Minister overlooked Cabinet decisions, shifts Ayurvedic college from Samba to Akhnoor

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Oct 30: It seems in Jammu and Kashmir, major decisions are taken on whims of ministers rather than following any rules when it comes to establishing hospitals or educational institutions. This can aptly apply when it comes to the opening up of the prestigious Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital in the state.


To benefit people of one constituency a minister throwing all the official norms to the wind transferred the Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital at Akhnoor not bothering about the cabinet decision.


According to official sources, the cabinet had approved the said college for Birpur Samba through the decision no. 25/2/2011 dated 28.01.2011 and Government order no. Rev (S) 42 of 2011 dated 17.02.2011, but the Minister for Health is pushing to construct hospital at Akhnoor, which is his own constituency.


Sources disclosed that the estimated cost for construction of the said college and hospital is Rs 200 crore, adding that at Birpur the land measuring 100 kanals was also identified for the same purpose.


There is something fishy in between the two ministers due to which the ministers are silent.


After receiving directions from the Minister of Health Sham Lal Sharma, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Jammu has sent a letter vides no. DCJ/SQ/IMS/2100-12/1234-36 dated 03.08.2011 to the Director Indian System of Medicines, Jammu in which he mentioned that in village Sangani tehsil Akhnoor that land measuring 93 kanals has been identified under khasra no. 334 for construction of the college.


“At various instances the locals of Samba approaches to the concern officials for the said issue, but no one is ready to hear anything in this regard” said Gagroop Singh Sambyal.


Whereas, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Surjit Singh Slathia said that he has already plead this matter in the cabinet, but no action been taken against it by the cabinet so far.


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


Sources also said that the minister shifted the college from Birpur to village Sangani tehsil Akhnoor and started construction work from the Housing Board spent more than sixty lakhs rupees though this land has not transferred by the state government.


“Moreover, the Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital comes under Medical Education Department, but the concerned minister seems to be helpless” they added.

Imaging systems for Jails a non-starter, Rs 13 lakhs wasted on defunct systems

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Oct 28: While the state government is undertaking various projects and introducing latest technologies to revamp and keep police force fit for fighting the insurgency in the state, but there are many projects already taken by the police which because of unplanned acquisition and planning has cost state exchequer lakhs of rupees.


According to sources, in 2002, the Director General (Prisons) in order to automate the attendance system in jails for recording the attendance of prisoners and jail staff and also to prevent entry and exit of un-authorised persons from the premises, had ordered the purchase of three Imaging Identification System (IIS) and their allied accessories at a estimated cost of Rs 13.06 lakhs from a Jammu based firm. But within its warranty period all of them become non-functional owning to poor maintenance and lack of trained persons.


These sophisticated imaging systems were installed in the district jails situated at Poonch, Rajouri and at sub-Jail Hiranagar which house number of dreaded foreign and local terrorists.


Sources say that after the systems become non-functional the officials brought in the engineers from the company in March and July 2003, but even after the repairs carried out by them, the systems did not work and are still not working.


Sources further said that the working of these systems at district jail Rajouri and sub-district jail Hiranagar was unsatisfactory soon after the installation and the machine installed in Poonch jail could not be put to use because of non-availability of trained operator.


It is important to mention here that, even the Controller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its Audit scrutiny in January 2006 had revealed that the department has not made either the purchases in proper manner nor had they any trained staff for maintenance of the system.


The then Director (Prisons) had told the CAG that the systems would be repaired when trained persons will be available for handling of these imagers. But the question still remains why the purchases were made overlooking the facilities available. But still they have not been made functional in the state. 

1300 dead in road accidents in J&K during past 15 months

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Oct 25: Nearly 1300 people have died in various road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir during past 15-months while nearly 10,000 people have received injured in such incidents in the state.


As per the data collected by a NGO, number of such deaths have increased in the state during past few years, mainly due to increased in the number of vehicles and poor road network.


Death and Injuries due to road accidents are more than terrorism related deaths in state.


More than 50,000 vehicles are being added to the vehicle population annually in the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar.


Due to the floating of traffic rules included polluting vehicles, tinted film glasses, bull bars, over speeding, lack of safety measures on national highways and other roads, pressure horns, overloading of public transport vehicles, plying of vehicles without number plates etc.


Sources said that due to rapidly increase in vehicles without proportionate increase in the road length and infrastructure the traffic congestion and even accidents happened.


As per the information, Jammu has 574 vehicles per kilometer traffic density, while vehicular population in Jammu city stood at 4, 04,400 excluding vehicles belonging to security forces and tourists entering the city.


The road length in Jammu city is 702.22 kms. The density of vehicles in Jammu city is 574 vehicles per kilometer" as per a document while referring to traffic congestion in the city.


Sources further said that every tenth bed in the hospital in the world is occupied by an accident victim.


Important to note that Jammu and Kashmir roads witnessed about seventeen accidents and claimed at least three lives every day during the 2010, according to the official figures of the state transport department.


Official records revealed that at least 1080 persons were killed in 6129 road accidents across the state in 2010. 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 last years data, 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.


Government data says that about 7, 96,493 vehicles were registered in Jammu and Kashmir till December 2010. Among the vehicles 10310 busses, 15348 mini-busses, 48983, trucks, trailers, 24729 taxies, 39, 294, three wheelers, 187170 cars, 11749 jeeps, 424768 two wheelers and others types of vehicles include 34142. As per the rules, route permits in Jammu and Kashmir are issued only to commercial vehicles that carry a certificate valid for one year from the manufacturer certifying the requirements of safety and pollution norms.

Increasing smoking menace

Govt. to introduce special subject in school curriculum from next academic session


Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU,Oct 21: With rising number of school children experimenting with the cigarettes at the  early age, education department has decided to introduce special subject 'hazards of smoking and drug addiction' in the curriculum from primary to higher secondary level from next academic session. These way governments want to create awareness among the children about the dangers of the smoking.


Though the J&K has already banned the smoking and selling of products outside the educational institutions but still this restriction is not proving enough to curb the smoking among the children. 


Minister for Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said that Government is contemplating to introduce a special subject on hazards of smoking in the curriculum so that teachers are able to tell the children about the dangers of the smoking. “It has become necessary as most of the drug users and who engage in smoking belong to the age group of 14 to 20 years the prime age when the minds of children are shaped”, said Minister.


The Minister said that he had directed the law enforcement agencies to strictly implement anti narcotic law to get the society rid off the menace of drug trafficking and addiction, particularly around the educational institutions.


An official said that government has create a conducive atmosphere for bringing awareness among the masses against smoking and ensure smoke free State so that Jammu and Kashmir becomes a most pollution free and healthy State. “Not only the awareness programs but strict law enforcement is also necessary to curb the menace of smoking”, said a official from the education department.


Under Section-4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003 (better known as COTPA), smoking in public places is prohibited and any violation of this Act is punishable with a fine up to Rs 200. 


It is pertinent to mention here that not only the smoking but AIDS awareness has also become a important subject in the educational institutions. With number of AIDS cases showing rise in the state and lack of awareness among the masses from the threat, State Education Department along with J&K State AIDS Control Society has decided to train 5000 school teachers to create awareness among the people, particularly in rural areas about the deadly disease.

30,000 trees to be planted on 13-km Vaishno Devi track

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Oct 20: With environmental degradation becoming a major concern for the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, it has decided to plant nearly 30,000 trees along the 13 km long track leading to the cave shrine.


According to the officials the trees will be planted along the track to prevent the soil erosion and maintain the atheistic look of the shrine which is visited by nearly 80 lakh pilgrims every year from across the world.


Recently in a major green initiative, the shrine Board had commissioned two solar power plants at the temple to supply electricity and slowly move towards renewable sources of energy. 


“33,000 plants of different species and 4000 flowering plants are being planted during the monsoon season to beautify the tracks leading to the shrine board”, said a senior officer from Shrine Board. 


Official sources said that due to the increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the hill shrine, there has been huge impact on the surrounding environment which had worried the environmentalists. Though measures have been taken to provide eco-friendly services, but at times board had to cut the trees to create infrastructure facilities. 


Sources said that the other significant initiatives launched by the shrine board this year is that it is providing comprehensive disaster management training to the board's employees so that they can quickly provide first aid to the affected people in case of any emergency. 


The CEO said two other projects - a biogas plant of four tonnes per day capacity and a solar emergency lighting system - are also being planned on a time-bound basis. 


It is pertinent to mention here that with number of pilgrims likely to cross one crore mark by the end of this year, Shrine Board had decided to carry out 'Time-Motion' study to ensure proper management of the people on 13 km mountainous track. 


The study is being conducted by Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad to carry out the study and suggest scientific ways to reduce the waiting time inside the cave shrine nestled in the Trikuta hills. 


During the peak pilgrimage period between May and September the daily inflow of the pilgrims sometimes reach nearly 50,000 a diffcult the Shrine board which had to sometimes stop the yatra for more than 24 hours to stabling the rush. Last year about more than 75 lakh people had darshan of the natural Pindis, in the cave shrine. 


Under a new master plan a new 7-km track from Ban Ganga at the cost of one crore is also being constructed to ease pressure on existing two routes to reach Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. The new track will start from Banganga through Tarakot Mountains to Himkot and will meet the existing track at Ardhkumari. 


Shrine received about 68 lakh pilgrims in 2008. In 2007, this figure was 74.17 lakh while in 2006, the yatra stood at 69.50 lakh. In 2009 it was more than 75 lakh. 


Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi was just 13.95 lakh in 1986 when Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDB) had taken over management of the cave shrine. Since then, it has been going up barring slight decline in some years. Till 1998 there was only one track and in 2000 a new approach road was constructed by the Board.

Five medical facilities in GMC Srinagar, Jammu may face closure

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Oct 14: At a time when Omar Abdullah government is taking credit for improving the Health infrastructure in the state, nearly five medical faculties are facing threat of de-recognisation from prestigious Medical Council of India (MCI).

According to the official sources, these include Neuro-surgery, Forsenic Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry faculty and Cardiology as they don’t have trained manpower including teachers and infrastructure, despite investing crores in upgrading the Healthcare sector in past ten years.

These faculties are functional in two of the premier Medical Colleges of the state, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu and Government Medical College (Srinagar), which are being upgraded to the level of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under the ambitious Rs 200 crore projects.

It is important to mention here that MCI had been regularly reminding the state Government to put in place proper faculties in various courses including psychiatry and cardiology at GMC Jammu. The psychiatry faculty till date lacked the post of Associate professor.

Admitting that there is threat from the MCI, Health Minister said, “There is threat from the medical body because of shortage of teachers, but steps are being taken to plug the gap”.

About the measures to ward of the threat, Sharma said that the government had decided to make direct entry in faculties to fill the vacancies. “We are taking steps and within six months the shortages would be removed and government is taking necessary steps in this regard including fast track recruitment”.

It is important to mention here that even the Indira Gandhi Government Dental College here is also working without adequate faculty.

However a official source said, “Filling the vacancies is not a big issue, but most of the Doctors having expertise in these fields have left J&K for better opportunities in other parts of the country and beyond”.

“While focus is on creating infrastructure, but no consideration is being given tofill manpower needs who are going to run these institutions”, said a official source on condition of anonymity.

J&K Government is implementing an ambitious Rs 200 crore Hospital upgradation project since last three years under the Prime Ministers Swasthya Surakshya Yojana to elevate the two hospitals to the level of best medical institutes in the country is likely to bring state hospitals at par with the (AIIMS).

Crores spent on advertisements, no infrastructure for provide eye care services

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Oct 13: While big advertisement campaigns have been started by the state government to prevent the blindness cases in Jammu and Kashmir, but on ground nothing has been done to create facilities for the same.

If a cursory look is given at the infrastructure available in the hospitals in the state to provide help to the patients affected by various eye ailments, one gets dismayed, while crores are being spent on the advertising different central sponsored schemes.   

“If these crores spent on media campaigns are spent on upgrading the infrastructure it could help thousands of people. Government is totally wasting the money”, said a official.

A senior doctor on condition of anonymity said that while number of programmes are organised every year on the World Sight Day, but they remain for that day only, while for other part of the year nobody cares about providing medical services.

Surprisingly state government has still failed to establish an eye bank in any hospital of the state, which is a major failure on part of the government.

Even though in the health centres running under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), there is no availability of equipments and other required infrastructure, besides this the staff appointed is also not adequate.

“The government has announced the free eye checkup for the eye patients in our area, but where we go for the treatment as in the health centre of our area does not have the facility to examine the even patients for a simple disease” said Rajesh Kumar of Gho Manasha.

Wishing anonymity a doctor posted in a Primary Health Centre (PHC) said that the government has provided us limited infrastructure and staff is also less; we have to manage all patients within this condition.

Showing helplessness she said many times we have sent demands for medicine and staff but nothing has been done so far.

Director Health Services, Jammu Dr Madhu Khullar could not be contacted even after repeating attempts.

“Let your eyes live after you’--the slogan undoubtedly looks appealing but the fact is that not even a single eye donation has taken place in the past over a decade in Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, which has no facilities to store donated corneas”, said a official source.

The last corneal transplantations were done at the GMC, Jammu, in 1997 and 10 years on things have not improved much in the backdrop of human organ transplant act.

However, a senior ophthalmologist claimed that registration process had been initiated and after getting everything in place donations and transplantations strictly in adherence to the human organ transplant act would begin.