Traffic lights still a distant dream in Jammu city

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, July 31: To streamlined the traffic scenario in state the state government has planned to installed traffic signals on the road of Jammu, so that the functioning of vehicles on road become more smoother. 

According to official sources, long ago the project was recommended by the traffic department to the government as to easier the running of traffic on the Jammu roads. 

Sources also disclosed that this decision was taken at a high level meeting convened to review the functioning of transport department in which the meeting was chaired by Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon. 

They added that the on seeming the increasing traffic, the state government has approved the project. 

They further said that it was decided that 123 crossing points have been identified for installation of traffic signals, in which 68 are in Srinagar and 55 in Jammu city and the project was taken by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for completion. 

Sources maintained that there were some controversy between the traffic department and JMC related to this project, due to which it is still pending. 

When contacted Inspector General (IG), Traffic Police, Hemmant Kumar Lohia said that the traffic department has only recommended the project to the state government. Now, the upto the government to start the work on the said project. 

However, JMC Commissioner, S C Sawhney said that the traffic signal project is big, so it will take time to start. 

He further said that we have published online tender for the project, but haven’t received any tender yet as there are more 10 to 15 days for the last day. 

“The company who got the project will have to do survey on the type of signals to be installed as there are different road where the signals are required” he added.

Remedy to rising drug prices

Govt. run drug stores in each district soon

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 29: With rising prices of medicines making even basic drugs out of reach of common man, state government has mooted a proposal to open up government run drug stores at each district to benefit the poor.

The fair price shop would be opened under Jan Aushadhi Drug Stores (JADS) sponsored by the Union Health Ministry. In the first phase these stores have been proposed at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar and one each at Leh and Kargil and later the central scheme would be extended to other districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said that as most of the medicines are being supplied through the distributors-pharma companies’ nexus and government wants to open the shops targeting rural areas of the state.

“One benefit of opening these shops is that drug stores would ensure quality medicines at affordable prices to people particularly the poor, who are the main sufferers  of the rising medicine prices”, said a official.

Even the draft drug policy which has been formulated by the state government and waiting from the nod of the Cabinet has a provision to open four drug stores in the State where generic drugs would be provided to the people on reasonable and affordable costs. A committee has been constituted under the Chief Secretary to formulate a comprehensive scheme for establishment of drug stores in the state for supplying low cost, high quality generic medicines to the people.

"There should be provisions for establishing and running of such drug stores competently for the larger benefits of general public, especially the poor”, said a health official.

Minister for State for Health, Javed Ahmed Dar said, “We will give this scheme a priority and union health ministry is also showing keen interest in implementing the project in the state”.

Official sources said that following the concern shown by the Central Government over influx of spurious drugs in Jammu and Kashmir, government has also decided to strengthen the drug laboratories with the central help so that drug analysis and tests of national and international standards are carried out there.

"There is greater concern over the dumping of spurious and sub-standard medicines in the market and there checking is necessary for the well being of the people”, said an official.

In recent years Jammu and Kashmir has invested crores of rupees in strengthening basic infrastructure in the state particularly in rural areas. With the increase in the increasing budget in the healthcare development, number of pharma companies has created market for their products here, with many of the companies dumping low cost drugs in the market which has become a major concern for the administration.

Several injured as police used force on candidates outside BSF headquarter

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 28: Several candidates assembled outside Border Security Force (BSF) headquarter at Paloura were injured after police restored to cane charge on them.

Reports said that after the youth came to know that they have been duped by some shopkeepers, as BSF has not issued any notification in this regard, candidates moved towards the National Highway and blocked the road and pelted stones on the passing vehicles.

According to official sources, thousands of candidates assembled in front of BSF Camp to participate in the recruitment rally.

“When they approached the concern official they were told by the officials that no such notification was advertised by the concern official,” they added.

They informed that after seeing 'no recruitment' signboard at the headquarters, the candidates got crazy and blocked the road, due to which there were heavy traffic jam.

"Angry aspirants begun stone pelting on vehicles and shops afterwards police started lathicharge on the to restore the restored the situation” said a local resident.

The candidates had come from the different parts of the Jammu region included Akhnoor, Bishnah, R S Pura and other outskirts area of Jammu.

Garu Ram from Suransar who got injured in the clash said that he got the application form from a photostat shop at Kachi Chawni, Jammu.

When contacted SDPO Domana, Diwakar Singh said that candidates had rushed for the rally after they filled up 'false' recruitment forms available at various photocopy shops.

“The department is verifying the matter that who publicized the recruitment forms and made them available at various shops” he added.

A senior BSF official on condition of anonymity said, ““We are verifying the matter, which publicized the recruitment forms and made them available at various shops”.

Sources said that few days back the posts were advertised on internet job site and each candidate had paid Rs 10 for the form, which had called for the physical test of the aspirants before the final recruitment. 

“It is clear case of fraud and we have launched internal inquiry also”, said BSF official.

E-ticketing for SRTC busses soon in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 27: To streamline the functioning of the department State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has decided to start electronic ticketing soon. 

According to official sources, the department in the meeting has approved the proposal for computerized ticketing. With the start of computerized tickets the work load on accounts section will also reduced. 

Sources disclosed that the department has facing heavy losses worth thousands of rupees daily on account of ticket revenue. 

Sources revealed that the one year ago project was announced, but still the work has not been started reason best known to the concern officials. 

Sources added that there are many people inside the department who slowly ingesting like termites, but by introducing ticketing through computer all the accounts work has been smoothened and without any error. 

“About 529 buses and 310 trucks are moving by SRTC department at this time, and very soon the department will starts some more transport busses” said a insider. 

He added that the condition of the buses running on the national highway of Jammu and Kashmir is also not good. 
When contacted Managing Director, SRTC Jagmohan Singh Tandon said that the service for e- tickets will be introduced soon. “After our counterparts in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh succeeded in plugging the pilferage of ticket revenue, we prepared a similar project which was approved by the Transport Minister.

He further said that it is a big project which covers the entire state, so it takes time to start functioning. 

“As the said proposal is in first phase and the department has given the job to some company for completing work” added Tandon. 

The electronic ticketing machines would also decrease the workload. “For getting the details of the total sale of tickets and the amount collected, every machine will be connected to a computer in the evening, which will provide the bifurcated details of the amount collected and the tax. It will also save a lot of time and energy, which will help us,” said Tandon, adding that the conductors would also be given training before issuing the computerized tickets.

Allegations of irregularities in Government Auction at DH Ramban

Material worth over 20 lakh auctioned at just Rs 4.15 lakh

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 26: It is unbelievable but true that quintals of iron, high quality timber and other materials extracted out of the dismantled building of District Hospital Ramban were auctioned at just Rs 4 lakh and 15 thousand by the team of Government officials. Although, the people had valued the entire material at somewhere near Rs 20 lakh but still the entire material was disposed at much lower price and that too in a haste.

According to official sources, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the nodal official for auction, didn’t even publish a notice for the auction with an intention to keep it a low key affair. It helped the blue eyed contractor to acquire the entire material at a very low rate as the other potential bidders couldn't join the process due to lack of
information.

Sources further said that dismantled hospital building had nearly 15 rooms, of which iron bars, angles, stone, brick and iron sheets besides, timbers worth rupees 40 to 50 lakhs were extracted. A minimum of Rs 20 lakh was expected out of this auction process. But, surprisingly only Rs 4.15 lakhs was raised in this auction. It was like a lottery for the lone contractor was took away the material at a
nominal rate and is now making lakhs out of that. 

Source said that there were about 25000 bricks, 20000 stones and the quantity of iron was over 3 tonnes besides large number of iron sheets and iron angles alongwith timber of approximately 10 lakhs. 

“The concern officials have organized an auction, but only few people were present at that time. The bidder was a single person whereas all other were just managed to be there” he added. Neither the list of auctionable material was made public by the department nor was the information of auction highlighted.

When contacted Chief Medical Officer, Ramban Dr. S.C. Khajuria termed the allegations baseless and said that the department had issued a public notice in this regard.

“After inspecting the material of the old hospital the committee decided the cost of material at around Rs 4 lakh.

According to merits of market value, the said material was not in good condition hence the price obtained was genuine” he added.

He also said the department had decided about on the spot auction, so they didn’t prepare list of the material.

However, people of the area have demanded probe into the auction where allegedly material worth several lakhs was sold at just Rs 4 lakh. 

Police seals property of doctors, who duped people’s crores of rupees

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 23: They are supposed to help and save lives of the people, but two doctors in Samba have given heartburns to the people. Showing the extend of unprofessionally approach doctors now-a-days are making money by indulging themselves in illegal activities.

Though police has sealed the property of both the accused, but hundreds of people have lost their hard earned money.  It is pertinent to mention here that previously two accused Dr Arvind and his father Dr Buti Ram from the Ramgarh area has been arrested after they allegedly duped hundreds of people of their hard earned money. .

According to sources the two doctors were allegedly involved in the duping public of their hard earned money worth crores in a foreign company having headquarters in Malaysia and office in Delhi and Mangalore.

They further said that the father and son claimed that they have taken the franchise of the Investment Company and James, a Sri Lankan settled in Malaysia, is said to be the chairman of the company while Kapil Bakshi and Amar Preet are head of the company at Delhi.

They added that the police officials on the first complaint of Attri from Ramgarh started preliminary investigation and came to know that hundreds of people have invested their money but when they approached the accused they used to delay the payment on one pretext or other.

The company agents claimed that their money will be invested in gold and they will get huge return. They continued to get the returns as assured by the company hardly for a few months and the company then suddenly stopped its operations.

“One operative Adwin of Punjab was arrested by Punjab Police from Amritsar” said a source.

There are reports that this bogus company have their investors in Jammu, Kathua and others districts.

When contacted Station Police Officer (SHO), Ramgarh K K Sharma said that the department sealed the property of the doctors and also seized their passports.

He disclosed that on the complained of Samba court the department has arrested their one more colleague Raskesh Kumar agent from Punjab. He further said that the department is verifying if they have some more assets and bank accounts.

“The department is checking the details of cash invested by the public to them” Sharma added.

One fifth of population in J&K poor

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 22: About one fifth population of Jammu and Kashmir fall Below Poverty Line (BPL) category suggesting that out of every five persons, one is unable to mange even the bare-minimum needs – And about 98 percent of this lot living in the rural areas.  

As per the survey , nearly 24.21 lakh persons are poor in the state (21.63 per cent) of which 22 lakh live in the rural areas and only 2.21 lakh dwell in urban areas of the state.

Though the poverty graph has shown constant decrease which was 30.34 % (Rural) 9.18 % (Urban) and 25.17 % Combined (R+U) in year the 1993-94 to 26.14 % (Rural), 7.96 % (Urban) and 21.63 % Combined (R+U) during 2007-08. “The poverty ratio during these years has decreased by 14.06 per cent (3.54 percentage points) from the base year 1993-94”, the survey says.

But the absolute poverty has shown an increase from 19.05 lakh (R), 1.86 lakh (U) and 20.92 lakh (C) during 1993-94 to 22 lakh, 2.21 lakh and 24.21 lakh respectively till the year 2007-08.

On the state level, the data tabled by the government, says that in rural areas, the Kashmir division with 26.58 per cent, has more BPL population percentage as compared to Jammu division with 25.61 per cent. While Jammu division at 8.19 per cent has more urban poverty percentage as compared to that of Kashmir division with 7.81 percent.

In Jammu division, the total estimated BPL population is 10.59 lakh with a dispersion of 9.69 lakh persons in rural areas and 90 thousands in urban areas.  “Degree of poverty becomes more visible and pronounced more the people live from urban business centres and district headquarters”, says the data.

The analysis has further revealed that out of newly created eight districts, three districts Reasi, Ramban and Kishtwar registers more incidence of poverty than other areas.

On the basis of absolute BPL population, the seven poorest districts in the state are Baramullah, Kupwara, Budgam, Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri and Pulwama where population ranging from 2.37 to 1.27 lakh is BPL. On the basis of Absolute BPL Household, the seven poorest districts in the state are Kupwara, Jammu, Baramulla, Budgam, Poonch, Rajouri and Pulwama. The absolute BPL households of these districts range in between 41 thousands to 22 thousand.

BPL is defined as minimum expenditure needed at per capita consumption level, which meets the average per capital daily calorie requirement of 2,400 K calorie in rural areas and 2,100 K Calories in urban areas along with a minimum of non-food expenditure.

JMC to shut cattle pond at Gandhi Nagar to use the property for commercial purposes

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 21: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has decided to shut down the cattle pond at Gandhi Nagar and use the place for opening up of shopping complex.

Official sources said that this way, JMC plans to generate revenue for its various projects in the city, as the corporation is facing fund crunch since past many years.

Surprisingly the decision has been taken at the time when the city is facing huge problem of stray cattle who are roaming on its roads creating problem for the commuters and in some cases reason for the accidents.

Sources said that Corporation has decided to merge the cattle pond at Gandhi Nagar with the facility at Rehari, paving the way for the commercial exploitation of the property. The pond at the posh Gandhi nagar locality is there for last 40-years.

Sources said that keeping in view the high return value of a possible commercial venture at the Gandhi Nagar cattle pond, JMC wants to push the project ahead for which series of meetings have been convened by Commissioner S.C Sawhney.

However a senior municipal officer said, “Instead of improving the condition of the place, the closure of the facility will lead to pressure on single cattle pond in the city, which is already congested. At the moment there is no other such facility.

On an average, the JMC catches nearly 10 stray cattle on daily and those impounded are auctioned thrice a month.

Mostly these unclaimed and unsold animals are released near forest at Jajjar Kotli, Samba Rakh, Purmandal and Akhnoor, who again find their way back in the city or fall prey to the bovine smugglers.

Rajinder Singh- a local said that the cattle pond was in an unhygienic position to retain the animals but the decision of the JMC to construction of the mall is unaccepted.

While another local Payal Gupta applauded JMC’s decision and said that it will make the environment hygienic for the sustaining of locals.

When contacted JMC Commissioner SC Sawhney said that the decision is only to renovate the cattle pond because of its unhygienic atmosphere.

He added that the locals have many times complained so they are going to clean it up for their cause.

Everything will be done to create better space for the stray animals”, Sawhney said.

Death of Sikender

Family alleges murder, police trying to make it case of accident 

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 20: An incident of hit and run case by a Scorpio vehicle on Sole-Tanda road on July 15 evening in which a 15 year old boy namely Sikander was killed has again highlighted the issue of how influential and powerful people can play with the lives of the common man.

While the family members as per the eyewitnesses account allege that their son was deliberately killed by a local boy, but police is trying to make it an incident of accident.

After the incident, a press conference was addressed by Bodh Raj, father of the victim in which he had alleged that it was not an accident but a murder while the police was adamant and trying to shield the assailants who are influential having political back up.

As per the allegation of the victims family the accused Balwinder Singh, son of Bhola Singh, resident of Sole, Tanda, was driving Scorpio No. JK02AA/0458 and he ran over his son Sikander when he was going for tuition.

Family maintains that three village women who noticed this all made the Scorpio driver to stop and identified him. Another villager Rattan Lal who was at some distance also ran there and he moved the boy to Akhnoor hospital where he died after some time.

“There are people who witnessed all this but police refuses to accept our view and are trying to shield the accused who is quite highly connected”, alleged the family members.

Sources said that there was a cricket tournament in the area few days back and Balwinder Singh had damaged the pitch of the ground as his team was denied entry.

As Sikander had noticed his act, he disclosed in front of the panchayat citing Balwinder’s name for the damage.

Bodh Raj said that despite relating all the facts of the incident and eye-witness account, the police was adamant to book the accused in murder case.

“Neither SHO not SDPO were prepared to listen to them” said Bodh Raj. He said that he lost his only son and was feeling helpless to get justice.

However SDPO, Akhnoor Mushtaq Choudhary said that they have arrested the accused and case is being investigated

He further said that the department has registered a case under section 304-A, and the investigation is going on to trace out the truth.

“If it will found the case of murder the case will convert to section 302” he added.

When asked about the recent statement given by the victim’s father against the police department, Choudhary said that there is no such case and the father is fully satisfied with our work.

“Yes there are some misleading elements who force Bodh Raj to do so” added Choudhary.

Six dermatologists for 50 lakh souls: Showcase of reformed health sector of J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 16: Could you believe it, for the population of 50 lakh who inhabit the region, there are only six dermatologists.

According to the official sources these five skin specialists are posted at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital, which include Head of Department, whereas in Government Gandhi Nagar Hospital, there is one sanctioned post of B-Grade Dermatology but the post is vacant and a assistant surgeon with MD in Dermatology is treating the patients of skin diseases.

“These specialist not only have to cater to the city patients but from hundreds of people who visit the hospital from different parts of the region particularly from rural areas”, said a source.

Sources said that beside this the government has also sanctioned a post in 2004 for Government Hospital Sarwal, but this post was never filled.

“All other hospitals including prestigious Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu and other associated hospitals don’t have a single Skin Specialist for patients suffering skin diseases” they added.

It is pertinent to mention here that some of the district hospitals across the region have post for skin specialist but don’t have the any doctor due to which the patients from far-off places are also dependent on SMGS Hospital for minor treatment related to skin.

Sources maintained that earlier, the MBBS practitioners had to take admissions in the medical colleges outside the state for pursing MD in Dermatology due to which very few had specialization in the field. Even as number of doctors have pursuing the MD in Dermatology from GMC Jammu, but most of them are awaiting permanent job in the hospitals.

However, when contacted Director Health Services, Dr Ashok Gupta said that recently the department has appointed two doctors who completed Masters in Dermatology in Udhampur and Poonch district hospital.

“We are facing problem of these specialists as we don’t have qualified doctors of this stream”, he said.

Whereas, Minister for Medical Education, R S Chib could not be contacted even after repeating attempts.

Petrol addiction on rise among Jammu drug users

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 15: Petrol addiction cases are on increase in the city from few years. More often minors are found using petrol as an inhaling drug. Petrol addiction starts with the snuffing and inhaling of the petrol by the users and gradually the user starts drinking petrol.

A senior counsellor and in-charge Mashwara Rehabilitation centre in Jammu region Pallavi Singh said that drug abuse has led to a detrimental impact on the society. She said that the centre has receives about 30 per cent cases of petrol addiction every month from the last about 3 years.

“At the beginning we start with the counseling of the petrol addicts and if required we give them medicines,” she added. The centre has received the cases mostly of the users ageing between 16 to 18.

She added that restless, cramps, asthma and sleepless are the symptoms of this addiction. Adolescent drug abuse she said is one of the major areas of concern in adolescent and young people’s behavior. It is estimated that in India by the time most boys reach the ninth grade about 50 per cent of them have tried at least one of the gateway drugs, she added.

Dr Manu Arora, a well-known psychiatrist said that the users start in taking the whitener fluid and then gradually start taking petrol. He said that many awareness camps are being organized to avoid the users taking petrol as a drug.

He added that it is increasing because petrol is the easily, inexpensive product and could be used by the users in a group.

Briefing about the methods of using petrol as a drug he said that snuffing, huffing and bugging are the mostly used methods. He said that earlier 16 to 18 age group persons were discovered but now even children with the age group of 8-10 are using petrol as a drug.

“Scrap collectors are the eager users of petrol as a drug,” he added.

He said that recently a young boy, the only son of his parents, committed suicide sometime back in Jammu as he had become a chronic petrol addict. “Otherwise also, this addiction has quite dangerous consequences as the person may die within a year or so,” he said.

According to the officials, trafficking in cannabis remains widespread throughout India and in 2008, the authorities seized 103 tonnes cannabis herb and 4.1 tonnes cannabis resin.

With a turnover of around $500 billion, it is the third largest business in the world, next to petroleum and arms trade. About 190 million people all over the world consume one drug or the other.

JMC denied land at Dili area to establish cattle pond

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 14: The work on Rs 5 crore plan of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to construct cattle pond at Dili area on the outskirts of the city has been almost shelved as corporation has been denied land in the area.

According to the sources, the villagers near the site of the site have opposed the construction by saying that it is too close to residential areas. This is second time when JMC had to stop its major project owning to pressure from the people, earlier the Corporation had planned the pound at Bajalta were it had acquired 80 kanals, but the locals have moved to the Court forcing the Corporation to move to Dili area near Kunjwani. 

At present Jammu have only two cattle pounds at Rehari and Gandhi Nagar with a capacity of 15 and 20 cattle respectively and the new facility was to provide shelter to 1000 animals.

Sources said that the officials have begun new exercise to identify fresh land for the construction of the facility, which could further raise the construction cost of the project.

“It is too close to residential area and we will not allow it, it will create problem for us”, said Arif Khan, a local.

When contacted, Commissioner JMC, S.C Sawhney said, “We have no land in the area and till we get that project cannot be started”.

He said that they have taken up the matter with the government and things will get sort out in near future.

However sources said that officials are also thinking of shelving the project for time being which mean that people in the temple town will get no respite from the menace of stray cattle in immediate future.

On an average the JMC catches nearly 10 stray cattle on daily and impounded cattle are auctioned thrice a month and in case the claimants don’t come the cattle are either handed over to NGOs or released into forest areas. These unclaimed and unsold animals are released near forest at Jajjar Kotli, Samba Rakh, Purmandal and Akhnoor.

J&K Govt: "Aaankh Ki Andhi Nainsukh"

No Eye Bank yet lakhs being spent on Eye Donation Campaign

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 13: Every year lakhs of rupee being spent on creating awareness among people regarding eye donation with the theme "Netradaan Mahadaan". The campaign prompts hundreds of people for voluntary eye donation after their death but, a question haunts them, Where's the Eye-Bank in Jammu? And, where they have to go for registration? The answer is, the State do not have Eye-Bank facility and the donors won't be able to donate their eyes at least in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to sources, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu had the facility of Eye Bank a decade ago but due to some problems the bank had to be closed. The Eye Bank was in working condition till the time Dr Subhash Gupta was Head of Department (HOD) Ophthalmology. But after his retirement his successors didn't pay attention to the progress of eye bank or its infrastructure that led to its closure.

As per sources, the Eye Bank infrastructure had been deported to other departments. The ambulance of the eye bank is now being used for transportation of the students.

S Deep Singh, president of NGO Peoples Action and Public Accountability, said "The Government has made mockery of the system. On one hand it is spending lakhs of rupee on campaigns in favour of eye donation but on other side Eye Bank facility is not available.

Government is playing with the sentiments of people." He further said that what's the utility of upgrading GMC on AIIMS pattern with the expenditure of billions of rupee when The State doesn't have Eye Bank facility. It proverb Aaankh Ke Andhe Nanisukh" suits well to the Government, he commented.

Jagminder Singh- an prospective eye donor, said he want to donate his eyes but I was told in GMC that the facility is not available. "It means I won't be able to help visually disabled person," he regretted.

When contacted, HOD Eye Department GMC Dr R K Mengi claimed that GMC never had Eye Bank. However, he acknowledged that large number of people want to donate their eyes and there were patients also who need donated eye to get back light in their eyes but due to the absence of eye bank things were not happening for them.

Minister for Medical Education R S Chib while responsing to this query said he was aware of the matter. "I also feel that there should be Eye Bank each in Jammu as well as in Srinagar. I will soon call a meeting with Principals of GMCs and work out the modalities for opening of Eye Bank", he added.

Achieve power revenue targets or failures would be marked in service books: PDD to officials

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 11: Going tough on its employees engaged in the revenue collection, government has asked the Power Development Department (PDD) officials to submit monthly progress report of their target realization or their failures would be marked in their service books.

Sources said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed the respective department to ensure that target of Rs 1600 crore set by the government for this year is achieved otherwise Jammu and Kashmir may face the wrath of the central government in next fiscal.

Sources also said that with the power purchase bill this fiscal has crossed Rs 25,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir and department failing to achieve its targets every year, government has asked the department to go tough on the officials who are non-performers in realizing the revenue from their divisions and zones.

It is important to mention here that recently, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather had headed a review meeting and conveyed displeasure with the low level of revenue realization in the past and had asked the department to get tough on the corruption.

“PDD officials at zonal and division level have the responsibility of collecting the revenue and achieve the targets. Now no lethargic attitude will be tolerated and they would have to explain in case why targets are not met”, said Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather.

It is an open fact now that the electricity purchase bill this fiscal is likely to cross 25,000 crore mark, a huge amount for the state which have very few sources to initiate development works. So far state government is forced to divert some of the plan funds from other sources to meet the rising energy demand.

“Though we have somewhat improved the collection in past few years, but still there is deficit. Target collection will have direct impact their service book. Whatever is their duty they have to perform”, said a source.

In 2008, PDD was able to collect just Rs 733 crore, while the target was Rs 1,031 crore. 

In 2009 the total recovery was Rs 900 crore while the target was Rs 1500 crore. The big headache for the department is the Rs 28 crore to be recovered from the government departments.

Every year PDD has the target of nearly Rs 1500 crore as revenue, but they are able to recover just Rs 600 to Rs 800 crore annually, due to which state had to face the wrath of the Union Power Ministry, which has warned the J&K from time to time, to improve its revenue collection.

Power sector is a major headache for the J&K, while its use is increasing every year, but state had to divert crores to keep the power supply stable. Another worry is the higher Transmission and Distribution losses, which has reached nearly 72 per cent from 40 per cent just five years ago.

When contacted Minister of State, PDD Shabir Ahmed Khan said that the 
department will take action against the officials if they failed to achieved the target on time.

“We have directed all the officials to realize their targets on time or face the music of the tough measures which may include transfer or other administrative measures”, he said. 

He further said that a meeting of Jammu province will also be held to fix the targets for the officials soon.

More women specific colleges in J&K in offing, state sends proposal to centre

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 10: Trying to encourage encourage women literacy, Jammu and Kashmir have to sent a proposal to central government to establish Women Colleges at each district. 

According to the officials, these will be separate from the already announced Degree colleges being constructed by the state under the Prime Ministers Reconstruction Programme. Sources said that if the proposal is accepted, 90 per cent of the funds will be borne by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry while state will have to invest only 10 per cent of the money.

Officials said that the Higher Education Department is giving final touches to the proposal in this regard and the same will be placed before HRD Ministry, but the proposal will not include districts like Jammu, Srinagar, Kathua, Pulwama, Udhampur and Sopore which already have women colleges, either part of co-educational or only women specific. 

“Aim is to encourage women education as many families particularly in rural areas don’t prefer girls to study in cities, forcing many to leave education after 12th standard. It will also increase the literacy among the girls”, said Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik. 

Malik said that they are hoping that maximum of the funds will be given by the central government.

Though women literacy has shown encouraging trend in recent years, which has reached up to 56 per cent, but drop out rate at higher education level is high approximately 30 per cent among the women. 

Sources said that the issue of separate women colleges was taken up by the State Government with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh last year and he had asked the state to submit proposal to the HRD ministry.

“Women Colleges will help us in equalising male-female ratio at higher education level and could encourage the parents to send girls to the colleges”, Malik said.

Another good news for the education sector is that after a long delay the 18 colleges, 14 of whom are being constructed under under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP), sanctioned in 2005, will have their first academic session from this year while other 18 Degree colleges which were sanctioned in 2008 for which the land acquisition was a problem, government has identified the land.

Officials said that government has also referred the posts for these 36 colleges to Public Service Commission (PSC) and they will be filled in next few months.