Anganwari Centres being clandestinely outsourced, Govt unaware

 Anganwari Centres being clandestinely outsourced, Govt unaware 

Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, June 20: The Anganwari Centres being run by the Social Welfare Department under the ICDS project are being outsourced by the persons in-charge at their own whims and fancies under the nose of Department higher ups without even caring for the basic guidelines. However, the Minister for Social Welfare Ms Sakina Itoo claims that all was well as strict vigilance being maintained by the department to check the day to day working of the Anganwadi Centres.

According to sources, there were many Anganwadi Centres which runs on outsource basis by the persons in-charge under the nose of Government functionaries. One such centre in satwari area is running from last 3 years but the department has not inspected the spot even at the single time as a result of which the centers holder are having benefits from government even without devoting needed time to their respective effort, he said.

Sources alleged that the person in-charge were not making any efforts to attract people that they send their kids to the centers yet the unhygienic condition of the center are annoying to the parents of the existing kids in the centers.

Pertinently, the children at the AWCs should be goaded to make a habit of using footwear while using toilets. The anganwadi workers and helpers must ensure that the nails of children are properly cut and they should wash their hands with soap before and after meals, after using toilets or playing outdoors, the toilets and floor of the AWCs must be cleaned with disinfectants and germicide floor cleaners every day.

Good hygienic practices are meant to reducing incidence of malnourishment and keeping diseases at bay. As AWCs cater to the children below six years, it is important that the practice of good hygiene starts at this level.

However, most of these centres are unable to feed nutritious food to children enrolled there which is against the guidelines, the kids who are able to complaint even 5tto their parents are left on the unhygienic dusted without cemented floor” said a parent who opted out his kid from the center due to the apathetic condition of the centers.

The cooking area which should be kept scrupulously clean with no cobwebs or dirt on the walls and windows are just being used in open environment even the owner do not effort to do this practice sincerely as it is the matter of nutrition of kids.

The Joint Director of the department informed that there were 28577 centres in the State out of which 28300 were functional and rest were sub-judicial.

When contacted, Minister for Social Welfare Ms Sakina Ittoo said department was making some complex for the AWC’s but it will take some more time in completion when questioned about the above said conditions of the AWC’s she said that our Departmental Team are inspecting the AWC’s in the state regularly to keep check on the centres but we do not have any information of such centres, Even people feel free to inform myself or the accessible authority  if they found anything wrong in the AWC’s in the state, she added. 

JU sets new norms for the admission in private colleges affiliated to JU

JU sets new norms for the admission in private colleges affiliated to JU

Yash Khajuria 

JAMMU, June 17: In a significant move in the improvisation of education system the University of Jammu has revolutionized the process of admission in private affiliated colleges of education as from the current year onwards the process of application as well as counseling will be done through online system. 

Sources disclosed that the whole process of counseling was the lengthy one of around three to four months as the students were coming from outside to apply and then the screening of documents was have to perform at the JU complex after that the schedule was to set for the counseling. After this all process students were able to get the admission slips even it was also the pricey one as the expenditure of university authorities was around 2.50 lakhs in the last year in conducting the process manually.  

Now by online process of application and counseling it will not only shrink the expenditure of JU authorities but also provide the liberty to the applicants who in majority are from the other states that they can choose their choice of college and would be able to perform all the previous practices via online procedure. 

This process is going to be a pacesetter in the process of curtailment of middle man in the B.Ed admissions which has shelled many controversies previously as now the students are left free to chose their choice college after filling online and as the procedure goes that is “first come first serve” it will definitely curb the escalating nexus of colleges and agents which has befooled many students in the past years said a Scholar.

Power reforms project proved a failure

Power reforms project proved a failure

VLDS fails to attract people to disclose their domestic load

Yash Khajuria   

JAMMU, June 16: Voluntary Load Discloser Scheme (VLDS) launched by the Power Development Department (PDD) has failed to yield result as very few people have come forward to disclose their actual load.

The official said that in order to revise the power load the department had introduced this scheme so that if to have a blue print of the actual power usage in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in urban centres of the state.

“Even if our officers found any defaulter at the time of inspection we are also considering them under the VLDS and but despite this we have not got response as we were expecting from the people” said Gurbachan Singh, S.E PDD Jammu Division.

He said that there are around 80,000 consumers in domestic and commercial category for those the scheme is launched but only 1 percent Customers have been marked under the scheme, till the last date of announced period of Scheme we are not taking any harsh steps against those who come forward voluntary to disclose their power load but after that time we are going to take harsh steps against those who found defaulters” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that, Under the VLDS, consumers have been given time till July 9 to declare their actual load and the department has decided not to take legal action against defaulters under the tariff rule and FCSC norms in the electricity act 2010.

Apparently, the department had recently issued a circular under the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Act 2010, under which it was mentioned that people involved in power theft could be jailed for a month or fined.

It is pertinent to mention here that efforts made to bring reforms in power sector have has to some extent failed to curb the huge power losses, because government departments, ministers, MLAs are themselves major defaulters. Recently Jammu and Kashmir Government has launched voluntary load disclosure scheme from May 10 to July 10 under which opportunity has been given to domestic and non-domestic commercial category consumers to get their unauthorised load regularized.

JDA employees end month long strike after assurances by Deputy CM

JDA employees end month long strike after assurances by Deputy CM

Yash Khajuria   

JAMMU, June 15: Finally after month long agitation, government has finally accepted the demands of striking Jammu Development Authority (JDA), who were demanding implementation of 6th Pay Commission Report and other pending demands.

The Chairman of JDA and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand showing his concern over the fast unto death strike carried by more than 400 employees of the JDA and passed the direction to the Vice chairmen Sarita Chauhan to announce the employees that the authorities have accepted the demands of the striking employees and the can call off.

Talking exclusively to the TNI news the Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said that it has taken a long time in redressing the issues of the Employees but now the Demands have been approved, however, for the delayed approval of demands he said that the implementation of SRO 43 was not in the provision for some corporations like JDA but marking this a genuine the Authority has agreed to implement this for the JDA employees, he said that the whole list of the demands is not been agreed some the issues are not acceptable but we have taken our consideration on the genuine ones.

On the other hand, Ashok Singh Jamwal, president, JDA employees Union said that the decision of the authorities by implementing SRO 43 in JDA is an historic decision as after 15 long years they have been able to get their rights.

Pertinently, administration was seen in panic when president JDA Employees Union Ashok Singh was forcefully lifted from the spot and has thrown in Gandhi Nagar hospital.

Apparently, the JDA employees were on strike from the 22nd May 2012 under the banner of JDA Employees Union and after getting aggrieved from the adamant attitude of the higher authorities had decided to sit on hunger strike from 28th May 2012.

Tussle for presidentship of Guru Ravi Dass Sabha turns violent

Tussle for presidentship of Guru Ravi Dass Sabha turns violent

Yash Khajuria   

JAMMU, June 14: The tussle for the president post of All J&K Guru Ravi Das Sabha (AJKGRS) is visible on the street as four ladies of one of the parties received injuries in scuffle with members of the other Party who reportedly claimed to be the president of the Sabha and tried to enter the Ravi Dass temple with 30-50 people.

The issue has assumed tense form along span of time where the both parties are also involved in the legal practices to retain the president ship of the Sabha. The matter is already in the court.

Piran Ditta have alleged that the other Party in their consistent approach to attain the presidential post of the sabha by hook or crook, has invaded in the temple premises without any intimation or permission from the president, which when opposed by the locals and members of the sabha turned Violent as the invading group started using physical violence in which 4 female members of the sabha got injuries.

He briefed that the other Party i.e. Vijay Lochan and Companions has tried this sort of invasion by using his political and official approach in the police deptt. He said that according to the constitution of the sabha a president owes two years tenure on the democratic seat, according to this the existing president of the Sabha Piran Ditta (Retd Post master) who had been on the post since June 2010 has his powers on this behalf he is having every invitations, receipts, and other documents which were forwarded to the president of the sabha by the senders either political Parties or religious associations.

Then how one could claim the president ship without conducting any public poll. He alleged that Vijay Lochan is already been declared defaulter for violating the norms and regulation of the Constitution o0f Sabha so he is even not eligible to gain the prestigious post but he is using his political and physical power to intrude the post.

Where on the other hand the second Party have totally declined the allegations and said that they have the every legal document which dictates that the hon’le courts declares that Vijay Lochan and Shyam Lal Bassan as the president and General Secretary of the Sabha.

He gimmicked that if a person claims that he the president of the a Sabha then how he is been sent behind the bars by the police official after found faultier at the Temple today.

Brick Kilners continuous to flees peoples

Brick Kilners continuous to flees peoples

Yash Khajuria   

JAMMU, June 12: Despite the repeated appeals of the brick kiln owners association to the state government regarding the demand of revival of the rates of the bricks, the administration is not looking a bit serious over this all.

Brick kiln owners are annoyed of the behavior of the state administration regarding the whole issue that is due to the rapid increase in the cost of the raw material being used in the procedure of brick manufacturing, like Coal, Firewood, Clay, Labour and other amenities included in the procedure of the same.

Since they have demand to the concerned authority to revive the rates of the brick which are still as they were previously revised.

According to Janak Raj Mahajan, president of the Brick Kiln Owners Association (BKOA) because of the non-revision of rates brick kiln owners are not getting their production cost back, resulting which all the 259 brick kilns owners are facing a lot of economic crisis. Since the rates of the raw material are increased aggressively so the expenditure for the production of bricks is ultimately increased.

Hence the government keeping all this in mind should revise the rates.  He said that as the government is not increasing the price of their product on the other prospect we are already paying tax on the raw material which we use, and the administration is imposing to pay input tax which is truly the injustice to brick kiln owners.

He said that the government should have to revise the rates on the pattern of the neighboring states including Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. As the BKOA has presented that the rates of B class bricks at Rs 4175 per thousand, rates of C class bricks at Rs 3800 per thousand and the rates of tiles at Rs 4375 per thousand. He further said that the rates of brick in Punjab are above Rs 4000 per thousand and in Himachal rates of brick is Rs 4500.

It is pertinent to mention here that the over half dozen brick kilns have been convicted by government after they found offensive for overcharging for bricks by the owners.

A special team οf officers led bу Assistant Commissioner, Jammu, has conducted inspections οf brick kilns іn R S Pura, Sub Division after regular interval and eight οf thе 15 brick kilns wеrе booked fοr various offences under provisions οf Labour Laws, Weights and Measurement Enforcement Act.

Same numbers of brick kilns were also booked by CAPD for overcharging and for not showing the rate lists and other offences under Essential Commodities Act-1980.

As par the existing government rates, the sale of class 'A' Bricks has been fixed at the rate of Rs 4100 per 1000 whereas the rate of Class 'B' bricks at the rate of Rs 3100 per 1000 inclusive of loading and unloading as par norm anyone found overcharging his license may be cancelled.

But due to the unconsciousness of the administration the bricks are being sold at the rates of brick owners choice, at RS Pura Jammu, where the bricks are being sold at Rs 5500- 7500 per thousand on arguing the rate lists the brick owners said that till the government do not fix issue the new rate list they’ll sale brick on the same prices. Now the customers are annoyed by the overcharging of brick kiln owners.

On this issue when contacted to the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, said that they (Brick kiln owners) are asking for the increasing rates then what to do we cannot fix the rates only favorable to them. Since panel of experts after analyzing the whole matter have fixed the rates and if any of the brick kilner is overcharging they should by complaint by customer.

Stone crushers violate norms in J&K

Stone crushers violate norms in J&K,

Fail to undertake pollution control measures

Yash Khajuria   

JAMMU, June 11: In blatant violation of rules governing environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir, over 688 stone crusher units in the State are not undertaking the measures to minimize the pollution levels. 

While these highly air polluting units are flouting the norms with impunity since past many years, the environmental watchdog, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), is watching like a mute spectator.

Ashok Sharma, State convener Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action (ICELA) said that despite of repeated representations by the villagers and local ICELA committee to the deputy commissioner, state pollution control board (PCB) Jammu and vice president AFCONS Mumbai these polluting units still continued their functioning at Panjgrian, Nagrota. 

He revealed a disturbing fact that due to the lip lock attitude of the Authorities number of people which includes Sagar Singh, Asha Devi, Mohan Lal Sharma, Tara Mani Sharma and Gandharav Singh have lost their precious life due to asthma, kidney failure and other chest and lung as a result of theses polluting units in the surrounding. 

Lavish a 12 years old boy who is suffering from renal failure and serious throat infection seeking treatment in PGI is the direst case’ among the people who are suffering from the serious diseases due to these polluting units. 

However, all the required facilities required for the smooth survival of life does exist there at village Panjgrian, but due to the degradation of environment at alarming rate by these unchecked polluting units both the humans and cattle of the village are facing threat to their life. 

According to the official records there are 688 registered stone crusher units across the State out of which 411 operate in Kashmir region. “Being a red category industry, the pollution control norms for the stone crushers are being violated with impunity. As per SPCB norms, there should be three rows of trees encircling the stone crusher for reducing the impact of dust emission. But not a single tree has been planted at most of such units in Jammu region”, sources said. 

If Sources are to believed the authorities including the educational, animal and sheep husbandry, PCB, PHE, agriculture, horticulture, forest, private schools and BDO have not issued any NOC to these units but these units are still operational on the strength of bogus NOC’s, as most of the crushing unit owners have strong political links and are also hand in glove with the authorities. 

Under the full official patronage of the authorities entrusted with the job to check such pollution causing destruction. 

When contacted to the Sanjeev verma DC Jammu for the official Version he said that to keep check over the violation of Norms by these Units is the Duty of Pollution Control Board and they should examine the matter but clearly it is not the task of his constitutional job.

Sports Council’s notification fails to tame unrecognized sports bodies

Sports Council’s notification fails to tame unrecognized sports bodies

Innocent parents being befooled by money minters

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, June 07: With most of the politically influential people sitting at the helm of affairs and holding command of both affiliated and non-affiliated sports associations in J&K State Sports Council, the recently issued list of affiliated associations by the Sports Council did not make any difference to their style of functioning.

According to sources, more than 60 associations claim to conduct sports activities but only 49 associations have been recognized by the Sports Council so far. Sources further said the non-affiliated sports associations were indulging in false practice to lure the innocent parents to allow their wards to participate in the championship.

These associations claimed that they were affiliated with the Sports Council but in actual they were not serious in promoting sports but just want to mint money to fulfill their selfish motives. "Just as Sports Council has issued a list of affiliated associations, it must issue list of those associations as well who are yet to get affiliation from it", said one of the officials on the condition of anonymity. 

"The Council has also advised the sportspersons along with their parents for not falling prey to some people who are running unrecognized associations and befool people with their mesmerizing tricks and policies, to potent their vested interests but still the ill practice continues in full swing", another official claimed.

“There are two types of games recognized by the Sports Council in the State, one which falls under the SRO and benefits the sports persons in attaining jobs over sports merit, and other includes the games which offers sports quota in the Higher Education to the scholars.  But on the other hand, many associations are conducting activities in the state which are neither been recognized by the Sports Council nor they falls under the above mentioned schedule", he added.  

"If a sports person holds a game for 5-10 years he will be expecting some benefits for himself either in job or in the education which is genuine, but if he plays a game for decade which is not been recognized by the council then his devoted time in sports will be wasted", said Ranjeet Kalra, BCCI member and vice-president, J&K Wushu Association.

"That is the reason I have appealed to the sports minister and Secretary Sports Council to publicise that list of recognised associations so that the sports persons and their parents would be able to choose a game which will also offer some benefit to them and, to stop unauthorized associations from misleading the children and their parents,” he maintained.

Interestingly, the authorities has also displayed a loop hand to the non-affiliated associations as the Secretary, State Sports Council, Kiran Wattal says that we cannot pass any direction or order to those bodies which are not under our constitutional authority.  

“If any XYZ association is working for the development of sports at the district and below level, they can do the same but they cannot ask us for any support and assistance as they do not exist anywhere in the state sports council” he added.

Apparently, if the authorities will not take harsh steps against the unaffiliated associations in the state it will be difficult to make people away from be cheated by the fraud associations. 

Transport department asks school to submit details of transport rent structure

School bus fee structure row

Transport department asks school to submit details of transport rent structure

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, June 2: Transport Department has sought details of school transport and the bus rent structure being charged by the various private schools in Jammu from the students for the academic year 2012-13.

The Department in a joint meeting held in the office of the transport commissioner Jammu and Kashmir at Rail head complex Jammu under the chairmanship of Regional Transport officer Jammu in which principle / managers of the private schools, joint director school education Jammu, officers of transport department representatives of Student-Parent Association for Child Education (SPACE) were present.

Administration has urged upon the school authorities to submit the details of school transport and the bus fee structure being charged from the students of their respective schools for the current time i.e. year 2012-13. So that the information given after them will be examined and a consolidated report could be submitted to the transport commissioner J&K Srinagar for further review and vital directions.

Pertinently the parents are demanding a reduction in bus fares and justification from schools for the increase in fares despite an order by the Transport Department last year, fixing the monthly fares at Rs 180. They feel the hike in fares is unfair as the government has already notified a standard fee structure for schools.

School managements have been claiming that they cannot meet the costs incurred on fuel, salaries of bus driver and general maintenance of vehicles by charging a measly bus fare of Rs 180 per head, as fixed by the government.

The parents, on the other hand, are not compelled by the school economics, as RD Sharma, member of the Student-Parent Association for Child Education (SPACE), maintains: “The buses are bought with school funds and students get charged for the same at the time of admission. There is no logic behind counting profit on school buses.”

The same argument was made in a recently held meeting, wherein it was decided that bus fares would soon be revised and parents would not be fleeced further.

With around 40,000 students being ferried by around 850 privately run buses, parents feel it is a matter of concern that most buses are over 15 years old and barring 180 buses, the rest of the buses are being used without proper documentation.

However, around 40,000 students in the state are utilising private buses in order to commute to their educational institutions. This is an open fact that most of the schools have fallen short to provide the institutional vehicles for the students as they hire private vehicle to overcome the drop, which costs an extra charge over the school authorities too.

‘Parents being charged for 11 months, whereas buses remain in use for only nine months due to the seasonal vacations in both region of the state.

BJP women cadre demonstrates against price rise

BJP women cadre demonstrates against price rise

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, May 29: Against the towering price hike in the daily household articles Bhartiya Janta Party Mahila Morcha led by Sakina Bano -Mahila Morcha State President, staged a massive protest in Jammu, here today.

Holding, placards in hands and raising slogans against State and central (UPA) Government, the protesting women cadre of BJP held Prime Minister responsible for making the life of every house hold in the country difficult.

While addressing the gathering Sakina Bano State president (BJPMM) has said that government has failed on all accounts and no one is concerned about the plight of a common man who is facing hardships on large to make his livelihood which has even resulted in suicides.

People in remote and far off areas too are suffering due to lack of exigencies and because of empty pockets, it has affected proportionally to the coming generation those are not able to cope up with the new standards due to high rise in price index.

“Government could have efforts to make rupee stand and also could make cuts so that petroleum products could be like in other countries where petrol prices less than Rs 50 per litre but for the taxes the government levies on its products and common man has to suffer” said Sakina Bano. She further said that with hike in the petroleum products entire price range varies as it affects everything in transportation etc. thus adding to the miseries of common people. She warned government and asked it to roll back hike otherwise it will see the other face of people on roads.

She whole heartedly nodded that BJPMM will participates in NDA’s Bharat Bandh call on May 31 against Central Government move of hiking petrol prices.

Prominent among those took part in the protest demonstration were Purnima Sharma, Rajrani Jamwal, Priya Sethi, Pinky Gupta, Sureshta, Vijay Raina, Anju Dogra, Parveen Arora, Saroj Gupta, Prem Lata, Renu Khajuria, Bimla Sharma, Kanta Gupta, Ritu Sharma, Rampiari, Priya Jaral, Sangeeta, Tripta, Sudesh Sharma, Sharda Devi, Babita, Chinta Dogra, Renu Bala, Labo Rani and Namrata Singh besides others.

Govt. orders probe against NGOs for fund misuse

Govt. orders probe against NGOs for fund misuse

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, May 26: Government has ordered probe against five Non Governmental Organisations (NGO)s (voluntarily organisations) and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri for misuse of funds sanctioned by the Union Environmental Ministry for taking up projects to save the environment. Most of them have received the funds between2003-2008.

Government has constituted a three member State Level Committee to probe the default committed by the voluntary agencies and an independent cell of BGSBU, which is working for the environmental protection.

Agencies include Global Green Peace, Polo View, Srinagar, Human Objective to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Srinagar. J&K State Welfare Institute. Srinagar Khakani Ladles Vocational centre, Anantnag, Society for Ecological and Environmental Problem (SEEP), Srinagar and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri.

Officials said that the committee has probed why the organisations have failed to submit the required documents of the fund utilization and the projects taken by them despite repeated directions from the government.

“After receiving first installment from the central government these organisations have neither approached for subsequent installments nor submitted requested documents for release of second installment, which clearly shows that they have not utilized funds properly”, said an official.

As per the order, the committee examined and proposed the method of recovery of unutilized funds so that legal action could be taken against the organisations. “There are clear directions from the central government to recover the money from these organisations”, said an official.

The committee comprised of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu as Chairman, while Registrar, Co-operative Societies and Concerned Deputy Commissioner of Districts have been nominated as its members.

It is pertinent to mention here that hundreds of NGOs in Jammu and Kashmir are receiving funds from various state and central government agencies for aforesaid, awareness campaigns and involve school and college students in environmental protection.

“This is clear case of default as most of organisations against whom probe has been ordered has never submitted the details of the projects taken up by them”, said a official.