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Tuesday,
August 26, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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4 HP districts show drop in child
Dhumal dubs government
anti-orchardists HP varsity gets into poll gear
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Rs 150
crore to modernise police Take better care of gompas, says Governor
Higher salary
for tourism staff Notice to Revenue Secy on benami land deals Nathpa Jhakri project: water
released Chance for ITI students
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4 HP districts show drop in child sex ratio Chandigarh, August 25 District
Ratio
Kangra
836
Una
839
Hamirpur
864
Bilaspur
884
Solan
900
Year
General
Rural
Urban
2001
897
900
858
1991
951
966
904
As Punjab-based doctors, equipped with mobile ultrasound machines are making inroads into the bordering areas of Himachal, the child sex ratio in the districts of Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur has plummeted to an all time low. “During the 2001 census, we were surprised to see that the sharp decline was confined to the districts bordering Punjab and Haryana, which clearly indicates that easy access to ultrasound technology being made available by doctors from Punjab and Haryana, is taking its toll on the female child even in Himachal,” remarked Ms Suman
Prashar, Joint Director, Census of India. “During the filed studies in HP, the collusion between the doctors and clients and the modus operandi being adopted by them was discovered by our field workers,” said Prof Ashish Bose of the Voluntary Health Association of India. Doctors from the bordering towns and even villages of Punjab, go to Himachal with the mobile ultrasound machines and in case the sex determination test shows a female
foetus, the address of a Pathankot clinic is given. “The woman is directed to report on Saturday evening when the abortion is conducted in secrecy. This makes it difficult for the Himachal authorities to trace or apprehend doctors or clients for violation of the pre-natal diagnostic test
(PNDT),” said Prof Bose. What is alarming is that Himachal during the last decade, made a leap from the category of states with sex ratio above 950, to the group of five with lowest ration below 900. The 2001 data indicates that Himachal is one of the five states, along with Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Gujarat, where the scenario is the worst. Apart from this, two districts of Kangra and Una have made it to the list of 50 worst districts in the country with child sex ratio below 850. “The most disturbing fact in Himachal is that the decline in sex ratio in the rural areas is sharper than in the towns and other urban centres, thereby indicating that the ultrasound technology has penetrated even to the remote areas, making the facility available right at the doorstep of the clients,” opines Ms
Prashar. While the decline in sex ratio in the rural areas during the last decade has been-66, in the urban centres it is lower at-46. Most of the NGOs, doctors and health organisations feel that with the ultrasound technology being affordable, non invasive, easily accessible and the biggest advantage of being legitimate, as it is an essential tool in monitoring pregnancies and detecting diseases, there are a lot of difficulties in curbing its misuse. |
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Dhumal dubs government
anti-orchardists Hamirpur, August 25 In a hurriedly convened press conference here this evening, Mr Dhumal demanded adequate supply of cartons and trays to apple growers. Mr Dhumal claimed that the BJP government had done a lot for the farmers in the state. He castigated the government for transferring government officials purely on political considerations. He alleged that of the 69 police personnel transferred by the government, 66 belonged to lower belt of the state. This showed the regional bias of the government, he alleged. Mr Dhumal urged the government to give fiscal assistance to families who lost their kith and kin while fighting for the nation on the borders. He demanded that the policy initiated by the previous BJP government should be allowed to continue in this respect. Under this policy, a sum of Rs 25,000 was given to the family of a martyr immediately on getting the news of his death. The BJP leader expressed concern over the government not granting any assistance to the family of Kamlesh Kumar, who went missing after the Pulia Nullah incident in Kulu district last month. He said it was a serious matter and the government should take note of it. |
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HP varsity gets into poll gear Shimla, August 25 The ABVP announced its panel for the four posts, elections for which are scheduled for September 2. It has decided to field Rohit Kumar for the post of president, Nitish Vyas for vice-president, Sudhir Deshta for general secretary and Babu Ram for joint secretary. The candidates were announced at a rally at which the speakers blamed the outgoing SFI-dominated SCA for the prevailing mess in the university. It alleged that the SCA was hand in glove with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr S.D. Sharma, the man responsible for various scams. The parisahd declared that besides the failure of the outgoing SCA, the question paper scam and removal of the Vice-Chancellor would be its main agenda. The SFI also held a meeting to finalise its election strategy. It termed the rules under which the elections were being held as unconstitutional. Mr Manoj Chandel, general secretary of the federation, said only students who had been admitted by August 10 would be eligible to participate in the elections, even though admissions were still continuing. |
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Schoolgirls sit in dharna Solan, August 25 Led by activists of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), a student faction of the Congress, the girls, who were attending the morning assembly in their school, marched towards the market around 10.30 am, blocked traffic and raised slogans against the government for not initiating any action against the teacher. The girls had on August 1 in a written complaint to the Deputy Commissioner complained that the chemistry lecturer was not only forcing them to take tuitions but also made them do her personal work. The National Commission for Women had also instituted an inquiry into the matter. The SDM, Mr Lokender Chauhan, who arrived at the scene to pacify the agitators was given the cold shoulder as the girls wanted the Deputy Commissioner to act. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bharat Khera, finally arrived and assured the girls that an inquiry report had been sent to the Director, Education, for further action. The Superintendent of Police, Mr S.R. Sharma, while lamenting the NSUI’s action of provoking the students, said the girls had been warned against undertaking such dharnas as the disruption of traffic attracted legal action. NSUI activists had also been issued a warning to desist from such activities, he added. The Director, Education, Mr O.P. Sharma, said the chemistry teacher had been placed under suspension following the receipt of an inquiry report. The Principal of the school, Mrs Upasana Sahni, said she had got the school gate locked in the morning after she got to know about the agitation. However, when NSUI activists entered the school premises, fearing damage to property, she peacefully allowed the girls to leave, who were later marked absent. |
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Rs
150 crore to modernise police Chamba, August 25 He said besides this, Rs 13.40 crore, including Rs 6.70 crore grant from the Centre had been allocated to modernise the police and besides construct house for the Police Department. The DGP added that the police station staff would be bifurcated into Detective Wing and Law and Order Wing. This scheme earlier was introduced in 20 police stations of the state. Recent review of the functioning of the Detective Wings in these 20 police stations revealed there had been an improvement in the quality of investigation and in the disposal, he added. This scheme now would be started in all the police stations of the state from September 1. The Detective Wing will investigate heinous crimes, murder, rape, kidnapping, dacoity and robbery etc and atrocities against women and Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The DGP stated that no terrorist was involved in the death of Mohinder Raj, a constable of the Himachal Police killed at Labaroo Goth in Chamba district adjoining Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 8. Earlier, an anti-drug rally was taken out by the Police Department at Chamba town today in which school children participated. |
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Take better care of gompas, says Governor Shimla, August 25 The Governor was addressing a gathering at Kumbh festival in Triloknath temple in Pattan valley in Lahaul-Spiti yesterday. He also performed a “puja” in the temple. Kumbh festival was celebrated after 12 years and starts with holy dip which continues for year. Both the Hindus and Buddhists have their faith in this Shiv temple. The Governor also went round Marikula temple at Udaipur and stressed for the upkeep of this ancient temple, which was said to be constructed by Pandvas. He also visited Beas kund near Rohtang. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Leena Kokje, and daughter. |
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A father seeks help to trace missing son Hamirpur, August 25 He lost his son along with a tractor last month in a cloud burst near Pulia Nullah. Talking to reporters here this evening, he said that neither the state government nor the Kulu district administration had given him help or information on his son. He said that he had also lodged a report with the Kulu police but without no result so far. “I have already lost my two sons and the loss of third one will be a big casualty to me, he told reporters in circuit house in the presence of former Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal. Mr Teg Singh said that his son had purchased the tractor after getting loan from a bank. Now bank people are demanding instalments. It is difficult for me to repay the instalments as I had lost my every thing. |
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Higher
salary for tourism staff Shimla, August 25 Senior receptionists and house-keepers in the pay scale of Rs 4,020-Rs 6200 will get a scale of Rs 5,000-Rs 7000, utility workers, pastryman, boilerman and softymen in the pay scale of Rs 2520-Rs 4140 will get Rs 2720-Rs 4260, while senior pantryman, billiard worker, security guard and doorman in the pay scale of Rs 2720-Rs 4260 will get a pay scale of Rs 2820-Rs 4400. Mr Vijay Singh Mankotia, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, said efforts were afoot to strengthen the corporation. |
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Notice to Revenue Secy on benami land deals Shimla, August 25 Dealing with a public interest litigation petition filed by an advocate, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Mr Justice R.L. Khurana directed the Secretary (Revenue) and other officials to file a reply within four weeks. —
OC |
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Nathpa Jhakri project: water
released Shimla, August 25 The tunnel would be filled up completely by August 28 to pave way for starting the commercial generation by the September end. Water from the intake dam at Nathpa was diverted into the world’s largest underground desilting chambers (27.5m deep, 525m long and 16.31m wide) on August 19. |
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Chance for ITI students Dharamsala, August 25 Stating this, the Chairman of the HP Board of School Education, Mr B.R. Rahi, who is also the Chairman of the Technical Board of Education, said this had been done to ensure that the students did not lose a year. |
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