KISHTWAR BOARD EXAMINATIONS: Board's failing grip on Education

A few weeks ago, we carried a news story of how the volunteers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) were running from pillar to post, to get their meager honorarium from the authorities. This week, we bring you another aspect of the failing education administration in the mountainous district Kishtwar.
The Board examinations, conducted throughout the district, are suffering from serious malpractices, which include corrupt practices, by the superintendents themselves.
These malpractices go unnoticed most of the times because of the geographical inaccessibility of most of the examination centers in the district. Since authorities like the flying squad or even the regular representatives of the State Board of school education stay away from the far-flung areas of Kishtwar, such negligent conduct escapes the eyes of the Board. Sources within the State Board have confirmed that the teachers of various government schools in Kishtwar pay from their pocket to get engaged as superintendent for these Board exams, just like the corrupt practices carried out in construction business.
The main reason why hefty amounts are paid to get an opportunity to conduct Board examinations in far-flung centers is that the students, in turn, are charged money to allow them to copy while sitting in the examination. At an average, Rs 1,000 to 3,000 are charged from the students who appear in these Board papers and in return, they can bring in any copying material into the examination hall and write answers at their own free will.
While it seems that the authorities are oblivious to the fact, sources also indicate that some of the board officials in the district appear to be hand in glove with the corrupt teachers. This is due to the fact that the teachers who indulge in such practices are repeatedly being engaged as superintendents, despite complaints being registered against them.
That is not all, the authorities are also engaging simple teachers as superintendents for Board examinations up to the level of 10 and 10+2, which widens the scope of copying during examinations. For instance, in a practical examination of 10+2, instead of lecturers, simple teacher or lecturer of another stream were engaged as superintendents, who were not even aware of the subject for which the practical was taking place.
To sum up the whole scenario of Board examinations in Kishtwar, it would be sufficient to say that such events have become money-minting machines for the unethical teachers and education authorities.

CHENAB VALLEY TO PLAY DECISIVE ROLE IN DODA-UDHAMPUR

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
Kishtwar: Erstwhile Doda district, better known as Chenab Valley with three district will play a key role in deciding the fate of 14 candidates in the fray, including "four Singhs" locked in an interesting electoral battle, in Doda-Udhampur parliamentary constituency.The constituency has a total of 13,62,382 electorate and is going to polls in second phase on April 23.
Official figures reveal that out of 1362,382 voters in Doda-Udhampur parliamentary constituency, 457608 voters belong to the three districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban. It is thus clear that the Chinab Valley will have a key factor in deciding the fate of the fourteen candidate in fray for the parliamentary constituency.
Out of 14 contestants, the neck and neck race will be between Congress candidate and sitting MP Lal Singh and BJP candidate Dr Nirmal Singh. Other two key-players are Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) candidate Prof Bhim Singh and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominee Balbir Singh.
Official sources told The Bold Voice that Kishtwar district has a total electorate of 125185 (Male 63966 and Female 60219), while Doda has 212979 total electorate with 110541 male and 102438 female voters. Similarly, Ramban district, has total electorate of 119444 with 66066 male and 56378 female voters.
Though the Doda district has witnessed an increase of 48794 voters since 2004, Kishtwar district recorded decrease of 19428 voters since the year 2004. Similarly, Ramban district has also witnessed a decline of -13264 voters since 2004.
If the ongoing trend is any indication, Peoples Democratic Party is likely to give a tough fight to the Congress and BJP. Political pundits are of the opinion that PDP, though has a little chance to win, it can frustrate the winning prospect of Congress in particular.
The ongoing tussle within the Congress and National Conference and lack of understanding especially at the worker level is also likely to be an added advantage to the PDP in all the three districts.
If insiders have to be believed, Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh is not in the good books of some section of Congress leaders in the three districts, which may create a problem for him. Another major reason was said to be that National Conference supporters and workers were not able to digest the new alliance as they were seen fighting tooth and nail with Congress in recently held assembly elections as such they will likely to prefer vote in favour of PDP or JKNPP instead of Congress.
The youth of the Doda-Udhampur constituency is another key factor. In sync with the idea of "Youngistan", over four lakh youth voters of the constituency will exercise their franchise on April 23.
On the whole, the youth voters constitute over 32 percent of the total electorate in this constituency. 4,47,400 youth voters are between the age-group of 20-29 years. 29,000 voters are between the age-group of 18-19 and will cast their votes for the first time. The parliamentary constituency has the second highest number of electorate in the state after Jammu-Poonch constituency and comprises 17 assembly segments.
Udhampur and Reasi assembly segments top the list of young voters with 33,000 young electorate each. Bani assembly segment has the least number of young electorate i.e., 12,000. Interestingly, Reasi assembly segment has the maximum number of rightful representatives of ‘Youngistan’.
In this particular assembly segment, 27,000 electorate would be the first timers, while in Bani this number would be the lowest i.e., 750.
Three assembly constituencies have over 30,000 youth electorate and they included Kathua (32,800), Ramnagar (32,700) and Bhaderwah (32,000).
While nine assembly segments have over 20,000 youth electorate registered for this parliamentary election. These included Hiranagar (28,500), Ramban (27,500), Inderwal (26,000), Banihal (25,400), Kishtwar (23,000), Gulabgarh (21,850) and Basohli (20,970), while Chenani and Billawar have equal number of youth electorate i.e., 26,850.
In 1967 elections, Udhampur constituency was represented by Congress candidate Brigadier Ghansara Singh while in 1971 midterm polls, the constituency was represented by Dr. Karan Singh again on a Congress ticket. In 1977 Lok Sabha elections, the seat was again won by Dr. Karan Singh as INC candidate. In the midterm 1980 parliamentary elections, the seat was yet again won by Dr. Karan Singh, however, this time on INC (U) ticket. In 1984, the seat was won by G L Dogra as INC candidate while in 1989 general election, Udhampur seat was won by Dharam Chand of INC. This seat had been a stronghold of Congress till 1996 when for the first time it was won by BJP. In 1996 the seat was won by Janak Raj Gupta on BJP ticket.
After registering three consecutive wins from the traditional Congress bastion, BJP again lost it to Congress in 2004 elections. Sitting MP Lal Singh had defeated former Union Minister of State for Defence and BJP candidate Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, who won twice from this seat, in last LS polls with a margin of 47,175 votes. Singh had polled 2,40,872 votes while Gupta secured 1,93,697 votes. The total poll percentage was recorded at 45.09. The total voters in the constituency include 8,654 service electors. Out of the total electorate, 7,16,405 male and 6,45,977 female voters have been registered for 2009 Lok Sabha elections. While in 2004 parliamentary polls, there were 13,48,721 voters. Kathua district leads with 4,04,895 voters who include 2,14,422 male and 1,90,473 female voters. Udhampur district follows with 2,86,778 electors including 1,51,902 male and 1,34,876 female electors. Reasi district has 2,11,723 registered voters who include 1,10,702 male and 1,01,021 female voters while Doda district has 1,66,611 voters including 86,551 male and 80,060 female voters. Likewise, Ramban district has 1,48,018 voters who include 78,222 male and 69,796 female voters while Kishtwar district has 1,44,357 total electors including 74,606 male and 69,751 female voters.

WHICH "SINGH" WILL BE THE KING!!!

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN

KISHTWAR: Four Singhs are due to struggle to become the "King" during the upcoming LOk Sabha elections in the Doda-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency number 5. The Parliamentary polls, due to begin this month, will see a straight battle of wits between these four Singhs.
The four main candidates, who will test the political waters this time, are Lal Singh of Congress, the sitting Member Parliament and former State Health Minister; Professor Nirmal Singh, former president of state BJP; Professor Bhim Singh, an old horse, and supremo of the National Panthers Party (NPP); and last, but certainly not the least, PDP’s Balbir Singh.
The first name in question, that of Lal Singh, needs no introduction, because of the way he won his last Parliamentary elections and went on to become an MP, riding on youth power. He won the last Parliamentary elections by defeating his nearest rival BJP’s Professor Chaman Lal Gupta, the three-time MP from the constituency, with a margin of 47,175 votes.
After Lal Singh won the last LS polls, he went on to join the Parliament in the national capital and his contact with the people of his own constituency was limited to occasional visits. As a result, he distanced himself from the voters and had to pay the price during the recently-held Assembly elections, which he lost in his home ground.
Moreover, his partial role during last year’s Amarnath Yatra agitation might also cost him votes among the Muslim voters of the constituency, who allege that he should have stayed neutral in face of the religious issue.
Although, the going might not be so easy for him this time but he has the full support of the ruling coalition in the state – Congress and National Conference.
Next comes Professor Nirmal Singh, the former Udhampur-Doda MP Chaman Lal Gupta’s party colleague. Nirmal Singh’s political run has so far not been very smooth in the state politics. Apart from combating the political rivals in other parties, he has had to keep himself safe from the detractors within the party as well. The result of this intra-party rift within the State BJP was evident during the bye-elections to the Lok Sabha, held in 2002.
However, situation might just turn in his favour this time because of last year’s Amarnath agitation, which was launched apparently at the behest of BJP and helped the party take its seat share in the Assembly from just 1 to 11.
Just like other candidates of his party, fighting for their political fortune in other parts of the state, Nirmal Singh, will surely be hoping to reap the benefits of the Amarnath Yatra agitation, expecting polarization of votes in favour of the BJP. Another aspect that might work in favour of Nirmal Singh is that the local BJP vote has traditionally been committed, so there is less chance of the voters shifting their party loyalties to some other candidate.
By far, Professor Bhim Singh, seems to be the most interesting candidate among the four Singhs, since he has been fighting elections since ages but the lady luck is yet to smile on him. The NPP supreme has been at the forefront of his party ever since its inception about 26 years back.
No political issue of the state escapes his attention and the manner in which he organizes press conferences at the drop of the hat, is, in a way, the essence of the kind of hardcore politician Bhim Singh is.
Well, it remains to be seen whether his hard core as a politician will help him reach Delhi through this constituency.
Last, but definitely not the least, comes Balbir Singh, the young leader of PDP, which was part of the ruling coalition with the Congress in the previous State Assembly. Balbir Singh is expected to garner a good number of votes for himself because of the change in the ruling coalition. Since the NC has gone ahead and struck a coalition with the Congress, with which, it was at loggerheads till before the last Assembly elections, this has irked the traditional NC voters, who are expected to support PDP’s Balbir Singh this time.
However, all said and done, politics is a strange ballgame, where there is nothing certain or uncertain. As a result, it will be upto the voters to decide, which of the four Singhs turns out to be the King eventually.

Universalizing education: Scam worth crores surfaced in education department

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
Doda: A scam of Rs 1.38 crores has allegedly surfaced in the education department of erstwhile Doda district, where the authorities say they have no whereabouts of the funds released by the government for the disbursement among the Education Volunteers (EVs) engaged under centrally sponsored Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme.
While the Education Volunteers are without any salary from 2006 to 2007, authorities say that the funds have been released for the disbursement. A major portion of funds released by the government has not reached to the ends and the EVs are now wondering as where the money has vanished.
With an effort to universalise elementary education by community-ownership of the school system the government launched Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. But the scheme which was in fact a response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country seems to have only added to the luxuries of Babus in the government department.
If sources are to be believed honorarium to more than one thousand workers have not been paid w.e.f August 2006 to March 2007 forcing the volunteers to run from pillar to post.
As per the official record 1412 volunteers were engaged in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan scheme out of which 641 were in Doda district, 300 in Ramban and 471 in Kishtwar.
Official record further reveals that at present there is total liability of Rs 13842300.00 in all the three district of Chenab valley. District Doda which is comprised of 10 education zones Assar, Bhaderwah, Bhagwah, Bhaila, Bhaleesa, Bhatyas, Doda, Ghat, Gundna and Thathri has total liability of R 5147600.00, whereas Kishtwar having 7 education zones Drabshalla, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Marwah, Nagseni, Padder, Warwan has total liability Rs 6222200.00 and In Ramban Distt for 5 education zones Banihal, Batote, Khari, Ramban, and Ukhral total liability is Rs. 2472500.00.
Doda and Bhaderwah zone have been shown in the records as having the zero liability whereas Bhatyas is with highest liability of Rs 1525000.00.
In Ramban district education zone Ramban is having maximum liability of Rs. 711000.00, whereas in Kishtwar district Inderwal zone with 1644000.00 and Drabshalla with 1319000.00 are the zones with maximum liabilities.
The education volunteers who were being paid a meager amount of Rs 1000 per month as honorarium and in return they were performing their duties in tough conditions and inaccessible areas are now running from pillar to post to get the honorarium.
Most of the volunteers alleged that the funds released under the head of their honorarium have been diverted in construction or purchase head. They even approached the State Project Director who vide his letter no Edu/SPD/SSA/98831/09 dated 3-3-2009 has asked few zonal education officer to come with relevant records to the office for cross checking the allotment and utilization.

NREGS lies in lurch in Kishtwar, 10.38 cores misused

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
Kishtwar: Even three years after the ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) was launched in the state, the authorities are yet to complete the selection of daily labourers. As a result, NREGS has joined the long list of various centrally sponsored schemes, which start with very high hopes but meet defeat somewhere down the line.
This scheme, NREG, was meant to uplift the poor and downtrodden section of the society by providing them an assured chance of livelihood. However, because of the general apathy of the government officials, as well as the high-handedness of the influential and non-deserving people, the actual intended beneficiaries of this scheme have been left in the lurch.
Besides not selecting the desired number of daily workers, the district authorities have also not been able to finish the distribution of job cards and allocation of projects to different villages.
The NREGS Act provides that the government should allocate each household an opportunity to do unskilled manual work for at least 100 days during a financial year. If the scheme is not able to provide that allotted days of work to the household, the said household is given daily unemployment allowance. The Central government has released Rs 10.52 crore to the district under this scheme last year.
However, the money, as expected, is being spent with gross violation of norms. Sources within the government department inform that the financial assistance meant for the poor is being disbursed to those who either are studying in schools or having their own business. In IAY assistance is being given to those who own their houses. People have even been given money to raise another storey of their house, under this scheme.
In fact, it is alleged that most of the bills drawn in the name of this scheme were actually never executed by the department.
It is also pertinent to mention here that the time limit to complete the model village at Huller also expired this month but the model village still remains a dream for the villagers.