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Omar approves regularization of 213 employees
Stresses on prompt, quality public service delivery
JAMMU, MARCH 08 – Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has approved regularization of 213 employees of Government Medical College and Dental College, Jammu here today. The employees were working on adhoc, contractual and consolidated basis in the two institutions and their case for regularization was recommended by the Empowered Committee under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Special Provision) Act 2010.This action is yet another forward movement in the process of implementation of the decision taken by the coalition government regarding the regularization of such employees working in various departments. The regularization of the employees in the two medical institutions has at one hand fulfilled the cherished demand of the employees and on the other it would help to improve the functioning.Omar Abdullah led government recently approved the regularization of over 7000 lecturers (10+2) and headmasters in Education Department whose case was under process for a long time. The government also approved the regularization of Rehber-e-Ziraat numbering about 4000 and many more in various departments. The process for the regularization of other such employees under the Act is in progress.The Chief Minister said that proper manning of institutions especially in health and education departments is imperative to ensure smooth and up to the mark public service delivery to the people. He said health sector has been flagged as one of the most important five sectors put under focus for faster development in the State and is, as such, receiving attention on both consolidation and expansion fronts.“While attention is being concentrated on providing faculties, equal thrust is on placing para-medical and ministerial staff”, he said adding that equipping of health and educational institutions with necessary equipments and paraphernalia is one of the priority concerns of the government.The Chief Minister expressed the hope that the regularized employees in various departments would render their best service to the people and come up to public expectations. He said time bound and quality public service delivery should be standard of functioning of the government functionaries so that quality of governance improves at all levels.The Chief Minister said that the performance of employees would be judged by the quick and prompt response they show to the public requirements and by taking befitting action to address the grievances.
48220 Srinagar, 30400 Jammu houses to have modern sewerage system: Tara Chand
Polythene carry bags banned in the State
Jammu March 9 :Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Tara Chand today said that no non-resident builders are allowed to operate in the state for constructing buildings and complexes.
Replying to a question by Mr. Ajatshatru Singh in the Legislative Council today, he said building permissions are accorded as per the provisions contained in BOCA, building bye laws in addition to the provisions specified in master plan and relevant revenue records. He said wherever any violation is reported to have been taken, the appropriate action is being initiated.
Replying to an another question by Mr. Vijay Bakaya, the Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that under JNNURM two cities of Jammu and Srinagar are to be provided modern sewerage system. He said under the project, 48220 houses of Srinagar city at a cost of Rs. 132.01 crore and 30400 houses of Jammu at a cost of Rs. 129.30 crores have been identified to connect them with modern sewerage system.
He said Rs. 54.50 crore and Rs. 52.99 crore have been released so far from the Centre for Srinagar and Jammu respectively under the project. He said the execution plans of the project in both the cities are being under taken in the phases and sequential manner.
The Deputy Chief Minister further informed the House that the works on STP, Trunk Sewer, Lateral Sewer lines and Raider mains of both sewerage projects are in progress.
Supplementary to the question was raised by Mr. Ajatshatru Singh.
Replying to a question by Mr. Ravinder Kumar Sharma, the Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that government has imposed a ban on polythene carry bags in the state under J&K Non Bio Degradable Material Act-2007. He said, however, hospitals, health care facilities are exempted from the ban to the extent of use of polythene carry bags for collection of Bio Medical Waste in accordance with Bio Medical Rules 1998. He said impact of ban is increasing gradually and use of polythene is on decline.
For implementation of ban on polythene in Urban Local Bodies, the Deputy Chief Minister said the total quantity of polythene seized by Pollution Control Board in Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar was 1608 quintals and urban local bodies Jammu and Srinagar is 133 quintals.
Supplementaries were raised by Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Mr. Vijay Bakaya, Mr. Murtaza Ahmed Khan, Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah, Mr. Ajatshatru Singh and Mr. Ajay Kumar Sadhotra.
In reply to another question by Mr. Mohammad Amin Bhat, Mr. Tara Chand said that there is a need for construction of a truck terminal at Qazigund.
He said for the said purpose the availability of state land ideally located along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Qazigund is being explored. He said as and when the land is identified and acquired, DPR will be prepared for construction of the said terminal subject to the availability of the funds.
Enhancement in cash relief for K-migrants taken up with Centre: Bhalla
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. Raman Bhalla today informed the House that the issue of enhancement in cash relief to the Kashmiri migrants have been taken with the Union Home Ministry, adding that after receiving approval the enhancement in relief would be made. Replying to a question by Mr. M. Y. Tarigami, the Minister said that state government has taken up the issue of enhancement of monthly cash assistance to Kashmiri migrants with Union government several times and migrant relief has been enhanced by the Centre from time to time. He said upto April 1990 the Kashmiri migrants were getting Rs. 500 per family as monthly cash assistance, and at present due to enhancement from time to time these migrants gets monthly Rs. 5000 per family. The Minister said that out of 3000 posts reserved for Kashmiri migrants, the Service Selection Board has made selection of 1925 candidates for different category of posts. Orders have already been issued in favour of 1922 candidates, of which, 1287 candidates have so far joined their duties in the valley, he added and said that the matter for selection against 800 posts under reserved categories is under active consideration of the government. The Minister said that Prime Ministers Return and Rehabilitation Package does not envisage particular locations for construction of permanent accommodation. He said, however, temporary transit accommodation is envisaged for those migrants who return to valley and construct or repair their houses. He said transit accommodation has been constructed at various places in valley, adding that 140 units constructed in Vessu, Anantnag, 65 in Hawl Pulwama and 130 in Baramulla out of total 495 units to be constructed in the valley. He said this accommodation is presently being utilized by the employees who have been recently appointed under the Prime Ministers Package. The Minister said that the migrants putting up at rented accommodation or in the quarters of the Estates Department are yet to be allotted TRTs at Jagti. He said the process of allotment would be carried out once the verification process of such applicants who have applied for allotment is completed, adding that such process is expected to be completed in March/ April 2012. Ch. Mohammad Ramzan, Mr. A. R. Veeri, Mr. Balwant Singh Mankotia, Mr. G. A. Mir, Prof. Chaman Lal raised supplementaries to the question
Two day national seminar on “Lifelong Learning and Higher Education” concludes at Jammu University
JAMMU, MARCH 11: The two day national seminar on “Lifelong Learning and Higher Education” organized by the Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu concluded here. Professor R.D. Sharma, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammu was the chief guest at the valedictory function. Dr. Poonam Dhawan, Director, Department of Lifelong Learning and Dr. Kavita Suri, organizing secretary and Assistant Director, Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu were also present at the occasion besides others.
Speaking at the valedictory function, the Dean Academic Affairs congratulated the department for organizing a national seminar on such a relevant theme. He said the theme has become quite important in the recent times and knowledge updation is every important in the emerging societies as these are knowledge-based societies which are constantly changing.
Prof Sharma also exhorted the teaching community to keep themselves abreast of the challenges of the globalized world in the era of technology when knowledge is just one click away and the students have access to lot of information on the internet. He also spoke on the need for post-literacy reading, vocational training, livelihood and income- generation skills, equivalency for educational accreditation and a range of aspects for improving quality of life. He hoped that the two day deliberations of the seminar will flag the latest issues in the field of lifelong learning.
Dr. Poonam Dhawan, Director, Department of Lifelong Learning in her, while welcoming the Dean Academics Affairs, gave a background of the Seminar. She said they received an overwhelming response to the seminar and people from across the country cam and participated in the seminar.
Dr. Kavita Suri, Assistant Director, Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu informed that the two day national seminar was divided into four sub-themes including Lifelong learning, Globalization and Concurrent Challenges in Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development, Role of ICTs in lifelong learning and Lifelong learning through Open & Distance Learning. Over 100 research papers were presented on various issues including confronting globalization: the challenges of creating space for global learning, Lifelong learning, higher education and active citizenship, Lifelong learning in communities, empowering marginalized communities through lifelong learning, social media and lifelong learning environment, current practices in Lifelong Learning through Distance Education etc.
In the ten parallel technical sessions, Mr. Krishan Khanna, Chairman, i-Watch, Mumbai spoke on “Dynamind : An e-Teacher and e-Trainer.” He explained how artificial intelligence has been used to provide low-cost distance education program accessible to all. He explained that it could be a more successful venture because it takes care of individual guidance needs. He emphasized that Dynamind would change the way education is being delivered in India at present. Easy and cost effective access to education would be available to more people in near future.
Dr. Radha Ramji, from University of Madras spoke on “lifelong learning and sustainable development in music”. She described how music relates to overall development of personality specifically in the context of South Indian families. She also explained the constituents of holistic development. Ms. Ritu Bakshi from Women’s College Kangra presented her paper on “Globalization, lifelong learning and challenges in Indian higher education”. She discussed the present status of higher education in India and recent initiatives taken to face the challenges of Globalization. Deliberating on the positive and negative aspects of impact of globalization on higher education and possible solutions to overcome them, her crisp presentation focused on the present status of higher education in India and the need for lifelong.
Dr. Sudha Raja from University of Madras spoke on the topic “Lifelong learning and sustainable development through community outreach programme and holistic development”. She explained how music education could be used in the development of culture, creativity, concentration and comradeship. She discussed various outreach programmes in music that are already in place in South India. The resource person appreciated her thoughts about advantages of music and concluded with the discussion about how music education could be linked to LLL.
Ms. Shaelka Gupta research scholar, TBS, Jammu University, spoke about “mentoring as a tool for lifelong learning in the organizations”. She briefly explained the concept of LLL, the objectives and benefits of mentoring and how it has implications with respect to LLL. Dr. Mubarak Singh, Department. of Education, Jammu University spoke on “constructing knowledge society through LLL”. He discussed the various important highlights about education in India.
Dr. Nishta Rana, MIER College of Education, Jammu, spoke on the meaning of Lifelong Learning and established its links with ICT. Dr. Rajeev Rattan, Associate Professor, Department of Education, University of Jammu spoke on “The emergence of Social Media as a ubiquitous tool of Learning.” He elaborated on the role of IT and social media in today’s world and how it has changed the ways we work, learn and educate today. Ms Seema Mattoo, Faculty at Gandhi Memorial College of Education, Jammu, spoke on “Web as a Life Long Media for building Knowledge Society.” She discussed the meaning of Life Long Learning and the importance of ICT in building knowledge Society. She further discussed how IT has influenced the teaching and learning process.
Mr. Sudesh Kumar, Professional Assistant, Department of Library Sciences, University of Jammu spoke on “ICT and Libraries: A Case Study of Dhanvantri Library, University of Jammu.” He began the presentation with a brief description of meaning of ICT and explained how it has been used for the development of Dhanvantri Library. He discussed various facilities started in the Dhanvantri Library with the help of ICT. Ms. Sukhmani Gill presented on the topic “ An Ageless Learner : Importance of e-learning in Adult Education.” She briefly discussed about the meaning of Adult Learning, Life-long learning and e-learning. She described various tools, methodologies and benefits of e-learning in improving learning skills.
Prof. N.V. R. Kapali, Director, Department of Adult and Continuing Education, University of Madras, Chennai, Prof. Renuka H. Narang, Former Director of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension, University of Mumbai, Prof Lokesh K. Verma, Dean & Head, Faculty of Education & Head of Department, Department of Education, University of Jammu, Prof Ashok Sharma, Dean & Director, Department of Lifelong Learning, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Prof Sween, Director, Department of Lifelong Learning, Punjab University, Chandigarh, Mr. Krishan Khanna, IIT, Founder/Chairman, India Watch Foundation, Mumbai, Prof. A. G. Madhosh, Former Dean, Faculty of Education & Head of Department, Department of Education, University of Kashmir, Dr. Renu Nanda, Associate Professor, Department of Education and Dr. Arvind Jasrotia, Department of Law, University of Jammu chaired the ten parallel technical sessions.
The academics who presented papers in the seminar included Tulika Chakravorty, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Bangabasi Morning College, Kolkata, Soma Debray, Narajole Raj College, Narajole, Midnapur, West Bengal, Dr. Asha Thokchom, G.P. Women’s College, Imphal, Manipur, Khobu Tsolo, University of Hyderabad, Meera Subramanian and Swaleha Sindhi, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Dr. Sudha Raja and Dr. Radha Ramji, Chennai, Ritu Bakshi, Sharan College of Education for Women, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, Sukhmani Gill, Khalsa College for Women,Ludhiana, Punjab, Sushmita Sarkar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Jamia Millia Islamia.
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