Srinagar: As the Class X and XII board exams in the Valley are over, officials said only 1,000 students had opted for the exam in March.Director, School Education, Kashmir, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat said only 1,000 students had returned their admit cards and had opted for the exam in March.“Students were given time till December 6 to return the admit cards in case they wanted to opt for the exam in March. So far, only 1,000 students have surrendered their admit cards,” said the Director, School Education.After the date sheet was notified by the Board of School Education in September amid curfew and shutdown, many quarters wanted the exam to be postponed, giving political reasons, however, the participation of the large number of students in the exams surprised everyone.The exams started on November 14 amid fear and disturbance and ended on December 6.More than 94 per cent students appeared in the Class XII exam while around 99 per cent students appeared in the Class X exam.After protests and opposition, the school board announced a choice for the students to appear in the exams either in November or March but most of the students appeared in the November exam.The board had given 50 per cent relaxation in the syllabus to the students who appeared in the exam in November as the students had not attended classes since July when the unrest began. The relaxation in syllabus was one of the main motivators for thestudents to appear in the exams in November. (TNS)
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Nursing crunch at Valley hospitals hits healthcare
Srinagar: Kashmir hospitals are facing acute shortage of nurses as tertiary and secondary care hospitals have just a single nurse for at least 30 patients, which is adversely affecting the healthcare and increasing the mortality rate.Officials say a single nurse attends at least 30 patients in a shift in the emergency ward of the SMHS Hospital.“Even during night hours, there are only two nurses to take care of 60 patients in the general ward, which include postoperative patients, too,” a senior doctor said.The 850-bed SMHS Hospital has 120 nurses which are not able to cater to the rush of indoor patients. “Sometimes, the number of admitted patients goes up to 1,000. Certainly, it is impossible for nurses to provide adequate care to all the patients,” said Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) president Dr Nisar ul Hassan.He said the 600-bed Kashmir’s premier maternity hospital, Lal Ded Hospital, which had double the number of patients all the time just had 85 nurses.The situation is grim at the SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), where two nurses are looking after 16 patients during the night shift in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).“For 16 patients in the ICU, 48 nurses are needed for three shifts with additional 30 per cent reserve. We have a huge shortage of nurses in our hospitals,” he said.The situation is worse in peripheries where some hospitals run on only one nurse, Dr Hassan added.The overburdened nurses are bound to make medical errors thus endangering the safety of patients.Various studies have found that shortage of nurses in hospitals is related to increase in deaths.“The appropriate number of nursing staff is critical to the delivery of quality patient care and it seems value of life has been lost in health care planning,” he said. (TNS)
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Axe to fall on more tainted officials
‘Won’t tolerate officials whose integrity is doubtful: Deputy CM
With the Government having ordered termination of services of 21 Government employees of various departments after declaring them as deadwood, it has been learnt that the government is compiling another list of tainted officials whose integrity is doubtful.
KM has learnt from the sources that the high-level panel headed by Chief Secretary which was constituted by the government to examine the corruption cases against the tainted officers will meet soon and examine the corruption cases of officials. “The high-level panel will meet and examine the cases individually,” sources said.
Sources told KM that the Chief Minister has categorically asked the top officials of the government to sack the tainted officials who do not improve their performance. Sources said that the Chief Minister has also asked the assessment of employees who are habitual of corruption and other unlawful activities. Sources said tainted officials including senior civil officers are under the government’s scanner.
The committee is headed by the chief Secretary and the other members of committee are Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Principal Secretary, Home, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, and the Secretary, Law.
It is pertinent to mention here that soon after the PDP-BJP government took over, the government shot a letter to State Vigilance Organization, to prepare a comprehensive list of officers who were involved in ‘corrupt practices’ or have been rendered as ‘dead wood’ to summarily dismiss them from services or suggest other kind of action, whose offence in corruption was minor.
The SVO was asked to prepare a list of corrupt officials to bring transparency in governance. The SVO submitted a list of 162 tainted officials to the government. On July 1, the government terminated the services of 63 officials of whom 25 were allegedly caught red-handed by the SVO while accepting bribe. According to the sources the number of complaints registered with State Vigilance Organization (SVO) against various Government functionaries since January 2015 are 309 with the highest number of corruption complaint s being filed against the employees of corporations and Revenue Department.
The Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission (SVC) has also received 875 complaints, since January 2015, out of which 552 were heard and disposed off and remaining 305 complaints are under adjudication. Many of these accused hold plum postings in various government departments despite facing probe in corruption cases.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh told KM that the government has already made it clear that it would not tolerate the officers and officials, whose integrity is doubtful. “We will not tolerate the officials whose integrity is doubtful but at the same time government has also taken a decision that that officers having good integrity will be given important assignment involving public dealing,” he said.
It is to mention here that the GAD on Wednesday issued individual termination orders to all 21 Government employees giving them compulsory retirement by invoking Article 226 against them. The officers-officials terminated from the Government services mostly belonged to Public Health Engineers (PHE), Power Development Department (PDD), Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies Distribution Department and Revenue.
However, the government didn’t release the list of the employees declared as deadwood to the media. Instead, it directly dispatched termination notices individually to all the 21 officers. Interestingly, no senior or higher ranking officer falls in the list of dismissed officers-officials raising eyebrows over government’s move to weed out corruption.
Kns/Kashmir Magazine/Kashmir Today
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‘Changes never permanent’
Kns/Kashmir Magazine/Kashmir Today
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a relentless voice in Kashmir, the eldest and the most experienced politician in the state commands unmatched and unparallel popular support in Kashmir. He spearheaded 2008 and 2010 public uprisings in Kashmir and has been under continuous house detention for almost last 6 years. Now Geelani is spearheading the current phase of public uprising in Kashmir. Withstanding all pulls and pressures from different public quarters Geelani’s protest calendars are getting overwhelming public response for the last 6 months. Though an official delegation of parliamentarians knocked his doors this summer but he shut the doors on them with the contention that the delegation had not come to knock his door with an official mandate and a clearly defined agenda for political engagement on Kashmir issue. Presently heading the separatist alliance spearheading the current phase of public uprising Geelani commands the support and cooperation of even the tallest separatist leaders including the likes of Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah.
Q: Patience level of the people has come to a full circle and growing tendency of the people to resume normal activities are visible on the streets and markets in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir Valley. Keeping in view the present response of the people to protest calendars would there be any change in the strategy of the resistance leadership in continuing the current phase of resistance struggle?
Syed Ali Geelani: Yes, changes do take place. There were changes earlier and there will be changes in coming days as well.
Q: Civil Society groups are meeting people of cross section of society including resistance leaders, Journalists and Civil Society members. General belief about the visits of these Civil Society groups is that Government of India has started engagement under track II diplomacy in Kashmir. Resistance leaders excepting Yasin Malik have met these Civil Society groups. Why Yasin Malik refused to meet these groups. Is this kind of track II engagement acceptable to resistance leadership and what about the discussions these Civil Society groups have held with people of cross section of society so far?
Geelani: Why Yasin Sahab refused to meet, you can ask this question to Yaseen Sahab only and he is the best person to answer it. What we have talked to civil society has come already in media and what discussions they had with others only they can answer it.
Q: If Government of India declares Kashmir a dispute and extends offer of unconditional dialogue to resistance leadership would you accept such an offer of a dialogue without the involvement of Pakistan in dialogue process?
Geelani: Let government of India accept and declare it first then we will respond accordingly.
Q: In recent days some political workers have been killed. Do you thing that the current struggle is slowly and staidly shifting to eruption of yet another phase of high intensity armed struggle?
Geelani: We have always condemned innocent killings on political basis. Whether new phase of armed struggle erupts, only time will tell.
Q: Indiscipline shown by the youth to the extent of burning down private vehicles and school buildings has worried people. Though you made fervent appeals to youth not to in deluge in activities of arson resulting in huge loss to the public property but youth did not show the response which they should have shown to your appeals what is your response?
Geelani: Who where indulged in burning of the vehicles and schools it is to be ascertained first and it is the job of authorities to get to them. We have always condemned such actions and will continue doing so in future as well.
Q: Some Central ministers overseeing the current situation in Kashmir have already said that the current struggle will die down on its own as was experienced in the years 2008 and 2010. Obviously Home Minister thinks fatigue will force people to give in and normalcy will be restored. Do you think that uprisings erupt and consequently boil down on their own?
Geelani: Movements are not judged on the outcome of one phase. Freedom of nations is a long path to traverse. Different phases have different intensities. But the flame of freedom is live and will remain so.
Q: Do you see any difference in the handling of street protests between the present government headed by Mehbooba Mufti and the previous Omar Abdullah led NC-Congress coalition government?
Geelani: No, traitors and collaborators are same by conviction. They all have mortgaged their soul and mind and are only interested in power for which they can go to any extent, to get it even by trading the blood, flesh and honor of their own people.
Q: According to RBI guidelines the loans are to be recovered if borrowers fail to pay the monthly interest for three months. Four months have passed and banks have started acting against the defaulters. The business community hit by the unrest had though a meeting with JK bank chairman who assured them to restructure loan policy. However other banks have refused to offer any concession to the business community hit by unrest. What would be your response to the possible crackdown of the banks on the defaulters majority of home are running different kinds of business outlets in Valley?
Geelani: Banks, as we have already said, are on the mutual trust bond and any defaulter due to the circumstances beyond its control, should not be held responsible. If still banks force its clients to comply, it will be treated yet another mischievous act, at the behest of the aggressor to enforce the people to subjugation.
Kns/Kashmir Magazine/Kashmir Today
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Police arrest duo for making fake certificates
Some culprits still at large: Police
SRINAGAR: On the directions of Crime Branch, Jammu Kashmir Police have busted a fake certificate racket after raiding Goods Carrier Companies at Transport Nagar in Parimpora area of Srinagar city.
A group of people earlier this month had lodged a complaint in the Crime Branch that the owners of two Goods Carrier Companies have availed the services of a computer expert and they are making fake degree certificates, licenses, identity cards and bill books. The Crime Branch accordingly informed the police station Parimpora that raided the offices of both the companies and seized the computers as well as fake documents.
The Investigating Officer Abdul Rasheed told news agency CNS that they managed to arrest two accused from the spot and are on the lookout for four others. “It may be a big scam. We are investigating the matter and all efforts are on to nab the absconding persons involved in the fraud,” he said and identified the arrested accused as Computer Operator Aqib Ahmed Dar and Fayaz Ahmed Rather. (CNS)
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140 held for burning govt properties during Valley unrest
New Delhi: A total of 140 persons have been arrested while 96 cases have been registered in connection with the burning of government properties and schools during the recent unrest in Kashmir, the government told Parliament today.“During the civil unrest between July 8 to November 8, 39 government establishments were burnt and 39 government establishments were damaged apart from schools,” Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.He said, “96 cases have been registered and 140 people have been arrested till November 28.” He was replying to a question on what action had been taken on those involved in burning government properties and schools.In order to bring normalcy in the Valley, he said, after the “civil unrest since July 8, 2016, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have regularly reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.”“The Prime Minister held an all-party meeting in Delhi and the Home Minister has visited Srinagar two times and met the Governor and Chief Minister apart from all political parties, various organisations and associations as well as senior officials,” he said.Ahir said the Home Minister also “led an all-party delegation on September 4-5 to Srinagar and Jammu and met the Governor, Chief Minister and various cross-section of people of the state, including all parties, various organisations and associations as well as the senior officials.” “Distribution of essential commodities like food grains, sugar, milk, fruits, vegetables, LPG, kerosene, petrol among others was ensured to meet the needs of public at large,” he said. — PTI
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Polls are fought, will be fought with black money: Farooq Abdullah
New Delhi: Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday claimed that elections in India were fought using black money and would be continue to be so in future.“Elections are fought using black money and will continue to be so. Today for contesting parliamentary polls, one needs at least Rs 10 crore. The helicopters, large number of vehicles used during campaign, looking after party activists, from where does this money come from,” said Farooq in a television show while giving his views on if political parties should also declare details of donations below Rs 20,000, received by them.Under the Representation of People Act, 1951, political parties are required to submit contribution details received in excess of Rs 20,000. — IANS
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BJP leaders not on same page over Hurriyat invite to tourists
Party gen secy ridicules gesture while Central ministers all praise for it
Jammu: A day after Hurriyat leaders extended the invitation to tourists and yatris from across the country to visit Kashmir, BJP leaders spoke in differing voices while reacting to the separatists’ appeal. National general secretary Ram Madhav today said the action of the separatists depicted their hypocrisy while Central ministers hailed the invite.Hurriyat leaders comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik on Tuesday invited tourists and yatris (pilgrims) to visit Kashmir and enjoy hospitality of people and beauty of paradise on the earth.Ridiculing separatist leaders’ invitation, Madhav said, “I think there is some spelling mistake in the invitation extended by the separatists to the tourists across the country. Instead of inviting terrorists they (Hurriyat leaders) have mistakenly extended invitation to the tourists.”Speaking to reporters after holding meetings with state BJP leaders, he said, “On one hand separatist leaders are pretending to be peace lovers by extending invitation to the tourists but simultaneously issuing shutdown calendars to spread bloodshed and destruction in the Valley.” He said, “tourism and shutdown calendar can’t go together.”Madhav, who is the architect of the PDP-BJP government in J&K, said Hurriyat leaders were the biggest hypocrites, creating trouble in restoring peace in the Valley.He also took National Conference president Farooq Abdullah to task for offering support to the Hurriyat Conference. On Monday, Farooq had said his party was ready to follow the separatists “till they are on the right path and are leading the nation in the right direction”. “It is very unfortunate and irresponsible statement. Don’t know what has gone wrong with the National Conference,” he said, adding that Farooq earlier used to criticise the Hurriyat and now he wanted to follow their path.Taking a dig at the recent statement of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for absolving Pakistan of its role in the current turmoil, the BJP stalwart said, “It is really surprising that Omar is advocating Pakistan and Farooq is toeing Hurriyat line.”Meanwhile, the Centre today hailed the separatist Hurriyat Conference’s invitation to tourists and pilgrims to visit the Kashmir Valley.Welcoming the “initiative,” Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma said, “My big salute goes to all those who support tourism, and yes, we are for it. The vision of our great Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is to see that the Valley comes back to life again. We are all prepared to see and ensure that the tourism industry in the Valley flourishes. If any step needs to be taken for that, we will come forward.”“Tourism will change the shape of the Valley and will bring the glory back…as a Tourism Minister I welcome their initiative and of course other calls will be taken by the Government of India,” Sharma told reporters in New Delhi.Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said everyone should promote tourism as Jammu and Kashmir had been “very, very important” for the sector.“If there is peace in the Valley, tourism will flourish there and if tourism increases, it will economically benefit the state and its people. Promotional tourism is absolutely necessary to revive the economy because it is a very important part of their social life,” Rijiju said. (TNS)
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480 Minimal Access Surgeries performed in JLNM hospital
Srinagar: In keeping with the need of performing surgeries using minimal access techniques the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir initiated a process of setting up a Minimal Access Surgical (MAS) Unit at District Level Hospitals by establishing a dedicated MAS unit at JLNM Hospital, Rainawari in June this year.
In a statement, DHSK said the Laparoscopic procedures have been a routine in JLNM Hospital along with various other peripheral District Hospitals in past, however the Directorate has come up with a dedicated MAS unit at JLNM Hospital.
“Minimal Access Surgery is a Division of General Surgery which is dedicated in performing surgical procedures using minimal access procedures whenever possible. As such, the division has become a leader in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries in the full range of sub-specialties,” reads the statement.
Adding the surgeons routinely employ minimal access techniques in most of abdominal disorders including hernias and conditions of the stomach, intestines, gallbladder and spleen.
The MAS unit at JLNM which under the supervision of Medical Superintendent, JLNM Hospital, Dr Nazir Shahdad is headed by Dr Hakeem Vaqar and assisted by Dr Akhtar Ganai.
DHSK said the unit has performed 480 Minimal Access Surgeries till date since its inception which include more than 393 Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies, 40 Laparoscopic Hernia Repair (Both Ventral & Groin), 25 Laparoscopic Appendectomies, 5 Minimally Invasive Procedure for Hemorrhoid (MIPH) besides cases of Laparoscopic Hydatid Liver Excision, Laparoscopic Management of Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancies, and Diagnostic Laparoscopy for Chronic Abdominal Pain and other surgical cases.
Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Saleem ur Rehman while appreciating the efforts of MS of JLNM Hospital and the Operative Team has directed the hospital administration to further upgrade the MAS unit of the hospital so as to provide better and quality healthcare to the patients. -
Jammu girl with no social media presence becomes Internet star
Jammu: A girl from a small village of Kathua district, Isha Andotra has become an overnight sensation on social networking sites like Facebook and Whatsapp. Isha hails from a small village Madha Patti in Mahanpur Tehsil, of Kathua district. She is a student of BA 2nd year at Mahanpur degree college.
Few days ago, while she was chilling out with her friends at Atal Setu Bridge, Basoli, she sang a song on demand of her friends. A few students recorded her video on their phone and posted it on Social Media.
Isha Andotra, BA second year student of Kathua district of Jammu, has become an Internet singing star after an amateur video of her Punjabi number became a chart buster notching 8.4 million views and 2.37 lakh shares on Facebook.
The video has been liked and shared by not just the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but many people from Punjab, HP, Delhi, Haryana, and other parts of the country have also appreciated the girl’s talent. Infact, people from Pakistan and other countries have also come forward to praise Isha’s voice.
It is pertinent to note here that Isha is not active on any of the social networking sites. She doesn’t even have a mobile phone. She told a local daily that the video was recorded by one of her friend and she didn’t know how the video got viral on FB and Whatsapp. She was on EVS exposure trip with college from where she went to Atal Setu Bridge with her friends. On their request, she sang a Punjabi song in a casual way.
Isha told PTK that “We had gone to Purthu to visit grasslands for our Environmental Sciences project. During the trip my friends insisted me to sing a song and I sang a few lines. I sang from my heart and all my friends and our staff members recorded it on their mobile phones”.
Isha’s parents told PTK that they are feeling proud, but they want their daughter to complete her education before opting any professional ambitions.
“It feels great to see and hear about her popularity. My suggestion to Isha is to complete her studies first and then see how things shape up”, said Isha’s mother.
Isha told PTK that I even don’t know who recorded and posted my video on Facebook and share on Whatsapp. I was surprise when Punjabi music directors Sachin Ahuja and many other directors called me and asked me to sing for their company”. She said that she and her sister have never received any formal training in music from any school or institution but they have been singing together in school and college events.
Isha told PTK that her sister is active social worker and love to do things that would add to the development of her village.
However the former principal of Mahanpur Degree College Y P Kundal told PTK that first her sister used to sing in college on occasions and it is a great pleasure to know that Isha has gained so much fame in a very short time. Kundal urges Isha to work hard to make her family and country feel proud of her. (PTK)