‘Art doesn’t give you licence to hurt others’
KK Gandhi, a well-known painter of the state, is an artist with a difference. He took to painting in the second innings of his life in forties. He believes that gone are the days when an artist would be happy by just making his painting and waiting for appreciation and buyers. These days artists no longer afford to live with the traditional approach, they have to market their creations like any other product if they want to survive and thrive, he says.
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You emerged as a painter in later part of your life. Earlier you were into manufacturing air conditioners. How this shift came?
KK Gandhi (KKG): I was actually painting since my childhood, but could not develop on the talent due to dearth of resources, guidance and talent. I was eight years old when Indo-Pak war broke out in 1971. Those were the days when I would be idle and started drawing on walls with charcoal. Later, to earn a living, I took to the business of manufacturing air conditioners and selling them. But when the branded ACs entered into the market, my business took a knock. After that I discovered myself and pursued painting as my profession.
You would be surprised to know that I could not clear my drawing examination in class X as I was doing work on the answer sheet of a fellow student and was caught by the supervisor. Subsequently, a case of unfair means was registered against me.
Rajesh Bhat (RB): What has been the dominant theme and prominent colour of your paintings?
KKG: I normally use bright colours and depict nomadic life in my paintings. I also portray Jammu’s ancient monuments and heritage sites, but I try to paint them in good light instead of showing them as haunting places as they actually are.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): Your paintings are exhibited in various countries. Do you think that people of the state have the same understanding of the art as people outside the state?
KKG: People do appreciate art here, but they are comparatively less aware about the art, especially paintings. In other countries like Bahrain, people are more drawn towards this form of art. Bahrain has less population even than our state, but it has the Bahrain Art Society that organises painting exhibitions to encourage artists.
SK: In your opinion, how this art can be promoted in our state?
KKG: Artists have a responsibility in this regard. They need to organise exhibitions on their own to connect people with the art. It will help them in promotion as well as sale of their creations as well.
We are witnessing a number of palatial houses and offices of several autonomous bodies coming up here. People do need artifacts for decorations and the need is to approach them. Painters can also collaborate with hotels for the sale of their paintings.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Don’t you think that some painters deliberately prepare derogatory paintings to invite ire from some fundamentalist forces to get publicity?
KKG: I am not going to deny these allegations. Some painters deliberately prepare such works that hurt sentiments of some section of society. I don’t think that nudity is the only way of painting. Instead of preparing painting that hurt sentiments of people, painters should prepare positive paintings for strengthening relations among different sections.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): Piccasso of India, MF Hussain, is no longer a citizen of India. Being a painter how do you look at the development?
KKG: There can be no other Picasso in this world. As far as the controversy surrounding Hussain is concerned, I feel that art does not give you a licence to hurt the feelings of people around you.
There is no need to paint the women or deities in nude. Even I am attracted towards painting women, but I just draw their facial expressions that aptly define different shades of their personalities.
AS: What do you believe, art should be for art’s sake or it must have a social cause associated with it?
KKG: Social cause is very significant and art of any kind should be exercised with social responsibility.
AS: Don’t you think it restricts the artist from exercising free will?
KKG: I don’t agree with it.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): An artist can never remain insensitive towards the harsh realities, especially in a militancy-infested state like Jammu and Kashmir. Have you ever tried to convey a message through your paintings to the people vis-à-vis militancy?
KKG: I usually make paintings that give positive vibes and happiness to the people, but of course, an artist can never remain aloof to the harsh realities.
In fact, I made a painting based upon militancy wherein two adolescent boys peeping out of a window of their house with their noses pressed against the windowpane looking at a bus being blown up in an explosion. The fear is writ large on their faces with flying splinters hitting their windowpane leaving a crack on it. The major attraction of my creation is that the scene of destruction is reflected on that windowpane and not in the picture itself.
The fear on their faces, bus being blown up in explosion and flying splinters hitting their windowpane… through this creation of mine I tried to portray how militancy has affected even small children in this state, leaving a scar on their tender minds.
However, people usually don’t want negativity. There is so much of violence, bloodshed, poverty and other evils. Those who buy my paintings for their drawing rooms are interested in seeing the brighter side of life.
DM: It is widely perceived that eminent painters to project themselves as progressive usually sell poverty of the country. What is your reaction?
KKG: I agree with you. During my visit in different parts country, I observed that some painters only prepare paintings depicting poverty among the people to project themselves as progressive.
RB: Tell us something about the painting which you consider your masterpiece.
KKG: It has been the portrait of Jammu’s Mubarak Mandi heritage complex that was the focus of attention for every visitor during the Jammu Festival, 2008. I gave a royal touch to this painting on a 9X5 ft canvas. The painting is presently adding grace to a central lodge in Jammu University.
RB: How sensitive are people of Jammu towards art and artistic community?
KKG: There is a little awareness among the people towards the essence of art in our society. Let us admit it, we are not so good art lovers.
Archit Watts (AW): Have you made any painting on the theme of saving the Tawi?
KKG: Yes, I have made a number of paintings regarding the river. It is our holy river called as Suryaputri. Now, I am planning to make a painting, which will show the difference when it was on the full flow and the present condition when the water level is almost zero.
AW: How much time do you take to draw a painting?
KKG: I just need five-six sittings, means only three days to complete a painting. Most of my paintings have been made in this much time.
Showing posts with label Tea with The Tribune. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tea with The Tribune. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
May- 29 : Tea with The Tribune : Ashok Gupta, IGP
Law and order is everyone’s responsibility: IGP
An AK-47 bullet is still stuck in the back of his neck as a trophy of his bravery. IG Ashok Gupta, President’s Medal winner, has had a humble beginning and toiled day and night to reach this high position. Son of a postman, Ashok Gupta and his five other brothers and two sisters have set an example of how to utilise whatever resources you have to excel in life.
“Law and order is everyone’s responsibility. We cannot turn our back to eve teasing happening before us, arguing it is only the job of cops,” he said while interacting with The Tribune team. He believes that about 180 militants are active in Jammu division, but the new recruits are just one or two.
Special invitees, Sonali Abrol and Priya Sharma from Tiny Tots Higher Secondary School also joined the interaction.
Here are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You have an illustrious career. You worked with honour in the valley when militancy and anti-India sentiments were at their peak. What are your most proud moments and your sad moments as well?
Ashok Gupta (AG): My saddest moment was when while serving as SSP Doda, I and my bodyguard, constable Ashok, were hit in an encounter with militants. We could be evacuated after many hours. When the helicopter landed, I wanted him to be rushed to the hospital first as he was bleeding badly. Unfortunately, he died on the way. That left permanent sadness in me.
The bullet I suffered is still stuck in my neck. It could not be taken out, but now I may have to get it operated. With the growing age, one has to undergo many tests like MRI, which are not possible with this piece of iron causing magnetic troubles. Moreover, it constantly reminds me of the tragic death of my bodyguard,
My proud moments have been many. When I started my career and was posted as SP Samba, I got arrested a most wanted proclaimed offender, who had managed to hoodwink the police for 33 years. Also, while serving as SSP Doda, a century-old idol of a goddess was stolen. We recovered it in no time and avoided a communal problem.
I was also happy when I got President’s Medal as well as Sher-e-Kashmir Medal for meritorious service.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Women militants have always been a problem, particularly in the erstwhile Doda district. How is the police wooing them back?
AG: Branding them as militants would not be appropriate. We call them over ground workers (OGWs). They are usually forced to help militants. Their number is dwindling constantly because of our efforts in the form of strict surveillance and legal action, besides involving their parents and village elders in bringing them back in the mainstream. There might be five to six OGWs operating in the Doda region, out of which two are the wives of ultras.
RKK: Recently, security forces claimed that they succeeded in completely wiping out HuJI and JeM from Kishtwar. How many militants of other organisations are active in the region?
AG: Latest inputs say there are about 180 ultras active in Jammu region but their number keeps on changing depending upon intrusions.
Recently, we eliminated top commanders of various outfits. The killing of Abu Ans and Abu Maaz of Lashkar on May 17 was again a big success for us. Another great achievement of ours is that there is no fresh recruitment of locals in the militant cadre across Jammu in the past five months.
Archit Watts (AW): Special police officers (SPOs) are upset that they have not been absorbed in the police department. Have you planned some relaxations for them?
AKG: Anyone who joined the police force as an SPO was aware of the future position. Still the state government is trying its best to provide them jobs in the police. Their salary has been doubled from Rs 1,500 to 3,000 per month. An age relaxation of seven years has also been given to them as they can apply till the age of 37.
There is another scheme by which they get points every year, maximum up to 7, for their working efficiency and it is considered during the constable recruitment test. Those who have performed extremely well in curbing militancy can be directly recruited as constable (without giving any test), but in rare cases.
The government has also announced to give Rs 2 lakh compensation to the family if an SPO loses his life while doing his duty.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): Like SPOs, many VDC members are also suffering. Are VDC members entitled to any compensation if they get injured or die while assisting security forces in counter insurgency operations?
AKG: VDC committees were created with an aim of self-defence, so if a VDC volunteer dies fighting militancy he would be treated just like any other civilian.
AW: You had started an SMS alert system through which people can complain to you directly. What is the response of your message complaint service?
AKG: It has worked well and I am satisfied with it. We receive a number of complaints on 9469300300 and most of the complaints are related to eve teasing. Women have benefited immensely from the service. Around 90 per cent of the complaints are actionable and we have constituted special teams to deal with complaints received through SMS. Most of the times, we receive thanks messages after the disposal of complaints.
Sonali Abrol (student): You say the police is for the people, yet people are scared of approaching you.
AKG: It is not just about the police. In today’s world, people, especially the younger generation, hate anyone questioning them or stopping them. Even parents who do so are hated. Like in any household, a mother is approachable and loved as she does not stop children much, but the father has to enforce discipline. As a result, he is always loved less.
Priya Sharma (student): Then why Army officers are loved and respected?
AKG: The Army doesn’t work with civilians. They are traditional heroes. They have a perceived enemy, which is nation’s enemy. But this is not the case with the police. We live in society. If 10 people take up the case of an alleged victim, 10 others support the accused. Whosoever is held guilty projects police in bad light.
Tell me one thing, how many of you object to eve teasing or any other offence happening before your eyes. People now say it is the job of the police, but we cannot work without public cooperation. We all talk about our rights but none about our duties as a citizen.
Priya: What steps are you taking to improve the police image?
AKG: We have taken a decision that the police will have no role in land dispute cases. It is for the courts to decide. Similarly, any sphere where police intrusion is not required, we stay away. Also, to have better understanding with the masses, we organise police-public meetings and visit schools and colleges. We are planning to invite schoolchildren to police stations to see our working.
Sonali: Are there any plans to install traffic lights since traffic situation is in a mess.
AKG: I am not sure if putting up traffic lights would solve the problem. We had tried that earlier. We even had no-vehicle zones in old city, but then public objected to it. We put traffic cops on roads who work under scorching sun and if he catches a person, the offender immediately calls up an influential person to complain against the cop. I must say that if we all have good civic sense and follow the rules, than any system can work. Otherwise, nothing can improve.
AW: There was some controversy over the recent transfers. Are you satisfied with the working of the SSP Jammu, Basant Rath?
AKG: See, everyone has his own style of functioning. He is different from others, but he has brought down the crime rate. As a senior officer, it is my duty to point out what I feel was right and what wrong. And this is not for one official only. It is for all. My seniors do it with me and it helps all of us in improving the working.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Don’t you think that personal security officers (PSOs) have been allotted to some undeserving people? Getting PSOs has becoming a status symbol for politicians.
AKG: When militancy was at its peak, security was provided to politicians so that they can interact with common people. The experiment proved fruitful especially in reviving political activities in the militancy-plagued areas. Since the situation has improved, we are taking feedback from different government agencies, especially the CID, to reassess threat perception to the person to whom security cover has been provided. The security of some people has been withdrawn. During my tenure as IGP Jammu, not even a single person has been given PSO in the past 11 months.
AS: Various states have started police reforms. How J&K has performed so far?
AKG: We uphold the directive of the Supreme Court. If the recommendations of reforming the police get implemented, all problems faced by the overburdened police department will get solved in no time.
AS: Three is a culture of police highhandedness. Reports of torture, custodial deaths and extra-judicial killings keep hogging headlines in the media. Your comments?
AKG: The department takes strict disciplinary action against the erring officials. Such incidents do occur but very rarely. Honestly, the police has softened its image over the years and in my opinion, it should not happen (laughs). I must say that fear of cops is a must. If there is no fear, who will manage law and order.
AW: Do you have any plan to join politics after retirement?
AKG: Do you think I am a politician (laughingly)? I will simply take my retirement and take rest. I will never get into politics.
An AK-47 bullet is still stuck in the back of his neck as a trophy of his bravery. IG Ashok Gupta, President’s Medal winner, has had a humble beginning and toiled day and night to reach this high position. Son of a postman, Ashok Gupta and his five other brothers and two sisters have set an example of how to utilise whatever resources you have to excel in life.
“Law and order is everyone’s responsibility. We cannot turn our back to eve teasing happening before us, arguing it is only the job of cops,” he said while interacting with The Tribune team. He believes that about 180 militants are active in Jammu division, but the new recruits are just one or two.
Special invitees, Sonali Abrol and Priya Sharma from Tiny Tots Higher Secondary School also joined the interaction.
Here are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You have an illustrious career. You worked with honour in the valley when militancy and anti-India sentiments were at their peak. What are your most proud moments and your sad moments as well?
Ashok Gupta (AG): My saddest moment was when while serving as SSP Doda, I and my bodyguard, constable Ashok, were hit in an encounter with militants. We could be evacuated after many hours. When the helicopter landed, I wanted him to be rushed to the hospital first as he was bleeding badly. Unfortunately, he died on the way. That left permanent sadness in me.
The bullet I suffered is still stuck in my neck. It could not be taken out, but now I may have to get it operated. With the growing age, one has to undergo many tests like MRI, which are not possible with this piece of iron causing magnetic troubles. Moreover, it constantly reminds me of the tragic death of my bodyguard,
My proud moments have been many. When I started my career and was posted as SP Samba, I got arrested a most wanted proclaimed offender, who had managed to hoodwink the police for 33 years. Also, while serving as SSP Doda, a century-old idol of a goddess was stolen. We recovered it in no time and avoided a communal problem.
I was also happy when I got President’s Medal as well as Sher-e-Kashmir Medal for meritorious service.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Women militants have always been a problem, particularly in the erstwhile Doda district. How is the police wooing them back?
AG: Branding them as militants would not be appropriate. We call them over ground workers (OGWs). They are usually forced to help militants. Their number is dwindling constantly because of our efforts in the form of strict surveillance and legal action, besides involving their parents and village elders in bringing them back in the mainstream. There might be five to six OGWs operating in the Doda region, out of which two are the wives of ultras.
RKK: Recently, security forces claimed that they succeeded in completely wiping out HuJI and JeM from Kishtwar. How many militants of other organisations are active in the region?
AG: Latest inputs say there are about 180 ultras active in Jammu region but their number keeps on changing depending upon intrusions.
Recently, we eliminated top commanders of various outfits. The killing of Abu Ans and Abu Maaz of Lashkar on May 17 was again a big success for us. Another great achievement of ours is that there is no fresh recruitment of locals in the militant cadre across Jammu in the past five months.
Archit Watts (AW): Special police officers (SPOs) are upset that they have not been absorbed in the police department. Have you planned some relaxations for them?
AKG: Anyone who joined the police force as an SPO was aware of the future position. Still the state government is trying its best to provide them jobs in the police. Their salary has been doubled from Rs 1,500 to 3,000 per month. An age relaxation of seven years has also been given to them as they can apply till the age of 37.
There is another scheme by which they get points every year, maximum up to 7, for their working efficiency and it is considered during the constable recruitment test. Those who have performed extremely well in curbing militancy can be directly recruited as constable (without giving any test), but in rare cases.
The government has also announced to give Rs 2 lakh compensation to the family if an SPO loses his life while doing his duty.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): Like SPOs, many VDC members are also suffering. Are VDC members entitled to any compensation if they get injured or die while assisting security forces in counter insurgency operations?
AKG: VDC committees were created with an aim of self-defence, so if a VDC volunteer dies fighting militancy he would be treated just like any other civilian.
AW: You had started an SMS alert system through which people can complain to you directly. What is the response of your message complaint service?
AKG: It has worked well and I am satisfied with it. We receive a number of complaints on 9469300300 and most of the complaints are related to eve teasing. Women have benefited immensely from the service. Around 90 per cent of the complaints are actionable and we have constituted special teams to deal with complaints received through SMS. Most of the times, we receive thanks messages after the disposal of complaints.
Sonali Abrol (student): You say the police is for the people, yet people are scared of approaching you.
AKG: It is not just about the police. In today’s world, people, especially the younger generation, hate anyone questioning them or stopping them. Even parents who do so are hated. Like in any household, a mother is approachable and loved as she does not stop children much, but the father has to enforce discipline. As a result, he is always loved less.
Priya Sharma (student): Then why Army officers are loved and respected?
AKG: The Army doesn’t work with civilians. They are traditional heroes. They have a perceived enemy, which is nation’s enemy. But this is not the case with the police. We live in society. If 10 people take up the case of an alleged victim, 10 others support the accused. Whosoever is held guilty projects police in bad light.
Tell me one thing, how many of you object to eve teasing or any other offence happening before your eyes. People now say it is the job of the police, but we cannot work without public cooperation. We all talk about our rights but none about our duties as a citizen.
Priya: What steps are you taking to improve the police image?
AKG: We have taken a decision that the police will have no role in land dispute cases. It is for the courts to decide. Similarly, any sphere where police intrusion is not required, we stay away. Also, to have better understanding with the masses, we organise police-public meetings and visit schools and colleges. We are planning to invite schoolchildren to police stations to see our working.
Sonali: Are there any plans to install traffic lights since traffic situation is in a mess.
AKG: I am not sure if putting up traffic lights would solve the problem. We had tried that earlier. We even had no-vehicle zones in old city, but then public objected to it. We put traffic cops on roads who work under scorching sun and if he catches a person, the offender immediately calls up an influential person to complain against the cop. I must say that if we all have good civic sense and follow the rules, than any system can work. Otherwise, nothing can improve.
AW: There was some controversy over the recent transfers. Are you satisfied with the working of the SSP Jammu, Basant Rath?
AKG: See, everyone has his own style of functioning. He is different from others, but he has brought down the crime rate. As a senior officer, it is my duty to point out what I feel was right and what wrong. And this is not for one official only. It is for all. My seniors do it with me and it helps all of us in improving the working.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Don’t you think that personal security officers (PSOs) have been allotted to some undeserving people? Getting PSOs has becoming a status symbol for politicians.
AKG: When militancy was at its peak, security was provided to politicians so that they can interact with common people. The experiment proved fruitful especially in reviving political activities in the militancy-plagued areas. Since the situation has improved, we are taking feedback from different government agencies, especially the CID, to reassess threat perception to the person to whom security cover has been provided. The security of some people has been withdrawn. During my tenure as IGP Jammu, not even a single person has been given PSO in the past 11 months.
AS: Various states have started police reforms. How J&K has performed so far?
AKG: We uphold the directive of the Supreme Court. If the recommendations of reforming the police get implemented, all problems faced by the overburdened police department will get solved in no time.
AS: Three is a culture of police highhandedness. Reports of torture, custodial deaths and extra-judicial killings keep hogging headlines in the media. Your comments?
AKG: The department takes strict disciplinary action against the erring officials. Such incidents do occur but very rarely. Honestly, the police has softened its image over the years and in my opinion, it should not happen (laughs). I must say that fear of cops is a must. If there is no fear, who will manage law and order.
AW: Do you have any plan to join politics after retirement?
AKG: Do you think I am a politician (laughingly)? I will simply take my retirement and take rest. I will never get into politics.
May-22 : Tea with The Tribune--Dr Renu Nanda, Social worker
Govt needs to do more, says social activist
Dr Renu Nanda, educationist and social worker, has been working for the welfare of destitute children in the state, for which she was also honoured with the National Human Values Award.
The award was presented to her by Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal last year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had initiated the award.
During an interaction with The Tribune team she talked about her achievements and future planning.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You have been working under harsh conditions helping so many people and running several organisations, how difficult it is for a woman to strike a balance between family and social work?
Renu Nanda (RN): Where there is a will there is a way. Yes, there have been many difficult times, but being a woman I can well understand the pain of needy children. So multitasking is the way. With the passage of time, I have devised a system of maintaining a balance and as I spend money from my own pocket, I have learnt to make three shares of the available amount from my salary. One each for my two children and one for social work.
JJS: What has been the role of the government and the Social Welfare Department in helping you or such children?
RN: I won’t say that the government has not done anything. But its contribution can be much more. For instance, at times, there is not much response from government agencies when we seek their assistance and help.
These children, be they orphans or homeless due to militancy, destitute, differently-abled, spastic or autistic, need care or society would have to suffer in one way or the other by ignoring them.
The government needs to at least get a survey done of such children, including school dropouts, to enable all to know the number of population we have to cater to. Only then, concerted plans and schemes can be made.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): You have been saying that people should come forward and help in this cause. How do you want the people to contribute?
RN: People can contribute in the shape of donations. They can also help by sparing some time and joining these neglected children to raise their morale and to make them feel one among the equals.
SK: Since you have been working in this field for a long time, what do you feel is your biggest achievement so far?
RN: The inner contentment that I feel at the work cannot be replaced by anything.
JJS: The award must have been a satisfactory moment for you?
RN: No. For me, the greatest satisfaction is when any of the thousands of children studying, living in our homes or schools perform well and establish in life. I felt proud when a girl, who learnt tailoring from Shanti Niketan, was not only earning a livelihood out of it but also opened such vocational centres in the area where she settled after her marriage.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have been actively involved with a number of social organisations. How do you justify you work in all organisations?
RN: I am actively involved in a number of social organizations, but it does not mean that I am solely handling all these organizations. I have a number of volunteers who are capable enough to handle their centres on their own. My role is of advisory and I only give suggestions to our volunteers how to handle the centre.
DM: Do you think that NGOs can play an effective role in the upliftment of the neglected and marginalised lot?
RN: No doubt about that. NGOs have been playing an important role in the betterment of that section of society, which is neglected. In my opinion, every person should contribute for the development and upliftment of such people. If we all contribute, there would a positive change in our society.
SK: Does your centre impart training of creative work distinctly for boys also?
RN: For male members, we impart training in manufacturing articles from bamboo and also collage work and creative support frames of wood, besides knitting shawls, mufflers, glass paintings and decoration articles of mud.
Archit Watts (AW): Do you have any plan to join politics?
RN: No, I am satisfied with my work. I have no plans to join politics. My field is altogether different from the political world. I am doing my job and concerned with my work only. I think I am not fit for politics. Being a straightforward person, it is not possible for me to join any political party.
Dr Renu Nanda, educationist and social worker, has been working for the welfare of destitute children in the state, for which she was also honoured with the National Human Values Award.
The award was presented to her by Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal last year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had initiated the award.
During an interaction with The Tribune team she talked about her achievements and future planning.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You have been working under harsh conditions helping so many people and running several organisations, how difficult it is for a woman to strike a balance between family and social work?
Renu Nanda (RN): Where there is a will there is a way. Yes, there have been many difficult times, but being a woman I can well understand the pain of needy children. So multitasking is the way. With the passage of time, I have devised a system of maintaining a balance and as I spend money from my own pocket, I have learnt to make three shares of the available amount from my salary. One each for my two children and one for social work.
JJS: What has been the role of the government and the Social Welfare Department in helping you or such children?
RN: I won’t say that the government has not done anything. But its contribution can be much more. For instance, at times, there is not much response from government agencies when we seek their assistance and help.
These children, be they orphans or homeless due to militancy, destitute, differently-abled, spastic or autistic, need care or society would have to suffer in one way or the other by ignoring them.
The government needs to at least get a survey done of such children, including school dropouts, to enable all to know the number of population we have to cater to. Only then, concerted plans and schemes can be made.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): You have been saying that people should come forward and help in this cause. How do you want the people to contribute?
RN: People can contribute in the shape of donations. They can also help by sparing some time and joining these neglected children to raise their morale and to make them feel one among the equals.
SK: Since you have been working in this field for a long time, what do you feel is your biggest achievement so far?
RN: The inner contentment that I feel at the work cannot be replaced by anything.
JJS: The award must have been a satisfactory moment for you?
RN: No. For me, the greatest satisfaction is when any of the thousands of children studying, living in our homes or schools perform well and establish in life. I felt proud when a girl, who learnt tailoring from Shanti Niketan, was not only earning a livelihood out of it but also opened such vocational centres in the area where she settled after her marriage.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have been actively involved with a number of social organisations. How do you justify you work in all organisations?
RN: I am actively involved in a number of social organizations, but it does not mean that I am solely handling all these organizations. I have a number of volunteers who are capable enough to handle their centres on their own. My role is of advisory and I only give suggestions to our volunteers how to handle the centre.
DM: Do you think that NGOs can play an effective role in the upliftment of the neglected and marginalised lot?
RN: No doubt about that. NGOs have been playing an important role in the betterment of that section of society, which is neglected. In my opinion, every person should contribute for the development and upliftment of such people. If we all contribute, there would a positive change in our society.
SK: Does your centre impart training of creative work distinctly for boys also?
RN: For male members, we impart training in manufacturing articles from bamboo and also collage work and creative support frames of wood, besides knitting shawls, mufflers, glass paintings and decoration articles of mud.
Archit Watts (AW): Do you have any plan to join politics?
RN: No, I am satisfied with my work. I have no plans to join politics. My field is altogether different from the political world. I am doing my job and concerned with my work only. I think I am not fit for politics. Being a straightforward person, it is not possible for me to join any political party.
May-15 : Tea with The Tribune - Raman Sharma, RTI activist
‘RTI is a magic wand for commoners’
In a tete-e-tete with The Tribune team, Raman Sharma, RTI activist, talks about RTI as a tool to eradicate corruption
For Raman Sharma, who has put up over 300 RTI applications, the RTI is not just a tool to seek information, it is a magic wand that can be used to eradicate corruption as well as a means of lodging a democratic protest.
“If we want the government to take action in the larger interest of the public, we can flood them with RTI applications on one issue. The pressure will make the government act,” he says while talking to The Tribune team during an interaction.
A research scholar Mahesh Kaul from the Faculty of Management Studies, Jammu University and Arvind Sharma, a sociologist, also joined the interaction.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JS): What inspired you to utilise RTI for seeking information?
Raman Sharma (RS): It all began from Jammu railway station. While seeing off a relative, I saw domestic cylinders being used by vendors at the platform. I asked station superintendent about the misuse as Jammuites were facing a shortage of LPG cylinders. He rendered me speechless by asking what authority I had to question him.
A year later, RTI came into being and I put up an application to the Indian Railways. It had an immediate impact as vendors had to use commercial cylinders within few days. That officer too would have known that a common citizen had the authority to ask questions.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): What is the process for filing a RTI application?
RS: There are two acts, one is Central RTI Act, 2005, and another is the J&K RTI Act, 2009.
For Central RTI Act, an applicant can file an application on a plain paper with a nominal fee of Rs 10 only which can be paid via postal order or in cash to the department or other permissible mode. Even if an applicant is not aware of the address of the public information officer (PIO) concerned, application may also be filed with any PIO, who becomes liable to forward it to the competent authorities. The best is to give the application at a local post office where the PIO post office would forward the application on its own. Then, all departments have websites on which they have given addresses of PIOs.
Under the JK RTI Act, an application is to be submitted with a fee of Rs 50 either in the shape of IPO or stamp papers. The rest of the procedure is the same, but here the PIOs usually do not accept the application if it does not pertain to their department.
Arvind Sharma (sociologist): How can illiterate and blind persons make use of the RTI?
RS: They are equally empowered. The PIOs in every government department are duty bound to make arrangements for applications on behalf of illiterate, blind or other physically challenged persons. There is a provision to give them verbal reply also, if the applicant opts for that.
DM: What has been your area of focus in filing RTI applications. From which departments have you sought more information?
RS: I have never filed any application for personal reason. My only aim is to file applications in the interest of the general public. There is no question of targeting any particular department. I have filed applications only to serve interest of the common masses. For example, the Income Tax Department takes 24 or even 36 months to refund excess tax deducted at source. We are generally unaware that they have to return it within 60 days. When I put an application on behalf of a person, the refund came in 17 days.
Mahesh Kaul (research scholar): What has been your joyous moment with the RTI?
RS: I applied for the copy of the FIR of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. When I got it, I was elated. You would be surprised to know that by that time even the National Archives of India did not have the copy of the same.
JJS: From your experience, tell us how powerful the Right to Information is and how best can we use it?
RS: I often say that the RTI is a magic wand in the hand of common citizens of the country, who were earlier deprived of any authority to ask questions from the government. Today, you can not only ask a government official, minister or department to answer your query but also force them to take action. Wherever I go to spread awareness, I tell people to file applications in a group. Like, just few days ago, I have decided to build a pressure for the restoration work of Mubarak Mandi. The work is going on too slow. I have put up an application seeking details of the delay and the cost escalation. I have also arranged that 50 persons would file similar queries. This will surely force the government to act so that they don’t have to keep answering people daily.
But one must take care on how to use the information. We have to remember that RTI is a mean but not an end to the problem. The information received is the real power and how best we use it would help us in solving problems concerning the public.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): How was your experience in filing RTI with the Centre government departments and applications with the state?
Raman: Pretty bad with the state government. You would be surprised to know that out of over 300, I have filed around 20 RTI applications in various departments like the Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Development Authority and the Regional Transport Office, but there is no response. This is more painful for me as the state was probably the only one in the country where citizens had the right to ask questions during the princely era. There was a system of “sawaal lagana” (making a query) in which common citizens asked the then officials. Usually, they asked questions from the revenue department. The most shocking experience was that when I went to the RTO office, the officer concerned was unaware about the RTI Act and about his duties and responsibilities as PIO. Also, JK residents have so far put just 534 applications, the state that enjoys the status of being at no. 2 in corruption, 534 applications are negligible. The Centre government departments are well oiled in this regard and I am totally satisfied with their speedy response and replies in nearly all the applications.
JJS: What do you do with the information?
RS: I preserve some with me for future use or for asking more information or I share with the media if it deserves an exposure. But I don’t share information that can lead to law and order problem. Generally, my information is regarding an unfinished work and the moment the work is done, it is a closed chapter for me.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): There is no chairperson for the State Information Commission. Is it affecting the movement?
Raman: It is true that the SIC is headless and has therefore disappointed people over a period of time. Unless a person is appointed, action against officials not furnishing information cannot be taken.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): What is the provision if any department provides wrong information?
RS: In the RTI Act, there is a provision of penalty if any officer provides wrong information. One can approach even the information commissioner concerned in such case.
Mahesh Kaul: As you are aware, ours is a sensitive state with regional aspirations proving stronger than general public cause. Have you seen some change in the RTI applications between Jammu region and Kashmir region?
RS: It is up to the applicant that what he wants to ask. Unless the national interest is not harmed, he is free to seek any information and details.
JSS: If you are allowed to amend both RTI Acts, what would be your attributions and depletions?
RS: As far as the Central RTI Act is concerned, I do not find any lacuna. But there is a lot to do with the J&K RTI Act. The state government should allow the use the Act even to non-state subjects. Application fee od Rs 50 is excess amount for a common citizen, especially students. There should also be a provision for punitive actions against officers who deliberately ignore the provisions of the Act. Lastly, RTI applicants should be ensured security, if required.
In a tete-e-tete with The Tribune team, Raman Sharma, RTI activist, talks about RTI as a tool to eradicate corruption
For Raman Sharma, who has put up over 300 RTI applications, the RTI is not just a tool to seek information, it is a magic wand that can be used to eradicate corruption as well as a means of lodging a democratic protest.
“If we want the government to take action in the larger interest of the public, we can flood them with RTI applications on one issue. The pressure will make the government act,” he says while talking to The Tribune team during an interaction.
A research scholar Mahesh Kaul from the Faculty of Management Studies, Jammu University and Arvind Sharma, a sociologist, also joined the interaction.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JS): What inspired you to utilise RTI for seeking information?
Raman Sharma (RS): It all began from Jammu railway station. While seeing off a relative, I saw domestic cylinders being used by vendors at the platform. I asked station superintendent about the misuse as Jammuites were facing a shortage of LPG cylinders. He rendered me speechless by asking what authority I had to question him.
A year later, RTI came into being and I put up an application to the Indian Railways. It had an immediate impact as vendors had to use commercial cylinders within few days. That officer too would have known that a common citizen had the authority to ask questions.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): What is the process for filing a RTI application?
RS: There are two acts, one is Central RTI Act, 2005, and another is the J&K RTI Act, 2009.
For Central RTI Act, an applicant can file an application on a plain paper with a nominal fee of Rs 10 only which can be paid via postal order or in cash to the department or other permissible mode. Even if an applicant is not aware of the address of the public information officer (PIO) concerned, application may also be filed with any PIO, who becomes liable to forward it to the competent authorities. The best is to give the application at a local post office where the PIO post office would forward the application on its own. Then, all departments have websites on which they have given addresses of PIOs.
Under the JK RTI Act, an application is to be submitted with a fee of Rs 50 either in the shape of IPO or stamp papers. The rest of the procedure is the same, but here the PIOs usually do not accept the application if it does not pertain to their department.
Arvind Sharma (sociologist): How can illiterate and blind persons make use of the RTI?
RS: They are equally empowered. The PIOs in every government department are duty bound to make arrangements for applications on behalf of illiterate, blind or other physically challenged persons. There is a provision to give them verbal reply also, if the applicant opts for that.
DM: What has been your area of focus in filing RTI applications. From which departments have you sought more information?
RS: I have never filed any application for personal reason. My only aim is to file applications in the interest of the general public. There is no question of targeting any particular department. I have filed applications only to serve interest of the common masses. For example, the Income Tax Department takes 24 or even 36 months to refund excess tax deducted at source. We are generally unaware that they have to return it within 60 days. When I put an application on behalf of a person, the refund came in 17 days.
Mahesh Kaul (research scholar): What has been your joyous moment with the RTI?
RS: I applied for the copy of the FIR of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. When I got it, I was elated. You would be surprised to know that by that time even the National Archives of India did not have the copy of the same.
JJS: From your experience, tell us how powerful the Right to Information is and how best can we use it?
RS: I often say that the RTI is a magic wand in the hand of common citizens of the country, who were earlier deprived of any authority to ask questions from the government. Today, you can not only ask a government official, minister or department to answer your query but also force them to take action. Wherever I go to spread awareness, I tell people to file applications in a group. Like, just few days ago, I have decided to build a pressure for the restoration work of Mubarak Mandi. The work is going on too slow. I have put up an application seeking details of the delay and the cost escalation. I have also arranged that 50 persons would file similar queries. This will surely force the government to act so that they don’t have to keep answering people daily.
But one must take care on how to use the information. We have to remember that RTI is a mean but not an end to the problem. The information received is the real power and how best we use it would help us in solving problems concerning the public.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): How was your experience in filing RTI with the Centre government departments and applications with the state?
Raman: Pretty bad with the state government. You would be surprised to know that out of over 300, I have filed around 20 RTI applications in various departments like the Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Development Authority and the Regional Transport Office, but there is no response. This is more painful for me as the state was probably the only one in the country where citizens had the right to ask questions during the princely era. There was a system of “sawaal lagana” (making a query) in which common citizens asked the then officials. Usually, they asked questions from the revenue department. The most shocking experience was that when I went to the RTO office, the officer concerned was unaware about the RTI Act and about his duties and responsibilities as PIO. Also, JK residents have so far put just 534 applications, the state that enjoys the status of being at no. 2 in corruption, 534 applications are negligible. The Centre government departments are well oiled in this regard and I am totally satisfied with their speedy response and replies in nearly all the applications.
JJS: What do you do with the information?
RS: I preserve some with me for future use or for asking more information or I share with the media if it deserves an exposure. But I don’t share information that can lead to law and order problem. Generally, my information is regarding an unfinished work and the moment the work is done, it is a closed chapter for me.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): There is no chairperson for the State Information Commission. Is it affecting the movement?
Raman: It is true that the SIC is headless and has therefore disappointed people over a period of time. Unless a person is appointed, action against officials not furnishing information cannot be taken.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): What is the provision if any department provides wrong information?
RS: In the RTI Act, there is a provision of penalty if any officer provides wrong information. One can approach even the information commissioner concerned in such case.
Mahesh Kaul: As you are aware, ours is a sensitive state with regional aspirations proving stronger than general public cause. Have you seen some change in the RTI applications between Jammu region and Kashmir region?
RS: It is up to the applicant that what he wants to ask. Unless the national interest is not harmed, he is free to seek any information and details.
JSS: If you are allowed to amend both RTI Acts, what would be your attributions and depletions?
RS: As far as the Central RTI Act is concerned, I do not find any lacuna. But there is a lot to do with the J&K RTI Act. The state government should allow the use the Act even to non-state subjects. Application fee od Rs 50 is excess amount for a common citizen, especially students. There should also be a provision for punitive actions against officers who deliberately ignore the provisions of the Act. Lastly, RTI applicants should be ensured security, if required.
May- 08 : Tea with The Tribune Shamsher Singh Manhas, State BJP president
Scrapping of Article 370 must for state’s growth: Manhas
Shamsher Singh Manhas, state president of the BJP and a hardcore RSS man, was earlier considered as a weak president, but now he has started showing teeth. In his four-month tenure, Manhas has tried to prove himself as an assertive president. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of party stalwarts, he is taking decision on its own and trying to keep the RSS and other Sangh Parivar organisations in good humour.
Shamsher Singh Manhas in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu
Shamsher Singh Manhas in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
Following are the excerpts:
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The Amarnath agitation brought the BJP to the fore and it later won 11 Assembly seats, all in Jammu. But now people don’t connect anymore with the party. Do you feel that the BJP has lost the pulse of Jammu people?
Shamsher Singh Manhas (SSM): Jammu has always remained a top priority for the BJP and will remain so, but there are certain issues that should be seen in right perspective.
For instance, we stand by our word that Article 370 must be abrogated because it is a deterrent in attracting industry to the state. It has marred the progress of the state. The Omar government claims that there are nearly five lakh registered unemployed youth in the state, but the figure has touched a million-mark.
Similarly, 27,000 unemployed youth leave the state every year for greener pastures and if the trend continues, the state after 10 years would be nothing more than a home for the aged.
We stand by our commitment to uphold the interests of Jammu and at the same time, people of the Kashmir valley have started connecting with the BJP because of our clear-cut policies. They also feel that in the larger interests of the state and its people, Article 370 must be scrapped.
RKK: In the backdrop of political setup of the state where Kashmir-centric parties rule the roost and where even the Congress plays a second fiddle to them, do you really feel that a day will come when Article 370 would go?
SSM: Surely, because Article 370 has given nothing to the state but problems. Now, there is a change among the people of Kashmir. Recently, 150 activists of the BJP were detained in Kashmir because they were demanding abrogation of Article 370.
The day is not far away when it would eventually go. Further, people in Kashmir have started realising the ground situation and I am confident that a time would soon come when they would discard parties like the National Conference and the PDP.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): In the last Assembly elections, the BJP won an all-time high 11 Assembly seats. It is widely perceived that the party is losing its hold. What steps would you take?
SSM: I want to make it clear that winning seats is not my priority. My priority is to strengthen the party at grass-roots level by spreading ideology of the party in every nook and corner of the state.
After becoming president, I have been working overtime to strengthen organisational structure at grass-roots level.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): Corruption is rampant in the state. Your observation?
SSM: Corruption is as dangerous as terrorism. The first is weakening the state and the other is dangerous to the nation. The development works going on in the state lack accountability and transparency. Charges are being levelled against ministers but nothing comes out of investigations. State vigilance organisation as well as the accountability commission needs to be strengthened.
Archit Watts (AW): What is the reason behind less vote bank of the BJP in the Kashmir valley?
SSM: No, the time has changed and we are getting good response there. In the past 4-5 years, the situation has changed and people in Kashmir are supporting the ideology of our party.
Even after the Amarnath land row when the state was divided on regional lines, the BJP got 49,000 votes from the valley, which according to me is an encouraging achievement.
AW: What efforts are being made to strengthen the party in Kashmir valley?
SSM: We are regularly visiting Kashmir to strengthen the party there. I have planned to hold rallies in all districts of Kashmir from May 26 to June 5. Our senior leaders from Delhi are also expected to come to boost the morale of party workers.
AS: You had been a Sangh pracharak in the beginning of your political career. The names of many RSS activists have recently surfaced in the investigations into some bomb blasts. Your comments?
SSM: Being an RSS activist and a BJP member, I would say that we treat our country on a par with the status of mother. Anyone, who is caught in anti-national activities, we are against him. Moreover, in such cases usually our activists are framed.
AW: What is your achievement ever since you took over the reins of the party in the state?
SSM: In such a short span of time, we have taken up many issues and forced both the state and Centre governments to take decisions in favour of Jammu people. My party members fought against the Inter-District Recruitment Bill and got success in excluding SCs from the bill. In another fight against the Sagir Ahmed Committee’s report, we showed our power to the state government.
AW: What is the reaction of the BJP over the appointment of Prof Amitabh Mattoo as vice-chancellor of the Central University in Jammu?
SSM: I can’t speak on the issue. Only the selection committee will decide the matter. But I want to make only one point that we have no objection whether he joins as VC or not. We have to fight for a big cause not these small issues. We have to keep in mind the larger interests.
DM: Some political parties have floated the idea of statehood for Jammu. What is the stand of the BJP on this issue?
SSM: It is a reality that people of Jammu region have been facing discrimination in every sphere since 1947. As far as the BJP is concerned, we are of the opinion that separate provincial council for Jammu is one and the only solution for remove this discrimination. We are not supporting the demand of separate state.
Shamsher Singh Manhas, state president of the BJP and a hardcore RSS man, was earlier considered as a weak president, but now he has started showing teeth. In his four-month tenure, Manhas has tried to prove himself as an assertive president. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of party stalwarts, he is taking decision on its own and trying to keep the RSS and other Sangh Parivar organisations in good humour.
Shamsher Singh Manhas in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu
Shamsher Singh Manhas in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
Following are the excerpts:
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The Amarnath agitation brought the BJP to the fore and it later won 11 Assembly seats, all in Jammu. But now people don’t connect anymore with the party. Do you feel that the BJP has lost the pulse of Jammu people?
Shamsher Singh Manhas (SSM): Jammu has always remained a top priority for the BJP and will remain so, but there are certain issues that should be seen in right perspective.
For instance, we stand by our word that Article 370 must be abrogated because it is a deterrent in attracting industry to the state. It has marred the progress of the state. The Omar government claims that there are nearly five lakh registered unemployed youth in the state, but the figure has touched a million-mark.
Similarly, 27,000 unemployed youth leave the state every year for greener pastures and if the trend continues, the state after 10 years would be nothing more than a home for the aged.
We stand by our commitment to uphold the interests of Jammu and at the same time, people of the Kashmir valley have started connecting with the BJP because of our clear-cut policies. They also feel that in the larger interests of the state and its people, Article 370 must be scrapped.
RKK: In the backdrop of political setup of the state where Kashmir-centric parties rule the roost and where even the Congress plays a second fiddle to them, do you really feel that a day will come when Article 370 would go?
SSM: Surely, because Article 370 has given nothing to the state but problems. Now, there is a change among the people of Kashmir. Recently, 150 activists of the BJP were detained in Kashmir because they were demanding abrogation of Article 370.
The day is not far away when it would eventually go. Further, people in Kashmir have started realising the ground situation and I am confident that a time would soon come when they would discard parties like the National Conference and the PDP.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): In the last Assembly elections, the BJP won an all-time high 11 Assembly seats. It is widely perceived that the party is losing its hold. What steps would you take?
SSM: I want to make it clear that winning seats is not my priority. My priority is to strengthen the party at grass-roots level by spreading ideology of the party in every nook and corner of the state.
After becoming president, I have been working overtime to strengthen organisational structure at grass-roots level.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): Corruption is rampant in the state. Your observation?
SSM: Corruption is as dangerous as terrorism. The first is weakening the state and the other is dangerous to the nation. The development works going on in the state lack accountability and transparency. Charges are being levelled against ministers but nothing comes out of investigations. State vigilance organisation as well as the accountability commission needs to be strengthened.
Archit Watts (AW): What is the reason behind less vote bank of the BJP in the Kashmir valley?
SSM: No, the time has changed and we are getting good response there. In the past 4-5 years, the situation has changed and people in Kashmir are supporting the ideology of our party.
Even after the Amarnath land row when the state was divided on regional lines, the BJP got 49,000 votes from the valley, which according to me is an encouraging achievement.
AW: What efforts are being made to strengthen the party in Kashmir valley?
SSM: We are regularly visiting Kashmir to strengthen the party there. I have planned to hold rallies in all districts of Kashmir from May 26 to June 5. Our senior leaders from Delhi are also expected to come to boost the morale of party workers.
AS: You had been a Sangh pracharak in the beginning of your political career. The names of many RSS activists have recently surfaced in the investigations into some bomb blasts. Your comments?
SSM: Being an RSS activist and a BJP member, I would say that we treat our country on a par with the status of mother. Anyone, who is caught in anti-national activities, we are against him. Moreover, in such cases usually our activists are framed.
AW: What is your achievement ever since you took over the reins of the party in the state?
SSM: In such a short span of time, we have taken up many issues and forced both the state and Centre governments to take decisions in favour of Jammu people. My party members fought against the Inter-District Recruitment Bill and got success in excluding SCs from the bill. In another fight against the Sagir Ahmed Committee’s report, we showed our power to the state government.
AW: What is the reaction of the BJP over the appointment of Prof Amitabh Mattoo as vice-chancellor of the Central University in Jammu?
SSM: I can’t speak on the issue. Only the selection committee will decide the matter. But I want to make only one point that we have no objection whether he joins as VC or not. We have to fight for a big cause not these small issues. We have to keep in mind the larger interests.
DM: Some political parties have floated the idea of statehood for Jammu. What is the stand of the BJP on this issue?
SSM: It is a reality that people of Jammu region have been facing discrimination in every sphere since 1947. As far as the BJP is concerned, we are of the opinion that separate provincial council for Jammu is one and the only solution for remove this discrimination. We are not supporting the demand of separate state.
May - 01 : Tea with The Tribune --Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, secretary, JKAACL
‘Spreading art and culture only way to prevent militancy’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Manhas talked about controversies surrounding him and discusses new plans for promoting art and culture
Zaffar Iqbal ManhasZaffar Iqbal Manhas, secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) is credited with raising the academy to new heights from its infancy when the budget was a mere Rs 12,000. An avid writer and columnist himself, he has often invited ire of the government and separatists for calling a spade a spade.
As editor of the Cultural Academy, Zaffar has edited and compiled more than 150 books and titles in Urdu and Pahari language.
Two guests, Keshav Sharma and Ashish Sharma, both theatre artistes from Rangyug group, also joined The Tribune team in the interaction. Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JS): The Academy of Art and Culture is celebrating this year as “Year of Cultural Dialogue”. What is it about?
Zaffar Iqbal Manhas (ZIM): This is the age when dialogue between people is the most important. But people and nations rarely do that to resolve chronic issues. Our state is confronted with many such issues. We talk in private whereas intellectual discourse is the need of the hour. We are inviting people from within the state and outside to have such a discourse at the state and regional level. The idea is to spread art and culture. Spreading it is the only way to combat militancy. No artist has ever picked up gun.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): There have always been voices of discontent and discrimination when it comes to giving representation to different languages, dialects, ethnicities and cultures by the academy. How do you cope up with the situation and ensure justice to all?
ZIM: Being human beings, no one can claim to be balanced all the time. But after assuming the office, I have tried to do justice to everyone with sincerity and honesty. At the same time, I inherited a legacy (academy), which has certain lacunae and it will take some time to set the house in order.
If a genuine proposal comes to me, I don’t waste time to give my nod. It was me who after taking over the charge convened a meeting of around 300 writers, telling them to keep a check on me and vice-versa so as to see art, culture and languages thrive in the state.
However, people should also know that the academy has several infrastructure and financial constraints. Even today, we don’t have a single auditorium in Kashmir, where cultural activities are indispensable to bring it back on the track. Similarly, we don’t have any control over Kala Kendra in Jammu and we are getting the same budget as it was 10 years ago.
RKK: Every time the academy felicitates artists from the field of art, culture and languages, including theatre, it faces allegations of nepotism. How you react to them?
ZIM: We have a panel of experts from every field. Problem is created by those who don’t get awards and feel there is some bias. But our process is transparent. Though several people wanted me to manipulate things, I never compromised. I know how an artist works relentlessly to carve a niche for himself.
Whatever I have done so far as secretary of the Academy it goes down well with my conscience and I have no remorse.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Due to indifferent attitude of the academy, the Institute of Music and Fine Arts is housed in a dilapidated building that can collapse anytime. Why the authorities shy away from their responsibilities?
(ZIM): I want to make it clear that this institute has been unnecessary attached with the academy. In other parts of the country, such institutes are attached with the universities concerned. We still take care of it with our limited resources. Recently, we gave Rs 7 lakh for its repair. A decision regarding handing over the institute to Jammu University is in final stages.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): It has been alleged that the JKAACL has appointed valley-based people on some important posts instead of people from Jammu? What is the truth?
ZIM: It is not possible and there is no such criteria. There is a committee of experts from Jawaharlal Nehru University, which makes appointments for JKAACL. However, there are around nine employees who belong to Jammu and were appointed in the valley, but they managed to get transferred to Jammu.
SK: When will the academy publish its yearly calendar of events as till date no such calendar has been published?
ZIM: We will publish the calendar in June in which events, time and venue will be mentioned. The calendar will be subject to change.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): The annual Kul Hind mushaira held by the academy used to be a big draw in which stalwarts of Urdu poetry take part. But over the years, its status has come down to the level of a district-level poetic congregation. Your comments.
ZIM: We cannot invite poets like Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Bashir Badar and Nida Fazli as we have limited budget. But still we invite good poets from other states as per our resources.
AS: What is your annual budget and what is the requirement of the JKAACL?
ZIM: The budget amount to nearly Rs 7.5 crore out of which 75 per cent is utilised for disbursement of salaries and the rest is spent on cultural activities. No amount of money is sufficient enough for the promotion of cultural activities. Still, the budget amount should be doubled.
AS: There are reports from tehsils like Sunderbani and Nowshera, besides districts headquarters like Samba, RS Pura and Kathua that no cultural activities have been held there for the past two-three years. Why?
ZIM: I would appeal to writers, artists or other cultural activists to show their presence and put up proposals for holding functions in their respective areas. It’s a two way process. If proposals come from their side, the academy will surely hold functions.
AS: You display a deep understanding of political issues confronting people of the state. Do you have any plans to joining politics?
ZIM: I am a “karamyogi”. Whatever assignment comes across, I enjoy doing it. Earlier, I got a number of opportunities to enter into politics but I was occupied with other work. But after I am finished with this assignment, I would love to serve my people if such an opportunity comes to me.
Archit Watts (AW): You are known as the cultural ambassador of Kashmir, why Kashmir alone and not the Jammu and Kashmir?
ZIM: Yes, I am known as cultural ambassador of Kashmir, but I am a Dogra by blood and born in Kashmir. I love Jammu as much as I love Kashmir. It is the prerogative of public. What they want to say, they can. As far as Jammu people are concerned, they have always given me full cooperation and I expect the same in future also.
My job is to represent not only region and I have always represented the entire state with my full wisdom.
Ashish Sharma (theatre artiste): Abhinav Theatre in Jammu, the cradle of theatre culture, is in a shambles. When would it be modernised?
ZIM: You would see some changes soon. Power supply was a big issue that has been sorted out. And it’s just not about this theatre only. Media can help us a lot by raising the issue in public forums. You are well versed with the problem of funds. I think regular interaction between the academy, government, bureaucracy and media can help is finding solutions to many issues.
Keshav Sharma (theatre artiste): How do you plan to bring different regions of the state together through art and culture?
ZIM: We have finalised plans of holding Dogri conference in Srinagar. Similarly, we want to organise such programmes of different culture and region in all parts of the state.
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Manhas talked about controversies surrounding him and discusses new plans for promoting art and culture
Zaffar Iqbal ManhasZaffar Iqbal Manhas, secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) is credited with raising the academy to new heights from its infancy when the budget was a mere Rs 12,000. An avid writer and columnist himself, he has often invited ire of the government and separatists for calling a spade a spade.
As editor of the Cultural Academy, Zaffar has edited and compiled more than 150 books and titles in Urdu and Pahari language.
Two guests, Keshav Sharma and Ashish Sharma, both theatre artistes from Rangyug group, also joined The Tribune team in the interaction. Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JS): The Academy of Art and Culture is celebrating this year as “Year of Cultural Dialogue”. What is it about?
Zaffar Iqbal Manhas (ZIM): This is the age when dialogue between people is the most important. But people and nations rarely do that to resolve chronic issues. Our state is confronted with many such issues. We talk in private whereas intellectual discourse is the need of the hour. We are inviting people from within the state and outside to have such a discourse at the state and regional level. The idea is to spread art and culture. Spreading it is the only way to combat militancy. No artist has ever picked up gun.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): There have always been voices of discontent and discrimination when it comes to giving representation to different languages, dialects, ethnicities and cultures by the academy. How do you cope up with the situation and ensure justice to all?
ZIM: Being human beings, no one can claim to be balanced all the time. But after assuming the office, I have tried to do justice to everyone with sincerity and honesty. At the same time, I inherited a legacy (academy), which has certain lacunae and it will take some time to set the house in order.
If a genuine proposal comes to me, I don’t waste time to give my nod. It was me who after taking over the charge convened a meeting of around 300 writers, telling them to keep a check on me and vice-versa so as to see art, culture and languages thrive in the state.
However, people should also know that the academy has several infrastructure and financial constraints. Even today, we don’t have a single auditorium in Kashmir, where cultural activities are indispensable to bring it back on the track. Similarly, we don’t have any control over Kala Kendra in Jammu and we are getting the same budget as it was 10 years ago.
RKK: Every time the academy felicitates artists from the field of art, culture and languages, including theatre, it faces allegations of nepotism. How you react to them?
ZIM: We have a panel of experts from every field. Problem is created by those who don’t get awards and feel there is some bias. But our process is transparent. Though several people wanted me to manipulate things, I never compromised. I know how an artist works relentlessly to carve a niche for himself.
Whatever I have done so far as secretary of the Academy it goes down well with my conscience and I have no remorse.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Due to indifferent attitude of the academy, the Institute of Music and Fine Arts is housed in a dilapidated building that can collapse anytime. Why the authorities shy away from their responsibilities?
(ZIM): I want to make it clear that this institute has been unnecessary attached with the academy. In other parts of the country, such institutes are attached with the universities concerned. We still take care of it with our limited resources. Recently, we gave Rs 7 lakh for its repair. A decision regarding handing over the institute to Jammu University is in final stages.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): It has been alleged that the JKAACL has appointed valley-based people on some important posts instead of people from Jammu? What is the truth?
ZIM: It is not possible and there is no such criteria. There is a committee of experts from Jawaharlal Nehru University, which makes appointments for JKAACL. However, there are around nine employees who belong to Jammu and were appointed in the valley, but they managed to get transferred to Jammu.
SK: When will the academy publish its yearly calendar of events as till date no such calendar has been published?
ZIM: We will publish the calendar in June in which events, time and venue will be mentioned. The calendar will be subject to change.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): The annual Kul Hind mushaira held by the academy used to be a big draw in which stalwarts of Urdu poetry take part. But over the years, its status has come down to the level of a district-level poetic congregation. Your comments.
ZIM: We cannot invite poets like Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Bashir Badar and Nida Fazli as we have limited budget. But still we invite good poets from other states as per our resources.
AS: What is your annual budget and what is the requirement of the JKAACL?
ZIM: The budget amount to nearly Rs 7.5 crore out of which 75 per cent is utilised for disbursement of salaries and the rest is spent on cultural activities. No amount of money is sufficient enough for the promotion of cultural activities. Still, the budget amount should be doubled.
AS: There are reports from tehsils like Sunderbani and Nowshera, besides districts headquarters like Samba, RS Pura and Kathua that no cultural activities have been held there for the past two-three years. Why?
ZIM: I would appeal to writers, artists or other cultural activists to show their presence and put up proposals for holding functions in their respective areas. It’s a two way process. If proposals come from their side, the academy will surely hold functions.
AS: You display a deep understanding of political issues confronting people of the state. Do you have any plans to joining politics?
ZIM: I am a “karamyogi”. Whatever assignment comes across, I enjoy doing it. Earlier, I got a number of opportunities to enter into politics but I was occupied with other work. But after I am finished with this assignment, I would love to serve my people if such an opportunity comes to me.
Archit Watts (AW): You are known as the cultural ambassador of Kashmir, why Kashmir alone and not the Jammu and Kashmir?
ZIM: Yes, I am known as cultural ambassador of Kashmir, but I am a Dogra by blood and born in Kashmir. I love Jammu as much as I love Kashmir. It is the prerogative of public. What they want to say, they can. As far as Jammu people are concerned, they have always given me full cooperation and I expect the same in future also.
My job is to represent not only region and I have always represented the entire state with my full wisdom.
Ashish Sharma (theatre artiste): Abhinav Theatre in Jammu, the cradle of theatre culture, is in a shambles. When would it be modernised?
ZIM: You would see some changes soon. Power supply was a big issue that has been sorted out. And it’s just not about this theatre only. Media can help us a lot by raising the issue in public forums. You are well versed with the problem of funds. I think regular interaction between the academy, government, bureaucracy and media can help is finding solutions to many issues.
Keshav Sharma (theatre artiste): How do you plan to bring different regions of the state together through art and culture?
ZIM: We have finalised plans of holding Dogri conference in Srinagar. Similarly, we want to organise such programmes of different culture and region in all parts of the state.
April- 24 : Tea with The Tribune Kuldeep Verma, vice-chairman, OBC Advisory Board
‘Govt must give 9 pc quota to OBCs’
Kuldeep Verma, vice-chairman of the newly constituted OBC Advisory Board talked to The Tribune on issues confronting the OBC communities in the state and how the board would be safeguarding their interests.
Two research scholars, Ranjeet Sharma and Kandeel Kumar, from the Department of Sociology, University of Jammu, also joined the Tribune team. Following are the excerpts:
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): What is the board’s top priority?
Kuldeep Verma (KV): The board will strive for ensuring scholarships to OBC students. On the pattern of SC and ST students, the board would like to see student hostels in all district headquarters. Also, the board will ensure pension to widows and physically challenged persons belonging to the backward communities.
AS: There are several other impoverished communities like Pernas, Sansi, Sikligars etc who have been seeking OBC status. Will the board consider their demand?
KV: The board will plead the case of any such person belonging to the destitute communities who is a state subject as per the census 1931. Such communities must start registering themselves with the board.
Ranjeet Sharma: During the elections, some Congress leaders had assured state subject certificates for Sikligars. Being a Congressman could you tell us what the government has been doing in this regard?
KV: The government has to look into the state subject issue so I would not comment. As far as the OBC status is concerned, there are many other communities that need to be brought into the OBC category. Labanas have got the status recently while Jats are under consideration. Likewise, other destitute communities can also be accommodated.
RS: As per the Mandal Commission report, there are 63 castes that belong to the OBC category but the state government recognises only 25. Do you seek another caste-based census in the state?
KV: Of course, after 1931 no such census has been conducted. At that time, OBCs constituted 32 per cent of the total population of the state, but the present status is unclear.
Kandeel Kumar: Don’t you think caste-based reservations have been promoting divisive politics?
KV: No. Reservations are all about creating opportunities for the deprived sections on a priority basis. Their economic welfare is imperative for their social and political welfare.
KK: Why members of the OBCs are granted two certificates in the name of other social case and OBC. Don’t you think there should be one certificate as candidates applying for jobs have to face hardships?
KV: There is a technical aspect related to the issue although we have already taken up the issue with the government. The board has also proposed for changing the nomenclature of the certificate and increasing the validity of certificates.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Prior to 11-month-long Indo-Pak standoff in the wake of Parliament attack, there used to be intense shelling by Pakistani troops in the border areas like Akhnoor, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. Following intervention of Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma, the then Speaker Tara Chand (now Deputy CM) and Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, the union government had sanctioned Rs 78 crore to rehabilitate such families, but only in Akhnoor sector allotting each of them a five-marla plot in a safe zone. Have all of them been rehabilitated?
KV: You would be glad to know that around 21,000 families have been benefited. A colony with good roads and regular power and water supply is fast coming up. On the intervention of Sharma, plots were given to each affected family and they were also given Rs 50,000 in two instalments to start foundation work of their respective houses in the colony, which also has four to six water overhead tanks and tubewells.
RKK: There has been instant action in case of Akhnoor while thousands of border migrants from other areas of Jammu region, particularly those near the international border, still remain victims of official apathy? Would it be correct to say that political power, which shifted to Akhnoor subdivision, played a major role?
KV: Border migrants from IB and those from Akhnoor can’t be compared for altogether different situations. We have LoC in Akhnoor (LoC in Akhnoor starts from Punjtoot in the Pallanwala area) and one cannot ignore the fact that thousands of people were displaced in Akhnoor whenever there was Indo-Pak conflict. There is no discrimination with the border migrants of IB but certainly their grievances would be looked into afresh. I also refuse to endorse your views that shift of political power to Akhnoor played a major role.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Recommendations of the Mandal Commission have been implemented all over the country except J&K. Don’t you think weaker sections, especially the OBCs, are being denied their constitutional rights due to special status of the state?
KV: I don’t want to discuss what happened in the past. In my opinion there are many reasons for the non-implementation of the recommendations. Now, after constitution of the Backward Classes Commission, I want to assure that constitutional rights of OBCs would be restored at any cost.
DM: You mean that 27 per cent reservations would be given to OBCs in the state also. Is it possible?
KV: Though it is not possible to give 27 per cent due to direction of the Supreme Court that denies any state to cross the aggregate reservation limit of 50 per cent, I have taken up the matter with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to grant at least remaining 9 per cent reservation to OBCs.
DM: Do you agree with the allegations in the name of the Resident of Backward Area (RBA) categories, reservation rights of the OBCs have been snatched?
KV: I am not responsible about the developments that took place in the past.
DM: It is alleged that you are playing in the hands of a faction of Congress leaders who have been using you against Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. What is your reaction?
KV: I have strongly denied such vague allegations. Though Lok Sabha member Madan Lal Sharma has played important role in my nomination, I have cordial relations with Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand because we belong to the same area.
Archit Watts (AW): At present, how many MLAs and MLCs belong to the OBC category?
KV: There is not even a single MLA or MLC from the OBC category. I recall only one MLA Balak Ram, but he is no more. To name an MLC, it was Chunni Lal, but he is not active in politics these days due to his old age.
AW: Why people belonging to the OBC category have a thin presence in the legislature?
KV: In politics, everyone has to prove his worth. And whosoever is able to do it, will get nomination from a political party for contesting the election. It does not mean that those belonging to OBCs are any way lesser in caliber than other communities, but it will take some more time. They have started getting their due in every sphere. I also belong to the OBC category.
Sunaina Kaul: Is there any creamy layer among OBCs? Do you think that they too need to be given reservation in government jobs?
KV: Yes, there is a creamy layer. The board wants that any family belonging to OBC category with annual income exceeding Rs 5 lakh should not be given reservation. Privilege should only be given to poor and the downtrodden.
Kuldeep Verma, vice-chairman of the newly constituted OBC Advisory Board talked to The Tribune on issues confronting the OBC communities in the state and how the board would be safeguarding their interests.
Two research scholars, Ranjeet Sharma and Kandeel Kumar, from the Department of Sociology, University of Jammu, also joined the Tribune team. Following are the excerpts:
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): What is the board’s top priority?
Kuldeep Verma (KV): The board will strive for ensuring scholarships to OBC students. On the pattern of SC and ST students, the board would like to see student hostels in all district headquarters. Also, the board will ensure pension to widows and physically challenged persons belonging to the backward communities.
AS: There are several other impoverished communities like Pernas, Sansi, Sikligars etc who have been seeking OBC status. Will the board consider their demand?
KV: The board will plead the case of any such person belonging to the destitute communities who is a state subject as per the census 1931. Such communities must start registering themselves with the board.
Ranjeet Sharma: During the elections, some Congress leaders had assured state subject certificates for Sikligars. Being a Congressman could you tell us what the government has been doing in this regard?
KV: The government has to look into the state subject issue so I would not comment. As far as the OBC status is concerned, there are many other communities that need to be brought into the OBC category. Labanas have got the status recently while Jats are under consideration. Likewise, other destitute communities can also be accommodated.
RS: As per the Mandal Commission report, there are 63 castes that belong to the OBC category but the state government recognises only 25. Do you seek another caste-based census in the state?
KV: Of course, after 1931 no such census has been conducted. At that time, OBCs constituted 32 per cent of the total population of the state, but the present status is unclear.
Kandeel Kumar: Don’t you think caste-based reservations have been promoting divisive politics?
KV: No. Reservations are all about creating opportunities for the deprived sections on a priority basis. Their economic welfare is imperative for their social and political welfare.
KK: Why members of the OBCs are granted two certificates in the name of other social case and OBC. Don’t you think there should be one certificate as candidates applying for jobs have to face hardships?
KV: There is a technical aspect related to the issue although we have already taken up the issue with the government. The board has also proposed for changing the nomenclature of the certificate and increasing the validity of certificates.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Prior to 11-month-long Indo-Pak standoff in the wake of Parliament attack, there used to be intense shelling by Pakistani troops in the border areas like Akhnoor, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. Following intervention of Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma, the then Speaker Tara Chand (now Deputy CM) and Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, the union government had sanctioned Rs 78 crore to rehabilitate such families, but only in Akhnoor sector allotting each of them a five-marla plot in a safe zone. Have all of them been rehabilitated?
KV: You would be glad to know that around 21,000 families have been benefited. A colony with good roads and regular power and water supply is fast coming up. On the intervention of Sharma, plots were given to each affected family and they were also given Rs 50,000 in two instalments to start foundation work of their respective houses in the colony, which also has four to six water overhead tanks and tubewells.
RKK: There has been instant action in case of Akhnoor while thousands of border migrants from other areas of Jammu region, particularly those near the international border, still remain victims of official apathy? Would it be correct to say that political power, which shifted to Akhnoor subdivision, played a major role?
KV: Border migrants from IB and those from Akhnoor can’t be compared for altogether different situations. We have LoC in Akhnoor (LoC in Akhnoor starts from Punjtoot in the Pallanwala area) and one cannot ignore the fact that thousands of people were displaced in Akhnoor whenever there was Indo-Pak conflict. There is no discrimination with the border migrants of IB but certainly their grievances would be looked into afresh. I also refuse to endorse your views that shift of political power to Akhnoor played a major role.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Recommendations of the Mandal Commission have been implemented all over the country except J&K. Don’t you think weaker sections, especially the OBCs, are being denied their constitutional rights due to special status of the state?
KV: I don’t want to discuss what happened in the past. In my opinion there are many reasons for the non-implementation of the recommendations. Now, after constitution of the Backward Classes Commission, I want to assure that constitutional rights of OBCs would be restored at any cost.
DM: You mean that 27 per cent reservations would be given to OBCs in the state also. Is it possible?
KV: Though it is not possible to give 27 per cent due to direction of the Supreme Court that denies any state to cross the aggregate reservation limit of 50 per cent, I have taken up the matter with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to grant at least remaining 9 per cent reservation to OBCs.
DM: Do you agree with the allegations in the name of the Resident of Backward Area (RBA) categories, reservation rights of the OBCs have been snatched?
KV: I am not responsible about the developments that took place in the past.
DM: It is alleged that you are playing in the hands of a faction of Congress leaders who have been using you against Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. What is your reaction?
KV: I have strongly denied such vague allegations. Though Lok Sabha member Madan Lal Sharma has played important role in my nomination, I have cordial relations with Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand because we belong to the same area.
Archit Watts (AW): At present, how many MLAs and MLCs belong to the OBC category?
KV: There is not even a single MLA or MLC from the OBC category. I recall only one MLA Balak Ram, but he is no more. To name an MLC, it was Chunni Lal, but he is not active in politics these days due to his old age.
AW: Why people belonging to the OBC category have a thin presence in the legislature?
KV: In politics, everyone has to prove his worth. And whosoever is able to do it, will get nomination from a political party for contesting the election. It does not mean that those belonging to OBCs are any way lesser in caliber than other communities, but it will take some more time. They have started getting their due in every sphere. I also belong to the OBC category.
Sunaina Kaul: Is there any creamy layer among OBCs? Do you think that they too need to be given reservation in government jobs?
KV: Yes, there is a creamy layer. The board wants that any family belonging to OBC category with annual income exceeding Rs 5 lakh should not be given reservation. Privilege should only be given to poor and the downtrodden.
April-17 - Tea with The Tribune - Ashok Kumar, Ramban MLA
‘Cong is against divisive policies’
Ashok Kumar, Ramban MLA, and a government teacher-turned-politician, is the only member in the state Assembly who belongs to the Scheduled Caste category.
Representing the Congress and owing allegiance to the Ghulam Nabi Azad faction, Ashok Kumar is trying hard to bring some development in the underdeveloped Ramban district, which has the second highest number of BPL population in the state.
During an interaction with The Tribune, he tried to explain his and his party’s views on the controversial inter-district recruitment ban. He was the member of a select committee that passed the Bill to be tabled in the Assembly.
Kanav Gupta, a student of the Mahant Bachittar Singh College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu, also joined The Tribune team.
Following are the excerpts:
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You faced criticism for allowing the controversial Inter-District Recruitment Ban Bill to be tabled in the Assembly. It was only later that reservation for Scheduled Castes was included. Were you not aware of the issue or you deliberately followed the lines of the National Conference?
Ashok Kumar (AK): I want to make it clear that as member of the select committee, I had opposed the move to debar SCs and STs from inter-district recruitment. I had clearly mentioned this before finalising the report. Further, during a debate in the Assembly on the issue, I had strongly advocated the cause of SCs and STs.
I reiterate that I insisted on quota for SCs. I have suggested the government to fill the SC quota from a district and the remaining seats can be filled from other seats.
Jupinderjit Singh (JS): The Congress seemed to have caught on wrong foot again as happened with the Permanent Residents (Women) Disqualification Bill. What was the stand of your party?
AK: The Congress is against any kind of divisive policies and encouraging regionalism. The recruitment ban was necessary to help people of underdeveloped districts get jobs. We are totally against any regional divide and our stand is clear.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): What do you think about creamy layer in the SC category? Should it be exempted from the ambit of new job Bill?
AK: It is my personal opinion that creamy layer within the SC community should not avail benefits of reservation under this Bill. For instance, I feel that an IAS officer’s son from the SC community does not need reservation in the Inter-District Recruitment Bill.
JJS: You were a government teacher before joining politics. How did you foray into politics?
AK: The credit goes to our former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad. He wanted a candidate with clean image from Ramban. I was once leader of an organisation of unemployed youths. Though I lost the first elections with a thin margin, Azad sahib kept faith in me and I won the next elections with a massive lead.
DM: You won the Assembly elections, but in the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress could not get lead from your constituency.
AK: The Congress lagged behind the BJP in the Ramban Assembly segment since issues in parliamentary elections were entirely different from state issues. Secondly, the Assembly elections were fought under the leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad while in the Lok Sabha polls, he (Azad) could not campaign for party candidates in the state.
DM: You mean that the Congress received a setback in the state after Azad was moved to national politics?
AK: No doubt about that. Azad is a charismatic leader who is aware of local issues. Moreover, he has direct interaction with grass-roots level workers of the party. He has the capability to infuse enthusiasm among the party cadre.
DM: There are reports that you were denied ministerial berth due to your proximity with Azad. Is it true?
AK: I am not aware whether my name figured in the list of ministers or not. But one thing is clear that I don’t believe in factionalism. It is also a reality that Azad has encouraged me to join politics so I always consider him as my political mentor.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): The majority of people who are demanding cancellation of constituency development funds to legislatures, allege that these funds are being misused by some legislatures? What is your opinion?
AK: On the contrary, I think the government should increase the fund limit from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore per year. The MLA is the only person who knows about the requirement of his constituency and he needs funds for development. There are some people who misuse funds. But you have to show some work on the ground. Moreover, the MLAs do not have the money freely available to them. It is kept with the deputy commissioners who spend it.
JJS: What kind of development works have you taken in your constituency?
AK: Since my election, 70 schools have been opened or upgraded. I have brought electricity to many villages. The road network has been widened and many far-flung places have got road and phone connectivity.
Archit Watts (AW): In winters, the Jawahar Tunnel remains closed due to snowfall and the commuters have to suffer. Is there any plan to let it open throughout the year?
AK: We are working in this regard and the government has ordered to purchase some more snow-cutters of latest technology, which are being used in other countries. Besides, a railway track is also under construction, which will surely solve the problem to some extent.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The Baglihar hydroelectric project constructed over the Chenab has affected several families in Pul Doda. Has the issue been sorted out?
Ashok Kumar (AK): As far as compensation for the structures in the Pul Doda area is concerned, the government has adequately compensated them, but there are still some people from hamlets near the Dam Top area, who are awaiting relief.
Similarly, after dam reservoir came up, two bridges over the Chenab in Trungal and Marsoo villages submerged completely, causing hardships to villagers living on other side of the river. On my intervention, the government recently sanctioned two bridges, although the pace of work is very slow.
RKK: The Baglihar has come up in a seismic zone where sinking of a hill had once became a cause of concern. Has the problem been fixed?
AK: I had suggested the government to undertake a plantation drive in the area to check sinking of hills. Enough measures have been initiated by the executing agencies to fix the problem.
Kanav Gupta (student): Sir, you have the experience of examination system as you were a government teacher. What do you think could be the reasons behind the paper leak scandal ?
AK: People who get access to question papers must be those associated with the education department. Though some preventive measures have been taken, I think the whole constitution and working of the Board of School Education needs to be changed.
I fully understand the frustration of hardworking children who are directly affected by such incidents.
Ashok Kumar, Ramban MLA, and a government teacher-turned-politician, is the only member in the state Assembly who belongs to the Scheduled Caste category.
Representing the Congress and owing allegiance to the Ghulam Nabi Azad faction, Ashok Kumar is trying hard to bring some development in the underdeveloped Ramban district, which has the second highest number of BPL population in the state.
During an interaction with The Tribune, he tried to explain his and his party’s views on the controversial inter-district recruitment ban. He was the member of a select committee that passed the Bill to be tabled in the Assembly.
Kanav Gupta, a student of the Mahant Bachittar Singh College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu, also joined The Tribune team.
Following are the excerpts:
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You faced criticism for allowing the controversial Inter-District Recruitment Ban Bill to be tabled in the Assembly. It was only later that reservation for Scheduled Castes was included. Were you not aware of the issue or you deliberately followed the lines of the National Conference?
Ashok Kumar (AK): I want to make it clear that as member of the select committee, I had opposed the move to debar SCs and STs from inter-district recruitment. I had clearly mentioned this before finalising the report. Further, during a debate in the Assembly on the issue, I had strongly advocated the cause of SCs and STs.
I reiterate that I insisted on quota for SCs. I have suggested the government to fill the SC quota from a district and the remaining seats can be filled from other seats.
Jupinderjit Singh (JS): The Congress seemed to have caught on wrong foot again as happened with the Permanent Residents (Women) Disqualification Bill. What was the stand of your party?
AK: The Congress is against any kind of divisive policies and encouraging regionalism. The recruitment ban was necessary to help people of underdeveloped districts get jobs. We are totally against any regional divide and our stand is clear.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): What do you think about creamy layer in the SC category? Should it be exempted from the ambit of new job Bill?
AK: It is my personal opinion that creamy layer within the SC community should not avail benefits of reservation under this Bill. For instance, I feel that an IAS officer’s son from the SC community does not need reservation in the Inter-District Recruitment Bill.
JJS: You were a government teacher before joining politics. How did you foray into politics?
AK: The credit goes to our former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad. He wanted a candidate with clean image from Ramban. I was once leader of an organisation of unemployed youths. Though I lost the first elections with a thin margin, Azad sahib kept faith in me and I won the next elections with a massive lead.
DM: You won the Assembly elections, but in the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress could not get lead from your constituency.
AK: The Congress lagged behind the BJP in the Ramban Assembly segment since issues in parliamentary elections were entirely different from state issues. Secondly, the Assembly elections were fought under the leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad while in the Lok Sabha polls, he (Azad) could not campaign for party candidates in the state.
DM: You mean that the Congress received a setback in the state after Azad was moved to national politics?
AK: No doubt about that. Azad is a charismatic leader who is aware of local issues. Moreover, he has direct interaction with grass-roots level workers of the party. He has the capability to infuse enthusiasm among the party cadre.
DM: There are reports that you were denied ministerial berth due to your proximity with Azad. Is it true?
AK: I am not aware whether my name figured in the list of ministers or not. But one thing is clear that I don’t believe in factionalism. It is also a reality that Azad has encouraged me to join politics so I always consider him as my political mentor.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): The majority of people who are demanding cancellation of constituency development funds to legislatures, allege that these funds are being misused by some legislatures? What is your opinion?
AK: On the contrary, I think the government should increase the fund limit from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore per year. The MLA is the only person who knows about the requirement of his constituency and he needs funds for development. There are some people who misuse funds. But you have to show some work on the ground. Moreover, the MLAs do not have the money freely available to them. It is kept with the deputy commissioners who spend it.
JJS: What kind of development works have you taken in your constituency?
AK: Since my election, 70 schools have been opened or upgraded. I have brought electricity to many villages. The road network has been widened and many far-flung places have got road and phone connectivity.
Archit Watts (AW): In winters, the Jawahar Tunnel remains closed due to snowfall and the commuters have to suffer. Is there any plan to let it open throughout the year?
AK: We are working in this regard and the government has ordered to purchase some more snow-cutters of latest technology, which are being used in other countries. Besides, a railway track is also under construction, which will surely solve the problem to some extent.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The Baglihar hydroelectric project constructed over the Chenab has affected several families in Pul Doda. Has the issue been sorted out?
Ashok Kumar (AK): As far as compensation for the structures in the Pul Doda area is concerned, the government has adequately compensated them, but there are still some people from hamlets near the Dam Top area, who are awaiting relief.
Similarly, after dam reservoir came up, two bridges over the Chenab in Trungal and Marsoo villages submerged completely, causing hardships to villagers living on other side of the river. On my intervention, the government recently sanctioned two bridges, although the pace of work is very slow.
RKK: The Baglihar has come up in a seismic zone where sinking of a hill had once became a cause of concern. Has the problem been fixed?
AK: I had suggested the government to undertake a plantation drive in the area to check sinking of hills. Enough measures have been initiated by the executing agencies to fix the problem.
Kanav Gupta (student): Sir, you have the experience of examination system as you were a government teacher. What do you think could be the reasons behind the paper leak scandal ?
AK: People who get access to question papers must be those associated with the education department. Though some preventive measures have been taken, I think the whole constitution and working of the Board of School Education needs to be changed.
I fully understand the frustration of hardworking children who are directly affected by such incidents.
April- 10- :Tea with The Tribune --DB Gupta, chairman, JKBOSE
‘Measures under way to reform examination system’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta, chairman, J&K Board of School Education, talked about various issues concerning the state education system
Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta, chairman, J&K Board of School Education, in conversation with members of The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta is the chairman of the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE). He also nurtures the hobby of penning down his feelings in prose and poetry or painting them on the canvas.
Prof Gupta has brought some fundamental changes in the board’s functioning, which he discussed with The Tribune team during an interaction. A student, Jasleen Kaur from the Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School, too, joined the interaction.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): Tell us something about your social and academic background?
Desh Bandhu Gupta (DBG): I belong to a remote part of Bhaderwah town. We were six brothers and four sisters and my father’s income was just Rs 20 per month, still we managed to study. I came to Jammu in my younger days. I was fond of reading and a librarian helped me by providing me books.
I did graduation in science, but as I was reading all books I could lay my hands on, the university allowed me to do parallel graduation in arts and commerce as well. Later, I did a course in Sanskrit also. Thereupon, I secured a degree in law and completed PhD.
I started my career as research associate with the Department of Economics, University of Jammu, and served at various key positions in the same institute before taking charge as chairman of the board.
JJS: How do you use this diverse knowledge in your work?
DBG: I keep the student sitting in the farthest corner of the state in my mind while taking decisions and anticipate how it will affect him. For the past three years, examination fees have not been hiked. However, we may have to enhance it in near future, but it would be not more than 10 per cent. I remember I had seen a notebook in class V and I know the value of money.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The board has been in news for all the wrong reasons. There are instances of mass copying and paper leaking. What measures have you taken to avoid this in future?
DBG: Unless I get enough evidence of paper leakage, I would not initiate any action. In fact, no one has so far given me a formal complaint of paper leak or mass copying this year as well as in the past. In fact, I lodged a complaint with the police to investigate the paper leak scam of previous academic session.
Besides, I always constitute internal committees to look into such cases. I immediately sent newspaper cuttings along with a note to the BOSE secretary to initiate a probe.
To ensure a foolproof mechanism, I initiated measures like abolishing objective type questions. We have also devised a new model of examination system wherein question papers in four different series would be provided to students in every examination centre. Cell phones have been banned and if a student is found using it he invites disqualification for a period of five years. Likewise, teachers at the centres found flouting the rule invite disqualification for a period of two years.
I regretfully say that a number of teachers are involved in this unethical practice. To overcome mass copying, the BOSE would prefer schools having CCTV cameras.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): Students have been blaming board for the paper leak and other unfair means of examination. Your comments.
DBG: So far, all accused arrested in the case are not related to the board. They are employees of the Education Department.
Jasleen Kaur (JK): Hardworking students have suffered a lot because of paper leak cases? Is there any option that the students may not have to take their examination again?
DBG: Those students who do not want to take their examination again can go for evaluation of their paper and those who opt for re-examination can submit their application forms till April 10.
I feel such incidents do not affect the hardworking and intelligent students in any way.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): There are reports that some examination centres in the remote areas of Doda and Kishtwar districts were openly involved in massing copying. What actions the BOSE authorities have taken to check such the menace?
DBG: After getting reports of mass copying in inaccessible areas like Decchan, Marwah, Wardwan etc, I have gone through the results pertaining to these centres and found some foul play. Students of some schools that even lack teaching staff registered more than 80 per cent results. It was a clear indication of mass copying. The examinations in four such centres have already been declared invalid and action has been initiated against those were involved in conducting the examinations. The supervising staff of these centres have been debarred from conducting examinations in future.
AS: Students widely complain that even after their marks get increased during re-evaluation, the board does not refund the fee like Jammu University does. Why is it so?
DBG: The evaluation and reevaluation process is transparent. We even handout Xerox copy of the answer sheets to the students for their satisfaction.
AS: Can you tell the exact number of cases in which action was taken against the evaluators for grave discrepancies in paper checking?
DBG: From this year, we have decided to take stern action against such evaluators. The board will also get the list of such erring evaluators published in newspapers.
Archit Watts (AW): What action has been taken by the board in mass copying incident in which 21 students were caught using cell phones during their examination at Miran Sahib?
DBG: UMC cases have been made against all students involved in unfair means and a committee has been formed to investigate the matter thoroughly.
AW: Do you get full support from the police while conducting raids at examination centres?
DBG: Yes, the state police is giving us maximum support. The credit of tracing students involved in using unfair means is all due to the police.
AW: Do you know the police officer, who had helped the board to unearth the mass copying incident, has been transferred to the police lines? Is there any nexus between such mafia, board, and the police?
DBG: I can’t say anything about the nexus. And if the police officer has been transferred to the police lines, then it is to be looked by the police department.
I can only request to the media to give maximum support to the board officials in exposing such cases.
AS: The website of JKBOSE is not updated from time to time. Why so much slackness?
DBG: It was my initiative to put all information of board on the Internet. The board remains short of funds and manpower, but these issues are likely to be sorted out soon.
We have decided to upload reevaluation forms on our website so that students do not have to come to the board office for collecting the form.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): How can BOSE help students in minimising the stress for getting higher percentage in their examinations?
DBC: As per a Central government notification, grading system would be followed for evaluation, which might help reduce the stress on students. We would be giving grades to class X students whose examinations are presently underway in the Jammu zone. Similar would be the case with the students from Kashmir zone.
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta, chairman, J&K Board of School Education, talked about various issues concerning the state education system
Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta, chairman, J&K Board of School Education, in conversation with members of The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta is the chairman of the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE). He also nurtures the hobby of penning down his feelings in prose and poetry or painting them on the canvas.
Prof Gupta has brought some fundamental changes in the board’s functioning, which he discussed with The Tribune team during an interaction. A student, Jasleen Kaur from the Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School, too, joined the interaction.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): Tell us something about your social and academic background?
Desh Bandhu Gupta (DBG): I belong to a remote part of Bhaderwah town. We were six brothers and four sisters and my father’s income was just Rs 20 per month, still we managed to study. I came to Jammu in my younger days. I was fond of reading and a librarian helped me by providing me books.
I did graduation in science, but as I was reading all books I could lay my hands on, the university allowed me to do parallel graduation in arts and commerce as well. Later, I did a course in Sanskrit also. Thereupon, I secured a degree in law and completed PhD.
I started my career as research associate with the Department of Economics, University of Jammu, and served at various key positions in the same institute before taking charge as chairman of the board.
JJS: How do you use this diverse knowledge in your work?
DBG: I keep the student sitting in the farthest corner of the state in my mind while taking decisions and anticipate how it will affect him. For the past three years, examination fees have not been hiked. However, we may have to enhance it in near future, but it would be not more than 10 per cent. I remember I had seen a notebook in class V and I know the value of money.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The board has been in news for all the wrong reasons. There are instances of mass copying and paper leaking. What measures have you taken to avoid this in future?
DBG: Unless I get enough evidence of paper leakage, I would not initiate any action. In fact, no one has so far given me a formal complaint of paper leak or mass copying this year as well as in the past. In fact, I lodged a complaint with the police to investigate the paper leak scam of previous academic session.
Besides, I always constitute internal committees to look into such cases. I immediately sent newspaper cuttings along with a note to the BOSE secretary to initiate a probe.
To ensure a foolproof mechanism, I initiated measures like abolishing objective type questions. We have also devised a new model of examination system wherein question papers in four different series would be provided to students in every examination centre. Cell phones have been banned and if a student is found using it he invites disqualification for a period of five years. Likewise, teachers at the centres found flouting the rule invite disqualification for a period of two years.
I regretfully say that a number of teachers are involved in this unethical practice. To overcome mass copying, the BOSE would prefer schools having CCTV cameras.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): Students have been blaming board for the paper leak and other unfair means of examination. Your comments.
DBG: So far, all accused arrested in the case are not related to the board. They are employees of the Education Department.
Jasleen Kaur (JK): Hardworking students have suffered a lot because of paper leak cases? Is there any option that the students may not have to take their examination again?
DBG: Those students who do not want to take their examination again can go for evaluation of their paper and those who opt for re-examination can submit their application forms till April 10.
I feel such incidents do not affect the hardworking and intelligent students in any way.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): There are reports that some examination centres in the remote areas of Doda and Kishtwar districts were openly involved in massing copying. What actions the BOSE authorities have taken to check such the menace?
DBG: After getting reports of mass copying in inaccessible areas like Decchan, Marwah, Wardwan etc, I have gone through the results pertaining to these centres and found some foul play. Students of some schools that even lack teaching staff registered more than 80 per cent results. It was a clear indication of mass copying. The examinations in four such centres have already been declared invalid and action has been initiated against those were involved in conducting the examinations. The supervising staff of these centres have been debarred from conducting examinations in future.
AS: Students widely complain that even after their marks get increased during re-evaluation, the board does not refund the fee like Jammu University does. Why is it so?
DBG: The evaluation and reevaluation process is transparent. We even handout Xerox copy of the answer sheets to the students for their satisfaction.
AS: Can you tell the exact number of cases in which action was taken against the evaluators for grave discrepancies in paper checking?
DBG: From this year, we have decided to take stern action against such evaluators. The board will also get the list of such erring evaluators published in newspapers.
Archit Watts (AW): What action has been taken by the board in mass copying incident in which 21 students were caught using cell phones during their examination at Miran Sahib?
DBG: UMC cases have been made against all students involved in unfair means and a committee has been formed to investigate the matter thoroughly.
AW: Do you get full support from the police while conducting raids at examination centres?
DBG: Yes, the state police is giving us maximum support. The credit of tracing students involved in using unfair means is all due to the police.
AW: Do you know the police officer, who had helped the board to unearth the mass copying incident, has been transferred to the police lines? Is there any nexus between such mafia, board, and the police?
DBG: I can’t say anything about the nexus. And if the police officer has been transferred to the police lines, then it is to be looked by the police department.
I can only request to the media to give maximum support to the board officials in exposing such cases.
AS: The website of JKBOSE is not updated from time to time. Why so much slackness?
DBG: It was my initiative to put all information of board on the Internet. The board remains short of funds and manpower, but these issues are likely to be sorted out soon.
We have decided to upload reevaluation forms on our website so that students do not have to come to the board office for collecting the form.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): How can BOSE help students in minimising the stress for getting higher percentage in their examinations?
DBC: As per a Central government notification, grading system would be followed for evaluation, which might help reduce the stress on students. We would be giving grades to class X students whose examinations are presently underway in the Jammu zone. Similar would be the case with the students from Kashmir zone.
April - 3 :Tea with The Tribune -Dr Manohar Lal Sharma-MinisterCooperatives, Printing and Stationery,, Finance,, Industries
‘Cong can’t impose its agenda on NC’
Dr Manohar Lal Sharma is the Minister of State for Cooperatives, Printing and Stationery, Elections, Finance, Planning, Industries and Commerce, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Information Technology.
One of the highly qualified ministers in the Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet, Dr Sharma, youngest among five brothers, comes from a simple family of Billawar tehsil in Kathua district.
Following are the excerpts of his interaction with The Tribune team:
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Tell us about your family background, your education and how you forayed into politics?
Manohar Lal Sharma (MLS): My father was a freedom fighter, who later joined the Indian Army. He had won several national awards for his social activities. We are five brothers and I am the youngest one. After my bachelor’s degree in education, I did M.Sc in organic and inorganic chemistry and then completed PhD in agriculture and soil chemistry.
I never intended to join politics, but was a social activist. On the insistence of people, I contested Panchayat elections in 2000 and twice remained sarpanch of my village.
Being a social activist, I also remained affiliated to Nehru Yuva Kendra and several NGOs. In 1997, we launched our own NGO, Lok Jagriti Manch, and waged a war against corruption.
Archit Watts (AW): How do you manage nine departments at a time?
MLS: It is a big responsibility and sometimes creates a lot of troubles, but after I finish my work and return home, it gives me immense pleasure. I love my work and I am ready to take more responsibilities.
AW: Do you find some time for your family?
MLS: Usually, I don’t get time to spend with my family members. Sometimes they show their resentment, but they also understand my responsibilities towards people. I have two kids, a seven-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): It had been a tradition that the Minister of State for Finance used to present Budget in the Legislative Council, but this time, a Cabinet minister did the job. It is widely perceived that you were not allowed to present the Budget due to your loyalty with a particular faction of the Congress.
MLS: It is not the reason. Actually, it was decided last year that leader of the House would present the Budget in the Upper House. This time, leader of the House RS Chib was out of station so in his absence, Minister of Health presented the Budget. There is no politics in it.
DM: Don’t you think that factionalism in the Congress has badly affected performance of the party?
MLS: I do not call it factionalism; it is rather difference of opinion. It is not necessary that all leaders have same view on all issues, but as far as ideology of the party is concerned, we are all committed to it.
RKK: Why the Congress first remains silent and then reacts when it comes to introduction of controversial Bills like Women Permanent Residents (Disqualification) Bill, which had brought the then Cong-PDP coalition on the verge of collapse.
MLS: There is always some difficulty when it comes to work in a coalition government, but it doesn’t mean that the Congress remains a mute spectator. The Congress is a big party and it has to see all three regions of the state. The Women Permanent Residents (Disqualification) Bill might suits Kashmir-based parties, but not the Congress. It might be possible that Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla had been asked by the Chief Minister not to oppose the Bill in its initial stage, but the party has made its stand very clear.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): With six portfolios as minister of state and three independent charges, which sector do you think government needs to put more efforts in?
MLS: Genuinely speaking, in almost every sector the state lags behind. Be it science and technology, cooperatives, higher education or any other department. The state needs to do much more. Funds constraint is a major hurdle that has been affecting the functioning of all departments.
AS: Cooperatives have remained the most neglected sector. What you have been doing to improve its functioning?
MLS: We have taken a number of initiatives. As cooperatives are an autonomous body, we don’t have a direct control over them. We have suggested that only MBA, MCA or technically qualified candidates be recruited at the managerial level. Also, measures are being taken to revive the functioning of cooperative banks, colleges and land development bank. Recently, the cooperative bank has issued 60,000 kisan credit cards with rate of interest reduced from 9 per cent to 7 per cent. The rate of interest can go down further.
RKK: A whopping Rs 100 crore expenditure on the stay of government employees in hotels and guest houses and ministers surpassing Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in TA/DA expenditures running into lakhs of rupees. What sort of austerity measures are these and how can you justify such lavish expenditure by a cash-starved state?
MLS: If the government has to ensure time-bound completion of developmental works then ministers are bound to travel. However, big motorcades should be avoided.
RKK: Around 4.50 lakh state government employees have been agitating for the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission, chiefly the release of their arrear amount. Is there any breakthrough and how the state government is going to manage?
MLS: We are exploring possibilities and the government is committed to its promise. But having said that, Rs 4,300 crore is required to pay the arrears, including pensions, which is not possible in one go. We are talking to the Union Government, besides trade unions and employees. Though there is no word from the government so far, we would definitely find a way out.
DM: You say that all Congress leaders are committed to the ideology. But it is perceived that party ministers failed to pursue Congress agenda, especially in case of the constitution of delimitation commission and on the inter-district recruitment.
MLS: I don’t agree. We are running a coalition government so it is not possible to impose our agenda on our partner. I want to make it clear that constitution of the delimitation commission is on the top of party’s agenda. As far as inter-district recruitment is concerned, the party has already made its stand clear.
AW: Tell us about your achievements ever since you became a minister in the present government.
MLS: The first thing I did after becoming the minister is that I started completing the work the same day and not even a single file is pending in my office. Now, I have started working on several other projects. We have signed two important MoUs with the RBI. I am also introducing a Bill for cooperatives in this Budget Session, which will surely benefit pubic, as well as cooperative banks and its employees.
AS: Former Education Minister has claimed that professional diploma and certificate courses introduced at the college level during his tenure are not being taught anymore. Is it true?
MLS: It’s not true at all. Most of such courses are being taught along with the main subjects. If there are some courses which are not being taught at present, it’s not in my notice. I will certainly look into the matter. Moreover, we are introducing more professional courses in new colleges as per the demand and availability of staff and infrastructure.
AS: Has the present government abandoned the concept of e-governance that was adopted by the previous regime?
MLS: The IT department is short of staff and which is why websites of the departments are not being updated time to time. We have brought the issue into the notice of the Chief Minister, besides writing to the IT Department. I personally believe that if corruption is to be curbed, e-governance is must.
Dr Manohar Lal Sharma is the Minister of State for Cooperatives, Printing and Stationery, Elections, Finance, Planning, Industries and Commerce, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Information Technology.
One of the highly qualified ministers in the Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet, Dr Sharma, youngest among five brothers, comes from a simple family of Billawar tehsil in Kathua district.
Following are the excerpts of his interaction with The Tribune team:
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Tell us about your family background, your education and how you forayed into politics?
Manohar Lal Sharma (MLS): My father was a freedom fighter, who later joined the Indian Army. He had won several national awards for his social activities. We are five brothers and I am the youngest one. After my bachelor’s degree in education, I did M.Sc in organic and inorganic chemistry and then completed PhD in agriculture and soil chemistry.
I never intended to join politics, but was a social activist. On the insistence of people, I contested Panchayat elections in 2000 and twice remained sarpanch of my village.
Being a social activist, I also remained affiliated to Nehru Yuva Kendra and several NGOs. In 1997, we launched our own NGO, Lok Jagriti Manch, and waged a war against corruption.
Archit Watts (AW): How do you manage nine departments at a time?
MLS: It is a big responsibility and sometimes creates a lot of troubles, but after I finish my work and return home, it gives me immense pleasure. I love my work and I am ready to take more responsibilities.
AW: Do you find some time for your family?
MLS: Usually, I don’t get time to spend with my family members. Sometimes they show their resentment, but they also understand my responsibilities towards people. I have two kids, a seven-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): It had been a tradition that the Minister of State for Finance used to present Budget in the Legislative Council, but this time, a Cabinet minister did the job. It is widely perceived that you were not allowed to present the Budget due to your loyalty with a particular faction of the Congress.
MLS: It is not the reason. Actually, it was decided last year that leader of the House would present the Budget in the Upper House. This time, leader of the House RS Chib was out of station so in his absence, Minister of Health presented the Budget. There is no politics in it.
DM: Don’t you think that factionalism in the Congress has badly affected performance of the party?
MLS: I do not call it factionalism; it is rather difference of opinion. It is not necessary that all leaders have same view on all issues, but as far as ideology of the party is concerned, we are all committed to it.
RKK: Why the Congress first remains silent and then reacts when it comes to introduction of controversial Bills like Women Permanent Residents (Disqualification) Bill, which had brought the then Cong-PDP coalition on the verge of collapse.
MLS: There is always some difficulty when it comes to work in a coalition government, but it doesn’t mean that the Congress remains a mute spectator. The Congress is a big party and it has to see all three regions of the state. The Women Permanent Residents (Disqualification) Bill might suits Kashmir-based parties, but not the Congress. It might be possible that Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla had been asked by the Chief Minister not to oppose the Bill in its initial stage, but the party has made its stand very clear.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): With six portfolios as minister of state and three independent charges, which sector do you think government needs to put more efforts in?
MLS: Genuinely speaking, in almost every sector the state lags behind. Be it science and technology, cooperatives, higher education or any other department. The state needs to do much more. Funds constraint is a major hurdle that has been affecting the functioning of all departments.
AS: Cooperatives have remained the most neglected sector. What you have been doing to improve its functioning?
MLS: We have taken a number of initiatives. As cooperatives are an autonomous body, we don’t have a direct control over them. We have suggested that only MBA, MCA or technically qualified candidates be recruited at the managerial level. Also, measures are being taken to revive the functioning of cooperative banks, colleges and land development bank. Recently, the cooperative bank has issued 60,000 kisan credit cards with rate of interest reduced from 9 per cent to 7 per cent. The rate of interest can go down further.
RKK: A whopping Rs 100 crore expenditure on the stay of government employees in hotels and guest houses and ministers surpassing Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in TA/DA expenditures running into lakhs of rupees. What sort of austerity measures are these and how can you justify such lavish expenditure by a cash-starved state?
MLS: If the government has to ensure time-bound completion of developmental works then ministers are bound to travel. However, big motorcades should be avoided.
RKK: Around 4.50 lakh state government employees have been agitating for the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission, chiefly the release of their arrear amount. Is there any breakthrough and how the state government is going to manage?
MLS: We are exploring possibilities and the government is committed to its promise. But having said that, Rs 4,300 crore is required to pay the arrears, including pensions, which is not possible in one go. We are talking to the Union Government, besides trade unions and employees. Though there is no word from the government so far, we would definitely find a way out.
DM: You say that all Congress leaders are committed to the ideology. But it is perceived that party ministers failed to pursue Congress agenda, especially in case of the constitution of delimitation commission and on the inter-district recruitment.
MLS: I don’t agree. We are running a coalition government so it is not possible to impose our agenda on our partner. I want to make it clear that constitution of the delimitation commission is on the top of party’s agenda. As far as inter-district recruitment is concerned, the party has already made its stand clear.
AW: Tell us about your achievements ever since you became a minister in the present government.
MLS: The first thing I did after becoming the minister is that I started completing the work the same day and not even a single file is pending in my office. Now, I have started working on several other projects. We have signed two important MoUs with the RBI. I am also introducing a Bill for cooperatives in this Budget Session, which will surely benefit pubic, as well as cooperative banks and its employees.
AS: Former Education Minister has claimed that professional diploma and certificate courses introduced at the college level during his tenure are not being taught anymore. Is it true?
MLS: It’s not true at all. Most of such courses are being taught along with the main subjects. If there are some courses which are not being taught at present, it’s not in my notice. I will certainly look into the matter. Moreover, we are introducing more professional courses in new colleges as per the demand and availability of staff and infrastructure.
AS: Has the present government abandoned the concept of e-governance that was adopted by the previous regime?
MLS: The IT department is short of staff and which is why websites of the departments are not being updated time to time. We have brought the issue into the notice of the Chief Minister, besides writing to the IT Department. I personally believe that if corruption is to be curbed, e-governance is must.
March-27 : Tea with The Tribune -Abdul Rashid, MLA
‘Govt must talk to Kashmiris at grass-roots level’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Abdul Rashid Engineer, Independent MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, shares his thoughts
Abdul Rashid Engineer, MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, in conversation with members of The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
He is probably the only one who took on militants for mindless killings, Army officials for human right abuse and forced labour, and the police for excesses on civilians.
Abdul Rashid resigned from a senior post in the Public Health and Engineering Department to contest elections and beat many bigwigs.
He shares his journey from torture chambers of police to the state Assembly in a tete-e-tete with The Tribune.
Two students from the Kendriya Vidhyala-2, Akanksha Dhar and Gunjan Verma, also participated in the interaction.
Jupinderjit Singh: You are an engineer by profession. Why did you choose to be in politics?
Abdul Rashid Engineer (AR): I have constructed a number of bridges, roads and buildings in my 20 years’ of service. I was not liked by contractors, my seniors and employees, as I did not take bribe or pilfer construction material.
All that while, I could not shut my eyes to the bloodshed and human rights abuse in the valley, especially in Kupwara. I confronted militants on killings of innocent people and exploitation of youngsters.
The security forces were taking forced labour from villagers. I raised my voice against that. I was once tortured and kept in a small room along with 14 other prisoners. We could not stretch our legs and arms. A senior police official asked me if I had learnt a lesson and what I would do after being released. I told him I would contest elections and return as an MLA. This is how my political career began.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have been considered as “giant killer” because despite being novice in politics you defeated veterans like Sharief ud Din Shariq of the NC and Mohammad Sultan Pandit Puri of the PDP. How did you manage such victory?
AR: I had no money. But once I announced my decision to contest, people came in my support. They gave me money and campaigned for me. NC and PDP leaders adopted all means to defame me, but it was love and faith of people that I won the elections with a comfortable margin.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): What is the most memorable moment of your life?
AR: There are many. The most haunting incident occurred when I decided to contest elections. Contesting as an independent candidate was neither acceptable to mainstream politicians nor separatists or militants. My mother even put her “dupatta” in my feet and pleaded to give up the idea. I could not do that as during my jail days, I had pledged to become an MLA for the welfare of my people.
DM: You defeated Shariq ud Din Shariq in the Assembly elections but he later won the Lok Sabha elections. Don’t you think that it is mockery of the democratic system?
AR: Issues in the Lok Sabha elections are entirely different. Firstly, people always vote for the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections and secondly, I also supported Shariq. In my opinion, people don’t take the Lok Sabha elections as seriously as compare to Assembly elections.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Kupwara once remained the hotbed of militancy. What is the scenario today in the valley and how you are contributing your bit to bring back misguided youth into the mainstream.
AR: Not only in Kupwara but also in the entire Valley, the “sentiment” is there and no one could deny it and separatists use it to their advantage. A senior separatist leader, who always talked and preached sacrifices, now tell the militancy affected people to accept ex-gratia relief from the government. I feel that the government should talk to Kashmiris and that is the only way peace could be restored.
RKK: What is your reaction to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s proposed amnesty and rehabilitation policy for the misguided youth stranded in PoK?
AR: Before discussing amnesty, I want to make a point. Several people feel that rigging in the 1987 Assembly elections was the root cause of triggering militancy in the state. Suppose, had UJC chief Salahuddin won the elections, he, too, would have become part of the system. I want to say that we need realistic people and a politics of reconciliation. What is mainstream and what is separatist sentiment… these terms are abuses to the system.
It is time we must talk to Salahuddin. We must see the problem in right perspective because shying away from it won’t help us in anyway.
RKK: So, what exactly should be done to see that peace returns to the state?
AR: Talk to Kashmiri youth, talk to militants and UJC chief Salahuddin, isolate foreign mercenaries and stop talking to people, who have vested interests. As far as amnesty to misguided youth in PoK is concerned, don’t you think that those who want to return without guns should be allowed to come back, lead a normal life and become productive citizens. Do you want to kill militancy or militants?
I strongly feel that a broad-based reconciliation policy is the need of the hour.
RKK: Will you define the contours of your formula?
AR: We have to start from somewhere. I told you that we must talk to Kashmiris at grass-roots level and engage Salahuddin in talks because people in the valley are now fed up with separatists.
Archit Watts: You are known as angry young man in the Assembly, why so?
AR: Am I (laughs)? I was thinking this title has been given to the Chief Minister. Still, I acknowledge the title, which some politicians have given to me. Yes, sometimes I behave like this, as you are saying. But it is need of the hour of my constituency, as my people are suffering from a number of problems. And I will do it, whether it is right or wrong.
Akanksha (student): Why do MLAs make so much noise in the Assembly?
AR: True, we must be polite. But as I already explained that when , when we are not heard, we have no option but to shout. Also, MLAs job is not for all life. We have to perform in the Assembly and in the constituency. One has to get heard to get projects for the people of his constituency.
DM: You are claiming not to be part of the coalition government but you are sitting on the side of treasury benches. What are the reasons?
I want to make it clear neither I am with the opposition nor with the ruling alliance. My affiliation is only with the people of Langate and I will take all decisions keeping in view the aspirations of the people of my constituency.
AS: Members of SC/ST communities consider proposed ban on inter-district recruitments against their interest, still you have been vociferously advocating the same. Why?
AR: There seems to be a communication gap. The proposed ban would not be against any community. It’s all about providing equal opportunities to all. Do you think that a candidate belonging to a backward area say for instance Kupwara can compete with his counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir districts.
The ban could be effected by exempting the backward communities but again it needs a consensus. When Harsh Dev Singh raised the same issue it received criticism from Kashmir and now when I have asked for the ban on inter-district recruitment, a lot of hue and cry is being raised in Jammu. Both regions should agree upon issues of mutual benefit and common good.
AS: The kind of commitment and honesty you display for the people is missing on part of other politicians. What’s your take?
AR: They talk of austerity, but I practice it in real sense. I avoid security, government vehicles and take food from roadside dhabas. On the other hand, when I see some ministers and bureaucrats blowing up public money for their luxuries, I feel bad.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): Being an independent MLA, what is your policy for the minority community of the valley?
AR: When I had no money to contest elections, a Kashmiri Pandit donated me Rs 50,000. I could never repay that gratitude. I came to Jammu for the first time only after becoming an MLA. I visited their camps and saw their condition. I will provide Rs 5 lakh to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits for their welfare. I am ready to help them and to fight for their issues in the Assembly. The government should reserve 2 per cent seats for them in the Assembly before their return to the valley so that they could get a proper platform to raise their issues.
Gunjan (student): Are you in favour of the Permanent Residents (Women) Disqualification Bill? Isn’t it discriminatory?
AR: I am against all kinds of discrimination. Rules should be the same for men and women.
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Abdul Rashid Engineer, Independent MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, shares his thoughts
Abdul Rashid Engineer, MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, in conversation with members of The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
He is probably the only one who took on militants for mindless killings, Army officials for human right abuse and forced labour, and the police for excesses on civilians.
Abdul Rashid resigned from a senior post in the Public Health and Engineering Department to contest elections and beat many bigwigs.
He shares his journey from torture chambers of police to the state Assembly in a tete-e-tete with The Tribune.
Two students from the Kendriya Vidhyala-2, Akanksha Dhar and Gunjan Verma, also participated in the interaction.
Jupinderjit Singh: You are an engineer by profession. Why did you choose to be in politics?
Abdul Rashid Engineer (AR): I have constructed a number of bridges, roads and buildings in my 20 years’ of service. I was not liked by contractors, my seniors and employees, as I did not take bribe or pilfer construction material.
All that while, I could not shut my eyes to the bloodshed and human rights abuse in the valley, especially in Kupwara. I confronted militants on killings of innocent people and exploitation of youngsters.
The security forces were taking forced labour from villagers. I raised my voice against that. I was once tortured and kept in a small room along with 14 other prisoners. We could not stretch our legs and arms. A senior police official asked me if I had learnt a lesson and what I would do after being released. I told him I would contest elections and return as an MLA. This is how my political career began.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have been considered as “giant killer” because despite being novice in politics you defeated veterans like Sharief ud Din Shariq of the NC and Mohammad Sultan Pandit Puri of the PDP. How did you manage such victory?
AR: I had no money. But once I announced my decision to contest, people came in my support. They gave me money and campaigned for me. NC and PDP leaders adopted all means to defame me, but it was love and faith of people that I won the elections with a comfortable margin.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): What is the most memorable moment of your life?
AR: There are many. The most haunting incident occurred when I decided to contest elections. Contesting as an independent candidate was neither acceptable to mainstream politicians nor separatists or militants. My mother even put her “dupatta” in my feet and pleaded to give up the idea. I could not do that as during my jail days, I had pledged to become an MLA for the welfare of my people.
DM: You defeated Shariq ud Din Shariq in the Assembly elections but he later won the Lok Sabha elections. Don’t you think that it is mockery of the democratic system?
AR: Issues in the Lok Sabha elections are entirely different. Firstly, people always vote for the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections and secondly, I also supported Shariq. In my opinion, people don’t take the Lok Sabha elections as seriously as compare to Assembly elections.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Kupwara once remained the hotbed of militancy. What is the scenario today in the valley and how you are contributing your bit to bring back misguided youth into the mainstream.
AR: Not only in Kupwara but also in the entire Valley, the “sentiment” is there and no one could deny it and separatists use it to their advantage. A senior separatist leader, who always talked and preached sacrifices, now tell the militancy affected people to accept ex-gratia relief from the government. I feel that the government should talk to Kashmiris and that is the only way peace could be restored.
RKK: What is your reaction to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s proposed amnesty and rehabilitation policy for the misguided youth stranded in PoK?
AR: Before discussing amnesty, I want to make a point. Several people feel that rigging in the 1987 Assembly elections was the root cause of triggering militancy in the state. Suppose, had UJC chief Salahuddin won the elections, he, too, would have become part of the system. I want to say that we need realistic people and a politics of reconciliation. What is mainstream and what is separatist sentiment… these terms are abuses to the system.
It is time we must talk to Salahuddin. We must see the problem in right perspective because shying away from it won’t help us in anyway.
RKK: So, what exactly should be done to see that peace returns to the state?
AR: Talk to Kashmiri youth, talk to militants and UJC chief Salahuddin, isolate foreign mercenaries and stop talking to people, who have vested interests. As far as amnesty to misguided youth in PoK is concerned, don’t you think that those who want to return without guns should be allowed to come back, lead a normal life and become productive citizens. Do you want to kill militancy or militants?
I strongly feel that a broad-based reconciliation policy is the need of the hour.
RKK: Will you define the contours of your formula?
AR: We have to start from somewhere. I told you that we must talk to Kashmiris at grass-roots level and engage Salahuddin in talks because people in the valley are now fed up with separatists.
Archit Watts: You are known as angry young man in the Assembly, why so?
AR: Am I (laughs)? I was thinking this title has been given to the Chief Minister. Still, I acknowledge the title, which some politicians have given to me. Yes, sometimes I behave like this, as you are saying. But it is need of the hour of my constituency, as my people are suffering from a number of problems. And I will do it, whether it is right or wrong.
Akanksha (student): Why do MLAs make so much noise in the Assembly?
AR: True, we must be polite. But as I already explained that when , when we are not heard, we have no option but to shout. Also, MLAs job is not for all life. We have to perform in the Assembly and in the constituency. One has to get heard to get projects for the people of his constituency.
DM: You are claiming not to be part of the coalition government but you are sitting on the side of treasury benches. What are the reasons?
I want to make it clear neither I am with the opposition nor with the ruling alliance. My affiliation is only with the people of Langate and I will take all decisions keeping in view the aspirations of the people of my constituency.
AS: Members of SC/ST communities consider proposed ban on inter-district recruitments against their interest, still you have been vociferously advocating the same. Why?
AR: There seems to be a communication gap. The proposed ban would not be against any community. It’s all about providing equal opportunities to all. Do you think that a candidate belonging to a backward area say for instance Kupwara can compete with his counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir districts.
The ban could be effected by exempting the backward communities but again it needs a consensus. When Harsh Dev Singh raised the same issue it received criticism from Kashmir and now when I have asked for the ban on inter-district recruitment, a lot of hue and cry is being raised in Jammu. Both regions should agree upon issues of mutual benefit and common good.
AS: The kind of commitment and honesty you display for the people is missing on part of other politicians. What’s your take?
AR: They talk of austerity, but I practice it in real sense. I avoid security, government vehicles and take food from roadside dhabas. On the other hand, when I see some ministers and bureaucrats blowing up public money for their luxuries, I feel bad.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): Being an independent MLA, what is your policy for the minority community of the valley?
AR: When I had no money to contest elections, a Kashmiri Pandit donated me Rs 50,000. I could never repay that gratitude. I came to Jammu for the first time only after becoming an MLA. I visited their camps and saw their condition. I will provide Rs 5 lakh to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits for their welfare. I am ready to help them and to fight for their issues in the Assembly. The government should reserve 2 per cent seats for them in the Assembly before their return to the valley so that they could get a proper platform to raise their issues.
Gunjan (student): Are you in favour of the Permanent Residents (Women) Disqualification Bill? Isn’t it discriminatory?
AR: I am against all kinds of discrimination. Rules should be the same for men and women.
March-20 : Tea with The Tribune Harsh Dev: Panthers’ MLA
Tea with The Tribune
Harsh Dev: Panthers’ MLA
‘Absenteeism from Assembly uncalled for’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Harsh Dev Singh, Panthers Party MLA from the Ramnagar constituency (Udhampur) and former Education Minister, talked about his life and career.
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh
Harsh Dev is one of the most vocal and grilling members of the Assembly. He has won the best legislator award and his questions regarding problems of commoners are well received by all political parties.
Born in a political family, Harsh began his career as a student leader, practiced as an advocate for a few years before becoming a full-time politician. He has remained Education Minister in the coalition government from 2002-05. He has been elected to the Assembly for the third consecutive time.
Three students from Sudesh Rani (SR) Public School too joined The Tribune team during the interaction.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You began your political career as a student leader. Are present day students resorting to agitations too early for the acceptance of their demands?
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
Harsh Dev Singh (HDS): It all depends where the students and their leaders are channelising their energy. They have the right to agitate, but only if it is justified. It should be the last resort. But then, no one hears unless you agitate. Real leaders emerge when their cause is justified.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): You were awarded the best legislator award in the previous term. Do you agree the standard of debate, proceedings and conduct has fallen in the Assembly. Members don’t take question hour seriously and even senior leaders are absent?
HDS: It is really unfortunate. What shocks me the most is that even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has remained away from the house during the current session. It is uncalled for. Though ministers and the CM get information of the proceedings from officials, secondhand information is never complete. Legislators raise questions and issues of public importance and the CM and others, including the opposition members, should be there to listen.
The standard of debate is falling as legislators are not doing their homework properly. Participating in discussions of the Assembly is not an easy job. One has to be aware of all issues.
RKK: There are too many walkouts, noises in the House by the opposition. Criticising the government is fine, but should it be on every issue? Whose purpose is solved with walkouts?
HDS: It is because the ruling party often adopts an escapist attitude because we in the opposition are well-versed with the problems and issues haunting the common man. However, I believe that walkouts and pandemonium actually help the government as they don’t have to reply to questions or debate on Bills and public issues. But we have no other resort.
Akshat (student): Our teachers reprimand us when we make noise in the classroom. Can’t the legislators go about the proceedings politely?
HDS: Shouting becomes necessary when you are not being heard or when you have no means to stop a wrong. The government tries to clear Bills and laws that suit them. To prevent a major wrong doing, we have to shout and resort to other means of protest.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): There is no ruckus when the legislators have to increase their salaries to which all agree and in one voice. Why?
HDS: Legislators have to meet several expenses. It increasingly becomes difficult for us. At the same time, I have been stressing that the salary hike should be proportionate. It should be for all, not just for legislators.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): As an Education Minister, you took several new initiatives. What is their fate now?
HDS: In my tenure from 2002-05, as many as 32,000 teachers were recruited and there was not a single allegation of favouritism or corruption. We opened 10,000 new schools and 22 colleges. I have seen people remember good work. I always give advice to my fellow legislators to work for public. That is how I have got elected thrice.
I also started many new add-on courses. The Central government is now introducing those courses through the central universities. I was the first to introduce web designing, TV and computer courses. Nearly 80 per cent of those courses have now been discontinued.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): The Central government has either abolished or abolishing board examinations for higher classes to reduce stress on students. But Jammu and Kashmir is going the other way by starting board examinations for classes III and V.
HDS: This is illogical. I don’t think any good would come out of it. It would put extra burden on children and parents, besides state exchequer.
Rajat (student): Do you support the move of uniform syllabus in the country for classes XI and XII?
HDS: Yes, it is a step in right direction. Uniformity will help all. It will also bring government school on a par with private schools.
JJS: You did a lot to improve government schools. Would you send your children to a government school?
HDS: My two sons are studying in Delhi Public School. Government schools are no match to private schools, which are far better in imparting education and overall development of a child.
Smiley Gupta (student): A highly controversial and anti-women Bill that disqualifies a woman from permanent resident status if she marries a non-state resident man. What is you party’s stand on it?
HDS: We are opposing it and I assure you we will not let it become a law. It is shocking that on one hand, the Central government has passed in the Rajya Sabha a Bill for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and here, we have taken a step backwards.
JJS: But has the state subject-hood or Article 370 helped the common person in the state?
HDS: It has been misused all this time. Some political parties are using it as a tool to hurt the sentiments of the masses for their personal gains.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): How many women leaders are there in your party?
HDS: Just one, but we are looking for talent. We admit that women have already outshone men in all departments and only political field has left.
Ashutosh Sharma: Talking about the Panther’s Party, it is often said you are the right man in the wrong party?
HDS: It doesn’t matter at all where you are. But, what matters is how you have been performing the role you are assigned. I feel contended with what I have been doing as people acknowledge my efforts aimed at their welfare. It is not about being in a party that is likely to be in power. It is about doing your bit wherever you are comfortable.
My father, Thakur Dass, was a Congressman first, but later he left it. Then my paternal uncle, Prof Bhim Singh floated the Panthers Party in 1996, and now we are three MLAs in the legislature.
Archit Watts (AW): What are the future plans of your party? Do you plan to form a third front in the state to wrest favour from the NC-Congress or the PDP?
HDS: It all depends on people. We want people to support our candidates from all constituencies so that we can form a government on our own.
DM: Don’t you think that there is a need to bring all Jammu-based local parties on a single platform to form a front?
HDS: Yes, all Jammu-based groups have to come on a single platform to effectively take up issues of this region. Earlier, some efforts were made in this regard, but could not be materialised. As far as the Panthers Party is concerned, we are ready to take an initiative in this regard.
Harsh Dev: Panthers’ MLA
‘Absenteeism from Assembly uncalled for’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Harsh Dev Singh, Panthers Party MLA from the Ramnagar constituency (Udhampur) and former Education Minister, talked about his life and career.
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh
Harsh Dev is one of the most vocal and grilling members of the Assembly. He has won the best legislator award and his questions regarding problems of commoners are well received by all political parties.
Born in a political family, Harsh began his career as a student leader, practiced as an advocate for a few years before becoming a full-time politician. He has remained Education Minister in the coalition government from 2002-05. He has been elected to the Assembly for the third consecutive time.
Three students from Sudesh Rani (SR) Public School too joined The Tribune team during the interaction.
Following are the excerpts:
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): You began your political career as a student leader. Are present day students resorting to agitations too early for the acceptance of their demands?
Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Senior Panthers’ leader Harsh Dev Singh in conversation with The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
Harsh Dev Singh (HDS): It all depends where the students and their leaders are channelising their energy. They have the right to agitate, but only if it is justified. It should be the last resort. But then, no one hears unless you agitate. Real leaders emerge when their cause is justified.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): You were awarded the best legislator award in the previous term. Do you agree the standard of debate, proceedings and conduct has fallen in the Assembly. Members don’t take question hour seriously and even senior leaders are absent?
HDS: It is really unfortunate. What shocks me the most is that even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has remained away from the house during the current session. It is uncalled for. Though ministers and the CM get information of the proceedings from officials, secondhand information is never complete. Legislators raise questions and issues of public importance and the CM and others, including the opposition members, should be there to listen.
The standard of debate is falling as legislators are not doing their homework properly. Participating in discussions of the Assembly is not an easy job. One has to be aware of all issues.
RKK: There are too many walkouts, noises in the House by the opposition. Criticising the government is fine, but should it be on every issue? Whose purpose is solved with walkouts?
HDS: It is because the ruling party often adopts an escapist attitude because we in the opposition are well-versed with the problems and issues haunting the common man. However, I believe that walkouts and pandemonium actually help the government as they don’t have to reply to questions or debate on Bills and public issues. But we have no other resort.
Akshat (student): Our teachers reprimand us when we make noise in the classroom. Can’t the legislators go about the proceedings politely?
HDS: Shouting becomes necessary when you are not being heard or when you have no means to stop a wrong. The government tries to clear Bills and laws that suit them. To prevent a major wrong doing, we have to shout and resort to other means of protest.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): There is no ruckus when the legislators have to increase their salaries to which all agree and in one voice. Why?
HDS: Legislators have to meet several expenses. It increasingly becomes difficult for us. At the same time, I have been stressing that the salary hike should be proportionate. It should be for all, not just for legislators.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): As an Education Minister, you took several new initiatives. What is their fate now?
HDS: In my tenure from 2002-05, as many as 32,000 teachers were recruited and there was not a single allegation of favouritism or corruption. We opened 10,000 new schools and 22 colleges. I have seen people remember good work. I always give advice to my fellow legislators to work for public. That is how I have got elected thrice.
I also started many new add-on courses. The Central government is now introducing those courses through the central universities. I was the first to introduce web designing, TV and computer courses. Nearly 80 per cent of those courses have now been discontinued.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): The Central government has either abolished or abolishing board examinations for higher classes to reduce stress on students. But Jammu and Kashmir is going the other way by starting board examinations for classes III and V.
HDS: This is illogical. I don’t think any good would come out of it. It would put extra burden on children and parents, besides state exchequer.
Rajat (student): Do you support the move of uniform syllabus in the country for classes XI and XII?
HDS: Yes, it is a step in right direction. Uniformity will help all. It will also bring government school on a par with private schools.
JJS: You did a lot to improve government schools. Would you send your children to a government school?
HDS: My two sons are studying in Delhi Public School. Government schools are no match to private schools, which are far better in imparting education and overall development of a child.
Smiley Gupta (student): A highly controversial and anti-women Bill that disqualifies a woman from permanent resident status if she marries a non-state resident man. What is you party’s stand on it?
HDS: We are opposing it and I assure you we will not let it become a law. It is shocking that on one hand, the Central government has passed in the Rajya Sabha a Bill for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and here, we have taken a step backwards.
JJS: But has the state subject-hood or Article 370 helped the common person in the state?
HDS: It has been misused all this time. Some political parties are using it as a tool to hurt the sentiments of the masses for their personal gains.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): How many women leaders are there in your party?
HDS: Just one, but we are looking for talent. We admit that women have already outshone men in all departments and only political field has left.
Ashutosh Sharma: Talking about the Panther’s Party, it is often said you are the right man in the wrong party?
HDS: It doesn’t matter at all where you are. But, what matters is how you have been performing the role you are assigned. I feel contended with what I have been doing as people acknowledge my efforts aimed at their welfare. It is not about being in a party that is likely to be in power. It is about doing your bit wherever you are comfortable.
My father, Thakur Dass, was a Congressman first, but later he left it. Then my paternal uncle, Prof Bhim Singh floated the Panthers Party in 1996, and now we are three MLAs in the legislature.
Archit Watts (AW): What are the future plans of your party? Do you plan to form a third front in the state to wrest favour from the NC-Congress or the PDP?
HDS: It all depends on people. We want people to support our candidates from all constituencies so that we can form a government on our own.
DM: Don’t you think that there is a need to bring all Jammu-based local parties on a single platform to form a front?
HDS: Yes, all Jammu-based groups have to come on a single platform to effectively take up issues of this region. Earlier, some efforts were made in this regard, but could not be materialised. As far as the Panthers Party is concerned, we are ready to take an initiative in this regard.
March - 13--Tea with The Tribune : Shamima Firdous, Chairperson of the State Commission for Women
Tea with The Tribune
Women commission to have offices in all dists.
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Shamima Firdous, MLA and chairperson of the State Commission for Women, shares her experiences
Shamima Firdous, MLA from the Habba Kadal constituency in Kashmir, is a lawyer and a dedicated worker of the National Conference. She has been appointed chairperson of the State Commission for Women, which got its head after seven years. With renewed interest on the significance of women legislatures after the Women’s Bill, Shamima talks with The Tribune team about her struggle in carving a niche in the field of politics, still dominated by men.
Two students Dinesh Bhat and Shweta Raina from Luthra Public School also joined.
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): It must have been very difficult for you to survive in politics, which is mainly male dominated?
Shamima Firdous (SF): Yes, it is indeed difficult. The Abdullah family has helped me a lot. I am particularly indebted to Akbar Jahan, wife of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah, with whom I worked as personal secretary for two decades.
Even after that it wasn’t easy as women are looked down upon, but gradually I moved up the ladder with determination. Eventually, I won the Assembly elections from a constituency which usually supported a Kashmir Pandit leader. That gave me strength and I felt being accepted by all communities.
Shweta Raina (student): How tough it is for a woman?
SF: It is very difficult. Most men don’t want women to take over the field of power. We are relegated to lower and unimportant positions. Even for seats in a hall, men take the front seats. Every minute, a woman has to struggle to be heard and get noticed.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The State Commission for Women (SCW) has found its chairperson after a long gap of seven years. How can you expect a smooth sailing in the backdrop of infrastructural constraints? The commission doesn’t even have its own building and continues to function from rented accommodations.
SF: I believe in working. Whether offices are good or bad, permanent or rental do not matter. Infrastructure problems are there, but I am taking these things in stride. Also, while trying to work within limitations, we have submitted a proposal to the government to open SCW offices in all districts.
Since, poor women from remote areas have to come to us for seeking redressal of their grievances, we must open our offices in every district to reach out to them. Till then, we would hold special lok adalats in various districts.
Archit Watts (AW): The commission also suffers from a shortage of staff. How will you manage?
SF: The commission is currently functioning with less staff. We are just seven people, but the functioning is smooth and we are putting our maximum to handle the complaints. We have also written to the government to provide more staff, which will hopefully be approved in a month.
RKK: Till date, how many cases have come to the commission and how many have been settled?
SF: Out of a total of 1,700 cases, the SCW has already settled 700 cases. The nature of cases is usually related to dowry, domestic violence, marital disputes etc.
Sunaina Kaul: Looking at the backlog, it seems that the pace of disposing of cases is slow. Why is it so?
SF: Though the commission is doing its best, some complainants withdraw their cases half way, which hinders the working. Another major reason is that the commission was without chief. Now, I am here and we will be speeding up the work and help provide timely justice to complainants.
Dinesh Bhat (student): Are orders of the commission followed in right earnest? We often read that commissions are without teeth.
SF: Our decisions and recommendations are mandatory and they have to be followed. Whenever there is a laxity, we follow it up through the government. There are several departments, like the police department, which need to regularly follow up the orders, but cops are least cooperative.
RKK: Whether the SCW takes suo-motto cognisance of cases pertaining to atrocities on women? If so, what it did in the case of interfaith marriage of Amina Yousuf, aka Anchal Sharma, with Rajnish Sharma, who was allegedly killed in custody?
SF: We do take suo-motto cognisance of cases, but I took over just a fortnight back and hence, I don’t know about this particular case.
AW: How many complaints have been lodged with the commission ever since you took over as the chairperson?
SF: I have received just two complaints (one from Srinagar and one from Jammu) till today. Both cases pertain to domestic violence. Both cases are under process and the commission has summoned the families.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Being an active politician, are you doing justice to your job as chairperson of the women commission?
SF: No doubt I am an MLA of the National Conference, but I have also been assigned the important job of protecting the rights of women. I am doing both jobs simultaneously without any discrimination. Being chairperson of the women commission my only job is to protect the rights of women and there is no question of implementing my party’s agenda in the commission.
As an MLA, I have other commitments which I am trying to fulfill in my constituency not as a chairperson of women commission but as a representative of people.
DM: You have been trying to rope in some NGOs to make the commission more vibrant. Don’t you think that most of these so-called social organisations have been working to get government grants?
SF: I agree. We have already received a number of complaints against some NGOs. A large number of NGOs have been working only to pocket government grants.
DM: How do you keep a check on such NGOs?
SF: Being in the government, we have different agencies to keep a check on such NGOs, especially to monitor whether they are properly utilising government funds or not. I have convened a meeting of some NGOs in which a clear direction was given to them. Further, we will also develop some mechanism to monitor these organisations.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): The commission's recommendations for the reservation of seats in public transport, besides separate queues for women at the public distribution outlets have gone unheeded. Would you take up such issues that ask for special treatment to women?
SF: Personally, I don’t believe in that. When we talk about equality and women consider themselves no less than men, such provisions hold little significance. Today, women are excelling in every field, be it politics, science and technology, art or any other sector. Therefore, they don’t need any such privilege.
AS: For the past seven years, the scope of commission was limited. How have you been diversifying it?
SF: We have been holding various programmes like public awareness camps. In such camps, men are also invited and their views are also sought vis-à-vis women emancipation.
Women commission to have offices in all dists.
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Shamima Firdous, MLA and chairperson of the State Commission for Women, shares her experiences
Shamima Firdous, MLA from the Habba Kadal constituency in Kashmir, is a lawyer and a dedicated worker of the National Conference. She has been appointed chairperson of the State Commission for Women, which got its head after seven years. With renewed interest on the significance of women legislatures after the Women’s Bill, Shamima talks with The Tribune team about her struggle in carving a niche in the field of politics, still dominated by men.
Two students Dinesh Bhat and Shweta Raina from Luthra Public School also joined.
Jupinderjit Singh (JJS): It must have been very difficult for you to survive in politics, which is mainly male dominated?
Shamima Firdous (SF): Yes, it is indeed difficult. The Abdullah family has helped me a lot. I am particularly indebted to Akbar Jahan, wife of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah, with whom I worked as personal secretary for two decades.
Even after that it wasn’t easy as women are looked down upon, but gradually I moved up the ladder with determination. Eventually, I won the Assembly elections from a constituency which usually supported a Kashmir Pandit leader. That gave me strength and I felt being accepted by all communities.
Shweta Raina (student): How tough it is for a woman?
SF: It is very difficult. Most men don’t want women to take over the field of power. We are relegated to lower and unimportant positions. Even for seats in a hall, men take the front seats. Every minute, a woman has to struggle to be heard and get noticed.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): The State Commission for Women (SCW) has found its chairperson after a long gap of seven years. How can you expect a smooth sailing in the backdrop of infrastructural constraints? The commission doesn’t even have its own building and continues to function from rented accommodations.
SF: I believe in working. Whether offices are good or bad, permanent or rental do not matter. Infrastructure problems are there, but I am taking these things in stride. Also, while trying to work within limitations, we have submitted a proposal to the government to open SCW offices in all districts.
Since, poor women from remote areas have to come to us for seeking redressal of their grievances, we must open our offices in every district to reach out to them. Till then, we would hold special lok adalats in various districts.
Archit Watts (AW): The commission also suffers from a shortage of staff. How will you manage?
SF: The commission is currently functioning with less staff. We are just seven people, but the functioning is smooth and we are putting our maximum to handle the complaints. We have also written to the government to provide more staff, which will hopefully be approved in a month.
RKK: Till date, how many cases have come to the commission and how many have been settled?
SF: Out of a total of 1,700 cases, the SCW has already settled 700 cases. The nature of cases is usually related to dowry, domestic violence, marital disputes etc.
Sunaina Kaul: Looking at the backlog, it seems that the pace of disposing of cases is slow. Why is it so?
SF: Though the commission is doing its best, some complainants withdraw their cases half way, which hinders the working. Another major reason is that the commission was without chief. Now, I am here and we will be speeding up the work and help provide timely justice to complainants.
Dinesh Bhat (student): Are orders of the commission followed in right earnest? We often read that commissions are without teeth.
SF: Our decisions and recommendations are mandatory and they have to be followed. Whenever there is a laxity, we follow it up through the government. There are several departments, like the police department, which need to regularly follow up the orders, but cops are least cooperative.
RKK: Whether the SCW takes suo-motto cognisance of cases pertaining to atrocities on women? If so, what it did in the case of interfaith marriage of Amina Yousuf, aka Anchal Sharma, with Rajnish Sharma, who was allegedly killed in custody?
SF: We do take suo-motto cognisance of cases, but I took over just a fortnight back and hence, I don’t know about this particular case.
AW: How many complaints have been lodged with the commission ever since you took over as the chairperson?
SF: I have received just two complaints (one from Srinagar and one from Jammu) till today. Both cases pertain to domestic violence. Both cases are under process and the commission has summoned the families.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): Being an active politician, are you doing justice to your job as chairperson of the women commission?
SF: No doubt I am an MLA of the National Conference, but I have also been assigned the important job of protecting the rights of women. I am doing both jobs simultaneously without any discrimination. Being chairperson of the women commission my only job is to protect the rights of women and there is no question of implementing my party’s agenda in the commission.
As an MLA, I have other commitments which I am trying to fulfill in my constituency not as a chairperson of women commission but as a representative of people.
DM: You have been trying to rope in some NGOs to make the commission more vibrant. Don’t you think that most of these so-called social organisations have been working to get government grants?
SF: I agree. We have already received a number of complaints against some NGOs. A large number of NGOs have been working only to pocket government grants.
DM: How do you keep a check on such NGOs?
SF: Being in the government, we have different agencies to keep a check on such NGOs, especially to monitor whether they are properly utilising government funds or not. I have convened a meeting of some NGOs in which a clear direction was given to them. Further, we will also develop some mechanism to monitor these organisations.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): The commission's recommendations for the reservation of seats in public transport, besides separate queues for women at the public distribution outlets have gone unheeded. Would you take up such issues that ask for special treatment to women?
SF: Personally, I don’t believe in that. When we talk about equality and women consider themselves no less than men, such provisions hold little significance. Today, women are excelling in every field, be it politics, science and technology, art or any other sector. Therefore, they don’t need any such privilege.
AS: For the past seven years, the scope of commission was limited. How have you been diversifying it?
SF: We have been holding various programmes like public awareness camps. In such camps, men are also invited and their views are also sought vis-à-vis women emancipation.
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