from pillar to post despite the fact that police has registered a case under section 279/ 337 RPC, against the accused who hit the boys at Chinore. Tragedy is that the accused is still roaming scot free despite the fact that their motorcycle is under the custody of the police. Two boys namely Dimple (6yrs) and Shubam (8yrs) resident of Durga Nagar area which falls under the Jurisdiction of police station Domana, were hit by a speedy and wrongly driven motor bike on January 18, leaving them critically injured. Though the passerby shifted the injured to the hospital, where they are fighting for their life, family members of the victims approached the concerned police station to take action, it has failed to arrest the accused involved in the incident. The family members of the injured have criticized the attitude of the cops and have alleged that even after five days no action has been taken by the police and they are just assuring them that the necessary action will be taken against the person involved in the fatal accident. Pertinent to mention here that condition of the injured kids is still critical as Dimple, one of the critically injured have received to have critical internal injury whereas the other one is also admitted in surgical ward of Government Medical College (GMC). When contacted SHO Domana Sunil Kumar said that no doubt that time has been spent in searching the accused but he has escaped to Kishtwar. According to the police, the motor cycle was being driven by Vicky son of Kuldeep Raj, who is student of 12 standards. who is already undergoing three complaint in the police record for rash driving. “We conducted raid at his home but he was not in the home. His father is posted at Kishtwar, while mother is a heart patient living in the home. “If the accused is not at home and his father (Govt. employee) is deployed at District Kishtwar, his mother is a heart patient. How can we arrest the accused. We have alerted the respective district cops and they will take the necessary action.

Seized polythene, unwanted community as JMC and PCB fights, who will dispose it

Seized polythene, unwanted community as JMC and PCB fights, who will dispose it
Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 14: In absence of proper place to dispose off the seized polythene bags in Jammu, it has become an unwanted commodity as both the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Pollution Control Board (PCB) have shed their responsibility, how to deal with it. Despite the ban on the use of polythene bags still it is used fearlessly at a large scale. The pollution control department in collaboration with Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is not taking any strict action except the fake raids at some markets against the culprits. According to the sources, the seized polythene bags again come in the market through illegal process with the help of departmental support under full official patronage. The concerned department is not having any disposal plant in the Jammu for destroying polythene. Government of India has completely banned the use of polythene bags on August, 9 2009 keeping in view its ill effects but still it can be seen easily here and there at the heaps of litter and in domestic and commercial places like houses and shops. Polythene bags are non-biodegradable substance that is used by the majority of Ugandans as packing materials. Despite the fact that they are cheap as well as light, they are hazardous to all living beings ranging from plants to human beings. These polythene bags are environmentally unfriendly considering the time taken for their decomposition. As a result of this time span they can cause further problems like blocking water penetration into the soil which in turn affects food growth and development. When contacted Health Officer JMC Dr. Anwar Choudhary about this matter he said that they dump the seized polythene bags in their godown and send it to the pollution control department but the said department refused to accept the polythene.

Worst nightmare for commuters in absence of sign boards, Minister says instructions passed

Kunjwani-Satwari road expansion

Worst nightmare for commuters in absence of sign boards, Minister says instructions passed

Yash Khajuria

Jammu, Jan 13: While the work has started on the expansion of Kunjwani-Satwari stretch of National Highway (NH-1), taken up under the centrally sponsored four lane project, it has turned out to be nightmare to for the commuters, who are using the road daily.

At times the road has become reason for road accidents injuring many people. With both the sides dug up as part of the widening process, apart from number of trees cut by the executing agencies, but no signs have been put by the agency.

As the work has started, within a period of less than 5 days two accidents has been witnessed on the same route at Industrial Estate Bridge near Shastri nagar link road, due to the administrations apathy since the work has begin there is no instructional impression on either sides.

“For more than a week, most of the commuters are using the road with fear, particularly during the night time as they are not able to see the dug up portion. There should be proper glow signs for the people”, said a daily commuter Sanjeev Sharma. 

One of the accidents was so bad that the truck coming from Lakhanpur after the diversion at that area where the work is in process was not recognizable as the truck had fell into the Nullah and the material loaded also got affected.

Where on the second one the minibus coming from the city lost control as it was totally uneven to handle the vehicle due to the chaos created by the slashed trees fallen on the road. 

Naresh Kumar, a local from the Ashok Nagar has said that this is the clear example of the irresponsible administration that on the one side Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation,  Raman Bhalla has Unnecessary impressed his name on the foundation stone but to aware the vehicles passing by the area of disturbance an Instructional board or Notification Could not be arranged,

“Who will bear the responsibility for any deaths due to the  apathetic attitude of the administration. The road has become worst nightmare for the people”, Naresh said.

The highway, which connects the Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of the India, is fast becoming an ordeal for motorists owing to never-ending road construction and expansion works, bottlenecks created by accidents, rains and other obstacles.

'Sometimes people have to drive through link roads in villages since the volume of traffic on these roads caused total chaos. Even on the highway, there were traffic jams,' said a Collegiate.

Interestingly,  when contacted to the Minister of state for Road and Building (R&B) Javed Ahmed Dar said that the instructions are already been issued to the authorities to put the notice board Indicating the work process at the above mentioned area, and if the orders are not implemented they will inspect the area soon.

Excise deptt to introduce tamper proof holograms on liquor bottles entering state

Excise deptt to introduce tamper proof holograms on liquor bottles entering state Yash Khajuria                  1/10/2012 8:25:06 PM JAMMU, Jan 10: Jammu and Kashmir is planning to introduce holograms on the liquor bottles entering the state from Lakhanpur, to rein in on the adulterated and illicit liquor, which has become a major menace for the state.  Official sources said that in recent past there has been increase in the cases, where the excise department has detected adulterated liquor making its way in the state.  To deal with the menace, the Excise and Taxation Department has decided to introduce tamper proof holograms on the bottles.  Despite many religious and cultural taboos, liquor consumption is showing increased trend in Jammu and Kashmir. “It is proving difficult for the department to keep a check on liquor adulteration because of the increased consumption. The problem is more in the rural areas”, said an officer.

For the purpose the department has submitted a detailed proposal to the government to get the approval for the same. Sources said that the concept has been borrowed from Punjab and Himanchal Pradesh, where the authorities are facing the menace of illegal distilleries. As per the new concept the temper proof multi-coloured holograms seals would be put on each bottle to enable easy detection of the counterfeit products. Finance Ministry data shows that 11, 444, 94 cases of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) were produced in 2008-09 in the state, while this number increased to 14, 23,954 cases in 2009-10. As far as local liquor is concerned, 11, 23,112 cases were produced in 2008-09 and 13, 53, 505 cases in 2009-10. As many as 12, 44,969 cases of beer were produced in the state in 2008-09, while this number touched to 16, 10,558 cases in 2009-10. Important to note here that since past two years government has not issued any new liquor licences, but despite this the consumption, particularly that of beer has shown increased trend, which is also a big revenue generator for the state. As per the official figures, there are 226 liquor shops owned by private parties in the state. Of these, 135 are in Jammu city, 21 in Udhampur district and 40 in Kathua. Srinagar has 4, Baramulla one and Leh has two shops.

YASH KHAJURIA: A noble initiative in the service of humanity.

A noble initiative in the service of humanity.

“Launches website as Blood Bank”

Border guy came forward to serve mankind YASH KHAJURIA: A noble initiative in the service of humanity.: “Launches website as Blood Bank” Border guy came forward to serve mankind Yash Khajuria Jammu, January: “Where...

A noble initiative in the service of humanity.

“Launches website as Blood Bank”

 Border guy came forward to serve mankind 

  

Yash Khajuria 
Jammu, January:        

 “Where there is a will, there is a way” 

 You may have listened many times but he has proved.

3 Months earlier, when I firstly interacted online with him via Social networking Site ‘facebook’ he said that he’s free at home coz nothing suits him as a profession and he decided to stay at home doing nothing. Even in a first interaction he asked me for professional advice I was shocked about this person. Then he said that he is going to work for mankind by any mean I took it very casual that on a SNS site anybody could say anything too.

Later I had a request from a facebook group “Blood On Demand At Jammu And Kashmir” appealing to register myself as a volunteer blood donor thinking of a noble cause I register myself in that too.

But, now after 3 months I have came to know that he has launched an online blood Bank!!! You might be bored and curios too to know that about whom I am talking and who’s this extraordinary person.

He is a young lad from the far flung border area of Jammu District who has launched a website ‘www.indiadonor.in’ and made the search for right blood group match much easier for those who are needed.

Rohit Choudhary, son of Ashok Kumar a resident of border village Korotana Kala, Tehsil R.S. Pura of District Jammu, who belongs to the minority JAT community.  JATS in J&K are originally from Pakistan occupied Kashmir migrated in 1947 to Jammu, In Jammu they are known as CHOUDHARYS, linguistically and culturally very similar to Jatt Sikhs of Punjab.

The Community forms an important element in the population of Jammu and Kashmir.

The most important aspect of his achievement is being a lad from minority community who don’t have educational qualification above +2 has made his name in headlines as he launched a website for volunteer blood donors with the motive to serve the mankind honestly.

 

While interacting exclusively with TOJ he said, “As far as the career point is concerned which I have personally observed joining Indian army is the ultimate solution in front of the Guys in Jatt community and Girls either end up marrying too early or there are so much of obligations/obstructions imposed to them. 

The website www.indiadonor.in contains a database of self-interested blood donors spread across the nation. 

“All the data entered in the site is reliable and contains a listing to the donors, segregated according to blood type and location and our pursuit is to make the search for the right match quicker and cost-effective." 

- Rohit Choudhary.

 Appealing to the volunteer donors he stated that interested donors are just required to register them in the website and provide their contact details and can put up requirements on the website. On placing the request, the contacted donor arrives at the hospital where the patient is admitted and donates his or her blood.

Motive behind launching this website

"Our endeavour is to provide this service free of cost and especially to those who cannot pay for healthcare" and future plan of this websites is to organise blood donation camps with young generation of India and Our pursuit is to make the search for the right match quicker and cost-effective." 

Friends let’s bring a change altogether and be a part of that change so that we should be proud for what we are!!!

- Rohit Choudhary

YASH KHAJURIA: 1st Snow, Rain freeze JKCold wave engulfs state...

1st Snow, Rain freeze JK

Cold wave engulfs state, NH-1 closed

YASH KHAJURIA:
1st Snow, Rain freeze JK
Cold wave engulfs state...: 1 st Snow, Rain freeze JK Cold wave engulfs state, NH-1 closed Yash Khajuria 1/6/2012 8:22:47 PM JAMMU, Jan 06: With snowfa...

1st  Snow, Rain freeze JK

Cold wave engulfs state, NH-1 closed
Yash Khajuria	1/6/2012 8:22:47 PM

JAMMU, Jan 06: With snowfall lashing the many parts of the region, winter chill has engulfed Jammu since past 24-hours. Rains and snowfall not only brought down the temperature but also blocked the National Highway. Due to heavy snowfall and rainfall at Patnitop and Jawahar Tunnel the NH-1, got blocked cutting off the major supply route to Kashmir valley. As the authorities has warned of a high danger avalanche and landslides in the rainfall and snowfall affected areas throughout the National Highway. Official sources has said, due to Snowfall at Patnitop and around Jawahar Tunnel has rendered the highway slippery and vehicular traffic has been stopped till the weather turns appropriate the Jammu-Srinagar highway will remain closed for vehicular traffic, and shall open till the landslides which have occurred at a number of places on the road are being cleared completely. As the national highway is been closed there are long queues at different places by the vehicles on the either sides of the national highway. Though, People intending to undertake travel from either side are being advised that they should contact the traffic control rooms before starting their journey, to get updated about the latest status of the national highway. “The snow had stopped at most of the places when the last update was received but it was raining in Jammu and at several places in Kashmir including Banihal and Pahalgam,” said an Official. He also strictly advised to the tourists who had gone to the above stated areas that till the permission from the concerning department is granted do not try to move on the road to the highway it can be extremely hazardous for them. Meanwhile Mata Vaishnodevi cave shrine today witnessed season's first snowfall, worsening the cold wave condition enroute the pilgrimage. The yatra was however going on smoothly with over 15,000 pilgrims undertaking the pilgrimage today. Helicopter services for the pilgrims have been suspended in view of the continuous snowfall in Trikuta hills where the shrine is situated. The shrine, which is situated in Reasi district, and its adjoining hills received season's first snowfall this afternoon, officials said. Due to the snowfall, cold conditions are prevailing enroute cave shrine but pilgrimage is going on smoothly, they said, adding over 15,000 pilgrims are undertaking yatra to cave shrine today. There was continuous snowfall in Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Patnitop, Batote, Banihal, Pir Panchal ranges in Poonch and Rajouri districts, besides Bani Basohli areas in Kathua since this morning resulting in extreme cold wave conditions. Jammu city experienced cold wave conditions due to rainfall, they said, adding the rainfall was also reported in Katra, Udhampur, Reasi plains in the region.

Electricity: An Incomplete Promise

'Times Of India' 
Electricity: An Incomplete Promise  

Villages Jia and Houja: Are still in dark.

Yash Khajuria 

Jammu January 04:

 “A rotten apple spoils the barrel” 

The proverb above fits exact when we come to know that despite of regular claims by the government for developing the rural pockets, the villages of Jia and Houja in district Doda is enough to defame all the claims by the Administration Since they are still deprived of basic amenities like electricity.

Bringing aside the Tall claims of Government about development of rural areas in Jammu province, villages of Panchayat Halqa Jia of Tehsil Thatri, District Doda is showing the exceptional scenario of the helplessness.

Basic amenities like electricity have yet to light their homes; the village reflects a perfect picture of being an area behaved like Step by the authorities.

The villages Jia and Houja of the area have not yet facilitated with the electricity not to mention of electricity while the villagers of Jia said that despite of several knock on the door Steps of the concerned authorities why they couldn’t yet have electricity, is better known to the authorities.

     The whole Panchayt Jia is consisted with the population comprising about more than 3000 inhabitants in it, “there are some houses in the villages who managed electricity for themselves by making an alternate Connection from Village Tippri- 2 kilometers away from Jia , there is no power and we are paying power rent that too without having it” said a local.         Pertinent to mention that Sarpanch of the Panchayat Halqa Jia, - Ram Rattan along with a social activist - Kuldeep Kumar Rao have also presented the condition of the villages in written demanding for an Electric Transformer to village Jia, ahead the table of several Officers Concerned including Chief Engineer, Power Devlopment Department (PDD), The Copy Of Which has been delivered to Superintending Engineer, Elect. Maintenance and R. E. Circle-III, Batote for information by the Chief engineer, (PDD) but nothing has been happened so far, as the applications are moving by tables.

  Even after that when the deputation went to the Mohd. Shareef Naaz, MLA concerning demanding either Transformer or Solar Lights for the above mentioned Villages. They got disappointment as the MLA has advocated that providing such amenities are costing more than rupees 10 lakhs and are not affordable to him.

However almost 15 days ago, solar lights have been installed in their neighboring village but Village Jia is still in the dark.

“What could more dreadful that despite being an area which receives no electricity, the government has even failed to provide the solar lights to them” said K K Rao.

He said that every time an estimate for providing such needs has made by the authorities but when it comes to the on ground work nothing has been done so far, even the last time the estimate was made in 2009, though 2 years has been passed and we are still in the Dark.