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Old horses stick to their seats despite Govt terminating services Chairman BOPEE, Principal GMC hide behind chairs 3/22/2015 11:51:55 PM Fazal Khan Early Times Report Srinagar, Mar 22: Nearly a week has passed since the day government issued an order terminating the service of all the employees who were either re-employed by the erstwhile NC-Cong regime or were given extension but till date order has not been implemented fully, sources told Early Times on Sunday. They said many officials who were given extension are still holding on to their chairs and are working overtime to somehow reach out to their new political bosses to persuade them not to disengage them. The Principal of the Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Rafiq Pampori, who was given three year extension just two days before the new PDP-BJP government was formed in Jammu and Kashmir still continues to hold the post as he has not received any official communiqué asking him to demit the office. "Dr Pampori attended the office on Saturday. We didn't hear that he is leaving the GMC," said a source. Similarly the incumbent chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) former law secretary G N Tantray, who was re-emp...   READ MORE

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Zero deficit, incentives for girl child, widows, industries, smart cities; VAT exemption on essential commodities Dr Drabu's Rs 46,473 crore budget 3/22/2015 11:51:37 PM Syed Junaid Hashmi Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 22: Ex-Journalist and ex-Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Dr. Haseeb Drabu in his new avatar as Finance Minister today presented first budget of the PDP-BJP coalition government with slew of schemes for farmers, traders, women and employees. Apart from marking a significant shift from this old practice of plan and non-plan budget, Drabu in his budget for 2015-16 proposed abolition of water tax, cash stipends for young girls and continu...   READ MORE   Slew of measures for flood-hit traders, transporters, hoteliers 3/22/2015 11:48:23 PM JAMMU: State government will commence relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people in the state fromApril 1, 2015 by focusing on restoring their livelihood by reviving the economy. This was stated by Minister for Finance and Culture Haseeb Drabu while talking to reporters after presenting his maiden budget in the state Legislative Assembly today. He said “We will start relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit people in Jammu and Kashmir from first week of April.” He added that instead of constructing residential complexes, state government’s priority would be to restore livelihood of the flood-hit people across Kashmir valley.   Drabu said ”Jab dukan chal paday gee, makaan tou ban hi...   READ MORE   Timely salaries, DA for employees 3/22/2015 11:48:05 PM JAMMU: While Finance Minister Dr. Haseeb Drabu was presenting the budget, government employees and pensioners were anxiously waiting to hear good news promised to them by the PDP-BJP government when they assumed office. The moment Drabu began reading the last pages of the budget speech, employees began congratulating each other for slew of measures announced for them. Thought they are still waiting for the finance department to explain how it would happen but the promise of timely salaries has been welcomed with open arms. Drabu said that a large number of government servants have to wait for months together to get their salaries under plan head. The new finance minister said that PDP-B...   READ MORE   Drabu shuns 'Briefcase' 3/22/2015 11:47:55 PM JAMMU: In another first, new Finance Minister Dr. Haseeb Drabu took the photo-journalists by surprise by walking in towards the Legislative Assembly without the traditional briefcase, which his predecessors would often carry. Drabu did not carry the briefcase. Instead, he carried the financial statement in a simple envelope. An ex-Journalist, Drabu preferred it simple and straight. Meanwhile, Minister of State (MOS) Finance Pawan Gupta did carry a bag and brought it to the Upper House where he read the budget speech on behalf of the senior colleague. Gupta did justice with the task entrusted to him and unlike his predecessor, read the speech with confidence and without making any significan...   READ MORE   New FM shelves plan, non-plan system 3/22/2015 11:47:48 PM JAMMU: Ex-Journalist and ex-Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Dr. Haseeb Drabu in his new avatar as Finance Minister of PDP-BJP coalition government presented a zero deficit budget but shelved entire old classification of plan and non- plan, replacing this with only two categories of expenditure i.e. current and capital. An ace economist, Drabu presented separate power budget. Justifying the discarding of old practice of Plan and non-plan budget, Drabu in his budget speech said that this is a major change with far reaching implications on the allocation, efficiency and monitoring of public expenditure. He further said that this change will demystify the budget to a great extent. Drabu mai...   READ MORE   Despite lapse of 4 years no action taken against former DC Srinagar, ex-MLA Amira Kadal Commercial property worth crores sold for lakhs in summer capital 3/22/2015 11:47:36 PM Jehangir Rashid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, Mar 22: At a time when the state government is seriously thinking of taking action against the violators of Municipal Laws in Srinagar and Jammu, it first needs to take action against officers and politicians who encouraged under valuation of some of the commercial properties in summer capital of the state. One such case is of former Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo. Kakroo undervalued a commercial property in the heart of Srinagar city some four years back. The then Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon after detecting the fraud ordered for the lodging of First Information Report (FIR) against then Deputy...   READ MORE   Mufti reaffirms his stand on AFSPA, asks Pakistan to control terrorism 3/22/2015 11:47:20 PM Bashir Assad Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 22: Amid uproar in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunday over Kathua and Samba terror attacks, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed reiterated that the coalition government will examine the need for de-notifying 'disturbed areas' for phased withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Importantly, PDP-BJP Common Minimum Programme (CMP) also maintains that both parties have historically held a different view on AFSPA. "And the need for it in the State at present, as part of the agenda for governance of this alliance, the coalition government will examine the need for de-notifying 'disturbed areas'. This, as a consequence, would enabl...   READ MORE   Govt in the state changes, but BJP fails to change Jammu's fate Jammu deserves AIIMS 3/22/2015 11:47:13 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 22: "The government in Jammu and Kashmir has changed, but the fate of the people of Jammu region remains unchanged. We had hoped that the new government would end the discriminatory policies towards the neglected people of Jammu region, but what has happened is to the contrary. We had also hoped that the fall of the UPA Government at the Centre and the re-emergence of the BJP-led NDA rule in May 2014 would change the fate of the people of Jammu region by devising and implementing policies which would give a sense of belonging to them, but, unfortunately, it too has not happened. The state government of which the BJP is the second most important constituen...   READ MORE   Tourism Deptt loses crores in subsidies Blame it on lack of monitoring mechanism 3/22/2015 11:47:01 PM Arun Singh Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 22: How various schemes introduced by Tourism Department in the state failed due to absence of effective monitoring on its implementation can be gauged from the fact that Department had provided an incentive subsidy of about Rs 6 crore to the 650 house owners with a motive to boost tourism sector but only 108 pursued the scheme while remaining 542 beneficiaries did not pursue after availing first installment. Sources in the department told Early Times that in order to boost tourism sector and to generate employment avenues in the State, an incentive package scheme was introduced under which as subsidy of up to 40% of the total cost of the pro...   READ MORE   Job aspirants held protest against postponement of screening test for NRHM posts 3/22/2015 11:37:23 PM Asif Iqbal Naik Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 22: Hundreds of job aspirants, their friends and family members today held a strong protest over the postponement of screening test for various National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) posts and block the main road outside Boys Higher Secondary School Kishtwar for hours together before the administration reschedule the timing for evening. As per the details available with "Early Times" the screening test for various NRHM posts advertised by the health department for District Kishtwar was scheduled to take place today at 11am, but was postponed by the health authorities after Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar objected to the question paper and di...   READ MORE   1,17,905 gun licences issued in militancy infested J&K in 5 yrs Kulgam tops list with 22,515 licences, Udhampur at No 2 with 17,772 licences 3/22/2015 11:17:07 PM Asif Iqbal Naik Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 22 : In the militancy infested J&K, 1,17,905 gun licences have been issued in the last five years through various district magistrates of the state to civilians, army and other security personnel. In reply to A.Q. No 243 of MLA, Banihal, Vikar Rasool Wani, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed, who also heads Home Department, stated that the government has issued 1,17,905 gun licences through 22 District Magistrates of the state. Wani had sought details regarding the details of communitywise particulars of the persons on whose name the gun licenses were issued by the government in last five years. The home minister categorically denied a...   READ MORE   Tough days ahead for Vinod Kaul Justice awaits corrupt Govt officials 3/22/2015 11:16:53 PM Avinash Azad Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 22 : With submission of lists of most corrupt bureaucrats and technocrats in J&K, to Chief Minister by the State Vigilance Organization, tough days lie ahead for Vinod Koul, presently attached to GAD who figured on the top of the notorious list. Highly placed sources told Early Times that the list of most corrupt officials was submitted to Chief Minister by the SVO on March 15, 2015, and action could take place any time. "Soon afterassuming the office of Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd Sayeed had directed the SVO to submit the list of corrupt officials, and same was submitted to the CM", a senior official in the civil secretariat told Early Times...   READ MORE   Hospital medicines being sold in medical shops 3/22/2015 11:16:37 PM Asif Iqbal Naik Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 22 : The medicines, which are supposed to be given to patients free of cost in the district hospital here, are allegedly being sold in chemist shops in the town. A patient from Dool was admitted today in District Hospital Kishtwar who was asked by the doctors to be purchase medicines from outside. The attendant of the patient bought the medicines from a medical shop and showed them to the doctor who was surprised to find "Not for sale--- hospital supply" clearly written on them. After knowing about it, the relatives of the patient immediately rushed to the medical shop and created hue and cry over the issue. A large number of the peopl...   READ MORE   Home Ministry playing with fire Report of DPG on J&K 3/22/2015 11:16:27 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 22 : There are, it appears, elements in the Union Home Ministry who are determined to complicate further the already rather complex situation in J&K. They are playing with fire to appease the secessionists in the Valley. It is also clear that they want to undo all that the Indian Parliament, the people of the state and the nation as a whole did after 1947 to integrate the state into India constitutionally, politically and economically. It was on March 14, 2015 that the Union Home Ministry reportedly asked the J&K Government to give its views on the interlocutors' report so that an appropriate action was taken on it. The Congress-led UPA Government had appoi...   READ MORE   Liabilities worth 45 lakh pending under MGNREGA in Marheen Villagers facing untold miseries; authorities unmoved 3/22/2015 11:16:10 PM G S Asgotra Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 22 : The workers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of Block, Marheen in Kathua district have been deprived of their wages for over a year that are due to them against works done under NREGA. Despite repeated representation and appraisal by Panchayat representative, to concerned Block Development Officer (BDO), the department has failed to release the pending dues to the claimants. Source informed Early Times that some panchayats were detached from Block Hiranagar and Barnoti, to establish new block Marheen with great enthusiasm amongst the locals, but the same ebbed out soon when the residents were depriv...   READ MORE   Forest deptt retrieves 50 kanals land from encroachers 3/22/2015 11:15:55 PM Asif Iqbal Naik Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 22 : An attempt to encroach upon the forest land in Compartment No 65of Indra Nagar area of Kishtwar was today foiled by a team of forest officials headed by Range Officer Khalid Abbas Munshi. The encroachers hailed from Indra Nagar, Pohie and Wasser villages. They encroached the forest land and even covered it with wires and hedge. After receiving this information, a team of forest officials swung into action and burnt the hedge that was used by the encroachers. The team also demolished some stone structures and the fencing that was erected by the encroachers on the forest land. The encroachers in order to make their claim on the forest...   READ MORE   Pouni-Reasi highway forest land encroached, DC Reasi assures removal 3/22/2015 11:15:47 PM Ajay Sharma Early Times Report Reasi, Mar 22 : The residents of the adjoining villages falling on both the sides of Reasi-Pouni highway have lamented over the illegal construction of shops, kiosks and houses that have encroached the state forest land. The villagers rue that despite listing their grievances to the concerned authorities over the encroachment and illegal constructions on the highway, no action was taken that has resulted in damaging the ecology of the region besides consuming the state forest land under the very nose of the administration. "Such illegal encroachments have been a regular phenomenon since past many years and the encroachers are infringing on the forest an...   READ MORE   ET wins 3-year battle against pesticide, fertilizer mafia 'Govt to set up Pesticide Regulation Authority for JK 3/22/2015 11:15:17 PM Javaid Naikoo Early Times Report Srinagar, Mar 23 : After massive loss to Orchardists/Farmers over the years due to use of substandard pesticides and fertilizers, state government taking serious note of roots of Mafia and illegal means exposed by Early Times from last three years is all set to set up Pesticide RegulationAuthority to Monitor Supply of Pesticides to Jammu and Kashmir. In its Maiden budget presented by Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu, state government today said that in order to check supply of substandard pesticides and fertilizers to Jammu and Kashmir, it will set up one 'Pesticide Regulation Authority' which will approve and monitor all the pesticides that go into...   READ MORE   Unemployment grows in JK to embarrass Govt 3/22/2015 11:14:58 PM Kunal Shrivatsa Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 22 : Unemployment continues to expose the tall claims of the state government as the number of unemployed youth registers increase with every passing day. The government has admitted on the floor of the Lower House that are as many as 2,22,180 unemployed youth have registered themselves across the state. However, this figure may not be final as the information provided by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in a written reply to the question tabled by the National Conference (NC) MLA Mian Altaf Ahmad, revealed that since the process of registration is not compulsory so the total number of unemployed youth could be much higher The go...   READ MORE

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BJP shouts Pakistan Murdabad , opposition retaliates Modi Sarkar Hai Hai Violation of codal formalities in PWD rampant: Harsh PDP, BJP hail growth-oriented budget J-K budget a damp squib: Cong AFSPA was imposed in J&K in 1990: Govt JK industry gives mixed reaction to PDP-BJP's first budget J&K Assembly passes resolution against Pakistan over terror attacks Two Kashmiri students thrashed No reduction in retirement age: Govt Zang Trai celebrated with fervour, gaiety Despite twin militant attacks, Jasrota Kali Mata Temple sans proper security Deputation of SDM Public School calls upon DE Jammu Awareness programme on "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" organized Highlights of Budget 2015-16 ReT teachers threaten agitation against Govt's order of barring them from performing exam duties People of Peer Panchal welcome appointment of Danish Rana as IGP Jammu Youth crushed to death by tractor 3 villages in darkness for 1 month BDO office plagued by corruption alleges AE Daily Wagers Forum threatens to launch agitation in support of demands Leh highway remains closed, one-way traffic on Kashmir road J&K Bank to again become state govt's banker Birth anniversary of Mata Nirmala Devi celebrated in Jammu JKMSS condemns terrorist attacks in Kathua, Samba National Women's Empowerment Day celebrated Training programme on seed production organized SVYF deputation calls on Dr Jitendra Engineers celebrate 'World Water Day' Asia's largest tulip garden will bloom next month, only orange visible Nine days Ram Katha begins Opening Ladakh's inner areas for foreign tourists taken up with MHA: J&K Govt State Govt to address bottlenecks in hydel power generation Udaan recruitment drive to be held today PM’s Package employees without salaries for many months JKPDTU hails budget, terms it pro-people   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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Kidzee inaugurated at Roop Nagar enclave J&K State Boxing C'ship concludes Natrang stages comedy play "Entertainment Unlimited" Kids Planet School inaugurated State cycling competition concludes Body Building Association holds meet   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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