Ideal of inspiration

PS Bali

Jammu Tawi, April 22

‘I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat", a line by Sir Winston Churchill, is what inspires 50-year-old Kewal to face every day like a challenge to ensure bread and butter of his family. Hailing from Bholi Chak village in RS Pura, Kewal Raj is handicapped by both legs, but despite mourning over loss of limbs, Raj has set an example for those who think that losing limb is the end of life. It sounds amazing but it is true that Kewal Raj, travels around 25-30 kms daily on his tricycle (especially meant for handicapped) and traverses nine villages to sell newspapers. "It is a daily routine for me to travel 25-30 kms to sell newspapers in nine different villages to earn livelihood. I leave home at 6 in the morning and travel a distance of nine kms to sell newspapers in different villages," said Kewal Raj.   Being handicapped people appreciate my working, "but at times I feel pity over my condition as even after selling 90-100 newspapers, I earn a trivial amount of Rs 30-40 a day," he rued. He aggrieved that to prove himself, he (Kewal), run across villages on his tricycle to sell newspapers. Notwith-standing rains, hailstorms and hot climate, Kewal maintains his responsibility to ensure newspaper copy to his customers. "I believe that nothing stops you, if you are dedicated to achieve something. I always ensure copy to my customers, despite bad weather," Kewal asserted. Kewal Raj is the only bread earner to sustain his wife and three children, and till date he hasn't received any help from government. "I started my career from a small shop in the village to earn livelihood, but after some time due to unavoidable circumstances, we closed it, after that entire family faced hard days," lamented Raj adding that when things around him scattered, he chose this profession of circulation of newspapers. "I believe that dreams and dedication are powerful combination, if one has both these factors, no power can stop him," said Kewal Raj. "I took tricycle of my friend with the object to provide two times food to my family. Though I never asked government for any help, but if government is generous enough it can provide me scooter to ease my work and to raise source of income," anticipated Kewal.

Rs 41 crore 18 holed Sidhra Golf Course of no use for common man

PS Bali

Jammu Tawi, April 27

Dubbing newly opened 18 holed Rs 41 crore Sidhra Golf Course a gift to Jammuties, Union Minister for New and Renewable Resources and National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah on the inaugural day of the much talked first phase of Rs 21 crore 9 hole Sidhra Golf course on the bank of river Tawi, termed it as an immaculate facility for sports lovers.

But a million dollar question is can a common man afford Golf equipments, can he spare time for a day long game, can he enjoys free atmosphere of Golf course and moreover can he shell out huge sum to get membership? The answer is ‘No’, and it was visible on the day of inauguration of the Golf Course, where among many bigwig faces no common man was present, which contradicted the government claims of setting up Golf course for common man.

On inaugural day of the course chief minister said the government is keen to develop sports tourism in the state, which would help people of the state, but how it is going to help common person, when the place is inaccessible for common man.

“Golf is the ‘Game of Elites’ and no common man can afford this expensive game, so Rs 41 crore, project trenched in around 1400 kanals is for those at the helm of affairs of the state government and for their known and well class people,” said a student, Ajeet.

Adding that despite the fact that Golf is less popular in the state and majority of the people even don’t have any knowledge of the game, the government spent crores, thus depriving other major games of the state like cricket, football, hockey and others, where a common child can excel if provided better facilities.

It is said that growth of government is the growth of state and commoner, but here in J&K this saying is reciprocate, here whenever government grows the common man suppresses at the behest of those at the helm of affairs.

And by rebuffing the suggestion of senior golfer about Rs 50 entry for a game, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah made it clear that no commoner has right to enter golf course, as according to News reports he said that this course is of International standard and its maintenance should be of international level, which means course is suitably and legally meant for “elite class”.

18 years passed, victims still craving for government attention

PS Bali

Jammu Tawi, April 13

Killings, encounters and grenade attacks are all what the people of Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed for past two decades. Many youths were killed and many injured during epoch of militancy.

When the militancy was on its peak, widows, half widows, orphans, handicapped youths and razed houses were the picture of Jammu and Kashmir and even after decades this militancy could not be eliminated from roots.

Same happened with Rakesh Kumar, who lost his limb in one of the major terror attacks in Jammu.

Rakesh, son of Parshu Ram and Sheeto Devi, a resident of Ramgarh on the fateful day of 7 October 1992, lost his leg in an explosion that rocked Jammu.

“On October 7, I boarded a bus from Ramgarh to Jammu to have registration form of class 10^th_, from JK Board, when on reaching Digiana, a powerful explosion occurred and I went unconscious and when I retrieved conscious I found myself in the Hospital,” sobbed Rakesh.

He added that all other passengers were around me crying with pain and same was my condition. In that blast both my legs sustained serious injuries and the condition was as such that doctors have to lop off my one leg to save my life, aggrieved Rakesh, with tears flushed out of his eyes.

Resented with government apathy, Rakesh lamented that despite of such a mighty blast in which many feared have lost lives and others lost their important limbs, the government to subdue their flaws presented just Rs 25, 000 to each, which was sheer joke with injured passengers.

In that blast I lost my leg, but the Rs 25000, presented by then, Governor, GS Saksena was like he is making fun of injured.

“The relief that we received from the government was subtle before the expenditure that my family incurred on my treatment. We lend money from all relatives and neighbours to continue the treatment,” he said.

It’s been 18 years in trauma, since the tragedy occurred but no body from successive governments showed any concern towards us, Rakesh lament.

It is uncertain to imagine what would be the next design of nefarious terrorists and who will be the next target of these anti-national elements and when will another mother loses her son, another wife her husband and another son his father.

 

Rs 20, 50 and 100 are no currency notes

PS BALI

Jammu Tawi, April 2
Rupees 20, 50 and 100 are not just currency notes, but are the names by what the drivers points out traffic cops in the Jammu city, which becomes fatty for the cops positioned at highways. Interestingly, top-brass of the traffic department are also tagged with such names, besides low ranked cops. The drivers mocked that the names are labeled to them (traffic cops) based on the amount they shell out from the drivers and accordingly have been named. "We are like regular customer to many traffic cops in Jammu and now it is the feature of the day to shell out some percentage of earning to them," alleged the driver wishing anonymity, adding that higher officials are hand-in-gloves with low ranked cops in fleecing drivers. He said that no matter, the driver is legitimate or not, but he (driver) should have knowledge of cops share.  Within the city, there are many officers of traffic department from constable to inspector, who have been taking money on daily basis," the driver claimed, further revealing that most of the drivers plying on the city roads have shelved monthly share for these cops and a record of the same is maintained with the driver. Taking dig at higher officials of the traffic department, he said that due to the negligent and apathetic approach of the officials, the drivers are prompted to rash driving. "Taking advantage of the traffic department's approach, many drivers took to erring driving, thus resulting fatal accidents," he said. He acknowledged that no driver bothers about the traffic rules, as they know how tackle officials. "Rs 20 to 100, is all what an erring driver has to pay on the name of punishment for breaching any traffic rule," said driver. Ridiculing the insight of the drivers, IGP Traffic, Hemant Kumar Lohia, said that the drivers are habitual of violating rules, they make fun of others who try to rope them and are leveling allegations of corruption on them. "There is no uncertainty in saying that there are some elements in the department, who are promoting corruption, but the department is working on them and very soon this menace would be eradicated," assured IGP.