Poor utilisation of funds, forces centre to reduce funding for project from 2008-10

Poor utilisation of funds, forces centre to reduce funding for project from 2008-10

Yash Khajuria

Jammu, May 25: The poor utilization of central assistance by the health and medical education department Jammu and Kashmir has resulted into a slash down in the central assistance by the government of India during the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 by 63% and 88 % respectively as compared to the release of 2007-08.

An overview of physical achievements of NRHM by Slate Level Evulation Committee (SLEC) reveals that during first four years of implementation of NRHM mission i.e. 2006-07 to 2009-10, the progress was very slow and thus no tangible results were achieved. From the physical achievement profile, it could be inferred that much emphasis had been given for procurement of software and sensitization of stakeholders in the initial stage.

Shortage of various categories of staff in sample community health centers was responsible for poor implementation of the programme. The engagement of staff in consonance with the norms is suggested.

During a field inquiry, it was observed that in the sample community health centres (CHCs), the in-position specialists were 18 during 2009-10 against the requirement of 35. Similarly the requirement of staff nurses as per NRHM norms was 45, where as the number of in-position nurses were 23 thereby showing a defict of 22. A separate AYUSH set-up was seen provided in 4 samples CHCs while as no such arrangement was provided in sample CHC of Jammu district.

Lack of infrastructural including residential quarters was also partially responsible for not ensuring round the clock functioning of Primary Health Centers (PHCs). 

In sample PHCs, the situation with respect to skilled manpower, equipments and drug supply were found below the norms of NRHM.  The norms set under NRHM for the selection of ASHA were fulfilled to a great extent.

The Field enquiry that almost all the selected ASHAs had received training of (10-15) days before put to service by the health department. The drug kits were provided to them and as per their statement 93% of ASHAs viewed the medicines adequate and 85% regarded the supply timely. The functioning of ASHAs was found by and large satisfactory in the fields entrusted to them under the NRHM.  

Golf Course for Jammu

Golf Course for Jammu: Still a distant dream

 Work delayed because of red-tapism

 
Yash Khajuria 

Jammu, May 22:  The much hyped golf course project aimed to promote the tourism attraction and to advance sports culture in outskirts of Jammu is in limbo as a result of apathetic approach of the authorities.

The 18 holes golf course in Sidhra stretched over an area of about 400 kanals which was expected to complete at the end of financial year 2011-12 is yet to come with completion as a result of turtle pace progress over the said project.

The newly laid Golf Course is of international standard possessing unique and picturesque location; with an amount of Rs. 21 crore has so far been spent on the development of 9 holes of the proposed 18 holes Jammu Tawi Golf Course.

Pertinent to mention that the government has started work over the said project in 2008 and the dilapidated exercise that too in patches has deprived desiring golfers of assaying their hands out there.

“Apparently, the golf course after completion will also add to the beauty and sylvan setting of this prestigious project of the Tourism Department despite all this the authorities are not offering the needed concern over this” said Sagun Basotra, an aspiring golfer.

When contacted to the Director Tourism Robin Singh Mehta over the delay in the completion of project he said that to come with such a high standard project it takes time but we have opened the golf course as the nine out of the 18 holes are ready while the remaining 9 holes are under construction, we are working with full dedication to get the project completed as soon as possible.

Moreover, the he said that the work has delayed as the committee has made some changes as of the initial project and one more reason is the insufficient allocation of funds in the middle of the project, but now the work is on full swing as we are hoping that in December 2012 we will come with a fully fledged golf course in the outskirts of Jammu.           

Parking Mess

JU facing Parking Problem, authorities helpless

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, May 16: Parking in Jammu University is day by day becoming a problem as in absence of space, people are facing lot of problems were to place their cars and two wheeler.

However authorities have failed to rein in on illegally parked vehicles, which has created a chaos like situation in the campus.

Although university has parking places specified for the teachers and students, yet they are too small as the volume of vehicles in the varsity has increased. Moreover, a lot of vehicles belong to outsiders which are being parked in the university campus.

“Most of the vehicles parked in the campus belong to outsiders which has further created chaos in the University parking space. There is need to stop the flow out vehicles of outsiders”, said”, a professor wishing anonymity.

There are parking places for eight departments which are specified for the teachers and the students but it is not managed properly as the vehicles are not parked in proper way.

Problem could be witnessed on any day at the Gossip Corner cafeteria side where vehicles are found parked back to back which creates problem for the vehicle holders while they are leaving from there.

"To park a vehicle, everybody only thinks about the space in some way for parking and forgets that they have also have to leave the place. Nobody in the university parks their vehicles in a rational and proper manner,” said Gourav Sharma, a student who owns a vehicle.

However, JU authorities has said that they do not have earmarked any area where parking is prohibited but that doesn’t mean one could park here and there in the campus.

The university administration says that they are concerned about the parking problem but are unable to tackle it yet. They said that the number of vehicles was increasing as most of the students prefer to come in their own vehicles.

If sources are to believe the JU administration to curb this menace in the campus premises is up to launch coupon system soon, as it is in Kashmir University but the effectiveness of that will be directly proportional to the obedience of both the student and faculty members.

“We have a lot of parking space in front of the Zorawar Singh auditorium but people do not park their vehicles out there. We had also called upon the students avoid four wheelers to avoid the parking problem but they do not bother about it,” said, N K Tripathi.

Arrogance of Power

PSIs let loose reign of terror among commoners

Yash Khajuria

Jammu, May 06: Call it a police ‘Goonda Gardi’ or arrogance of power; innocent locals are being harassed by the reckless Probationer Sub Inspectors (PSIs). They joined the duty few months ago but several people have complained against their arrogance and questioned their style of working.

One of most arrogant PSIs is Rahul Dogra, who is deployed at Gandhi Nagar Police Station. PSI Dogra has let loose the reign of terror among the poor and non-influential people. He freely hurls abuses at commoners in full public view. He has become the odd for locals as of his unstoppable arrogant and unsocial practices turning big ail for them.

He is been turned rapt completely in the arrogance of his power as he is unreasonably using soiled manner to interact even with the intellectual peoples of the area, said a Local resident (Lecturer) pleading anonymity.

On the same note a College boy Rajinder said, “I was driving car at Shastri Nagar, suddenly a police gypsy took rash pass and shouted to stop the vehicle immediately. Since it was in the middle of the road I make some time to park my car by side, over this delay he began to yell and throw verbal abuse, even having every needed document in my vehicle and the Cop behaved like this to me what will happen to those found some docs missing.”
It also makes a freak attitude of his to my side but the question is that if a cop has no manners to even talk to the masses how could the department have posted him in such a intensively crowded areas, he questioned.

An eyewitness alleged, “PSI Rahul Dogra only make disturbance to those whom he want to, I have my shop there in the chowk and many bikers pass by this chowk without helmet and even making tripling on bikes, but the cop rarely disturbs them

Rs 85 Crore SPA fund for college development in J&K

Rs 85 Crore SPA fund for college development in J&K

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, May 04: With many of the schools and degree colleges lacking the basic infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, government has released Rs. 85 crores under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) to upgrade the existing infrastructure.

The amount will be used for the upgradation of class-rooms, library and laboratory facilities, lavatory blocks and upgrading the basic requirements particularly in rural and far flung areas. Under the project Rs 40 crore has been released for to the education department while Rs 45 crore have been released to the Higher education department to upgrade newly opened Degree colleges in J&K.

Officials said that Central Government has approved Rs 100 crore plan submitted by the state to upgrade the Degree colleges and primary and secondary schools in the J&K.

Under the action plan money would be used to comply with the norms set by National Accredited Assessment Committee (NAAC), which has shown its displeasure with the infrastructure of higher education in the state.
“Many schools in the state are in worst conditions and there is a need to upgrade them. So far money was the main reason for the delay in implementing the upgradation plan”, said a official.

“Though dozens of degree colleges were opened in different districts, but most of them are without basic infrastructure. No heed was so far given to them. Colleges become just a showcase”, official said on the condition of anonymity.

Sources said that to keep tab of the projects and implementation a monitoring team comprised of Minister In-charge and the Administrative Secretary will look after the project.

Under the Action Plan infrastructure development will be carried on in as many as 74 Government Degree Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir focusing on various requirements in the each educational institution. It is pertinent to mention here that while Government colleges established in 2005 have their own buildings, those announced in 2008 land has still not been identified and most of them function from higher secondary schools. Though the city colleges are overburdened by the students forcing Higher Education department to start evening classes to accommodate the rush, the newly opened degree colleges across the state have become ‘showpieces’, as lack of infrastructure and subject combination has led to very few admission this session.

While the five colleges in Jammu city, GGM Science College, SPMR Commerce college, MAM college, Government College for Women (GCW) Gandhi nagar and GCW, Parade are crammed, the institutions opened with much funfair by the state government since 2005 have again not received much attention from admission seekers.

Justice Denied

Justice Denied 

Patriot struggling for survival, militants enjoying hospitality of government

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Apr 25: While Government has been announcing number of scheme for the rehabilitation of the militants, but on the other hand, patriots of nation, who have sacrificed their youth for the nation are running from pillar to post to get their rights.

Undoubtedly India is a great secular nation having sympathy and justice for everyone but this image of our great nation is fading as it provides every required facility to surrendered terrorist but is ignoring patriots who dedicated their life for the service of nation and have to sit on fast upto death for the fulfillment of their meager genuine demands.

Vinod Sawhney, a personality which itself is a role model of patriotism for both the past and present generation today wearing chains sat on fast upto death outside the Press Club Jammu in lieu of his genuine demands has spent eleven years of life in the Pakistani imprisonment from 1977 to 1988 as he was arrested by the Pakistan army on being an Indian spy.

And after being released from Pakistan in 1988 the Indian government has given him nothing for his service done for the country.

Talking to TNI, Sawhney disclosed the harsh realities of his past and present life and said that he has tolerated a lot of plights during the imprisonment period in Pakistan and was of the hope that when he go back to his country he will live a peaceful and comfortable remaining life but all his expectations washed away.

He further said that he was arrested by the Pakistani army at the age of 23 and was released at the age of 34 years and during these eleven years of imprisonment he was shifted to number of jails of Pakistan which included Sialkot Interrogation Centre, District Jail Sialkot, Central Jail Multan, Shahiwal Kalapani, Central Jail Kot Lakhpat, and Central Jail Lahore besides other.

“I have also faced “Shikanja” in the Pakistani imprisonment under which whole body is pierced with the sharp iron pins/nails and after that a salt and chilly powder mixed water is poured on the wounded person who is considered as last stage torture before the death”.

“At presently am living completely on the mercy of others as my younger brother has given me one of his room while some of my friends and known persons are helping me in meeting of both the ends of life by dividing one time of food for three times” he added.

He uttered that on one hand government is framing policies for the rehabilitation of the surrendered militants and on the other hand he is ignoring its own patriots who have spent their whole life just for the service of nation and demanded quick consideration of his demands.