Why Only Internet Ban, Disallow Postal Services Also !

Was there any Internet Service in 1990’, When the Turbulence Started in J & K ?

Raman Sharma

Whilst  Prime Minister Narendra Modi was meeting with National Leaders of different Countries  there in America and pushing the case of India for permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council and while he was interacting with CEOs of global companies and Information Technology giants like Mark zukerberg of Facebook, Tim Cook of Apple,  Sundar Pichai of Google and when he was getting power point presentations on bringing high speed internet and wi-fi for different railway station in India back home population of more than 12 million people was pushed to an era of stone age just for a suspicion.  

There not only Indians but people across the globe witnessed sermons of the Prime Minister Modi regarding benefits of Social media and his claim that how does he is even famous in social networking sites in China and Israel too. I could not believe that how does the government under the leadership of such a person deprive millions of people even of basic internet facilities forget the social networking websites. Today when even the people there in the third world countries are enjoying high speed internet services without any break how does here in our state there always remain a chaos of breaking down internet services and SMS ban anytime.

Yes, on the eve of Eid,   Jammu and Kashmir  the state that have a population of over 12 million was disconnected for complete 3 days from rest of the world merely on the potential risk that some people may misuse internet services therefore  the internet services were snapped on the advise (must say diktat) of security and police authorities operating here. The method and the way the internet services were blocked and the people were left to speculate deserve highest condemnation.

This is not the 1^st time that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been dragged back to the medieval period by the government of the day, people of this state were even deprived of  basic STD telephone services on the speculation of misuse by anti-national and anti-social elements. The former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah whose love for twitter is world famous also without caring the plight of the people had blacked out SMS services from the state for a long period of over 2 years. The turbulence in Jammu and Kashmir is not creation of social networking sites, because when in decade of 90’s the violence in Jammu and Kashmir was at its peak then there was  no Face book, Whatsapp that time even a very few people had basic landline telephone services in the state.

Now, the question arises whether these bans on SMS, STD and snapping internet services help to build an atmosphere of peace in the state. Can we make hostage 1.25 crore people of the state just for the potential threat of few dozen or hundred hate mongers who may display disgust on the social media. If stopping people from interacting with each other help the country and state to bring the graph of violence down then I am sure the people would also offer the union and state government to even ban postal services in Jammu and Kashmir because that may also incite people and result into violence, also ban Radio and Television and then stop newspapers from publication because there also people ventilate their emotions and highlight the poor performance of the government which has remained a failure till now.

Are our law enforcing agencies so weak and lethargic that they cannot take action against those hate mongers who misuse internet services to spread enmity amongst different faiths and sects. Instead of taking other corrective measures, the state government and especially the failed officers who are obviously lethargic, incompetent and worthless took the extreme step and put a blanket ban on the internet services in the entire state.

I challenge the IQ of these poor officers who have advised the state government for a complete black out of internet services in the state, these incompetent officers if had even taken  few moments to realise the impact of  this ban or had they consulted some competent person who  would have informed and enlighten them about the bad affect of this ban on the lives of millions of people not only economically and physically but also  a psychological impact on the millions of other potential tourists and pilgrims who would have visited the state.

This complete shutdown of internet services In Jammu and Kashmir would compel the potential investors to rethink whether to invest anything in the state that can anytime go back to stone ages where people use to put their messages in bottles and then drove them in a river or use the pigeons to convey their messages.    

The banking sector which is completely dependent upon the internet services remained paralysed during this period, the students and aspiring candidates from the state  could not submit their online forms for various posts and examinations. The tourists who were on the visit to the state suddenly came in a state of shock when they lost connectivity with their dear ones, they could not check the status of their air and train tickets. The people  of the state too could not book their advance tickets for aerial and railway journeys. The newspapers and local TV Channels that rely on internet service for transition of their text material, photo content or even video clips too fell prey of this uncalled internet ban.

It is pitiable that at one point the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is orchestrating so loud about digitization but here back home in India, in Jammu and Kashmir , his party leaders who are partner of the coalition government making total ignorance about snapping of internet services in the state even after 48 hours of the black out. Mr. Prime minister should give some training to the ministers and legislatures of his party belonging to the state of Jammu and Kashmir who are technological illiterates.

The Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed whose party claims that he is the only statesman in Jammu and Kashmir have also not come clean to the people and pre-informed about such ban or even after the ban shared anything with the citizens about the circumstances that compelled the state government to take such a extreme step of banning the internet services.

This is nothing but a sign of weakness of PDP-BJP coalition government that instead of taking on the anti-Indian elements , it  curtailed the rights of the innocent citizens. Had this government have some guts then  it would have taken action against the people  who openly supports global terrorists from Pakistan and spill venom against India  through  their teleconferences.

Where was the so called intelligence and security apparatus of the state when these separatists marked their presence in the rallies organized by JuD Chief in Pakistan through technological gazettes. Why selectively persecute only the innocent people of the state and give special treatment to these anti-national elements.

Depriving the people of connectivity to interact with their dear ones during the festive season in no way can be justified, if there was so emergent need to put such a ban than at least the people should have been pre-informed about this and taken into confidence.

The State government on the name of attracting tourists to the state of Jammu and Kashmir every years spends millions of rupees in organizing seminars, road shows and even send its ministers and officers to various parts of the country and even abroad.  All this is done just one the name of inviting more and more tourists and bringing investment in the state but it is shocking that the same government totally disregard its own efforts when it shuts down the internet services. Today i-ways are not less important that Highways and blocking i-ways is equivalent to economical blockade by the state. 

It is such a sorry state of affairs that in this era of transparency that even today we are not aware that who ordered banning the internet services and for what period of time this ban was to remain in force a chaos was created.

We wish the Prime minister Narendra Modi all the best and hope that India gets a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council and the global technological giants help India to build IT infrastructure  in India but I am not sure whether that investment  and digitization program in India would ever help 12.5  million poor people of Jammu and Kashmir.  Raman Sharma is an RTI activist and can be mailed [a] jkrtiact@gmail.com, M:9796811012.
Published in State Times, Early Times and others on 29/Sept/2015.

http://www.earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=159671

http://news.statetimes.in/why-only-internet-ban-disallow-postal-services-also/

Impropriety in promotions of BDOs; Raj Bhavan seeks report from Secretary RDD

Sumit Sharma Early Times Report  (23/09/2015) Jammu, Sept 22: On the basis of news report published in Early Times on 10/July/2015 regarding promotion of 23 Gram Sevaks as Block Development Officers in Rural Development Department, J&K Raj Bhavan (Governor's Secretariat) has sought report from the secretary Rural Development Department.In a communiqué dated 30/July/2015 vide letter no. 744(G)Apl/15/3944 addressed to Khurshid Ahmad Shah, IAS, the secretary Rural Development Department, OP Bhagat, Additional Secretary to governor has asked the officer for factual report in the matter. It is pertinent to mention here that in its edition dated 10/July/2015, ET had reported about the Violation of General Administration Department (GAD) circular about promotion of the in-service employees and how does the Rural Development Department had granted back-to-back promotions to some 'blue-eyed' employees within short span of their appointment. In the news report it was also mentioned that the 23 village level officers were promoted from Gram Sevaks to Inspectors and then BDOs within two years.Among the Gram Sevaks are those who were promoted twice within months, raising question mark on the credibility of the department. Their promotions were approved on the basis of acquiring higher educational qualifications. Amazingly, the degrees these Gram Sevaks submitted in their support were from the universities which reportedly do not fulfill the UGC guidelines and are not competent to award such degrees/courses. Further, no prior permission was taken by the incumbents from department to pursue further degrees, sources alleged.The news report had also exposed the RDD that was about to affect 25 more promotions on such fake or unverified degrees in sheer violation of the SRO issued by Higher Education Department, in which it has been made amply clear that only those degrees are recognized which are authenticated by Jammu or Kashmir University," sources said. Moreover the GAD had earlier issued an SRO/Circular (558-GAD) regarding promotion of the in-service employees to the next rank on the basis of acquiring higher educational qualification. In the said SRO the GAD has cautioned that all the departments have to be careful while allowing promotions and the department must ensure proper verification and authentication of such degrees. Moreover, the GAD has also asked for conducting written test for in-service candidates aspiring promotions," the sources added.Meanwhile, ET has also learnt that many a technical degrees held by the officers and officials of the RDD are fake or unverified. RTI activist Raman Sharma has demanded a Judicial Probe in this promotion scam of RDD where promotions have been approved on the basis of fake documents submitted by the officials and officers.

J & K State Vigilance Commission's Order towards Transparency in Tendering Process

Publishing Tender Details on Websites

Activist Seeks Implementation of Vigilance Commission’s Order

Jammu, 11/Sept/2015: Demanding full implementation of Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission’s directive regarding publication of details of every tender on the tender inviting department’s website, Raman Sharma, RTI activist has asked the General Administration department to ensure implementation of  the order of the SVC in toto.

As per circular no. 4-SVC of 2014 dated 17/12/2014, the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission had directed all the government departments, Public Sector Undertakings and Government Companies and Societies owned or controlled by the state government to ensure that the tender issued for procurement of stores and for execution of works are besides publication in local dailies are also published and uploaded on the official website of the concerned department and in case they do not have the official website they should create the same. The directive of the commission also states that “it has been generally observed that the tenders are generally published in the newspapers with meagre circulation”.

Raman has dispatched a letter to Secretary General Administration department requesting him to ensure proper implementation of the above order of the SVC for by al the departments of the Jammu and Kashmir government larger public interest and to promote transparency and fair competition in the tendering process for procurement of goods and services by the different entrepreneurs and companies.

In his submission to the GAD, Sharma has also demanded stern action against the Heads of the Departments that are not implementing the specific order of the Vigilance Commission which can otherwise be a milestone towards e-governance as well.

One Moral Teacher is Equivalent to 100s of Model Schools

 Teachers Day-2015

by: Dr. Shazad Ahmed Malik

On this auspicious occasion of Teachers Day, let me congratulate all teachers and students of  India and my native state of Jammu and Kashmir. Today everyone of us whosoever he or she is; whatever position one occupying  is somewhere because of the knowledge and values imbibed by the teacher.                                                    

In our culture and in religious history of India, the Teacher or Guru has been given paramount respect and been compared with God. But it is quite unfortunate that like other professions this noble profession is also losing its sheen and Integrity in the society. There may be variety of reasons for this decline like commercialization of our educational system and digitization of information and less human interface.

Whatever the reason is, but being a Teacher, it hurts deep  when during my interaction with students, I realize this bitter  fact that gradually the noble profession of teaching is not in the desired list of professions that our younger generation wishes to opt after completing their studies. This is really a shock for me not only as a teacher at present but even as a person who desired this noble profession like many other contemporaries of mine.

As per census data 2011, the literacy rate (collective of male and female) in Jammu and Kashmir have touched 67.16 %  which is 11.64 % more than the census data of 2001, the male literacy rate  have increased by 10.15 percent as compared to 2001 census data and presently it is 76.75 %. The female literacy rate have also witnessed an upward trend during the last decade, as per 2001 census it was just 43 percent which have now crossed 56 percent as per the last census of 2011.    

In militancy infested state of ours, In a decade this spurt of  10 percent overall literacy rate is appreciable and for that we must congratulate the political dispensations but the real credit for this increase is dedication and honesty of majority of the teachers who challenged all the odds like difficult terrain, climate, poor road connectivity but helped to lit the lamp of education.

On one side during the last decade the literacy rate have increased in the state  but on the other side the noble profession of teaching have also been eclipsed with controversies and scandals. 

A decline of honour by the society has been noticed  for  teaching profession which may be attributed due to the penetration of a few dubious, unprofessional, incompetent and unskilled   persons in the profession, unfortunately in India and especially in our state of Jammu and Kashmir there is no fixed parameter to access and evaluate whether a person is fit to be a teacher or not.

To be qualified and called as a Doctor, Engineer, Lawyer and Architect besides basic academic qualification one  must possess the professional degree or diploma to render services as a professional, in these professions merely possessing an educational qualification even though with highest marks do not confer any right upon anyone  to pursue the profession unless he  qualifies  the professional course.

But in case of teacher as of now there is no such prerequisite to hold any professional degree diploma or even certificate, merely holding an academic qualification is sufficient to pursue the profession of teacher, there is not even any provision of compulsory basic training. 

It is high time that the educationists, lawmakers and the civil society join hands and try to build a consensus so that only competent and skilled people with conviction to serve the society are allowed to join this noble profession.

A person without having a formal medical degree and training cannot diagnose anyone in the government hospital similarly he cannot open a private clinic but in case of teaching profession, as of now though there are few norms and standards fixed for appointment as a teacher in government institute but in the private educational institutes specially in the pre-primary, primary, middle and High school level there is complete apathy, many such private institutes appoint faculty members even without having sufficient educational qualification forget any professional degree or diploma. It is surprising that when we do not allow a fake doctor to diagnose even an animal then how we can allow pseudo teachers to continue ruin the future of budding generations of our society without any check.

An ailing human being may be cured with modern treatment and medicine but if once the social structure of the society which up to a large extent is motivated by the teacher is dislocated then only God can help us. 

In the recent past, Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed some miserable incidents where a number of teachers have been arrayed as accused in cases of paper leak scam while others being arrested. If one have a look at the  data related to criminal cases filed against people associated with teaching professions then it comes to light that  there are variety of serious charges against them like molestation, rape, rape attempt on minor, forging documents, corporal punishment, accepting bribe, forgery etc.  We have also heard news reports of postponement of examination of not only University Level exams but even that of class 12th paper, 10th and shockingly class 8th paper as well due to paper leak. How one can forget to mention the case of the aspiring candidate for Rehbar-e-Taleem teacher who could not write even an essay on cow, ( we should be thankful to the judiciary who timely intervened in the instant case) but was so curious and confident to join this profession perhaps that candidate was sure that he would be accommodated only in this sector.  The above stated information may be painful but truth and we can’t be blind to this fact. It is not an allegation against  the teaching community of which I am also a part but it is time to introspect.

The quality of education is directly proportion to the ethics, morality and professionalism of a teacher; we may have modern schools, smart classes, state of the art infrastructure but without having  professional faculty nothing can be achieved. One moral teacher is sufficient to nurture the future of thousands of youth the task which even 100 model schools can’t do. Teaching is not a ordinary job that can be assumed only after acquiring higher qualification or good grades in academic discourse, the teacher should have the ability to learn and only then he can be a good teacher.

The intention to put the above record is not to defame any individual or profession but just to underline the neglect so that we wake up and take corrective measures but if anyone’s feelings are hurt I regret for the same.  The author is Vice Chancellor of Sai Nath University, Ranchi and native of District Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir.  He can be mailed at  shazadmalik2002@yahoo.co.in                                                                                                 

                                                                                               

JOURNEY OF A VILLAGE BOY FROM POONCH: From a Rehbar- e- Talem Teacher to Vice Chancellor of a University

“ Manziley  Unhi   Ko  Milti  Hai, Jinke Sapno Main Jaan Hoti Hai ; Pankhon  Se Kuch Nahi Hota  bas  Hausloon Main Udaan Hoti Hai”. The famous Urdu quote is once again being proven by Dr. Shazad Malik.

Hard work and Humility made this Young Villager to Achieve the prestigious Post of Vice Chancellor.

Rehbar- e- Talem Teacher to Vice Chancellor: Long Jump from a Small Village !

Raman Sharma 

 ( Khari Kahri News Magazine , Aug/2015 EDITION )

Agra/Poonch: Dr. Shazad Malik a well known name in Agra and Uttar Pradesh , an inspiring figure for the millions of young Indians is a native of district Poonch, he is  Vice Chancellor of Sri Sath Univeristy in Uttar Pradesh, he is among a very few educationists in India holding the  privileged post of the Vice Chancellor at such a young age.

 At the age when most of  young boys and girls in India and especially in Jammu and Kashmir State are queuing in search of a government job, Dr. Malik became the founding Vice Chancellor of Sri Sai Nath  University in 2012 and that too  100s of miles away from his home town and state.

Dr. Malik just after completing his doctorate  from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, in 2006 joined SRI Sai Nath Group of Education and remained director of the SNGE for over a period of 6 years.  

Hailing from a very isolated and  backward village Kasblari in Tehsil Mendhar of district Poonch, Dr Malik achieved the top position in the field of education in one of the largest state in the country only because of  to his hard work, humility and passion for his goal.

 Khari-Kahri Team re-visited some untold inspiring  stories of this successful but humble educationist who never forgets to repay incentive of his success to his native State, yes it is only after the personal initiative of Dr. Shazad Malik that deserving students from Jammu and Kashmir State seeking admission in SSNU are also offered scholarship besides concession in admission and tuition fees. Till date over 150 students hailing from twin district of Rajouri and Poonch have obtained degrees in different streams from his university and even at present over 40 students continuing their courses.

On visit to  the  school where this young man  had studied till primary level astonishingly while comparing the  present position held by him with ragged infrastructure and building of this  Bagyote primary school, it is almost unbelievable to even think that he  had completed his early studies from this institution some 2 decades ago. Sharing some personal detail about with Khari-Khari team, Dr. Malik remembers that how difficult it was to write examination paper without a desk  at that time as the students had to sit on ground sometime even without any clothe (Darri) beneath them. The students there in the school had to bear the chilling winter and scathing heat in summer as there was almost nothing than pillar and a Kucha roof on the name of school building.

Vice Chancellor, credits his success  to parents, especially his father, a government employee in J & K forest department (now retired) who always supported him and never compromised with anything for his studies.

“It was my family support that encouraged me to move to Poonch city for high school and higher secondary studies till class 12^th and then after to pursue graduation, my parents allowed me to join Purvanchal university, Jaunpur and Master degree from Rajsthan University” tells the Vice Chancellor.

After completing his MSc he returned back to Poonch and then as a kind of social work,  served as a Rehbar-e-Talem Teacher  in middle school Brela  for over a year on monthly honorarium of Rs. 1500 per month. Thereafter he again went out of the state for higher studies.

Dr. Shazad Malik who is  now head of the institution  tells, his job as Rehbar-e-Talem teacher helped him a lot to learn and  understand the difficulties at ground zero and now the experience gained there is helping him to perform his duties as an administrator.

On asking; how does as a young man hailing from a humble family background and backward village, he feels, after risen to such a prestigious post of Vice Chancellor, he owed it to his teachers and compared them as real heroes of his life.

In his opinion, the education is the only key that can help India’s diverse society to augment personal development of an individual and it is the only factor that can lead to the nation on the path of growth and development.

Vice Chancellor tells that the Youth of Jammu and Kashmir State are second to none and the only thing they need is support and opportunity, he tells all the students from Rajouri and Poonch district who were admitted on his personal initiative performed well in the results and their performance encourages him  to extend support to many other deserving students.

Willing to revamp the educational system in the state, Dr. Malik has a dream to provide quality education to poor chidren, he reveals his plan of opening a private school in some remote village in district Poonch having all the modern infrastructure and highly qualified  faculty members and in this school only the  poorest of poorer would be allowed admission. He also lays special focus on regular training courses for the teachers to equip them and for capacity building, in his idea teaching is not a simple and easy profession that can be adopted after acquiring higher qualification or good grades in academic discourse, the teacher should have the ability to learn and only then he can be a good teacher.

He believes, the quality of higher education in Jammu and Kashmir state is stagnant, without making any reference to any particular university of Jammu or Kashmir regions, he asks for over all revamp and called for emphasis on research based courses, for over decades  the education system in J & K universities is moving with snail’s pace and that needs to be changed. He suggests to turn university classes into workshops where the teachers allow fresh research based ideas of  pupil and then  both  spend time on it to find out the outcome for welfare of the society. Practical oriented courses should be introduced in the curriculum. He also calls for frequent exchange of faculty and students not only to different universities of the country but across the globe. Education is  a global phenomenon and we cannot confine it, it is time to open our minds and doors for exchange of ideas and there must be flexibility to learn new innovations.  

Commenting on the current political scenario in the country and in Jammu and Kashmir state, Dr. Malik Says he believe in Idea of ‘India’ without any bias with anyone on the name of religion, region, cast, creed and gender, everyone should be treated fairly and must be given equal platform to prove his abilities. 

He also says that there cannot be any compromise on nationalism and the idea of India, he says he is a proud Indian and his only appeal to the youth of the country to remain true to the allegiance and sovereignty of the country without any doubt in the mind. Dr. Malik admits that his idea of Nationalism does not go well with everyone and this has attributed some adversaries against him but he never give up what he strongly feels for the country. He says a good teacher is always a ‘Learner’ and he also learns from people, students, teachers and even from helping staff in the university. 

A good piece of advice  is not copyright of only so called elite class, it can be from anyone therefore I keep interacting with new people”. Asserts Dr. Malik..

Think ‘Jammu’ Beyond Municipal Limits !

Discrimination with Sub-Regions !

Raman Sharma

I am a proud Jammuite and shall always remain so, there is also  no denial that people of Jammu are liberal, tolerant and do not confine themselves to prejudices but at the same we cannot deny the very fact that certain vested interests especially  immoral political leaders mislead people here  to grab votes, instigate and exploit the innocent people of  Jammu.

As these leaders lack any vision, ground or any concrete idea and positive political ideology to offer  therefore they find it appropriate to divide the people on regional lines and keep grinding their own axe. They always play Jammu -Card in State Politics to prove their worth and pose themselves as the champions of the cause of Jammu.

Many such  politicians  have successfully built   an impression that Jammu is area that falls in old city but the fact of the matter is that  Jammu is neither  geographical area within municipal Limits comprising  71 Wards governed by Jammu Municipal Corporation nor it is the name of just a district ‘Jammu’  but it is collective nomenclature of ‘Jammu’ division comprising 10 districts including Doda, Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Kishtwar and Poonch.  Total population of these 10 districts is over 53 Lac and that of Jammu district is 1526406, which is around 29 percent of total population of ‘Jammu’ division and rest of 71 % population reside in other remaining 9 districts.

 The total population residing in 71 wards of Jammu city is just 576198, which is  30 percent of the total population of Jammu district and just 10 percent of total population of ‘Jammu’ division. The reason for giving above numerical figure is to put some records straight as far as politics in Jammu and Kashmir is concerned or most specifically the politics in the name of ‘Jammu’ is concerned.

The political parties having influence   in the region or the self acclaimed champions of Jammu’s cause   always beat the drum of discrimination with ‘Jammu’ but for them ‘Jammu’ means only wards under the Jurisdiction of JMC.

These political leaders and so called saviours of Jammu’s interest never take the issues of other sub regions of Jammu seriously, for example for the past few years there have been thousands of road accidents in hilly districts like Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban, during the period 2009 to March-2015 there have been over   2400 road accidents in which 823 persons lost their lives and 3700 others injured but seldom we heard any serious concern expressed by these Political parties and leaders though their ritual condolence messages remain confined up to press notes.

There have never been a sincere effort by the Jammu leadership to improve road connectivity in these areas and to build proper health infrastructure in these sub regions so that the people there need not to remain depend upon Government Medical College Bakshi Nagar, Jammu.

There have been a decades old  demand from the people and legal fraternity hailing from twin district of Rajouri-Poonch and also from areas falling erstwhile Doda district for setting up a bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court there so that the litigants do not suffer and the lawyers can file their appeals and writs in the local bench, at present a number of petitioners who lose their cases in the subordinate courts do not challenge the verdict in the High Court as it is not easy for the poor litigants to travel so long and then also pay the fees of their counsel.  The parties in both criminal as well as in civil suits fail to even knock the doors of the higher judiciary. Jammu’s leaders must be answerable to these poor litigants whose dear ones remain behind the bars or who are unable to contest the illegal occupation of their property by some land encroacher how to get justice from higher judiciary in absence of any bench of the High Court.

How one can forget that even some Jammu leaders instead of being jubilant; agitated even on re-opening of  historic Mughal Road connecting Rajouri-Poonch with Kashmir otherwise the poor people from these areas had to firstly visit  Jammu and then go to valley unnecessarily putting a financial and time consuming burden on them. This road is now being used as an alternative highway connecting Jammu with Kashmir. Now, slowly Mugal road is also somehow helping in the economy of these twin districts and the people from these districts got an alternative market in Valley for buying and selling the products besides increasing scope of employability. If the Jammu’s leadership had shown some sincerity earlier and opened this route few decades ago then these remote sub regions would have also excelled.

Comparing the number of government educational institutes in district Jammu with rest of the 9 districts  would also be helpful to understand the behaviour of Jammu leadership with these sub-regions who deserve their due share and of course must have sufficient number of degree colleges, higher secondary schools, High Schools and middle/primary schools in blocks and tehsils.

Policing: In Jammu district and more specifically for different Mohallas falling in 3 assembly segments of Jammu in each lane and Kucha there is a Police Station or Police Post but no one needs to tell that there are many areas in other 9 districts where to cover areas of more than 25 to 50 Kms, only one police Station or Police post is established with deputation of a very few policemen. In district Jammu alone there are more than 25 Police Stations which is obviously  more than the total number of police stations in 3 districts like Kathua, Samba and Udhampur.

Anyhow it is never too late but even today  the sub-regions are not being heard, the poor health facilities in the remaining districts, other than Jammu district are pitiable. On the name of district and sub district hospitals these sub-regions do have walls and roofs but  almost negligible number of specialised doctors like surgeons, neuro-surgeons, heart specialists, paediatric specialist,  physiatrist, gynaecologist or even dental surgeons. The mother-infant mortality rate in these regions  can also reveal the kind of health facilities offered there. The patients even with otherwise non serious diseases also fall prey of lack of infrastructure and succumb to their illness. The doctors: population ratio  is below the national average but these serious issues are buried beneath the carpet. It is deplorable that many of these health institutes in  9 districts do not have working ambulances. In operation theatres in absence of electricity, the surgical operations cannot be done because electric generators  are not provided there. In short it is perhaps  only blessings of God or good luck of 71 percent population of Jammu living in these 9 districts that despite complete negligence and step motherly treatment they are surviving.  

  Now once again the self acclaimed champions, this time not in a political dress code but with the same motive are in streets of Jammu again beating the drum of discrimination with their ‘Jammu’ on the name of non-setting up of AIIMS, All India Institute of Medical Sciences in their Jammu. This agitation behind the curtain is fully supported and patronaged  by the same Congress leaders who enjoyed power with PDP and National Conference for over 12 years and who were shown exit door by the people of Jammu for their utter failure in delivering it to the people. Many of these former minister seen in this AIIMS agitation are facing serious charges of corruption and grabbing government land.  The substance of non-setting up of AIIMS in  Jammu is being orchestrated and projected as an ego and prestige issue of entire Jammu region. These champions who are now leading the pride war of their Jammu want support of every sub-region but they are not whispering even to set up any new health institute in some other district of Jammu.  

These champions who are issuing agitation and Jammu band calendar should tell the people of these remaining 9 districts that why not setting up at least one Medical College in these districts. Jammu has no right to treat the other sub regions as its colony.. There are many other important issues other than AIIMS on which pressure could have been made on the state government for delivery of services in other parts of the region but the entire focus has been shifted to establish AIIMS.  Sooner Jammu leaders realise this facts that there is an anger simmering  amongst the people of  these sub-regions  and the day is not far away when they would seek an independent identity not subjective to Jammu. Establishment of AIIMS in Jammu is a desire but our other sub-regions truly deserve better health facilities. About Raman Sharma: he is an RTI Activists and resident of Old City Jammu, can be reached [a] jktiact@gmail.com .Mobile  9796811012.

published in Rising Kashmir on 6th August, 2015.

 http://www.risingkashmir.com/article/the-jammu-beyond-the-municipal-limits/

Also published in Journey Line on 12th Aug,2015 and in Kashmir Times on 14/Aug/2015

KASHMIR TIMES, 14/ AUG/2015

SIC asks PHQ to apprise it about Steps taken in Compliance of Apex Court Order

Fixing Responsibility of Police, Prosecuting Officers

Jammu,24/July/2015: The Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission has asked the Police Headquarters to apprise it about the steps being taken in compliance with the Supreme Court decision in the case titled ‘ State of Gujarat Vs Kishanbhai ’.

Taking cognizance of a complaint filed before the Commission by RTI activist Raman Sharma, the Chief Information Commission GR Sufi has asked registry of the Commission to issue notices to the Director Prosecution Police Headquarters, Public Information Office of the PHQ to appear before the commission on 28/07/2015  along with relevant file and to apprise the commission about the steps being taken in  compliance with Supreme Court Decision in case of State of Gujarat Vs. Kishanbhai.

Earlier, information seeker Sharma had filed a complaint case before the commission alleging that the J & K Home department has failed to provide him the above stated information despite lapse of the stipulated period of time.

In this case titled State of Gujarat Vs. Kishanbhai, the Supreme Court of India on 01/01/2014 had issued various directions to the Home Secretaries of all States and union territories to formulate a procedure for taking action against erring investigating/Prosecution officers on whose lapse a criminal case is culminated in acquittal.

Further the Court judgement states  “ A finding needs to be recorded in each case, whether the lapse was innocent or blameworthy and each erring officer must suffer the consequences of his lapse, by appropriate departmental action, whenever called for. Taking into consideration the seriousness of the matter, the concerned official may be withdrawn from investigative responsibilities, permanently or temporarily, depending purely on his culpability”.

The two-judges bench in this case has also noted “ We also feel compelled to require the adoption of some indispensable measures, which may reduce the malady suffered by parties on both sides of criminal litigation. Accordingly we direct, the Home Department of every State Government, to formulate a procedure for taking action against all erring investigating/prosecuting officials/officers. All such erring officials/officers identified, as responsible for failure of a prosecution case, on account of sheer negligence or because of culpable lapses, must suffer departmental action. The above mechanism formulated would infuse seriousness in the performance of investigating and prosecuting duties, and would ensure that investigation and prosecution are purposeful and decisive. The instant direction shall also be given effect to within 6 months”.

Tawi Lake Project: “In 5 years, for 20 Months Construction Work Remained Suspended “

RTI  About  Tawi Lake Project

Jammu, 13/July/2015: Jammu and Kashmir government has informed  that 95 percent civil woks and 90 % mechanical works is completed at the Waddi Tawi site of Tawi Lake Project and similarly at  the Nikki Tawi site 80 % job out of Civil Works and  70 percent of mechanical works stands completed as one date.    

It’s also been informed that an amount of Rs. 54.68  crore spent so far on the Barrage project for  Tawi Lake.

The response of the government has come in reply to an RTI application of activist Raman Sharma, whereas the information seeker had sought certain information from the Irrigation department of Jammu and Kashmir government about the estimated cost and present status of the work on the much talked Tawi Lake project in Jammu.  

Anil Sharma, Public Information Officer and Executive Engineer in Division-II of Irrigation department vide his office letter dated 26/06/2015 addressed to the applicant has also informed that the targeted date for completion of  the barrage portion of the lake project stands revised to 31/03/2016 and formally work on ground was started on 22/07/2010 after completion of preliminaries.  

On the question of estimated cost of the  Project, the PIO has apprised that the total allotted cost of the barrage  of Tawi Lake project  is Rs. 69.70 Crore.

Replying to the query about total period of time for which the work on this prestigious project remained closed, the department has replied that the period of time for which the work on Barrage Project remained closes is approximately 20 months  and comprises mainly of rainy season during each financial year during the period of from Mid June to October every year as the Work is in river Tawi Basin and  during the said period flash floods were witnessed.

 The PIO has not replied to the applicant’s query where he has sought certified copies of any specific directions issued by the Chief Minister/Deputy Chief minister or PHE and Irrigation minister  about this lake  project.

 Though in the reply it has been told that pattern of funding for the project  would be 90:10 basis i.e 90 percent by the central government,10 % by the state government and Central assistance from ministry of water resources (GOI) is Rs. 25 Cr, funds awarded by the 13^th finance commission for developing the Tawi front is also Rs. 25 Cr and the funds from the state govt are Rs, 20 Crore.

    In response to the demand of the applicant about certified copied of last 3 inspection reports and the recommendations, the department has informed that Inspections are carried out by NABCON and the reports are submitted directly to the government hence copies of Inspection reports are not available with them.

APPLICATION UNDER JAMMU AND KASHMIR RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2009.

    To

     Public Information Officer,   

  

    o/o Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control. 

Canal Road, Jammu. 180012

Respected Sir,

Provide me following details & Information under the provisions of Jammu &Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009. I am   a permanent resident the   State . An RTI fee of Rs. 10/-  is also annexed with this application as I.P.O vide no 21F 742450

INFORMATION SOUGHT

1.            Kindly provide detail with regard to total estimated cost of Lake Project at River Tawi, Jammu. 2.            Intimate total amount of money  sanctioned by the government for this          project 3.            Intimate total amount of money  released till date for this project by the government. 4.            Intimate, Total amount of money so far spent on this Lake project. 5.            Provide copies of all utilization certificates submitted by the executing department to the             government. 6.            Kindly intimate the date on which the Lake project was formally started on ground after the             completion of all formalities. 7.            Kindly intimate Targeted Date/ Time Line when the Lake project would be completed. 8.            Name the officers/officials/department that are assigned the task of inspection of the ongoing             project. 9.            Provide certified copies of last three inspection reports and their recommendations.  10.         Certified copies of all instructions/directions/memos/ issued by the government for this Lake             Project. 11.         Total percent of project Work completed so far. 12.         Total period of time for which the work on this project remained closed. 13.         Also provide certified copies of any directions specifically issued by Honourable Chief             Minister/Deputy Chief Minister or the Honourable Ministers for PHE and Irrigation  on this lake             project.

                                                            

Dated: 17/June/2015                                                                        Applicant

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                              RAMAN SHARMA.

Address: K-236, MAST GARH, JAMMU 180001,   Mob: 9796811012,   

e.mail: JKRTIACT@GMAIL.COM.