IMPA Organizes RTI Training Program for Senior Officers

29 Senior Officers Trained Including FAAs & PIOs Trained

Jammu, 28/April/2017: To familiarize senior officers of the state government about the Right to Information Law,  JKIMPA, Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development organized 3-Days training program on  Right to Information Act under the coordinatorship of Dr. Sunita Zalpuri Kaul, Professor and head of center for good governance and administrative reforms.   

The senior officers including designated Public Information officers and first appellate authority (officers) belonging to  department of Social Welfare, Agriculture, Police, engineering health and Education department attended the training program.

In continuation of the training program, on 2^nd day,  the participants were also provided opportunity to attend one day seminar on Right to Information Act, organized by the J & K State Information Commission, inaugurated by Chief Secretary, B R Sharma and attended by Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) J&K, Khurshid A Ganai and G R Sufi former Chief Information Commissioner.

Guest faculty including Senior advocate DC Raina also interacted with the participants and apprised the trainees about the latest court rulings about the RTI law whereas Raman Sharma, RTI practitioner through power point gave a detailed presentation and shared his experiences about the RTI Act and also replied queries of the senior officers.  Dr. Mahesh Kaul and Dr Vivek consultants of the JKIMPA also remained present during the program. 

Dr. Sunita Zalpuri Kaul,  course director and  Riyaz Ahmad Shah, Financial Adviser of JKIMPA awarded certificates to  participants  and asked officers to follow the proper procedure in dealing with RTI pleas. 

http://www.earlytimes.in/m/newsdet.aspx?q=201787

Terrorism in J & K Claimed over 40,000 Lives

Since 1990’s Cycle of Violence in J & K

Over 40,000 Lost their Lives in Terror Attacks

Jammu, 29/April/2017:As per latest data released by the union ministry of home affairs it has been disclosed that over forty thousand human lives have been lost in terror attacks in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir state right from year 1990 to 31/March/2017 and during the same period over 13000 security personals have also been injured in such incidents.

The reply has come to fore in response to an online RTI plea of Jammu resident Raman Sharma, wherein vide his application dated 26/02/2017, he had asked the CPIO of Ministry of Home Affairs to divulge information related to loss of human lives and damage caused to properties belonging to civilians in terror related attacks in Jammu and Kashmir state.

In her reply dated 17^th April/2017, Deputy Secretary cum Chief Public Information Officer of the home ministry has provided the records of 28 years which reveals that right from year 1990 to 31^st March 2017, 40,961 humans have lost their lives in different terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir state including innocent civilians, brave soldiers and dreaded terrorists. It’s been informed  that 13941 Civilians and five thousand fifty five Security personals sacrificed their lives whereas 21,965 terrorists have also been neutralized.

During the last 28 years, 13502 soldiers have also been injured fighting with the terrorists. However skipping some queries, the MHA asked the applicant to ask information related to other queries including loss and damage of property from the Jammu and Kashmir state government as this data was not available with the union government.

The data compiled by the information seeker further reveals that year 2001 witnessed the most violent era, wherein 3552 people lost their lives comprising 996 civilians, 536 security personals and 2020 terrorists besides injuries to 1587 security force personals however the maximum number of civilians were killed in year 1996 which claimed 1341 lives followed by year 1995 where 1031 civilians sacrificed their lives .

After year 2006, there had been a steep decline in the terror related causalities till 2012 which can be said as the most peaceful year in the last 3 decades, in year 2012 there were only 102 causalities including fifteen Civilians, 15 Security Personals and 72 terrorists, only 65 security men  received  injuries while fighting with terrorists. From 2013 onward  there is a vertical rise in the killings due to terror attacks and last year’s killings in terror attacks is more than double that of year 2012, total 247 people lost their lives in 2016 including 15 civilians, 82 security men and 150 terrorists. Till 31^st march of this year, 52 lives have been lost so far comprising 5 civilians, 12 armed force personals and 35 terrorists. 

Data Analyzed

Sought Information  

1. Intimate Year wise number of terror related Blasts-Gun Fire incident happened in State of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

2. Intimate year wise number of civilians being killed in Terror related incidents in state of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

3. Intimate Year wise number of male/female and children below the age of 14 being killed in terror related incidents in state of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

4. Intimate Year wise number of male/female and children below the age of 14 being wounded/injured in terror related incidents in state of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

5. Intimate Year wise number of terrorists killed in state of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

6. Total year wise number of army-men and other members of the security agencies got killed in the terror related incidents in the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

7. Total year-wise number of army-men and other members of the security agencies who are injured/wounded in the terror related incidents in the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

8. Year wise detail of amount property belonging to civilians and government established being destroyed in terror related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir during the above said period. 

9. Intimate year wise number of citizens/families who were forced to migrate from their place of residence due to militancy in the state since 01/Jan/1990 to till date.

........................................................................................................

Published in Greater Kashmir, Early Times, Hindustan Times, Mumbai Mirror, Bangalore Mirror, DNA, Jounrey Line, The News Now, The Tribune, Kashmir Times e.t.c

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http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kashmir-over-40000- people-including-22000-militants-killed-in-last-27-years- reveals-rti-report-2422689

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/over-40- 000-lives-lost-in-state-due-to-conflict-since-1990/399574.html http://www.kashmirlife.net/40000-deaths-27-years-conflict-j- confirms-mha-139282/

http://www.kashmirlife.net/40000-deaths-27-years-conflict-j-confirms-mha-139282/

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ZEE NEWS:

कश्मीर में साल 1990 से 9 अप्रैल 2017 तक हिंसा में 40,000 से ज्यादा जानें गईं

नई दिल्ली: जम्मू कश्मीर में जारी अलगाववादी हिंसा के दौरान पिछले तीन दशक में 40 हजार से ज्यादा जानें जा चुकी हैं. साल 1990 से 9 अप्रैल 2017 तक की अवधि में मौत के शिकार हुए इन लोगों में स्थानीय नागरिक, सुरक्षा बल के जवान और आतंकवादी शामिल हैं. कश्मीर में हिंसा को लेकर एक आरटीआई के जवाब में गृह मंत्रालय की ओर से जारी ताजा आंकड़ों के मुताबिक पिछले 27 सालों में अब तक राज्य में आतंकवादी गतिविधियों और आतंकवाद विरोधी अभियानों में 40961 लोग मारे गए हैं. जबकि 1990 से 31 मार्च 2017 तक की अवधि में घायल हुए सुरक्षाबल के जवानों की संख्या 13 हजार से अधिक हो गई है.

मंत्रालय की उपसचिव और मुख्य सूचना अधिकारी सुलेखा द्वारा आरटीआई के जवाब में स्थानीय नागरिकों, आतंकवादियों और सुरक्षा बल के जवानों की मौत का 1990 से अब तक का हर साल का आंकड़ा जारी किया है. आंकड़ों के मुताबिक राज्य में बीते तीन दशक की हिंसा के दौरान मारे गए लोगों में 5055 सुरक्षा बल के जवानों की शहादत भी शामिल हैं. जबकि 13502 सैनिक घायल हुए. राज्य में जारी इस आतंकी हिंसा के दौरान स्थानीय नागरिकों की मौत का आंकड़ा 13941 तक पहुंच गया है. आंकड़ों के मुताबिक आतंकी हिंसा के शिकार हुए लोगों में सबसे ज्यादा 21965 मौतें आतंकवादियों की हुई है. आरटीआई में मंत्रालय ने कश्मीर की आतंकवादी हिंसा में संपत्ति को हुये नुकसान की जानकारी देने से इनकार कर दिया. मंत्रालय ने इस बारे में कोई आधिकारिक आंकड़ा नहीं होने के कारण जम्मू निवासी आरटीआई आवेदक रमन शर्मा से जम्मू कश्मीर सरकार से यह जानकारी मांगने को कहा है.

आंकड़ों के विश्लेषण में स्पष्ट होता है कि तीन दशक के हिंसक दौर में मौत के लिहाज से साल 2001 सर्वाधिक हिंसक वर्ष रहा. इस साल हुई 3552 मौत की घटनाओं में 996 स्थानीय लोग और 2020 आतंकवादी मारे गए. जबकि सुरक्षा बल के 536 जवान शहीद हुए. हालांकि स्थानीय नागरिकों की सबसे ज्यादा मौत (1341) साल 1996 में हुई. आंकड़ों के मुताबिक साल 2001 में आतंकवादी हिंसा से जानमाल को सर्वाधिक नुकसान होने के बाद साल 2003 से इसमें लगातार गिरावट दर्ज की गई है. साल 2003 में 795 स्थानीय नागरिकों और 1494 आतंकवादियों की मौत के अलावा 341 सुरक्षा बल के जवान शहीद हुए. इसके बाद साल 2008 से स्थानीय नागरिकों और सुरक्षा बल के जवानों की मौत का आंकड़ा दो अंकों में सिमट गया है. साल 2010 से साल 2016 तक स्थानीय नागरिकों की मौत का आंकड़ा 47 से गिरकर 15 तक आ गया है.

इसके उलट इस अवधि में शहीद हुए सुरक्षा बल के जवानों की संख्या में बढ़ोतरी दर्ज की गई। इस दौरान शहीद हुए सुरक्षा बल के जवानों की संख्या 69 से बढ़कर साल 2016 में 82 तक पहुंच गई. हालांकि साल 2017 में 9 अप्रैल तक 5 स्थानीय नागरिक और 35 आतंकवादी मारे गए. जबकि सुरक्षा बल के 12 जवान शहीद हुए हैं. वहीं इस साल 31 मार्च तक सुरक्षा बल के 219 जवान घायल हो चुके हैं. गत 9 अप्रैल को श्रीनगर लोकसभा क्षेत्र के उपचुनाव के बाद कश्मीर घाटी में अलगाववादी हिंसा तेजी से भड़की है. इसे रोकने के लिए राज्य में सुरक्षा बलों का अभियान जारी है.http://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/over-40000-lost-lives-since-1990-in-terror-attacks-in-jk/325775 

Despite Complaints 500 New Subscribers Join BSNL Everyday in J&K

In J & K, 500 New Subscribers Join BSNL Everyday

Everyday BSNL Adds 500 New Customers in J & K

Jammu, 13/April/2017: Contrary to the public perception and allegations of poor mobile network connectivity, the Public telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, (BSNL ) is adding around 500 new subscribers every day.

As per data released by the BSNL in response to an online RTI application of information seeker Raman Sharma, the Chief Public Information officer, Sunil Sharma who is also DGM(CM) of the telecom company has informed that during the last one year  (01/March/2016 to 28/Feb/2017 ), they have  added 182422 new subscribers including 91249 prepaid customers and 91173 Post paid clients means every day 500 new mobile users joining BSNL network.

On the question of total number of complaints received by the BSNL authorities during the last one year, regarding poor mobile connectivity/Call Drop in Jammu and Kashmir Circle, it has been informed by the company that it has received only 487 complaints of call drop from 01/March/2016 to 28/Feb/2017 but the  company preferred silence over the query related to total number of complaints regarding poor mobile connectivity. Interestingly last year,  BSNL in another RTI reply had admitted that over 5200 complaints of customers regarding  poor mobile connectivity were received by them in less than 11 months.

As on date the public sector company have total 1456812 customers including 1064886 pre-paid subscribers and 391926 post paid customers further revealed in the RTI reply.

In another interesting analysis coming out of the reply it’s been disclosed that during the last one year, every week 110 BSNL subscribers using the option of MNP, Mobile number portability are switching to other private mobile networks and the company has lost 5756 subscribers whereas during the same period opting MNP, only 2570 subscribers of other companies switched to BSNL.

Attached Link: http://jkrtiact.blogspot.in/2016/04/j-k-bsnl-gets-over-5700-complaints-in.html

copy of RTI application

copy of RTI reply1

copy of RTI reply2

http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/in-2016-bsnl-enrolled-500-subscribers-every-day-reveals-rti

Kashmir: 50 % posts Lying Vacant in Women Police Stations

Kashmir:  Fifty percent posts Lying vacant in women police    Stations

Srinagar: At least fifty percent posts in three Women police stations of Kashmir are lying vacant.

As per the information provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police department in an RTI reply to an information seeker, Raman Sharma,  it’s been revealed that almost 50 percent posts of different ranks lying vacant in these three Women Police Stations including WPs Anantnag, Baramulla and WP Srinagar.

As per the data provided by the District Police Srinagar, the sanctioned strength of the staff at women police station Srinagar is 49 whereas the posted strength is just 27 having a clear deficiency of 22 officers. One post each of Sub Inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector and  Head Constable lying vacant besides 14 posts of constables also lying vacant. 

Similarly, in the women police station Baramulla, against the sanctioned strength of 52, there are only 16 police officers deputed in the P/S leaving a huge deficiency of  36 personals, however 4 SPOs have also been deputed in this police station though there is no sanctioned post of SPO. One post of each Inspector and ASI lying vacant in this police station, 26 posts of constables and 7 followers are also unfilled.

In Women Police Station Anantnag also there is deficiency of at least 22 police officers including 1 inspector, one  SI. Three Posts of Head constable, and 18 posts of constables are also vacant in the Police station. Here also 5 SPOs have been adjusted against unsanctioned posts.

It is pertinent to mention here that in other three Women Police stations falling in Jammu region, including WPs Gandhi Nagar, Udhampur and Rajouri also there are at least   57 vacancies of officers and Jawans out of total sanctioned strength of 152. 

Only 2420 Female Cops in JKP out of Seventy Five Thousand

Dismal show: Merely 3 % Women  in JK Police

Against National Avg of 7.10 %, only 3.2 Percent Women in JKP

Jammu, 31/March/2017: Rising Crime incidents against women may be an often debated topic in the country and also in Jammu and Kashmir but when it comes to do practical, the percentage of  representation of women in the police department reveals a very dismal picture.

Jammu and Kashmir Police that have approximately posted strength of 75000 personnel’s (as was told in Legislative Council last year), the total number of women police officers is just 2420, which is just 3.2 % of the total strength of the state police whereas the national average of women representation in police department is 7.10 percent.

As per Information provided by the J & K Police Headquarters  to information seeker Raman Sharma , out of 2420 female cops, there are only 46 Lady police officers deputed  on gazetted posts in the department including one Additional Director General, 11 Superintendents and 34 Deputy Superintendents. 

164 Non-Gazette Lady Police officers include 49 Inspectors, 89 Sub-Inspector and 29 Assistant Sub Inspectors. Out of total  constabulary of 2210 lady cops,  358 are Head Constables, 729 Selection grade Constables and 1123 Constables. It is pertinent to mention here that there is huge deficiency of staff in Women Police Stations.

http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/only-3-percent-women-in-jk-police-reveals-rti

RTI Activists Call on CIC

Jammu,: Today a delegation of RTI activists and lawyers including Balvinder Singh, convener of Sangarsh RTI Movement, Sh. Deepak Sharma, Raman Sharma, and Adv Vilakshan Singh called on Chief Information Commissioner Sh. Khurshid Ahmed Ganai at Jammu Secretariat of the Commission. The delegation members assured their fullest cooperation to the newly appointed CIC and hoped that his huge past experience would be of great help in ensuring proper implementation of all the provisions of the RTI Act in letter and spirit.

The delegation  also urged the RTI Chief to take up the issue of appointment of two other Information Commissioners with the government so that pending cases of appeals and complaints before the Commission are disposed of expeditiously. They also asked the CIC to direct the government functionaries and other public authorities to start RTI sensitization programs for officers and general public as well , as per the mandate of section 23 of Jammu and Kashmir right to information Act 2009.

CIC gave a patient hearing to the delegation and asked them to continue their mission with honesty and dedication so that RTI becomes a mass movement and a tool to curtail corruption from the society.

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/rti-activists-call-cic/

http://www.journeyline.in/newsdet.aspx?q=127818

5477 Foreigners Acquired Indian Citizenship during Last 6 Years

During Year 2011 to 2016

2157 Pakistanis, 918 Afghans Include 5477 Foreigners who Acquired Indian Citizenship

‘Intolerance’ Propaganda Deflated

In last 3 Years Over 3800 Foreigners Acquired Indian Citizenship

Jammu, 30/March/2017: Contradicting the propaganda of growing  ‘Intolerance in India’, the official data released by the ministry of Home Affairs in reply to an RTI applicant reveals that during the last three years, the number of foreigners acquiring Indian Citizenship have increased more than double as compared to the same period of three years of the previous government.

Between the period 01/Jan/2014 to 31/Dec/2016, the total number of foreigners acquired Indian Citizenship is 3801, whereas during the last three years of the previous government i.e. between the period 01/Jan/2011 to 31/Dec/2013, the total number of foreigners national acquired  Indian citizenship was 1676. The total number of foreigners who preferred Indian citizenship during the last six years is 5477.

The list of foreigner nationals who are granted Indian citizenship is being provided by the ministry of Home Affairs to RTI activist Raman Sharma of Jammu in response to his online RTI plea dated 23/01/2017 includes names of 56 countries and also stateless people.

Pakistanis tops the list of foreign nationals acquiring Indian Citizenship, out of 5477 foreigners who acquired citizenship, there were 2157 Pakistani nationals followed by 1461 Stateless people, 918 Afghanis, 218 Bangladeshis, 145 from United Kingdom, 108 from Sri Lanka, 66 from Iran and 51 from United State of America. There are also 35 people from UAE, 33 from Nepal, 26 from Kenya, 15 each from Singapore and China. In the same period of 6 years ,13 people each from Canada and France also acquired Indian Citizenship. 

Year wise data of total 2157 Pakistani citizens who were granted Indian nationality unveils that during year 2016, maximum number of  660 Pakis were granted citizenship rights whereas in 2015 and 2014 , 263 and 267 Pakis were granted Citizenship rights respectively. Similarly out of 918 Afghan Nationals, who were granted Indian citizenship at least 700 of them got Indian nationality between the period 2014 to 2016.

During the last 3 years, the number of immigrants from developed nations have also increased, from United States out of total 61 immigrants, 46 applied and granted citizenship rights only between the period 2014 to 2016. Seven French nationals, 8 people each from Germany and Italy also got citizenship rights.

From Spain, South Africa, Switherland and Sudan four immigrants from each nation also preferred Indian nationality during the last 6 years. Three Nationals from  each country including Zimbawe, Uganda, Phillipines and Fiji also became Indian between the period 2011 to 2016.

Published in Kashmir Times, DNA, Early Times, The Tribune, State Times and others on 31/Mar/2017

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/2-157-pakistani-nationals-got-indian-citizenship-in-6-years/384794.html

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pakistanis-top-list-of-people-acquiring-indian-citizenship-2375977

Around 5 dozen Vacancies in Just Three Women Police Stations

Official Mockery

57  Vacancies in Just Three Women Police Stations of Jammu.

J & K : Women Police Stations Sans Staff

Jammu, 21/March/2017: The casual approach of the government in running women police stations in the state have been once exposed through an RTI reply .

The data provided by the Jammu Police discloses that there are around 5 dozen vacancies in just 3 Women Police Stations. These women police stations include women P/S Gandhinagar, Jammu, Rajouri and Udhampur.

 In an official correspondence from the Zonal Police Headquarters -Jammu (dated  17/03/2017 ) to applicant Raman Sharma in response to his plea under Right to Information Act, the Public Information Officer of the ZPHQ-Jammu  has  informed that there are at least 57 vacancies out of total 152 sanctioned strength in these 3 police stations .

The maximum  shortage of staff is at W.P.S Udhampur, where against sanctioned strength of total 52 only 29 officials are actually posted at present. No Sub Inspector, Assistant Sub Inspector is posted there whereas there are 2 vacancies of ASIs and one SI. However there are 8 Head Constables deputed whereas sanctioned strength is 6. In case of the selection grade constables and constables there is almost 50 percent deficiency , the required number is 32 whereas only 11 Constables and 6 Sg.cts. are posted here.

The W.P.S Gandhinagar of  district Jammu also running short of staff, against sanctioned strength of total 48 Cops, the actual strength is 32 having a deficiency of 16. Out of 30 posts of Selection grade constables and constables there are only 14 Jawans posted. There is also shortage of one SI and 4 Head Constables.

Women Police Station Rajouri also suffering from deficiency of  adequate staff, the present strength of staff is 34 whereas the actual sanctioned strength is 52, there is deficiency of 3 Head Constables and 15 Constables. Two posts of operators are also lying vacant in this police station.

While offering his comment over the RTI revelation, Raman Sharma, the information seeker  have expressed displeasure over the deficiency of staff there in WPS, he said it is highly irresponsible state of affairs that Jammu and Kashmir government is not even concerned over such a serious issue relating to women folk. He said in absence of adequate staff it becomes very difficult for In Charge of the Police station to run it properly  and the ultimate sufferers are victim women who go to these WPS with high hope of help and assistance. It is pertinent to mention here that last month also in an RTI reply the Police Headquarters have informed that out of total 215 police stations spread across the state only 7 are headed by lady officers.

Attached Link : http://jkrtiact.blogspot.in/2017/02/women-in-jk-police.html

Women Police Station	WPS-Gandhi Nagar, Jammu	Rajouri	Udhampur	Total
Sanctioned Strength of Total  Staff	48	52	52	152
Strength of Male Staff Posted	11	22	08	41
Strength of female Staff Posted	21	12	21	54
Strenght of Male+ Female staff Posted	32	34	29	95
Total Deficiency of staff	16	18	23	57

Published on 22/03/2017 in Kashmir Times, Journey Line, Daily Excelsior, State Times, Kashmir Times, Early Times, Earth News, Kashmir Life, Kashmir Observer and others.

http://www.kashmirlife.net/57-posts-vacant-3-womens-police-stations-jammu-135421/