DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 (PAGE 3)

CS reviews implementation ofSSA, Mid Day Meal Scheme

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: TheExecutive Committee UjalaSociety- Sarva ShikshaAbhiyan CS (SSA), headed byChief Secretary, B R Sharmatoday approved the proposedoutlay of Rs 2967 crore for theyear 2016-17 for implementa-tion of flagship scheme in theState.

Commissioner Secretary,School Education, ShaleenKabra, CommissionerSecretary, Finance, N KChoudhary, CommissionerSecretary, R&B Rohit Kansal,Secretary Social Welfare,Sanjeev Verma, SecretaryHealth, Dr Mandeep Bhandari,Secretary CA&PD, SaurabhBhagat, Project Director SSA,Saugat Biswas, DSEK, Dr ShahFaesal, DSEJ, Smita Sethi andother officers were present inthe meeting.

While reviewing the overallimplementation of SSA in theState, Chief Secretary called forcarrying GIS Mapping ofschools to enable creation of adata base with records listinglocation of the school, infra-structure available, staff

strength, number of studentsand other facilities includingtoilets available. "GIS Mappingshould be completed by 31stMarch", he added.

Chief Secretary alsostressed on carrying out a spe-cial audit on pilot basis and 3rdparty evaluation & monitoringof SSA completed at the earli-est.

For helping Children withspecial needs, Chief Secretaryurged sensitizing and trainingteachers towards giving careand attention to such children.

Earlier, Chief Secretarywhile chairing the State LevelSteering cum MonitoringCommittee (SSMC) meeting ofMid Day Meal Schemeinstructed School EducationDepartment to start lifting foodgrains from CA&PD outletsnearest to the school rather thanfrom Tehsil headquaters. In thisregard, CA&PD Departmentwas asked to consider andarrange supplying food grainsfrom CA&PD outlets/ fair priceshops nearest to the schools. "Itwould save precious time ofteachers in collecting foodgrains and ensure its timelysupply", Chief Secretary noted.

Chief Secretary also urgedCA&PD Department to ensureproviding LPG connections to

the left out schools and take upthe matter with the companiessupplying LPG in respectivedistricts. Out of 23136 schools,nearly 10,000 schools still usefirewood or kerosine stove forcooking Mid Day Meals.

Chief Secretary also issueddirections to the SchoolEducation Department todevelop a SOP in consultationwith Health Department to con-duct regular Health Checkup inschools.

"Health Checkupshould be taken up in missionmode and all students musthave a health card issued indi-cating their health status andthe same kept as record with theheadmaster of the school", hesaid, adding that schools shouldbe linked to the nearest PHCand on already notified, datesteams of health experts shouldconduct checkup of the stu-dents and the process should beperformed twice a year.

Health Department was alsoasked to take up samples ofcooked food regularly for test-ing to ascertain the quality offood being served to the chil-dren during Mid Day Meals.

Meanwhile, the Committeeapproved the Annual Work Plan& Budget 2016-17 for anamount of Rs 251.92 crore.

Chief Secretary B R Sharma chairing a meeting at Jammu on Thursday.

Tourists enjoying snowfall in Patnitop on Thursday. -Excelsior/Parvaiz

SC refuses to restrain Statesfrom banning mobile internet

NEW DELHI, Feb 11:

The Supreme Court todayrefused to restrain states frombanning mobile internet, sayingthat such steps are necessary tomaintain law and order.

A bench of Chief Justice TSThakur and Justice R Banumathidismissed an appeal challenginga judgment of the Gujarat HighCourt which had upheld the banon mobile internet under section144 of CrPC during 'Patidar agi-tation' led by Hardik Patel.

"It becomes very necessarysometimes for law and order.There can be concurrent pow-ers," the bench said, adding that"it is also necessary during theriot-like situation."

The appeal was filed byGaurav Sureshbhai Vyas whohad opposed the GujaratGovernment's decision to banmobile internet when HardikPatel had launched a movement

last year demanding OBC statusfor Patels in jobs and education.

The High Court had inSeptember last year rejected hisPIL saying that the decision ofthe State Government was "justand proper."

The Gujarat Governmenthad banned mobile internetservices from 25 August nightlast year for almost a week asthe Patel quota stir had turnedviolent. (PTI)

Advisor to Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai interactingwith a deputation at Srinagar on Thursday.

Deputations call onKhurshid Ganai

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 11:Several deputations today calledon the Advisor to Governor,Khurshid Ahmad Ganai at theState Guest House and apprisedhim with their grievances .

People putforth theirdemands pertaining to floodrelief, power supply ,road con-nectivity and other amenities.The Advisor gave a patienthearing to the projecteddemands and asked the con-cerned officers to take adequatemeasure for timebound redressalof these issues.

Deputations of daily-wagersof PHE, RDD, Irrigation &Flood Control (I&FC)Agriculture, civic bodies, NYCetc also apprised him with theirgrievances regarding regulariza-tion.

The other delegations whichmet Mr Ganai include PHEContractors Association, house-

boat owners, Fruit andVegetable Retailer Union, ClassIVth employees of variousdepartments, Civil SocietyKhrew, Civil Society JettyBaramulla, ITI trainers(Plumber), Elaqai Tameerati

Board, ICDS Anganwari work-ers Ganderbal, HandicappedAssociation, Village CommitteeAwantipura and Stone QuarryAssociation, Athwajan.

JICA to provide technicalassistance for J&K projects

NEW DELHI, Feb 11:

The Japan InternationalCooperation Agency (JICA)today said it will provide techni-cal assistance to Government fordevelopment of national high-ways in mountainous regionslike Jammu & Kashmir,Uttarakhand and HimachalPradesh.

"JICA has signed a technicalcooperation agreement with theGovernment for 'capacity devel-opment project on highways inmountainous regions', it said in astatement.

The project will provide forstrengthening of institutionalcapacity of organisationsengaged in development of roadnetwork in mountain terrains,such as Ministry of RoadTransport & Highways(MoRTH), NHA, NHIDCL andstate-level PWDs.

The road ministry hasassigned high priority to thedevelopment of national high-ways in the mountainousregions to enhance local connec-tivity, especially in Uttarakhand,Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &

Kashmir and the North-Eastregion.

"MoRTH is keen to adoptnew technologies related to tun-nels, bridges and slope stabilisa-tion and enhance its capacitiesfor disaster-resistant planning,cost-effective construction tech-nologies and safety managementin mountainous highways," thestatement said.

Under the JICA's coopera-tion, technical guidelines will beprepared for design, develop-ment and management of roadnetwork in mountainousregions, including for tunnels,high-pier bridges, earthworks,slope protection and waterwaysfor the drainage.

JICA will dispatch expertsfrom Japan on highway engi-neering and management, andconduct technical training pro-grammes for Indian engineersand technical personnel, in part-nership with the IndianAcademy of HighwayEngineers, to enhance capacityof Government in planning, con-struction and management ofhighways in mountainousregions.

The Agency has been contin-uously cooperating withMoRTH and other road agenciesin their human resource devel-opment and improvement andconstruction of highways sinceearly 1990s when JICA starteddispatch of Japanese experts tothose organisations, it said.

The newly-started technicalcooperation represents JICA'sattempts to further its coopera-tion in the transport sector,which would play a pivotal rolefor economic and social devel-opment in India. (PTI)

Power shut downExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: For carrying out 33 KV line work for newR/Stn Manda by M/s IRCON, shutdown on D-4 feeder emanatingfrom R/Stn Dhountly on February 14, 16, 18 and 20, 2016 from 10am to 4 pm has been allowed.

During the shut down period, the power supply to Karan Nagar,Ambphalla, Ustad Mohalla, etc. will remain affected.

Similarly, for carrying out 33 KV line work for new R/StnManda by M/s IRCON, shutdown on J-15 feeder emanating fromR/Stn Janipur on February 14, 2016 from 10 am to 4 pm has beenallowed.

During the shut down period, the power supply to New PlotAmbphalla, Old Janipur, Tali Morh, etc will remain affected.

Bar to suspendwork today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: J&K HighCourt Bar Association will sus-pend work tomorrow as a markof respect for Advocate J RArora, who passed away today.

The Bar Association in ameeting held under the chair-manship of its PresidentAbhinav Sharma decided tosuspend the work tomorrow as amark of respect for the departedsoul.

Advocate J R Arora, whohailed from Arnia, was a notedcivil/criminal lawyer and hadgreat expertise in criminal mat-ters. He was elder brother of DrKamal Arora, MLA Bishnah.

KU exams postponed

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 11: AllKashmir University examina-tions scheduled to be held on12th February (Friday) havebeen postponed.

Fresh dates will be notifiedseparately, said an official com-munication of the University.

PCC leaders discussJ&K’s political

situation with RahulExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: A dele-gation of Jammu and KashmirPradesh Congress Committee(PCC) today met the All IndiaCongress Committee vice presi-dent, Rahul Gandhi, and dis-cussed the latest political situa-tion in J&K with him at theUnion capital.

The delegation led by PCCpresident Ghulam Ahmed Mirand assisted by senior vice pres-ident Sham Lal Sharma andCLP Leader Nawang RigzinJora met the AICC vice presi-dent at New Delhi today anddiscussed the latest political sit-uation. AICC general secretaryincharge J&K affairs AmbikaSoni was also present during themeeting.

The JKPCC leaders apprisedthe AICC vice-president aboutthe latest political scenario inthe State besides discussing theorganizational affairs and activ-ities of the party. The leadersapprised Mr Gandhi aboutongoing membership drive ofthe party in the State and theprocess for the election of dele-gates in order to constitute partyunits at booth level andupwards, in the due course oftime, as per schedule and guide-lines of the AICC in this regard.

Rahul Gandhi advised thePCC leadership to strengthenthe party units at all levels withdue representation to thewomen and energetic youngleaders and adequate represen-tation to down trodden sectionsof the society. The party cadresshould be geared up to meet thefuture challenges in the State,Mr Gandhi maintained.

Mysterious disappearance of 12 yrs old child

HC transfers investigation to CBIExcelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 11: HighCourt today transferred theinvestigation into mysteriousdisappearance of 12 years oldchild from Vijaypur to CentralBureau of Investigation (CBI).

While entrusting the case tothe CBI, Justice Janak RajKotwal directed that the StateGovernment shall immediatelyissue formal orders in thisregard and the CBI shall take upthe investigation. The HighCourt further observed, "it isexpected that the CBI shall takeup the task with promptitude sothat the confidence of the publicin law enforcing agencies isstrengthened and justice is doneto the victim and his family".

The order was passed in awrit petition filed by RajeshSharma, the father of 12 year oldVishal Sharma student of 6thstandard, who mysteriouslywent missing on May 5, 2014from his residence at Vijaypurwhen he was playing with a petbelonging to one of the neigh-bours near Sabzi Mandi.

After hearing AdvocateSheikh Shakeel Ahmed withAdvocate Sheikh Najeeb Ashrafappearing for the petitioner andAdditional Advocate GeneralWasim Sadiq Nargal appearingfor Home Department andMonika Kohli, Retainer Counselfor CBI, Justice Kotwalobserved, "the Court on October15, 2015 while taking note ofthe failure on the part of theState to fulfill constitutional andlegal obligation in tracing outthe missing boy and as a stepprior to transferring the investi-gation to the CBI, had directedthe Director General of Police toconstitute a SpecialInvestigation Team (SIT) com-prising of the Superintendent ofPolice, Sub-District Police

Officer and concerned StationHouse Officer to be supervisedby Inspector General of Police,Jammu".

The SIT was, therefore, con-stituted with SSP Samba, SDPOVijaypur and SHO PoliceStation Vijaypur as its membersbut the boy has not been tracedtill date and the poor petitioneris still pinning hope in the realmof despair, Justice Kotwal fur-ther observed, adding "the courton January 14, 2016 had direct-ed Commissioner/SecretaryHome and Director General ofPolice to file their response inaffidavit(s) of authorized offi-cers as to why investigation benot transferred to CBI and pur-suant to this direction the IGPJammu filed a comprehensiveaffidavit giving a detailedaccount of the efforts made bythe Police in tracing the missingboy".

"The IGP has concluded thatwhatever could be done underthe circumstances has been doneand is being done by the Police",the High Court said, adding "theaffidavit filed on behalf ofSecretary Home is on the similarline too".

After considering the affi-davits filed by Deputy

Secretary Home and IGP,Justice Kotwal observed, "whatis thus clear is that inspite of itsbest efforts the State Police hasbeen unable to trace the miss-ing boy. Whether the policecould have done better thanwhat has been done may not bethat important, but it can besaid that a fruitless effort cansatisfy neither the family of themissing boy nor the public ingeneral", adding "State has theconstitutional duty to protectthe life and human rights of itscitizens and inability in thisregard cannot justify a serioussituation like this".

"If the State Police has beenunable to achieve the desiredobject there cannot be any rec-onciliation with the situationand another agency must comeforward to contribute its might.Such a course is required toinstall the confidence of thepublic in the Government andthe law enforcing agencies ofthe State and to do complete jus-tice to the victim and his fami-ly", High Court further said.

With these observations,Justice Janak Raj Kotwal dis-posed of the petition filed andtransferred the investigation ofthe case to the CBI.