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THE UPA IS NOW A MONSTRUOUS ‘DEN OF THIEVES’ TAKING INDIA DOWN THE ROAD TO IRREVERSIBLE DISASTER

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:28:57 -0500

THE UPA IS NOW A MONSTRUOUS ‘DEN OF THIEVES’ TAKING INDIA DOWN THE ROAD TO IRREVERSIBLE DISASTER?

The focus of attention of reputed analysts today is on the malady of UPA’s shamefully corrupt policies taking India downhill to irreversible disaster. The malady adversely affecting every phase of life of the average Indian including interest in (IPL) cricket is a national tragedy. The scam virus afflicting the private (cricket) sector is equally disgusting. The paid scribes of yesteryears deeply obligated to UPA politicians strained to smother the surge of public demand for an early election to end this grave national tragedy. UPA carefully nurtured and survived on a culture of rampant corruption and miss-governance – a blot in Indian history.

UPA’s deceits disguise its misdemeanors causing anger amongst growing Indians who are aghast at UPA’s indifference to acting to redress and redeem itself from this malignancy. Only early elections (not 2014) ending the UPA rule will free India of the corrosive effects of the corrupt legacy of the UPA rule. The costly scams now running into lakhs of crores still crop up regularly. The weak constitutional instrumentalities that provide the checks and balances to check public sector corruption are being strangled. Worst still the UPA mis-uses those state instrumentalities to torment non Congress states/politicians besides buying Lok Sabha votes to survive its term and providing cover to save those Congress politicians profiting from the scams. UPA has also perfected the art of outsmarting the CBI in dealing with the thriving scammer. The UPA mindset is finely tuned in to operate in the corrupt environment in India since Bofors. Hence the latest ingenious Railgate scam

The Coalgate scam is the mother of UPA scams. On this, the apex court (SC) issued forthright statements on UPA’s political interference in the work of the CBI (‘..having access/making changes to the status report going to the heart of the report.. protect the heart of the government – the PM himself) an agency meant to act firmly against the corrupt to end the menace of corruption raging in India unchecked. SC’s comments provoked extremely derisive comments from UPA’s close associates of the scammers. In ‘Congress gameplan behind Digvijaya’s dare to SC’ Rediff.com of May 13, 2013 senior Congress spokesman Digvijaya Singh points to the SC statements describing the CBI ‘…a chicken…belittling the CBI itself, Times of India. 13 May). Digvijaya despite all UPA’s own acts of indiscretion struggles to keep the SC/judiciary in check. The court rapped the CBI for sharing the status report on the coal allocation scam probe with the Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, officials of PMO and Coal Ministry. An analyst’s reaction "If the morale of the CBI has been (belittled) downgraded, it is only because of the rank abuse of the CBI’s authority by the UPA Government’. CBI was deliberately not allowed to undertake fair investigations urgently and expeditiously.

In Congress Digvijaya Singh’s wisdom (17 May 2013) the ‘Prime Minister is the sole centre of power in government..he calls all shots’. This comes more than a month after Digvijaya created ripples in the Congress party when he reportedly referred to the two power centres (PM and the Congress President) within the party hurting it.’ What was Digvijaya’s reasoning for changing his stance on political power centres in India?

The insights of analysts in Firstpost.com, Times now, India Today and other ranked media hosts reveal the extent of the UPA’s interference to keep the CBI a ‘caged bird’ to protect the UPA party men from CBI actions against scams. SC’s sharp caged bird comments on CBI follows on UPA not allowing CBI to act decisively ; instead encouraging official to interact allowing them access/making changes to CBI’s status reports favourable to the scammers. In the ‘Coalgate’ case the changes made by Ashwani Kumar are about protecting the heart of government – the Prime Minister himself. In Coalgate once the PM forced the law minister to resign, the PM feared fingers will thereafter point directly at him. Likewise other useful constituitional checks and balances including the JPC, was under tremendous pressure over the 2G and the coal block case as well. The queer ‘zero loss’ advocates ( Kapil Sibal, Chidambaram) had a suspect heyday subjecting the basically sound JPC reports to ridicule. In the 2G case the UPA regime refused to allow Raja into the witness box fearing that this would lead to the PM becoming involved in the proceedings. Despite Sonia’s hints to the PM that Ashwani Kumar goes, and the PM hesitating implied that the PM would be in the line of fire after Ashwini and thereafter Sonia herself. Sonia’s arm twisting the PM on the Ashwani resignation is unlikely to insulate Sonia herself; she being immediately behind the PM in Coalgate case. In fact it is well established that the PM does nothing without keeping Sonia in the loop.

UPA’s abuse of the CBI led to many scammers escaping CBI action. These were caused by UPA induced delays in action or in-action. A classic example is the Bofors case.

A more heinous practice was UPA’s mis-use of the state instrumentalities (CBI) to manipulate opposition politicians into toeing the Sonia/Congress line. The Samajavadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav laments his dread of the CBI and the possibility of the Congress-led government using the CBI to send him to jail (Firstpost.com 5 March 2013). Hence his support for UPA’s ‘trust vote ‘in 2008 and also support for UPA to stay in power at least until 2014. Fear of CBI enabled UPA without a majority to extract Yadav’s support for UPA to last until 2014. UPA instigation led to the CBI probe against Jagan Mohan Reddy’s (assets) after he ‘exited from the Congress party’. The 2G scam case was used as a bargain weapon by the Congress against its coalition partner, the DMK in 2008/9. UPA extracted DMK’s inaction (and not quit the UPA coalition and bring down the government) against the UPA when UPA led South Block trio instigated the Rajapakses’ Mullivaykkal massacres of over 40 000 Tamil civilians in 2009. The loss was politically for the DMK; it lost its support base in TN and both DMK/Congress combine lost TN for good. The UPA still continues to support the on-going Rajapakses demographic genocide leaving the world community confused over the true reasons for Delhi (UPA) continuing to support a regime that practices the worst forms of human rights abuses.

Over Coalgate Sonia and Congress lined up for the removal of the two ministers, the PM’s loyalists. In the final analysis this is the result of having a PM who has no power over appointments and dismissals of ministers. In this case Sonia acted out as a decisive leader not tainted by the PM’s obstructionist controversies with the CBI to remove Ashwani. Congress’s power dynamics in practice worked on the ‘two heads’ power bases logic with the Congress’ whisper campaigns diluting and confusing accountability issues in the scams. Congress has a culture under which its Congress President Sonia is able to extract the removal of ministers despite the semi-protests of the official PM. This is an unconstitutional act; usurping the powers of the PM. Ashwani Kumar altering the CBI coal block report was itself a form of usurping the powers of the CBI. UPA mindset?

Analysts including Digvijaya point to the two power centres arrangement that allows the Congress President to exercise the PM’s power but not take responsibility. In the present UPA set up the PM carries responsibilities but not the power. In effect Sonia is the Congress party president and de facto PM as well. This arrangement may work when the two office holders shared a deep relationship of trust. But Sonia is known to make ‘a public show of her respect for the PM’ and the weak PM most of the time conceded or never independently decided on issues that mattered. The Coalgate scam is far too serious for the PM requiring him to assert himself but Sonia who disagreed usurped the PM’s powers to have her way (the minister’s removal) in the UPA set up.

In practice Congress interfered in the work of the CBI when the PM used the Law Minister and his officers (all loyalists) to pressure the CBI to neutralize its investigation. Coalgate as the mother of scams, the CBI also could not allow public display of political interference without compromising its standing as an agency expected to act independently. CBI possibly acceded to the UPA/Congress interference in the 2G and Robert Vadra’s supernormal profits on land deals. The Vadra case is just as damaging for Congress’ image as Ashwani actions in the Coalgate case. Congress ministers in the Vadra’s case came out batting on behalf of Vadra, Sonia’s son-in-law. Did any CBI investigation eventuate or become controversial enough requiring Sonia to drive to the PM’s residence to demand someone’s resignation over the Vadra scam.

How should the CBI act in Vadra like cases? “Autonomy’? in what form. For answers the public needs to await the SC judgment in June and the verdict of the Indian electorate anytime between now and 2014. If UPA continues to act ignoring constitutional propriety this is bound to bring the public into the streets in numbers to make UPA realize that there limits beyond which it should not go with its antics.

Struggling Against Heroin Addiction in Southern Afghan Province

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:56:34 -0500

New treatment clinic promised for Zabul, but underlying causes run much deeper.

By Niaz Mohammad Ziarmal, Abdol Qayum Ajez - Afghanistan

Tall and black-bearded, Mohammad Hashem still has a youthful look that belies the trouble he is in.

When IWPR’s correspondent in the southern Afghan province of Zabul found him, he was sprawled in a heap of trash, barely able to open his eyes.

“Give me money or food; I’m hungry,” he said.

Hashem said he first got involved in opium and heroin when he travelled to Iran in search of work some years ago, and found himself sharing a room with drug users.

He ended the interview by saying, “Take me to hospital. I want to get well.”

Doctors in Zabul province report rising addiction rates for opium and its derivative heroin. Local officials say a specialised treatment centre is desperately needed, and there are now firm promises that such a clinic will be built.

Others argue that the underlying problem is poverty, which needs to be addressed before drug consumption will start falling.

"I have no farmland, no skills, no money and no job,” heroin user Ismail told IWPR. “First I smoked hashish, and then someone gave me this powder, so that I would longer aware of the world once I’d smoked it. It looked like a way to rid myself of m sorrows. Now I want to quit, but there’s no one to help me."

"The only thing that bothers me is that everyone hates me," explaining that his family despised him and would not let him come home.

The director of public health in Zabul, Dr Lal Mohammad Tokhi, says the number of drug addicts is increasing on a daily basis.

“Many of the people admitted [to hospital] are on heroin. We help them as much as we can, but we can’t do more, as we don’t have a specialised hospital or clinic for addicts,” Tokhi said.

Tokhi said the central health ministry in Kabul had agreed in principle to build a treatment hospital.

At the provincial counter-narcotics department, the head of public outreach, Zabihullah, said Kabul was promising that the clinic would be built within the current Afghan year, ending in March 2014.

Zabihullah admitted that the counter-narcotics department started operating so recently that it had not gathered statistics on drug use. “All I can say is that the number of addicts is increasing,” he said.

Nationwide, figures from the Afghan counter-narcotics ministry and United Nations agencies suggest that some 960,000 Afghans are dependent on drugs.

Zabihullah described how the major trafficking networks, whose main business is shipping heroin abroad, also sell it within Zabul, which lies close to the border with Pakistan.

“Unless unemployment and poppy cultivation are eliminated, it’s going to be impossible to halt drug addiction. The problem is increasing day by day,” he said.

Provincial police chief Gholam Sakhi Rogh Lewanai said his officers had taken effective action to curb local distribution as well as cross-border trafficking. The small-time dealers were themselves in desperate situations, he added.

Ibrahim Azhar, deputy counter-narcotics minister at national level, believes that providing a treatment centre is not enough.

“It’s true there’s a need to build a clinic, and we have decided to set one up for addicts in Zabul, but we don’t see it as a fundamental solution,” he said. “it’s going to be impossible to curb addiction rates unless poverty and unemployment are reduced, people are given jobs and [have no need] to travel to other countries for work; and unless tensions within families are addressed, and the imams of mosques offer help.

An Islamic scholar in Zabul, Mohammad Ayub, agreed that clerics could do more to encourage users to stop.

"In Islam, any intoxicating item is considered unlawful and offenders should be punished,” he said. “But it the duty of religious scholars to work with people and make them understand how harmful this [drug use] is, in this world and the next.”

Niaz Mohammad Ziarmal and Abdol Qayum Ajez are IWPR trainees in Zabul. Additional material contributed by Mina Habib in Kabul.

Source: IWPR

Link:iwpr.net/report-news/tackling-heroin-use-afghan-south

Teen Media Activist Killed in Syria

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:06:09 -0500

Omar Qatifaan, a 14-year-old media activist, was killed 21 May, 2013 while covering clashes between the Syrian Army and the rebel Free Army in the southern Daraa al-Ballad area of Syria near the border with Jordan.

Youth media project Syrian Documents ^[1] reported on his death, and Syrian news blog YALLA SOURIYA ^[2] called him a “Spirit of Syria”.

The conflict in Syria, as well as other Arab Spring uprisings, has seen a rise in citizen journalists reporting from the ground on the ongoing war between the country's pro- and anti-government forces. Many have been detained, tortured, and even killed while trying to bring the story of the revolution ^[3] to the world.

Children have also paid a terrible price during the conflict, with thousands killed ^[4] during the violence so far.

Media activist Omar Qatifaan was 14-years-old when he was killed while covering a battle in Daraa, Syria. Photo from the Twitter account of ‏@RevolutionSyria ^[5]

Another media activist recorded video of Qatifaan after he was killed. The footage was posted on YouTube by SyrianDaysOfRage ^[6] [GRAPHIC VIDEO]:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/R4Bk6XHktsQ ^[7]

Article printed from Global Voices: http://globalvoicesonline.org

URL to article: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/05/22/teen-citizen-journalist-killed-in-syria/

JIAR students conduct drug research in Reasi

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:18:09 -0500

Jammu, May 22 (Scoop News) –Jammu Institute of Ayurveda and Research (JIAR) on Tuesday conducted drug research in Reasi in which PG scholars of Ist year and Scholars of BAMS 2nd prof. took part. The tour was conducted under the guidance of Dr Geeta Garg (MD) and Dr Amit (MD).

The main objective of the tour was to gather information about vernacular names, distribution of plants and their medicinal uses. During the tour, students came to know about rare varieties like Patha, Kukundhar, Vishlyakarni, Naglela, Marjhar, Asphot etc. They gained knowledge about identification, collection and procurement of genuine drug material. They could know about drug’s Morphology, flowering, fruiting and specific characters. Some of the drugs were collected for implanting in college herbal garden.

Some rare species which are at the verge of extinction like; Kukundar, Patha, Nirgundi, Kampilaka, Vishalyakarni etc were found in the outskirts of Reasi, Dhansal and Nagrota.

Some dried plants were collected as a specimen for Dravya Guna Deptt. During eight hour trip, students came to know about various drugs of Baba Dhansar, Baba Siyal and road side plants.

PG Scholars,Dr Abhineet, Dr Sonu, Dr Himakshi, Dr Shivani, Dr Sarika, Dr Rozy and Dr Rakhi went for survey of rare plans in the particular region. Students expressed their thankfulness to Chairman JIAR- Dr R.L. Sharma for his support and encouragement.

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Budgam Kashmir incident is a blot on our society:BJP

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30:32 -0500

Anantnag/Srinagar,May 22 (Scoop News) – BJP Mahila Morcha State President Priya Sethi on Wednesday strongly Criticized the act of sexual harassment of four minor girls who were reading in an institute claiming religious preaching headed by Gulzar Ahmed Bhat of Khan Sahib, Budgam.

Addressing the Mahila Morcha activists at Anantnag Priya Sethi strongly criticized the act of sexual harassment by the religious preacher and said that "the incident of sexual harassment of four minor girls in Budgam is indeed very painful and is against our culture and tradition.

She said it is something which cannot be tolerated at any cast and demanded through investigation of this incident and sought stern action against all the culprits to check this menace in future. She said no civilised society can tolerate such an inhuman act and demanded immediate arrest of all other culprits involved and associated with that institution.

Priya Sethi said the Budgam incident has proved that Law and order mechanism in J&K has completely failed to provide security to women as is evident from this shocking incident and said that "We always took pride in the fact that women enjoyed a better status in J&K but recent incidents have been a blot on our society.She appealed to the people from all sections of society to protest against this shameful incident so that such act should not happen in the future.

Kashmir Tourism department organizes shows in Saudi

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:21:16 -0500

Srinagar, May 22 (Scoop News) – Jammu & Kashmir tourism department held a show events in various cities of Saudi to attract the high end tourists into the Kashmir.

The shows focused to promote Kashmir as a holiday destination in the Middle East and in particularly Saudi Arabia were held in Jeddah, Riyadh and Damaam on 19, 21 and 22 May.

Praising the beauty of Kashmir, Minister for Tourism G. A. Mir in his speech during road shows said that Kashmir is welcoming the worldwide tourists especially from the Middle East and Saudi Arabia.

“Kashmir has been often described as the Switzerland of Asia. However, in actual terms the main valleys of Switzerland are like the sideways of Kashmir,” he said and added “Kashmir has the same blue sky and brilliant sunshine, but its purple hills are on a far grander scale, and if it has no sea, it has lakes and rivers, and still more impressive snowy mountains.”

During road shows Mir revealed that last year at least 26,000 Saudi Holiday makers visited India and many of them visited Kashmir. “We are keen to invite Saudi Holiday makers to come to Kashmir and experience its great culture, heritage, history, people, delectable cuisine, the intricate handicrafts and the world famous dry fruits,” he said.

Pertinently, the road shows in biggest city centers like Jeddah, Reyad and Damaam were organized to make the business tourism initiative a success and to encourage Saudis to choose the Kashmir as a major tourist destination. The tourism department is hopefull that the shows will attract the high end tourists.

G. A. Mir is accompanied with Minister of State for Industries and Commerce and Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Director Tourism Kashmir Talat Parvez and Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg Development Authority Tariq Ahmad Ganai.

Kashmir Tourism organizes Cleanliness Drive in Pahalgam

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:30:29 -0500

Srinagar, May 22 (Scoop News) -As a part of Kashmir Tourism Festival 2013, Department of Tourism through Tourist Office Pahalgam organized “Cleanliness Drive” in Pahalgam.

The participants included the students from Govt. Higher Secondary School Pahalgam, Shah-i-Hamdan College of Education Siligam, representative of Ponywallas, Hotel/ Guest House Owners Association Pahalgam, Hotel/ Restaurant association of Pahalgam, and other Tourism stake holders were flagged off from Tourist Reception Centre Pahalgam by Assistant Director Tourism, Tariq Hussain Naik in presence of Tehsildar Pahalgam Mohd Yusuf Bhat.

“The aim of the Drive is to inculcate the sense of preservation and conservation of ecology among the general public as well as the tourists,” said ADT Naik and added “The Cleanliness Drive is aimed to bring awareness among the local inhabitants/tourism Stake holders and tourists so that the tourist resorts of Kashmir can be preserved.”

The ongoing festival in Pahalgam started on 20th on this month in which various competitions including river rafting, trekking expedition, cultural programmes etc have already been organized.

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JK BJP Chief terms 4-year UPA rule as black chapter

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:02:26 -0500

Jammu, May 22 (Scoop News) –BJP JK State President Jugal Kishore Sharma termed the four year rule of Congress-led UPA at the centre as a black chapter in Indian history. Addressing a Public gathering at Kalakote,he said that during these four years, the nation witnessed record breaking corruption, scams, scandals, weak kneed foreign policy and soft approach towards the anti-national elements. He said that Pakistan and China indulged in intrusions, cease-fire violations. He said that during these four years, there was total insecurity and resentment among the masses against the mis-governance of Manmohan Singh government. Similarly, the state of Jammu & Kashmir also witnessed developments of government’s soft approach towards anti-national elements and appeasement of separatists.

Jugal said that the State Chief Minister made repeated utterances against the accession, Armed Forces Special Powers Act and mercy for even convicted elements. He also took strong exception to the reports that the government is harassing the poor people in the name of collecting electric tariff. He said that even a family using single bulb is forced to pay 300 to 400 rupees per month. The consumers want electric meters to be installed but the department does not care for the same and is working in a dictatorial manner.

He said that the BJP has been opposing the anti-people and anti-national policies of the UPA and state’s coalition government and shall continue its crusade against these governments till they do not take action against corrupt elements and shed the soft policy towards anti-national elements.

Earlier he visited Sunderbani, Nowshera and Kalakote on the first day of 2-day visit to Rajouri district where he was given warm reception.He was accompanied by State Vice-President Vibodh Gupta, Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary Constituency Incharge Yudhvir Sethi and State Treasurer Chander Mohan Gupta.

Vibodh Gupta said that the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch have been continuously subjected to discrimination by the successive state governments. He said that Kalakote coal mine is on the verge of closing and the government is least bothered to ensure that it works properly as livelihood of a large number of families is dependent on it.
Yudhvir Sethi said that the Prime Minister has now been called Mouni Baba as he is keeping eyes, ears and nose closed to display as if he do not have any knowledge and concern for what has been happening under his stewardship, which is indeed very unfortunate for the country.
Chander Mohan Gupta stressed on strengthening of polling booth committees so that desirable results are achieved during the elections. He said that in the coming days the party will put more efforts to ensure support of masses.
Nowshera District President Dr. Ashok Sharma spoke on the number of programmes being undertaken from time to time during the last three months in different areas and said that the people are looking towards BJP with high hopes.
The gathering was also addressed by Capt. Ramesh Lal, Vinod Sharma, Bodh Raj, Sushil Sudan and others.

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Walnut Board to be set up in JK State Soon: Bhalla

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:17:16 -0500

Srinagar, May 22 (Scoop News) –Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today said that the JK Government proposes to set up a Walnut Board in the State to give boost to the Walnut production in a big way on scientific lines. He said emphasizes will be also laid on the value addition of walnut kernel’s adding that the Jammu and Kashmir State enjoys monopoly on this fruit as it is produced in the Jammu and Kashmir State only in whole country.

Speaking at a high level meeting of officers convened to review the overall functioning of the Horticulture Department here, the Minister said need of the hour is to exploit the optimum potential in the sector by setting up of walnut scientific processing units in various areas of the State. He said that this is key source to ensure the economic growth of the State in general and farming community in particular as horticulture is the back bone of the State’s economy.

The Minister called for close coordination between Horticulture and Sheri-e-Kashmir Agriculture University of Sciences and Technology (SKAUST-K) so that maximum farmers are benefited.

The Minister directed for judicious use of funds available under the horticulture sector. He said various centrally sponsored schemes are meant for the farmers with an aim to improve their living standard. He appealed the farmers to come forward and take advantage of these schemes.

The Minister directed the concerned to provide hi-yielding varieties of plants to the farmers and said that there will be no compromise on quality of the material being provided to the needy persons.

The Minister directed the officers of the Horticulture to sensitize the farmers about the latest technologies of science so that the same could percolate to the growers in the field. He said, there is also need to train the horticulture interventions, adding that the university needs to draw up a calendar of short term training programmes to be conducted either at the varsity or by way of workshops to be held in the office premises of the department across the Valley.

Discussing the basic Horticulture Training Course being imparted through the University for both the unemployed and in-service candidates of the Department, the Vice Chancellor SKAUST-K, Prof Taj Partap Singh assured the meeting that the University needed to increase the intake levels in line with the felt requirements of the department in this regard.

While deliberating upon pest infected apricot crop in Kargil, the Prof. Singh said that University is examining the nature of pest received from Horticulture department but need is take long term measures to counter the menace so that not only the unravelling damage is contained, but such attacks in future are also thwarted.

Earlier, Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture Production Department Asgar Samoon briefed the meeting about the activities of the department.

Among others, Director Horticulture Kashmir Sonam Narboo, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing Ati-u-Rehman Natnoo, Managing Director, JKHPMC Ltd Syed Rafiq Ahmad Furrahi and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.

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First in J&K;Taj inaugurates Nutrition Rehb Centre

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:23:43 -0500

Srinagar, May 22 (Scoop News) –Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Taj Mohi ud Din inaugurated a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre(NRC) at G. B. Pant Hospital today. The centre has been established under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

Addressing a gathering of doctors, paramedics and other staff members of the hospital on the occasion, the Minister underscored the importance of education among masses about nutritional needs of new born babies. He said breast feeding should be encouraged and it should be made the only source of feed to babies up to six months. He suggested setting up of these NR centres at all primary health institutions, sub district hospitals and District Hospitals.

Taj highlighted the role of primary health institutions and field workers like ASHA and Anganwari workers in spreading the message about nutritional requirements of new born babies. He said tertiary care hospitals can act as guiding hospitals for popularizing this system of care of babies. He appreciated the management and staff of G B Pant Hospital for working hard in getting the institution a turnaround and improving the quality of services.

Commissioner-Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Shaleen Kabra stressed the need on integrative approach by all wings and concerned agencies to reach out to lactating mothers and new born babies.

Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yashpaul Sharma, in his address underlined the importance of the centre and said that the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karikram run at the Hospital under NRHM has achieved cent per cent progress and Rs. 1.25 crore were spent on the scheme last year.

Principal, GMC, Srinagar, Dr. Rafiq Pampori in his address said that more steps would be taken to equip the hospital with super specialized faculty and equipment.

Medical Superintendent, G B Pant Hospital, Dr. Muneer Masoodi gave a resume of activities undertaken by the hospital administration during last year. He said 2.44 lac patients were provided OPD facilities at the hospital during last year and 22 thousand patients were admitted. He said three ventilators costing Rs. 45 lacs were procured by the hospital and also six bubble CPAP ventilator systems, 13 split ACs, 18 radiant warmers, 25 semi-fowler beds were put in place. He said that orders for supply of Rs. 30 lac automatic microbiological culture and drug sensitivity system had been placed and the supply is expected shortly.

Earlier, in his power point presentation, Head, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Kaisar Ahmad said that two lac babies are born annually in J&K out of which 9000 die in the first year while as 70, 000 upto an age of three years remain under nourished. He said newborn babies should be administered breast feed within first hour of birth and for first six month it should be the only source of nutrition.

He said a large number of deaths among new born occur due to preventable diseases like diahorria, pneumonia and malnutrition which can be prevented to a great extent by oral rehydration and breast feeding. He said 18 studies conducted worldwide have shown that chances of diahorria among the children of 0-5 months increase by 165 % in the absence of breast feed.

Later, the Minister visited CD Hospital, at Drugjan and interacted with faculty and staff. He inaugurated an upgraded Polysonography lab at the Hospital popularly called Sleep lab and is used in the treatment of patients with snarling difficulty.

CD Hospital, Drugjan, it may be mentioned, is one of the oldest hospitals of the Valley built by British as a replica of Birmingham Hospital in England during 19th century.

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