Epidemic and rural healthcare

The aftermath of continuous rain fall across the region has exposed the tall claims of state government regarding quality of life and health care facilities in the rural Jammu and Kashmir. While the outbreak of diarrhea in mountainous Doda and Ramban districts has created panic among the general masses, unfortunately the officials at the helm of affairs does not seem to be much moved with the epidemic. At least this is true with Director Health Service Jammu, who told a newspaper that the situation was well under control in Doda and there was nothing to panic. The director was either misinformed or has not bothered to go into the gravity of the situation. He was infact too late to arrive in Doda that too under strict security arrangements making it sure that he may not face the anger of the general masses. The spread of epidemic especially the water born diseases in the far off areas of the state, especially the mountainous Chenab Valley, was not a new phenomenon. The Valley has faced similar problems in the past. However, each time the response of the government and its functionaries at the gross root level seems to be too similar and too late. The epidemic has once again highlighted the need to have adequate Medicare infrastructure available in the far off areas. Doda district hospital has a shortage of 21 doctors and so is the situation in Kishtwar and Ramban district hospitals, where the number of doctors is too little to meet any such eventuality. The government must not only improve the infrastructure but it must also ensure that the benefit actually reaches to the people. The central government sponsored National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is the golden programme for the state and must be implemented in its true sprit if the government was really sincere to improve the health care facilities in the rural Jammu and Kashmir

Thousands felled by diarrhea outbreak in Doda

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz distanced himself from controversy surrounding dismissal of G M Saroori from council of ministers and said that the berth would be filled up by a Congressman.
He also said the party has favoured a vigorous dialogue between various groups of different shades of opinion in the state and the centre to find a solution to Kashmir issue, acceptable to all the three regions of the state.
Soz, while fielding media queries over factionalism within the Congress Party, said the dismissal of G M Saroori was a decision of party high command and he has no role in it. “We have never pressurized the party high command for sacking Saroori. It would be better to ask, Prithvi Raj Chavan, in charge J&K Affairs Congress party and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah over the issue,” he said
Putting all speculations to rest vis-à-vis filling up of vacancy created in the Council of Ministers in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of dismissal of G M Saroori, Soz said somebody else from Congress party would be assigned the job. “I had served as minister for mere six months and for one year in next term but I am still working for party. It is prime responsibility of every Congress worker to strengthen the party at grass root level selflessly,” the JKPCC president said.
“The dismissal of Saroori won’t affect the government. The vacancy created in the council of ministers would be filled up by the Congress soon,” he said.
Minister for Roads and Buildings was sacked on August 26 after he refused to heed a Congress high command directive to resign in the wake of a row over alleged use of an impersonator by his daughter during a medical entrance test. On the demand of autonomy and self rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the PCC chief said, “The Party is ready to hold dialogue with all shades of people. We are also ready to discuss the different proposals like autonomy and self rule within the framework of the Constitution,” adding “Even the Prime Minister and the Home Minister has offered dialogue with all shades of the people.”
Earlier, Soz while addressing a day-long session of Congress delegates from all parts of district Samba reiterated that the Congress would play the role of a facilitator for dialogue between various groups of different shades of opinion in the state and the centre to find a solution to Kashmir issue, acceptable to all the three regions of the state.
“The strengthening of Congress is our primary responsibility, as a strong Congress is a guarantee for a strong and stable coalition in the state. It is the duty and responsibility of every Congressman to work for strengthening the party, only then the coalition would be strong in the state,” he said.

BJP opposes autonomy to J&K

People joyous over sacking of R&B minister: BJP
Kishtwar: In continuation of its series of district level workers conferences to aware the people about the policies of the NC-Congress Coalition, district Kishtwar unit of BJP on Sunday organized a massive public rally.
BJP National Executive Member and former State President Dr. Nirmal Singh, said that local people who met him yesterday convey their joy over the sacking of PWD Minister G.M. Saroori.
He asked the government to widen the already announced CBI Inquiry against Saroori and direct it to also look into the allegations of corruption charges against former PWD minister.
BJP State Vice-President Bali Bhagat said that the wrong and appeasement policies of the successive governments in the State has encouraged the regional parties and secessionists to make demands like autonomy, self-rule and pre-1953 position.
State secretary Sunil Sharma said that the people of Kishtwar and other areas have always displayed unity whenever any element has tried to harm the nationalist people. He said although many people sacrificed their lives during these years of militancy, still we are standing like a rock to safeguard the national interests in our respective areas and defeating the nefarious designs of a handful of anti-national elements. Sharma leveled serious allegation of corruption on the district civil administration and demanded a thorough probe into various matter. He also demanded immediate arrest of sacked R&B minsiter GM Saroori for his involvement in various scams.
Capt. Hukam Chand, Shakti Parihar, Ishtiaq Wani and Master Jagdev Sharma also addressed the conference.
Earlier the party activists gathered outside the Dak bunglow and raised slogans against the government and in the shape of rally proceeded towards the Om Mehta road where later a public meet took place.

Protest against sacking of Saroori

Kishtwar: Protest demonstration were held in parts of Kishtwar district and Thathri and Gundoh tehsils of Doda district against the dismissal of GM Saroori from the state council of ministers. Supporters of Saroori held protest in various parts of district Kishtwar and Thatrhi and Gundoh tehsils of Doda district. In Kishtwar protest was held in Kishtwar township, Mughalmaidan and Chatroo areas, while similar protests were witnessed in Thathri and Gundoh.
Thr protestors shouted slogans against AICC general secretary Prithvi Raj Singh Chowhan, JKPCC president Prof. saif-ud-din Soz and chief minister Omar Abdullah.
At many places protestors also burnt effigies of Chowhan, Soz and Omar Abdullah to express their resentment over sacking of the minister. The protestors were demanding immediate withdrwal of orders of dismissal and his re-induction in the state cabinet. Meanwhile District Congress Committee Kishtwar and various party leaders have welcomed the decision of the party high command and chief minister Umar Abdullah. The party leaders in a joint statement have termed the decision of ouster of R&B Minsiter G.M.Saroori as welcome step and have asked other party workers to behave like real congressmen and obey and respect the party decision. Local Party leaders have said that since G.M.Saroori didn’t adhered to the orders of the party high command. He should have tendered his resignation on moral grounds but despite the orders of the party high command he choosed not to resign and instead kept issuing statements. District President PCC Kishtwar Pardeep Singh Parihar has said that it is incumbent upon all party workers to respect the party decision and any one who tries to tarnish the image of the party shall face the stern action. However former state youth gen. secretary Pyare Lal Shan has said that to maintain the good image of the party among the masses even top leaders like Natwar Singh, P. Sangma and Shashi Tharoor were asked to resign so we must obey and respect the party decision.