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Thursday,
April 12, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Left to
campaign against Budgets Destroy cannabis or face action Calling eunuchs “kinners” objectionable Remembering Rani Suhi’s sacrifice Resin import hits
hill farmers |
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Foreign team lauds
new apple varieties Pest-eating beetles emerge in millions FMD spreads panic among farmers Work on Larji hydel project restarts Shimla likely to raise water tariff Unhygienic food sale
banned
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Left to campaign against Budgets Shimla, April 11 Announcing the programme being organised under the platform of the organisations, Mr Rakesh Singha, President of the state unit of the CITU, said about a 12 jathas of the SFI, DYFI and Kisan Sabha, would start from various parts of the state from April 13 to 15 and converge at Shimla on April 18 to hold a massive protest rally in front of the Vidhan Sabha. He said the government had been claiming that the policy of economic liberalisation would create more employment in the private sector which was not true. The harsh truth was that the indigenous industry was collapsing in the face of global competition, further squeezing job opportunities. While almost 30 per cent of the small-scale units had gone sick, the production of big units had come down sharply. The raise of Rs 4 in the daily wage announced in the Budget was a cruel joke with the workers. The price index had gone up by 43 per cent since 1995 whereas the increase in daily-wage came to just around 8 per cent. The most disturbing feature was that the government had not even asked for the recommendations of the state Minimum Wage Advisory Board before taking a decision. He expressed apprehensions that the Market Intervention Scheme under which various fruits were being purchased at minimum support price would be scrapped. The Centre had not given its share for the year and there was no provision to it in the Budget. He urged the government to clarify position in this regard and announce the minimum support price for all the fruits during the current session of the Vidhan Sabha itself. The government, he alleged had not made a proper assessment of the damage caused by drought to crops. He said the average loss would be over 60 per cent. No plan had been drawn up to provide relief in a systematic manner. Shortage of fodder was a major problem being faced by the villagers. Farmers were being exploited by the suppliers who were procuring fodder from outside the state. He urged the government to make arrangements for the supply of fodder at the panchayat-level. The jathas starting from Rekong Peo in Kinnaur will hold 22 public meetings enroute. Similarly, jathas will be starting from places like Nerwa and Chargaon.  |
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Destroy cannabis or face action Shimla, April 11 It is learnt that the police has asked range officers, forest guards and patwaris to destroy cannabis in their respective beats failing which it will be considered that they were hand in glove with narcotic smugglers and would be treated as co-accused. Initially, the police had itself started destroying the plants, but with a skeleton manpower at their disposal in the district, the responsibility has been fixed on officials of the Forest and Revenue departments. Cannabis even grows along the national highway. It was attracting foreign tourists who were taking narcotics. Almost 26,000 foreigners visited the district last year. The police destroyed cannabis over an area of about 3,000 hectares in the past two years. This year, the plantation on an area of about 1,200 hectares was destroyed. The SP, Kulu, Mr Venugopal, said a massive drive to destroy cannabis would be undertaken in July when it multiplies during the rains. He said the help of NGOs and mahila mandals had also been sought to check the menace. A target to destroy at least 90 per cent of cannabis by 2002 had been fixed. The entire Kulu district had been divided into three sectors — Banjar, Sainj and Manikaran — after an extensive survey. While the Banjar and the Manikaran areas were notorious for the cultivation of cannabis, opium was grown in Sainj valley on a large scale. Certain influential persons, including some pradhans of gram sabhas, were also involved in the trade. As many as 62 kg of charas was recently seized from the pradhan of Batat village. There were allegations that the influential lobby of charas producers was receiving political patronage. Sometime ago, a demand for legalising the cultivation of cannabis and opium was also made. However, the issue was not considered by the authorities as they feared that Kulu would become another Columbia if that was done. The Narcotics Control Bureau was also inadequately staffed and was unable to conduct raids. Certain leaders have been pleading that cannabis plantations should not be destroyed as the plants were a source of income for the economically weak who sold these for manufacturing medicines and “phure” (shoes). These were also used for making “ladoos” which had medicinal qualities and kept locals warm during winter. |
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Calling eunuchs “kinners” objectionable Shimla, April 11 The issue was raised in the Assembly as a discussion under Rule 130 by Mr Tulsi Ram (BJP). He raised objections to addressing eunuchs as kinners, the name by which residents of Kinnaur were known. He said kinner was first used for eunuchs when Shabnam Mausi won an assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh recently. Thereafter, mediapersons and others started identifying them as kinners which was not only objectionable, but also insulting for the residents of Kinnaur. A law should be passed against the use of the word kinner for eunuchs, he demanded. The Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, said the residents of Kinnaur had been described as “Kinners” in ancient and religious scriptures. He said the eunuchs were also a part and parcel of our society and deserved to be respected. However, the controversy on their being identified as kinners arose recently when the word was used for two of them when they won the panchayat elections in Solan and Nalagarh. This had caused resentment among the residents of Kinnaur. Referring to the reports that the eunuchs were planning to form their own party, he said the elected representative of Kinnaur and other literary bodies of the area should apprise the Election Commission about their objections and also inform it of the Kinner tribe in Kinnaur. The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh, also said the use of kinner for eunuchs should be condemned. Mr Virbhadra Singh (Cong) also took
objection to it and said it was unfortunate that scriptures were being distorted. The media should be persuaded not to use the word kinner for eunuchs. “Kinner” was a distinct tribe of Himachal Pradesh many of its men were holding high positions in civil services. Mr Chet Ram Negi, Parliamentary Secretary, who represents the Kinnaur segment in the Assembly, traced the history of Kinners and said it was insulting to identify eunuchs as kinners. He also took objections to Shabnam Mausi launching a website called “kinner.com” and demanded legal action against those using the word kinner for eunuchs. Mr Kaul Singh (Cong) raised the problems which were being faced by those engaged in floriculture and demanded that the trade should be given the status of industry which would help in diversification. He said there was hardly any support from the government to those engaged in floriculture who were being exploited by middlemen. Mr Kaul Singh said the problem of marketing being faced by those cultivating flowers should be solved without further delay. |
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Remembering Rani Suhi’s sacrifice Chamba, April 11 According to a legend from Malloon, a tiny hamlet alongside a nullah, an aqueduct was built up to Chamba town to supply drinking water. But owing to some problem, the water could not reach Chamba. All attempts to correct the problem failed miserably. A state of despondency and anxiety made the people of Chamba gloomy. One night, King Sahil Verman of Chamba state (Circa 940 AD) had a dream. In the dream, he was ordered by the Goddess either to sacrifice himself, the Queen or his eldest son at Malloon, failing which the water would not reach Chamba town. Next morning, Queen Sunayana, also known as Rani Suhi, came into his apartment. Sensing the King’s restlessness, she could not prevent herself from asking her husband as to what had happened. The King replied: “Now the time has come to really grapple with the trials and tribulations of our subjects and this is our first and foremost obligation to help them get rid of such grim hardships.” The Queen replied: “I also received the same order from the Goddess last night. But to me, it was not ordered that you (her husband) alone be sacrificed. Both of them exchanged their views and the King resolved to sacrificed himself for the sake of his subjects. But the Queen flatly rejected this resolution and implored him not to do so. She said: “Your survival is absolutely indispensable for the subjects and the state. Similarly, if we offer our son, the future of the royal house will be endangered as the state will have no successor. So it is better if I be sacrificed for the betterment of the people of the town.” Ultimately, the long-awaited day came when Queen Sunayana was taken to the place of sacrifice and buried alive. Immediately thereafter, water moved through the water-channel towards Chamba town. To commemorate the sacrifice of the Queen, a three-day fair is held every year. During the fair, young girls decked in their finest and traditional costumes, sing an elegy called “Sukraat” in the local dialect. “Sukraat” symbolises the night when water of the Sarotha reached the town. The epithet “Sukraat” stands for “Sukh ki Raat” (night of bliss as well as for “Shok ki Raat” (mournful night). The term symbolises the sacrifice of Rani Suhi. This year the Suhi fair commenced yesterday and will conclude tomorrow on the premises of the palanquin-shaped Suhi temple located on a hillock above Chamba town. |
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Resin import hits
hill farmers Shimla, April 11 Stating this during question hour, Mr Roop Singh, Forest Minister, told the House that unrestricted imports had led to a sharp decline in the market prices of these products, making resin-tapping an uneconomical proposition. He said consequently, the procurement price of resin had come down from Rs 2700 per quintal in 1997 to Rs 1625 per quintal last year. The number of private blazes for resin-tapping and output was constantly declining. For instance, in 1998-99 there were 16.5 lakh private blazes, yielding 61,979 quintals of resin. However, by 2000-01, the number of blazes had come down to 6.70 lakh and the yield to 21,761 quintals. All this while, the turnout from government forests more or less remained static at around 73,000 quintals. The shortfall in resin production affected the functioning of the turpentine factory of the corporation at Nahan as there was not enough resin for processing. He said the government had no plans to privatise the unit and it was making all efforts to augment supplies by encouraging private tappers in the state and also procuring resin from outside. The procurement price of resin had been increased from last season’s Rs 1629 per quintal to Rs 1725 per quintal for the current season and it would certainly encourage private tapping. In a written reply, the Forest Minister informed Mr Kaul Singh that during the 1999-2001 period, the Forest Department allotted 1,79,484 cubic metre of timber worth Rs 148.70 crore for a paltry Rs 2.39 lakh to right holders under the timber distribution (TD) rules. He said in 1999-2000, as much as 99,410 cubic metres of timber valued at Rs 80.49 crore was allotted and in the following year 80,074 cubic metres worth Rs 68.20 crore was given away. Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, told Mrs Asha Kumari that there had been no frequent change in the industrial policy. It was amended only once in April, 1999. He said the units continue to be governed by the policy in force during which they came into production. The government had framed a policy to extend sales tax benefit as per the industrial policy of 1996 to units which had taken effective steps before the new policy came into force. Regarding the impact of amendment in the policies of other departments, he said some representation were received and these were under consideration of the government. Mr Mansa Ram informed the House that the decision to discontinue distribution of levy sugar to income tax payers had deprived 51,137 ration card holders out of the total 12,40,329 holders in the state of the facility. Mr Ishwar Das Dhiman assured Mr Gangu Ram Musafir that action would be taken against those responsible, including the printer, for the failure of the state education board to provide an adequate number of Sanskrit question papers at the Panjahal examination centre in Sirmaur during the recent matriculation examination. He said as against 140 question papers as mentioned on the sealed packet, only 90 papers were found for 119 candidates undertaking the examination at the
centre. |
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Foreign team lauds
new apple varieties Shimla, April 11 A team representing 16 countries including UK, Japan, Germany, Spain, Sudan, Losetu, Gambia, Vietnam, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Mozambique, Pelize, Central America, Kenya, led by Mr John Northridge of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Department, the University of Reading, UK, visited Regional Horticulture Research Station, Mashobra, near here yesterday. Dr S.P. Bhardwaj, Associate Director of the centre, conducted the visit and apprised the team of the research and extension activities particularly growing of apple, cherry and pear, floriculture, bee keeping and mushroom cultivation. He highlighted the contributions made in the temperate fruit cultivation emphasising apple cultivation under rainfed conditions and transfer of technology through specialised training of farmer groups. The station was established in 1887 by Mr Alexender Coutts, a tailor to the then Viceroy of India and raised to regional station by ICAR in 1953. The members of the team showed interest in the high density planting of apple, management of pests and diseases using fewer pesticides based on monitoring and ecofriendly approaches. The team expressed happiness over the intimate contact the station was maintaining with the growers and desired to popularise the outcome of the research programme.
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Pest-eating beetles emerge in millions Shimla, April 11 According to Dr S.P. Bhardwaj, associate director of the Mashobra-based Horticulture Research Station, during winter the beetles feed on the insects found on forest trees, which do not shed their leaves during winter. With the onset of spring, the insect pests become active and migrate to these fruit plants and other vegetables grown in the vicinity. The ladybird beetles also migrate to these plants in search of food and feed on the insect pests. The beetles lay yellowish eggs, which on hatching turn into black-coloured grubs with thorny spines.
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FMD spreads panic among farmers Una, April 11 Test reports of suspected FMD samples taken from animals in Bathari village confirmed the presence of the FMD virus. Scientist in charge of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mr Subhash Nayital, said yesterday that the samples taken from animals of Bathari village were sent to Ch Charan Singh Agricultural University, Hisar, for identification of the virus. Mr Nayital advised farmers of the district not to purchase animals for the next three to four months. He said to prevent the disease from spreading in other animals, infected animals should be immediately separated from the healthy ones. He said as the disease was highly contagious, healthy animals should be attended to first and the infected ones later. He also suggested that attendants of animals should wash their feet with 4 per cent sodium carbonate (washing soda) before entering a cattle shed. |
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Work on Larji hydel project restarts Kulu, April 11 It was understood that the workers of the company would start working without any delay and the management would consider their charter of demands. A committee was also constituted which would meet every month and look into the labour-management relationship. Meanwhile, cases have been registered against individuals for indulging in violence, torching of vehicles and ransacking of private and government properties. However, police sources said the alleged accused would surrender before the police. The sources also confirmed one person has been arrested. It was learnt that the workers of the private company had restarted the work since last night. |
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Shimla likely to raise water tariff Shimla, April 11 The corporation owes a sum of Rs 11.50 crore to the Irrigation and Public Health Department for supplying water on subsidised rates. The commercial existing rate of Rs 6 per 1,000 litre is likely to increase to Rs 18 per 1,000 litre and beyond that Rs 25 per 1,000 litre. The total demand for water in the town is 55 lakh gallons the leakage is 11 lakh gallons. The existing meter rates which were fixed at Rs 500 per connection will now range between Rs 1,2500 and Rs 4,060. |
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Unhygienic food sale
banned Shimla, April 11 As per the orders, the sale of overripe, underripe, rotten and deteriorated fruits and vegetables, exposed to rain, dust and flies has been banned. The sale of ice candies, and ice not prepared with tested water has also been prohibited. The District Magistrate authorised all the executive magistrates to inspect markets, shops or other premises used for storage and manufacture of eatables and seize, remove or dispose the articles found unfit for human consumption.
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