Jammu And Kashmir Government | SilverScorpio.Com

Rs 3 cr released for those affected by untimely snowfall

June 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Jun 6 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir government today released Rs 3 crore for immediate relief to those affected by untimely snowfall, rain and hailstorms in several parts of the state, which led to 10 deaths and damage to crops and property. The amount was released to divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu province for further distribution among the deputy commissioners concerned, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla said after taking stock of situation arising out of rains and snowfall in several parts of the state.

At least 10 people died and 20 others were injured due to lighting, hailstorm and unseasonal snowfall in certain areas of the state, besides heavy losses to crops and properties. The state government constituted a committee to assess the damage caused to paddy, horticulture crops and vegetables after a three-member ministerial team visited the affected areas on Friday.

The committee has been asked to submit report to the government within a week.

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J-K govt begins process of Kashmiri Pandits’ return to valley

May 31, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

With more than 4,000 displaced families of Kashmiri Pandits wishing to return to their homes, Jammu and Kashmir government today began the process to facilitate the return of the community to the Valley.

“The families (of displaced Kashmiri Pandits) are advised to furnish their plan of return to the valley so that necessary arrangements can be made for their return,” Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), Jammu, said in a notification issued here.

Incentives under the Prime Minister’s package for Kashmiri migrants would be made available to them, the notice said.

As many as 4,440 applications have been received from Kashmiri migrant families, who wish to return to the valley under the policy of Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants to Kashmir Valley, officials of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department said.

Of the 4,440 applications received, 1,682 families are still in possession of immovable assets and these applications have been referred for verification.

The families who had sold their immovable properties and have applied to return to the valley are advised to furnish details about the arrangements made by them for permanent settlement in the valley so that assistance available under the package can be provided to them, the Relief Commissioner said.

The largest number of applications – 1,237 – have been received from Srinagar district followed by 1,140 applications from Anantnag district, 462 from Baramulla, 431 from Budgam, 359 from Pulawama, 283 from Kulgam, 240 from Kupawara, 150 from Shopian and 98 from Ganderbal.

However, no application for the return of Kashmiri migrants have been received from Bandipore district.

As many as 3,000 migrant youth would be given jobs under the special employment package in this direction and interviews have been conducted for finalisation of the list.

Central Government has sanctioned a package of Rs 1,618 crore for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley.

As many as 38,119 families of Kashmiris are registered as migrants with the Relief Organisation in Jammu. Of these, 34,202 families are Hindus, 2,168 Muslims and 1,749 Sikhs.

According to statistics available, about 19,338 Kashmiri migrants live in Delhi.

11 Kashmiri migrant families live in Himachal Pradesh, 924 in Haryana, 114 in Chandigarh, 319 in Punjab, 57 in Uttaranchal, 222 in UP, 43 in MP, one in Tamil Nadu, 38 in Karnataka, 208 in Maharashtra and 48 Rajasthan.

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Shopian doctors charged with fudging to defame security forces

May 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 27 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government has charged the team of doctors who carried out autopsies on two women in south Kashmir’s Shopian town last May with fudging evidence to defame the police and the security forces.

‘It had been found that the accused doctors fabricated and fudged the slides with an objective of defaming the police and security forces thereby violating Rule 3 of J&K Employees Act 1971,’ says a state government chargesheet against the doctors.

‘The conduct and behaviour of the doctors had been prima facie found to have become cause of general strikes in the state and also resulted in the deaths of civilians,’ the chargesheet adds.

Two women, Nilofar Jan, 22, and her sister-in-law Asiya Jan, 17, were found dead by the side of a stream in Shopian town on May 29 last year, triggering a Valley-wide agitation with people alleging that the duo had been raped and subsequently murdered by the security forces.

The allegations had been triggered by the utterances of a lady doctor posted in Shopian town who carried out the autopsies of the dead women along with other local doctors.

After the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), fresh autopsies were conducted and sustained interrogation of the local doctors revealed that scientific evidence about the deaths of the two women had been fudged to give credibility to the allegations that the women had been raped and then murdered.

The CBI investigations had confirmed that the two women had died due to drowning.

The state government based its chargesheet on the CBI findings

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J-K Govt launches drive to enforce ban on smoking

May 4, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 4 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has launched a drive in Srinagar to enforce a ban on smoking.

The drive was to ensure that smoking does not take place at public places and selling of cigarettes and other tobacco products is prohibited near educational institutions.

A team of district officials, headed by Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Mehrajuddin Kakroo inspected various offices and hospitals in the city.

The team comprising government officials from various departments and members of Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association fined several offenders and informed them about the ill effects of smoking.

“The main aim of starting this drive was to spread awareness among people. To tell people that cigarette smoking in public places is harmful for health. That is why we have started this drive with the administration and the voluntary health association of India,” said Syed Hashim, a member of Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association.

“In my opinion it is a great move and I believe that if this drive continues like this, then very soon the environment here will be neat and clean,” he added.

Offenders were fined Rs 200 each and cigarettes and tobacco products worth thousands seized and later put to flames in presence of the media in Srinagar.

Cigarettes were also confiscated from shopkeepers, who were selling the products within 100 yards of an educational institution especially schools.

“In this drive, the district administration, police, health professionals, drug officers, NGOs, voluntary health associations are jointly working on this together. The aim behind this is to create awareness so that they leave smoking,” said Kakroo, another member of the Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association.

The locals are hailing this move and feel that if successfully implemented this drive can lead to a smoke-free environment.
“This is a very good step taken by the government. There is no doubt about it. Every time we travel in a car one or the other person smokes a cigarette and the others are exposed to passive smoking,” said Mansoor Ahmad, a local.

“So more than the smoker it is the passive smoker who gets affected and is harmful for them. So, in my opinion the government should take up more such initiatives,” he added.

A number of locals including senior citizens and volunteers from different organizations participated in the drive. They were seen holding placards with anti-smoking slogan.

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. (ANI)

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Self-earning schemes initiated for militancy victims in Jammu and Kashmir

March 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Mar 19 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated self-earning schemes in collaboration with a local NGO for the victims of militancy.

Rabiya Baji, who runs a knitting center, says she began it with the aim of giving employment to poor women who have been affected by militancy. The center opened a few days ago to an excellent response.

Baji”s center has been provided with sweater-knitting machines and other items for women to manufacture woolen goods.

“The government is also giving some aid and I”m helping those people who have become aimless so that they not only get employed but also give others employment,” said Baji.
The vocational training provided by Baji”s center has found many takers.

“The conditions here are so bad that in some families the people have lost their brothers, fathers and others. With vocational training we would be able to earn and improve our family”s condition,” said Rehana, a victim of militancy.

The women who take up training are also given rations and a stipend. (ANI)

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Jammu and Kashmir Government launches disaster awareness drive

March 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Mar 17 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government”s Disaster Management Cell has launched an awareness drive on various types of natural disasters in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Fire and emergency department officials participated in a mock drill along with health officials.

The drill was organized in a hotel located on a busy road and is part of a weeklong drive to raise awareness levels about natural disasters.

Officials were shown how to handle a disaster situation.

UNDP Coordinator Aamir Ali said, “Our aim of conducting this mock drill was that if a natural disaster especially an earthquake hits the valley then we want to see how good is our response and how fast is the response.”

Civil Defence personnel Altaf Hussian said that they wanted to use this training for help to as many people as possible.

“We have been specially trained so that we can help the people in need. Since Kashmir valley falls in zone-5 and is earthquake prone, an earthquake can hit the city any time. We want to help as many people as possible,” said Hussian.

Srinagar and its adjoining areas fall in Seismic Zone V. The area is thus vulnerable to earthquakes and major disasters. (ANI)

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Girls re-enter schools in Rajouri

March 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Mar 12 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has encouraged hundreds of girl students to rejoin school in militancy-hit Rajouri District.

The girls are returning under the Central Government”s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (Education for All) initiative.

Girl students are provided with free school uniforms, books, food and lodging.

Keeping co-educational apprehensions of locals in mind government has opened schools exclusively for girls in the area.

Girls are also being trained in vocational skills to make them self-reliant.

“Earlier, there were not enough schools, girls had to travel long distances. But after SSA schemes, the enrollment of girls in the school have increased,” said Kalyan Kharat, the headmaster of the school.

The state government also trains teachers to educate locals to send their children to school. ANI)

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J-K to make rural service must for medicos

March 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Jammu, Mar 5 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government is contemplating to make rural services mandatory for all doctors to improve health facilities in rural areas of the state.

Addressing the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) meeting State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that those medicos who serve in rural areas under the NRHM scheme would get additional points in the Public Service Commission (PSC) selection process.

He stressed on achieving maximum physical and financial targets under NRHM and asked the authorities to conduct a survey for grading districts on basis of achievements.

In his address Abdullah also asked to conduct weekly review of all works under the NRHM and to conduct a survey on Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and he added that himself will conduct a quarterly review.

He also asked the officials to make health workers more responsible for pre-natal, post-natal care and immunization by extending lucrative incentives.

He assured the meeting that the State Government would approach the Centre for seeking flexibilities of criteria under various central sponsored schemes like Serva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), NRHM and others.

Abdullah said his government has urged the Planning Commission of India to release at least 50 per cent of allocations under all centrally sponsored schemes in April of every year. (ANI)

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J and K Govt seeks Center’s clearance to construct concrete huts along LAC

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep 16 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sought clearance from the Ministry of Defence to construct huts like along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) bordering China.

According to sources the State Government forwarded this proposal with the aim of strengthening the Indian presence along the LAC.

State Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla, said concrete huts would also help the nomadic shepherds to stay.

Nomadic shepherds are currently using mobile tents.

Recently Leh’s Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Sahu said, the Chinese had threatened some shepherds in the remote regions of the district.

The State Government is also reportedly planning to house revenue officials and guards to monitor Chinese activities along the Pangong Lake, sources said.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan has called a meeting of the China Study Group of the Union Government on Wednesday, to discuss the situation along Indo-China border.

Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Home Secretary G. K. Pillai, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Senior officials of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) would also attend the meeting. (ANI)

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Shopian Case: J and K High court grants bail to four cops

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep.11 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday granted bail to four policemen who were accused of having a role in the controversial Shopian murder case.

The policemen-Former Superintendent of Police of Shopian Javed Iqbal Mattoo, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rohit Baskota, Station House Officer Shopian Shafiq Ahmed and Sub-inspector Gazi Abdul Rehman-were released on payment of a bond of Rs.50, 000 each. The four had been accused of destroying evidence related to the case.

Last month, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had decided to hand over the controversial rape and murder case involving two women to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The State Cabinet unanimously took the decision hours after opposition parties created an uproar in the State Assembly alleging tampering of DNA test reports in the case.

Friday’s granting of bail came almost a month after the same court rejected an earlier bail plea.

The court had then rejected their plea under the Section 497 of CRPC (discretionary powers of the judge to grant bail or not).

The four had also moved a petition in the Supreme Court against the ruling of J and K High Court, to arrest these officers and also to collect blood samples to prepare the DNA mapping of these officers.

An apex court bench headed by the Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan had asked the Shopian sessions court to expeditiously consider the bail pleas.

During the hearing, the bench had said the High Court should have left it to the superior police officers to investigate the case and should have entitled the police officers to move for bail before the appropriate court.

The bench had also expressed surprise that only because of agitation the investigation was handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The J and K High Court, hearing a Public Interest Litigation Petition (PIL) filed by J and K High Court Bar Association in connection with alleged rape and murder of Neelofar and Aasiya Jan in Shopian ordered for the arrest of four police officers who were suspended in the same the case. The court also ordered to constitute SIT and DNA mapping of these officers. (ANI)

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Poultry farmers in Punjab lament J and K Govt’s high import duties

September 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bale Chak Village (Tarn Taran) (Punjab), (ANI): Poultry farming in Punjab, which suffered heavy losses and closures during terrorism days and recently following the Bird flu scare, is now faced with another problem in the form of heavy tax duties.

The Jammu and Kashmir state has imposed heavy tax duties on the import of the poultry birds from other states, as it has increased Tax on Poultry birds from Rs. 2 per bird to Rs. 7.50 per Bird. It was 60 paisa per bird in 2006.

However, the poultry farmers in the border area of Punjab say that this high rate of tax will ruin the poultry farming in Punjab, as it does not even cover the cost of production.

Nearly 90 percent of the poultry farmers of the Border belt of the Punjab are dependent on the supply to J and K, as there is huge demand of poultry products throughout the year in the state.

G. S. Bedi, President, Amritsar Poultry Industry Association, said that this high rate of tax levied by the J and K Government would directly hit the poultry industry of Punjab.

“We have made a request to the Jammu and Kashmir government to lower the tax rates. Such heavy taxes are imposed on the inter- nation export and not on the exports between the neighbouring states. If they want to improve the condition of the poultry farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, they should take steps on the technical front and not levy taxes on poultry farmers like us and ruin our business, “said G S Bedi, President of Amritsar Poultry Industry Association

Bedi informed that poultry traders in Punjab supply over half a million eggs and 40,000 to 50,000 chickens per day to meet the demand within the J and K state that cost nearly 50 million rupees per day.

He said that J and K government by providing technical help would improve the condition of poultry farmers of their State but this type of step shall increase unhealthy competition among own states that are dependent on each other.

Sumit Chawla, a leading Poultry farmer of the border area, said that all most 30 percent farmers have already closed the Poultry farms due to high cost of feed ingredients, chicks and labor, thus giving a rise to rural unemployment that is too when economic recession is prevailing.

“The government has imposed tax on the outset of the season. The tax imposed is very high and will affect the farming as most of our production is supplied to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It will affect the poultry business in Punjab and unemployment will creep in. The Government should think over it before taking any action which will affect the poultry farmers, “said Sumit Chawla.

“This tax will further increase the closure of poultry farms in Punjab,” said Chawla.

The farmers have urged the State government to take appropriate steps through Central government to prevent J and K government from imposing high taxes on the import of the poultry products from others states, failing which it would spell a doom for poultry farmers here. By Ravinder Singh Robin(ANI)

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Kashmir tax on poultry produce from other states helps local farmers

September 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep 4 (ANI): With an objective to improve the condition of local poultry farmers, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has imposed tax duties on poultry products being brought in from other states.

The state government has imposed Rs five per kilogram tax on broilers brought from other states and simultaneously it has reduced tax duty from Rs two to one rupee per chick for the poultry produce within the state.

“I pay almost Rs 60,000 in taxes each year. So, that amount, I can directly save. And we are also expecting that the chicken will sell Rs 5 more, which will be profitable for us,” said Jasbir Jhaggi, owner of a poultry farm.

Poultry farmers believe that Government’s initiative will improve their financial condition and also usher stability in the local poultry business.

“We are hoping that all the debt ridden poultry farmers will be able to repay their debts and loans, within six months. Most of these poultry farmers are otherwise unemployed start the business in small sheds at their houses as it requires little investments,” said Kuldeep Singh Raja, Chairman of Chicken Dealers Association.

Poultry traders in Jammu and Kashmir deliver more than 150 thousand eggs and 70,000 to 80,000 chickens per day to meet the demand within the state. (ANI)

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Major reshuffle of officials in J and K

August 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Aug 30 (ANI): In a major administrative reshuffle, Jammu and Kashmir Government has transferred 26 senior officers, including 12 IAS officers.

The decision to transfer the officers was taken on Saturday evening at a meeting of the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

A spokesman of the State Government released the details of the cabinet decision to media in a press conference on Sunday.

The cabinet decided to appoint a woman officer Naseema Lankar, as first Divisional Commissioner in Kashmir. She will replace Masood Samoon, who is retiring from the service on Monday.

B.B.Vyas, who was Principal Secretary to the state Governor, has been made Commissioner Secretary of Planning and Development. He will also hold the additional responsibility of Chief Executive Officer of Economic Reconstruction Agency.

Pramodh Jain, Commissioner Secretary of Social Welfare has been transferred to Higher Education Department in the same capacity.

Tashi Dorjee, Joint Financial Commissioner of Agrarian Reforms has been given the additional charge of Secretary, Home Department.

Deputy Commissioner of Poonch, Mohammad Afzal Bhat, has been moved to head the Pulwama district. He will replace Ishtiyaq Ahmad Ashai, who has been made additional Commissioner of Kashmir.

Kuldip Lal Khajuria, Additional District Development Commissioner, Samba has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Poonch. (ANI)

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J and K HC orders exhumation of Shopian rape victims bodies

July 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar July 4 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed state police to exhume the bodies of the victims of rape and murder in Shopian for fresh post mortem.

The court also ordered that no person, including security personnel could leave Shopian without special permission. The order is binding on personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force and the Jammu and Kashmir State Police.

A two-judge division bench of the J and K High Court, comprising Chief Justice Barin Gosh and Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, issued the orders after hearing a PIL filed by the Kashmir Bar Association.

However, the court said the consent of the victims’ family is required before the bodies could be exhumed.

The Kashmir Valley has witnessed protests following discovery of the bodies of 17-year-old Asiya and her pregnant 22-year-old sister-in-law Nelofar in a stream on May 30 after they went missing from their orchard on the previous day. Amid massive demonstrations across the Valley, police registered a case of rape and murder. They have not named any suspects.

The same bench of the J and K high Court on Friday ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General of Police Farooq Ahmed, to interrogate all suspended officials and if necessary to conduct a narco analyses test of these officials.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government suspended the then district police chief of Shopian Javed Iqbal Mattoo, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rohit Baskotra, Station House Officer (SHO) Shafeeq Ahmad, Sub-Inspector Qazi Abdul Karim and Javed Iqbal Hafiz, scientific officer forensic science laboratory following recommendations made by the Justice Muzaffar Jan Commission. (ANI)

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J and K Government withdraws CRPF from Baramullah(Lead:Baramullah)

July 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, July 1 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from law and order duties in Baramullah district, following protests by local residents over the deaths of some of them.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a late night development, asked the Jammu and Kashmir Reserve Police to replace the CRPF.

The alleged harassment of a Muslim woman by CRPF personnel and the deaths of four protestors is believed to have prompted the decision.

According to state police officials, a case has been registered against a CRPF personnel and officers have been asked to hand him over to the State police for custodial investigation.

The State Government has initiated a magisterial enquiry into the incident.

Twent four-year old Amir, one of the protestors received a bullet injury allegedly when security forces opened fire on a mob in the Khanpora locality on Tuesday evening. Amir died at the Soura Medical Institute here early Wednesday.

On Wednesday, thousands of protesters took to streets in defiance of a curfew imposed in Baramullah.

Protestors chanted anti-India slogans in anger against the recent incidents involving local residents. Police tried to disperse the mob, but failed.

They carried the body of a young dead protester.

The recent unrest began Monday when thousands protested in Baramulla town against the alleged harassment of a Muslim woman by police.

In a bid to maintain law and order and quell the protestors, police resorted to firing live rounds, which killed two of the demonstrators.

The firing incident provoked many more local people onto the streets and the unrest spread to the neighbouring town of Sopore, prompting the district authorities to impose curfew in both towns.

On Tuesday a third protester was killed, and the latest victim died from his injuries on Wednesday.

The situation in the Baramullah town is reported to be quite tense.

“Police have registered a case of murder against the CRPF trooper. Officers of the CRPF unit have been asked to hand him over to the police,” said a police officer.

In the wake of this incident, the state government late Tuesday decided to withdraw the CRPF from law and order duties in Baramulla town.

A police officer said that the CRPF had been withdrawn from the town and being replaced by the local armed police.

As per officials, the government has already ordered a magisterial probe into the firing incident. The investigations is likely to completed within 10 days. (ANI)

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CRPF withdrawn from Baramullah

July 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, July 1(ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force from law and order duties in Baramullah.

In a late night development, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked the Jammu and Kashmir Reserve Police to replace the CRPF.

The alleged harassment of a Muslim woman by CRPF personnel prompted the decision.

According to state police officials, a case has been registered against a CRPF trooper and officers have been asked to hand him over to state police custody.

The State Government has initiated a magisterial enquiry into the incident. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Chief Minister, CRPF, enquiry, harassment, jammu and kashmir government, July 1, Kashmir, late night development, law and order, muslim woman, police custody, police force, police officials, reserve police, srinagar, state government, state police

Kashmir to create more posts for trained unemployed doctors

June 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jammu, June 30 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government will create new posts to ensure jobs for trained unemployed doctors in the State.

Speaking after inaugurating two hostel buildings at a cost of Rs 5.80 crores in Indira Gandhi Dental college in Jammu on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that more posts of dental surgeons, medical officers in Indian System of Medicines (ISM) and Allopathy would be created to absorb the unemployed trained doctors in the State

Omar said that the State Government was also contemplating to enhance the honorarium of those doctors who would serve in far-flung areas.

He said that the State Government has urged the Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, to take up the matter of according early recognition to the Indira Gandhi Dental College here with Dental Council of India.

Omar Abdullah said that the government was committed to speeding up the pace of development in all the three regions of the state. (ANI)

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Pahalgam route opens for Amarnath pilgrims

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Pahalgam (J-K), June 25 (ANI): The Amarnath Yatra started from its traditional rout Pahalgam this morning.

According to authorities only 2000 pilgrims will be allowed today from nun-wan base camp, Pahalgam towards the holy cave.

Earlier the yatra was suspended on this route due to bad weather conditions. he route from Pahalgam is the traditional route while the one from Baltal is considered to be the secondary route.

B. Srivastava, a devotee from Madhya Pradesh thanked the government of Jammu and Kashmir for making efforts to clear this route.

“We are lucky that this route (Pahalgam route) has been opened and we thank the government of Jammu and Kashmir for this. This is the route which everyone wants to take as it is considered the main route and the Baltal route is considered to be secondary ,” said Srivastava.

A pony owner also expressed happiness on the opening of this route.We are very happy because this track was closed for last 10-15 days and now it has opened,” said Ahmad.

Jammu and Kashmir government and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) have set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, at Nunwan in Pahalgam and at Baltal to arrange for boarding and lodging facilities to pilgrims visiting the cave shrine.

While Jammu base camp facilitates boarding and lodging for over 20,000 pilgrims at a time, Baltal and Nunwan can house over 5,000 pilgrims at a time.

About 12,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine till now. (ANI)

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Shri Amarnath Yatra suspended from Jammu

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jammu, June 24 (ANI): The ongoing Shri Amarnath Yatra had to be suspended from Jammu base camp on Wednesday due to a large number of devotees stranded at transit base camp at Baltal.

Over 15,000 pilgrims are stranded at the transit camp.

According to police officials in Jammu, “No batch was allowed to Baltal base camp from here today. The yatra was suspended as there is a heavy rush of stranded devotees at Baltal.”

Over 2,700 pilgrims have been left waiting for resumption of the Yatra at Jammu base camp in Bhagwati Nagar due to the suspension.

Jammu and Kashmir government and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, at Nunwan in Pahalgam and at Baltal to arrange for boarding and lodging facilities to pilgrims visiting cave shrine.

While, Jammu base camp facilitates boarding and lodging for over 20,000 pilgrims at a time, Baltal and Nunwan can house over 5,000 pilgrims at a time.

About 70,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3888 mt Amarnath cave shrine till now.

On Tuesday, a high level team headed by SASB Chief Executive Officer B B Viyas carried out an aerial survey of the traditional Pahalgam route to take a final decision on opening of the route, which has been covered with snow for last few days, to the pilgrims.

The team has submitted its report on resumption of yatra via traditional Pahalgam route to Governor N N Vohra. (ANI)

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Amarnath yatra briefly suspended

June 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jammu, June 24 (ANI): More than 15,000 pilgrims are stranded at the transit camp at Baltal as Amarnath yatra has been suspended from Jammu on Wednesday.

According to sources, no batch was allowed to Baltal base camp from here today. The yatra was suspended, as there is a heavy rush of stranded devotees at Baltal.

Till now, nearly 70,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has set up three base camps at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal for providing food and lodging facilities to pilgrims.

Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the Amarnath caves shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Last year, over 450,000 pilgrims visited the cave. The two month long pilgrimage will conclude on August 5. (ANI)

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