Jammu FCI to soon have own campus

Asserting that skill development in Tourism and Hospitality sector is getting focused attention of the government, the Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora today said that Jammu Food Craft Institute (FCI) would soon have its own campus with provision for full-fledged degree and diploma courses in the trade.

Speaking at a function organized by FCI, Jammu to give away the certificates to pass out batches, Jora said the government has already sanctioned Rs 10 crore for construction of FCI campus. He said that the work on project would be started once the state cabinet gives its nod for the use of land identified for the purpose at Sidhra near Golf Course.

Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture, Attul Duloo, Managing Director, JKTDC, Satish Nehru, Director Tourism, Jammu R.S.Mehta, Principal, IHM, Srinagar besides representatives of hotel and tourism industry and students of FCI, Jammu attended the function.

Jora said that Jammu and Kashmir State has been declared as number one in the successful conduct of training in hospitality sector under the Hunar-Se-Rozgar (HSR) programme. He said at present the state has three institutions one each at Srinagar, Jammu and Leh offering courses in hospitality sector. He said about 50% youth trained in hospitality courses under HSR have got employment within and outside the state.

He said the main objective of offering skill development training in hospitality sector is to capitalize on the vast tourism potential in the state. He called upon youth to avail the facility and opt for professional courses having potential of employment in tourism sector.

The Minister said that Srinagar has a full-flagged Institute of Hotel Management (IHMs), while in Leh the work on FCI complex involving over Rs. 5 crore would be completed this year.

Jora said that no region of the state would be neglected in promotion of tourism. “Government is keen to upgrade tourist related infrastructure at all potential spots of the state which not only facilitate tourists but also help to boost the economy of the locals”, he said and added that state has received a large number of tourists this season and the trend wil continue in future as well. He said about one crore pilgrims visited Mata Vaishno Devi last year among which 13 lakh also visited Shiv Khouri temple and over 4 lakh visited Patnitop, while over ten thousand reached to Bhaderwah- which is fast emerging as a major attraction for the tourists in Jammu region . He said tourism potential of Rajouri-Poonch is also being explored, adding that the motor rally being organized on Mughal road would be made an early event to attract the tourists to the magnificent locations of these twin districts.

Listing the initiatives taken by the government for promotion of tourism in Jammu, the Minister said that under 13TH FC, the Centre has sanctioned Rs. 50 crore for restoration and preservation of Mubarak Mandi heritage complex. He said at present the restoration works on the heritage palace is being carried out on peace meals and once the Centre releases the funds under 13th FC, it would be taken up at a bigger scale.

He said cable car project from Mubarak Mandi to Bahu Fort would also be taken up soon, adding that the project was delayed as the government revised the earlier plan and decided to go for a state of art type cable car . He said for this the government engaged reputed RITES consultancy to prepare a revised plan after a comprehensive survey. The Minister said the Sidhra Golf Course Phase-I has been completed, while the laying of Phase-II 9 hole course would be completed by April this year.

Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atal Dullo, who is also the Chairman of FCI, Jammu in his speech highlighted the aims and objectives of Hunar-Se-Rozgar programme .He said the growth of tourism depends upon two things one infrastructure building and another trained staff. He said state government is endeavoring to provide skill development trainings to the youth under Tourism and Hospitality sector which guarantee ample job opportunities.

He said under this programme so far 2800 youth of the state have been imparted with different trainings under the sector of which, 60% trained youth got employment in hotel industry and 40% have started their own ventures. He said this year over 2000 youth would be trained for different services of hospitality sector at three institutions of the state. He said the government is also paying focused attention to upgrade tourist related infrastructure at potential spots of the state.Director Tourism, Jammu, R. S. Mehta and Principal IHM, Srinagar also spoke on the occasion and threw light on the objectives of HSR.

Earlier, Principal FCI, Jammu, Joti Bhatti in his welcome address highlighted the activities of the institution. He said FCI Jammu is conducting short term courses for skill development of the youth under HSR. He said so far 300 youth have been trained in the fields of waiters-cum-housemen and cooks in the institution, adding that this year the FCI has the target to impart such trainings to 250 youth.

3 Fci officials detained

Annoyed over the detention of their three colleagues from Regional Center Bahu Plaza yesterday by Crime Branch, employees and workers of Food Corporation of India (FCI) this morning went on indefinite strike across Jammu and Kashmir.

They were demanding unconditional release of their comrades and action against the involved officials of Crime Branch, alleging that this was a case of illegal detentions. The Crime Branch, however, maintained that the FCI authorities had been detailed about the case and denied that there was anything illegal about the arrests.

All the regional, district and tehsil offices, centres and godowns of FCI across the state remained closed throughout the day as the employees and workers went on strike. FCI Executive Staff Union, FCI Staff Union, Bhartiya Khadaye, Nigam Karamchari Union, Class IV employees Union and FCI workers’ Union have jointly given the strike call against the detention of their colleagues.

Infuriated over what they said was ‘illegal detention’ of three colleagues namely Satbir Singh (Assistant Grade I), Vijay Anand (Assistant Grade II) and Rattan Chand Assistant Grade (II) from regional Center Bahu Plaza last evening, all the employees and workers of FCI today morning assembled outside the Regional Center FCI Bahu Plaza. They were raising slogans against the Crime Branch authorities and in favour of their demands.

While criticising the Crime Branch authorities, President FCI Staff Union North India Daljeet Singh said that without permission of FCI management, the Crime Branch authorities had detained three FCI officials and taken them to unknown place.

“Crime Brach authorities have arrested our colleagues on the pretext of pilferage of ration but we ask them who is the main culprit? FCI is a central agency and Crime Branch has no authority to take action against FCI officials. It is only to save the real culprits that the Crime Branch authorities are harassing our colleagues, considering them as soft targets,” he said and alleged that the actual culprits have strong political links and so Crime  Branch is not taking action against them.

FCI Executive Staff Union Chairman Multan Singh said, “FCI has no role in the public distribution system. We only supervise and are responsible during the loading of ration on trucks from our godowns, after which it is the responsibility of contractors to deliver the ration at various destinations”. He further said, “FCI authorities took lakhs of rupees from the contractors in advance as security. If some contractor would sell the ration illegally, FCI authorities charge double the cost of food grain from the same contractor.”

All the employees in one voice demanded unconditional release of their colleagues and action against the officers of Crime Branch who had detained their colleagues illegally without any arrest warrant. Employees and workers also decided to continue their strike till the fulfillment of their demands.

Inspector General Crime Branch Raja Aijaj Ali, however, said, “A complaint under FIR 17/2009 had been lodged at Police station Crime Branch Kashmir in year 2009. As per the complaint, 144 trucks of ration were loaded from FCI depot Jammu but all these trucks had not crossed the Lower Munda toll post”.

“During investigation of the case, Crime Branch found that out of 144 trucks, 80 vehicles were either scooters or cars. They made fictitious brouchers of the vehicles and all the ration had been sold in the black market” he said.

He further added that they had already informed the FCI administration around 15 days ago about the likely involvement of some employees in a criminal case but they had requested for some days time for ration supply to various areas. “The administration had agreed to handover the involved employees after few days but they were unable to do so after which we arrested the employees,” he further said.

When asked about the involvement of influential Contractors in the pilferage of ration, he said that the detained FCI employees, who have been caught on suspicion, know about the culprits and contractors involved in that huge scam and on their disclosure the actual culprits would be caught. They are being interrogated and further investigations are going on.