Kuldeep Verma suicide

Sharma Commission submits its report

Tahir Mushtaq 

JAMMU, Apr 30: The Justice O.P Sharma Commission of Inquiry, which inquired about the circumstances leading to death of Kuldeep Verma during Amarnath Land row had submitted its report to government. However the report has not been made public in view of High Court orders.

Commission was established by government to inquire about the circumstances under which Kuldeep Verma had committed suicide in 2008 during the Amarnath land agitation. His death has sparked large scale violence which plunged entire region in turmoil for more than two months.

Later, government had constituted a commission headed by the Justice O.P Sharma to look into the death and alleged disrespect shown to the body during cremation by police.

The case was also challenged by police officials allegedly involved in the incident who had alleged that Sangrash Samiti was trying to influence the proceeding in Jammu High Court.

Then SSP Alok Kumar, SP Shailendra Singh and DySPs ML Kaith and Swatanter Arora had figured in various affidavits submitted to the commission.

Sources said that nearly Rs 10 lakh was spent every year on the commission, but the due to the lethargic attitude of the Samiti and even Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), the case file is gathering dust in Kashmir valley.

“BJP got 11 seats in Legislative Assembly due to the Amarnath agitation and they have forgotten everything. They never gave a second look to the youth who died in the agitation”, said another former Samiti leader and trader. What has BJP and Samiti leaders don’t to implement the agreement signed between the Government and the Samiti members.

In November 2008, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti had strongly reacted to what it termed a “dubious conspiracy to win over the witnesses and hoodwink the proceedings” after the allegations by the police officials.

It is pertinent to mention here that the police officials had moved an application to the Law Secretary of the state alleging illegalities by the commission and also charged it with showing undue favour to the samiti members

Govt. may close down schools where enrollment of students is falling

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 27: Government is likely to close down the schools, where the number of children are very few and the enrollment is falling in recent years.

Sources said that government is studying the prospect of implementing the project, as number of schools in rural and far-flung areas of the state are running with very less students, while staff strengthen is more.

Sources claimed that corruption has taken its place at the highest level in the Education Department in district Doda’s far-flung areas and with the result teachers, who were appointed as ReT and later confirmed, are being given choice attachments thus playing the future of village students who however lack required quality education.

DDC Doda had recently directed the CEO Doda to close down the Government High School Gosti which has shown sudden decline in the enrollments from over 150 to just 26 as the teachers of the said schools who were appointed as ReT, were given choice attachment after they paid some money as bribe in the office of ZEO office Thathri.

Though the Chief Minister has expressed his determination several times that he wants quality education to reach every household and has declared his war against the corruption in every department but when it comes to Education Department, particularly in Doda district, it seems, CM is helpless or ignorant with the result, future of coming generations is at stake and education system is fast moving towards the destruction in the district as in every office, some corrupt clerks are ruling the roast.

The failure of the Education Ministry to check corruption and norms violation in the Education Department in district Doda, district administration is forced to direct for the closing of more Government Educational Institutes in the far flung area of the district and in coming days as indicated by the DDC Farooq Ahmed Khan.

Relevant to mention here that there are many such school in which the corruption in on the heights. Take an example to one of the old school which was upgraded in year 2006 from Primary School to Government Girls Middle School Bajja.

According to the sources, the school has the total enrollment of 3 students where 5 teachers are appointed in which 4 included of 1 brother namely Intkhab Alam and 3 sisters are from one family, while one of the teacher in doing his regular Post Graduation.

Sources disclose that the 4 family members appointed are also not regular to their duties.

The only teacher deputed in the school Anil Kumar who is regular and was supposing to be confirmed from ReT to permanent but due to some misleading approach of the concern officials it could not be done.

After investing huge money to take this school to the level of High School by providing infrastructure and other requirements, the education department officials are responsible for the closure of the school.

Adding to this, source informed that one more school namely Government Primary School Lower Bajji in running in the single room and that too with an Anganwari Centre, likewise the total strength of the student is 13 and the same student of Anganwari centre are also enrolled in the Primary School, what is more worst to this.

 “The condition of midday meal which is supposed to provide for the students of Angnwari is also used by a worker of the centre” added source.

Talking to TNI Deputy Commissioner, Doda Farooq Ahmed Khan said that he will take strict action against the said educational institutes.

Khan further said that he will direct the concern authorities to close all such school at the earliest.

Govt. stops new survey under NRHM in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 24: With many of the projects taken up under centrally sponsored National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) still incomplete, government has stopped conducting fresh survey to take up new projects under the scheme.

Decision has been taken in view of non-completion of targeted objectives, which are reviewed annually by Union Health Ministry.

Since launch of NRHM programme in the state, an amount of Rs 592.61 crore has been released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Rs 87.12 crore by the state government, as state share upto ending January 2012.

“But its utilization has remained very poor in some sectors for which centre has also expressed its concern last year, asking state to improve its delivery system”, source said.

During 2005-06 Central Government has released Rs 27 crore, in 2006-07, Rs 39.47 crore, 2007-08, Rs 135.12 crore, 2008-09, Rs 49.42 crore, 2009-10, Rs 80.10 crore, 2010-11, Rs 121.79 crore and 2011-12, Rs 139.58 crore (Total Rs. 592.61 crore).

It is pertinent to mention here that main objective of the scheme was reduction in child and maternal mortality, universal access to public services for food and nutrition and universal access to public health care services with emphasis on services addressing women and children’s health and universal immunization.

At the moment funds for infrastructure development are being provided under NRHM to supplement the ongoing health projects for speedy execution. The department is supplementing funds under NRHM for 276 ongoing health works which include 20, district hospital, 46 community health centres, 49, primary health centres and 161 sub centres.

Sources said that Respective Deputy Commissioners and Chief Medical Officers (CMO)s across the state are already conducting monthly review of the projects to ensure strict adherence to the guidelines.

However when contacted Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma said that despite many problems government has been able to achieve its targets.

“New survey is not being conducted because we want to focus on taken up projects. Our achievements in NRHM are very positive”, Sharma said.

Agri Insurance has turned as flop show in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 22: The much hyped agri insurance schemes has turned out to be a cropper for farmers in Jammu region as manpower shortage hinders its implementation since past four years.

Sources said that there is only one employee of Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC) handling the implementation of the scheme in ten districts of the region.

The National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) was launched about four years back in the state with aim to cover the cultivators and their crops, who suffer losses due to frequent draught and other natural calamities.

Official sources said that lack of coordination between the Agriculture department and AIC has also contributed in slow implementation of the scheme, which has only remained confined to the files.

Five major crops have been brought under the scheme include Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Potato and Mustard. As per the official data total number of farmers covered under the scheme during the Kharif season in 2010-11 was 1,294.

Similarly in the Rabi season, only 1,152 have been covered in 2010-11. Sources said that if the data is compared to past few years, it is showing constant decline.

While field officer of the AIC blame unwillingness of the farmers to get covered under the scheme, agriculture department blames the AIC for the poor response.
When contacted, Director Agriculture Ajay Khajuria admitted that manpower and infrastructure shortage is the main reason for slow process of the requests made by the farmers.

A farmer leader Tejinder Singh alleged that like other schemes only few chosen farmers have received the benefits of NAIS. “Just tall promises and slogans, on ground cultivators have been left at the mercy of vagaries of weather. No one gets a penny and has to run from pillar to post to get compensation money”, Singh alleged.

It is important to mention here that starting 2008, Jammu and Kashmir has faced some of the worst draughts and unexpected rainfalls in recent decades destroying crops over thousands of hectors of land.

Even the Special Girdawari (survey) conducted by the state government in 18-districts of the state last year has revealed that farmers have suffered losses to the tune of Rs 211.28 crore.

Now study material on website, thanks to internet

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 20: Higher Education Department has come up with a noval idea to lower down the pressure on the libraries in the educational institutions, it is planning to upload the study material of various subjects on the Website www.jkhighereducation.in, so that students can access and download it.

Officials from the department said that keeping in view the lack of infrastructure in the newly opened Degree colleges in the state which were made functional without provision of proper infrastructure, the department has decided to use the website as public library.

It is pertinent to mention here that scarce infrastructure, no permanent staff and contractual teachers without remuneration for the entire academic year sum up the plight of the newly opened government degree colleges across the Jammu and Kashmir.

It is pertinent to mention here that since 2002, J&K government went on ‘Degree college construction spree”, with successive government with the help of Central government establishing nearly 40 degree colleges, particularly in rural and far-flung areas of the state.

“What can government do, the colleges were constructed and opened in hurry without provision being made to provide basic infrastructure. Though putting study material on the website will not benefit students in rural areas as there is no net connection, it could given them just an option”, said a official from the education department.

Government colleges are grappling for basic infrastructure. Most of these don’t have even a building at their disposal what to speak of other amenities.

Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik that they are also concerned with the lack of infrastructure in certain colleges but steps are being taken in this regard.

“The website will be updated regularly so that students can access the study material. It will be great help to them”, Malik said.

About the infrastructure problems being faced by the colleges, he said that necessary funds have been earmarked for the same and central government has also assured the additional funds will be provided to the state.

However while the colleges were opened, but most of them have little infrastructure, which has defeated the basic idea of these for which they were established.

Education reforms!

Corruption, attachments force DC Doda to order closing of Govt High School Gosti

Tahir Mushtaq

There is an old deep rooted nexus of corrupt clerks, which is active in ZEO and CEO offices and proving hindrance in the way to state government in its resolve to improve educations system in the Government schools.

The Chief Minister (CM), Omar Abdullah, himself is holding the charge of Education Department, some sort of drastic changes are expected and required to root out the nexus of corrupt clerks in education system otherwise, like Govt High School Gosti, other schools will have to be closed sooner or later.

JAMMU, Apr 19: Unchecked corruption in education system and frequent attachments of teachers flouting all the set norms, by the officials of Zonal Education Office (ZEO) Thathri under the protection of Chief Education Office (CEO) Doda have forced the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Doda Farooq Ahmed Khan to order closure of a Government High School Gosti in view of extreme decline in students enrolment from over 150 last year to just 26 at present.

Talking to this correspondent, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Doda said that as the students’ enrolment has very less, the closure of the school was ordered and directed adjustment of the teachers of the schools in other schools where staff is needed. He however, mentioned that when the adequate enrolments will be available in the school, it will be re-opened.

Admitting that the present enrolment in the said high school is just 26, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Doda, Y.R Thusoo said that the enrolment will increase. Interestingly, when asked about the teachers strength of the said school, CEO Doda who supervises the schools of entire District Doda gave wrong information, deliberately or misinformed, he himself knows better.

According to CEO, Doda, there were only three teachers in the said school who were earlier appointed under ReT pattern and later confirmed as general line teachers besides a Headmaster posted recently.

But the fact indicates something else, in the said school, so far five teachers were appointed under ReT pattern including one female as ReT third teacher and all five were later confirmed as general line teachers.

Owing to unchecked corruption, the teachers appointed as ReT third teacher was supposed to teach English in the school, but flouting all the set norms, she was attached to other school after paying some money as bribe at the Zonal Education Officer Thathri for which she was favored by CEO office Doda.

Not only she, there was another teacher namely, Dileep Singh who was appointed first as ReT teacher in the said school and later got confirmed after five years was also enjoying choice attachment on paying regular bribe money at the ZEO office.

Relevant to mention here that any one appointed as ReT teacher cannot be attached or transferred even after confirmation till, he or she gets promotion, but the education system in Doda district works otherwise and only corruption rules.
Due to frequent attachments, and shortage of staff in the school, the parents started getting discharge certificates of their wards and started admitting them in other schools, with the result, the enrolment fell down to just 26 and finally DC had no other option but to order closure of the said school.

After investing huge money to take this school to the level of High School by providing infrastructure and other requirements, the Education Deptt officials are responsible for the closure of the school, as if they would have not attached the teachers, the school would have not shown decline in quality education and enrolments.

This reporter has some proofs against the Zonal Education Office (ZEO) Thathri which clearly says how the norms are being thrown to winds thus making a mockery of education system.

According to the documents available, one Nazia Baby who was appointed as ReT third for Government Middle School Gosti was attached by the ZEO Thathri, which is against the norms and rules. When the hue and cry was made by the parents, the ZEO office issued a latter which itself confirms that the said teacher was attached.

According to the latter, the said teacher submitted her joining report in compliance to ZEO Thathri vide his order number ZEO/T/Esh/1869-71 dated 8-03-06 and Headmaster High School Chiralla, reliving order No- HSC-111-112 DATED 02-06-2006. She submitted her joining on 5-6-2006 to Head Master Govt Middle School Goesti, while Head Master High School Chiralla relived her on 02-06-06 A.N from her duties vide ZEO’S no ZEO/T/ESH/1869/71 DATED 08-03-06.

Worth mentioning here that CEO Doda, in a latter number 4236 of 19-05-06 addressed to Headmaster Govt High School Chiralla ordered the detachment of 3RD teacher from Govt High School Chiralla To Middle School Gosti With In 2 Days……as third teacher was meant for their own school. But till date she has not joined the said school and has managed her adjustment/attachment in another school, while she was bound to perform her duties in Govt High School Gosti.

The attachments are frequent in the villages of Doda district under a name need basis. another document say that one ReT teacher of Govt Middle School Bajja, namely Ahjaz Hussain was relieved of his duty on 18-05-06 from GMS Bajja and was directed to report GMS Gosti under order no-GMS/B/05/15-16, dated 18/05/06.

According to ZEO Thathri No- ZEO/T/ESTT/149-50 DATED 15-5-2006, ReT Teacher Ajaz Ahmed was directed to report Headmaster Govt Middle School Gosti for further duties internally.

These orders clearly indicated that the attachments which are banned and against the norms are being done in the Doda district. There is an old deep rooted nexus of corrupt clerks, which is active in ZEO and CEO offices and proving hindrance in the way to state government in its resolve to improve educations system in the Government schools.

Now, as the Chief Minister (CM), Omar Abdullah, himself is holding the charge of Education Department, some sort of drastic changes are expected to root out the nexus of corrupt people in education system otherwise, like Govt High School Gosti, other schools will have to be closed sooner or later.

Talking to TNI, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Shamsher Singh Manhas said that there are many such places where there is acute need to open educational institute owing the favoritism the concern the authorities open unnecessarily school.

He further said that the government should keep check on such establishments so that the every child gets equal education.

J&K imports 15 lakh sheeps and goats for mutton every year

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 18: Nearly 15 lakh sheep and goats are imported into Jammu and Kashmir every year for mutton at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

Officials said that due to the less production of the meat, poultry and eggs in J&K, state has to trade in these products from the outside to fulfill the need of the people. They further said if this huge amount gets revert back in the state then it would change the completion of the state economy.

“There is a vital need for improving the production and productivity of mutton and poultry to get rid of the gap between the supply and demand in the state”, said a source.

Officials said that few years back, to promote organized farming and institutions of poultry and sheep cooperatives, suitable measures and development interventions for promoting livestock sector was taken up across the state.

Sources said that expert groups have recommended that extension facilities to far off and backward places, genetic improvement, introduction of hi-tech commercial broiler for enhancing white meat production and dropper breed of sheep to increase the mutton production besides proper health cover can help a lot in the pursuit of this goal.

The government should do efforts to promote commercial poultry in the state to generate employment opportunities, and to augment the role of the cooperation section in economic development of the state.

When contacted Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said that the government is doing efforts to reduce the import of the products from outside state.

Mehdi further said before three years when the trade from outside was around Rs 1500 crore on all products and now it is reduced upto 1200 to 1300 crore annually.

He disclosed that the government has launched six state and centre sponsored schemes for the poultry and mutton production in the state. “More schemes are in the pipeline to decrease the trade from outside” Mehdi added.