A look at the world of slum dwellers in temple city

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, April 11: The city of Temples Jammu is becoming a hub of different cultures with people of different states scattered all over for one reason or the other. Maratha Colony, a slum adjacent to posh Trikuta Nagar presents a picture of mini India with migrants residing here for over last four decades together.

But the cultures of different state have now diluted to some extend for the one reason or the other.

The Maratha colony has a group of 500 migrant families from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and even some families from Myanmar. Even as it has been a stay for generations for some families, their distinct culture and traditions are getting diluted for varied reasons.

The migrants are living in the area from about 40 years and during the time period their cultures and customs have diluted. However, despites facing many odds, the elders manage to perform all the rituals connected with the main festivals in the same spirit and enthusiasm followed in their respective states. Their main problem is the younger generation which is fast losing the interest and zeal towards the activities which can retain their cultural identities.

“My son is never shows any interest toward Ganpati Mahoustav, he is simply averse to observing even normal Puja related with the festival”, said Siv Ji from Maharashtra. His twelve year son Parshotam studies in some government school.

The mode and manner of celebrations of festivals has also shown some changes as the way, they celebrated in their own places. With the passage of time, there is visible change in the life style of these migrants particularly among youths, due to which they avoid to participate in rituals.

Even the celebration marriages have witnessed dilution in terms of rituals and traditions observed in their own states.

“There is neither that charm nor any fervor seen at the time of marriages now a day, nobody seems to be interested in observing colorful and lengthy traditions though these bring life and happiness on such occasion” said Phoolan Bhai, who is a blind lady residing there for the last sixty years. “I have come to this colony when there was no proper railway station, she said  she said, making refrence to the nearbay railway station. Phoonal Bhai has 16 members in the family in four generations.

With elders worried about fast eroding cultural identities they are looking forward to some kind of help from any quarter which would help them lessen tensions on account of lack of financial resources and many other facilities in their dwelling units.

Moreover, the other slums in Jammu show the same picture of cultural dilution to some extent.

GMC without drinking water, people forced to buy bottles from outside

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, April 25: Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) is one of the major hospitals in Jammu, catering the vast population of the state, but it fails to fulfill some of the basic needs of the people coming from different part of the state. 

One such glaring example which shows how much the department is concern about common masses, is unavailability of safe drinking water in the hospital. The concern administration has installed about eight water coolers in the hospital, but nowadays there are only one or two coolers in working condition. 

Besides this there are two more water coolers being installed by some private organization which are outside the hospital. Everyday thousands of patients visit GMCH in Out Patient Department (OPD) and In Patient Department (IPD) for treatment in different departments functioning in the hospital. 

The patients from new and old emergency block, emergency ward besides recovery ward, digester ward, emergency lab, x-ray room all depends upon the tap water of emergency canteen to fulfill their drinking water requirement, which is not safe for the patients. 

On the condition of anonymity, one of the staff member said that the department is neglecting this thing from the last long time, but as the summer season begins patients have to face hardship if the hospital administration still not taking any concrete steps in this regard. 

Deepak Gupta a patient said that in the summer days we have facing difficulties as there is on such arrangements for safe drinking water by the hospital administration. 

“Most of the patients don’t drink water in the premises and prefer bottled water. What is administration doing”, he added. 

Despite repeated attempts, Medical Superintendent (MS) GMCH, Dr Romesh Gupta could not be contacted as he did not pick the phone.

No education policy for children of slums

Tahir Mushtaq

Jammu, May 24 : The state government has failed to achieve its stated objective to provide education to each and every child irrespective of his caste and religion, and class also despite being a fundamental right mentioned in the constitution of India and the state of Jammu and Kashmir.


Even then many children of the poor families are seen involved in “child labour” doing menial jobs, sometimes forced labour, sometimes out of compulsion. These children are seen at every nook and corner of the state. Condition is not so different in our state. As per unofficial figures, there are more than ten thousand of such children in our state, mostly coming from other parts of the country because of extreme poverty.


This correspondent conducted a detailed survey of one of the biggest slum of Jammu city that was Maratha Colony-a slum area near Railway Station having almost five hundred slums inhabiting more than two thousand people. These people are mostly from the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, here in search of livelihood; these people generally belong to landless schedule castes communities. Their source of livelihood is selling petty items in trains and in streets of the city, cobbler work, iron scrap collection, sometimes manual work also, and their children generally found begging in buses, trains, and on bus stops. There were many instances, when they were also involved in petty criminal activities. This correspondent found that despite the tall claims of the authorities, the literacy rate is “Zero” percent in this locality.


The state government particularly the school education department is practically doing nothing for the betterment of children of these poor people, so that at least their future is saved a bit. That is main reason; some locals are taking initiative to provide education to at least some children of the down trodden sections of the society.


Kanchan Sharma- a government school teacher is making efforts to make children of this slum literate, since at least five years. She established a school on her own for these children almost 7-8 months ago, where she had two unemployed youth for teaching in the school. This step was appreciated by all. They teach not only to the children but also to the adolescents as the literacy rate is zero percent. But she complained of little help from the government authorities in providing infrastructural facilities. 


Director, School Education Jammu Zahida Khan maintained that the department is ready to provide education facilities to such people as and when a demand arises. 


Also there are no further proposal for us from the higher authorities of the state and centre.

SMGS sans drinking water, patients suffer, administration silent

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, April 17: In this coming summer season the patients of Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS), Hospital has to take their water bottles with them while coming for their treatment in the hospital. 

Everyday about 1400 patients visit the hospital for treatment of various diseases in four departments functioning in the hospital including Gynae, Pediatrics, ENT and Dermatology.

There are only four water coolers, to provide drinking water facility, but only one is in working condition , due to which the patients has to face hardship in the hot days summer.

Sources disclosed that the remaining three water coolers are not working from the past long time, resulting in increasing the difficulties for patients. The only water cooler was installed in the newly adjoining building of Pediatrics department, and the concern administration forgets to maintain the old coolers.

It is pertinent to mention here that, SMGS Hospital is one of the main hospital cater treatment to the vast population of the Jammu province. People from far flung area of Jammu came to get treatment for various ailments.

On the condition of anonymity, one of the staff member said that the administration is not taking any interest to provide the basic facilities like safe drinking water and other required amenities to the patients coming from different part of the state.

Puneeta Devi a resident of Bishnah said that in the hot days we have to face difficulties as there are no such arrangements for drinking water.

She further said that in the night time the mosquitoes create problem, as the nearby area of hospital is full of foul smell and grass, where the mosquitoes breeds.

When contacted Medical Superintendent SMGS Dr Romesh Gupta said that as the summer season is in beginning the department will repair the water cooler within few days.

He further said that he will look into the matter as he rarely visit the hospital due to his busy schedule, so this issue was not in his knowledge.

“I will direct the concern section to clean the nearby area of the hospital to avoid further problem being faced by the patients.

“God knows better when the concern administration awake from the deep sleep and take some steps to overcome the problems being faced by the patients” said a source.

1080 people dead in 6129 road accidents in J&K during 2010

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Mar 4: While government claims of taking measures to deal with the road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir, but if the government data is taken into consideration, its alarming that the number of accidents has increased in past three years particularly in Jammu region. 

Official records revealed that at least 1080 persons were killed in 6129 road accidents across the state last year. Jammu region leads the accident tally with 4303 incidents, claiming the lives of 777 persons while in Kashmir valley 1826 accidents were registered in which 303 persons lost their lives. 

As per the official record while the number of road accidents recorded in between Batote to Kisthtwar was 183 in 2008, it increased to 213 in 2009 and in year 2010 the number of road accidents was 256. Most accidents on the Jammu Kashmir National Highway are in between Batote to Banihal and from Batote to Kisthtwar. It is seen that the there are more accidents in winter season than summer due to heavy rainfall and snowfall. 

Data claims that the main cause behind the road accidents were rash driving, use of alcohol while driving, use of mobile phone during drive, overloading, bad condition of roads as well as vehicles. 
State government is in process to overcome the number of accidents by improving the road connectivity, but every time due to the land sliding in the hilly areas of the state caused accidents which result lost of many lives every year. 

Many of the vehicles on the road are outdated and need to replace. But there is no such check on them and also it happened due to rush of traffic on the road. 

Various organizations many times demanded to the state government for better connectivity of road, but nothing has been done. 

State government also plan to run railway, this also help in reducing road accident, but this plan is still under process and take more time to complete. 

Jammu, claiming the lives of 192 persons while in Samba 73 persons killed in 358 mishaps and 111 lost their lives in 400 accidents in Kathua. As far as Udhampur district is concerned, 481 road accidents occurred last year, claiming the lives of 85 persons, in Reasi 38 people killed in 169 accidents while in Doda district 226 accidents were recorded last year in which 50 persons were killed. 

In Kishtwar district, 82 road accidents took place and 55 persons were killed while hilly Ramban district witnessed the death of 94 persons in 349 accidents. In border district of Poonch, 173 road accidents were taken place last year and 23 deaths were reported while in Rajouri the figure of road mishaps was 364 in which 51 persons lost their lives. In Kashmir Valley, Srinagar leads the list with 379 accidents, claiming the lives of 55 persons while Ganderbal witnessed 86 accidents leading to death of 36 persons. In Budgam 126 accidents were registered in which 24 persons lost their lives, in Anantnag, 217 accidents claimed the lives of 30 people. In Kulgam, the number of accidents was 176, killing 22 persons while Pulwama was the only district where the number of people killed in road accidents was just 2 in 82 road mishaps. 

In Shopian, the data says that 48 accidents were registered killing 9 persons whereas Awantipura reported 147 accidents leading to death of 37 people. 

In Baramulla, 168 accidents were registered killing 15 persons, in Bandipura 61 accidents in which 11 people lost their lives. Kupwara recorded 59 accidents and 6 deaths last year while Handwara witnessed 56 accidents, claiming the lives of 11 people. 

In Leh, 85 accidents were registered causing the death of 28 persons while Kargil witnessed 68 accidents killing 6 persons during last year. As many as 68 accidents took place in Sopore, claiming the lives of 11 persons.

6000 illegally enrolled candidates admitted through backdoor channel

             Nearly 30,000 students in disarray as BOSE postpones ETT exam

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, April 13: The authorities sitting at the helm of affairs in State Board of School Education (BOSE) have been havoc with the reputation of the Board. On the specific directions of the Minister concerned the BOSE authorities have adjusted over 6000 illegally admitted for the ETT examination. But for the purpose, the examination scheduled for April 15 has been postponed at the eleventh hour putting nearly 30000 thousands in disarray. 

Sources disclosed that on the instance of Minister the Secretariat had issued No Objection Certificate for establishment of nearly 50 ETT institutes for the session 2009-11. The last NoC was issued in the month of February 2011. Threafter, all these colleges admitted candidates at their own. In a bid to legalize these illegal admissions under the patronage of said Minister, the institutes pushed the lists of their candidates at the eleventh hour so that their candidates could also appear in examinations without even completing the 180 days of mandatory class work. To keep the particular lobby of the ETT institutes the Minister managed the postponement of examinations. 

If sources are to be believed, career of nearly 30,000 students have been put on the stake by a particular lobby as just few days before the commencement of the exams, they have been forced to 
alter the examination schedule. Even, the examination machinery of the BOSE has failed to cope up with the increase in the number of candidates at the last hours. They had not even issued roll number slips to the existing candidates. 

“The decision was taken just yesterday evening and it has surprised thousands of aspirants who had taken admission in various colleges of the state”, said a source. The exams were to be scheduled for April 15. 

Sources said that mischief has its roots about four months back as some of the colleges received their NoC to run their educational institutions. But as per the rules, students studying in any particular institute should have 180 days attendance to appear in the final examination to get degree for the course. 

“In order to accommodate the their blue eyed boys who have much influence and are close to power corridors, examination centres have been set up in the schools. Which leave field open for the mass copying in the centres for which state already is famous for”, sources said. 

Sources said that even the rules are being changed for the ETT course on the direction of the Minister who has big stakes in the education sector as he is supporting a particular lobby of the colleges, while others having little influence are being denied and harassed. 

Today against the mischief played by the BOSE and Minister nearly 500 students held a protest against the education department. 

“We will not allow this; they are playing with the career of the students. We have to face harassment time and again”, said Surinder Gupta, chairman of one of the ETT colleges. 

Deep Singh, who also runs a college alleged that particular minister is openly supporting some colleges while other are being ignored. “We all are quite amazed at the decision of the BOSE to postpone the exams, but they never thought of about 30,000 students, but in order to support few colleges they have taken this decision”, Singh alleged.

The heartless doctors at GMC threw out 65 year old women from emergency ward without treatment

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Mar 30: It seems doctors in Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu have become heartless as they have now begun to treat patients as per their status. In one such case, an abandoned old lady was thrown outside the premises after three days without treatment.

Santosh Devi, a 65 year old woman had approached the hospital three days with severe symptoms, but her repeated pleas for treatment felt to deaf ears. 

Speaking to TNI, Santosh said that about three days back she came to the emergency ward and despite repeated pleas none of the doctors attended to her. Thereafter she also made another emergency card on March 29, but same thing happened with this time also. 

She also said that the hospital authorities took her and put her in a dirty room near back gate. She disclosed that the authorities instruct her not to come out of this room (Muje Subha Hospital Walo Ne Bahar Nikal Kar Is Gande Kamre Main Rakh Diya Aur Kaha Ki Is Kamre Se Bahar Nahi Nikalna). 

Sources reveled that this is not the one case of hospital apathy, but there are many other such cases which are facing step-motherly attitude from the concern authorities. Besides this many NGO forward them helping hand for providing them food and shelter on humanitarian grounds, the authorities were not fulfilling some of the formalities, due to which the unattended patients are facing hardship. 

He also said that the state government providing some funds for these types of people, still the administration is doing nothing for the welfare of them. 

One of the employees of GMC on the condition of anonymity said that the Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Romesh Gupta directed us in the morning to take the lady out of emergency on paddler, as she is handicapped and not able to walk. 

When this TNI correspondent approached the Personal Relation Officer (PRO) to Minister of Medical Education R S Chib, Vijay Khajuria, and told him the whole incident, Khajuria directed the MS Dr Romesh Gupta to take the patients back and give her the treatment whatever she required. 

Khajuria said that he will also direct the concern Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of her resident area, and asked him to enquire about the family of the said woman. 

Meanwhile, three security guards reached on the spot and took the lady to emergency for treatment. They said they are in directed by the MS to take the lady back to the emergency.

"Health dept passes wrong information about minister” under RTI

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU: State government has formulated many acts and policies to ensure transparency and accountability about its functioning and turning things simpler for the common masses in all spheres. But these policies and acts are proving just as a show piece than tool at the hands of people. 

Owing to this all such acts and policies are proving out to be useless items. To promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public office, one such act made by the Union government was Right to Information (RTI) Act which came into being in the year 2005. And in 2009 it was re-introduced in Jammu and Kashmir. 

But the people sitting at the helm of the affairs have made mockery of this act. There are many examples which show the carelessness of the authorities towards their work and disseminating the information sought under the act. 

There are many such instances where the information seekers were denied of the exact information, when they applied for the same under RTI, in the concerned department. 

In an RTI filed to the Department of Health Services shows the careless and sycophant approach. The applicant had asked for the service record of the Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, who served in the state health Department. 

In their official reply the concerned authorities mentioned in Paragraph 1 that Sham Lal Sharma joined the health department on January 04, 1998 on the post of medical assistant but in a copy of his service book which was attached with the reply letter, it is clearly mentioned that he resigned from his service on December 01, 1995. It is strange that how he could resign the service before joining. 

Continuing disseminating wrong information in the reply, it was stated under Paragraph 2 that Sham Lal Sharma had never been placed under suspension and the question for constituting of inquiry committee does not arise. 

When the applicant approached the department to get the clarification, Director Health Services Dr Ashok Sharma said that I will issue the RTI after few days. 

However, Official sources said that this RTI was against the Health Minister, so he needed to consult the concerned minister after that he would provide the same to the applicant. As he recently joined the post of Director Health Services. 

This attitude of director shows that if the RTI is against the person on some higher post, the concerned official needs to consult to take his/her permission and make the reply according to his/her wish. 

On the condition of anonymity, a National Conference (NC) activist who also served in health department along with the minister at that time said that there was case against Sham Lal and he was suspended, after that he resigned from service. NC activist further said that at that time Dr Ved Parkash was the director health services. 

When contacted former Director Health Services Dr Ved Parkash, who was director at that time, said something had happened at that time and also a committee was constituted, but he said he didn’t remember about the decision taken by the enquiry committee. 

Same was the fate of RTI application filed by convener of Sangarsh RTI Movement, Balwinder Singh. 

Balwinder Singh told seven months back he filed an RTI application to the Chief Engineer of Public Work Development, (PWD) seeking the report of 22 divisions of Jammu but in reply he get the report of only 4 divisions and the other report of 18 divisions was still pending. 

I also filed an appeal to Commissioner Secretary Works five months before but till the time didn’t get any reply, Singh added. 

Similarly, in another RTI filed by the same, Balwinder Singh to the Department of Education, out of 10 Chief Education Officers only two CEOs from district Reasi and Samba gave their replies. 

Also when he filed an RTI to Jammu Municipal Committee (JMC) asking to give the details regarding the area in Gandhi Nagar, Green Belt Park, Shastri Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Nai Basti and Apsra that weather it has been declared as commercial or not. 

In reply JMC mentioned that except one road from Nai Basti heading towards the National High way. Only some areas developed by Housing Board or JDA were allowed to raise commercial establishments. 

Singh further said that he did not get the satisfactorily reply from any of the department. He further said that this act in the state in just an eye wash to generate revenue and nothing else. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the applicant has to deposit a fee of Rs 50 for getting any information under the RTI act in our state. Moreover Rs 10 per page is also charged form the applicant for providing the information. The above instances clearly indicate the mala fide intensions of the state government.

100 beds for 90 thousand people, welcome to DH Doda

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Mar 21: Despite of tall claims made by the concern officials of the health department of the state government to provide better facilities at every nook and corner of the state, but the concern department is lacking somewhere due to which common masses suffer. 

There are many such examples which show that the concern department neglecting the pain of people by not providing them proper facility at 
their door step. 

One such glaring example is the District Hospital (DH) Doda, where the shortage of required number of medical and para-medical staff is the 
main problem for the people of the said area. 

DH Doda having capacity of 100 beds catering to the medical needs of almost 90 thousand people of the area, has failed to fulfill the medical needs of the people allegedly because they have to face many problems due to lack of facilities in the hospital. 

This hilly district having maximum population in rural and hilly areas lacks required number of hospitals and other infrastructural facilities. 

Talking to this reporter, patients said that Pathology wing of the hospital is in worst condition, due to lack of infrastructure and staff, people had to wait for many hours sometimes for many days. 

Patients alleged that for ultrasound tests, ECG, X-Rays, and other tests, they have to wait for many days as machines are older and many times the result is inaccurate. Many patients forced to accommodate on one bed as there is also deficiency of required beds. Out of 20 sanctioned posts of Assistants Surgeons, availability is only 4 surgeons posted in which only one doctor is available for the patients and other 3 are posted somewhere else. 

“The posts of B-Grade doctor in Surgery, Pediatrics and Eye department is vacant from last few weeks as the doctors appointed there got promoted to some other hospitals” they added. 

Locals also said that entire area is hilly and accident prone, the Casualty and Emergency facilities in the hospital should be available soon so that precious lives can be saved. 

Official sources disclosed that there are about 400 to 500 Out Patient Department (OPD), but due to lack of less number of staff in hospital the other staff member also get pressurized by patients as well as the senior doctors. 

When contacted Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Doda Dr Ashraf said that the department has sent the proposal to the higher authorities time to time for 
the shortage of staff. 

He also said that new building for District Hospital is under construction, and will hopefully completed in December 2012, once the construction is completed, problem of space shortage would be get solved then only.

Ramban DH: Saga of neglect, as hospital without required staff, equipment

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Mar 28: While the government claims that it has streamlined the functioning of the hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir, but the condition of the District Hospital (DH), Ramban is an example of apathetic attitude of the government. 

Due to lack of staff and modern equipments, the hospital remains non-functional, with end sufferer the patients. 

There are several posts of medical and para medical staff which are lying vacant due to which patients have to suffer. Beside this MBBS doctors are treating those patients which need specialist doctor, resulting into improper treatment. 

Sources said the staff appointed there are less than the sanctioned posts. Besides this hilly district having maximum population in rural and hilly area lacks the required infrastructural facilities. This District Ramban has the population of about 2.34 lacs. 

He said that there are two sanctioned post for B-Grade Anesthetic doctor, but only one doctor is appointed on the said post, in the case of Radiology Department, the sanctioned post B-Grade Doctor is one but this post is also vacant, similar in ENT Department, the post is also awaited for B-Grade doctor, due to which the assistant surgeon has to do the work of these doctors, which could be harmful to the patients. 

Moreover, there are only 3 staff nurses available against 19 sanctioned posts. The condition in pathology section also not good, only four technicians are managing the work of laboratory. There testing kits are also not available in required quantity. Besides this there is no one appointed for blood bank due to which is it not working from the past about three years. 

One could understand the plight of health institutions in the district, when even adequate medical staff is not available in already deficient hospitals. Locals alleged that the doctor referred them at the last time at last time to Jammu or Srinagar as there is no proper infrastructure for operation and other things. 

Talking to TNI, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Ramban Dr Suresh Khajuria said that for the appointment of staff nurses the department has advertised 13 posts under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) about two weeks back, and the department decided to take the interview on March 25, but due to some reason the interviews were not conducted. 

He further said that the department has sent proposal to the higher authorities for the appointment of B-Grade doctor in Radiology and ENT department besides appointment for blood bank. 

“It will take about minimum two years more to complete the new building of DH, Ramban” he added. 

He maintained that the department has talked to the Deputy Commissioner Ramban about sanctioned more land for the construction of staff quarter for the employees of hospital.