* Number of Anganwari Centres in far-flung area of Doda are functioning on papers only while the reality is that many Anganwari Workers in far-flung areas of the district are married to other locations and shifted, many have shifted to cities, yet on papers they are working in these Anganwari Centres and are getting all the benefits. But the reality is otherwise. They visit these Anganwari Centres seldom. It will not be wrong to say that such Anganwari Centres have gone defunct.
The liberal funding from the Central Government to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir seems have made the state politicians, administration and thefunctionaries from top to bottom least accountable and those required to ensure proper functioning of several centres, act irresponsibly thus the result/outcome is lack of desired results. Such attitude of state government functionaries has led to huge losses to the state exchequer yet some the ministers are planning to go for more. Yes, the point in the case is to raise the issues pertaining to the present day functioning of Anganwari Centres in the state and the relevance of yesterday’s statement made by Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo. She mentioned that the government is contemplating to set up more Anganwari Centers under ICDS in the far off and uncovered areas of the state. Even she has issued instructions to the authorities concerned to conduct early survey of the left out villages in this regard.
The statement made by the minister is very good and every one should welcome it but has any minister so-far focused on making the available Anganwari Staff accountable to perform their duties. The answer is a big ‘NO’. Sources said that a number of Anganwari Centres in far-flung area of Doda are functioning on papers only while the reality is that many Anganwari Workers in far-flung areas of the district are married to other locations and shifted, many have shifted to cities, yet on papers they are working in these Anganwari Centres and are getting all the benefits. But the reality is otherwise. They visit these Anganwari Centres seldom. It will not be wrong to say that such Anganwari Centres have gone defunct.
This indicates that in many cases, administration in Jammu and Kashmir state functions on papers only instead on ground. And the result of such casual attitude of officials concerned is loss to the state exchequer.
Besides monetary loss to government, children are suffering badly as they are not getting pre-school education at these centres. As every one is aware, that the emphasis in Anganwari Centres is on the all-round development of children, in the age group 0-6 years by providing health, nutrition and early childhood stimulation.
Apart from preparing children for primary education, Anganwari Centres provide support services to working mothers with responsibilities of child care. One of the biggest programmes with an early childhood care and education component is the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme with centres, spread across the country. These are also Balwadis and Day-Care schemes managed by Department of Women and Child Development/Social Welfare and Voluntary Organizations, as well as pre-primary schools run by local bodies and some State Governments. It would be useful only if the Minister could have a look at the manner of implementation of the schemes at the field level, more particularly with a view to achieve synergies that could be expected by such convergence.
The aim of raising these points here is to invite minister’s attention towards the implementation of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and giving it more effective direction.
Minister may also consider setting up suitable coordinating mechanism at the State and District levels to bring about and sustain such coordinated functioning of these schemes.
No doubt the minister impressed upon the officers and field functionaries to work with missionary spirit and dedication to make the welfare schemes more beneficial to the deserving people but she is far away from the reality and does not know what happening in far flung area of Jammu region is.
Sources revealed that the ration that comes for particular Anganwari Centres is manuplated at many places in connivance with the Tehsil level officials.
Though she has said that this would go a long way in achieving the objectives of improving the lot of the weaker sections of the State but how if accountability is not made imperative.
‘Don’t stand against wrong doers; don’t help Govt Deptt to act against law breakers; otherwise you will be victimized’ terrorized and……………..”
Forest Land encroachers in Chiralla area of tehsil Thathri, in Bhaderwah constituency have created fear psychosis among the residents of a particular community in Geosti as a Gang of Forest Land encroachers, Gunda elements; criminals VDC members, etc of the area have support of a particular Govt Department which has helped in to boost the Gang members to do wrong things in the area openly.
The Gang of land encroachers, criminals and VDC members has started threatening and mobilizing a public movement forcefully against one Master Fazal and if any one is trying to stay away, is being victimized and terrorized and false allegations are being leveled against them for not favoring the Gang members.
The only fault of Master (Retd) Fazal Alam was that he stood against the ForestLand encroaches who all are VDC members and helped the Forest Department to initiate some action against the land encroachers. Sources said that the officials have decided to do the demarcation of the ForestLand, which will ultimately help in vacating thousands of kanals of Forest land in Compartment No-1.
Sources said that when the Gang members came to know about this, they VDC members who are in-fact Forest land encroaches started conspiring against the (Master Retd.) Fazal Alam and are leveling false allegations against him and a misguidance campaign has been launched by these VDC members to ‘isolate’ Fazal Alam and his family members.
Worthwhile to mention here that Master Fazal Alam was a contesting candidate against former Chief Minister (CM) Ghulam Nabi Azad from Bhaderwah constituency who had later withdrawn in favour of Azad after Azad visited him in Chiralla.
Sources said that some political activists are helping these criminals, VDC members and other Gang members to create law and order problem in the area.
Worthwhile to mention here that the people who have encroached upon thousands of kanals of ForestLand, of which just a small part was freed by the forest officials due to the intervention of Master Fazal.
Relevant to mention here that Master Fazal Alam has been fighting for last several years for forest protection in the Chiralla area and in the past has succeeded in getting the land vacated. Soon after, some of encroached Forest Land were vacated by a team of forest officials, the encroaches assembled and started hatching conspiracy against Master Fazal and other residents of Wani Pura village and the officer is allegedly helping these encroaches. Relevant to mention here that the people of village Geosti, Zila Da Pani and Malik Pura in which each family has VDC members have started terrorizing the inhabitants of Wani Pura village, which has been attacked by the militants four times till date. Here rises a question, big question, that despites being surrounded from three sides (East, West and North) Wani Pura village was attacked by the militants four times, How these militants managed to do it and why not a single bullet was fired towards these three villages which where guarded by the VDC members . Worthwhile to mention here that one inhabitant of Wani Pura, Mushtaq Hussain S/o Abdul Aziz was fired at by some unidentified VDC members of Geosti village on 19 November 2003 while he was returning home after attending a marriage party, but luckily he was not hit by the bullet. The first major attack was carried out by the militants on Wani Pura on 18th April 2006 in which house of Master (Retired) Fazal Alam was targeted. But it was Good luck of the family that for election duty (by elections), forces deployment was in the nearby village which on hearing the firing, actively rushed to Wani Pura and managed saved the villagers. However, some damages were caused to the House of Fazal Alam. Followed by this major attacked who had created fear psychosis among the resident of Wani Pura three more attacks were carried out on 30 April 2006, May-2007 and Aug 2008. But all these attacks were retaliated by the Special Task Force Mobile Post (STF-Mobile Post) Geosti and the Army Post Geosti. But under a hatched conspiracy against the villagers of Wani Pura, Firstly STF post was withdrawn for the reasons unknown. Later, people of these three villages Geosti, Malik Pura and Zila-Da-Pani under a well designed conspiracy motivated the district administration and the Army was also withdrawn from the village. When asked, Deputy Commissioner Doda, Sharief-ud-Din said that the decision was of Government as well as of Army authorities itself to relocate. Now the area is under fear psychosis and ‘vulnerable to militants’ attacks’.
IS THERE ANY ONE TO ACT?
Let the State Govt and the administration know about the track record of these VDC members who have created terror in the area. Sources said that the members of the Gang have threatned a JE of PHE Department Ashiq Hussain in 2009 and did not allow him to extend water supply line to other waterless area, upon which AEE of the Department wrote a letter under number PHED/E/138-139-25/7/2009 addressed to SHO Thathri to register a complaint/FIR against Dalip Singh son of Shiv Lal resident of Geosti, Raj Kumar (VDC member son of Gouri Lal resident of Geosti, Mohinder Singh (VDC member) son of Gouri Lal, resident of Geosti, Pream Raj son of Amarnath resident of Geosti and Bodh Raj son of Shiv Lal, resident of Geosti but the action of SHO is still awaited. It is worth mentioning here that from the possession of these person 10 pipes of 32 mm dais were recovered, which these person had uprooted from a running the PHE line.
AN EYE OPENER
As majority of the villagers of all these three villages, Geosti, Malik Pura and Zila-Da-Pani have been allotted with Guns and VDCs have been established than how militants cold manage to enter the area without engaging even a shingle fire encounter and made killings in the area. Have the authorities ever probed it. Let us have a look on the killings in the area. In the year 1996, one Abdul Rashid son of Mohmadi Butt resident of Geosti was killed in a night. Till date knows one knows who killed him. As usual it was believed that militants killed him. In the year 1996, one militant was killed in an encounter with the army. In the same encounter one Supervisor of State Forest Corporation (SFC), Shafqat Hussain was killed while one had managed to flee. But how the militant managed to enter the area surrounded by VDCs? The VDC members of village Geosti had threatned the family of Fazal Alam and when the matter was brought into the notice of then Additional SP Bhaderwah Sheetal Singh conducted an inquiry and after the outcome of inquiry all the VDC members were withdrawn of guns. It was among the same VDC members who killed one civilian Azem Mir R/o Amratgarh, in the year 1995. The matter was probed and VDC members identified as Gernal Singh son of Krishan Lal, Numbardar–cum-VDC member Khanjur Singh, Parmatma Singh, Shreef Shekih, Nazal Alam son of Shamis Din and Surjeet Singh son of Amarnath were arrested in the murder case. But the murder accused and jailed person Khunjur Singh at present is a VDC member as well Numbardar. He draws both salaries. But there is no one to check it and the criminals and being empowered. The same VDC members beat up a PHE line man Chammel Singh PHE line man was beaten up by the VDC members of Geosti FIR was registered but no action was taken. Another PHE lineman Daljeet Singh was also beaten up by these VDC members. Another murder was executed by the VDC members of the area in which one Diya Krishan resident of Bolian was killed and after inquiry, one Shafi was arrested and jailed but for the murder he has been rewarded and at present he is Chowkidar. And not only has powers but also getshonorarium from Govt exchequer.
When asked, DDC Doda, Sharief–ud-Din, said, “How a murder accused can be Numbardar or Chowkidar.” However, he added that people of that area need to give a representation upon which new elections will be held.
But here again raises a big question, keeping in view the threat of Gang of which both are active members, will any one have courage to stand against these two people? The chances are rare and as obvious the administration if not willing to initiate action has a point here not to act. This indicates that the Gunda Raj is getting heavier hand day by day and those supposed to implement the rules and laws are becoming helpless or pressurized.
The point here is that Civil society in every country, has faith in Govt and the administration that it will protect them from criminals, Gunda elements, anti social elements and it is believed that Govt in every state works for to ensure law and order situation and help those people who dedicate their entire life for the welfare of society and fights for the right, implementation of government rules and laws but if the administration comes under the influence of such elements which created trouble for the administration every where than will any one in future stand against the trouble makers?
*BJP & PP unite over ‘discrimination’ against Jammu
*Separate Assembly for Jammu region demanded
*CM not charge sheeted by CBI: Speaker
*Privilege motion admitted against Baig
*NC-PDP workers clash on streets
*NC workers want Baig behind the bars
*Mehbooba tore copies of the CBI document
*Mehbooba for judicial probe in Omar’s ‘involvement’
Ajmer Alam Wani
JAMMU, JULY 29: The infamous sex scandal that had already rocked the entire KashmirValley in the year 2006, inflicting huge losses to the common Kashmiri, who struggles for the day-to-day livelihood, seems started breathing again. While the Jammu region which has to strike hard every time to get its voice hear, is suffering badly as the Assembly proceedings remained dominated with the issues pertaining Kashmir region and the voice of Jammu people through (MLAs) seems echoing in the Assembly House where the present government as well as the opposition seems, interested more in creating confusions instead doing state welfare and deliberating on the issues of public importance.
The spark that was lit by the Opposition PDP by dragging the name of Chief Minister (CM) Omar Abdullah in the list of suspects involved in the 2006 sex scandal that snowballed into a massive racket that allegedly involved two ministers of the then Congress-PDP government, senior police and paramilitary officers and influential businessmen, if not handled carefully will engulf the entire state this time. The reason this time is that in the year 2006, issue and the sentiments same but the exploiters of the situation were few but this time exploiters are many which could worsen the situation than that of 2006.
Relevant to mention here that forty-three women, including a minor, were being allegedly exploited by the powerful establishment, which later prompted violent protests with mainstream and separatist groups joining hands.
If this issue is not handled and settled at the earliest, the recent Shopian rape and murder case is likely to add as fuel to fire as the Opposition PDP is already accusing NC lead Coalition Govt of shielding the perpetrator of Shopianrape and murder case.
The beginning in this direction has been made by the political activists of both National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
On the other hand Jammu region is bracing up to intensify the agitation over the shifting of CentralUniversity issue in a big way.
It was expected, as the crisis failed to settle down in the state Assembly the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) on Wednesday got united over the issue of ‘discrimination’ against Jammu. Both the parties demanded a separate Assembly for the region.
"We have come here for a purpose to take up the issues and problems of the people we represent. Our areas and the people in general are confronted with various issues but the House is not being allowed to run,” JKNPP leader, Balwant Singh Mankotia told reporters in the Assembly lawns.
“NC, PDP and Congress have to settle their scores. But why should other people suffer. The House is not being allowed to run, hence our demand for separate Assembly for Jammu is justified," he said.
Earlier as the house witnessed noisy scenes today, JKNPP and BJP members stood united and made a demand for a separate Assembly for Jammu.
“Jammu region is suffering because not a single issue of the region has been taken up during the last three days,” the BJP MLAs shouted."Close this House and give us a separate Assembly,” the members demanded
MEANWHILE: Chief Minister (CM) Omar Abdullah preferred to stay away from the proceedings of the House in the morning session. Omar also choose not to attend the Civil Secretariat as well.
The session that was believed to be replica of the earlier sessions began on a high note with National Conference (NC) legislators demanding that a privilege motion be moved against PDP senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh.
As the Assembly proceedings started today morning, BJP members argued that the Assembly could not hold its session as there was no government in place following the CM’s resignation.
“There is no government in place and the Assembly cannot hold its session like this,” the BJP members shouted.
Interestingly, all the ministers of the coalition government remained present during Wednesday’s morning session; however, Abdullah stayed away.
Omar who resigned on Tuesday, after PDP senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh alleged Omar of being an accused in the case prepared by the CBI during its investigations into the infamous sex scandal case.According to the PDP leader, Abdullah’s name was 102nd in the list.
Following the charge, a visibly upset Omar Abdullah said he will quit as the charge leveled against him raised a question over his character.
Omar later submitted his conditional resignation to the governor NN Vohra asking him to probe the incident and accept his resignation in case he is proven guilty.
However, Speaker, Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone today informed the House that the Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah does not figure among those charge sheeted by CBI in connection with sexploitation case as alleged by PDP MLA Muzaffar Hussain Baig.
The Speaker issued the clarification after BJP MLA; Professor Chaman Lal Gupta raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly today.
The Speaker said that soon after Mr. Baig leveled allegation against the Chief Minister in the House yesterday, he took up the matter with Director, CBI and sought written clarification about the matter.
The clarification issued by the CBI reads as: “It is clarified that nine charge sheets in CBI case RC 1 (s)/2006/SCR. III New Delhi were filed in the competent court against 17 accused persons. The name of Shri Omar Abdullah son of Shri Farooq Abdullah does not figure in the list of accused persons charge sheeted in the case”.
Soon after Speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone read the CBI letter, PDP members, led by Mufti, tore copies of the document and demanded a judicial probe into the chief minister's alleged involvement. They said his name had figured in the "shame list" that was part of the High Court (HC) judgment delivered in the case in 2007 by Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani.
Meanwhile, the Speaker announced receipt and admission of privilege motion against PDP MLA Muzaffar Hussain Baig for leveling allegations against the Chief Minister in violation of proper procedures and set business rules.
The motion has been moved by 12 MLAs including Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, G. M. Saroori, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Raman Bhalla, T. Namgyal, Feroz Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Yaseen and Nasir Aslam Wani.
The Speaker said the Assembly will continue its business, as Governor the highest constitutional authority in the State has informed him that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shall continue to run the government. The Governor has not accepted the resignation of the Chief Minister yet. He is collecting the necessary documents for making final decision, he said.
MEANWHILE: From the floor of the House the war of words between the two regional parties--National Conference and Peoples Democratic party has now reached on to the streets of Jammu and Kashmir.
A day after high drama surrounding resignation of CM Omar Abdullah workers of both the regional parties clashed with each other on the streets of Srinagar in downtown area and in Jammu National Conference (NC) leaders organized a day long hunger strike demanding arrest of former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig for making false allegations against the youngest CM of the state.
NC workers also targeted business establishment owned by a senior PDP leader Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari and ransacked the office.
Led by Provincial President of the JammuProvince, Rattan Lal Gupta and its Women Wing Chief Laxmi Dutta large number of NC leaders and workers participated in the day long hunger strike at Shahidi Chowk. Holding placards ' Down with Mehbooba Mufti, Arrest Muzaffar Baig’ NC workers and party leaders also shouted slogans against the PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti and former Deputy Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, state police had to lob tear gas shells to disperse the clashing workers of both the Kashmir based political parties in downtown area of Srinagar city. The National Conference workers also paraded a stray dog with a picture of Muzaffar Hussain Baig pasted on its face on the streets of Srinagar in protest against the false allegations levelled against their leader.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed ruckus in the afternoon session on the third day Wednesday as the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party MLA’s staged a walkout.
As soon as the house assembled again the speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone asked the legislators to offer their co-operation in running the business of the house.
“We all need to co-operate so that the House transacts its routine business,” Lone told the MLAs. He said that various issues of public importance need immediate hearing and the members of the House have to act in a responsible way.
Lone requesting the members to let the House continue its business asked PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh to speak in the House. However, the Treasury Bench members offered stiff resistance and did not allow the PDP leader to speak in the House.
“A privilege motion has been moved against the PDP leader. How can he speak in the house,” NC leader, Nasir Sogami replied to the speaker.
As the commotion in the house reached its zenith the Speaker asked the legislators to respond to his calls.
“We all decided in a meeting held today that we will let the house function. But the way the members of the opposition are reacting to things the House cannot function,” Lone said. Lone’s stamen triggered another round of verbal attacks from the PDP.
“If you want the house to carry out its usual business then you should first clarify over the letter which has been claimed to be written by the Director of CBI,” Mehbooba Mufti said. She said that if NC wants to come clean over the issue they should get the case dairies of the sex scandal case tabled in the House.
“If you have the courage then table the case dairies along with the list from C1 to C192 signed by the main accused Sabina,” Mehbooba told the Treasury Benches before announcing a walkout from the Assembly.
Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday demanded a judicial probe into the ‘involvement’ of CM Omar Abdullah in the sex scandal case that rocked the state in 2006. Mehbooba alleged that the CBI is aiding the CM and is trying to cover up the case.
The Assembly witnessed pandemonium again on Wednesday as the PDP members demanded a high-level probe into the 2006 sex scandal.
As the speaker tabled the report PDP members stood up and raised a hue and cry over the issue.
“The CBI is trying to shield the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Union Minister Farooq Abdullah over their involvement in the case,” the PDP members alleged.
Raising slogans against the government the PDP members demanded a judicial probe into the sex scandal case. “The entire issue needs a thorough probe so that all facts come to the fore,” they demanded.
As the assembly was witnessing uproarious scenes, Mehbooba Mufti tore the letter that was sent by the CBI proving Omar’s innocence into the sex scandal.
“The CBI probe is not acceptable to us,” Mehbooba said.
Unable to control the uproar in the Assembly the speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes; however, the scene was no different when the House resumed its business.
