Grassroots
Focus on special needs
About a year ago, Deepak, Rajesh, Dharam Dutt and Gunjam, all below 16 years of age, suffered from the multiple disabilities. They could not sit properly, could not maintain a personal hygiene.

HOPE REKINDLED: Children with special needs learning life’s lessons

AIDS comes calling
Blame it on its floating population or the money-order economy; Hamirpur district has attained the reputation of having the highest number of HIV positive cases in Himachal Pradesh. Going by its relatively small population, experts feel the total figure of 374 AIDS patients as on March 31, it is a major cause for concern.

CITIZEN FIRST
Monkey menace
I would like to draw the attention of the authorities as to why they are not taking any action against the monkeys which are present along the road as we come to Dharamshala. I met with an accident recently when a monkey suddenly came in front of my bike and I fell down, getting some cuts and bruises.

Shimla Diary
Scintillating performance
It was a scintillating performance by artistes from Kathak Kendra, Jaipur, in Shimla along with Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, which will shortly have its first centre in Himachal at Solan. Rekha Thakar, a disciple of Guru Babulal Patani, and Girdhari Lal Panwar, presented Raaskhan ke dohe along with her disciples.

“Will I too die without getting justice?”
As many as 50 of them have breathed their last, but without getting justice. Over 250-300 of them are in the fag end of their life after retiring from government service. Even after 28 years, they pin hope on the judicial system.

AWAITING JUSTICE: Retired physical education teachers’ pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

young achiever
Shimla boy brings laurels
Placed 2nd in ICSE exam in country
“The teachers give us their best, it depends on us whether we assimilate it or not,” is how Sahil Thakur, a student of St Edward’s school, who has come out with flying colours by securing 97.20 per cent in the ICSE examinations feels.

Gwalthai industry cries for facilities
Kiran Deep reports on the industry from Bilaspur
The Himachal Pradesh Government has been developing Gwalthai in Bilaspur district as an industrial town. Eight industrial units, including steel plants and packaging industry ,begun functioning in the Industrial area here recently.

A Great Soldier Turns Saint
Thomas Moore said this more than 80 years back and this has come true with a great son of the Indian soil who rendered his services for more than 52 years to the nation. Padamshri Brigadier B.C.Pande, who changed the history of India and Pakistan and helped in the task of creating new Nation - Bangladesh, has devoted himself at the feet of Lord and has turned a Sanyasi – Swami Sadashivanand, on May 8 , last.

Cops get tech-savvy
The Kangra district police has come up with a techno-savvy way of dealing with its dreaded criminals, by posting their names on a website.

kangra Diary
Traffic bottlenecks a nightmare
With encroachments and traffic bottlenecks on the both sides of the highway, traffic bottlenecks are a common sight in Kangra town. The maddening traffic flow is a nightmare for both tourists, especially on the main road outside the bus stand. Even though there is an urgent need to get rid of the encroachments to widen the main road, they have only spread in the recent part due to political patronage.

Traffic woes at Khalini Chowk

Queen of Hills turns charwoman

Concrete structures have turned Shimla from verdant green to filthy grey, reports Rakesh Lohumi

The degeneration of the “Queen of Hills” from “salubrious green” to “filthy grey” tells a sad tale of poor governance and the utter disregard of the authorities concerned for rules and regulations.

The verdant hills have been over the past two decades transformed into a veritable concrete jungle. Vast stretches of green in and around the city have been gobbled up by multi-storeyed structures and the city is spilling over in all directions. The unbridled forces of urbanisation are playing havoc with the tree cover in the peripheral localities where a large number of structures have come up in violation of the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act.

Trees axed

All this has happened even though a development plan has been in force to ensure planned growth of the city. Yet, thousands of trees have been axed, some with the approval of the authorities and the rest illegally. Over 4,500 encroachments on government land, including forests, have taken place and more than 2,000 high-rise buildings have come up in contravention of the building laws.

The connivance of the political bosses and the administration is obvious as the concrete monsters have not come up overnight. While the officials turned a blind eye to the felling of trees, encroachments and illegal constructions, the political masters made amendments to the development plan and frequently came up with retention policies to help regularise illegal structures.

In fact, successive governments made a mockery of the development plan for the Shimla Planning Area, which came into force in March, 1979, by repeated amendments. In all, 37 amendments were carried out, mostly to condone deviations, increase the number of permissible number of storeys and allow construction in banned areas and green belts. The very first amendment in February 1983 raised the number of permissible storeys in commercial areas and for public buildings from three to five. The plan was further diluted in the same year when the Director of Town and Country Planning was empowered to allow change of land use and raising maximum number of permissible storeys from three to four for all areas. Subsequently, construction was allowed in banned areas and in 1988 even the setbacks, required for service support system, were reduced.

No construction is allowed on slopes beyond 45 degree to ensure stability of structures, yet the government made an amendment in 1995 authorising the director to consider proposals for construction of slopes of upto 60 degree. The maximum number of storeys were again raised for hotel, commercial and residential buildings in February 2002. Construction was allowed in restricted areas by constituting a committee under the chairmanship of the director in the same year. Above all, a large number of cases of influential persons for construction in banned areas and greenbelt were approved by the Cabinet.

For the illegal structures which still could not be regularised despite all these amendments, tailor-made retention policies were framed. Every time a retention policy was brought, the government asserted that it was a one-time relief and that in future the illegal structures will be demolished. However, in reality such policies have become an easy periodical exercise for regularising unauthorised constructions from time to time. Till date, four retentions policies have been implemented and a fifth one is under consideration.

Political ploy

The first policy was implemented in 1997 under which all those who had built unauthorised structures were asked to submit a simple line plan so that water and power connections could be granted to them. However, it turned out to be a clever political ploy to help illegal buildings get water and power as proper building plans were not submitted by most of the landlords. A retention policy was framed by the local Municipal Corporation in 2000 and the Department of Urban Development in 2002. It enabled regularisation of up to seven-storey buildings, double the maximum permissible number, on payment of a nominal penalty. In all as many as 1,321 illegal structures, 671 in Kusumpati, 445 in Dhalli and 154 in Tutu, were regularised. Yet another policy was implemented in 2004 under which 963 illegal structures were approved and a penalty of Rs 2.20 crore was recovered.

Stringent curbs

Meanwhile, there has been a spurt in construction activity over the past three years as the new development plan being finalised by the government proposes stringent curbs on construction. While the government is taking its time in granting approval to the plan builders are working overtime to raise huge structures before its implementation.

According to information, more than half of the structures coming up in outskirts are unauthorised. After all, the builders know that a retention policy is all that it takes to circumvent the law.

The continuing decline causes anguish to oldtimers like Mr N.N.Vohra, an eminent citizen and former top bureaucrat, who saw the quaint hill station in its pristine beauty when a few red roofed-structures dotted the lush green slopes. The city has lost much of its charm and any further laxity in enforcing the rule of law will prove disastrous, he warns. It was high time that the government carried out a tree audit, building audit and land audit to detect illicit felling, encroachments and unauthorised constructions so that responsibility could be fixed and deterrent action taken against those guilty, he suggested.

Mr B.S.Malhans, president of the Save Our Shimla Society, says that frequent tempering with the building laws and development plan has to be stopped forthwith. The rule of law can be ensured only by establishing the supremacy of the Town and Country Planning Act so that the Cabinet cannot overrule it. In Punjab, there is a specific Clause which lays down that no decision can be taken outside the purview of the Act. A similar provision should be made in Himachal Pradesh too.

The bottomline is that merely framing of development plans and policies is not enough to stem the rot. Political courage and determination are essential to save the city from the impending doom. 

Spiritual Summer

McLeodganj, abode of the Dalai Lama, is gearing up for the summer rush as it attracts thousands of tourists who come seeking solace for the soul and more, says Vibhor Mohan

It’s a spiritual pull that attracts thousands of tourists to the Tibetan monasteries in McLeodganj for seeking solace. On days when the Dalai Lama is holding his discourses, one is sure to find more foreign tourists than Indians in the market. Besides Tibetan religion, they explore every aspect of the local culture.

Star visitors

The list of celebrity tourists making regular trips here include Hollywood actors Richard Gere and Goldie Hawn, longtime supporters of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

In 2003, the Hollywood stars together offered about $1 million to improve the condition of Tibetans living in exile.

According to the tourism department, in the year 2005, a total of 21,500 foreigners and 1,76,500 Indians visited McLeodganj. This year so far, 3,950 foreigners and 27,640 have been here. The bookings for hotels are made much in advance for the annual discourse held by the Dalai Lama as foreigners from all over the world throng the place to attend the discourses on Buddhism during the celebrations of Tibetan new year, “Losar”.

Niki, a tourist from England, says she is here to know more about the Tibetan religion and culture. “The place is very scenic and the sheer presence of the Dalai Lama makes it special. I have learnt a lot about the Tibetan issue after coming here,” she says. Mark, another tourist from Germany, says that the main Tibetan temple, Tsuglakhang, located right opposite the official residence of the Dalai Lama, is a must-see for any tourist and she plans to return soon.

Bhagsunag Fall

The Bhagsunag Fall, located 11 kilometers from Dharamsala, is also popular with tourists for its old temple; a fresh water spring and water fall. The Regional Mountaineering Centre at Dharamkot in McLeodganj, also attracts a large number of tourists from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. With an aim to attract more tourists to McLeodganj, the tourism department has finalised projects to build a multi-story parking lot and put up streetlights in every part of the tourist spot.

Vikas Labru, district tourism officer, says the parking area would be located on the Cantonment road and would provide a permanent solution to the parking blues of the tourists. “A clearance from the forest department has been got and work on the parking lot would start soon,” he says. A sum of 13 lakh has been sanctioned to put up streetlights and mercury lamps.

Israeli crowd

A major chunk of the foreign tourists consists of Israelis. They hit McLeodganj after completing a compulsory stint in the their army, spend little during their stay here. “They share rooms in small guest houses, don’t shop much and contribute little to the economy of the place,” says Mr Rakesh Bansal, owner of Navjivan hotel.

This is one reason why despite the regular influx of tourists, McLeodganj leaves a lot desired as a happening tourist spot. “Indian tourists from adjoining states spend more than foreign tourists, who have no inclination to splurge at showrooms and don’t put up in quality hotels,” says another hotelier.

Trek routes

Trekking the snow-covered hills around McLeodganj is a major attraction for both foreign and Indian tourists. Triund is the main trekking spot, located 17 kilometers from Dharamsala. As the snowline starts after just five kilometers of trekking, it combines scenic views with adventure at an altitude of 2,827 meters. Labru informs that camping sites are being developed in Triund and for this pre-fabricated huts are being set up. Solar lights are also being put up near the camping accommodation. The facility of drinking water has been made available in Triund to save tourists trekking all the way up from inconvenience, he says.

HIllside view
A taste of our tourism
by Vepa Rao

Every dignitary visiting Himachal Pradesh dutifully doles out the same pious advice: “The state should tap its vast tourism potential and other natural resources” He also promises “all possible help” enjoys the state’s hospitality and promptly forgets it by the time the government approaches him for funds or other help. Speechwriters dish out the same words clichés. All those present at such meetings also clap dutifully and nod piously — and, of course, live happily ever after!

Forget resource constraints and grandiose plans — they are the government’s business. What do you and I do. Tourism ultimately has to become a part of a people’s culture fostered in a government’s overall vision. Somehow we don’t seem to have accepted it the way the people in Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan or Kerala have done. We look down upon tourism as a “cultural invasion”, an essential evil of sorts. A small grain of truth, perhaps.

Look at the way the young ones gape at the partially covered foreign bosoms, honeymooners hugging in public, tourists throwing about big currency to buy things, tossing liquor bottles on the wayside at night … And more recently, illicit liaisons in hotel rooms, porn CDs…. Oh the works! What should we do?

Obviously, we can’t throw the baby with the bathwater. We need the money tourism brings in. No cultural censorship would be intellectually right or feasible in our complex system. One part of the answer could be mass education of people on how to handle and cope with pressures of tourism. NGOs and other voluntary efforts are needed in a big way. Otherwise we all will merely sit back and keep blaming the  “system” (whatever it means!) for everything.

Two years ago, an officer from here went to Lakshadweep with the family. A clerk at the tourism counter told him that the bus for local sightseeing left daily at 8 am. Minutes later, the clerk left the counter, ran a hundred yards to catch up with this client and informed that the bus next day was, however, cancelled. “Sorry, I got the news just now.”

How many such people do we have in Himachal’s tourism sector? Can the government and employees’ unions get together in the state’s interests and see that those with the right attitude and temperament replace the wrong ones in this hospitality industry? We cannot afford frowning faces, sweater- knitting hands and impatient voices greeting anxious tourists.

We have a lot to learn from the elaborately helpful staff, including waiters, in Haryana resorts. Barring their overbearing ways, the Kashmiris’ practical attitude is also worth emulating.

By the way, a plate of four thin buttered slices of bread with cucumber and tomato pieces (“sandwiches”) costs at least Rs 35, plus taxes, even at our wayside government-run tourism restaurants. Is it pricing or fleecing? Want to taste!

Two on the road

If you are a true Indian, you must stand in the doorway, chat away to glory and yield only when others say “excuse me”, or “bhai saab raasta denge”. In the hills we have an extra facility. We can also stand right in the middle of a road and hold a conference — till an approaching vehicle honks. It’s interesting the way we react, then.

Let’s say two gentlemen are thus chatting. Invariably indecision seizes them — nine out of 10 times, one moves to the right and the other to the left! On a narrow road, the driver has to take extra care to avoid touching the folks standing on both sides of his vehicle.

The other one time when the two move to the same side of the road, you see at play a whole set of exotic qualities — clarity and presence of mind, right reflexes, inbuilt pragmatism and, above all, understanding the other person’s (driver’s) needs. They are the successful types who know how to handle themselves “on the road.” Here too it should be seen who acts well in time or waits till the last second, takes the lead, or just jumps to safety without bothering about the companion. Their poise, body language, capacity to judge the time and distance etc also need to be noted.

Small things like this give us precious insights into personalities. So proclaims an executive friend from Delhi who is devising such tests for assessing the candidates’ personality  “at the street level”  where the “real game is”. Even white-collar jobs require “street-smartness these days”. Closed room interviews, he says, will slowly go out of vogue. He seems to have picked up a bagful of ideas during his short holiday in Shimla.

Our educational institutions may as well incorporate such ideas in training our young ones for big city jobs. But first of all, why stand in the doorway or the middle of a road for a chat, anyway? Why harass others?

Grassroots
Focus on special needs
Kuldeep Chauhan

About a year ago, Deepak, Rajesh, Dharam Dutt and Gunjam, all below 16 years of age, suffered from the multiple disabilities. They could not sit properly, could not maintain a personal hygiene. They would cry or howl, non-stop. They suffered from scores of mental defects like cerebral palsy and autism as they are all mentally challenged.

Today Gunjam can sit up, utter her name, respond to queries and maintains her personal hygiene. So is the case with Dharam Dutt, who would earlier cry at length. He has now learnt how to behave in a class and eat and go to the toilet.

Even Deepak and Rajesh, both mentally challenged, have earned laurels for their “special school” at the state-level special Olympic for the mentally challenged children at Solan held on May 21-22.

These four children represent 30 mentally challenged children, who are learning daily life activities at the Sayog School for Special Children, being run by an NGO at Nagchala in Mandi Sadar since 2004.

These children live in this residential school, learn the skills and get speech, music and sport therapies that enable them to train themselves to manage their daily care activities.

Gunjam was very slow and was not toilet trained and could not climb the steps, said Ms Nirmla Devi, a care giver at the Sahyog school. “Today, she can climb the steps, go alone to the toilet and can speak,” she said. These children are high on mental deficit and pick the learning very slowly, she adds.

Similarly, Rajesh would repeat irregular words and not maintain hygiene. He used to suck his thumb non-stop, and would break things as he was autistic and hyperactive, but now he responds to queries, says Mr Dinesh Kumar, a special educator at the Sahyog school. “It is a challenge to teach these children,” he added.  

Deepak and Rajesh won the gold medal for badminton at the Solan special Olympic. “I came third,” uttered Rajesh, 14, a mentally challenged, when asked. “The Bocce, a game of ball is a special sport for these children at the school that enables them to develop a sense of judgment and mental growth,” says Puspa Purohit, a sport therapist, who led the team to Solan.

The five children from Solan have been selected for the special Olympic to be held in Beijing in 2007, she added.          

These children need round-the-clock care as they are high on mental and physical deficiencies, says Dr NK Sharma, who runs the Sahyog school supported by the National Trust for the Welfare of the special children under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and other agencies.

Sahyog is also providing training to over 40 special children under the home-based programme of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the district this year. “Under this, Rs. 1500 is given to the children in which they are taught daily needs activities,” Dr Sharma said.

“We are also running a school for the hearing impaired children with the help of the Red Cross Society in Mandi.

“These special children need more attention. There are no proper sports training for them. We have submitted a project to cover special children at Thaltukot, a remote area in Chauhar valley in the district, but it has not cleared by the district administration so far,” he said.

Sahyog is now starting B. Ed in special education as the special children need special trainers to teach them the learning skills as charted by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), Dr Sharma said.

AIDS comes calling
Vibhor Mohan

Blame it on its floating population or the money-order economy; Hamirpur district has attained the reputation of having the highest number of HIV positive cases in Himachal Pradesh. Going by its relatively small population, experts feel the total figure of 374 AIDS patients as on March 31, it is a major cause for concern.

Even though the AIDS control cell claims to have brought about better health awareness through its campaigns, especially in rural areas, people still don’t seem to take the threat of AIDS seriously, ignoring even the basic precautions regarding safe sex and blood transfusion.

“The situation is definitely alarming going by the AIDS cases per lakh population. Though the spread of the virus has been restrained to some extent, behavioural changes in general public is a must before achieving the absolute control over the disease,” says Dr P. C. Dogra, Chief Medical Officer, Hamirpur.

For a long time, he says, taxi and truck driving has been the key vocation for a large section of population in Hamirpur. Most of them bring with them the virus from other states. Secondly, youth from Hamirpur have been traditionally joining the armed forces in large numbers and they could also be responsible for importing the virus.

The lack of industry has also led to people from the area moving to other states in search of livelihood and chances of multi-sex partnerships are high.

To counter the deadly disease, as many as 290 condom depots have been set up in different parts of the district and 1,40,000 condoms have been distributed free so far. Anganbari workers in villages have been trained to inform general public about the benefits of using condoms.

The voluntary blood donation has gone up to 71 per cent, bringing down the possibility of spread of AIDS through blood transfusion from an already infected patient.

And to make sure that discussing safe sex is no more a taboo in senior classes in schools, students in 142 of the total 146 schools in the district have been made aware of the characteristics of the AIDS virus and ways to avoid getting infected. “Schools are one of our most focused areas and we keep organising lectures and talks for students of Class X to XII,” says Dr Dogra.

An official of the AIDS Control Society says awareness is the key aspect of the campaign against AIDS in the district. So far, a total of 314 inter-personal communication meetings have been organised in different blocks, targeting the age group of 15-49 years. At least two workshops are also organised in each health sub-centre every year.

Another official informed that the first AIDS case in the state was also detected in Seongta village in Hamirpur district. “There is need to take the different government schemes to the general public so that they do not remain on paper,” he says.

Located in the district hospital the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCTC) is playing an important role in the fight against AIDS in the district. Set up in 2003, it has examined 651 blood samples for STDs so far and of these 226 were found HIV positive.

Promising absolute anonymity the centre starts by providing free counselling to any volunteer who walks in. If there is suspicion of him or her being infected, the volunteer is convinced to go in for getting his blood sample tested. In case of a positive report, the patient is helped in coping up with the virus and the doubts of the family about getting infected by touch or sharing foodstuff with the patient are also put to rest.

The public can also call up the toll free telephone number (1051) to get more information about AIDS and other STDs. The numbers of the callers are also kept secret by the centre.

The centre gets around 20 suspected cases per month. “Recently, we had a two-years-old child from a nearby village and it was a tough task to console and advise the family,” says a counsellor at the centre.

“The rise in the number of cases is also because people, who would have otherwise remained hidden cases, are now volunteering to get tested. As per the records of the VCTC, most suspected AIDS cases belong to the age group of 15 to 30 in case of women and 30 to 44 in case of men ,” he adds. 

CITIZEN FIRST
Monkey menace

I would like to draw the attention of the authorities as to why they are not taking any action against the monkeys which are present along the road as we come to Dharamshala. I met with an accident recently when a monkey suddenly came in front of my bike and I fell down, getting some cuts and bruises.

Bhawani Singh

Pension denied

I, Kailash Chand, a resident of Bhangwar village, a patwari candidate of 1958 seniority, have served from 1958 to 1962 and later joined the Army on December 25, 1962.

My lien was kept alive and I was absorbed in the department after retirement on August 31, 1990. I served as Kanungo and retired on April 30, 1990 after putting seven-and-a – half years of service.

Thus I put 12 years of service in the department and thus entitled for pension. But I was denied pension by the district authorities as they do not have the record of my previous service. The district administration has lost my service book.

I have appealed to the Himachal Administrative Tribunal, giving all facts and figures of my previous service. Eight years have lapsed but not a single hearing has taken place so far. I am a senior citizen, heart patient and a disabled ex-serviceman. I request the authority concerned to take up my case and a speedy hearing.

Kailash Chand Katoch

Complaints declined

I, Lt Col Arun Kainthla, am posted as Commanding Officer, 1 HP BOYS BN NCC, Solan. My brother Col Anuj Kainthla is also serving in the Army and posted at Gwalior.

Both of us are co-owners and landlords in absentia of the top floor of Leela Bhavan at Khalini Bazar. XEN BSNL and Bajaj Auto Finance Ltd are the two tenants occupying this floor since 1997 and 2005, respectively.

The wife of K.D. Shreedhar, Advocate, owns the second floor and the wife of Shailendra Nigam, a retired IAS, owns one flat on the first floor. On Apr 27, 2006, Mr Shreedhar and Mr Nigam entered into the offices of both the tenants and misbehaved, threatening them of dire consequences if they asked for tea from the teashop located down below. They also issued a similar threat to the tea show owner Manoj Kumar. They even got the signboards of BSNL and Bajaj Auto Finance Ltd. Removed from the entrance of the building.

On May 5, I along with the aggrieved persons went to lodge complaint under Section 107 Cr.PC Act 1973 in the court of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Shimla, Rakesh Sharma against the culprits. While my complaint letter was accepted, others were declined.

Arun Kainthla

Give us a science college

The revenue sub-division of district Hamirpur, Barsar-Mehre, seems to have fallen victim to political apathy, bringing all development to a halt. Though the public has been demanding for a degree college for science students at Barsar-Mehre for the past 25 years, but no government has paid any heed to it. As a result talented students from poor background are deprived of opportunity to pursue higher education, especially in science stream.

The Barsar Civil Hospital is waiting for its turn for its up gradation to that of a sub-divisional hospital for providing better heath facilities. It needs to be converted into a 50—bedded hospital at least.

A major part of this sub-division is surrounded by pine forests and with the take over of the forest area of erstwhile Raj Mohinder Paul, there is a necessity to create a new forest division.

Almost the entire sub-division is facing drinking water problem throughout the year. There is a necessity to review the existing schemes and also install new schemes to meet the problem.

Last but not the least, due to the increase in population, crime rate has increased and the Barsar Police station does not have the sufficient manpower to cope up with the requirement of the police force.

M.L. Pandit, Hamirpur

Dog menace

The population in Shimla city and the Mall in particular is increasing day by day. These cause nuisance on the Ridge and tourists are now scared as there are too many incidents of dog bites in the city. The Municipal Corporation has failed to check this menace.

The administration should make an effort to stop this problem.

V.K. Sharma, Shimla-2

Shimla Diary
Scintillating performance
Pratibha Chauhan

It was a scintillating performance by artistes from Kathak Kendra, Jaipur, in Shimla along with Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, which will shortly have its first centre in Himachal at Solan. Rekha Thakar, a disciple of Guru Babulal Patani, and Girdhari Lal Panwar, presented Raaskhan ke dohe along with her disciples. This was followed by a duet Kathak nritya by Chetna Javda and Suraj Mothia and a solo dance by Anurag Verma.

The secretary of Pracheen Kala Kendra, Mr M.L. Koser, who has done research in Himachal folk dance and music, said the centre at Solan would start functioning within three months. He said this would be a training centre, especially for international students.

New combination

The getting together of the old guard owing allegiance to one-time BJP stalwart in Himachal, the late Mr Jagdev Chand, at Hamirpur recently does not augur well for the former chief minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal. It was not just the presence of Mr Narinder Thakur, son of Mr Jagdev Chand, his other daughter-in-law Urmila Thakur and his supporters but some diehard Shanta loyalists joining them is perhaps an indication of the permutations and combination that could emerge in the BJP in the days to come.

It was during the visit of Mr J.P. Nadda, former Health Minister and one-time Dhumal loyalist that these leaders got together in the home district of the former Chief Minister.

In fact, Mr Narinder Thakur along with his supporters remained expelled from the party for over three years as he had floated ‘Mitra Mandal’, a group of dissidents who were denied the Assembly ticket in the 2003 elections. It was only a few months back that he was taken back into the party despite opposition by Dhumal supporters.

It was with Mr Thakur’s help that the BJP was able to bag the lone Lok Sabha seat in Himachal from Hamirpur.

It’s a different story that the victorious MP, Mr Suresh Chandel’s, name figured in the sting operation carried out by a television channel, seeking money for raising questions in Parliament.

Bumpy ride

The bumpy ride due to the huge potholes on the road leading to Kamla Nehru Hospital, housing the gynaecological wing of the state medical college can add to the woes of any patient who has undergone surgery or is in the family way.

Being in the heart of the town, the road is not just used by the patients and their attendants going to the hospital but also by commuters who use it on their way to The Mall and back.

The Public Works Department or the local Municipal Corporation is least bothered about the inconvenience that is being caused to the public due to the bad condition of the road.

This just goes on to prove that the officials are simply not bothered about the woes of the public. “I wish the Chief Minister was using this road while on his way to office and back home, then it would have been the best maintained road,” is the wishful thinking of many patients.

It’s a different matter that the road is right next to the official residence of the Chief Minister, Oakover, but since he dose not use it the PWD couldn’t be bothered.

Race for ministership

With one vacancy in the Virbhadra Singh Cabinet still lying vacant, those desperately trying to find a ministerial berth never give up. It’s a different matter that the CM himself is not too keen to make any changes or fill this vacancy, as it is bound to lead to more dissensions.

The front-runner for the ministry, which fell vacant after the Education Minister, Mrs Asha Kumari, resigned is Major Vijai Singh Mankotia, who for the past some time has been lying low. He has in the recent past not missed any opportunity to embarrass the government in and outside the Assembly, targeting the CM and his office.

The dissident group in the Congress is desperately trying to get Mr Mankotia inducted by convincing the high command.

Political circles are agog with speculation that is this the reason for his quiet demeanour lately.

Names of other contenders for the single slot in the ministry like Mrs Chandresh Kumari and Mr Sujan Singh Pathania, both Rajput leaders from Kangra, are also doing the rounds.

“Will I too die without getting justice?”
Kuldeep Chauhan

As many as 50 of them have breathed their last, but without getting justice. Over 250-300 of them are in the fag end of their life after retiring from government service. Even after 28 years, they pin hope on the judicial system.

But their patience has worn thin as a case related to their grievance has come up for a hearing not even once in the past 5 years.

Meet these physical education teachers (PETs), who have retired from the Education Department over the years. They narrate their tales of woe: how the government apathy has victimised them for the past 28 years. These PETs are fighting for justice since 1978, and belong to the period from 1946-1963. 

“We took up the matter with the successive governments, but all pleas have fallen on deaf ears, so far,” complains Mr Hardev Singh Guleria, who retired as a PET in 1998, and hails from Balh here.

“Our juniors have got the benefit of three increments, but we have been denied it due to reasons best known to the apathetic and indifferent Education Department,” rue Mr Mahenderpal  Singh and Mr Rup Lal Thakur, who retired in 1994.

Even the mercy appeals by the widows of PETs, who earned laurels for the state in sports, raised no concern.

“My husband Ram Lal, a renowned international athlete, won the Asian gold medal in 1981-83 and 1985 and brought laurels to Himachal. He was not even given the long overdue three advance increments during his service, leave alone any recognition,” laments Mrs Bhagwati Devi, his widow, who hails from Una. “The government could have arranged for an out-of-court settlement, if it has ever bothered to give us justice”, added the disillusioned PETs. 

Citing documents in support of their claims, the PETs said that the state government had awarded three advance increments to the PETs with effect from January 1, 1978 in its order no. Shiksha-ii-Kha(13) 13/80 issued on December 5, 1986.

“The Cabinet had cleared that the PETs who have been left out from the benefit given to their juniors would be covered,” says Netra Singh Pathania, who retired about 20 years ago, but today he is a dejected person.

“Like my other colleagues will I die without getting justice?” he asks.                                 

Despite the government order, the department has been taking the plea that these PETs basic pay exceeds Rs. 620 and hence they would not be given the advance increments. When the Cabinet has decided to give the increments to us then we fail to understand why the then officials dealing the case in the Education Department have manipulated the order and denied us our due”, they allege. 

The PETs then moved the HP State Administrative Tribunal in 1991. But the tribunal rejected the case, ruling that “they were no getting the increments earlier so they would not be given the increments now”.

Citing the Supreme Court’s directive on senior citizens, the disgruntled PETs pleaded that the apex court has directed all high courts in the country to take up the cases of senior citizens on a priority basis. “Will all of us eventually die without getting justice or court will give us priority in the case”, they asked.

The Director, Education, Dr Anita Rao, brushed aside the issue saying that she was not aware about the details the case was an old one and sub judice.

young achiever
Shimla boy brings laurels
Placed 2nd in ICSE exam in country
Pratibha Chauhan

“The teachers give us their best, it depends on us whether we assimilate it or not,” is how Sahil Thakur, a student of St Edward’s school, who has come out with flying colours by securing 97.20 per cent in the ICSE examinations feels.     

Being very focused and dedicated there is no way Sahil Thakur, would have settled for anything less than 90 per cent but securing a 97.20 per cent came as a big surprise to him as well. “I was hoping to get somewhere around 92 per cent but this was way beyond my expectations as well,” says a proud Sahil.

He has stood second in the country with this score.

He is strictly against tuitions as he feels that if one is attentive and regular with his studies he wouldn’t require extra help. “I too had some problem in understanding optics in physics so I sought the help of my teachers, who were more than willing to help,” he says. He has taken admission in DAV School, Sector 15, Chandigarh, keeping both medical as well as non-medical streams.

Throughout the year he never studied for more than an hour but for two months before the exams, he put in almost 13 to 15 hours. “I did work hard for two months and the biggest stress-buster was my two-year-old little sister,” he says.

It is perhaps for the first time that a local boy has brought laurels to the hill town by securing second position in the country in the ICSE examinations, results of which were declared last week. The fact that he has bagged the second position in the country makes him even more determined to make a career in medicine. “I have always wanted to become a doctor but in case I am unable to make it I will go in for a course in bio-technology,” he says.

With both parents being in the teaching profession, books have already interested Rohit and a glance into his well-stacked library says it all. Amongst his favourite authors are John Grisham, Arthur Hailey and Dan Brown.  “I firmly believe that instead of just having bookish knowledge one must be well read, which will automatically help you in every sphere of life,” he says nonchalantly.

While his father Lakshman Thakur teaches history at Himachal Pradesh University, his mother Renu Thakur is a professor in the History Department at Panjab University.

He has done justice to his parents as he has scored 99 in history, which is the highest in the country. “I was quite sure my son would definitely touch 95 per cent but he has surpassed even our expectations,” says a beaming Renu.

Sahil’s mantra for success is: “You put in your best and leave the rest to God.” 

Gwalthai industry cries for facilities

Kiran Deep reports on the industry from Bilaspur

A view of the industrial town of Gwalthai

The state Minister of Forest and Sports and local MLA, Mr Thakur Ram Lal, said all possible facilities had been provided for the industries. The power supply was round the clock and water supply was also arranged as per the requirement of the industries. The goods could be transported only in local truck s only. Some industrialists had agreed to lease out their trucks to locals. The rest of the facilities would be soon provided here, he added. Besides, many of locals had got jobs in the Industrial units.

A Great Soldier Turns Saint
Ashok Raina

“ How shall we rank thee upon glory’s page – Thou more than a solider, and just less than sage”

Brigadier B.C.Pande

He said that life seems to be a dream to him but after serving the country for 52 years I am in a right direction at right place and his objective now is ‘ peace and love’. 

Cops get tech-savvy
Vibhor Mohan

The Kangra district police has come up with a techno-savvy way of dealing with its dreaded criminals, by posting their names on a website. The website is the first of its kind in Himachal, having pictures and details of the top three most wanted criminals, charged with murder and rape. The police is hopeful of getting some leads from the general public so that legal proceedings could be initiated against the accused. The website’s address is: http://www.hpkangra.gov.in/police.

Lobsang Chodak, charged with murder of a principal and his two students in McLeodganj in 1997, tops the list. The 34-year-old Tibetan is an expert in Guerilla and Judo fighting and was last believed to be staying at Majnu ka Tilla in Delhi. Another accused in the same case, Tenzin Choezin, is second on the list, having almost the same profile, and accused of murder.

The third most wanted is Kaka, accused of rape in 2004. The 22-year-old was a resident of Shahpur in district Kangra.

District Police Chief S.P.Singh says the police has been trailing these three accused ever since the cases were registered against them but to no avail. “We had even got raids conducted in the Majnu ka Tilla in Delhi in collaboration with the Delhi police but they had fled from there. “Unconfirmed reports say all three of them could have escaped to Nepal,” he says.

“We plan to put more pictures of the most wanted accused and proclaimed offenders. The website has a link through which general public can pass on any information to us about these accused,” he adds.

The details and pictures of ten missing people, from different parts of the district, also on the site to seek help from the public in tracing them. Most of these are very recent cases. The stolen vehicles also find a mention.

The site also gives tips to the general public, such as getting their domestic servants and migrant labourers registered.

“The employers in many cases have no idea about this background/character. They employ them at times without anybody’s recommendation and without knowing anything about them. To identify such bad elements it is necessary verify the character and antecedents of all the domestic servants, private employees, migrant laborers and chowkidars. It would help the local police greatly if previous convicts, suspects and other shady characters among such floating population are identified,” says Mr Singh.

There is a section dealing with foreign tourists as well. After arriving in India, every foreigner should register with the Foreigner’s Registration Officer within a period of 14 days. 

kangra Diary
Traffic bottlenecks a nightmare
Ashok Raina

With encroachments and traffic bottlenecks on the both sides of the highway, traffic bottlenecks are a common sight in Kangra town. The maddening traffic flow is a nightmare for both tourists, especially on the main road outside the bus stand. Even though there is an urgent need to get rid of the encroachments to widen the main road, they have only spread in the recent part due to political patronage.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ms M.Sudha Devi said the drive against encroachments will have to be initiated by the National Highway Authority and the local administration would also provide assistance. “Encroachments along the highway are currently being removed in the Shahpur area,” she said.

Unsuccessful marriage

The plan of two lovers to tie the knot in Kangra town went haywire when the parents of the boy and the girl popped up before the registered marriage was over. Quite a scene was created on the Tehsil Chowk and the police had to intervene to stop the scuffle between the two sides.

‘We need a post-office’

The shifting of the post office located near the district courts has been condemned by the Senior Citizens Forum of Dharamsala as it catered to a large number of residents from the areas of Chilgari, Civil Lines, Lajpat Nagar, Housing Board Colony and Sham Nagar.

Mr R.L.Mahajan, the association’s president, said the post office had been running profitably running and even if there was a problem of accommodation, it should be set up somewhere close the previous location.

New SDM for Palampur

Mr C.P.Verma has taken over as the new Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Palampur, replacing Mr Abhishek Jain, who would be joining as ADC, Kullu. Mr Verma took charge on May 19.

Annual sports meet

Students from the four colleges of the CSK Agricultural University, Palampur, took part in the two-day 20th annual athletic meet, which concluded on May 19. Ajay Thakur and Pooja Negi were declared the best athletes. More than two-dozen events were held during the athletic meet.

Inaugurating it, Vice-Chancellor Dr D.S.Rathore declared that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had sanctioned Rs.88 lakhs for providing more facilities in the gymnasium.

Dr. O.P.Sharma, Students’ Welfare Officer, said despite busy academic schedule, the students they have done well in various inter-university competitions. In the preliminary results, Mesers Harinder Verma, Mandeep Chauhan and Abhay Gaurav bagged first, second and third positions in the 5,000-m race.

Water scarcity

To tackle the scarcity of drinking water, the residents of Dadasiba in Kangra, recently cleaned up the old wells in the area and installed pumps by constituting a Sudhar Committee, which is ensuring that water supply is made to the nearby villages. The committee decided that steps would be taken to revive the traditional sources of water.

Honorary rank for VC

Dr. D.S. Rathore, Vice Chancellor, CSK H.P. Agricultural University was conferred the honorary rank of Colonel Commandant of the NCC in an impressive ceremony here recently.

Brig D.C.Katoch, VSM, Deputy Director General, NCC Directorate, after performing the piping ceremony jointly with Col. Arjun Singh, said there were 13 lakh cadets in NCC and two lakh more cadets will be enrolled within next two years. There are 24000 cadets in H.P. and this number will be increased.

Traffic woes at Khalini Chowk

Traffic lights at the Khalini chowk seem to be adding to traffic chaos. With lights installed on four points on three roads which stem from the Khalini chowk without fail, one has to spend a good half an hour everyday while commuting. One fails to understand the manner in which these lights , add to the traffic congestion. In fact, the situation was better before the police came up with the novel idea of installing these traffic lights. — TNS