H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Vintage cars shifted out of Shimla
Shimla, June 19
The vintage cars which fascinated the people at Faridkot House in Mashobra near here, or more than five decades are being shifted to a museum in Faridkot. These cars were acquired by Maharaja of Faridkot in 1940s and 50s and were kept in the Faridkot House all these years.

Revive old lifestyle, says Maiti founder
Shimla, June 19
Mr Kalyan Singh Rawat, founder of the Maiti andolan, a women’s afforestation movement, has said that only an initiative rooted in society could save the fragile Himalayas from the impending ecological disaster.

PF Commissioner contests claim
Chandigarh, June 19
Mr B.R. Rattan, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (I), Shimla, has contested the claims of Mr Jaibant Singh, a retired employee of the HP State Forest Corporation, that his claims were not settled within the time limit.

Vintage cars shifted out of Shimla

Shimla, June 19
The vintage cars which fascinated the people at Faridkot House in Mashobra near here, or more than five decades are being shifted to a museum in Faridkot.

These cars were acquired by Maharaja of Faridkot in 1940s and 50s and were kept in the Faridkot House all these years.

The cars were to be shifted to the museum in due course but the recent fire in Faridkot House Complex, in which a palatial building was gutted, hastened the departure of these vehicles. Fortunately, all the cars were saved in the fire, which badly damaged three of the five building over the years.

The property was being looked after by Maharwal Khewaji Trust which has started moving the cars out of the Faridkot House to the museum at Faridkot, a spokesman of the trust said.

Out of the nine cars, five have already been despatched while four other would be moved shortly. These included four 1944-model Ford jeeps and two Scot cars.

Already two Packards (1950 model), a Vanguard (1940 model) and a Damler (1950 model) have been shifted.

Two Jaguards (1950), and Bentley (1940 model) and a Rolh Royace (1947) would be sent to Faridkot.

Although these cars are in running condition, the trust has chosen to shift the cars by cranes as a precuationary measure.

A large number of people from different parts of the country have been coming to Farikot House to see the vintage cars which had given a distinct identity to the complex.

Although scores of erstwhile rulers had build palatial houses in Shimla, named after their respective states but these vintage cars had given a distinct identity to Faridkot House and a large number of people had been vesting the place to see the cars. PTI

Revive old lifestyle, says Maiti founder
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 19
Mr Kalyan Singh Rawat, founder of the Maiti andolan, a women’s afforestation movement, has said that only an initiative rooted in society could save the fragile Himalayas from the impending ecological disaster.

Speaking at an environment awareness programme organised by Ashadeep, a non-government organisation, here today he said many of the problems being faced on the environmental front had cropped up because of the disintegration of the traditional village society, which had been a model of sustainable development.

He said in a country like India where people were highly emotional a movement had to be “well-grounded” in sentiments to be successful. This was the main reason when the Maiti movement had spread not only in Uttaranchal and some other states but also found roots in parts of Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh. By making the planting of saplings grown by daughters a part of the marriage ceremony, a self-sustaining afforestation drive had taken off. The emotional appeal of the movement was tremendous and it had become a fashion to plant Maiti trees on other happy occasions too.

Mr Sudripto Roy, Principal Secretary Education, emphasised that development and environment preservation had to go hand in hand. Mr Sushil Tanwar, president of Ashadeep, said the programme was a part of his organisation’s efforts to create awareness about environmental issues.

PF Commissioner contests claim
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19
Mr B.R. Rattan, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (I), Shimla, has contested the claims of Mr Jaibant Singh, a retired employee of the HP State Forest Corporation, that his claims were not settled within the time limit.

Reacting to a news item in this regard that appeared in The Tribune dated June 12, 2003, Mr Rattan claimed that the HP State Forest Corporation had forwarded his pension as well as provident fund claim to the office of the Provident Fund Commission on May 6, 2003, and the claim was received on May 13 under receipt No 20302715. Since as per the EPF Act, every claim had to be settled within 30 days, so the office had settled the PF claim on May 27 and the due cheque worth Rs 1,55,790 was dispatched to the SBI Jassu, district Kangra branch as per the request of the member.

Regarding the settlement of pension account, he said, the photo linked with the claim form was not attested as per the provisions of the pension scheme. So the claim could not be settled and the form was returned on May 29. There has been no negligence on the part of the PF office. He said that a field officer had been directed to contact the member and settle the case at the earliest.