Dehradun, February 18
Seeking immediate fulfillment of their long-pending demands, president of the Nursery Teachers Training Unemployed Union Yogita Joshi made a self-immolation bid here at Gandhi Park, here today. However, timely arrival of the police thwarted her attempt. NTT teachers have been staging a protest in the capital for quite some time, but things took an ugly turn today when Joshi poured a bottle of kerosene over her and was about to set herself on fire when the police stopped her.

The protesting teachers are seeking absorption in the government schools and have been on a sit-in dharna outside the Vidhan Sabha since the last 15 months.

The teachers present at the Gandhi Park today said during the last Vidhan Sabha session, a decision was taken about their absorption in government jobs. “It has been two months since then, but no action has been taken so far,” said the teachers. 

Dehradun, February 18
Resorting to pressure tactics teachers of the government and aided schools abstained from work today protesting against the inordinate delay caused in extending Central government pay scales to teachers.

While another group of teachers, organised a sit-in outside the Assembly.

“Soon after the Central Sixth Pay Commission report was released, the BJP government was the first one to make announcement about it’s keenness to accept the recommendations for all it’s employees but is now sitting on the State Pay Commission report,” said Yashwant Singh Negi, General Secretary of the Uttarakhand Rajya Shikshak Samanway Samiti.

Demanding Centre like pay scales for teaching staff, the teachers association had started a campaign on November 9, 2008. “At a meeting with the representatives of the state government on December 22 we were assured that by February 8, our demand would be met. But it seems that the state government does not want to go public with the state Commission’s report,” said GS Bisht, president of the samiti.

He said teachers fall under a Category 19, earmarked for professions, for whom the Central government pay scales are fixed. “The state government will have to take a decision in our favour,” added Bisht. Teachers owing allegiance to the samiti resorted to organising meetings at Raipur and Dehradun, to chalk out a future course of action.

Not unduly bothered about the examination season that is about to get underway from February 20 in the district, the union leaders of teacher association said they had no choice but to observe a lockout in order to make their demands met, especially when the Budget Session would also be held later this month. From February 20, home examinations of classes 6,7,8, 9 and 11 would be held and for classes 9 and 11 practical examinations are also underway.

On the other hand, the teachers owing allegiance to the Rajkiya Shikshak Sangh staged a sit-in outside the Vidhan Sabha in support of their one point charter of demand.

“We have given the state government an ultimatum and if it fails to take a decision in our favour, we would be forced to go on an indefinite stir from February 20,” said Nandan Singh Negi, general secretary of the sangh. 

Dehradun, February 18
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the state government has increased the daily wages of Safai Karamchari’s working in various municipal bodies across the state. Making an announcement in this regard here today, Urban Development Minister Diwakar Bhatt said they had decided to increase the daily wages of the Safai Karamchari’s from Rs 50 to Rs 100, which means that every Safai Karamchari would get minimum of Rs 3,000 per month.

The said announcement assumes significance in wake of the fact that the general elections are just few months away and the Safai Karamchari’s constitutes considerable number of votes.

Speaking to the mediapersons, Bhatt said it had come to their notice that daily wage of Rs 50 was violation of the Labour Laws. “Hence, we have decided to increase the daily wages of Safai Karamchari’s,” he said, adding that thousands of the Safai Sewaks would be benefited with the government decision. In another important decision, the minister said they had decided to get the re-assessment of the house tax in the state.

“It has come to our notice that there is great disparity in the current house tax system. In order to rectify such anomalies, we will ask the people to do their own assessment and submit the requisite information in the form of an affidavit. Later, our department would cross check the information furnished by the applicants”, said Bhatt, while adding that the department would put the details of the house tax on the Internet.

Bhatt said the Urban Development Department was also mulling to revive the State Urban Development Authority (SUDA) and District Urban Development Authority (DUDA), which were abolished in 2004. The minister said a grant of Rs 24.60 crore for setting up the Solid Waste Management Plant under the Jawharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission had been sanctioned, out of which, funds amounting to Rs 6 crore had been released.

Dehradun, February 18
Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, Chief Minister BC Khanduri today announced that the state government would provide housing to the SC/ST families having annual income less than Rs 32,000.

After presiding over the Cabinet meeting at secretariat this evening, Khanduri said the government would be launching Shri Atal Behari Vajyapee Awaas Yojna, under which 10,000 houses would be provided free of cost to the SC/ST families in the state.

In another major decision, the government has decided to constitute the Tehri Lake Development Authority (TLDA) to develop the Tehri lake as a tourist destination of international standards.

“The people residing in villages surrounding the Tehri lake would not be displaced. In the vacant areas, the TLDA would ensure that no slums come up.

“The authority would also develop the area, as a tourist destination,” said the Chief Minister, while briefing the mediapersons.

In another decision, the Cabinet resolved to reduce the VAT from 12.5 per cent to 4 per cent on various items. — TNS

Dehradun, February 18
DAV Club and All Star Club won the men and women titles, respectively, of the 25th Prof RK Shukla Memorial Basketball Tournament that concluded here today in the local DAV (PG) College here.

In the first semifinal match in the men’s section, DAV Club defeated Uttarakhand Police 41-35.

For the winners, Vikrant scored 12 points while Gogi scored 10. Ajay Rana scored 18 points for the losers.

In the second semifinal, AB Club trounced Saharanpur XI 47-37.

Amal scored 20 points for the winners while Saad of Saharanpur scored 18 points.

In the title clash, DAV Club got the better of AB Club with a score of 53-43. Rahul scored 13 points and Vikrant 12 points for the winners. Amal scored 21 points for AB Club.

In the final match in the women’s section, All Star Club defeated DAV (PG) college.

The final score was 34-20. Santoshi scored 10 points for All Star Club while Usha of DAV (PG) college scored eight points.

Pritam Singh, a former Uttarakhand Sports Minister and Congress legislator from Chakrata, gave away the trophies.

Dr AK Saxena, principal of DAV (PG) College was also present.

Dehradun, February 18
Sports lovers have a reason to feel delighted as Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) is set to float tenders for the renovation as well as creation of more public facilities at Pavilion Ground adjacent to the Parade Ground here.

Mayor Vinod Chamoli today said the DMC has earmarked Rs 15 lakh for the purpose for which short-term tenders might be floated by Thursday.

The DMC handed the possession of the Pavilion Ground, where sports competitions are hosted, to the sports department.

Chamoli had announced Rs 5 lakh for the renovation at a function about two months back. “But as per the estimate, the requirement turned out to be around Rs 10 lakh,” he said.

Shades, flooring, toilets and concrete stairs meant for spectators will be renovated.

Apart from this, Rs 5 lakh will be spent on creating proper parking space as well as new toilets.

Himself a football lover, the idea struck Chamoli during the Football League hosted here two months ago. “During the competition, I noticed that existing facilities were insufficient. These needed to be upgraded especially because we are planning to host national football league matches here.”

“Talks are on with the District Football Association, Sports Department as well as the concerned minister in this regard. But for this to happen, the pavilion building needs to be given a new look,” he said.

Roorkee, February 18
The police today arrested Baburam and Sonu, father-in-law and brother-in-law, respectively, of Sangeeta (21), who they murdered for dowry around ten days ago.

The suspects had dumped her body in a tube well bore pipe near Rampur village, around 3 km from here.

However, her husband Sandeep is still at large.

The matter came to light when some neighbours informed Sangeeta’s parents about disappearance.

Her parents had later registered a case in this regard.

Meanwhile, the postmortem was conducted at Government Civil Hospital today. A case has been registered.