SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019 (PAGE 10) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Div Com reviews progress on works taken up in convergence mode Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma today chaired a high level meeting of Deputy Commissioners to review progress on works taken up for execution in the convergence mode. The meeting was attended by DG RDD, Rehana Batul, Director Horticulture, R K Srangal, Director Sericulture, Gulzar Ahmed, Director Agriculutre, H K Razdan, ACD Jammu, Aijaz Qasser and senior functionaries of concerned department besides all DCs of Jammu division attended the meeting through video confer- encing. The Div Com directed the DCs to develop Vermicompost units in all blocks of their respective districts. He also passed directions for develop- ment of ponds in all the districts. He directed the DCs to provide vacant Government land to departments for plantation. DC Poonch informed that they have identified land for plantation and the process of pit digging is in progress by Sericulture Department. He also apprised the Div Com of the land identified for development of play grounds in the district. DC Reasi informed that loca- tions for plantation have been identified and land has been handed over to departments for plantation. All the DCs apprised the Div Com of status of executed works in the convergence mode. The Div Com stressed on the plantation of fruit, mulberry trees and other plants in all the districts. He directed the depart- ments to hold joint meetings of Agriculture, Sericulture and Horticulture to develop inter department coordination for the purpose. He asked DCs of Jammu, Samba and Kathua to identify land for bamboo plantation in their respective districts in view of the potential and scope in these areas. He directed ACDs of all the districts to facilitate departments for plantation and other developmental activities. Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma chairing a meeting on Saturday. Dr K C Sharma gets ASI Social Services Award Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: Dr K C Sharma, Surgeon Specialist, Udhampur, has been honoured with "ASI Social Service Award 2018" during the annual confer- ence of Association of Surgeons of India, held recently at Chennai. The award, consisting of citation, certificate and shield memento, was presented by Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of ASI presi- dent Dr Dilip Gode and all Executive members and partic- ipant Surgeons from all over the country in the conference Dr K C Sharma completed his MBBS in 1965 from GMC, Srinagar and MS (General Surgery) from MAM College, New Delhi. He has served all along in remotest rural areas of J&K extending from Ladakh to Lakhanpur and Poonch to Doda. He is also doing many social services for the poor and needy people. He has devel- oped many new Innovations in surgery with minimum resources Jammu & Kashmir State chapter has instituted Dr K C Sharma Oration every year to the eminent Surgeon from India in recognition of his con- tribution. CS reviews arrangements for training of Sarpanches from Jan 15 Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 12: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam chaired a meet- ing through video conference today with Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Sheetal Nanda, Director General Development Department Jammu Rehana Batul, Director Panchayati Raj, Director Rural Development Department Kashmir, Qazi Sarwar and all Deputy Commissioners for reviewing the arrangements for trainings to the elected Sarpanches of J&K to be imparted at all district headquarters from 15th January to 7th February 2019. He reviewed in detail the arrangements regarding the training venues and also board- ing and lodging facilities for Sarpanches. He directed all Deputy Commissioners to accord all seriousness to the trainings and personally inaugu- rate the trainings. He said that such training programmes would go a long way in building capacities of the elected repre- sentatives and help them to chalk out their roles and respon- sibilities and enable them to dis- charge their duties more effi- ciently. While complimenting the efforts of the Deputy Commissioners in making Panchayat elections successful, the Chief Secretary reiterated the importance of Panchayats and directed the DCs to ensure the system takes roots in the state. He also directed the DCs to ensure all Panchayats have working space, bank accounts and frontline workers nominated by all departments. Secretary, Rural Development, Sheetal Nanda, on the occasion, briefed the par- ticipants about the course mod- ule and other arrangements done by the Department for the train- ings. She urged the DCs to ensure the sarpanches attend the trainings without fail as they would lead them towards the desired goal of self reliance. Impressive procession, cultural events mark Lohri celebrations Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: On the eve of Lohri Festival, various func- tions were organized across Jammu region, besides a proces- sion from Mubarak Mandi to Shri Raghunath Temple. To celebrate the Festival, Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan (DSS) organized a simple and impressive function in which families and friends of all the office bearers, members of cen- tral working committees, CWC and frontal organizations partic- ipated. Choudhary Lal Singh along with his family including his wife Ex-MLA Kanta Andotra greeted all the members of the DSS in particular and the whole Dogra community in general. The program started with the burning wood crackles and dis- tributing 'Gur' and peanuts to all the office bearers. While addressing the gather- ing, Lal Singh said that this fes- tival symbolizes that the seeds that lay dormant for the want of heat, now sprout forthwith. Similarly this year is going to be the year of Dogras and all sorts of maltreatment and discrimina- tion will come to an end and a new era: an era of prosperity, justice for all, and above all, equal opportunities both to the weaker and the stronger shall be there. He also greeted the veter- ans on the eve of Veterans Day, falling on 14 Jan, and wished them and their families' happi- ness and good health. In its efforts to revive the disappearing Dogra cultural ethos, Team Jammu along with Jammu Heritiage Society and Jammu Dogra Warriors today organized impressive Lohri pro- cession to educate the younger generation about age old tradi- tions of Jammu region. Team Jammu along with other organizations and with the involvement of youth, elderly and prominent people organized a Lohri procession, that started from historical Mubarak Mandi complex-seat of erstwhile Dogra rulers and culminated at the world famous Shri Raghunath Temple before passing through different routes of the city including Chowk Chabutra, Jain Bazar, Link Road, Purani Mandi, Center Basic School Road, Old Hospital Road, Super Bazaar, City Chowk, Kanak Mandi and Rajinder Bazar. In Dogra attires, hundreds of youth, children and elderly, who participated in the procession, reminded the elders of Maharaja's days when such dresses were wore by one and all. Route of the procession was especially decorated with buntings, flowers and banners. Various shopkeeper associa- tions, from Mubarak Mandi to Raghunath Bazar had set up stalls of water, juice, fruits and dry fruits to welcome the partic- ipants who were beating dhols and singing traditional Dogri songs. People welcomed the procession including Nat Manch artists and school children per- forming Dhandiya at several places by showering flower petals. The historical event was organized to revive the old tradi- tion when erstwhile Dogra rulers used to celebrate Lohri in simi- lar way by taking out a proces- sion from Mubarak Mandi. Memory of Maharaja Hari Singh's time was refreshed in the mind of elderly people of the walled city when Lohri proces- sion passed through their locali- ties. While culminating the pro- cession outside Shri Raghunath ji Temple by lighting firewood and jointly performing 'Argg' with recitation of 'Gayatri Mantra" by one and all, the speakers including, Chairman of Team Jammu, Zorawar Singh Jamwal, president, Jammu Heritage Society, Bhuvneshwar Gandtora, chairman, Jammu Dogra Warriors, Varun Magotra and cultural wing head of Team Jammu and noted Dogri poet, Thakura Randheer Singh Raipuria, stated that aim of today's event is to educate younger generation about our cultural festivals like Lohri. Folk group dancers includ- ing Dhani Ram from Dansal and Raj Kumar from Bajalta exhibit- ed spell bound performances that earned applauses from city residents and even tourists from Kashmir valley and other states of the country. A 'Chhaja' mak- ing competition was also organ- ized on the occasion. Convener of Vishav Kashmiri Samaj and former Commissioner, JMC, Kiran Wattal along with number of KP youths and elderly also partici- pated in the event and wished people on the eve of Lohri. To celebrate the Lohri Festival, JKAACL sub-office Kathua organized a unique pro- gramme at the historical Fort of Samba. Vikas Gupta, Additional Deputy Commissioner Samba was the chief guest whereas Dr Koushal Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Samba was the guest of honour on the occasion. The programme started with the vibrant singing of C S Kattal who made everyone spellbound with his singing. This was fol- lowed by the mesmerizing per- formances of Prem Singh, Mohinder Kumar and Sonia Dogra & Party who gave the performances of Dogri Folk dance, Jagarna and Dogri Folk. The major attraction of the pro- gramme was the performance of Hern by Rajkumar and party & Suhaag by Suman Lata and Party. Advisor emphasises on creation of ample & gainful employment opportunities for women folk Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: Lauding the role of Women’s Development Corporation towards promotion of the inter- ests of women folk in the State with focus on underprivileged segments, Advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmed Ganai today emphasized on the need on creat- ing ample and gainful employ- ment opportunities for women enabling them to live a dignified life. “Raising their living standard will enable them to contribute towards growth and development of the society with added vigor and energy” he added. The Advisor, who is also the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Women’s Development Corporation (JKWDC) was speaking at the 24th meeting of Board of Directors of the Corporation, here today. Principal Secretary Finance, Navin Choudhary, Secretary Social Welfare Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, Director General Planning Development and Monitoring Department Shahzada Bilal Ahmad, Managing Director, JKWDC Naheed Soz and other members of BoD including Prof. Yasmeen Ashai, Dr. Kavita Suri and Muslim Jan were present at the meeting. The meeting was informed that the Corporation is imple- menting a number of develop- mental schemes for socio-eco- nomic uplift of women with spe- cial focus on those living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and also for the qualified women entrepre- neurs. After detailed deliberations, several important decisions were taken by the Board for better management of the affairs of the Corporation. The board meeting approved proposals including implementa- tion of 7th Pay Commission for the staff, brand name for the products of JKWDC, proposal for purchase of land for construc- tion of office complex at Jammu, etc. The Chairman asked JKWDC for identification and promotion of more women entrepreneurs, organizing awareness camps and identifying women for activities which make them more empow- ered. He stressed on giving prior- ity to far-off and uncovered areas so that women living there can be benefited by the schemes of JKWDC. The Chairman also directed JKWDC to participate in National and state level exhibi- tions, trade fairs to display and sell the products of the women beneficiaries. The Board members observed that there is huge scope of employment opportunities for women under JKWDC schemes and for this purpose a well knit strategy shall be framed to reach out to the socially and eco- nomically backward women for their socio-economic uplift . Later, the Advisor Khurshid Ahmed Ganai along with Board members released the “Calendar” of JKWDC for the year 2019-20. Advisor Khurshid Ganai chairing a meeting on Saturday. Nat Manch artists performing Dhandiya during Lohri pro- cession in Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh MVM holds programme on ‘Role of media’ to pay tributes to Maharishi Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: Maharishi Vidhya Mandir (MVM) Jammu celebrated 102nd birth anniver- sary of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi here today. The day was desig- nated as the "Age of Enlightened Day". On this occasion, S K Sharma, Additional Income Tax Commissioner, was the chief guest while some media per- sonalities were among the guest of honour. The Additional Income Tax Commissioner, S K Sharma, while delivering his lecture as a chief guest, stressed on moral values, which, he said, are important for a journey, called life. In a very simple way, he narrated the values of life to the students. Delivering his lecture in Dogri language on the request of students, Sharma said, "we should be thankful to the Almighty that we are born in India. This country is a huge source of learning of moral val- ues. Indian culture and tradi- tions have taught many lessons to the world." Deepak Khajuria, a senior journalist presently working with The News Now, spoke on the topic of "Media's influence on the society". Khajuria said, can influence society in a nega- tive as well as in positive way. Citing certain examples, he referred to the values as well as merits and demerits of social media platforms. He discussed the role of digital media in the present era in steering the soci- ety. Avdesh Chouhan, a senior journalist from Dainik Jagran, said that the media of the day is playing an outstanding role in creating and shaping public opinion for strengthening the society. He said that media is sword arm of democracy. Balram Saini from Punjab Kesri spoke on the topic "Role of media in digital India". To an extent, he said, digital media is a common platform for peo- ple to raise their voice and uti- lize their freedom of speech. The Principal, Rita Sharma, in her speech, said that the day was dedicated to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Addl Income Tax Commissioner and others paying tributes to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi during a programme on Saturday. JKEDI discusses Startup Policy with BBIA Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: In the ongoing endeavour to promote innovation-based startups in the State under the J&K Startup Policy - 2018, the Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) today held a meeting with Bari Brahmna Industrial Association (BBIA) here. Dr. M.I Parray, Director JKEDI, Tufail Mattoo, Executive Director JKEDI, Dr. Majid Manzoor Khan, Chief Faculty JKEDI, Lalit Mahajan, President BBIA, Suresh Mahajan, Senior Vice-President BBIA, Vivek Singhal, Secretary BBIA, Ritesh Mahajan, Secretary Association of Industries, Samba and other concerned attended the meeting. The meeting was conducted to provide detailed insight into the J&K Startup Policy and the incentives/benefits available to the registered Startups offered under the policy. A threadbare discussion was conducted with respect to vari- ous aspects of the Startup Policy like Incubation Facilities, Assistance for Product Research & Development/Marketing/Publici ty, Funding Facilities, Energy Assistance, Tax Benefits as well as Infrastructure Support and the importance of having a synergic relationship between JKEDI and industrial fraternity of J&K to create the first of its kind investors network namely Jammu & Kashmir Angel Network (JKAN) and Jammu and Kashmir Venture Capital Network (JKVCN). The meeting resolved that there is an urgent need to facili- tate the creation of innovation- based Startups in the State which in today’s world are considered as the drivers of economic and social solidity. JKEDI has been designated as State Nodal Agency for the implementation of the J&K Startup Policy-2018 which was rolled out in September 2018 by the Government. The meeting was one among the various endeavours taken up by the Institute for the success- ful and effective implementation of the policy. Tributes paid to martyr Mangal Singh Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Jan 12: Former minister and DCC Kathua, pres- ident Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and several other Congress func- tionaries and locals today paid homage to Shaheed Mangal Singh at his home place village Ladoli, in Panchayat Mangloor. Mangal Singh had sacrificed his life for the nation while fighting the terrorist at Shah Post, in dis- trict Poonch on Janaury 12, 2002. Dr Sharma said Mangal Singh is now a role model for many youth of the area and he set true example of honesty, ded- ication and love for his country by sacrificing his life. He further a nation should never forget its martyrs and also war veterans and stated that its our duty to remember and hon- our the supreme sacrifices made by them. He thanked the war veterans present during the function and said people should feel proud and blessed that such great people are within us who served country in tough times and made the Dogras proud. He pointed out that Kathua district has history of serving in defence and making sacrifices for the nation. During the function people made demand of renaming the link road after the martyr to which Dr Sharma said that he will take up their demand with the Govt. He said families of martyrs didn't get adequate financial help from the State Govt as compared to compensa- tion to other states. He request- ed the Governor to provide ade- quate compensation/ ex- gratia to the family of the martyr. On this occasion, Subedar Major, Jagjeet Singh from 15 JAK Rifles along with his team paid floral tributes to the Shaheed Mangal Singh. The function concluded with singing of National Anthem and homage to two Army personnel and a porter who attained martyrdom yesterday while fighting terrorist at Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors. Subhash Gupta (Ex MLC), Prem Kumar (Ex MLA), Dharam Singh, Capt Gian Singh Pathania, Capt Manohar Singh, Karam Chand Khajuria, Dalbir Sethi, Sarpanches Kulbhushan Singh and family members of Shaheed Mangal Singh and oth- ers were also present. Cong leaders and others paying tributes martyr Mangal Singh at Mangloor in Kathua on Saturday. ‘Prepare, submit action plan for LS elections’ Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: The Legal, Human Rights & RTI Department of All India Congress Committee held a meeting here today with all State Chairmen of the Legal, Human Right and RTI Department of respective Pradesh Congress Committees at party headquar- ters, New Delhi. The meeting was headed by National Chairman of Legal, Human Rights & RTI Department, Vivek Tankha (MP) and was administered by the National Secretary Legal, Human Rights & RTI Department AICC, Vipul Maheahwari. It was attended by Ahmad Patel MP, Abhishek Manu Singhvi MP and Chairmen of different States across the coun- try. All the State Chairmen submit- ted the work report to the department. In the meeting Tankha asked all the Chairmen to prepare and sub- mit the action plan for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 and stressed that lawyers are the opinion makers of the society and should play the vital role in opinion making against the present government. Vipul Maheshwari in his address stressed to complete the organizational structure and get ready for the combat role in the major fight against the alleged fascist Government in coming general elections. Senior Congress leaders during a meeting at New Delhi. BJP’s exit from Jammu will lead to ‘Achhe Din’: Harsh Excelsior Correspondent MARH, Jan 12: Former min- ister and NPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh today said that the party which rose to power on the slo- gans of empowerment of Jammu and 'Achhe Din' winning 25 seats in the State Assembly and both seats of Parliament gave the shocker of their lifetimes to its electorates by its cowardly surren- ders and compromises on almost all Jammu related issues during its 3½ years rule. Addressing public meeting at Gho Manasan in Marh constituen- cy today, Harsh Dev said that not only did the tall promises made in the Election manifesto by the BJP recede into the oblivion but Jammu region was pushed to terminal decline only to appease the Kashmir centric forces. He said that while our already negligible share in services and development declined to lowest level, the Dogra pride received the severest dents during the said rule. The nightmar- ish experiences of BJP rule will continue to haunt the people of Jammu for years, said Singh. "The educated youth of Jammu who were assured of jobs and gainful employment were made to languish on the roads. Their share particularly in state level services reached an all time low. In several select lists issued by PSC and SSB the youth of Jammu region got hardly 4-5% share. The last few years wit- nessed these youth engaged in spree of protests outside recruit- ment agencies with none to even listen to their grievances. The lead- ers in whom they reposed their faith, abandoned them and took sides with their Kashmir based masters. The people of Jammu region had to resort to protest and demonstrations to get a few hun- dred posts of SPOs. And while the highly educated youth of Jammu region were ignored and given step motherly treatment, the BJP rule witnessed announcements of doles and schemes for stone-pel- ters and surrendered militants", said Singh. "What happened to tall slogans on Tawi Artificial Lake project which came to a grinding halt dur- ing BJP regime? What's the progress on Mubarak Mandi Heritage project which appears to have been put in cold storage after BJP ascended to power? And what happened to BJP slogans of con- struction of flyovers, development of Jammu as Smart City, beautifi- cation of historical Raghunath Bazaar, launching of metro in Jammu city, promotion of tourism besides delimitation of Assembly constituencies, and so on, " ques- tioned Harsh Dev. NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh addressing public meeting on Saturday. National Youth Day celebrated with enthusiasm, zeal Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: National Youth Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and zeal to commemo- rate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. National Youth Day was cele- brated with great enthusiasm by the Ramakrishna Mission of Jammu and local school children at the Mission premises at Udheywala, here today. The celebration was inaugurat- ed by the chief guest Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu along with guest of honour Prof Vishwa Raksha, HOD Sociology, Jammu University and Swami Nirantarananda Maharaj, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission's Jammu Ashram. Sunita Thusoo Managing Director of the 7 SEAS International Education Gandhi Nagar was also present on the occasion. National Youth Day was cele- brated at Vivekananda Auditorium by conducting lectures, cultural programs, drama, musical play and various other performances by the local students. Approximately 450 persons including students, devo- tees and local people gathered for the celebration. Various items including violin play by Suresh, Kathak Dance by Rumika Kumari, Group Dances by coaching centre students, recitation by Ketan Kashyap, speeches on various topics on youth and Swamiji's vision by Sakshi Sharma, Arti, Sunita Thussu, Pradeep Ghordi and Manik Slathia, etc were presented on the occasion. The play "Shaheed Bhagat Singh" by Vishal and his group made the environment nationalistic and emotionally charged. In the end, vote of thanks was presented by Kuldeep Khajuria. All J&K Youth Federation (AJKYF) paid rich tributes to Swami Vivekanand on his 156th birth anniversary on the occasion of National Youth Day in the pres- ence of Arjun Sharma, Convener, AJKYF here today. Prominent among those who participated were Sanjay Sandhu, Haroon Rashid, Nakul Sharma, Fazal-ul-Haq Choudhary, Shah Nawaz Khaki, Sahil Jamwal, Er Ankit Sharma, Rahul Dev Singh, Er Akshay Raina, Advocate SS Khajuria, Shatmanyu Sharma, Abheet Sangotra, Ankush Sharma, Swarit Mahajan, Kamal Verma, Bilal Ahmed, Sohail Raiyaz, Sharaz Akhter and Durga Deep Singh. Swami Vivekananda Jayanti was celebrated at Bawa Kailakh Dev Mandir, Thather Bantalab. Member Human Rights commis- sion Chander Mohan Sharma was the chief guest, while Corporator Kuldeep Singh Chib, Advocate Adarsh Bhagat, Sarpanch Ashok, Ex-MLA Bharat Bhushan, Er Palvi Verma, Sarpanch Mishriwala, Kishore Sharma Sarpanch Nagrota and many others were present on the occasion. The function was hosted by Shakti Dutt Sharma, Vice President Vishav Hindu Parishad. In the end, Committee President Ram Pal Seth presented vote of thanks. Pathania serves legal notice to PDD for defaming him as defaulter Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 12: Former MLA R S Pathania has served a legal notice upon the Commissioner/Secretary Power Development Department seek- ing compensation of Rs 20 lakh as damages for defaming him as defaulter on account of electricity arrears. The legal notice has been served through Advocate Ajaz Iqbal Parihar in response to the disconnection notice published in newspaper and revealing R S Pathania’s name as a defaulter besides showing wrong amount to be recovered from him. Explaining that the bill amounting to Rs 15,40,303 is mostly on account usage of earli- er allottees and the interest there- of, the legal notices further says that not even a single Dasti notice was issued to Pathania by PDD before publishing his name as defaulter, which has tarnished image of former MLA in the eyes of public. “It is accordingly called upon you to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to my client (R S Pathania) as damages for defam- ing him on account of wrongful act of your department failing which, I will initiate legal pro- ceedings against you in the appro- priate court of law,” the legal notice reads.