Hamirpur, December 1
Even as various AIDS awareness functions marked World AIDS Day in Hamirpur today, the district continues to maintain the dubious reputation of having the largest number of AIDS cases in Himachal Pradesh.

According to Dr P.S. Dogra, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the total count of HIV positive cases in Hamirpur as of today was 373 and of these 81 patients were suffering from AIDS. “The latest trend shows that most of those suffering from AIDS in the district were women. There is, therefore, need to make them aware that they needed to get it diagnosed at their nearest government hospital,” he said.

The district also has a high number of floating population of truck drivers and ex-servicemen who keep moving out of the district for employment. To help save the offspring of an AIDS-infected mother, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla provides free medication. A Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCTC) had also been set in the district hospital where blood samples could be got tested for free. A toll free helpline (number: 1051) had also been set up to give basic information about HIV and AIDS, said Dr Dogra.

A district-level function was held at Government Senior Secondary School with ADM H.S. Thakur as the chief guest. He said that the growing number of HIV-infected cases had become a cause for concern for the entire world and though there was still no cure for AIDS, the precautions can help ensure that spread of the virus is controlled.

KARSOG: Apart from the youth, who took a pledge here to spread awareness about the disease, the District AIDS Control Society is targeting development blocks to spread awareness though the anganwadis centres about the deadly disease in the district.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, Mr Subhasish Panda, who presided over the district-level World AIDS Day function here today, urged teachers, students and members of panchayats, mahila mandals and aanganwadis workers to spread the awareness about the AIDS in each village. Meanwhile, schools and college students took out rallies in the towns, raising slogans against the disease of AIDS/HIV throughout the region.

SOLAN: A Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said awareness alone could save people from this disease which was incurable. He was addressing a gathering here on the occasion of the World AIDS Day today.

The state government had earmarked Rs 908.47 lakh for various AIDs-related programmes, including creating awareness, distribution of contraceptives, educating the schoolchildren, etc. The state had received Rs 150 crore for HIV/AIDs-related programmes.

He said the government had opened anti-retroviral treatment centre at IGMC, Shimla, and a voluntary treatment and counselling centre was functioning at district levels. The patients were given free treatment at IGMC, Shimla, and testing facility was available at each district level.

NURPUR: The Noor, a local non-government organisation, celebrated World AIDS Day by organising an awareness rally in the town. The students of local IP Adarsh Public School, Future Foundation School and Government Primary School participated in the rally.

Solan, December 1
Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced the opening of a university in Kangra district in near future. The university would be named after Mahatma Gandhi. He announced while presiding over the 20th foundation day celebrations of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni today.

The announcement comes at a time when model code of conduct for elections to panchayat and civic bodies has come into effect. He went on to announce that private players were welcomed to invest in the field of education in Himachal. He sounded a word of caution to private educational institutes operating as commercial shops but said private sector could play a crucial role in establishing institutes of repute.

Lauding the role of scientists in horticulture development he said it was more important to transfer the new technology from the laboratory to the field. He stressed on exporting of new clonal rootstocks of apples to achieve global leadership in apple production. He said though Himachal had become leading apple state but more needed to be done to uplift farmers.

He said since 90 per cent of the states population lived in villages they were prime focus of the government’s policies. He lauded Dr Y.S. Parmar, state’s first Chief Minister establishing the university. He said though the state had hydel power potential of 2,000 mw but only little had been tapped. Power projects of less than 5 mw would now be granted to the local youth so as to ensure employment opportunities while those between 5 to 100 mw would be allotted as per a MoU. The projects exceeding 100 mw would be allotted after inviting competitive global bids, he said. To speed up these projects all pending projects would be accorded permission within four months, he added. He urged scientists to inculcate a scientific temper in students.

Earlier, Mr Singhi Ram, Minister for Horticulture detailed government policies to facilitate the horticulturists.

The Chief Minister honoured seven persons on the occasion for their contribution in establishing the university. They included Mr K.D. Sultanpuri chairman 20-point programme, former MP and MLA — G.C. Totu, former VC HP University Dr B.S. Jogi, former VC Agriculture University Palampur Dr H.R. Kalia, former Director Horticulture Department, former Agriculture Commissioner GOI Harbans Singh, first VC of Nauni University Dr M.R. Thakur and others.

Shimla, December 1
Decks have been cleared for bestowing of summer capital status on Dharamsala, as the winter session of the state Assembly will be held there for the first time in late December this year.

The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today confirmed that arrangements were being made for holding winter session there and the Assembly Speaker had been informed about it. Though successive Congress and BJP governments had been saying that they would declare Dharamsala as the winter capital, but it was for the first time that the Assembly session would be held there.

Mr Virbhadra Singh also said during the winter sojourn this year, he would lay the foundation stone for the construction of the Assembly building. It is learnt that this time a brief session would be held an the premises of the HP State Education Board.

It is learnt that arrangements were already being made for the stay of the Speaker, Vidhan Sabha staff , MLAs and officers. It was Mr Virbhadra Singh who started the practice of winter sojourn of the government so as to enable the people of lower Himachal to get an opportunity to air their grievances.

Even though the setting up of a full fledged winter capital at Dharamsala would cost the already cash strapped government a lot but the move was being viewed as a strategy by the Congress to counter allegations of regional discrimination.

To begin with the winter sojourn of the government used to last about 10 days but lately the Chief Minister has been spending almost a month there. Besides touring Kangra district extensively, he also spends some time in Una, Chamba and Hamirpur districts. The state cabinet holds one meeting at Dharamsala during the winter move.

Infact, the BJP had criticised this move of his, terming it nothing more than a gimmick to woo people of Kangra and lower parts of Himachal. The BJP said that it would only amount to wastage of government money, time and the people would not find the officials in office as they would be accompanying him everywhere. However, the BJP was forced to continue with the winter sojourn after Mr P.K. Dhumal came to power as it became a political compulsion for the party, which has its stronghold in Kangra.

Being the biggest district having 16 Assembly segments, Kangra remains the most significant district politically. In fact whichever party wins the majority of the seats from Kangra forms the government in the state.

Dharamsala, December 1
The Kangra District Bar Association has opposed the construction of a residential complex, of the police department along the judicial complex, as “it will block expansion of the court complex.”

In a statement issued today, Mr Tek Chand Rana, association president, said the matter was brought to the notice of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for the transfer of a piece of the government land adjoining the commercial complex. The Chief Minister, said Mr Rana, had agreed to transfer the land for the expansion of the building of the judicial complex.

“The CM had directed Deputy Commissioner Bharat Khera to get the construction work stopped at the site. But despite the assurance, the district administration has failed to transfer the land in favour of the judicial department. The construction of the police quarters is also on,” he alleged.

The association added that the present bar room was not enough to meet the requirement of the increasing members of the Bar.