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Rather presents 'zero-deficit' budget for 2012-13, plan outlay at Rs 7300 cr Relief to farmers, packages to Tourism sector, huge funds for PRIs VAT enhanced on cigarettes, ST hike in IMFL Tax revenue collection on rise, 6.8% GSDP at par with nation at 6.9% 3/6/2012 12:03:12 AM Saroj Razdan jammu, March 5: In what can be seen as NC led government's e 'please all …. relief to few' endeavour in the jugglery of economics , Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather today presented yet another zero deficit Annual budget for 2012-13 in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Riding high on the wave of 'Peace' that prevailed during 2011 enabling government to register substantial hike in revenue recovery, the government has proposed an outlay of Rs 7,300 cr for the next financial year, besides projecting a hike of Rs 700cr under PMRP. Claiming the growth rate of J&K 6.8% at par with national Growth rate at 6. 9 %, Finance Minister said most satisfying and what he said worth appreciative fact is that the state has been able to bring down the fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GSDP against a target of 5.3 % fixed by the 13th Finance Commission. "It is an unprecedented recovery of revenue…….", Rather said later while addressing media referring to 38% Tax Revenue Collection at Rs 4800cr and rise in Commercial taxes collection by 42% at Rs 1057 cr. Expressing satisfaction...   READ MORE

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Unprecedented tax collections are Peace Dividends: Rather 3/6/2012 12:02:12 AM Jammu: J&K Finance Minister AR Rather today attributed what he termed as unprecedented success in recovery of tax collections to the support and cooperation of people in ensuring stable and peaceful atmosphere during the year 2011. Describing budget as people friendly having covered almost all sectors and communities in terms of providing some relief, the J&K Finance Minister AR Rather today said this is the outcome of the 'Peace' that prevailed during the year 2011 that government has been able to bring in some welfare initiatives for the masses. "These are the 'dividends' of the Peace that prevailed in the state and these must percolate down to masses across the state", Rather said whil...   READ MORE   BUDGET 2012-13 (Highlights) 3/6/2012 12:02:02 AM OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS: ØFiscal Deficit in 2010-11 at 4.3% of GSDP against a target of 5.3% fixed by 13th Finance Commission. ØTax Revenue Collection in 2011-12 to touch ` 4800 crore; a 38% growth over the previous year. ØCollections under Commercial Taxes alone up by ` 1057 crore; improvement of 42%. ØGSDP in 2011-12 at 6.8% as compared to 6.9% at national level. WELFARE INITIATIVES: Ø130 crore for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants. ØProvision of ` 46 crore for completion...   READ MORE   Nothing new: Opposition 3/6/2012 12:01:59 AM Jammu: Contending that there was nothing new to offer in the budget presented by Finance Minister AR Rather in the Assembly today, the Opposition parties have termed it as 'old wine in new bottle'. While concern has been expressed on what opposition sees as rising Fiscal Deficit (FD) some Jammu based leaders have also questioned about budget being silent over the plight of West Pakistan and PoK refugees. "The speech of Finance Minister does not fully reflect the sad affairs of state economy but jugglery of figures. J&K is still dependent on the central government for developmental funds and nothing has been said about how to increase the revenue collection", said MLA, Chaman Lal Gupta.Gup...   READ MORE   Promotion of IGs, DIGs, SSPs: DPC deferred 3/5/2012 11:59:40 PM Ahmed Ali Fayyaz jammu, March 5: Middle and top ranking IPS officers, eligible for rank promotion from January 1st, will have to wait for a couple of weeks more as the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) of the state Home Department has been deferred due to an investiture ceremony at Raj Bhawan on Tuesday. Informed sources told Early Times that the proposal of the rank promotion of several middle and top rung Police officers, that had been since forwarded by Police Headquarters to the government, would remain untouched for a couple of weeks more. DPC, comprising Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Home BR Sharma and Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, was scheduled t...   READ MORE   Backdoor appointments in sports council issue rocks LC NC MP's son working on probation basis, accepts minister; Khan stages walkout 3/5/2012 11:59:26 PM Syed Junaid Hashmi jammu, March 5: Issue of backdoor appointments in Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council alongwith Youth Service and Sports Department today rocked upper house of the state legislature with PDP legislator Murtaza Khan staging a walkout. Khan was not satisfied with the reply of Minister for Youth Service and Sports R.S. Chib. More surprising was silence of minister over direct supplementaries of Khan and newly elected Chairman Amrit Malhotra's oblique defence of the minister. It started when in response to C.Q. no 281 of PDP MLC Murtaza Khan, Minister for Youth Service and Sports R.S.Chib admitted of having appointed 36 persons on probation and contractual basis includin...   READ MORE   What ails our PSUs? 3/5/2012 11:58:59 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, March 5: The economic survey report presented in the State assembly last week has painted a very disappointing picture of the industrial sector in the State. It is sad that the report clearly says none of the public sector undertakings (PSUs) has performed well in the State with most of them already incurring huge losses. The survey says the maintenance of the PSUs is a huge burden on the State exchequer which the J&K government might not be able to bear for long. Out of the 19 PSU's, 7 are getting budgetary support from the State government. In the fiercely competitive industrial sector where the private players have a formidable role, the PSUs have not been...   READ MORE   PDP concerned over Jammu development; BJP, PP silent 3/5/2012 11:58:46 PM Early Times Report jammu, March 5: PDP, seen as Kashmir centric party, not only expressed concern over the lack of development in the Jammu city but also tried to floor the government on this issue in the House while BJP and Panther Party Members remained totally silent on it. PDP Members AR Veeri in seeking reply to the question about the development activity in Srinagar city in a starred question of Mehbooba Mufti not only raised the concern over lack of development in the Srinagar city but also said the initiatives taken by PDP led government for developmental schemes for Jammu and Srinagar have not been followed up. Even though the question was specifically related to the Srinagar ...   READ MORE   House witnesses pandemonium, Bhat takes on Speaker, vice versa 3/5/2012 11:58:07 PM Bashir Assad jammu, March 5: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was witness to a pandemonium today about at three occasions, legislators from main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) had to either stage walkout or come to the well in protest. Worst was witnessed when Nizamuddin Bhat of PDP wanted to raise a public issue during Zero Hour and the speaker paid no heed, forcing him to come to the well to draw attention. He was followed by all his party colleagues except Muzaffar Hussain Baigh who had just entered the House and was not aware of what actually forced his legislators to come to the well of the House. PDP legislators shouted slogans asserting "the speaker should listen to members"...   READ MORE   Minister wanted Speaker-media stand-off continue CM's speech failed to reach people due to a politician's ego 3/5/2012 11:57:52 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 5: Stand-off between Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, and mediapersons was sustained by a Minister who, ironically, had been roped in by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as a troubleshooter and tasked to resolve the crisis. Entire media last week turned restive over the Speaker's remarks that Press was under his control and the journalists were bound to disclose their sources if objected to by a Minister or MLA. The crisis ended after four days of stand-off when Speaker invited media back to the Press Gallery and withdrew his observation. Rather than arranging a liaison between the outraged mediapersons and the Presiding Officer of the Assemb...   READ MORE   Geelani, Mirwaiz seeking to achieve the unachievable Tripartite Talks On Kashmir 3/5/2012 11:57:32 PM Early Times Report jammu, March 5: Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq advocate tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and Kashmiris. In other words, they say that the "Kashmir dispute" must be resolved in a manner that satisfies all the three parties. It is a highly flawed formulation. Jammu and Kashmir is a settled issue and just can't be reopened. It was settled way back in October 1947. At the same time, however, there still exists a problem between India and Pakistan and it relates to the political future of the areas which have been under the illegal occupation of Pakistan since 1947. These areas are called Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) and...   READ MORE   Is this the way to keep J&K intact? Preaching Fake Secularism 3/5/2012 11:57:13 PM Neha jammu, March 5: Senior Congress leader and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil on Sunday cautioned people against the "communal and divisive forces in the state" and said that "Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have to stay together and people should understand the designs of such forces and strengthen secularism, unity and integrity of the state". He expressed these views in Jammu while addressing a meeting of Congress Seva Dal workers after returning from Bijnor, Western UP, where he campaigned for 10 days for Congress candidates seeking election to the assembly. He also urged the party workers to strengthen the Congress party in the state so that it is able to serve the people. "Sonia Gandhi ...   READ MORE

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SSB organizes General ConventionMadan Lal pleads for absorption of volunteers in Belt Force organizations J&K College Teachers Association held meet India-Iran to enhance cooperation in renewable energy Sham launches 'Clean Jammu- Green Jammu' drive at SRML HSS Jammu of woes, electricity failures, power curtailments National Safety Week inaugurated National Integration programme participants return INIFD student designer shines at Lakme fashion week Shakti Kunj organised cultural programme Prof Parveen attends international conference at Bangkok Civil Defence training concludes JK Wrestling Association holds meeting Plantation drive organized at GHSS Muthi Rakesh denied bail in Amandeep murder case HC reserves order Police foils march towards Civil secretariat Police register case in alleged fraudulent withdrawl of bills in RDD; seize record Villagers up in arms against ruling party Sarpanch for corruption FIR lodged against Togadia Drain collapses within weeks of construction Take up work of Polytech Coll, demand Banwat people SC/ST Confederation holds rally, submits memorandum to CM Restrains PHE from lifting water for Kishtwar town Man electrocuted Woman, paramour held for SRTC employee's murder Secretary JKPCC bereaved J-K govt fixes Mutton , chicken ,milk rate Traffic paralysed for more than six hours on the power station issue 5 gamblers held JMC continues drive against use of polythene carry bags Govt's regularization policy is a gross violation of Human Rights: SDP Chief EPTWS demands closure of Custodian Department Weapon modernization in police to be made a five-year programme Girl commits suicide Medium danger for Keran, Chowkibal, Tangdar, Machhil Implement 74th amendment before Municipal elections : Dr Jitendra Gujjar community members join NMFGM ASKPC holds meeting to discuss KP's issues Panthers condemns police assault on peaceful NYC activists PDP protests 'poor' sanitary conditions PDP, BJP, JKNPP stage walk-out from Assembly Opposition, treasury benches trade charges over Srinagar "neglect" House witnesses heated discussion on power scenario Exit polls not reflecting reality fully: Soz Caught on wrong jump, Jora writes to Chief Minister Two committees constituted to study AFSPA withdrawal: Govt Zero Hour in LC 35 road projects taken up in Kathua under PMGSY: Sagar Omar govt determined to revoke AFSPA, says Govt. KPs resolve to intensify movement for passage of shrines bill BJP dividing people on communal lines: Congress   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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3-day Patnitop Snow Festival concludes Working Women asked to be strong to face challenges Gandola Ski Cup, Gulmarg Global Derby 2012 JU flags off contingent for adventure course Scintillating performances by artists at Patnitop State Carrom meet gets underway   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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