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Tuesday,
October
14, 2003,
Chandigarh, India  
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Market-driven
media losing credibility Mandi’s valley
of woes Science
Congress’ concern at global warming Migratory birds
throng Pong Dam Karva Chauth riot
of colour on Ridge |
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Rehabilitate
special kids, says Kokje 10 injured in bus
mishap Man charged with wife’s murder Deaf and dumb
woman raped by 2 youths Cops clueless on
double murder
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Market-driven media losing credibility Solan, October 13 Almost all of them were critical of what they perceived as the media’s failure to address properly issues of national importance like communalism criminalisation of politics, falling standards of social awareness and preparing the citizens to meet the challenges of the future. They also lamented that the media was not paying due attention to the plight of have notes living in villages. The workshop was organised jointly by the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, New Delhi and M.S. Panwar Institute of Communication and Management, a local institution affiliated with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. A school student quoted noted freelance journalist, P. Sainath’s recent article in the Hindu in which he had blamed the convergence of media ownership to the “phenomenon of journalism being steadily reduced to stenography” with film stars, CEOs and beauty queens frequently hogging the limelight. Mr
L.H. Naqvi, Associate Editor of The Tribune, who was the chief guest at the function, appreciating the criticism of the media, ‘some of which merited consideration’, sought to dispel the myth of media’s alleged failure to meet national aspirations by listing some achievements. He cited the roles played by the media in highlighting the 20th century’s “Sati” case of Roop Kanwar and the plight of Bhanwari Devi, a Dalit, Rajasthani village worker who was raped by some upper caste men for the crime of trying to emancipate rural women from taboos that kept them chained to social backwardness. Mr Naqvi however admitted that the present day media could be divided into responsible and yellow journalism. While the former continued to be committed to truthful reporting, the latter type could only be checked by the society only. Noted journalist Prem Kumar said that the Media had never stayed static and had always been susceptible to change. The unprecedented rise in the cost of media production in recent times required heavy cash inflows which in turn had paved the way for the arrival, in important positions, of the marketing personnel. He hoped that a due and healthy balance between the journalistic and commercial interests of media establishments would be arrived at, in due course. Mr Prem Kumar called for societal introspection in the fields of moral education, inherited traditions and proper parenting. He hoped that properly motivated children of today would come forward to become good journalists tomorrow. Prof S.S.
Dosanjh, a former journalism teacher of Punjab Agricultural University was of the view that in these days of most “pillars of responsibility” falling one after the other, that of journalism stood as the only hope for the future. He ascribed most of the media ills to the groos degeneration of society in which corruption had become an accepted away of life and everything appeared to be driven by money alone. Mr M.S.
Panwar, Director the M.S. Panwar Institute moved the motion of thanks. |
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Mandi’s valley of woes MANDI:
Education, healthcare and revenue services in the remote 10 panchayats of Sundernagar subdivision in this district are in bad shape. During a visit to the far-flung valley, villagers told this reporter that reluctance of officials connected with the services to work in the backward areas had resulted in the mess. Three high schools — Balog, Doghri and Bohi — are without head masters and trained graduate teachers. Similarly, the senior secondary school at Behli is being run by only two lecturers. In the middle school, Ghain, the post of B.Sc. teacher, the drawing master, the oriental teacher and the language teacher are lying vacant. Only two teachers are managing the show. The state of the health services is also dismal. Only one doctor is bearing the burden of Primary Health Centre, Nihri. On an average over 100 patients visit it daily in addition to 20 indoor patients. The posts of pharmacist, X-ray technician, nurse and sweeper are lying vacant. All three patwar circles — Balog, Jachh and Pressi — have become non-functional with the post of patwari lying vacant, says local Congress leader Dile Ram Chauhan who remained chairman of the Block Development Committee from 1973 to 1977 and 1978 to 1981. He says the 10 panchayats — Dhawal, Batwar, Seri Khoti, Balag, Dhaniaa, Bohi, Sohja, Bandli, Poura Koth and Dumal Bothi — though having been declared the most backward panchayats with the allocation of a special budget under the backward area sub-plan, are nevertheless reeling under poverty due to alleged lop-sided policies of the government. He said the plan to develop the valley was conceived in 1962 when a survey of the 48-km Pandar-Tatapani road was conducted. The plan started with a bang, but ended in a whimper and nothing was done for 10 years, Mr Chauhan lamented. After repeated representations, construction of the road was taken up in 1972. During the past 31 years, only a 43-km stretch of the road had been constructed. Mr Chauhan said the completion of the remaining 5 km portion of the road was crucial for the carriage of fruits and off-season vegetables to the nearest Shimla market. Fruit growers and farmers of the area had to undertake a detour of 50 km to 80 km to reach Shimla. The completion of the remaining 5 km portion of the road would revolutionise the economy of the valley. Peas produced here fetched a price ranging between Rs 20 per kg and Rs 40 kg at Shimla during the monsoon. The valley with a rich potential for tourism, horticulture and vegetable production is reeling under poverty and deprivation due to the lack of infrastructure. Even minor children are forced to work hard to help the family earn a bare living. Children can be seen engaged in different ventures like uprooting barberry roots and selling them to herb dealers who purchase them at throwaway prices. What is worse is that most of the dealers exploit children by weighting the roots collected by them against stones. |
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Science Congress’
concern at global warming Shimla, October 13 Presiding over the session on natural resource management on the third day of the All India People’s Science Congress, here yesterday, he said all scientific predictions regarding the consequences of global warming were coming true. The average temperature was rising, glaciers were receding, heat waves aggravating and weather pattern becoming erratic. He lamented that all protocols and declarations to deal with such issues had remained on paper only. Instead there was talk of proposals like creation of artificial “bubble biospheres” and colonising the moon and mars. American companies were selling shares for future plots on moon. Dr Pankaj Khullar, Managing Director of the State Forest Corporation, stressed that people’s initiative could and should override the government responsibility. He agreed with the Congress delegates on global warming and informed them that his studies had shown that some glaciers in Himachal had receded by from 10 kms to 15 kms “Science fiction of the past”, he noted could become truth of today. In the plenary session of gender dimensions of globalisations Indu Agnihotri laid bare the twin pressures of imperialistic globalisation and communalisation on women. Globalisation might be “feminising” economic sectors, but this was actually disempowering women as workers. On the other hand, communalism was ghettoising the women. Globalisation, while claiming to be a modernising force was actually reinforcing the backwardness being propagated by fundamentalist forces, she said. Even the “Sewa” model much touted by India was now failing to even sustain its initial gains, she pointed out. Ms Shaeeda Hamid lauded the Kala Jatha of Himachal in exposing the designs of
globalisation and communalism. She was passionate in describing that fundamentalism like that of Taliban, a product of imperialism was pushing back the gains made by women since the mid 20th century. |
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Migratory birds throng Pong Dam Dharamsala, October 13 According to an official of the Wildlife Department, about 12,000 birds have so far arrived at the dam reservoir while thousands of migratory birds of at least 54 species are expected to come this year. The Pong Dam wetland is the only place in the country after the Bharatpur sanctuary where the red-necked grebe descends every year. As a sequel, this species has become a rivetting
attraction for bird watchers and tourists. The other bird species that visit the lake annually include mallards, coots, pochards, ruddy-shell ducks, bar-headed geese, pintails besides gulls, the sea-shore species, that also make the Pong Dam wetland an exception. They come from as far as Siberiam Central Asia, Ladakh and China. The Pong dam has an ideal climate and environment besides the swampy area between the barrage and Shah Nehar downstream that attract these birds in large numbers. The wildlife wing of the Department of Forests has made all possible arrangements to ensure the safety of the migratory birds by means of stepping up vigil by its officials.
— UNI |
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Karva Chauth riot of colour on Ridge Shimla, October 13 The historic Ridge is transformed into a huge Karva Chauth “angan” as thousands of women, attired in their bridal best, jostle with each other to have a glimpse of the rising moon. Located in the heart of the city, the elevated ground is a vantage
point from where the moon is visible much earlier than the low-lying areas like the Lower Bazar, Ruldu Bhatta, Lal Pani, Kanhlog and Kaithu. The Ridge, where a number of spurs join, actually divides the watershed of the Satluj and Yamuna basins, the water from which flows down to the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal, respectively. As the sun sets in the west and darkness descends on the hills, women of all ages make a beeline for the Ridge with “puja thalis” in their hands. The city witnesses an informal fashion parade as hordes of women draped in shimmering “saris”, colourful bridal suits and other attractive apparel and laden with glittering jewellery, stroll through the Mall and the scandal point to assemble on the Ridge. It is a riot of colour as women vie with each other in showing off their expensive but elegant wears. By the time the silver disc makes its appearance on the eastern horizon from behind the Ellysium hill, every inch of the ground is occupied. Thousands of resplendent oil lamps add to the glitter as women offer prayers and perform “arti” of the celestial Lord to seek blessings for the long life, well-being and prosperity of their spouses. The en masse offering of water during the prayer gives a thorough wash to the Ridge. Preparations to look one’s best on the big day start long before. It is time for renewing the wardrobe, which makes the women go for a shopping spree. The jewellers, boutique owners and other readymade wear dealers do brisk business as women are in a spending mood. On the eve of the festival, it is the turn of the “halwais” to make money. While no one exactly knows when this tradition of celebrating the festival collectively on the Ridge started, old-timers recall that it was sometime around Independence that women started converging on the ground for an early “darshan” of the moon. During the British days, an average Indian, particularly women, did not come to the posh Mall and the Ridge at all. At that time, it was the sole privilage of the “phirangi sahibs” and “mem sahibs” and a few “begums and ranis” to take a stroll in these elite areas. The Indian women broke into the exclusive preserve of the “whites” just before Independence and no one objected as the British, who were on their way out, chose to lie low. |
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Rehabilitate special kids, says Kokje Shimla, October 13 Speaking at festival of differently abled here yesterday he said that over the years awareness had increased regarding the difficulties being faced by the physically and mentally challenged children and many action groups, NGOs and statutory bodies had come forward to help and rehabilitate them. He aid that lot more efforts were needed for their over all development. He also appreciated the efforts of the parents group “Uddan” which had started a respite centre named “pehchaan” for challenged children in Shimla. He appreciated the efforts of the local Bishop Cotton School, in organizing the festival. Earlier, the Governor took the salute in a marchpast presented by the challenged children. He gave away the prizes to the participants and also took a round of the school complex. Mr Kabir Mustafi, Headmaster of the school, while welcoming the chief guest said that at least 250 challenged children of 15 institutions had participated in this festival. |
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10 injured in
bus mishap Hamirpur, October 13 Eye-witnesses said the accident took place when the bus driver tried to make way for a jeep. All injured have been admitted to Bhoranj Hospital. |
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Man charged with wife’s murder
Solan, October 13
The case was registered on the complaint of Urmila’s father, Mr Kishen Dutt Sharma, who alleged that her
daughter was killed and had not died accidentally as was being claimed by her in-laws.
The post-mortem, conducted at the local Zonal Hospital today, ruled out head injury as the probable cause of the death. Urmila’s husband had claimed that an accidental fall from the staircase was the cause of the death.
The father of the deceased, Mr Sharma, told The Tribune that his son-in-law wanted to marry another girl of Tikker village and this had often led to a confrontation between the two.
He claimed that Urmila’s was not a natural death. |
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Deaf and dumb
woman raped by 2 youths Kulu, October 13 The youths have been identified as Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Palampur in Kangra district and presently working in a private hotel at Manali, and Raju, a resident of Kufri village in Mandi district and working as a tourist guide at Manali. They took her on a motorcycle to a private hotel in Old Manali and allegedly raped her. The next morning they took her back to Bahang and dropped her near her “jhuggi” in a critical condition. She expressed her agony to her parents who reported the matter to the police. Sanjay was arrested yesterday while Raju was taken into custody today by the police. Sanjay has been remanded in police custody till October 16 while Raju will be produced before the Magistrate on October 14, the SHO added. Medical examination of the victim, has established rape. |
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Cops clueless on
double murder Kangra, October 13 Kangra district police Chief S. Zahoor H. Zahdhi today said that the police was yet to receive the post-mortem report from the doctors. A case under Section 302, IPC, has been registered as the body of Rakesh Ghautam bore some marks of injury before it was burnt. The charred remains of the businessman Rakesh Ghautam and his driver Vijay Kumar, residents of Sunder Nagar, were working as commission agents in the Damtal market, were found from their burnt vehicle which had rolled 100 feet down the hill near Sunni Sarotri village of this subdivision. According to reports lakhs of rupees were missing from the site. |
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