Mobile schools for Gujjars, unable to fulfill the promise for which they were meant

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 30: To provide basic education to the nomads communities of the state the state government had launched mobile schools for them, but somehow these schools are unable to fulfill the purpose.

These mobile schools are especially established for those communities who are wondering from one place to another, within a particular time. And the department appointed the appointed the teacher from the same community who is qualified among other in the community.

As per the government data, in 2007 there were about 145 mobile schools out of total 298, have been converted into regular schools. But at present, 291 mobile schools are functioning in the state, out of these 217 are stationary and 74 schools are mobile. Apart from this as per the government figures, there are 474 seasonal camps which cater to the Gujjar, Bakarwal child population.

Sources said that many of the schools face the shortage of the teaching staff as people don’t prefer to work in these institutions and there are very few Gujjar teachers.

“Due to the mobile nature of the tribals, shifting such schools is a great challenge for the administration and in many cases they remain closed for many months”, sources said.

Leader of the Gujjar and Bakarwal Community Javed Rahi stated that the government should provide the students proper infrastructure and atleast mid-day meal which is the right of these students.

Rahi said that the state government should take some steps to promote and strengthen the mobile school.

The department should open increase the number of mobile school at different places so that more people get benefited.

When contacted Director School Education, Jammu Gulzar Qureshi said that the department has no proposal to open the new mobile schools yet.

When asked about the mid-day meal Qureshi said that the department will think about it but it will take time to implement it.

According to the study conducted recently by a prominent Gujjar organisation, extreme poverty, child labour, early marriage and nomadic way of life is causing dark shadow over the future of lakhs of nomadic Gujjar children residing in the most backward, hilly and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

The findings were observed in a survey conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural foundation-- a national organization working on Indian Tribes with special focus on Gujjars.

“They are being exploited because of low family income and are not in a position to get proper education and health facilities in early age,” the survey said.

According to the survey the worst condition was of the children belonging to Ajjhari Gujjar (shepherd keepers) and Manjhii Gujjar (buffalo keepers) as 83 percent of them have not seen the school and only 17 percent children were getting education in religious institutes.

The survey said that 93 percent Gujjar children were found to be domestic servants in their own community thus have been deprived of their basic and constitutional rights.

Roads in Jammu becoming death traps, thanks to unplanned digging

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 29: Despite clear directions from the government to its departments and private agencies to desist from digging up newly constructed roads for at least three years for any purpose, the regulation is being openly violated at many places in Jammu where the phenomenon has been started yet again.

At various localities, the workers hired by the telecom companies are busy in digging the roads to lay new telephone lines, an annual affair taken up after every Darbar move giving an ugly look to the city.

People allege that the construction agencies leave the dug up roads for several 
months, putting the locals to great inconvenience. The dug up roads also become a 
cause of accidents.

The basic issue is why such thing is allowed and why agencies like Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Roads and Buildings Department (R&B) department remain silent over the whole matter. However, both the government agencies associated with giving approval pass on bucks to each other.

If sources are to be believed these agencies are taking extra advantages from the 
government department by digging lanes and roads frequently creating problems for the people.

Sources also said that state government has asked the government and private 
agencies not to dig up newly constructed roads for at least three years for any 
purpose, but without bothering the direction of the government they openly violate 
the directive.

Surjeet Singh a local resident said that the higher officials of the concern department needs to take some concrete steps against the agencies as the private agencies repeatedly digging the streets for one reason or the other causing problems for the pedestrians and bikers.

Singh added that many these also results in traffic jams, due to which we are not 
able to reach on time to our destination.

When contacted Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu, S C Sawhney said that the government has given the permission to the private agencies i.e National Building Construction Company (NBCC) and Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to dig the streets and roads for installation of telephone line and drainage pipes.

Alarm! power bill to cross Rs 2507 this fiscal year

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sep 28: There has been whopping increase of Rs 1036 crore in power purchase bill of Jammu and Kashmir in past eight years, with power bill likely to cross Rs 2507 crore during current year. 

According to the data, from 2002-2010 period, the power bill has shown constant rise, pushing J&K under the debt trap of Rs 250 crore alone. Even the laxity on the part of Power Development Department (PDD) has also contributed in less revenue generation from the consumers, forcing Northern Grid to issue regular warning to the state government for last four years, to reform this sector. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the power purchase bill during the year 2009 alone (January 2009 to December 2009) was Rs 2351.95 crore.

Data says that in Jammu region, unrestricted demand is 1250 MW, while in Kashmir valley this demand is 1450 MW, which comes to about 2700 MW.

Similarly restricted demand in Jammu region is 700 MW while in Kashmir it is 800 MW (total 1500 MW), and most of it has to be imported from outside the state, particularly from Northern Grid. 

Document says that since peak demand occurs in Jammu region in summer and in Kashmir region in winter, the overall demand is nearly 2300 MWs against this demand presently total average availability of power varies between 1200 MW to 1400 MW leaving a power deficit between 37 per cent to 44 per cent.

“The state is meeting its power requirements partly through generation from its 
own power houses and mainly through imports from Northern Grid and we are making plans to tap more hydel potential”, said MoS Power Shabir Ahmed Khan. Khan said that reforming the power sector is long drawn process and cannot be streamlined in one go.

Besides above the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses in the state are also very high the order of 62 per cent due to the misuse and wastage of energy by the consumers which also leads to the increased gap between availability and demand.

Government document says that in winter power availability falls drastically 
because of fall in the hydel generation due to the reduced discharge in the rivers in both state and central sector projects whereas the consumption demand increases in these months.

4th Tawi bridge to be completed by end of this year

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 27: The construction work of the fourth Tawi Bridge will be completed soon giving the relief to the traffic rush of the city.

According to official sources the state government has approved the project of fourth Tawi Bridge in December 2010 and sanctioned a total amount of Rs 93 crore for the project and the target was fixed to November 2012 as per the agreement.

The project was handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to complete the work.

Due to the migration from different parts of the state the Jammu has faced heavy traffic scenario which causes traffic jams at various crowded location included Shalamar, Jewel, Rehari Chungi, Vikram Chowk, Bakshi Nagar besides many others busy crossings.

The functioning of this new bridge will hopefully help to smoothened the traffic system in the city and also reduce the traffic jams.

When contacted Managing Director JKPCC Madan Mohan Gupta said that the department has completed the maximum construction work and the government has provided Rs 28.85 crore to the department till date.

He further said that department is going to pre-poned the date of completion the construction work and if the work is going in the same pace it is expected that work will be completed by July 2012.

The officials informed that the bridge will connect Ware House with 975 Mtr 4 Lane carriage way road, Satwari vai Belli Charana with 3.25 km length. 2 Lane carriageway road on one end and Bhagwati Nagar road with 200 Mtr. length. 4 lane carriageway road on the other end.  A 4 lane Bye Pass road from Bhagwati Nagar to Akhnoor Road near T V  Towers at Muthi having a length of 13 kms connecting villages mainly Seoura, Akalpur, Lower Barnai and Pounichak is also proposed. While speaking on the occasion, the minister said that these major projects after completion will result to ease traffic congestion in Jammu city.

Health Scenario Grim: One health unit for 3,097 persons

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sep 26: Though State government is claiming bringing unprecedented reforms in the health sector, dismal health scenario in the government sector has not changed much. 

On an average 3,097 persons depended upon one health institution in the state as against 2,662 in 2000-01. To aggravate miseries of people, acute dearth of manpower and resources continue to mar basic purpose of proper health care in the state.

In 2007 there were 3,705 health institutions dispensing health services to the people and figures of 2004-05 to 2006-07 revealed that on an average 3,097 persons depended upon one health institution.

Regional profile of such institutions rate Ladakh on top with low dependence; for every 900 persons one institution has been formed while the Jammu region occupied position in between the Ladakh and Kashmir regions having on an average 2,738 persons per institution, says report of Directorate of Economics and Statistics.

However, in the Kashmir region 3,930 persons depend upon one health institution.

Drawing parallels between districts, report listed Kargil and Leh at the top with 858 and 948 persons per institution, respectively. Likewise, Srinagar and Baramulla figured at the bottom with 5,143 and 4,611 persons, respectively.

Statistics of three years from 2004-05 to 2006-07 indicated that one health institution has to cover an area of 27.14 sq km in the state not reflecting any visible improvement when compared to 27.12 sq km in 2000-01.

Official sources said shortage of doctors, paramedics and other staff besides resource-crunch were the major bottlenecks in ensuring proper health care to the people.

21,443 appear in KAS preliminary examination

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 25: The J&K Public Service Commission has today successfully conducted the 3rd consecutive Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination-2011 recording over 6% increase in the attendance of the aspirants as compared to the Combined Competitive Examination 2010. The examination was simultaneously held at Srinagar and Jammu at 47 centres in which 21433 candidates appeared against 25440 candidates who had applied for this examination. The overall percentage of candidates who appeared in the examination held in two sessions was 84.24.

Secretary of the J&K Public Service Commission M.A. Bukhari, elaborating said that the Commission had advertised 142 posts 20.06.2011 and the last date for receipt of application was fixed 01.08.2011. The Commission processed 25440 applications and was successful in uploading the Admit Cards of the eligible candidates within less than a month from the last date fixed for receipt of applications. The examination was conducted on scheduled date which was notified six months back and the Commission is contemplating to conduct the Main Examination in the month of February, 2012 as notified earlier to complete the selection process within the minimum possible time. The Commission has been able to make the conduct of Combined Competitive Examination a regular feature which shall inspire the youth of the State to compete for the prestigious examination like IAS, IPS, IFS etc.

Elaborate arrangements were made for smooth conduct of the examination at the designated centres. General Administration Department had also deployed Observers to oversee the conduct of the examination. Necessary deployment of police was also made by the law enforcing agencies around the examination centres, Sh. Bukhari added. He thanked the Divisional and District Administrations of Srinagar and Jammu and also the heads of the educational Institutions for their cooperation in smooth conduct of the examination.

The Staff of the Commission worked tirelessly for ensuring timely conduct of the examination by completing all pre-examination processes well in advance of time.

Work to start on Rs 65 cr cable ropeway project at Vaishno Devi shrine

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 24: In an effort to boost pilgrim tourism, the Vaishno Devi cave shrine will be connected by a Rs 65 crore cable ropeway project between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati.

According to sources, in the recent meeting of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) the two main projects costing Rs 65 crore for establishment of the ropeways for material and passengers was sanctioned.

The material ropeway will be constructed from Siar Dabri near Katra to Vaishno Devi Bhawan while passenger ropeway is being constructed from Bhawan to Bhairon Ghati. Water supply scheme to Adh Kunwari was also lifted from Siar Dabri while work was on at a similar scheme to Bhawan from the same spot.

The material ropeway will immensely benefit the pilgrims as it will lead to quick supply of essential commodities to Vaishno Bhawan and other places from Katra, the base camp of the shrine. It will also help in construction of rest houses.

The passenger ropeway will boost pilgrimage to Bhairon Ghati, located at a height of 6619 feet from sea level, as most of the yatris skip the temple due to tough terrain.

Sources also disclosed that the estimated cost of the passenger ropeway is Rs 55 crore while the material ropeway costs Rs 9 crore and the targeted to be completed the work is within time duration of 2 years.

“These projects are a part of the several recent initiatives for the augmentation of the facilities to be provided for the progressively increasing pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine” said an insider.

Source added that every year Mata Vaishno Devi Cave attracts nearly eight million pilgrims hopefully it will also help to attract more pilgrims and make travel more easy and comfortable.

In addition to this the board is also constructing an emergency helipad on the lower track between Adhkwari and Bhawan for evacuation of pilgrims in emergency situations like critical illness or injury.

Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has crossed 8.5 million this year and was expected to touch one crore, which will be an all time record.

J&K sets aside 16,000 sq km of land under protected area for dev of eco-tourism

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 23: J&K government has identified around 16,000 sq km of land under Protected Area Network (PAN) for the eco-tourism development plan.

According to the officials, this includes five national parks and 14 wildlife sanctuaries and 35 conservation reserves across the state.

Sources said that a detailed plan is being sent to the Union Tourism Ministry for 
the approval and funds so that the work on development of infrastructure is started.

The earlier survey conducted by Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a Karnataka based 
company was rejected by the central government forcing the J&K to again sent the 
new proposal. The central government has asked the state to submit site specific 
proposals, as per the guidelines of the ministry.

“We have notified the area and a detailed report is being sent to the centre so that necessary clearance is given to it”, said a official.

If the plan is accepted facilities such as construction of huts, nature trails, treks, view points, safari drive and nature interpretation centre will be created in the identified areas.

“The survey in the Kashmir valley and Jammu has been completed while in Ladhak it is under way. By next year we in association with the tourism department we hope to throw the jungle for the adventure seekers”, sources said.

Officials said that the identified areas include, Dachigam, Gulmarg, Thajwas 
reserve and Aru in Kashmir and Nandni reserve, Ramanagar sanctuary and Jasrotia sanctuary in Jammu region.

In Ladhak, Hemis High Altitude national park, Changthang wildlife sanctuary, Tso-Moriri, Tsokar and Pangong Tso have been identified.

At present, Jammu and Kashmir is lagging behind in the eco-tourism sector, especially when compared to west Bengal, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Punjab which manage to attract thousands of nature lovers every year.

The percentage of forest area to the total geographical area in Kashmir is 50.97 per cent while for Jammu it is 45.89 percent. In Ladhak, it stands at 0.06 per cent, bringing the total forest area of the state to 19.95 per cent. Warden said that the state has huge potential and it will in turn provide employment to thousands of people.

Another burden on masses: Passenger fare to be increased by 15 per cent in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 22: Bad news for the people, Jammu and Kashmir has given hike of 15 per cent in the passenger fare, burdening the masses further who are already facing immense burden of the price hike.

After 2-days of hectic discussions by the government appointed committee headed by Commissioner/Secretary Finance Sudhanshu Panday and representatives of the big bus operators, mini bus operators, sumo/taxi operators and auto operators both from Jammu and Kashmir, a breakthrough was achieved in Srinagar.

Sources said that formal order will be issued by the cabinet by next week, after which the new fare lists would be issued.

The final round of negotiations was held under the chairmanship of Minister for Transport and CAPD Qamar Ali Akhoon. Akhoon has said that the rates have been arrived keeping in view both the interest of the public as well as transporters.

The Minister said that the revised passenger fares negotiated with the 
transporters would be submitted for approval of the cabinet and new rates notified in the shortest possible time.

“Government has accepted that it will give 15 per cent hike in the passenger fare across the state and has assured us that it will be revived. Now we have called off the strike”, said Anil Chopra, president All Jammu & Kashmir Passenger Transport Association (AJKPTA).

Last hike was given in June 2010, when the government had enhanced the fare by 13 per cent with assurance that it would be revived in proportion to the increase in the fuel prices in future. Later a committee was constituted on June 28 this year for the assessment in revision of passenger fare. It had to submit its report within 15 days but failed to submit the same.

When contacted, Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon said that the final decision will be taken by the cabinet and interests of the people have been taken into account.

Meanwhile on second day of the strike call given by the transporters in Jammu and Kashmir, normal life was adversely affected with commuters facing lot of hardships to reach their destination.

Worst affected were the school children, employees, tourists and patients, who in absence of plying of transport suffered much. Today as usual, the entire public transport including buses, mini buses, public vehicles and autos were off the roads in city. Similar was the situation in the districts as there was no movement of inter district transport, forcing many to cancel their travel.