Nitesh Sangral

Centre allocating PDS ration to J&K as per 2001 census 4/1/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   Jammu, Mar 31: Over 3.02 lakh families in J&K have no access to PDS ration as State is still getting its quota of ration from the centre as per the census of 2001. This was informed by the government in the Upper House of state legislature in a written reply to a question of Mohammad Khalil Band who sought details from government regarding number of families yet to be provided with ration cards. Minister CAPD Zulfikar Ali informed that as per census 2011, there are approximately 3.02 lakh families who are yet to be provided with ration cards, but since J&K was still getting ration according to 2001 census, these families have no access to PDS ration. "At present, the state Government is providing ration to 19.72 lakh rationed families as per 2001 census. However, as per census 2011 the total population of the state is 125.48 lakh souls which worked o...

3/30/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report  Jammu, Mar 30: Showing utter indifference towards the business and commercial establishment in the Jammu and Kashmir which suffered losses in devastating floods in September 2014, the Union government has withheld Rs. 4500 crores proposed as compensation for them. This was informed by the government in the Upper House of state legislature in a written reply to a question of MLA Abid Hussain Ansari who sought details from the state government, regarding steps contemplated by the government for revival of the these business and commercial establishments. The minister of Relief and Rehabilitation informed that a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package of the order of rupees forty three thousand nine hundred fifty nine crores and fifty six lacs (Rs.43959.56 cr) has been submitted to Government of India for approval which include Rs.4500.00 crores for the business establishments. "As and when the funds are provid...

Authorities fail to maintain records 3/28/2015 Nitesh Sangral  Jammu, Mar 28:Owing to failure of the previous National Conference- Congress regime in the Jammu and Kashmir State, 6,281 thousand hectares of forest land was converted for non-forest purposes with any alternative.  An audit of the program by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that encroachment of forest land had increased by 88 percent from 9214.53 hectares (March 2003) to 17,352 hectares (March 2012). Non-maintenance of books of accounts and non-adoption of Uniform Common Format of Accounts by State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) was noticed.  The report points out, as lackadaisical attitude of the concerned authorities, the basic records including head-wise cash book, ledger account and others were not maintained separately and compensation receipt register didn't provide full details of afforestation compensation money, quantum and n...

Floods affect project, revision of design underway: Govt 3/25/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report Jammu, Mar 24: In the case of development of Jammu, successive governments in the state have preferred lame excuses instead of materialising the undertaken projects. In the similar manner, the prestigious ropeway project has been hanging in balance. The Ropeway Project was severely affected by the floods in September 2014 and is likely to face unexpected delay in compilation. This was informed by the government in the Upper House of state legislature in a written reply to a question of MLC Ajay Kumar Sadhotra. In his question, he had sought to know the status report of Bahu Fort Aerial Ropeway project. "The ropeway project comprises two phases, first phase from Peerkho to Mahamaya Park and Phases II from Mahamaya Park to Shahabad. The contract of the project has been signed with M/s Damodar Ropeway and Infra Ltd Calcutta, who are in technical collaboration with S...

One year on, PHE fails to achieve goal of WTL 3/20/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   Jammu, Mar 20: Only 29 Water Testing Laboratories have been established out of 50 in Jammu province till date even as the deadline for the same has expired. As per PHE data the department had started work of proposed 50 water testing laboratories in which only 29 has been completed till date and 21 laboratories are still under process. "In PHE City Division-I Jammu, there had four testing laboratories to be established but only has functional and remaining three under process, followed by PHE City Division-II Jammu, three to be established but only one is fully functional and remaining two waiting for tender till date," data stated. PHE Rural Division Jammu, out of three, two have been work under execution and one waiting for tender. PHE Division Akhnoor, out of three only a functional, one is waiting for equipments and another's work under execution. Data furt...

They want to be in good books of minister: RDA 3/19/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report                                                           Jammu, Mar 18: Senior doctors of Jammu province and junior doctors are at loggerheads over 'apron' issue, the senior doctors claim that as per government rules apron is must for the on duty doctors but RDA maintains that they won't wear the white aprons till their demands are met. Addressing a press conference here Professor and head of department Pharmacology Dr Zahid Gillani said the association is of the opinion that the dress code (apron) for the doctors and paramedical staff is must to maintain the honor, dignity and identity of the medical professionals. "This helps the patients to recognize the medicos and avoids frequent confrontation between the doctors and attendants,...

  3/19/2015  Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   JAMMU, Mar 18: Exhibiting scant regard for the rules, newly elected law maker and cabinet minister, sajjad lone was seen puffing openly in the legislative complex unmindful of the fact that smoking is prohibited in government offices and public places in the state. A video of Sajjad Lone smoking outside the LA went viral on the social networking site in which he was seen talking to an IAS Officer. The video is also a testimony to the fact that a senior government officer, who was with the first time MLA and the Minister did not attempt to educate him. It is penitent to mention here that, according to government order smoking is banned at public places under section 4 of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003, which was notified by the JK government on December 3, 2008.

  'We need Health Minister not a Monster' Doctors’ march declared illegal 3/16/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   Jammu, March 16: On one hand the doctors across Jammu and Kashmir have been extending full support to Dr. Gurmeet Kour, who had raised a banner of revolt against the alleged misbehavior by Health and Medical Education Minister Choudhary Lal Singh but quite contrary to it, Principal GMC has openly come in support of Minister, declaring the proposed strike of doctors illegal. It could also be called the helplessness on part of Principal Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, who declared doctors' strike illegal but to utter surprise of Principal the defiant doctors staged protest demonstration in favour of Gurmeet Kour. The junior doctors association went ahead with proposed protest, from GMC hospital to Civil Secretariat Jammu, to show its solitary with Gurmeet Kour, who decided to take on powerful politicians like Ch Lal Singh ...

3/16/2015   Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report  Jammu, Mar 15: The Health Minister Chaudary Lal Singh is again in the news, this time for playing cricket and fracturing an arm of a lady doctor who was assigned the job to click the pictures of the shots being played by the Minister. Sources told Early Times that the incident took place when Minister inaugurated the first Young Achievers, Cricket Tournament at Kathua Stadium on Saturday and played cricket. Lal Singh's shot hit a female doctor Dr Deepika Sankhyadhar's arm as she was clicking pictures on the leg side. She fell on the spot after ball hit her. Doctors present there examined her and came to know that she has broken her arm and has received minor fracture. Sources said that Dr Deepika was operated upon and doctors informed that she would be fine in a few days. Calling accidental incident unfortunate, Dr. Deepika Sankhyadhar while talking to Early Times said, "Unfortunately, the ball hit my arm, it ...

Jammu doctors raise banner of revolt 3/15/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report  Jammu, Mar 14: Health Minister Chaudary Lal Singh has stirred the hornet's nest by misbehaving with a lady doctor for not wearing an apron, in a significant development Jammu, Resident Doctors Association (RDA) today announced that doctors won't wear the white apron in the hospital premises till the Health Minister learns to behave with doctors. The RDA announced that it would support the lady doctor Dr Gurmeet Kour, who was allegedly humiliated by the Health Minister in full public glare for not wearing an apron. The doctors would take out a protest march on Monday from GMC Jammu to Civil Secretariat. Talking to Early Times, President of RDA, Jammu, Dr Neeraj Sharma said, "We have unanimously decided to extend full support to Dr Gurmeet Kour who was treated shabbily by the Health Minister Choudhary Lal Singh-who is supposed to be our caretaker." He said that doctors w...

3/13/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   JAMMU, Mar 12: From the very first day since Choudhary Lal Singh took over as Minister for Health and Medical Education, he is in news for misbehaving with doctors and new episode in this series is heated arguments between Medical Superintendent of Sarwal hospital and Choudhary Lal Singh, which allegedly took place two days back ago. Sources in the Health department informed Early Times that Medical Superintendent of Sarwal hospital ADS Manhas has gone on leave, in protest against the alleged misbehaviour. The reason behind incident, sources said, is the non-payment of dues by a medical shop owner, who is allegedly close to Choudhary Lal Singh and had not been paying the amount despite repeated instructions by hospital authorities. "The clash broke out, when Medical Superintendent Sarwal hospital reportedly asked Medical Shop owner to pay the dues pending", sources said. Sources said that the owner of Medical Shop o...

Drug Mafia hijacks J&K Drug Policy 3/10/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report  Jammu, Mar 10: Despite being approved by the previous government, the Drug Policy has been lost into oblivion, as due to pressure of powerful nexus behind illicit trade of substandard drug in state, the policy has not been implemented yet. Doctors across the state continue to prescribe medicine by brand names instead of generic names as laid down in the drug policy. The policy was made to promote availability and affordability of medicines, to ensure safety, quality and efficacy, to promote good prescribing and dispensing practices and rational use of drugs in public and private sectors and to provide a cost-effective, efficient, procurement and supply management system for government hospitals. "It is mandatory for every doctor to prescribe salts of medicines instead of their trade names. But the state government and State Health Department, have failed to implement the policy i...

Will Minister vindicate his transparency claims? 3/8/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   Jammu, Mar 8:  In the background of prevailing Swine Flu scare in the state, the sensitive issue of deaths due to medical negligence in the GMC hospital, including that of a senior pediatrician has been swept under the carpet and the onus is now on the new Minister for Health and medical education to fix accountability in these cases of alleged medical negligence. It is penitent to mention here that two patients, including doctor Bhupinder Singh, a pediatrician with the Directorate of Health died in the isolation wards of Col Chopra Nursing Home meant for suspected swine flu patients. The alleged negligence on part of the doctors came to the fore when the virology reports tested negative for H1N1, implying that the doctors had not bothered to examine them thoroughly. Though Early Times newspaper had highlighted the issue of alleged medical negligence in its March 1 ...

Strike declared illegal says Principal GMC 3/3/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   Jammu, Mar 3: Advocates of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and junior Doctors of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu have come to loggerheads after despite security personnel deployed at the GMC, the doctors have refused to call of their strike causing gross inconvenience to the patient at a time when swine-flu scare is looming large in Jammu region. Condemning the attitude of resident doctors, a senior doctor of GMC hospital on condition of anonymity said that repeated stirs called by junior doctors were totally uncalled for doctors, to shun work at the drop of the hat is criminal as they are under oath to protect human lives under all circumstances. "it is fourth time during the past two weeks, junior doctors of the GMC and Hospital Jammu have gone on strike thus putting the patients in lurch while deadly disease H1N1 (swine flu) has gripp...

3/3/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   Jammu, March 2: Rains have added chances of increase in cases of swine flu in Jammu and Kashmir State as moist conditions are considered ideal for spread of H1N1 virus. Experts say that weather conditions are most conducive to facilitate survival of H1N1 virus. Officials of the health department informed Early Times that due to decrease in temperature in past few days the risk of H1N1 virus spread was already high but the rain has added more risk. "Asking to pay more attention and take proper measures in order to stop swine flu virus spread, "officials claimed. However, hundreds temi flu and normal flu tablets have been provided to the needy patients through concerned government hospitals across the state and less number of required medicine stock has left with the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department. "Weather forecasts have also predicted rains in some parts of state which means more of moisture. Low temperat...

Sent to Isolation Ward of suspected swine flu patients, they died for want of treatment 2/28/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report             Jammu, Feb 28: Due to alleged negligence on the part of health department, two patients died in the isolation wards meant for suspected swine flu cases at makeshift hospital in Col Chopra Nursing Home. One more case of GMCH doctors' alleged negligence came to the fore when the report of Dr Bhupinder Singh, a pediatrician tested negative for H1N1. He had died of respiratory problems last Thursday. The doctors had not bothered to examine him for some other disease. Similarly, a few days ago, a patient namely Raj Kumar died in the isolated ward of GMCH. He too was not affected with swine flu as per his medical report. He too failed to get the requisite treatment in the hospital. Reliable sources in GMCH said as per the medical examination report of Dr Bhupinder Singh, he was not infected with H1N1. Thi...