Ruckus in Assembly, Legislator Injured
C M Y K S at u r day 18 28 March 2015 Srinagar today : Sunny kashmir Mediterranean diet has low carbon footprint: Study Maximum : 17o Minmum : 5o humidity : 65% 8 SunSet today : 6:45 PM SunriSe 07 JAMAD UL Sani | 1436 Hijri | Vol: 18 | Issue: 68 | Pages : 08 | Price: `3 tommrow: 6:32 aM w w w. k a s h m i r o b s e r v e r. n e t t w i t t e r. c o m / k a s h m i r o b s e r v e r f a c e b o o k . c o m / k a s h m i r o b s e r v e r Wisdom Dispensing With 90:10 Funding Pattern Will Have Serious Implications for JK: Mufti The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. demands “Minimum guaranteed devolution” to States at niti ayog Meet ..........Ayn Rand PDP-BJP Panel Holds Meet Srinagar: The first meeting of PDP and BJP government’s Coordination Committee is scheduled to be held in Jammu later this evening. Sources said the meeting would be held at the official residence of Chief Minister Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed at 8 pm. “The meeting will be presided over by the BJP leader and Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Singh and attended by all the members of the newly formed Coordination Committee.” A member of CC told KNS that in the first meeting issues in common minimum programme would Page 6 183 JK youth join army Srinagar: One hundred eighty three youth from the J&K were inducted into the Indian Army on Friday at J&K Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Srinagar. Singing their Regimental Song, the young soldiers took the oath to devote their lives to protect India from all odds. These Young Soldiers called themselves singularly privileged to join this illustrious regiment which is the only one in the entire Indian Army to have been raised by the brave Page 6 Sistani calls for unity BagHDaD: Iraq's most revered cleric on Friday called for unity among the country's forces battling the ISIS after most of the Shia militias pulled out of the offensive in the militant-held city of Tikrit in protest over US airstrikes there. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's appeal came a day after the militias, which had been instrumental so far in the sucesses, announced their boycott of the Tikrit offensive. The U.S. got involved in the operation and started providing Page 6 Cop Goes Missing From Ganderbal SRINAGAR: A Head Constable of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has gone missing from central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, reports said on Friday. According to a police officials, Mohammad Shafi Parray (belt no. 02/ BD) of Wussun Ganderbal went missing since today morning. He had not returned till last reports came in. Parray, according to the officials, is on the rolls of District Budgam and has been absent from duty for the last Page 6 H1N1: 482 Test Positive in 2015 Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government today said that 482 patients have been tested positive for H1N1 influenza in the state in 2015 with seven suspected deaths due to swine flu. In a reply to a joint question of several members in Legislative Council, Minister for Health Choudhary Lal Singh said that health institutions of the state have reported 26 deaths which include seven Page 6 Do You Get Your Copy of kashmir Observer regularly? If Not Contact Circulation Incharge: Pervez Ahmad 9419565003 Or 210 6304 Observing nature from balcony made with exquisite Kashmiri design at Badamwari gives a differet feel- Pix courtesy muhammad aslam GoI’s refusal to transfer power projects to JK Ruckus in Assembly, Legislator Injured Jammu: Pandemonium marred the proceedings of legislative assembly on Friday as opposition members gathered near the speaker's podium amid slogan shouting and noise against governments alleged failure to bring states back power projects from NHPC. Reports said stormy scenes were witnessed in both the houses of Legislative Assembly with the opposition parties National Conference and Congress cornering government over its ‘failure’ in bringing back the power projects from NHPC and NC legislator Abdul Majeed Bhat was injured during a scuffle with the marshals during the protest. The house was adjourned after former chief minister Omar Abdullah led the protesting members who came in the well. Page 6 Why india Admires Atal Bihari? Will go beyond Uri and Dulhasti: Mehbooba Srinagar: PDP Friday said it will not confine its approach to the return of Uri-I and Dulhasti power projects from NHPC but explore all options to make J&K rich in power resources. The PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that besides exploring the modalities of returning Uri-I and Dulhasti to Jammu and Kashmir, the party is striving to revise all royalties and would ensure that the state get its due share. “We have put forward our point and pitched for one of six ultra mega thermal projects at Madhya Pradesh,” Mehbooba said, adding that the PDP will go beyond the demand of Uri and Dulhasti’s return. She maintained that the party will rectify the “wrongs committed by the National Conference in the past and gave away the projects of the state against petty political gains.” “We have the tenure of six years and we want to assure that the biggest problem faced by the people of the state is of power and same will be addressed during the present dispensation. Everything is in black and white. There is nothing hidden from the people of the state,” Mehbooba Page 6 BJp favours return of power projects Srinagar: The deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh Friday said the government is committed in bringing back the power projects from NHPC to state as mentioned in CMP between the PDP and BJP. Dr Singh while talking to reporters outside the Legislative Assembly termed the uproar by the NC and Congress as an attempt to gain ‘cheap publicity’. He said that he has already held some talks with the Union power minister over the return of the Page 6 2014 Floods SC Seeks Status Report from JK Govt nEW DELHi:- One of India’s most charismatic leaders, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna today, is lauded as a statesman politician whose acceptability across the board broke barriers pitchforking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to centrestage of politics in the late 90s. It was Vajpayee’s sway that brought new allies to BJP, then considered a virtual untouchable in view of its rightist leanings, especially after demolition of Babri Masjid, in 1998. An orator par excellence and known for taking bold initiatives, notable being the attempt to bridge Indo-Pak differences, Vajpayee reached far beyond his BJP’s nationalist political agenda. Page 6 nEW DELHi: The Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today stated that dispensing with the 90:10 funding pattern for Centrally-sponsored Schemes (CSSs) for Special Category states will have serious implications for J&K which is strategically located and has seen a difficult period since 1947. He said states like J&K and the North East, which have huge locational disadvantages coupled with challenging security scenario, will be severely handicapped if the 90:10 funding pattern is done away with. "We have seen a turnaround for the better in these states now. The recommendations to change funding pattern and de-link some Centrallysponsored schemes from Union support will seriously hamper the implementation of these schemes in a state like ours," said the Chief Minister. Mufti was speaking in NITI Ayog here today during the meeting of the Sub-Group of 10 Chief Ministers, a think-tank constituted for rationalization of Centrally-sponsored Schemes. Minister for Finance, Dr. Haseeb. A. Drabu, Principal Secretary, Planning & Development, B. R. Sharma and Principal Resident Commissioner, J&K, L. D. Jha also participated. The meeting, which was chaired by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, was also attended by the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Nagaland, besides the Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. While suggesting cutting down CSSs to 17 Mega Schemes only from the present 66, the Chief Minister said Page 6 Authorities say elderly people had natural deaths BaramuLLa: Three people, two of them women, died at the district hospital in Baramulla due to the alleged negligence of the doctors sparking off strong protests by the attendants on Friday. Sumander Faqeer, 70, of Boniyar, Bakhti Begum, 65, Hajra Begum, 70, both residents of Rafiabad died at the district hospital after being allegedly administered expired dextrose by the paramedics on Thursday, witnesses said. Many patients also experienced shivering after they were administered dextrose by the medicos in the ward No 1 of the hospital, they said. The deaths due to alleged negligence triggered protests by the attendants and the locals outside the hospital. Shouting slogans against Page 6 ‘Kashmir first, Kashmiri first’ Srinagar: A division bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice U.U. Lalit Friday directed the Advocate-General of J&K Government to provide status report to the court regarding the distribution of relief to the flood victims in J&K, reports said. Supreme Court was hearing a writ petition filed by J&K National Panthers Party and others for the distribution of equitable relief in cash and kind to the victims of floods and rain in Jammu and Kashmir in September, 2014. Supreme Court granted four weeks to the Jammu and Kashmir government to file its status report. 300 people Died in Sept Floods: govt Medical ‘Negligence’ Claims 3 Lives in Baramulla Hurriyat (M) Raises New Slogan Srinagar: Government on Friday said that 300 people died and 25 suffered injuries in floods that battered the state last September. Responding a question in Legislative Council, Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Basharat Bukhari said that due to floods of 2014 in the state 300 people died and 25 persons were injured. He further said that apart from damage Page 6 Srinagar: Pitching for inclusion of people of Kashmir in Indo-Pak talks, Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said his amalgam will start a Valley wide campaign named ‘Kashmir first, Kashmiri first’. “We have neither given the right to India, nor to Pakistan for speaking on behalf of us,” Mirwaiz said amid slogans while addressing Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here. He said that the people of Kashmir are the primary stake holders during the dialogue process between India and Pakistan for the resolution of Kashmir issue. “We will not allow India to dictate terms as Kashmiris are the main stake holders while as India and Pakistan come second. We are not the cannon fodder that could be intimated about their fate while India and Pakistan sit and talk,” the Huriyat (M) chairman said. He maintained that the bilateral talks over Kashmir have so far failed yield any results with the Kashmir issue hanging since decades. “We will present our case ourselves as there is no one who knows better than us the pain that we had to undergo during the conflict. Our stand is clear and that is Kashmir first and Kashmiri first during the Indo-Pak talks over Kashmir resolution,” said Mirwaiz. He added that his amalgam in near future is starting a Page 6 Indian market deluged by discarded medical devices from ‘developed’ world mumBai: Poor regulation and lack of indigenisation in India’s multibillion dollar healthcare sector, has set off a rampant trend of ‘dumping’ of medical equipment by first-world nations, say reports. In their quest to meet the massive demand for ‘certified’ medical equipment especially in the cardiac and orthopaedic sectors, markets like India, and even China, Uganda and Nigeria have turned into destinations for “diversion of unwanted stocks” from the first world. Patients in these countries end up being fleeced unwittingly by companies looking for fatter margins, and are also delivered either unnecessary products or pre-used and substandard hand-me-downs. While complaints have started to flood in from across the developing world, China led the pack, instituting a probe last year, against western and Japanese medical device makers for selling dialysis kits at exorbitant prices in comparison to indigenous versions. Recently, Uganda and Nigeria complained about poorly-calibrated, old machines being dumped in their hospitals in the name of donations. TOI reports that domestic manufacturers in India, have also repeatedly petitioned government officials about the need to indigenise this sector quickly for similar reasons. Indian manufacturers blame poorly-controlled Chinese companies for exporting low-priced equipment of questionable quality to this country. Spot Light The problem is complex with a range of stakeholders calling the shots in an environment open to exploitation in the absence of requisite legal frameworks or checks and balances. The main charge against the ‘dumpers’ is that, not only are they imposing medical devices on developing nations, the gadgets are being 'sold at inflated prices' by first-world countries and trading companies. 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ORDeR No298(DRDK of 2015 DATeD:25.03.2015 Pursuant to the selection and recommendation made by service selection Board J&K, Jammu and received from administrative department vide reference captioned supra, sanction is hereby accorded to the temporary appointment of below named cahdidates ágainst the post of Junior assistant (Rural dev. department) district Cadre Kulgam in the pay scale of Rs. 5200-20200 ( Grade Pay Rs.1900) with immediate effect:s.no name of the candidate Parentage address Category 1 ashaq Hussain dhobi abdul Rashid dhobi Mangalpora devsar Kulgam 0M/0sC 2 Rais afzal Wani Mohd afzal Wani dadipora Kulgam 0M The appointees shall be on probation for a period of two years as prescribed under rules. The candidates shall. report to Project Officer Wage Umployment (aCU) Kulgam who shall allow them to join only after production of the following certificares/documents in original:- 1. Qualification certificates/Marks Certificares. 2. Date of birth certificate. 3. 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Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh Father of saiqa Mushtaq add.:- Bona dialgam anantnag KMR. Printer, Publisher & Editor: SAJJAD HAIDER | Published from: Residency Road, SGR | Editorial: 9419004782,0194- 2456304 Corporate office: Wani Manzil Top Floor Lambert Lane, SGR-1 Circulation: 9419565003, Switch Board: (2106304 | Email- (Editorial) : editor@kashmirobserver.net |Email- (Advertising) : advt@kashmirobserver.net Printed at: K T Press Private Limited Rangreth Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir SATURdAy 28 03 2015 Kashmir Observer NEWS Migratory Birds Bid Adieu To Kashmir Valley more than 800,000 migratory birds of various species spent the winter in water bodies and bird reserves in the Kashmir Valley. For the first time, Lone's department conducted the Asian water birds' census in the valley along with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). "It was Bharat Ratna fitting recognition of Vajpayee’s illustrious career: Mufti NEW DELHI – Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today described the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as one of the tallest visionary statesmen of the country. He said conferring Bharat Ratna on him is a fitting recognition of his illustrious Political career. The Chief Minister said this while attending a function here today where the former Prime Minister received the prestigious award from the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. Describing Vajpayee as one of the most outstanding Prime Ministers of the country in the post-Independence era, Mufti said he believed in taking the country forward through consensus and reconciliation. Praising Vajpayee’s efforts during his tenure as Prime Minister in taking peace initiatives in the State, the Chief Minister said Vajpayee is still admired in J&K for his historic initiatives in engaging all stakeholders in a constructive and meaningful dialogue. Class 9th Passing out student killed in parade held in accident Rangreth Srinagar: A 15-year-old boy died after a the vehicle he was driving colloided with a speedy truck at Lawaypora near HMT in the outskirts of Srinagar city on Friday morning. The victim was identified as Hatim Latif Zargar, a class 9 student of a private school. Police sources said the deceased along with his friend Momin Ahmed Pandit was on way towards his residence Umarabad Zainakot in his vehicle (JK0AS-391) when the speedy truck (JK13C-5411) rammed the vehicle causing the death of the boy on the spot. His friend Momin Pandit suffered critical injuries and was rushed to nearby hospital. The truck driver whom police identifed as Fayaz Ahmed Dagoo of Kakapora Pulwamma was arrested soon after the accident. “A case vide FIR number 66/2015 has been registered and the investigation has been taken up,” Station House Officer Police Station Parimpora Muhammad Ayoub said. Srinagar: The Passing Out Parade of 99th batch of the young boys from Kashmir, trained and transformed into soldiers was held at Bana Singh Parade Ground of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre, Rangreth on Friday. On this day the young soldiers will be completing 42 weeks of strenuous training. Parents and relatives of the newly recruited soldiersalong with a number of civil and military dignitaries attended the function. An army official from Chinar Corps said that a vibrant national sprit was visible among the trainees who passed out after rigorous training. “Army is continuing to provide opportunity to youth for employment in Armed Forces and even organising pre-recruitment training at numerous places across valley. Large number of youth have benefitted from these efforts," he said adding that parents feel proud for their sons joining Armed Forces. National Lok Adalat on April 11 at Anntnag ANANTNAG: A National Lok Adalat is proposed to be held at CJM’s Court Anantnag under the Chairmanship of Chairman Tehsil Legal Services Committee Anantnag on April 11, 2015 in which Labour, family matters etc pending and pre-litigation matters shall taken up for amicable settlement. Special Mobile Magistrate, District Mobile Magistrate, Anantnag and Munsiff (JMIC) Anantnag are requested to identify the cases in their respective court to this office by or before April 09, 2015. Interested parties who desire to put their cases in said Lok Adalat are directed to approach the concerned courts at Anantnag. ADC attaches four officials BARAMULLA: On the directions of Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Additional Deputy Commissioner, today attached four officials of Chief education office Baramulla, viz., Deputy Chief Education officer, District Planning officer, Section Officer and Junior Assistant to the office of Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla. Meanwhile, the enquiry Committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner has been constituted for investigating the large scale transfer orders issued by Ex-Chief Education Officer in education department after the transfer of the CEO. 2 more test positive for Swine Flu Srinagar- Two more persons were tested positive for deadly virus Swine Flu in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura on Friday, an official said here. PRO SKIMS, Kulsoom Bhat in a statement issued to GNS said the toll of infected persons have climbed to 401 in Kashmir Valley. However, the spokesperson said, no death was reported in last 24 hours. a voluntary effort which will now be a regular feature." The migratory birds have been coming to Kashmir from time immemorial to ward off the extreme winter of their homes where temperatures freeze water bodies rock solid, making feeding and drinking impossible. The protected bird reserves of the valley include Hokarsar in Srinagar district, Shallabugh in Ganderbal and Mirgund and Hygam in the district of Baramulla. Wildlife guards protect the reserve's defined boundaries, prevent poaching, watch bird behaviour and look out for spread of diseases in the habitat. In addition to the reserves, thousands of avian visitors inhabit the Wullar Lake, Dal Lake and other big and small lakes in the valley. It is at these unprotected water bodies that poachers move in organised bands during the night to shoot these birds. This season, anti-poaching squads were moved to the Dal Lake, Wullar Lake, the Narkara water body and some other places, with appreciable results. Bandipora District Magistrate Shah Faesal ordered people to deposit all licensed weapons in local police stations to give anti-poaching efforts a boost, Lone said. The migratory birds which fly to Kashmir include greylag geese, mallards, shovellers, wigeons, teals, pochards, Brahmany Ducks and coots. There are also resident water birds like normal and purple moorhens, debchicks, strokes, kingfishers and herons. "Then there are cormorants and Sandhills cranes which come to Kashmir to spend some time before moving to the Indian plains," Lone told IANS. "Interestingly, we have noticed during the last over a decade that many mallards, finding the environment highly hospitable, prefer to stay back to breed in the protected reserves of Hokarsar, Shallabugh and Mirgund. "This a significant behaviour change which needs a thorough study," Lone added. Officials noticed no case of bird flu this season. The mystery of how the migratory birds navigate their long journey with stunning precision has baffled humans. Flying in highly regimented flocks with the leader in the front, each species flies separately, proving the adage that birds of the same feather flock together. "It is always the eldest and the ablest bird that is fully familiar with the route that heads the flight," explained Noor Muhammad Wani, 62, of Bandipora. "Some of the most advanced navigational skills of humans look like child's play when compared to the accuracy with which these birds navigate. "If the leader dies during the flight or is taken sick, the second in command takes over so that the journey is not interrupted," said Wani, a keen bird watcher whose village overlooks Wullar Lake. Unfortunately, the traditional homes of the migratory birds in Kashmir are shrinking. But as of now, that is not the birds' main concern. IANS House passes R&B Grants Process for return of power Pursuing key tunnel, road projects on: Akhtar projects with Centre: Bukhari ‘Opposition vainly trying to cover-up its follies’ JAMMU: The State Government today made it clear that it has already begun the process for return of power projects from NHPC and the issue has been flagged in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the PDP-BJP coalition. Accusing National Conference and Congress of trying to mislead the people over the issue, Education Minister, Mr Naeem Akhtar said it is for the first time that a tangible move has been made by the PDP-BJP coalition government to retrieve the power stations gifted by successive NC regimes to the Centre. “It’s because of the stated position of the Government of India on the return of power projects, that the issue has been flagged in the CMP so that the long-pending demand for the return of these projects to the State is taken to the logical conclusion,” Akhtar told mediapersons here. He said NC has no moral authority to speak on the issue, as the party is responsible CM greets people on Ramanavami JAMMU - Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Ramanavami. In his message, the Chief Minister prayed for communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, progress and prosperity in the State. He also prayed for the well-being of the people of the State. Pesticide, fertilizers dealers in Anantnag fined ANANTNAG: According to District Enforcement Officer Anantnag /Pulwama 180 inspections were conducted under fertilizer control order and 130 inspections under Insecticide Act 1968 by the agency and 35, 15 samples were analyzed besides orders for sale stop were issued in favour of five insecticide dealers during the period in Pulwama and Anantnag. Prosecution/FIR were filed against 5 dealers during the period. Five samples of insecticides were found sub standard. Warnings/ Notices were issued in favour of 15 insecticide dealers and 35 fertilizer dealers during the period. Five samples of pesticides have been misbranded and the accused were prosecuted under various provisions of insecticide Act 1968 and a fine of Rs.37800 has been imposed upon the accused by the District Court Anantnag. for sellout of the State’s water resources in lieu of power. “Let NC leaders tell the people that have they ever made even a feeble effort to get back the power projects from NHPC,” he said and added that on the other hand successive NC regimes continued to gift prime power stations, one after another, to the Government of India to please their godfathers in Delhi. Mr Akhtar said the question regarding return of power projects to J&K was submitted by PDP MP, Mr Tariq Hameed Karra in the Lok Sabha in January 2015, long before the PDP-BJP coalition government finalized its CMP. He said given the fact that judicious harnessing of the State’s water resources is fundamental to J&K’s fiscal autonomy and prosperity, it has been made clear in the CMP that the PDPBJP coalition government will work with the Central Government to explore modalities for transfer of Dulhasti and Uri hydropower projects to the State besides seeking share in the profits of NHPC emanating from J&K’s waters and revisiting all royalty agreements. “Unlike NC, our Government would take the process to its logical conclusion,” he maintained. JAMMU- Minister for R&B, GP&FC, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said that an effective communication network is essential not only for meeting the requirements of travel and transport but also for rapid socio-economic development of the state and the country, adding that good connectivity and economic growth are linked with each other. He said road connectivity is even more important because it is directly linked to the promotion of tourism. “To set J&K on the path of investment we need infrastructure planning and delivery to improve the lives of our citizens across the State” the Minister said in the Legislative Assembly today adding that there is fundamental link between sound infrastructure and productive state economy. He said infrastructure network enables people to gain access to jobs and prosperity. Quotation Noble Prize winner Paul Krugman “Productivity is not everything, but in the long run is almost everything”, he said good road network is the foundation stone for a successful economy and productive and cohesive society, adding that roads should never be at a standstill. “You have to imagine the fu- Jalil was among pioneers of struggle: Malik ‘His replacement has not been yet found’ Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik Friday said advocate Jalil Andrabi was among the pioneers of present struggle and his replacement has not been yet found. “Besides being a worthy jurist, intellectual he was a courageous person who always cared and worked for the betterment of society and even sacrificed his life in the way of steadfastness,” Malik said while remembering Andrabi on his anniversary. Malik, who is admitted in Delhi hospital and is, undergoing treatment, said, “Struggle and sacrifice given by this brother of ours has honored us and this nation can never forget his courage, passion and sacrifices. We are duty bound to continue the struggle for freedom that has been nourished by the sacred blood of our martyrs like Sahheed I Insaaf and no oppres- sive measures can deter us from this path.” Meanwhile, in connection with the anniversary of Indrabi, JKLF held a protest sit-in at Partap Park Lal Chowk today, a JKLF spokesperson said in a statement to KNS. “The sit in led by zonal president Noor Mohammad Kalwal was attended by JKLF seniors and activists. The protest sit in was held as a show of solidarity with those languishing in Jammu Kashmir as well as Indians jails especially who are serving a life detention. On the occasion while speaking to media, Noor Mohammad Kalwal said that Indian government has unleashed an undemocratic and oppressive assault on Kashmiri inmates. Their days in incarceration are being prolonged by oppressive measures and they along with their families are being subjected to worst kind of state sponsored violence,” he said. 80 sericulture farmers of anantnag flagged off ANANTNAG: District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Mr. Bashir Ahmad Khan today flagged off two Buses carrying 80 progressive sericulture farmers under ATMA Programme for one day training tour to Srinagar at a function organized by Sericulture Department Anantnag. The farmers belong to three Sericulture Zones Kuthar, Dachnipora and Sarnal of the district. On the occasion the DDC emphasized upon the farmers to avail all benefits from the departmental experts in building their socio economic prosperity. He asked to the department to organize more such kind of tours inside and outside the state so that farmers related with sericulture sector can be awared by the ongoing central /state sponsored schemes under ATMA and other programmes for the welfare of the farmers. ture to understand the decisions we need to take now” said Syed Altaf Bukhari, adding that a sustainable improvement in economic performance requires a road network, the transport links that connect people with jobs and goods with markets. Appreciating Members for giving valuable suggestions regarding various developmental activities of the department, the Minister assured them that points raised by them would be taken care of. He said steps would be taken to make R&B department efficient, responsive and accountable. Giving details about the work done the Minister said 1223 Km road length across the State has been blacktopped and WBM laid for a length of 1683 Km during the current financial year so far. He said Rs. 565.71 crore stands expended under R&B Sector during 2013-14 while a road length of 1376 Km was blacktopped besides laying Water Bound Macadam (WBM) over a length of 2354 Km. The Minister said 6074 Kms have been restored out of the aggregate damaged road length of 6121 Km due to floods of September, 2014. He said out of 600 damaged bridges, 510 bridges have been restored so far. Bukhari said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has recently declared seven new National Highways in the state, adding that the government is pursuing vigorously with MoRTH to have Mughal road, Doda-Desa-Kapran-Verinag road upto Jawahal Tunnel exit and Verinag- Achabal-Mattan- Pahalgam road declared as National Highways. He said efforts would be also made to open Mughal Road for vehicular traffic earlier than its scheduled opening time. Bukhari said project proposals of Rs. 661.74 crore for funding for inter-state and intra-state roads under various centrally sponsored schemes have been submitted to MoRT. These include roads like Jammu –Pathankote, Mahanpur-Basohli, Basohli-BaniBhaderwah to Bajootra HP, Bhagwati Nagar-Akhnoor Road, Bridge over Rawi River at village Keerian Kathua etc. The State Government is pursuing the matter with Union Government for seeking external financial assistance from Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) under Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan for 20 major projects which includes construction of 06 tunnels and 14 major / district road projects. Youth booked on stone-pelting charges stage protest demand speedy trial or general amnesty Anantnag: Scores of youth who have been booked for their alleged involvement in stone-pleting and arson incidents during 2010 summer agitation and poll process Friday staged a protest outside the court presmises in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district demanding either amnesty or speedy trial of their cases. The protesters termed the slow trial of their cases related to stone-pelting as a punitive measure and pressed for speedy trial. In 2011, then J&K state government had announced the introduction of an amnesty scheme to withdraw cases against people allegedly involved in stone-pelting that occurred during unrest in the state in 2010. The protesting youth alleged that their studies and other routine work gets affected on daiy basis as they have to present themselves frequently in the court of law. “Eleven FIR’s have been registered against me in different police stations of the district. I have to make myself available in the court frequently as a result my studies get affected and I fail to attend the college,” a final year student Showkat Ahmed Gilkar told CNS. Another protester Asif Ahmed said that he was working as a Salesman but lost three jobs so far due to his frequent absence from job. “Police have booked in stone-pelting charges and 19 FIR’s have been registered against me. I can’t afford attending court frequently and appeal to the government for the speedy trial or review of our cases,” he said. Another protester Rouf Ahmed said that, “even though we are not detained, but we face considerable uncertainty and stigma, and the risk of being detained again in order to aid investigations.” “We appeal to the present government to announce general amnesty for us so that we can live a normal and peaceful life,” they said. cet aspirants seek date extension Srinagar: Parents of students desirous of taking the Common Entrance Test (CET) for selection in various technical courses have sought a week’s extension for submitting the forms. The last date, it may be mentioned, expired last week. A delegation of parents told newsmen that vital documents/certificates destroyed during the floods had to be procured in duplicate from various agencies which caused the delay. “If the forms of such applicants are not accepted and entertained, they will lose a year,” they said. They urged the concerned to condone the delay. C M Y K Srinagar: After six months of winter sojourn in the Kashmir Valley, thousands of migratory birds are bidding adieu to return to their summer homes in far off lands. The increasing cackle, the preparatory flapping of wings and vigorous feeding are some of the signs for bird watchers to know that the spectacle of sound and colour is soon going to end. "Before beginning their journey of thousands of miles, the birds show significant changes like human beings but with different priorities," said Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, the Jammu and Kashmir wildlife warden. The birds will head to Eastern Europe, the Philippines, China and Russian Siberia. "To ensure cohesion and better communication during the long flight that lasts on an average a fortnight, the cackle increases, the birds peck at each other to remove damaged feathers, feed more vigorously than usual to build energy for the journey and even pin water chestnuts on each other's wings to feed during inhospitable stopovers," Lone told IANS. This year, according to Lone, saturday 28 03 2015 Kashmir Observer OPINION Saturday, 28 march, 2015 Driverless cars VIEWPOINT Contemporary art In KashmIr State Sanctioned Vandalism OPINION A LONG T WAY TOOGO AD ON 13 HAS HT EN’T O BE TING HAT the d infused e over the aders on ld easily merely by ce Buildhile they ter an enust! Delhi and idents on reminder of ‘buildnitiatives ople’ con- e concept cause the eem to be ample by ach other. are now heir dealthe prep between tatements siness as ing” has he newest Mercedes autonomous car and enthusiasm. Once the space was Kashmir) came to see the exhibition, hardly any creative spaces for the artSyed Mujtaba Rizvi looks like a car on the outside but like a he became so furious that the artists ists. The lone institute of music and ready, we worked closely with the artists and put together a fantastic show fine arts is in shambles. What will beliterally ran away jumping through n the opening day of Gallounge on the inside, with four swivel seats never conceived before. Finally Kashthe windows. “What nonsense are come of this place? lerie One, I was in a confacing each other in a multimedia bubble mir’s first ever art Gallery, Gallerie This question started to haunt these paintings,” Bakshi has shouted. versation with Rajendra of padded leather and walnut veneer. One, came into existence and was me at an early age. And therefore, Tickoo, Masood Hus- There were works by some of the most The F 015 ‘Luxury in Motion’ concept car uninfluential artists of the time like G.R. in August 2009 I decided to take the thrown open to people on 12 January sain, Shabbir Mirza,Indian, M he would like to remain but I cated for the Observer Group elseundone whatever little may have veiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las matter into my own hands. Kashmir 2015 at 2:00 pm. Trilok Koul, S.N. Bhat, Nisar A Mehboob, and several of Santosh, willShaiqa requestMohi the government India where in difficult economic times. been achieved byearlier the CBMs. Vegas this year is completely self-driving Within one month we received Aziz and others. The exhibition was Art Quest was born and we started to Jammu (to) artists please from provide him and security.” However, as expected,other thissenior However, despite both sides rebut still has a steering wheel and brake if you global media coverage, and put toorganize various art projects locally, closed. Kashmir. TheNot opening of the first content with hisever ‘request’ to iterating that the bilateral ties had not ‘noble’ proposition with fiscal import gether a world class exhibition of nationally and internationally. We Later, Bakhshi had visited some centre contemporary and Malik rewant to around and drive Government arts of India, went failedittomanually. cut any ice as the issue un- forthe been derailed, theswivel recent turn of art exhibition in New Del- established an annual contemporary artworks by leading and emerging search inon Kashmir was dream come Daimler, the maker of Mercedes and inventor to appeal toathe Indian public‘important’ that, der discussion was an open debate events suggest otherwise. New arts show, international art exchange artists of Kashmir. Many exhibiting hi and there he saw works that were true for all them. like Theytotold me that of thelike original wants to be among “I ofwould request all Indian peacekeeping and not on austerDelhi, suddenly a bolt automobile, out of the on programmes, film screening events, artists have already been recognized formally quite similar to what he had they had waited all their lives for such brothers and sisters and all those ity measures. blue, rakedthe up first the to re-invent the car, CEO Dieter Zetsche travelling projects, educational work- by galleries and institutions nationseen in Kashmir. When he arrived an initiative and how several great New who are talking in a negative way issue of the New saidrelat the CES, Why which he saysDelhi will become more Why artists back in Kashmir, he asked his offi- shops, seminars, research projects ally and they have already started had died Shah with the dream of should hav- know about Rukh, they Delhi decided to evance of the UN than just a decided means of transport andfrom will turn into to deviate working with them on various projing its an art in Kashmir. They cers to gather all those artists again and several other physical and online hegallery is a movie star." deviate from Military Observer a mobile living space. ects. We also executed the first ever initiatives. Over the years we worked and helped them organize another were all very excited. They shook my its age-old policy of While New Delhi may be anage-old policy of G r o u p Design Summit to boost the creative with around 500 artists worldwide exhibition. He even acquired many rival Audi, Tesla, Google and a numhand again and again and hugged me noyed at Malik’s ‘request’, the ‘letting the sleep(UNMOGIP) German on thearesleeping economy in Kashmir and to bridge artworks and was quite instrumental and partnered with some of the most before after. of India will perhaps remain of other ‘letting companies working on their people ing dogs lie’ to and the LoC in ber Jammu in the establishment of J&K Academy prestigious organizations and insti- the gap between arts and the rest of The artist Rajendra Tickoo had own versions of driverless cars, fulfilling the dogs lie’ to bring up the bring up the ever grateful to the Pakistani Inteand Kashmir. arts culture and languages. Today, tutions. We had started to revive the the industry. We had already started for the of of forecasts they will be a issue reality and on the roads rior Minister foropening enlightening them UNMOGIP come issue especially Declaring that that UNMOGIP collaborating with artists, instituart-scene in Kashmir and took it to the the gallery from Jammu, even though we don’t really know what happened with the fact that Shahrukh Khan is and the timing it “UNMOGIP’s role perhaps as soon as the end of this decade. tions and organisations locally and none of his artworks were in the open- to those works acquired by Bakshi. international stage. Young Kashmiri the timing it chose chose to do so, “a movie star!” has been overIn fact, all the technology needed for a selfing exhibition. We all stood in a circle Those works used to adore the walls artists are re-living the legacy of their internationally. Every Sunday we orCan bilateral ties between India defies compretaken bydriving the car exists toalready. do so,Current defies features like old masters and doing some really ganized artist talks, and every Thursrush of visitors to the gal- of old Tourist Reception Centre. Pakistan improve if Pakistan hension. amidst So, a and Shimla Agreement day we screened art documentaries adaptive cruise control and self-parking preview Like the disappearance of those dynamic and exciting work – gaining lery, each artist sharing their memocomprehension. So, while nothing agrees that the UNMOGIP is not reof 1972 between which have gathered more and more critical recognition globally. ries. Rajendra reminded the other artworks, the art scene also started to what a fully autonomous car can do. this quired any longer in J&K and India India and Pakiwhile nothing came out came out ofartists public participation. Gallerie One But an art gallery – a creative disappear from Kashmir. Probably bea weird incident that is likelier to be legal and liability issues that reciprocates by providing Shahrukh debate, old about stan, signed Itby was already becoming a major attracof this debate, old had happened in the same building cause of the conflict. There were wars; space – an open breathing space – was slow down actual deployment. That and social acwounds were re- Khan ‘Z’ category security? the Heads of the tion for locals and tourists. What we in 1960s – during the days of Ghulam there was the armed uprising, kill- still missing in Kashmir. So I spent were reopened Though the recent exchanges beopened and two governments ceptance of wounds such a radical change could dampen ings, encounters, rapes, mass graves two years in London at Goldsmiths established was no less than any pubMohammad Bakshi – long before the tween New Delhi and Islamabad may normalisation of and ratified by the trend more than a lack of technology. and normalisation of preparing a functional & sustainable lic asset. and a lot of other horrific things to building was destroyed on April 6, the bilateral ties bring a whiff of humour into our lives, their respective Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a recent interHowever in an unfortunate turn model for a centre for contemporary 2005 in an encounter between Indian deal with. the bilateral ties between New the dismal future of the bilateral relaparliaments,” view,thehowever, that the change in thinking arts and research in Kashmir. When of events, the gallery was controverIf research is to be believed, then armed forces and militants. tions, which the present ‘line of enDelhi and Indian representabetween New sially vandalized and seized by tourthere is ample evidence as to how arts I returned last year, I discussed this The artists had put up a show in coulditsbe no different than the Delhi shift from elevaIslamabad has gagement’ portends, is disquieting tive suggested ism officials on Monday 23rd Februspur economic development, how arts vision with the Ex-Director Tourism, one of the halls of the old building. tors manned by operators to today’s completely and Islamabad has taken yet another and sends shivers down the spine. termination. Mr. Talat Parvez, Commissioner/ ary 2015. We were not served with any These were the days when Modern boost tourism, how arts influence the automatic elevators. It is high time that leaders of both body blow. As expected, taken yet another body notice, neither was any proper explaSecretary Tourism & Culture, Mr. social, cultural and intellectual evoluArt was not really modern and the There is little question that driverless cars Islamabad too countries stop behaving like schoolPakistan strongly nation given as to why they behaved tion of a society. But the artists had Shailendra Kumar, and other ofBombay Progressive Artists’ group blow. Islamabad too seems to be itch- children and remedy the serious denouncedwill New improve fuel economies not only because the way they did. Artworks were dambecome ghosts. Even the crafts in- ficers. Eventually we received suphad recently disbanded and were not ‘foot-in-the- mouth’ disease, which ing Delhi’s contention be itching for they smoothseems out theto braking and accelerating of for a chance too mainstream yet. The Kashmiri dustry was slowly decaying. Artifacts port from the tourism department in aged and all our operations came to this to ‘take on’ New seems to have afflicted them. Till by saying human that no drivers, but also because they improve were reduced to mere objects to be terms of converting the main hall on a sudden halt as a result of their acartists were a league ahead, accorda chance to ‘take Delhi. Just a day happens, ‘Aman ki Asha’ will remain bilateral traffic agree-flow by finding optimal routes and mitithe 1st Floor of the newly Constructed tions. sold for consumption by tourists and ing to MA Mehboob, and had heavily on’ New Delhi. a distant dream and bilateral people rela- outside Kashmir – In a place Tourist Reception Centre Srinagar after the Jamaatment between the Just before Rajendra Tickoo was influenced the progressive group. But gating tions will become another ‘comedy ud-Dawa Chief, two nations had congestion. The lower accident rate will due to lack of any space, they used to where the arts was deeply manifested into an art gallery. We conceived and telling us the story of the 1960’s exhimean fewer traffic jams from that cause as well. to circus’! “overtaken or affected” the role or Hafiz Saeed offered ‘asylum’ in its traditions, economy, culture, ar- prepared the entire project proposal, bition, the Tourism Director in his together and organize shows in a Also, there will be fewerBollywood cars on thestar road be- Khan,get Sharukh Pakilegality of the UNMOGIP. tent at Pratap Park in Srinagar. The chitecture, and even religious practic- and formulated the business model. inaugural statement had called the Minister Malik New cause Delhia single initiated the carstani driverless per Interior family can take Rehman members Kashmir Art Quest gave have them gallery “the intellectual character of of the progressive group es. Kashmir is dying a cultural death. too kids joined saying that though UNMOGIPboth debate underto the garbdrop of the NILOOFAR QURESHI is based in New Delhi and parents work, offin at by school, free advice, expertise, and personnel Kashmir.” Little did we know that used to visit Kashmir often and And the signs of this are even visible Sharukh Khan a born Indian and can be reached better spending of resources allo- and at: niloofar.qureshi@yahoo.com pick them up afterwards obviate the“is need worked closely with Kashmiri art- in the ugliness of its cities situated support to prepare a world-class gal- just over a month after its opening the for the two or three-car family. amidst jaw-dropping landscapes, as lery. We even contributed our sav- gallery will be vandalized, damaged ists independently or in various artist and seized by the officials of the same camps. But this exhibition at the old if from paradise. The irony is evident ings, not to mention the time and enA recent study from the University of Michiergy. We worked hard day and night department. Tourist Reception Centre was too bold everywhere. gan suggests, however, that overall fuel conSyed Mujtaba Rizvi is an artThe J&K Academy of arts culture and our team was constantly at the for the people in Kashmir especially sumption could increase because the cars on ist, and Founder, Managing Direcand languages, which boasts of one of construction site. The September considering its deep rooted practice in the road will get a lot more use. But of course the richest art collections, has become floods disrupted some progress, but tor – Kashmir Art Quest and initiahandicrafts. When Ghulam Mohamof total freedom to pursue the pathways of If he were a cricketer — which I rather of marks, remember.” that can be balanced out by greater reliance on tor of Gallerie One, Srinagar. almost mad (then prime of of an one’s own mind, frolicminister in the fields idyl- defunct today. There are still we resumed soon with greater spirit This generally got the ashen-faced onesBakhshi doubt since he possessed not one jot of cricket fuel the cars. moving a few feet forward in a determined lic nature and dream of writing lines that vocabulary innon-fossil his speech — butenergy if he weretoa power Stock analysts effort are toalready rhymed and described life in a more natural overcometalking their resisting wills. cricketer Mr P would have market been categorised about evolution because investors Chemistrylooking periods at were about tables way — a way that had nothing to do with as an all rounder. This isthis because he was three therolled big picture their with money into the autocryptic symbols and water that changed science? science teachers into one.can He put taught makers who are moving inwith thisthe di-introduction of difA young man dreaming is how I come to colour magically Physics, Chemistry and and whensuppliers the frogs were rection ferentstart. powders. I once remem- view my school reports of that day and age plentiful he was foundand in thewho will have an important head Along with Audi and Mercedes, BMW is on being drawn into when I glance at them occasionally these ber naively Biology rooms giving lessons a deep sniff from a days yellowing in a plastic sleeve. Mr P obvion dissectionthat whichlist, non-bias well as General Motors, Volvotaking and Toybottle of chlorine that nearly ously had a kind heart too for his marks ology-inclinedota. onesAuto like mysuppliers that are in this trend include took sinuses for a walk awarded to me in their own scientific way self found hard to stomach, TRW, Delphi, and Borg Warner in the U.S., asmy well reflect a kindness. right out of my body. especially the as drawing Europe’sofContinental and Japan’s Denso. HE situation in Yemen is, by any de- conflict. Yet the government had maintained conflict. Egypt and Turkey have supported If the dissecting of a frog taught me anyPhysics was about equations, balance blood or the severing of flesh in order to peer This transformative automobile technology scription, incendiary and Pakistan, a largely ambiguous stance, until yesterday’s the Saudi intervention while the US is also inthing it pointed me in theappears direction oftovegand sticking pins in paper while trying to at the undercoating and the insides. as matters stand, be get- developments. The pressure on Pakistan was volved. will be a game-changer for other industries as and a kindness to all animals great “One has to have a stomach for these trace angles of reflection and refraction etarianism ting ready to jump into the fray. indeed immense to tag along in the anti-Houthi The Houthis, on the other hand, have well, from software makers to suppliers of enterand small. providedevening, me with anafter inthings,” Mr P would instruct, directing his through a thick glass slab. On Science Thursday a coalition. warned of a “wider war” in response to the tainment. As cars truly do become mobile living into by laterality. That is, you couldthe be govMost things in Mr P’s class startedmeeting out as sight words at the ones who’d gone a whiter shade chaired the prime minister, Yet despite the heat from Riyadh and others, Saudi action, while the Iranian government has spaces,stood there will berows new premises revenue streams asworking their way seated in the lap of science and be totallydelegaat before gradually of pale and generally in the back ernment announced that a high-level considering the regional situation and Paki- dubbed the airstrikes a “dangerous step. companies waysthrough to monetize ex- stages to tion, ease contemplating poetry. a series ofthe reasoning a finelyincluding at the dissecting table so theyfigure missedout a good the defence minister and repre- stan’s own predicament, neutrality would have It is difficult for Pakistan to play favourites tra time have in theirdrawn cars (movies, Science didn’t care because ultimately it conclusion.music, deal of what was goingpeople on. sentatives from the military, would be heading been the wisest option. with either Saudi Arabia or Iran — considerthe“Life list isgoes to to Saudi Arabia today to “assess theissituation”. Intervention in others’ internal affairs is ing Pakistan’s strategic relationship with the everything is relative. There no end, Dispute that, he’d say, pointing a seems PREPARING games TO FACE –LIFE: goingon). to This no comes swiftly thebecause heels of Carare safety, but toalso – on nobody conclusion to beon drawn likeSaudi some air- always a tricky proposition. For example, how former and geographical proximity with the solved equation the blackboard. Of course, toss things at you that a lot harder take,cybersecurity Yemen the Houthi have theirtocar - areEspecially issues that wise person oncetargeting said, “A conclusion is therebel are we to justify coming to the aid of the Yeme- latter. This is something both capitals need to who could? who could who strikes had his inside so get used towants it. In anyto case, you have do ithacked movement, is locked a struggle with ni government while opposing, say, Bashar Al- understand. where you got tired in of thinking.” head wrapped around other notions — those placewhich yourself comeneed exam time. It carries a good deal to be developed and tested. the Yemeni government. Assad’s regime in Syria? Also, Pakistan is fighting its own internal Tesla’s Musk noted that driving in dense urGetting involved in what is essentially an Also, considering the regional dynamics in war against militants. Can we realistically afban environments at intermediate speeds pose N O theHgreatest O Lchallenge D S for current B Atechnologies R R E D internal conflict is unwise, but the prime min- play in Yemen, Pakistan needs to tread care- ford to despatch troops overseas when the ................................................................................................. ister seemed quite concerned with protecting fully. Saudi Arabia backs Yemen’s beleaguered military is currently engaged in Fata and elseand these must be thoroughly tested before Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity, any viola- President, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who also where? driverless cars are allowed on the road. tion of which, he said, would evoke a “strong has American support, while the Houthi moveIf anything Pakistan should use its good ofresponse” from Islamabad. ment is said to enjoy the confidence of Iran. fices to help achieve a diplomatic solution, rathBut the self-driving car is coming to a showEarlier, there had been some talk of the SauIt is clear that Yemen has become the latest er than become a party in this conflict. room near you sooner than you think. dis wanting Pakistani troops involved in this regional theatre of the Riyadh-Tehran proxy --Dawn ------Darrell Delamaide d of Thinking? Come to a Conclusion a favourite an of scienoked at you es. Mr P, let’s till be alive ed through The Hippie y from outut and taste ndeed sing, well have oom bound ollusion — nsure at all own peered nd averted ndows. The education ers mbai in the nal. ndia should on tournaantee safety e the World ournament nsions. We nly playing ditions are ersons tour g the antiovernment mfort of our OTHER OPINION LIFE IN A CLASSROOM OF THE SIXTIES Yemeni Conflict Expands T Biscoe School On Decline! W teaching not to speak of quality or e the parents of the functioning of the school and class 10th students has adversely affected the aca- method of teaching. This has cerof "TYNDALE demic career of our wards. Unless tainly put a question mark on the popularity of the students . BISCOE SCHOOL" your teachers are able to make the Hope the Principal of the Sheikh-Bagh, wards understand the method of Srinagar are embarrassed with solving any particular question or school make arrangements on prithe poor performance and lack of chapter of any subject for its solu- ority to save the academic career of our wards as the 10th examinaqualified teachers, more impor- tions no one on the earth can we S TRIBUNE tions are approaching fast where tantly the experienced teachers expect the desired results in the we expect excellent performance performance. in the school which is popularly by our wards. In case the school The teachers not only lack known for its reputation in past. lication must includeThe the writer’s name and address, even if a pseudonym is used. Letters are edited as clarity, space method of teaching but do not fails to do away with it, we may teachers lack ability and require. Our publishing a letter does not mean we agree with everything or even anything in it. -EDITOR start a poster campaign against knowhow of teaching and are thus have grip on Maths , Science and unable to convince the students in Urdu more importantly the Eng- the poor performance of the TBS the class or to make them under- lish and grammar. Despite our teachers besides highlighting in repeated requests to the school au- all leading newspapers and elecstand in a manner that suits the thorities no improvement is vis- tronic media. students. DEAR there is something that seems to d the ible EDITOR, when we check copies of our killings and heinous crimes It is the school management AproposWe news, ‘AFSPA Immucommitted by its army and such invitethat and is incite the elements hmir. cannot compromise responsible fortosuch a wards. with education and career messy we of are Forthe Forces’ Sex Crimes Must of all other agencies that too with Kashmir. It issituation part of theand history theleft nity any of adnanbhat400@gmail.com our wards despite theJanuary fact we pay the help of Indian puppets of with no alternative but to send End’ , Kashmir Observer, sub-continent. stan to on behalf of to the school on priorour wards to tuition centers 28,monthly I want fee to say that we the Kashmiri We need to overcome it for our here or Parentsorigin. of 10th class Students which put an extra financial bur- ity. Whatever the school authoriof Kashmir R. BABA eternal ties demand from appreciate the parents, we denpeace. on usUnfortunately, had the school not been people tyndale Biscoe School,-M. Srinagar Dr.Kiran Bedihesitate said but Via: email fate isand justinsensitive consequential! l or other Kashmir's as parents never to who abide so callous towards what by.toWhy cannot Principal of the academic side and of the initiate the the action. Shoaib, keep writing staystudent. safe. has rain and the appoint or take arrange The students are made scapegoats It isschool India who has to the XX Khuda Hafez! d cold for the lust of money or some in- quality teachers for teaching the P.O. Box # 337, GPO, Srinagar-190 001 action, but this country is never -VORSHAL e military ternal crisis/ mismanagement. students instead of raw hands email: editor@kashmirobserver.net bother forhave innocent Via: mark emailon ready mised but who to even do not concept of This has put a question ntial! Hail Kiran Bedi aDnan Bhat MAIL YOUR LETTERS NO HOLDS BARRED saturday 28 03 2015 Kashmir Observer panorama SIMPLE ACCOUNTING 5 Things The J&K Budget Can Teach India Haseeb Drabu’s budget tries to set a new tone in budget-making in India “I am asserting that I shall not go with a begging bowl to New Delhi. This despite the fact that we not only have a friendly government at the Centre, we also have an exceptionally sensitive and accommodating Union Finance Minister. By doing so, I do hope to restore the dignity of the people of J & K who are forever being accused of surviving on subsidies and largesse. The goal of our government is economic self-reliance and fiscal autonomy.” – Haseeb Drabu, Finance Minister, Jammu & Kashmir A former banker, editor and now full-time politician, regarded as a “renegade” by Kashmiri separatists who once believed he was one among them, has just set the tone for budget-making for Indian states in the era of Narendra Modi. In line with the prime minister’s intention to devolve more power and finances to the states, the seasoned Drabu, 54 – economist from Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, former bank chairman, former columnist with Mint, editor of businessstandard.com and member of legislative assembly from Rajpora, J&K – presented last week a budget that aimed at financial independence. “I shall not seek any financial assistance or grants from the Centre other than what is provided for in the Constitution of India for all the special category states as a part of the federal fiscal system,” said Drabu, author of the first budget of the People’s Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance. Here are five things that stood out in Drabu’s budget: knowing what’s happening and changing it immediately is a beloved of Indian financial babudom, such as plan, non-plan, capi- 4,336 crore). And this Rs 4,336 crore is to be “financed by prep- ing to latest estimates, service sector constitutes 57% of the GSDP (gross state domestic product), its contribution to the state exchequer is next to nil. So far, we have not been able to tap the entire potential of this sector.” first for any Indian state, most of which face economic bottlenecks because of electricity shortages. He said power-sector development held the key to fiscal autonomy through 24×7 “reliable and affordable power to all So, included under the tax net now are advertising agencies, security services, placement services, salons and health clubs. This should generate Rs 150 crore. Services make up nearly 60% of India’s gross domestic product, and services are taxed in India based on the negative list regime (not covered under service tax act including services provided by central/state governments and RBI). IndiaSpend had earlier reported how service tax collec- domestic, commercial and industrial consumers” and “unleashing of a new era of development”. Presenting a detailed plan of what he hoped to do, Drabu said 57 projects – hydel, solar and thermal – with a capacity of 9344 MW (mega watt) are planned. They require an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore ($16 billion). The state faces a peak deficit of 22%. Electricity demand is 2,657 MW in 2014-15, of which only 2,050 MW is likely to be met. Our verdict: Drabu’s tion was expected to be higher than other taxes in 2014-15. budget is an effort to set a new tone in budget-making in India— from a state that appears to be perpetually at conflict with India. Source: J&K BudgeT, 2015-16 ed – it will begin as a pilot project – based on the 2011 census: Source: Census 2011 Jammu & Kashmir has seen the child sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) decline to 859 in the 2011 census from 941 in the 2001 census. 1) Plain speaking on wasteful government Here’s what Drabu said about his own government: “To spend Rs 10,000 crore on the economy, the government is spending nearly three times (Rs 30,000 crore) that amount on the machinery that spends Rs 10,000 crore!” J&K, along with Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, spends more money on revenue expenditure – which includes salaries, pensions, interest payments and other money that the government spends on itself – than on capital expenditure to build assets and other infrastructure for the people, according to a state-budget analysis by the Reserve Bank of India. The financial year 2011-12 was a year of high capital spending for all the three states. However, in the following years, 2012-13 and 2013-14, it is clear that revenue expenditure is far higher than capital spending in the three states as well as Delhi. This means governments that spend more on themselves than on the people they govern. Drabu also explained his government’s spending plan in 2015-16: Rs 11,246 crore for building assets and Rs 35,227 crore for revenue expenditure. Obviously, 21 years, she will receive about Rs 6.5 lakh. This handout is to address the state’s low sex ratio. Cost: Rs 35 crore. Here’s a look at the six possible districts in J&K where the programme could be implement- 4) Taxing services to increase revenue Source: rBI; FIgureS In rS crore tough ask. “In the next budget, we will provide details of the physical assets that have been created on the ground by the money that was spent,” said Drabu. The Finance Minister promised a law that would allow money to be borrowed only for financing capital assets. IndiaSpend previously reported how Maharashtra has built up a debt of $48 billion and now must borrow money to repay borrowed money. Haseeb also did some plainspeaking when he emphasised job creation over asset creation: “Jab dukan chal padaygee, makaan toh bun hi jayegaa!” (When businesses will run, houses will get made). 2) Simple accounting: income & expenditure With one stroke, Drabu has rewritten the rules of budgetwriting and accounting. It’s very easy to understand where the money is coming from and where it will go. Gone are those confusing terminologies tal, revenue and non-revenue. Starting from the next fiscal year, 2015-16, the budget will have only two parts: receipts and expenditure. “The expenditure budget will, in turn, have only revenue and capital expenditure estimates,” said Drabu. “The entire old classification of the plan and non- plan has been discarded. This is a major change which has far reaching implications on the allocation, efficiency and monitoring of public expenditure. This change will demystify the budget to a great extent.” “Now there will be only two categories of expenditure, current and capital; the former being what is spent to meet our daily expenses and the latter is what is spent on making assets on the ground. In the years to come, we can start the mapping of asset creation with money that has been spent.” Drabu’s budget calculations are simple: total revenue receipts: Rs 42,137 crore; total public expenditure: Rs 46,473 crore; resource gap (46,473-42,137= Rs ositioning of the 14th Finance Commission grants without seeking any additional funding”. That’s Drabuspeak for no favours from Delhi. Drabu intends to balance dole handouts with new sources of revenue. “J&K is the only state in the 3) Protecting the vulnerable: small businesses, farmers, women Drabu has balanced fiscal responsibility with subsidies and handouts that could allow vulnerable people in his floodravaged province to become self sufficient. Some examples: * Waive 50% of the Kisan Credit Card loans of farmers who have an outstanding balance of less than Rs 1 lakh. Cost: Rs 150 crore. * For 50,000 widows: zero balance savings account, life insurance cover of Rs 25,000, accident cover of Rs 25,000 sickness/disease cover of Rs 5,000 and maturity/survival benefits of Rs 25,000 after five years. * Rs 1,000 per month to every girl for 14 years from birth. At Source: cenSuS 2011 country that has the power to tax services,” he said. “By virtue of the Goods & Services Tax Act, J&K has the power to tax both goods and services. All other states of India have the power to tax only goods. The moot point is that J&K is a special taxation area. Given the fact that accord- 5) A budget for the main economic bottleneck – electricity Drabu also presented a 41page power budget for J&K, a This article was originally published on IndiaSpend.com, a data-driven and public-interest journalism non-profit. -----BOOKS Re-imagining the days of Ghalib and Mir Chandni Chowk in time of glory- 16th century I ASIF FArruKHI N HIS latest work, Shamsur Rahman Faruqi brilliantly spins stories of 18th- and 19th-century Urdu literati A RICH and lovingly crafted tapestry of longish tales, critic-turned-novelist Shamsur Rahman Faruqi’s latest book, The Sun That Rose From the Earth, is hefty, 600-odd pages of a connected narrative, offering a dazzling variety which few novels, let alone short story collections provide. Five longish tales which can also be read as components of a longer, broken narrative flow into each other effortlessly so that by the end of the book, you cannot decide if it is one story you have read or more. The lives of poets and literati in the 18th- and 19thcentury milieu of Delhi and its environs form the material of the short stories, but then this is just the beginning. The biographical details are sketched out with such fulsome details that one derives a critical pleasure from reading the book: the kind of intellectual robustness which reminds one of the literary spirit of the esteemed Dr Samuel Johnson’s The Lives of the Poets or Muhammad Husain Azad’s Ab-e-Hayat, which Intizar Husain insists on reading as a sort of novel in the making. This is not surprising in a book which takes its dramatis personae to include a distinguished cast of Mir Taqi Mir, Mushafi Ghulam Hamdani, Ghalib and Abdul Hayy Taban. In a less dexterous writer’s hand, this matter would have turned pedantic and dull. But in Faruqi’s hands, the critical acumen is retained and becomes one strand out of the many with which the narrative is woven. One of the most respected figures in contemporary Urdu literature for his erudite literary criticism, Faruqi is no stranger to fiction. Known for his modernistic stance and learned interpretation of Ghalib, he broke new ground with his four volumes on exegesis of Mir’s selected poetry and then single-handedly established the poetics of the dastan which had become a victim of neglect. Farqui surprised the literary world by his foray in the realm of the novel with the marvelous Kai Chand Thay Sar-e Aasman, which he himself translated into English as The Mirror of Beauty. The Sun That Rose From the Earth stories, too, carry the same stamp of genius that mark his criticism and fiction, and cover new ground. Originally published in Urdu, they created a sensation. I remember when the first story was published in Shabkhoon, the literary journal Faruqi edited from Allahabad; it was done under the pen name of Umar Sheikh Mirza. But this was a tale few were ready to believe and there was much speculation regarding its author. Soon Faruqi’s authorship was established and the stories eventually appeared under the title Sawar Aur Doosray Afsanay: truly a modern classic. Published in English as The Sun That Rose from the Earth, the stories have once again been translated by Faruqi. The individual lives of the poets are described in fanciful detail with great imagination and intellectual fervour but the real character is the cultural capital of Delhi; the seat of political and cultural power, and a great centre of learning which draws talented people from all around. As a large supporting cast of many characters move through the pages — like the multitude thronging the crowded bazaars of a burgeoning metropolis — we get a sense of the rich and varied culture of North India, associated with the Indo-Persian, and later Urdu poetry moving and breathing like a living character. More than a richly described background, the very atmosphere takes on the attributes of a powerful character in a fictional world. The book breathes and moves with the spirit of this culture which is not so much described as evoked to show its enlivened presence. In the opening tale, ‘Bright star, lone splendour’ a fictive but apparently all-but-real narrator fulfills a lifetime dream when he encounters the entirely real and justly celebrated Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. The narrative invokes the tazkirahs and other such stories of famous poets from that time and age. Reading it one gets the sense that Faruqi has perfected a technique. He takes biographical and historical material from the lives of the poets and infuses them with imagination. The young Rajput in this story is a convenient vehicle for revealing the author’s all-encompassing enthusiasm for Ghalib — the poet as well as the person. And in this process the Rajput acquires a life of his own, and the circumstances of his life move us as we read of his distinguished lineage, and how his family was destroyed in the upheaval of 1857. The story conjures up Ghalib and the turbulent age with enough force that even a shelf-full of Ghalibiana cannot hope to achieve. Mir and Mushafi are observed in later stories through an entirely different lens, stories which are similar in spirit but different in technique. Knowing his subject well and having perfected his technique, Faruqi can take liberties with his storyline which would have been deadly in the hands of a less skilled writer. Faruqi can sometimes overload the story with period detail. ‘Bright Star, Lone Splendour’ opens with details of the Rajput lineage and its background while the protagonist’s birth is discussed on page nine. Some readers may become impatient with this much detail but for Faruqi this is an essential component of his narrative style. As the story draws to a close we are reminded that earlier events are being recorded by the narrator in his twilight years yet everything is still vivid to him and dream-like. It is obvious that language is an essential element in achieving this quality. It is at once many-layered and, at times, somewhat quaint in keeping with the sense of historicity. So we find that in the same story, a character is respectfully addressed as “Exalted Presence”. Persian poetry forms an essential part of the background in ‘The Rider’ and we read: “The breezes that blew so pleasantly through the lanes and bazaars of Delhi resonated anyway with the poetry of Mirza Bedil, his disciple Achal Das, his friend Muhammad Afzal Surkhush, and younger poets like Anand Ram Mukhlis, Mirza Mazhar Jan-e Janan and scores of others. The winds wafted away the poetry to far-off places.” Faruqi provides his language with a sonorous and supple quality and at the same time gives his phrases an Indian touch without making them quaint or Oriental in manner. And because he is so well grounded in his own culture, he can play with concepts and take the title of his story about Ghalib from the haunting sonnet by John Keats, a lone star in a different tradition. ‘Bright Star, Lone Splendour’ reads like a personal testimony. However the poetic worlds of Mir and Mushafi are brightly coloured and sensuous in a different style. Mir is described in very simplistic terms by Maulvi Abdul Haque in his selections from the works of the great poet, almost like somebody whining and crying all the time in a rather monotonous simplicity. Such views are challenged in Faruqi’s literary criticism such as Sher-e-Shor Angez, but it is fiction where Haque comes alive as a great human figure, and what more can one say of Mushafi who seems to come alive on the page. The stories come to their grand finale in the enigmatically entitled ‘Timecompression’ but then the tale describes exactly what it promises: a Borgesian incident from the annals of Urdu poetry which must have been true. This is the only tale which is not taken from the author’s Urdu collection Sawar but appeared later and separately as a long tale. Historical detail colours the background of a miracle of time and the classical Urdu poet’s life provides for the occasion. Like the other stories in the book, this one too is savoured and relished by the reader. It has been said of fiction that all but the names and dates are true, in contrast to history in which only the names and dates ring true. Faruqi has taken this a step further as even the dates and, at least, some of the names are true, and what is not true, is fashioned out of the truth. The reviewer is a fiction writer and critic the Sun that rose From the earth (SHORT STORIES) By Shamsur Rahman Faruqi Penguin Books, India ISBN 9780670086917 610 pp. 6 Saturday 28032015 Kashmir Observer The repatriation of the professional Indian expatriate TRANS ASIA NEWS MUMBAI: Its a different kind of Ghar Wapasi- one that involves the homecoming of those Indians that chose once to leave the comfort of home and hearth and make a leap into the unknown, overseas, in search of the promised better life. Confidence, spurred by a resurgent Indian economy, improvement in the standards of living, and better education opportunities are drawing back homesick Indian professionals. The trend has reportedly spread beyond just the IT sector, to include banking and finance, pharmaceuticals, auto, textiles and food processing. And surprisingly, this is despite the fact that monetary remunerations have as much as halved in India compared to prospects only a few years ago. The reverse brain-drain is now trending says, Moorthy K Uppaluri, CEO, Randstad India, a leading recruitment and staffing firm. “With the recovery of the Indian economy and increase in the number of Indian companies looking to expand globally, there is a definite rise in the number of Indian repatriates.” Counter intuitively the homecoming of the Indian professional expat is a gaining trend despite the fact that money is no longer the big or only lure. The monetary benefits that these executives could expect to earn has reduced over the last few years reports TOI. The gap in premium between what the managers would have expected, say, three years ago and now has nearly halved, say hiring experts. However, the reasons for their return largely combine family-related matters and better job prospects. Oddly, market factors have proved to be the big leveller. A combination of high inflation in India along with the search for top talent has reportedly helped to reduce the difference in compensation between India and western nations. Uppaluri says, “About a decade ago, the difference in the junior and middle levels was as much as 75%, and at the top management level it was about 50% to 60%. Today, the difference at the junior and middle levels is about 50%, and at the top it's just about 30% to 40%.” Other observers like Nilay Khandelwal, regional director, Michael Page, a recruitment firm, find that the differences are reducing mainly in areas which have traditionally remained with India for a longer time, such as analytics, risk, finance and operations in banking. “The From Front Page tain areas, the cost of delivery of public services Ruckus in J&K is very high as compared to other parts of “Your CMP (Common Minimum Programme) says return of power projects; Governor’s address also says the same. This deceit won’t do,” Omar asked the BJP-PDP coalition government. Congress legislators also joined the NC in the protest, following which the Speaker Kavinder Gupta adjourned the house. Later, when the house resumed, NC members again started protesting on the issue after coming in the well resulting their scuffle with marshals. Meanwhile, the upper house was also adjourned two times as opposition continued its protests over New Delhi’s refusal to transfer power projects to the state. As the house convened on Friday morning, NC members started shouting slogans against the Mufti Muhammad Sayeed government as they displayed copies of a local newspaper report carried on Friday saying the central government had denied financial support to the state for wresting the ownership of NHPC-run hydro-power projects. The Common Minimum Programme worked out by the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party-Peoples Democratic Party coalition includes central support to the state government so that the NHPC owned and run hydro power projects are transferred to state government. Will go said. Pertinently, the Legislative Assembly Friday witnessed ruckus over the refusal of Center in returning the power projects to the state. BJP favours power projects and that the state government would continue its efforts in bringing back Uri and Dulhasti from NHPC. The deputy chief minister stated that the ruckus of the opposition parties is nothing but futile attempts to gain prominence. “People know the politics of such partiers better that anyone and are aware that such tactics would not make them dearer to the people of state,” he said. He maintained that the government is committed in bringing back state’s power projects from NHPC and the state dispensation is working for the same. “My only question is that what the previous government could not do in six years, how could the present government do that it mere 20 days,” he added. Dispensing With the other schemes should be wound up and its re- sources subsumed in the kitty of 17 Mega Schemes. "More than 86% funds are being sourced to 17 flagship programmes under CSSs. It will be prudent if the other 14% funds allocated to 49 other schemes are transferred for a more coordinated implementation of CSSs in the states," he suggested. Asking the Centre to see from the same lens and do away with its policy of one-size-fits-all for forging a better match between schemes and needs of the states, Mufti urged upon the Central Government to consider funding pattern of all Centrally-Sponsored schemes for Special Category states in the ratio of 90:10. The Chief Minister said it is quite possible that fiscal imbalance in states can be caused by the fiscal mismanagement of the Centre. “If the Centre doesn’t meet its budgeted revenues, the states will bear the brunt of the shortfall,” the Chief Minister said while pushing for a “Minimum Guaranteed Devolution” for the states. Referring to the State’s weak resource base, the Chief Minister said J&K is experiencing difficulties to fund large number of CSSs. He asked for continuation of financing scheme for CSSs as 90% grant and 10% loan. “Keeping in view certain innate structural and infrastructural deficiencies afflicting the State, we are not in a position to take any Centrally-sponsored Scheme for outright transfer to the State Budget,” he said, while requesting the Central Government to continue to treat J&K as a Special Category state, as recommended by the National Development Council. While highlighting the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, the Chief Minister called for implementation of cooperative federalism by considering more decision-making powers and greater devolution of Central taxes to the States. He said the CSSs should not be treated on a standalone basis and must be seen as part of an integrated fiscal federal system. Reiterating its earlier position of allowing greater flexibility in the guidelines of Centrallysponsored Schemes by factoring in local requirements, the Chief Minister suggested front-loading of bulk CSS releases preferably in the month of April, keeping in view the limited working season in states like J&K. “We have been raising the issue of allowing flexibility in guidelines of the schemes for quite some time. Non-release or untimely release of funds results in cost and time overruns. Due to difficult terrain and inaccessibility of cer- gap has been reduced as the early movers had a better advantage than people moving at later stages. So, for example, a 40-50% premium in the past is now reduced to 20-30%,” he said. The banking sector is peculiar because premiums have steadily reduced for returnees, owing to a supply-demand to know that without the inclusion of Kashmiris, the talks over the resolution are futile and will not yield any desired results. “I had a meeting with Pak envoy in New Delhi and he assured me to raise the issue with the GOI that talks over Kashmir cannot be held without the inclusion of the people of Kashmir. It has been the slogan of the people here that Kashmir which we nourished by our blood is ours,” Mirwaiz said with the pro-Azadi slogans reverberating within the masjid. Huriyat (M) chairman said there will be no solution to Kashmir issue without the ‘self representation’ while condemning the GOI over its recent remarks that only bilateral talks will be held between India and Pakistan for the resolution of Kashmir. “It should be understood by all the Kashmir dispute is not the issue of electricity, roads and drains but about the future of the people of Kashmir.” Meanwhile, he pitched for the separate dates of entrance examinations being held at Aligarh Muslim University and by the BOPEE here. “We appeal that the dates must not be similar so that students who appear at the entrance at Aligarh could also appear in BOPEE exams,” he said. party’s links with Hindu groups. Undeterred by party hawks who accused him of embarking on a misdirected visit to Pakistan in 1999, Vajpayee rode triumphantly into Lahore aboard a bus, on an initiative that was pursued by his successor Manmohan Singh. Vajpayee’s diplomatic breakthrough was hailed as the dawn of a new era in Indo-Pak relations. But it was another story that Pakistan army undertook a covert operation to send its troops into Kargil that led to a limited conflict that Pakistan lost. Vajpayee first became Prime Minister in 1996 after four decades in opposition. He lasted only 13 days as prime minister for lack of numbers. The lack of a stable majority ended his second stint in power from 1998 after 13 months. His government collapsed after AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa withdrew her support from the coalition. He was reelected in 1999 at the head of amore stable coalition that lasted its full term. The compulsions of coalition politics forced BJP to put on the backburner issuesdear to its heart– scrapping of special status for Jammu and Kashmir, building a Hindu temple on the site of the mosque in Ayodhya and adopting a uniform civil code. Widely respected within the country and abroad as a statesman of the genre of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vajpayee’s 1998-99 tenure as prime minister was characterised as one year of courage of conviction. It was during this period that Indiaconducted a series of successive nuclear tests at Pokhran in May 1998. Those close to Vajpayee say his personal mission was to improve relations with Pakistan and the seeds were sown when he was the Foreign Minister in the Morarji Desai Government in the late seventies. After the Lahore peace overtures failed to carry forward, another initiative was the historic Agra summit with General Pervez Musharraf in 2001 but that failed. The demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya by kar sewaks on December 6, 1992 when he was the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha was an acid test for Vajpayee on where he stood on secularism. Vajpayee’s trusted lieutenant L K Advani and most BJP politicians supported the demolition but Vajpayee condemned the attack unequivocally. His personal integrity has never been seriously questioned but arms bribery scandals have exposed corruption in his government and at times cast doubts on his judgement. A bachelor, Vajpayee is also a poet of some repute and he is often quoted by his party. Born on December 25, 1924 at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh to Krishna Bihari Vajpayee and Krishna Devi, Vajpayee, a high-caste Brahmin brought with him a long parliamentary experience spanning over five decades. He became a Member of Parliament for the first time in 1957. As a teenager Vajpayee was jailed briefly for opposing British colonial rule, but played no major part in the freedom movement. He flirted with communism before choosing to support the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swamyamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jan Sangh – both right-wing organisations that later developed close links with the BJP. Vajpayee dropped out of law school to run an RSS magazine in the early 1950s. Later, he transcended his political roots in the RSS to emerge as the moderate voice of the BJP. His involvement in politics began as a freedom-fighter during the Quit IndiaMovement of 1942-1945. He started out as a communist but shed that for membership in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an organization propounding Hindutva, or Hindu Nationalism and considered Right-Wing inIndian politics. Vajpayee became a close follower and aide to Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), BJP’s predecessor. Vajpayee was at Mookerjee’s side when he went on a fast-unto-death in Kashmir in 1953, to protest against the system of carrying a permit for entering the state and the “inferior” treatment of Indian citizens visiting Kashmir, as also the special treatment accorded to Kashmir because it had a Muslim majority. Mookerjee’s fast and protest ended the identity card requirement, and hastened the integration of Kashmir into the Indian Union. But Mookherjee died after weeks of weakness, illness and confinement in jail. These events were a watershed moment for the young Vajpayee. Taking the baton from Mookerjee, Vajpayee won his first election to Parliament in 1957. As the leader of BJS, he expanded its political appeal, organization and agenda. In spite of his youth, he soon became a respected voice in the opposition — one of reason and intelligence. His broad appeal brought respect, recognition and acceptance to a rising nationalist cultural movement. As India’s longest serving prime minister outside Congress party, Vajpayee is often described as the moderate face of BJP. His detractors used to call him a “mask” of the RSS, his benign smile of moderation hiding his lakh hectares of agricultural land and 3.96 lakh hectares of horticulture land also suffered damage. According to the government data 6,910 kms of road length, 559 bridges, 3,063 PHE schemes, 6,423 irrigation works and schemes, 4,202 sub- the country,” Chief Minister said and added that cost norms for Central schemes should be based on State Schedule Rates. The Chief Minister said that the recommendations of 14th FC have been such that they have decisively given more revenues and responsibilities to the states but the manner in which these recommendations have been implemented by the Union Government has hurt the Special Category states. Pointing out the difficulties some of the States are facing in catching up in growth and development, Mufti called for accommodating certain area-specific requirements while designing the guidelines of the schemes. He said Centre should consider the security situation, hostile geographical conditions, limited working season and the massive hit the State’s infrastructure took last year due to devastating floods while framing the guidelines of the Central schemes. Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister Haseeb A. Drabu said the NITI Ayog will have to re-look on how the Centrally-sponsored schemes are implemented in the States, keeping in view the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission. He said the new system under 14th FC will become regressive if the size of financial transfer to the States from the Centre is reduced. “With a tax buoyancy of only 18% under 14th FC, we will have to look for other ways to fill the gaps of funding CSSs,” Dr. Drabu said. Medical ‘Negligence’ the hospital administration, the protesters blocked Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Kanth Bagh for several hours. The protesters were demanding a probe into the circumstances that caused the deaths. Later, a team of civil and police officials, including ADC, Baramulla, Riyaz Ahmad Wani, DSP headquarters, Feroz Yahya visited the hospital to take stock of the situation. According to Mohammad Maqbool Sheikh who was attending on his brother, admitted in the hospital for urine infection, said he developed shivering after being given dextrose by the paramedics on Thursday night. “My brother was shivering badly. We kept him warm with several blankets and brought drugs from the open market that provided him relief after sometime,” Sheikh said. He said later in the night two people died at the hospital after being given dextrose by the paramedics. He said that the panicked attendants also called the Medical Superintendent but to no avail. Refuting the allegations of negligence, the Medical Superintendent (MS) district hospital, Baramulla, Dr Bashir Chalkoo said that the elderly patients had a natural death. “I say with confidence that no death has been caused by drip reaction or drugs given at the hospital. The patients were elderly and were suffering from lung disease,” he said. He said that some patients, who had developed shivering after being administered with the dextrose, were stable and doing well. “Drip or allergic reactions happens in a few cases. But the death due to cold have not happened in the hospital,” he said. (GNS) Hurriyat (M) valley-wide campaign so that the world comes Why India 300 People caused to 26,1361 structures, farm sector of 3.27 anomaly. Yet, professionals are returning, thanks to stagnation in foreign markets and better opportunities for skill-development in a growing economy like India. Post the financial crisis of 2008, banks in India started grooming talent from within so that they wouldn’t have to rely on expats and returning Indians. In finance and operations, where the supply is greater than the demand, Khandelwal said the gap in premium salary (pre-2011 levels and now) for returning Indians has reduced. “So if a VP level in finance and operations was earlier coming at Rs 50 lakh, he/she today is ready to take up the assignment for between Rs 35-40 lakh,” he noted. Foreign banks in particular are witness to this reversal of brain drain. Anuranjita Kumar, chief HR officer, Citi South Asia says, “We have seen a lot of interest across the developed markets from managers wanting to relocate to India, whether for personal or professional reasons. In the last 18 months, the trend of returning Indians has gathered momentum.” According to Kumar, the last time stations, 11,671 kms of electric conductors, besides 6,466 other buildings suffered damages due to floods. Indian market India. Contributing about 6% of India's $40 billion healthcare sector (Ficci estimate), the medical equipment sector is small but vital to the healthcare industry. Consider cardiac and orthopaedic- the sector's biggest revenue-earners. About 3 lakh Indians undergo heart procedures and around 1 lakh knee-replacement surgeries. These cost a patient between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Each involves use of medical devices. From the high end stent or a ball-and-socket knee joint to the humble clip or blood pressure-monitoring cuff, devices play a crucial role. The US Food & Drug Administration lists 150 types of medical devices used during angioplasties and cardiac bypass surgeries and over 120 types for orthopaedic operations. The medical devices list is long. Ficci estimates about 14,000 product types. Yet few Indians ask doctors about the make of stents or intra-ocular lenses. The medical devices segment in India is worth over Rs 35,000 crore. “Imports account for Rs 27,000 crore and could balloon to Rs 85,000 crore soon,” said a healthcare expert. TOI reports that unfortunately for Indians, the Drug Controller General of India's office has regulations for only 20 devices. A new legislation widening the scope of regulation is expected this year. According to Rajiv Nath of Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices (HSMD), which makes single-use injections, there's little awareness among Indian lawmakers that medical devices are classified into seven fields (disposables, consumable, electronics, equipment, implants, diagnostic and surgical instruments). "They club these with medicines without realising that electronic medical devices are different from, say, consumables used in operations. Just as you wouldn't want one doctor performing your heart surgery and knee replacement, you cannot have one set of regulations for the pharmaceutical industry covering all medical devices." There's another problem: Pricing. According to Dr G S K Velu of Trivitron Healthcare, a Chennai medical devices company, “Many companies sell drug-eluting stents at heavy premiums. They possibly get it at Rs 5,000 to 10,000 but charge patients Rs 75,000." Nath said: "The government reduced duty on imported medical devices. Was this benefit passed on to patients? Did government check if the MRP of imported implants or stents has come down? Worse, retailers and hospitals blackmail Indian manufacturers to maintain the same MRP as importers so they get their margins." A doctor who didn't want to be named pointed to `indirect dumping': Diversion of unwanted stocks to the third world. He said a landmark clinical trial on drug-eluting stents, COURAGE, in 2009 proved angioplasties don't necessarily help more than aggressive medical management in patients with stable coronary artery disease. “After the trial, there was drop in stent use across the US. Foreign manufacturers flocked to countries such as India to promote stent use,” he said. Dr Velu says, “CT and MRI scanners and ventilators can be imported with zero regulation. Patient monitors and dialysis machines are brought in without regulation.” Many of these machinessome refurbished after a year's use and resold cheaper - are dumped in India, where the regulatory framework is feeble, he says. Yet, Dr Nath of HSMD says, ironically, doctors prefer a refurbished imported machine over a new India-made one as the latter isn't certified by the government. "Who do we go to for certification? Government regulates a handful of medical devices, the rest are in the unregulated sector. A known, imported brand is thus preferred," he said. A Mumbai medical equipment vendor conceded dumping was rampant. "Do Indian consumers know if the dialysis machine they're strapped to or oximeters checking their oxygen levels aren't new? Or whether they're calibrated to function in Indian settings?” he wondered. A 2012 report in The Lancet showed that about 40% of healthcare equipment in poor countries is out of service mainly because of ill-conceived donations-for instance, oxygen concentrators donated to a Gambian hospital worked on a voltage incompatible with the country's power supply. But the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), which represents most American manufacturers, denies that foreign makers don't care about their end users. Vibhav Garg, co-chair AdvaMed-India Working Group said, in the context of Indian consumers, “AdvaMed's member companies try to make appropriate technologies available to the Indian market to help India address its non-communicable disease burden," adding that his company actually focuses on such a trend was witnessed was about a decade ago between 2005-07 when India’s GDP growth was around 8% to 9%. However, following the subsequent uncertainty surrounding the global financial crisis and lower growth in India, the trend plateaued out, she said. At Citi, Indian managers based abroad with varied experience have indicated their interest to come back to India, given the positive market sentiment. As compared to the 9% growth in compensation in the Indian banking sector, developed markets offer around 2%. “More than compensation, the opportunity for these managers is in up-skilling themselves in a growing market like India,” Kumar points out. Its the dynamism in India’s market that’s providing it magnetism as well. With economic growth stalling in the West, leading to slower career growth opportunities, India on the other hand, is a market which appears to be be growing and changing, offering better job prospects to NRIs. What's assisting the process is a change in the standard of living in India and its education system. adapting devices to customised settings. A collaboration between The Lancet and Imperial College London, UK, in 2012 which examined how medical technology should best be used to improve health in low- and middle-income countries found that instead of relying on handme-down technologies from wealthier countries, which can be costly, inappropriate for local conditions, and even dangerous, there should be an effort towards developing what they call "frugal technologies”. These are cost-effective technologies that are developed specifically to cope in local conditions. Examples include: the Jaipur foot, a rubber prosthetic for people who have lost their leg and foot below the knee; PATH's Uniject injection system, which allows once-only use of needles for injectable contraceptives; and the eRanger, a durable rural ambulance, based around a motorbike and stretcher sidecar (which can be modified to carry one or two people). The report also advocated a wider understanding of what is meant by medical technologies, pointing out that technological improvement to sanitation and road conditions could also have a far-reaching impact on public health in many lowand middle-income countries. The authors of the report said advances in technology need to be accompanied by innovation to have a significant effect on health, which includes the development of effective delivery mechanisms and novel approaches to financing. --EJ PDP-BJP Panel be discussed and deliberated upon. “The meeting would discuss how agenda for the alliance is implemented within the defined timeframe and all the policy issues adhered to in letter and spirit.” The ten-member Coordination Committee is headed by Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh while other members of the Committee include party presidents Mehbooba Mufti and Jugal Kishore, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh. Tariq Hamid Karra, Thusptan Chhewang and Shamsher Singh, Members of Parliament and Choudhary Lal Singh, Abdul Rehman Veeri and Naeem Akhter, Cabinet Ministers in the coalition Government. 183 JK youth & patriotic sons of this glorious state in 1947-48 Sistani calls airstrikes on Wednesday in support of the mission at the request of Iraq's government. Al-Sistani said that coordination between the military, militias and tribes is necessary for the success of the operation, according to his representative Ahmed al-Safi in the holy site of Karbala. It is up to the ``high command of (the Iraqi) armed forces to adopt the proper and right decision,'' al-Sistani said. Cop Goes one year. He has been suspended on 31/01/2014 in case FIR no 06/2014 u/s 307.353, 510,427/RPC stands registered against him in police station Ganderbal. “Already notices served to him by DPO Budgam”, he said, adding that first notice was issued on 14/01/2015 and second notice was accordingly issued on 27/02/2015. He further said that today we have registered a case after Parray’s family files missing report in police station Ganderbal and further investigations have been taken up. “We have constituted a special team to trace him,” the official said. Meanwhile, family members of the Parray staged a protest demonstration at Wussun Ganderbal demanding his whereabouts. (GNS) H1N1: 482 suspected deaths from H1N1 influenza. Most of the deaths occurred to patients suffering from comorbidites, the minister said, adding, 482 patients have tested positive for H1N1 influenza in the state. Referring to measures taken by the government, he said that soon after first confirmed case was diagnosed at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences on January 27, an action plan was framed to deal with the influenza which envisaged setting up of isolation wards in tertiary hospitals of the state. He said that till March 23, 8,665 health-care workers have been vaccinated to protect them from contracting the virus. A 32-bedded isolation ward was made functional at SKIMS, Soura, for patients suffering from swine flu, he said, adding similarly, a four-bedded Intensive Care Unit and 10 isolation rooms were earmarked in SMHS hospital. Isolation wards with capacity of ten beds each were also made operational at G B Panth Hospital and Chest disease Hospital in Srinagar, he said. In Jammu, a ward with 48 independent rooms was earmarked for swine flu in GMC Hospital here. The department established round the clock control rooms at directorate of health services in Jammu and Srinagar. As far as the testing facilities are concerned, SKIMS has testing facility for H1N1 virus and state cabinet has sanctioned two testing laboratories for H1N1 at Government Medical college Jammu and Government Chest Disease hospital Srinagar, he said. He further said the method of treatment varies from patient to patient depending upon the severity of the disease. NEWS saturday 28 03 2015 Kashmir Observer NEWS Saudis, Allies Bomb Yemen For 2nd Day SANAA - Yemen's beleaguered government said Saudi-led airstrikes would not last long on the second day of a Gulf Arab-led campaign against the Iranian-allied fighters that could escalate a proxy conflict spreading through the region. Warplanes targeted Ansarullah forces controlling Yemen's capital and their northern heartland on Friday and, in a boost for Riyadh, fellow monarchy Morocco said it would join the rapidly-assembled coalition against the anti-Western group. Fighters, also called Houthis, advanced south despite the airstrikes and Pakistan, named by Saudi Arabia on Thursday as a partner, said it had made no decision on whether to contribute. Riyadh’s move is the latest front in a growing regional contest for power with Iran that is also playing out in Syria, where Tehran backs government against US backed rebels, and Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias are playing a major role in fighting extremist ISIS. On Friday the warplanes of the Saudi-led alliance attacked a popular market in the northwestern Yemeni city of Sa’ada, also affiliated with Saleh. Yemeni oil flows through the Marib pipeline, its main export route, at a rate of around 70,000 barrels per day (bpd). The well-armed tribes are the de facto authority in the central province so their support for the air strikes was significant. In his first reaction to the attacks, Ansarullah leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi on Thursday called Saudi Arabia a bad neighbor serving American and Israeli interests, saying in a televised speech Yemenis would confront the "criminal, unjust and unjustified aggression". Iran denounced the surprise assault on the Houthis and demanded an immediate halt to Saudi-led military operations and, on Friday, accused Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan of fomenting strife in the Middle East, rebuffing his accusation that Iran was trying to dominate the region. According to Ansarullah leader, two fronts will be established in the country, a defensive front to preserve security in the capital, and an offensive front to counter the Saudi-led strikes. Yemen’s fugitive President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi (L) is welcomed by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman upon arrival in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on March 26. killing or injuring at least 15 people, according to Yemen’s al-Massira TV. The airstrikes against Sana’a resumed during the early hours of Friday. The planes bombed military and civilian targets in and around the Yemeni capital. The airstrikes targeted the al-Samaa military base north of the capital and al-Istiqlal camp on the western edge of Sana’a. Television also said that anti-aircraft guns have shot down a reconnaissance plane west of Sana’a. Health Ministry officials say 39 people have been killed in Yemen since Saudi-led strikes began. But undeterred Houthi fighters entered the southern provinces of Abyan and Shabwa on Friday through the central province of Bayda, extending their reach into the south, according to tribal sources. The fighters entered the city of Lodar in Abyan after clashes with tribal forces loyal to Hadi, and also took over Bayhan in Shabwa, where they faced less resistance. Mosques in Saudi capital on Friday preached fiery sermons against the Ansarullah fighters and their Iranian allies, describing the fight as a religious duty. Saudi Arabia's top clerical council issued a fatwa on Thursday giving its blessing to the campaign. In the Iranian capital Tehran, Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Kazem Sadeghi described the attacks as "an aggression and interference in Yemen’s internal affairs". Residents said aircraft targeted bases around Sanaa of Republican Guards allied to the Houthis, including one near the presidential compound in a southern district, around dawn and also struck near a military installation that houses missiles. OIL REGION HIT The Republican Guards are loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, Houthi's main Sunni ally who retains wide power despite having stepped down in 2011 after Arab Spring protests. Earlier air strikes south of the city and in the oil-producing Marib region appeared to target military installations In hIS FIrSt reActIon to the AttAckS, Ansarullah leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi on Thursday called Saudi Arabia a bad neighbor serving American and Israeli interests, saying in a televised speech Yemenis would confront the "criminal, unjust and unjustified aggression". Mccain applauds saudi Offensive in YeMen Pak Refuses To Join Conflict ‘That Divides Muslims’ Oil tankers carry almost four million barrels daily through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The strait is 18 miles wide at its narrowest point. The offensive has raised concerns about the vulnerability of the Bab el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and Djibouti, which has been identified by the US Department of Energy as a potential “chokepoint” in the global oil market. The tankers carry crude on a daily basis through the Red Sea and Suez Canal to Europe. Oil supplies to the United States take a longer route around the southern tip of Africa. Dont Rush To Yemen: Imran Advises Sharif ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said Friday that Pakistan should be playing the role of a key negotiator in peace talks rather than becoming a participant in the Yemen war, in a series of tweets posted on his official Twitter account. Imran said Pakistan had suffered huge losses in the past due to its involvement in other Kejriwal wanted to form govt with Congress: Bhushan NEW DELHI: AAP leader Prashant Bhushan on Friday alleged that following the party's massive defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal wanted to form a government in Delhi with the support of Congress, despite opposition from many. Addressing the media here along with colleague Yogendra Yadav, Bhushan said Kejriwal acted in an autocratic manner and refused to pay heed to opposing voices. "After the Lok Sabha elections there were talks that AAP should form government in Delhi with the support of Congress. A PAC meeting was called and five were opposed to the idea while four supported it. "Arvind said that as national convener, he had the right to take the final decision and he has decided to take Congress' support to form the government in Delhi. However, we protested." Yogendra, Bhushan should 'depart gracefully': kumar A am Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas on Friday called on senior party leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav to leave the party 'gracefully' if nothing was working out. "If nothing is working then you [Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav] should depart gracefully," he told ANI.Vishwas added that there were some forces behind the rift in the party, which is showing no signs of abating yet. "Personal jealousy and frustration is there. But there are also some forces for the rift within the AAP," he said.Meanwhile, BJP leader Shazia Ilmi said that it was "unfortunate" that excuses were being made and the impression given that Yadav and Bhushan were against the party. Kumar Vishwas had earlier accused Yadav of being 'two-faced', claiming the latter's statements would vary depending on his audience, with different remarks made before the party and the media. He also linked the calls for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's removal from the post of the AAP's national convener after Prashant Bhushan raised his objections. ‘sluMdOg MilliOnaire’ authOr is next Mea spOkesMan New Delhi: Vikas Swarupa senior diplomat, better known as the celebrated author of bestselling novel “Q&A”, made into Oscar winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is set to replace Syed Akbaruddin as the official spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He is expected to take over on 18 April, a day after the return of PM Narendra Modi from his 3-nation Link West tour to France, Germany and Canada. The appointment order of the 1986 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer- Vikas Swarup to head the external publicity and public diplomacy divisions, was issued late evening on 25 March. He was reportedly chosen for the role by foreign secretary S Jaishankar. Swarup's larger-than-life persona is expected to help him execute the high-profile responsibility given to him. Meanwhile Syed Akbaruddin who made quite an impression with his accessibility and quick responses is due to be promoted as additional secretary. For the time being, he has been appointed the ‘Chief Coordinator’ for India Africa Forum Summit which will be held on October 29 in New Delhi. Akbaruddin known popularly as only ‘Akbar’ is likely to be given a high-profile ambassadorial assignment later on. He could be made India’s next High Commissioner in London, a post currently held by former foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai who completes his stint at the end of the year. wars. He said Pakistan was facing a huge sectarian issue, adding that the country had already suffered enough in ten years. Saudi Arabia had said on Thursday that five Muslim countries including Egypt and Pakistan want to participate in the Gulf-led military coalition against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Friday said that no decision to participate in war on Yemen has been taken and that Pakistan has only pledged to safeguard the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). He stressed on Pakistan's role as 'facilitator' to end the conflicts in the Muslim world. "Instead of aggravating the situation by participating in it, Pakistan should do what it can to prevent it ─ for the alliance and unity of the Muslim world," the defence minister told the National Assembly . "Pakistan is ready to adopt whatever role is needed in order to facilitate the termination of conflicts in the Islamic world." "We will not take part in any conflict that could result in differences in the Muslim world, causing fault-lines present in Pakistan to be disturbed, the aggravation of which will have to be borne by Pakistan," he asserted. The request from Riyadh comes at a time when the Pakistan military is engaged in an operation against terrorists in North Waziristan. Asif's reference to 'fault-lines' hints at Pakistan's widespread sectarian conflict, as a result of which Shia and other religious minorities are targeted in tit for tat killings by extremist groups. The defence minister's statement comes a day after Saudi Arabia said that Pakistan will join its operation against Iran-backed Shia militants in Yemen, for a conflict that is rapidly escalating into a murky civil war. The minister's announcement today apparently rules out Pakistan's immediate participation in the Yemen conflict. "Division on the basis of religion or sect is rising in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Instead of conflagration or proliferation ... It should be contained," he added. " Instead of aggravating the situation by participating in it, Pakistan should do what it can to prevent it ─ for the alliance and unity of the Muslim world," the defence minister told the National Assembly . "Pakistan is ready to adopt whatever role is needed in order to facilitate the termination of conflicts in the Islamic world." 2014 devastating Year fOr palestinians: un GAZA: Amid a surge in hostilities and an ongoing blockade, 2014 was a traumatic year for millions of people living in the occupied Palestinian territory, a senior United Nations humanitarian official said on Thursday, as the Organization released its latest report on the situation on the ground. "Continued occupation undermines the ability of Palestinians to live normal lives," UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the territory, James Rawley, said in conjunction with the release of the 2014 Annual Humanitarian Overview by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "Were these factors removed and related policies changed, international humanitarian assistance would not be necessary here," he added, while acknowledging that last year had been a "devastating" one for Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank. The OCHA report, entitled Fragmented Lives, recalls that 1.8 million people in Gaza experienced an escalation in hostilities during the 2014 conflict between Gaza-based Palestinian militants and Israeli forces, resulting in over 1,500 Palestinian civilian fatalities, including more than 550 children, and leaving some 100,000 residents without a home. In addition, five Israeli civilians, including a child, as well as a security guard were killed. Moreover, it adds, reconstruction efforts in Gaza following the 51-day conflict have been slow, hampered by the continued blockade and the lack of funding, although the temporary Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism has enabled the import of construction material. The ongoing crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory has been overwhelming relief efforts in recent months. Just last month, Rawley presented OCHA's 2015 Strategic Response Plan in an effort to raise $705 million required to help the millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank with their sharply increasing humanitarian needs. But, he warned, there were also many lingering difficulties. A lack of donor support for the Plan would result in the continued displacement of over 22,000 families while up to 1.6 million people across the occupied Palestinian territory would be deprived of adequate water and sanitation services, and food assistance. Access to basic healthcare and education would also be compromised. In Thursday's press release, Rawley added that the problems for the occupied Palestinian territory were not only isolated to Gaza, where the ongoing blockade had placed a stranglehold on the enclave's economy and restricted movement for its residents, but also spilled over into the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. "A record number of 1,215 Palestinians were displaced due to home demolitions by Israeli authorities, while settlement and settler activity continued, in contravention of international law, and contributed to humanitarian vulnerability of affected Palestinian communities," he noted. Books This Weekend A mother's dilemma, a virtual world, Nepal T he nightmare of being the mother of a 27-year-old, looking at a relationship through the lens of virtual reality and a journey through Nepal are some of the hand-picked gems presented here. Take a look. W i d e A n g l e 1. Book: Simi's Mum's Diary: The Daughter of All Battles; Author: Rupa Gulab; Publisher: Amaryllis; Pages: 201; Price: Rs. 175 Being a mother to a 27 year old can be a nightmare. Particularly if she is sassy, stubborn, sulky and selfish - like Simi.Simi's mum is cool but confused. Why is it that when normal girls are falling in love with vampires and other sexy corpses, her daughter brings home the most disgusting specimens of mankind imaginable? There is the hypochondriac hostelite with the appetite of a locust, the firang who loves hanging out in slums and others. And then to be accused of being an evil khap panchayat mum.Even worse, in between relationships, Simi doesn't do normal girly things to recover; she turns to religion, anarchy and bad poetry.It is terribly frustrating, because Simi's mum is dying to introduce her to medical student Imran - the cutest and nicest guy ever, who just happens to live in the building. Naturally, Simi's suffering mum needs to vent occasionally. Because no matter how cool she thinks she is, she will never be cool enough for Simi. 2. Book: Maya; Author: Clyde DeSouza; Publisher: Penguin; Pages: 210; Price: Rs. 250 Dan and Krish have invented a gadget that they know will change the way people experience reality. When their invention is still in its trial phase, an accident kills Krish's sister, Maya. Little does he know that Dan and Maya were deeply in love. For both, the pain of her loss is intense, but Dan will not accept losing Maya, and challenges the powers that be that took her away. He sets about creating something unique that he knows will fulfill Maya's dream of becoming a dancer and also satisfy his need to be with her. But is it the right thing to do? The novel bridges two worlds - the real and the virtual and explores human rela- tionships through this lens. 3. Book: The Two-Year Mountain: A Nepal Journey; Author: Phil Deutschle; Pages: 350; Price: Rs. 395 When Phil Deutschle sets out for Nepal, he is naively unaware of the ordeals he will face - striving to teach in the Nepali language, suffering from debilitating disease, painfully adapting to a foreign culture - but imperceptibly over two years, he grows so attached to the village that he ultimately leaves it in tears. Following the alienation of his departure, he sets off on a reckless, solo climb of Mount Pharchamo, hardly caring whether he survives. Now, 34 years, later, Deutschle returns to his village, intent on learning the fate of his family and his students in the wake of Nepal's bloody Maoist civil war. 4. Book: The Debt Collector's Due; Author: Adhirath Sethi; Publisher: HarperCollins; Pages: 174; Price: Rs. 250 There comes a day in everybody's life when one needs to sit down and decide what to do with the rest of it. But our layabout here, Samay, slept through it, as he did most days growing up. Waking up aged 27, he finds that he barely has any money left in the bank and the only job anyone is willing to give him as as a debt collector for small businesses. His less than ordinary life takes a mad turn when he is mistaken by mob boss Pande for a hitman and given Rs. 75 lakh as payment. Samay wants to take the money and flee the city, but he discovers that Amrita, his college flame and now a journalist, is next on the hit list. This novel is a wild ride through the drama of college heartbreak and terrifying murder in south Mumbai's Parsi colony, from the sweaty alleys of Crawford Market to the mist-filled valley of Panchgani. This is a story about shifting fortunes and high stakes, a breathless read from the first page to the very last word. IANS C M Y K WASHINGTON: US Republican Senator John McCain has applauded the offensive launched by Saudi Arabia and its allies against Yemen, speculating that the “conflict will probably escalate” into a regional war in the Middle East. McCain said on Thursday Saudi Arabia and its allies “did the right thing” by launching the offensive against the country. The Armed Services chairman added the invasion saved oil exports from the Middle East because if Yemen were to fall, it could choke off oil exports from the region. C M Y K Observer Out POst One DieD William King, a sculptor in a variety of materials whose human figures traced social attitudes through the last half of the 20th century, often poking sly and poignant fun at human follies and foibles, has died. He was 90. Today IN HISToRy March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 278 days remaining until the end of the year. • 845 –ParisissackedbyVikingraiders,probablyunderRagnarLodbrok,who collectsahugeransomin exchangeforleaving. • 1854 – Crimean War: France and Britain declarewaronRussia. 1913 –Guatemalabecomes a signatory to the Buenos Airescopyrighttreaty. C M Y K • 1933 – The Imperial Airways biplane City of Liverpool is believed to bethefirstairlinelostto sabotagewhenapassengersetsafireonboard. • 1959 –TheStateCouncil ofthePeople'sRepublic of China dissolves the GovernmentofTibet. • 1968 – Brazilian high school student Edson Luís de Lima Souto is shot by the police in a protest for cheaper mealsatarestaurantfor low-income students. The aftermath of his death is one of the first majoreventsagainstthe militarydictatorship. • 1969 – Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famousstatementonthe BBCWorldServiceopposingthejuntainGreece. • 2003 – In a friendly fire incident, two A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraftfromtheUnited StatesIdahoAirNational Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron attack British tanks participating in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, killing British soldierMattyHull. • 2005 –The2005Sumatra earthquakerocksIndonesia,andatmagnitude8.7 is the fourth strongest earthquakesince1965. Woman set afire by youth for resisting rape QUoTe UNQUoTe I find playing morally-ambiguous characters easier than a woman who is always cute on screen. I find myself suddenly becoming more flexible and more fitting into the thing when I am doing a grey roles. Radhika Apte Actress Mediterranean diet has low carbon footprint: Study • 193 – Roman Emperor Pertinaxisassassinatedby Praetorian Guards, who thensellthethroneinan auctiontoDidiusJulianus. • A two-year-old Indian girl has set a new national record in archery, according to the India Book of Records. Dolly Shivani Cherukuri from Vijaywada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh - who turns three next week - became the youngest Indian to score more than 200 points at a trial event on Tuesday. Researchers found that people in the study who had ever been prescribed two or more courses of specific types of antibiotics were more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than people who had never been prescribed these antibiotics, or had taken just one course. 1923 – Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara. • 1910 – Henri Fabre becomesthefirstpersonto flyaseaplane,theFabre Hydravion, after taking offfromawaterrunway nearMartigues,France. ReCoRD ReSeARCH Minute LONDON:EveryonetalksaboutthehealthbenefitsoftheMediterraneandiet,andassustainabilitybecomesmoreandmoreofaconcern,a newstudydelvedintothecarbonfootprintof theMeddietandfounditrelativelylow. In the study, the Spanish research team analyzed the carbon footprints of daily menus based on a diet they describe as being the roughequivalenttotheMeddiet. Theycomparedthemwiththedailymenusof dietsconsumedintheU.S.andtheU.K. Overthecourseofoneyear,theresearchteam analyzedatotalof448lunchesand448dinners, allofwhichwerebasedona2,000calorie-perdaydiet. "Thesemenuscouldhaveequallybeenserved in any school, restaurant or Spanish household," says lead author Rosario Vidal, a researcher in the Mechanical Engineering and Construction department at the Valencian institution SINC. "The recipes analysed include typical dishes such as Andalusian gazpacho soup,vegetablepistomanchego,paellaorthe stew-likepuchero." Onaverage,thedailycarbonfootprintwas5.08 kilogramsofcarbonequivalent(CO2e),accordingtothestudy. Diets in the two English-speaking countries, however, presented a carbon footprint considerably higher, of between 8.5 kg and 8.8 kg of CO2eintheU.S.andanestimated7.4kgofCO2e intheU.K. The research team also analyzed the Med diet against17othertherapeuticdietsincludingsoft, liquidandbothlow-andhigh-proteindiets. "Thedifferencesbetweentheaveragevalueofthe MediterraneandietandthatofEnglish-speaking countries is due to much less beef being eaten inSpain(afooditemwithalargercarbonfootprint)andmorevegetablesandfruitbeingeaten, whichhavealowercarbonfootprints,"saysVidal. "Therefore,itisnotonlyhealthier,butourdietis alsomoreecological." Vidal's study comes on the heels of revisions bytheU.S.DietaryGuidelinesAdvisoryCommitteeinwhichtheyrecommendcuttingback on lean meat not for health purposes but for sustainability. It'samovethat'sthoughttobethefirsttobase dietaryadviceonecologicalpreservationratherthanhumanhealth,yetitcouldbeanimportant strategy for protecting the environment, Vidalremindsus. "Climate change is an international priority thatmustbetackledfromallangles,onebeing the family environment and consideration of ourdailydiet,"hesays. A carbon footprint expresses the amount of carbon dioxide you are contributing to global warmingwhenyouengageinactivitiessuchas driving, using electricity and home heating, or eatingmeat,theraisingandbutcheringofwhich hasleftanegativeimpactontheenvironment. IN THE LIGHTER VEIN:BothPrimeMinisterofIndiaNarenderModiandPresident,PranabhMukherjeeareofdecentheightbut standingbesidetheQatariEmirSheikhTamimbinHamadbinKhalifaAlThaniremindsoneofGPSippy’sSholayscenewherethe jailerAsranifeelsbelittledbeforeimposterAmitabBachan.TheEmirconcludedhisrecenttourtoIndiaonThursday. Meeting education cost through sex LONDON: Students turn to sexworktomakeendsmeet atuniversity,studyfinds Researchshowsonein20studentshasworkedinsexindustry to fund lifestyles, just get byorreducedebts,withmore menthanwomeninvolved. Many students are secretly turning to sex work to fund basic living costs while at university,astudyhasfound. ResearchbySwanseaUniversityshowsonein20students hasworkedinthesexindustry while studying for a degree,andmenaremorelikely todosothanwomen. Students are involved in everything from prostitution andescortingtostrippingand internetwork,theStudentSex WorkProjectreportfound. The researchers have called Earth Hour: Tonight millions will switch off lights around the world for climate action Annual switching off of lights in homes, businesses and landmarks on Saturday evening holds extra significance ahead of this year’s climate talks in Paris, says the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon NEWYORK:Inasymbolicgesturetobringmoreattentionto climate change, cities around theworldwillholdanhourof “lightsout”Saturdaynight. Organizerssay7,000citiesin 162 countries are joining in “Earth Hour” and turning off lightstosaveenergy.InMinnesota, E-hour is 8:30–9:30 p.m.Saturday. TheUNsecretarygeneral,Ban Ki-moon, has said hundreds ofmillionsofEarthhourparticipants around the world will demand a strong global climateagreementbyswitchingofftheirlightsforanhour onSaturdaynight. Manyoftheworld’sbrightest Hour In Paris the illuminated Eiffel Tower with the lights turned off as activists light up candles to observe the Earth Hour. lightswillgodarkat8:30pm (GMT)asEarthhourmarksits ninthyear.Inavideoaddress, Bansaidthesymbolicswitch- ing-offheldmoresignificance than ever, just nine months before a pivotal UN meeting ontheclimatecrisisinParis. “Climate change is a people problem. People cause climate changeandpeoplesufferfrom climate change. People can alsosolveclimatechange.This December in Paris, the United Nationsisbringingnationstogethertoagreeanew,universal andmeaningfulclimateagreement.Itwillbetheculmination of a year of action on sustainabledevelopment,”saidBan. Morethan7,000citiesin172 countriesareexpectedtotake part in the world’s largest ever demonstration, which has grown from a single World Wildlife Fund (WWF) eventinSydneyin2007. “EarthHourshowswhatispossiblewhenweuniteinsupport ofacause:noindividualaction istoosmall,nocollectivevision istoobig.Thisisthetimetouse yourpower,”saidBan. Organisers said this year’s demonstration would be the biggest yet. Sudhanshu Sarronwala, chair of Earth Hour global said: “Climate change is not just the issue of the hour,it’stheissueofourgeneration. on universities to do more to supportthoseinvolved,which could be as many as tens of thousandsofUKstudents. Woman accuses immigration officer of harassment BENGALURU: A homemaker inBengaluruhasallegedthat shewasverballysexuallyharassedbyanimmigrationofficer at the Delhi airport on March18whenshewasflying toHongKongviaDelhi. The woman claimed that the immigration officer harassed her by asking her several uncomfortablepersonalquestions. The incident took place when thewomanwasattheimmigrationcounterbeforesheboarded theflightforHongKongwhere shehadtomeetherhusband. C M Y K C M Y K 8 SATURDAY 28 03 2015 Emma Watson Named Most ‘Outstanding Woman’ in the World NEW YORK:AskMenhasplacedactressEmmaWatsonat thetopofitslistoftheTop99OutstandingWomen,citing herworkontheUnitedNations’HeforShecampaignasa “noblepursuit.” The men’s website says their list celebrates women who arebothbeautifulandremarkablewithintheirindustries. MMAfighterRondaRouseyclocksinatNo.2onthelist, and Kim Kardashian rounds out the top three. Laverne CoxwasnamedNo.16,andthoughthelistisheavyonactresses,thereareplentyofspacesforathletes,fromAlex MorgantoLindseyVonn. PublisherJamesBassilcalledWatson“rich,successful,famous, stylish,beautiful,intelligent,personable,kind,”yetemphasized thatshehas“thrownherback”intotheissueoffeminism. MUzAffARNAGAR: A 30-year-oldwomanwasset afire allegedly by a youth after she resisted his rape attemptinSisolitownhere. Thewomanwasrushedtoa hospital and her condition was stated to be serious, police said on Friday. The victim,whoisthewifeofa bankemployee,wasalonein her house yesterday when the youth, identified has Shiv Kumar, barged in and triedtorapeher,SeniorSuperintendent of Police Alok PriyaDarshitoldreporters. C M Y K NEW YORK: The thickness of Antarctica'sfloatingiceshelves hasdecreasedby18percentin certain areas over nearly two decades, warns a study that provides insights on how the ice sheet is responding to climatechange. Data from nearly two decades ofsatellitemissionshaveshown thattheicevolumedeclineisaccelerating,researcherssaid. The research team led by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego constructed a new high-resolution record oficeshelfthicknessbasedon satellite radar altimetry missions of the European Space Agencyfrom1994to2012. Merging data from three overlapping missions, researchers identifiedchangesinicethicknessthattookplaceovermore thanadecade,anadvancement overstudyingdatafromsingle missions that only provide snapshotsoftrends. Total ice shelf volume (mean thickness multiplied by ice shelf area) across Antarctica changed very little from 1994 to2003,thendeclinedrapidly, thestudyshows. West Antarctic ice shelves lost icethroughouttheentireobservation period, with accelerated lossinthemostrecentdecade. Earlier gains in East Antarctic ice shelf volume ceased after about2003,thestudyshowed. Some ice shelves lost up to 18 per cent of their volume from 1994to2012. "Eighteen per cent over the course of 18 years is really a substantial change," said Scripps graduate student FernandoPaolo. "Overall, we show not only the total ice shelf volume is decreasing, but we see an acceleration in the last decade," Paolosaid. While melting ice shelves do not contribute directly to sealevelrise,theresearchersindicatethatthereisanimportant indirecteffect. Page Editor: Farooq Shah | mfshah@gmail.com | Layout: Muntazir Yaseen C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K Antarctic ice shelves rapidly thinning, warns study
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