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FLAWED VISION
The Health Vision 2008 of the state's health and family welfare department envisages providing effective and efficient healthcare to people in the rural areas, but all seems to be confined to papers. Of 447 primary health centres (PHCs) in the rural parts of the state, more than 30 per cent do not have a doctor. Not just that, some of the PHCs are run by class IV employees and remain closed most of the time. PHCs at Tarmeher and Kotighor, located in the remote Chota Bhangal area of Kangra, are among them. PHC Barot in Mandi district is being run by a pharmacist. In fact, Tarmeher, Kotikhor and Barot are all part of Chohar valley, located within a distance of 5 km. Though one PHC with good facilities would have been sufficient in this area, local politicians have opened three centres to enhance their vote bank. Over 60,000 villagers of 16 panchayats of the area have been suffering, as not even a single doctor is available to take care of their heath. Patients are left at the mercy of the pharmacist at PHC Barot, who uses hit-and-trial methods to treat them. Even worse is the fact that patients from Chota Bhangal, Lohardi Multhan and other areas have to come here for treatment as Termeher and Kotighor PHCs are being run by class IV employees. Still a large populace is dependent on quacks for regular treatment while critically ill patients either go to zonal hospital, Mandi, or IGMC, Shimla, or Tanda Medical Hospital, near Dharamsala. A billboard at PHC Tarmeher reads "24-hour emergency services", but the centre is locked most of the time, say local residents. "We get medicines from two private doctors or quacks here," they said. Residents from Barot, Multhan and Luhardi say, "Politicians have opened these PHCs with much fanfare to please voters. Had they equipped at least one PHC with doctors, and laboratory and X-ray facilities, it would have been a great service to the people of this remote and backward region". Not just facilities, these PHCs are lacking in hygiene. PHC Barot wards are plagued with rats and beds reek of fungus as these have never been used. Rooms meant for X-ray examination emit foul smell as sweeper remains drunk most of the time. There is no X-ray facility at any of these three PHCs. The roof of PHC microscopic and DOT centre that houses laboratory, leaks which is ruining its limited equipment. Situation is no different in the so-called prosperous apple belt of Shimla. Deot, Shilikayan and Tipra-Mushroana and Pabaas in Chopal tehsil do not even have a dispensary, leave alone a well-equipped public health centre. Patients here have no option but to visit civil hospital in Chopal, which is at a distance of about 20 km. In fact, all 447 PHCs are in a bad shape. More than 30 per cent of these PHCs are without doctors. For instance, in Mandi, out of the 60 PHCs, 38 are without doctors. Meanwhile, doctors plead that the government do not give them enough incentives and facilities in the rural areas. "Moreover, what we have learnt is worthless in PHCs or civil hospitals, as there are no laboratory or diagnostic facilities," they allege. Dr Sulakshna Puri, director, health services, admitted that there was a shortage of doctors. But the government had started the process to appoint 200 new doctors and priority would be given to PHCs, she added. Heath minister Rajiv Bindal blamed the previous government for not appointing doctors. “Now, we are appointing 139 doctors for the PHCs facing shortage of staff”. Bindal said the government was making mandatory for the doctors who recently passed out from medical colleges to serve in the rural areas.
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IN THE LINE OF FIRE
Residents of six gram-panchayats of Nahan and Pacchad tehsils are up in arms against the opening of the proposed Narayangarh-Mandlahan heavy artillery field firing range of the Indian Army in the Kolanwala Bhood area.
A representation of sangharsh samiti formed by the residents met Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal during his recent visit to Paonta Sahib and submitted a memorandum, requesting him to pursuade defence ministry to shift the location of the firing range. The Chief Minister has assured support to the residents. The proposal of firing range has been facing stiff opposition from residents right from the beginning. Now, various political parties have also joined them. The residents allege that the previous government did nothing to halt the project. The BJP has taken a tough stand against the opening of the firing range and has announced to launch an agitation. Its district president Baldev Bhandari made it clear that the firing range was not acceptable for the residents of the area. He said residents had made their stand clear to the district administration in the recently convened two public meetings, one at Kolanwala Bhood in Nahan tehsil and another at Jaman Ki Ser in Pacchad tehsil, where the administration had sought NOC from the residents for the opening of the firing range. The meetings, where senior Army officers from the Western Army Command, Chandimandir were also present, were presided over by the deputy commissioner of Sirmour. Bhandari said people of these areas should not be displaced from their native villages. He alleged that the previous Congress government failed to protect the interests of the locals. Members of the sangharsh samiti, which includes presidents of all five affected panchayats, said as per the notification issued by the previous government to notify the land for the firing range nearly 30 villages of six gram panchyats - Palion, Banahan Dinni, Kolanwala Bhood, Kayari, Rajyon and Bajga - would be affected. They said over 4,900 residents of the Nahan area with their 12,262 bigha land and nearly 1,000 residents of Pacchad tehsil with their 9,955 bigha land would be affected. In addition to this, nearly 20 villages of Narayangarh tehsil in adjoining Haryana would have also to vacate their villages for the firing range. Mukhtyar Singh, president, Palion panchyat, Hem Raj, president, Burma Papripanchyat, Maya Devi, president, Kolanwala Bhood panchyat, Viney Gupta, communist leader Jasmat Singh, leading social workers of the area and a number of office-bearers of Panchyati Raj Institutions are leading a mass agitation against the firing range and had organised protest marches in Nahan as well. The residents are trying to persuade the state government to take up the matter with the defence ministry to establish the proposed firing range in a sparsely populated area and where land is barren or having thick forest.
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In search of greener pastures
Shepherds in the mountainous terrains of Bharmour tribal subdivision are being forced to deviate from their ancestral occupation of sheep rearing as the dimension of pasturelands has reduced drastically.
To provide maximum fodder in limited pastures, appropriate schemes need to be drawn up for the welfare of the shepherds in this subdivision in Chamba district. Though the state government has allocated a budget of Rs 20.64 lakh under the annual tribal area sub-plan for the current financial year, it is quite meager so far as the development of sheep rearing is concerned. Every possible step needs to be taken to save this occupation, which is the backbone wool industry of this region and supplier of quality proteins to non-vegetarians. Bharmour earlier used to be called as Brahmpura or Gaddi, which means throne of Lord Shiva. From this, the Gaddi tribe originated and the word Gaddi comes synonymous with one who deals with sheep and goats. Gaddis offer prayers by sacrificing their animals in the name of Lord Shiva during religious ceremonies especially during the famous Manimahesh pilgrimage. Earlier, these shepherds had a belief that their livestock is safe and sound only when Lord Shiva is happy, so they used to offer bali of their animals to propitiate their God. Sheep and goat rearing in Bharmour is a religious and almost pre-historic occupation, but the development and management of sheep even up to the recent past has almost remained primitive. Now, the subdivision comprises eight veterinary hospitals, 13 veterinary dispensaries, three integrated sheep development programme (ISDP) centres and two sheep and wool extension centers. The department has the onus for caring for about 1,70,000 sheep and goats in the region for which vaccination is given to combat deadly diseases from time to time. The flocks of sheep and goats while on their way to alpine pastures are dipped twice a year with ample supply of ectoparaciticide at four dipping tanks constructed at Bharmani, Thalla, Thulel and Utrala. According to official sources, the department has installed two shearing machines worth Rs 6 lakh each at Bharmani to facilitate the shepherds to get their sheep and goats sheared at nominal rates. “The department has been introducing exotic Marino rams from time to time for fine wool quality and long staple length to the flocks of sheep in their respective pasturelands,” the sources say. The population of sheep and goats has increased in the past 10 years with 34 per cent increase in exotic blood. The average annual wool yield per sheep in India is only 900 g. “In northern India, it is about 1-2.5 kg which can be increased by introducing exotic Marino rams in the livestock flocks,” the sources claim. They reveal that the insurance of sheep and goats on the pattern of crop insurance is likely to be introduced in the state for which a proposal has been sent to the Central government for approval to boost the breeders engaged in sheep rearing.
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KAILASH DARSHAN AT MANIMAHESH
Himachal Pradesh, the receptacle of soaring snow-capped mountains, is famous not only for its precious culture and historical background but also for its natural scenic beauty, age-old monuments and pristine temples and this is perhaps the only reason that the state is widely known as the “Land of Gods”. Geographically, saddled on the spacious lap of the Western Himalayas, Himachal provides many avenues for those seeking mental peace and spiritual solace. Here, gods are believed to dwell in and numerous religious celebrations are organised at several holy places, which draw thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country. Manimahesh in Chamba district is one such place that attracts over one lakh pilgrims every year. Devotees of Lord Shiva come here to take a dip in the sacred Manimahesh Lake. Interestingly, the materialistic world has been unable to subvert the sanctity of the rich cultural heritage of Chamba and the splendour of its snow-clad mountains. Manimahesh is located at an altitude of 5,656 m and down the foothills (yet on a hillock at an altitude of 4,170 m) nestled the scintillating Manimahesh Lake. The place is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. This holy place falls in the mountainous Bharmour tribal valley. The state government has already declared the pilgrimage to Manimahesh a state-level fair. This pilgrimage centre gains importance on two religious occasions – one on Janamasthami and again on Radhasthami. Only saints and sages grace the former while pilgrims of all walks of life undertake this pilgrimage on the occasion of Radhasthami. Generally, the yatra commences exactly seven days prior to the actual day fixed for the holy dip. The beginning of the yatra a week earlier is locally called “chhari yatra” in which the holy mace of Lord Shiva is carried to Manimahesh from the complex of over 1,000-year-old Lakshmi Narayan temple in Chamba town. This marks the inauguration of this sacred occasion. What is more characteristic of chhari yatra is that devotees tread barefoot. It takes seven days for the chhari yatra to reach Manimahesh Lake. The divine Kailash Mount (abode of Lord Shiva) situated at an altitude of about 5,656 m is clearly visible to pilgrims from the holy lake of Manimahesh. Manimahesh can be approached directly from Pathankot railhead, which is a more patronised route. Although there are many shorter routes from Kangra valley but they are more hazardous. A devotee of Manimahesh should follow these guidelines. Chamba is 121 km from Pathankot (railway station) and bus service is frequent from there. Bharmour is 66 km from Chamba. However, buses ply up to Hadsar, 15 km from Bharmour, from where the tedious, but delectable if you have convivial companions, trek begins. The oval-shaped Manimahesh Lake is about 14 km away from Hadsar. The distance has been marked with steep ascent, which has to be inevitably trekked. Here is the tough ordeal for devout Shaivs. But the pilgrims become totally unaware of the tiredness when the nature offers them a plethora of new experiences while encountering two enchanting deep vales i.e. Baandar Ghatti and Bhairon Ghatti. Dhanchho is yet another resting place that slightly marks the half of the on-foot journey. To be a part of the religious ambience permeated everywhere in the valley, guzzling cups of hot tea at temporarily pitched shacks in the thick fog is an unforgettable experience. Gauri Kund and Shiv Karotary are two different places where as the legend has it that Lord Shiva’s consort Parvati and the Lord bathed on Radhasthami day. Hence, on this day, pilgrims take a holy dip. Thereafter, pilgrims offer prayers to the Mount Kailash and make offerings at the image of Lord Shiva established on one side of the lake. This year, the pilgrimage is being organised and performed under the aegis of the newly constituted Manimahesh Trust from August 24 to September 8.
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shimla diary
Headed by a new party chief, the Congress is infused with enthusiasm that was reflected on the very first day of the monsoon session when they staged a
walk out.
The Congress MLA’s staged a walk out over the Naina Devi issue as the new HPCC chief Kaul Singh Thakur along with CLP leader Vidya Stokes and Virbhadra Singh led the party MLA’a out of
the house. It appears that the Congress is in an aggressive mood and wants to corner the government on every available opportunity. With an eye on the Lok Sabha elections the Congress is looking for issues on which it can embarrass the government and create a favourable atmosphere for itself. The party MLA’s are happy that at least the Congress is now playing an active role in taking on the government which is a welcome change from the past when the leadership was soft in criticising the Dhumal regime.
A noble cause
It is his deep urge and desire to help humanity and be of help to everyone that made Bharat Bhushan Jaitly donate his body to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC). Despite the fact that organ donation is a noble cause which could lighten up lives of many unfortunate persons suffering major disorders but majority of the people are still hesitant to go ahead with it. He has pledged that his body be handed over to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) or any other hospital after
his death. “It will be the responsibility of my family members to hand over the body to the hospital authorities so that my body organs can be transplanted into any other needy person,” he said.
Honour for local doctor
Dr Vivek Bindal, doing his post graduation in general surgery from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi has been invited by the Society of Laproendoscopic Surgeons of USA to present a research paper. The research paper by Dr Bindal is regarding stapled Hemorrhoidopexy as day care surgical procedure in Indian setup’. He would present his scientific paper at the conference to be held at Chicago on September 17. It is rare that scientific papers of such young surgeons, who are still doing their MS surgery, are accepted for presentation at this kind of an international platform.
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Teacher par excellence
The missionary zeal with which the principal of Dayanand Public School, Shimla, Shashi Kiran, has worked to further the cause of education all through his life has finally earned her the well- deserved recognition with the conferring of the national award for teachers for 2007.
During her long and distinguished career as a teacher and education administrator, Shashi had won a number of awards. She had been associated with the Arya Samaj from her childhood and it was her dedication to the organisation, which pitchforked her into front ranks of teachers. Her effort was rewarded when the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha conferred the highest honour, “Outstanding and exceptional contribution to the Arya Samaj and education,” in 1995. She was given the CBSE best teacher award for 2003 and the board had also lauded her services in conducting the PMT from 2001 to 2007. She was also associated with “Sahodaya Complex Scheme” of the board and remained president of the school operating in the region for three consecutive years. While achieving distinctions in academics as a student, she was conferred the President’s Guide award in 1965 by the then President of India, S Radhakrishnan. As a social activist, she has been involved in social work taking up various programmes for the uplift of disadvantaged sections of the society, women and children in collaboration with the Arya Samaj and the Rotary International. She got the Avantika Bharatiya Sahitya Samman in 2005 and Avantika National Humanity Award in 2002 on the Republic Day. She was also awarded the Shakuntlam Samman. “My entire life has been devoted to the cause of education and the national award will motivate me to work with renewed dedication and commitment,” Shashi said.
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Manimahesh in Chamba district can be approached directly from Pathankot railhead, which is a more patronised route. Although there are many shorter routes from Kangra valley but they are more hazardous. Chamba is 121 km from Pathankot (railway station) and bus service is frequent from there. Bharmour is 66 km from Chamba. However, buses ply up to Hadsar, 15 km from Bharmour, from where the tedious, but trek begins.
