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Probe into IIAS affairs set into motion
Panchayati Raj bodies to get more powers
Transfer of 3 TB sanatorium nurses revoked
Infrastructure being provided
to boost sports
Migratory birds behind fall in fish population? |
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Pollution main cause of heart ailments: expert
Child prodigy does Himachal proud
Shaheedi Jor Mela procession from Paonta Sahib
Time to restore minnows’ habitat
HPTDC staff flay suspension of 2 officers
HP seeks Rs 120 cr for water project
Investors resent truck unions’ ‘high-handedness’
63,170 children administered polio drops
CM launches pulse polio campaign
Temple trust launches beautification drive
Relay fast by dental college staff continues
Students oppose transfer of lecturers
Renuka fair begins
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Probe into IIAS affairs set into motion
Shimla, November 21 The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development had instituted an inquiry into the academic, administrative and financial affairs of the institute in the wake of complaints by certain scholars that it had acquired a “saffron” tinge during the NDA rule. The terms of reference of the probe include review of the administrative and financial functioning, inquiry into seminars organised and sanctioning of fellowships in the past three years, particularly the unusual increase in the number of fellowships, and complaints into any other related issues. Over the past two days public notices have been inserted in leading newspapers across the country seeking specific information on these matters. Earlier, the committee had sought the record from the institute pertaining to selection of Fellows, seminars held and scholars invited over the three-year period. The committee will visit the institute after receiving and scrutinising the information received in response to the public notice. Ironically, the controversy regarding the functioning of the institute has arisen soon after the Supreme Court ruling that it will remain in the Vice Regal Lodge complex. The Centre had taken the decision to close down or shift the institute and set up a tourist resort in the heritage complex. It was a public interest litigation filed by a local conservationist, Mr Rajiv Mankotia, in the apex court which saved the institute. The UPA government has been under pressure from the CPM and the Left to “desaffronise” educational bodies and the IIAS is one of the targets. Mr Bandyopadhyay is also inquiring into the functioning of the Indian Council for Historical Research, which has been at the centre of a “saffronisation” controversy. Mr J.S. Rajput, Director, National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT), has already been shown the door. Interestingly, the second three-year term of the present head of the governing body of the institute, Dr G.C. Pande, who was appointed in 1998 by the NDA regime, will end in the second week of April and the six- month term of the Bandyopadhyay committee also expires in April. As such, it will not be surprising if Dr Pande is able to complete his term. |
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Panchayati Raj bodies to get more powers
Nahan, November 21 He said in the coming years, maximum development schemes, including Indira Awas and Rajiv Gandhi Kutir schemes, would be prepared and implemented by the panchayats. He said the government had already permitted zila parishad chairmen to use red light on their vehicles and the government would soon grant them permission to use flags. He said Himachal was the first state which was providing honorarium to 26,000 Panchayati Raj functionaries in the state. At another function organised at SFDA Hall this morning he inaugurated the Rashtriya Smaj Vikas Yojana and addressed a public meeting on the occasion. He said under the scheme, 100 districts of the country would be developed. In Himachal, the scheme was being implemented in Chamba and Sirmour districts. He said Rs 15 crore would be spent every year during the next three years. The scheme was in addition to the state’s
budgetary provisions for Sirmour. Mr G.R. Musafir, Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha, and Chairman of the monitoring committee of the scheme, said the government was taking keen interest in the development of the district. Mr Sat Mahajan, state Rural Development and Revenue Minister, said revenue records on the Kerala patteren were being prepared. He said engineers and panchayat secretaries would be recruited shortly by the Panchayati Raj Department. |
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Tribune follow-up Our Correspondent
Kumarhatti, November 21 The sanatorium office received a fax message from Dr R.N. Mahanta, Director, Health, on September 20 regarding the transfer of the three staff nurses to Mental Hospital, Shimla. This followed a visit by Dr Mahanta to the sanatorium in September, who at that time had hinted at the transfer of six staff nurses, six ward sisters and a driver from sanatorium. During his visit, Dr Mahanta was stunned to found that the 300-bed sanatorium had only 34 indoor TB patients at that time, whereas the staff nurses strength posted at sanatorium was 17. The reduction in staff was mooted to fill the staff deficit in other health centres. Annoyed over the transfer orders, the three staff nurses had gone on a long leave. The proposed move to reduce the bed strength at sanatorium had further fueled the panic among staff.
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Infrastructure being provided
to boost sports
Shimla, November 21
Besides indoor eight stadia, a swimming pool, a shooting range and an ice skating rink are being constructed at a cost of Rs 14 crore. A sports academy is also being set up at Bilaspur at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
A sum of Rs 4.13 crore has been earmarked for sports activities in the current financial year. Last year, about 50 coaching camps in various disciplines were held in the state in which more than 3,500 sportspersons were provided training. Sports equipment worth Rs 7.50 lakh was purchased for various district coaching centers of the state. To create awareness among the youth, middle and long-distance races are being organised from time to time in the state. Under this scheme 3,000 m and 5,000 m races for boys and girls in the age group of 13-16 and 16-19 are organised at the block and state level. Those securing the first three positions in the events are given cash awards. The state government has introduced a “Cash Award Samman Yojna” under which 957 sport persons, have been honoured. Sports grant has also been enhanced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 and its upper limit has been increased up to Rs 50,000 for sports organisations. Besides, a three per cent reservation quota has been provided to outstanding sportspersons in government jobs. So far, 60 such persons have benefited from it. Women sports tournaments are also being organised at the block, district and state level. Grant-in-aid amounting to Rs 1.50 lakh is also being provided for the development of playfields and purchase of sports equipment to one rural school in each block. The government of India released a sum of Rs 1.20 crore for the construction of indoor stadia and basketball courts in different parts of the state during the year 2003-04. The State Youth Board is providing grant-in-aid to yuvak mandals and voluntary organisations engaged in cultural, sports and adventure activities. About 150 yuvak mandals are given grants aid every year. Work camps and youth leadership training camps are also being organised at the district level to involve the youth in social activities. Activities like levelling of playfields, plantation of trees and construction of mule paths are undertaken at these camps. |
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Migratory birds behind fall in fish population?
Pong Dam, November 21 According to Mr R.C.Bergaal, Conservator Forest, Wildlife, cormorants, which come from north and central Asia, are the main fish-eaters, but their number has gone down steeply. “Therefore, they cannot be blamed for fewer fishes,” he said. “While the dam received 27,000 cormorants in 2000-2001, the number dipped to 14,289 in 2001-02, 13,900 in 2002-03 and 14,608 last year. The data does not corroborate the observations made by the Fisheries Department,” he said. On the other hand, Mr B.R. Sharma, Director, Fisheries Department, said even 10,000 of the birds were enough to wipe out the entire fish population from the dam. “As per rough estimates, each cormorant eats nearly 50 fish weighing 5 gm each per day and even if 10,000 of them stay here for six months, it adds up to nearly 90 lakh fish. The decline from 27,000 to 14,000 is inconsequential,” he said. Last year, the migratory birds ate up to 90 lakh fish seeds, which is besides the auto-breeding within the dam. This year the condition would be worse as the water level is low due to drought conditions,” he said. Mr Bergaal, meanwhile, clarified that out of the 78 species of migratory birds coming to the dam, not more than eight were fish- eating. “We believe that the Fisheries Department is going by the increase in the total number of birds visiting the dam, even though this should not be considered the same as increase in the number of fish-eating birds,” he said. Mr Sharma, said however, the fish production had dipped from 797 tonnes per annum in 1998 to the present figure of 300 tonnes. “This affects the household of more than 3,000 families of fishermen in the state who have no other source of livelihood,” he said. Last year, a total of 1,37,000 migratory birds visited the dam and this year, 54,000 of them have already come in. The solution, suggests Mr Sharma, lies in formulating a project, wherein, the Wildlife Department participates in adding more fish seeds to the dam for consumption by the birds. |
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Pollution main cause of heart ailments: expert
Shimla, November 21 Interacting with mediapersons here yesterday, the chairman and managing director of the Delhi Heart and Lung Institute, Dr Ganesh K. Mani, a renowned cardiologist, said environmental pollution had been found to be another cause for heart ailments. “The very fact that a day after Divali we had double the number of patients with heart problems proves that environmental pollution is also a contributory factor,” he said. With industrial effluents polluting water sources, there was a higher risk of the disease afflicting people now. Dr Mani said the cost of treatment being high and resources limited, there was an urgent need to focus on preventive steps. “The burden of heart diseases in the world is the highest in India and by the year 2020, the situation will be very grim if preventive measures are not taken,” he said. He said as compared to the Americans, the South Asian ethnic community, including Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis were four times more vulnerable to heart diseases. Dr Mani said stress, especially among Indian women, being one of the causes for heart attacks and related ailments was a disturbing factor. “Being a victim of dual stress due to the workload at office and at home, they are highly vulnerable to heart problems and we have patients as young as 25 years old,” he informed. He gave details of special facilities available at their institute in Delhi and said there was a special package for the people of Himachal. “We are empanelled by the HP Government. So the patients can get reimbursement,” he said. |
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Child prodigy does Himachal proud
NURPUR: Shreya Sharma, a seven-year-old girl who hails from Nurpur, has become famous on the small screen in the role of Sneha in Star Plus serial ‘Kasauti Zindagi Kay” and brought laurels to Himachal Pradesh. Shreya, who was recently in the town, spoke to mediapersons in an interaction arranged by her grandparents at their house along with her papa Vikas, an engineer, and mother Ritu, a dietician serving at Mumbai.
“She was just three when she featured on Anupam Kher’s TV show “Say na something to Anupam uncle”, says her mother Ritu. Then she appeared in TV advertisements for Lux underwear with Sunny Deol, santoor soap, Surf detergent, Hansplast, Promise toothpaste and Rasna. She moved on to feature as Shreya in lead role in Zee TV’s “Jhooth Bhole Kawwa Kate”, and then as Sneha in Star Plus serial” Kasauti Zindagi Kay”. “Our joy was at its peak when Shreya got the best child artist Star Parivar Award, 2004”, said excited father Vikas Sharma. A student of second class Shreya revealed that she shot for a movie ‘Benam’ at Switzerland a few months ago in which she plays a daughter of Ajay Devgan and Bhumika Chawala. When mediapersons asked her “Do you like Mr Bajaj or Anuragh uncle in Kasauti Zindagi Kay”, she replied both “I like acting but I want to be a teacher”, Shreya tells. “Even after spending her maximum time while shooting she is brilliant in studies and stands first in her class,” says proud mother Ritu, who accompanies her on shooting schedules. The local Municipal Council (MC), along with the Nurpur Press Club, gave Shreya a civic reception. She was honoured with the “Pride of Himachal” award by the MC and other non-government organisation of the town during her brief stay here recently. |
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Shaheedi Jor Mela procession from Paonta Sahib
Paonta Sahib, November 21 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held under the presidentship of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Those who attended the meeting included Mr Rattan Singh, Jathedar Kartar Singh Takkar, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Mahant Baldev Singh and mr Bhupinder Singh - all members of the Parbandhak Committee of Gurdwara Paonta Sahib. This will be the third and last centenary function of the Sikhs during the current calendar year. Earlier, the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Angad Dev and the 400th year of Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib were celebrated by Sikhs all over the world this year. Keeping in view the historic importance of Gurdwara Paonta Sahib, it has been decided to start the procession from here, says Mr Kulwant Singh, Manager of the gurdwara. It was at Paonta Sahib that one of the Sahibzadas, Baba Ajit Singh, was born. And he attained martyrdom while fighting Mughals at Chamkaur Sahib. The main 300th anniversary functions will be held at Chamkaur Sahib as well as Fatehgarh Sahib. In fact Guru Gobind Singh had spent long time at Paonta Sahib on the banks of the Yamuna. It was here that he did poetry. The Shiromani Gurdwara parbandhak Committee has decided to invite both the President and the Prime Minister to participate in this historic anniversary function. Incidentally, the Congress government in Punjab has already taken the initiative in extending invitations to Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Dr Manmohan Singh for the 300th martyrdom function. Soon after assuming power in Punjab, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had announced construction of gates at all four main entry points to the historic town of Fatehgarh Sahib where besides two Sahibzadas, mother of Guru Gobind Singh, had also attained martyrdom. Work on the construction of gates is nearing completion. While historic gurdwaras at Chamkaur Sahib have been renovated and given a facelift, roads, especially Guru Gobind Singh Marg, are pending for both expansion and repairs. A little has been done to extend parking areas for motor vehicles, including trucks and tractor-trailers, which are expected to clog both Fatehgarh Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib during the anniversary functions. |
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Time to restore minnows’ habitat
Chandigarh, November 21 According to one school of thought, migratory birds are responsible for their depletion. However, other ecologists are of the opinion that it can only be one of the reasons. Prof M.S. Johal of the Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, says the decline in fish fauna is not restricted to any specific species or area but is a widespread phenomenon. Human inteference, inter-species competition and migratory birds are responsible for the decline. Prof Johal, who has been working on the ecology of the Pong reservoir in relation to mahseer since 1997, says due to the construction of dams most fish species have become local population. Hence their biology, growth rate and size are influenced by local conditions. He says there are three components for the management of the wetlands: bird population, fish and other aquatic organisms. Due to the apparent visibility of birds, they have been given too much importance, ignoring the other two components. Prof Johal says most birds during their winter sojourn feed on minnows and minor carps. Though minnows have no commercial value, they are the preferred food of most birds and catfish. During his study, Prof Johal recorded more than 10 species of minnows and minor carps in streams that fed the reservoir. The minnows, which are pre-monsoon breeders, breed profusely during their lifespan of around two years. They prefer shallow waters and feed on phytoplankton. Most of minnows do not grow more than four inches in size. Various streams, including kahn, Gaz, Baner, Dehar and Ghatti, which feed the Pong Dam, are home to a good number of minnows. The fish population of the reservoir depends on the ecological health of these streams rather than that of the reservoir itself. According to studies conducted by the Zoo Outreach Organisation of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, some of the species of minnows have declined by 20 per cent over the past 10 years. |
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HPTDC staff flay suspension of 2 officers
Manali, November 21 At a meeting convened by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) Employees Union, members expressed their unhappiness over the hasty step taken by the Tourism Minister which they felt was damaging the tourism industry in the state. According to the employees, the Tourism Minister has been creating a negative atmosphere for the development of tourism in the state. His policy has been focussing on disinvestment and privatisation of profit-making units of the HPTDC. The HPTDC Employees Union stated that at a state-level meeting of the union held in Shimla on November 8, members had requested the Chief Minister to review the functioning of the Tourism Minister. In the meeting they had also requested the Chief Minister, also Chairman, HPTDC, to consider removing Mr G.S. Bali, Tourism Minister, from office. The employees revealed that the corporation was one of the main revenue earners for the state and was at a risk of losing its credibility because of the improper policies that were being forced upon it. |
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HP seeks Rs 120 cr for water project
Shimla, November 21 “The timely funding of Shah Nehar project for which nearly 61 per cent resources have to come from Punjab has repeatedly been brought to the notice of the Planning Commission,” he said. The Chief Minister said instead of providing funds to Punjab under the AIBP, which would later be transferred to Himachal, it would be better if the assistance was directly given to Himachal. He also requested the Planning Commission to establish a suitable mechanism for compensation of revenue loss due to the ban imposed by the state on felling of trees, as other states downstream were benefiting from this. Mr Virbhadra Singh pleaded for identical treatment to all special category states for area-specific exemptions for setting up industrial units and requested that such exemptions be continued indefinitely for HP on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister said about two lakh beneficiaries had been brought under the social security cover, which was probably the highest in the country. |
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Investors resent truck unions’ ‘high-handedness’
Solan, November 21 Officials of Hindustan Lever at Baddi were recently forced to reach a compromise with truck unions and granted them work despite their high rates after a 10-day stand-off. These truck operators allegedly do not permit truck
operator from outside to transport goods. Meanwhile, Industries Department Officials said the new policy would accommodate major issues concerning the investors. Many local investors wanted that the government should intervene to fix rates and ensure that they were not unduly
fleeced. They suggested that that the new industrial policy should ensure that the truck unions should not become a headache. |
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63,170 children administered polio drops
Nahan, November 21 Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, Mr Sat Mahajan, Rural and Development Minister, and Col Dhani Ram
Shandil, MP, also administered the polio drops. PALAMPUR: Over 300 NSS volunteers, assembled in H.P Agricultural University here to participate in a national level NSS camp from all over the country, today staged a massive rally to make people aware of the nationwide pulse polio campaign. Mr. K. C. Chaman, SDM, Palampur led the rally. Later panchyat
pardhans, representatives of Mahila Mandals of the Palampur region also joined the rally. Dr H.K
Vasisth, Block Medical Officer and in charge, pulse polio campaign, urged the people to make this campaign a success so that polio could be eliminated from this country. Dr Vasisth said special arrangements had been made to immunise those children who had been living in “jhuggis.” Besides, the Health Department had also given special care to the children belonging to migrant labour living in transit camps. He said teams had also been deputed on railway stations and bus stands to make this programme successful. SUNDERNAGAR: About 2100 children were given polio drops. According to health authorities 11 booths were set up and, 50 persons were deputed on these booths. In the Rohanda block, a total of 115 booths were installed, including three mobile booths, at different places and staff of 460 persons were deputed for the pulse polio programme. As many as 12,000 children were given polio drops, the target kept by the department was 13,152. |
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CM launches pulse polio campaign
Nahan, November 21 Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, Mr Sat Mahajan, Rural and Development Minister, and Col Dhani Ram
Shandil, MP, also administered the polio drops. |
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Temple trust launches beautification drive
Hamirpur, November 21 The saplings have been fully covered with bamboo fencing on the North-East pattern to save them from the wrath of the wild animals. Saplings of tuni, kachnar, silver oak, poplar, bahera, amla, jamun and bottle brush have been planted in the forest. A decision to have medicinal plants near the temple complex was mooted by the Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner, Mr Devesh Kumar, who is also the Commissioner of the temple. He said the Trust would plant more saplings on both sides of the road between Deotish and Salauni and Deotish and Shah Talai. Mr Sudhir Shiwal, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Hamirpur, said the work of the plantation had been done by the department. However, funds for the bamboo fencing and other items would be given by the temple Trust. In all, a sum of Rs 1.80 lakh would be spent in the first phase of the programme under which 500 saplings have been planted. |
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Relay fast by dental college staff continues
Sundernagar, November 21 The employees have been demanding pay on a par with dental college run by the government but the management has not accepted their demands. So they have decided to observe the relay fast. On November 19, the employees burnt an effigy of the Chairman of the dental college, took out a procession and two employees, Umesh Kumar and Kishori Lal, observed the fast. Meanwhile, the local police has registered a case under Sections 147,188,504,506 IPC against nine persons on the complaint of the Principal for threatening him. According to the police, the case has been registered against Dinesh Kumar, Rattan Singh, Bittu, Nikka Ram, Ravi Kumar, Tek Chand, Reb Singh, Ms Gangi and Ms Sunita, according to Additional SHO. |
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Students oppose transfer of lecturers
Bilaspur, November 21 The students said examinations were near and the transfers were untimely and politically motivated. The transfer of the English lecturer should be cancelled while lecturers in Hindi and Geography should be posted immediately, they said. They also presented a memorandum to the Principal. On the order of the SDM, Ghumarwin, the Tehsildar of Jhandutta visited the spot and persuaded the students to life the blockade after assuring them that their demands would be forwarded to the government. |
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Renuka fair begins
Nahan, November 21 The state-level fair was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, with pooja of the palanquin of Lord Parshuram, which was brought from Jamu Koti Temple to Dadahu today in a procession. Thousands of devotees from different states took part in the shobha yatra and obeisance to Lord Parshuram and Bhagwati Renuka ji in temples situated on the banks of the Renuka lake. |
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