Dehradun, August 6
Uttarakhand government today gave a nod for implementation of recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission for the employees of local bodies and the corporations.

However, certain criteria’s have been fixed for giving the benefits of the pay commission to the employees of the above said departments.

After having deliberations in this regard during the state cabinet meeting, the government announced that Local Bodies Departments have been allowed revise the salary of the employees with effect from August 1, 2008 but no grant would be given to these departments from the state government.

While briefing the media persons, chief secretary Indu Kumar Pandey said that depending local bodies would themselves be managing the revised salaries of the employees.

“In case of the local bodies, the department has to give the arrears to the employees from January 1, 2006 up to July 31, 2009 within a time period of three years in three equated installments. If the financial condition of the local bodies is not good, the time period for clearance of arrears may go beyond three years. Local bodies may utilise the annual funds given to them by the state pay commission but there would be no additional grant from the state government”, he said.

Pandey further said that for the employees of the corporations, the criteria for giving the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission would be that respective corporation must had registered profit in the past three years and is also expected to be in profit for the coming three years.

“If the corporation fulfills this criteria, it can revise the salaries in accordance with the recommendations of the pay commission,” he said.

Chief secretary further said that cabinet has also decided that teachers of the universities would also be given arrears with respect to the pay commission, from January 1, 2006 to March 31, 2009. While the salaries of the varsity teachers were already revised from April 1, 2009, now the teachers would also get the arrears.

“But the universities would have to pay the arrears from their own indigenous resources and the arrears have to be cleared within three years time,” added Pandey.

In another decision, pertaining to Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UPSC), the cabinet today gave approval for raising the salary of the president and the members of the Commission, as per the recommendations of the pay commission.

The salary of president has been hiked from existing Rs 26,000 per month to Rs 80,000 per month, whereas the members will now get Rs 70,000 per month. Earlier, the monthly salary of members was Rs 22,500. The pension amount has been increased from 13,000 per month to Rs 40,000 per month.

Dehradun, August 6
Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Margaret Alva today took oath as the fourth Governor of Uttarakhand at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan here this evening.

Chief Justice of Nainital High Court BK Gupta administered the oath and state Chief Secretary Indu Kumar Pandey conducted the ceremony.

Margaret Alva replaces BL Joshi and is the first lady Governor of the state. After taking oath, Alva inspected the guard of honour by the Gorkha Rifles.

Besides, Alva’s husband Niranjan Alva, Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, his cabinet colleagues, Speaker of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Harbans Kapoor, MLAs and other eminent personalities from various walks of life were also present at the oath-taking ceremony.

Later, talking to mediapersons the new Governor said her priority would be to protect the state’s cultural heritage.

Dehradun, August 6
Union minister of state for labour and employment Harish Rawat has announced that the Central government would extend the industrial package for Uttarakhand by another year. The current package comes to an end on March 31, 2010.

“We will be extending it for another year, although we along with Himachal Pradesh demand its extension for another three years,” Rawat told mediapersons here today. He said that a notification in this regard would be issued by the Central government soon.

On the drought-like situation in Uttarakhand, Rawat said he supported the state government. “However, the Uttarakhand government should do a through homework on not only drought assistance, but other centrally sponsored schemes,” he said.

The Union Minister also took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state government for spending the money provided by the Union government under various schemes.

“We are with state government in getting funds from the Centre, but there should be proper detailed project reports and break up of such demands. They should not make it a political issue but rather reach a consensus with opposition parties in this regard,” he said.

Harish Rawat, the lone union minister from Uttarakhand, said the state government could get enough money under various schemes such as Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNNRUM) for Haridwar, Dehradun and Nainital.

“Even for Kumbh Mela preparations, 50 per cent of the funds for developmental schemes could come from JNNRUM,” he said.

About his own ministry, Rawat said he would like to extend the National Health Insurance Scheme for people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) in all districts of the state.

The head of the family along with four other members of the family get health cover under the scheme. The Central government provides 75 per cent of the funds while the rest is borne by the state government.

“I request the state government to come forward to avail benefits of the scheme that would provide health cover to BPL families,” he said. He also announced that his department would initiate steps for setting up Employees State Insurance (ESI) hospitals, besides a medical and nursing college.

“The state government has to provide the land for the purpose,” he added. Rawat also announced that the near defunct employment exchanges in the country would be fully computerised and modernised. “Instead of registration offices, these employment exchanges will now be like counselling centres with an All-India perspective,” he said.

Dehradun, August 6
The state government has given its nod for bringing out the post of parliamentary secretary out of the purview of the Office of Profit Act. The decision was taken after a meeting of officials concerned, here today.

Besides, it was also announced that Uttarakhand Hindi Academy and Uttarakhand Bhasha Sansthan would be set up and the post of presidentsof both these institutions would also not come under the Office of Profit Act.

It has also been decided that the additional allowance of the patwaris working with Revenue Police would be increased. Chief Secretary IK Pandey said the state government has decided to do away with the written test for recruitments to the Department of Ayurveda and Unani.

“An amendment has been made in the Service Rules, 2009, and now recruitments in both the departments will be made on the basis of merit of the diploma- holders,” hesaid.

Pandey informed that the salary of the Ayurveda physicians on contract has been revised. “Salary of Ayurveda physicians working in plains has been increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000, whereas those in remote and extremely remote areas to Rs 24,000 and Rs 28,000, respectively,” he said.

It was decided that the annual report of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission for the period April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 would be tabled in the legislative assembly.

The state government has also decided that 4 per cent VAT would be levied on empty glass bottles and vials used for vaccination. It was also announced that no tax would be levied on blankets/shawls made on handloom. Earlier, the tax exemption limit was Rs 250. Shawls and blankets upto Rs 250 made on the powerloom would also be exempted from tax.

Dehradun, August 6
On day one of the two-day nationwide strike by employees of all the nationalised banks, banking services remained paralysed across the state today. The strike had an adverse impact on different sections including customers and businessmen.

Under the banner of United Forum of Bank Employees, as many as 2,000 employees organised a demonstration at Gandhi Park and took out a rally in support of their demand of pay revision. The issue is pending for last two years.

Assistant general secretary, National Confederation of Banks, Suresh Upadhaya said indefinite strike would be observed if the government failed to accept their demand.

It is estimated that cheques worth Rs 1,000 crore might not be cleared across the state during the strike. Besides, withdrawals from ATMs would be severely affected.

Meanwhile, it seems that most of the customers failed to anticipate the impact of the strike, going by the rush witnessed at ATMs today. Cash was reportedly exhausted at some of them. Heavy withdrawals on the occasion of Rakhi yesterday also contributed in bringing about this situation.

The problem got compounded for customers, as the private sector banks, which are not part of the strike, downed their shutters to show solidarity with the striking employees. Barring Ashley Hall branch of Cooperative Bank, no other incident of forcible closure came to light.

Upadhaya, however, claimed that all banks were voluntarily closed. The employees’ leaders accused the government of dithering on the issue for long. “The government has forced us to take this step. If it fails to accept our demand, we will observe indefinite strike,” warned the leaders while addressing the striking employees.

They also held the government responsible for the adverse impact of the strike on commercial activities and economy at large.

Haridwar: Customers as well as traders had to face a lot of hassles lot on the first day of the bankers’ strike here today. All public sector banks in the district were locked and employees staged demonstration at their respective branches pressing for wage hikes and other benefits.

Employees gathered at Rani Pur Mod and raised slogans against the government. They said the government had assured an increase of 20 per cent in salaries, but now had put it down to 13 per cent.

District secretary of Uttaranchal Bank Employees Union Raj Kumar Saxena said only central and state government employees had benefited from the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and the bankers have been ignored.

“Central and state employees pay has been hiked by as much as 100 per cent, but we have been ignored,” said Saxena. The employees threatened that the stir would continue till their demands were met.

Meanwhile, residents here had a tough time with majority of the bank ATMs running out of cash.

Dehradun, August 6
The State Health Department today passed transfer orders of 72 medical officers in the state. In view of the Kumbh Mela, 17 doctors have now been transferred to Haridwar.

A total of six medical officers from Dehradun comprising of Dr Ashok Kumar, Dr Sanjay Jain, Dr S.K Dwivedi, Dr Harish Basera and Dr Narayan Singh Khatri have been assigned Kumbh Mela duties in Hardwar.

Dehradun, August 6
Chief Minister Ramesh Nishank Pokhriyal inaugurated the first academic session of Doon University as well as hostel building for girl, here today.

CM exhorted the students to work hard to create an enviable image of the university. The total cost of construction of the university premises is about Rs 140 crore. He also called upon the faculty to do its best to make the university a preferred destination for the students and academia from abroad.

In his address, state agriculture minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed hope that close cooperation among the government, university administration, faculty and students would be very important to achieve the goal for which the university has been established. He also stressed on the maintaining strict discipline.

Its Vice Chancellor Prof Grijesh Pant informed that more than Rs 70 crore have been spent on the construction of various buildings so far. The hostel facility was meant for 200 girl students.

It is constructed on 7,350 square metres area having a gymnasium, computer room, 4 kitchens and 6 common rooms.

He said the concept of the university was different from other educational institutions, as it would impart education on scientific manner instead of the traditional one.

Dehradun, August 6
The state government today announced that any sportsperson from the state winning gold, silver and bronze medal in the Olympics would be given an cash award of Rs 75 lakhs, Rs 50 lakhs and Rs 25 lakhs, respectively.

The decision to this effect was taken during a cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat, here today.

While giving information in this regard, Uttarakhand chief secretary Indu Kumar Pandey said that besides the Olympics, the state government has also fixed the amount of the award money being given to the sportsperson winning medals in other international and national competitions.

“Sportsperson would be given award of Rs 10 lakhs, Rs 5 and Rs 3 lakhs for pocketing gold, silver and bronze medal, respectively, in the seniors category in the Asian Games/World Championships/Commonwealth games.

“The amount for the junior category for the gold, silver and bronze medal has been fixed Rs 3 lakh, Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 75,000, respectively,” said chief secretary.

Pandey further announced that in the sub junior’s category, in the Asian Games/World Championships/Commonwealth games, sportspersons from Uttarakhand winning gold, silver and bronze medal would be given Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively.

Dehradun, August 6
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal members today staged a jaam at the Clock Tower resenting encroachments in close proximity to the statue of Late Inder Mani Badoni, UKD founder.

UKD members led by Pramila Rawat, gathered at the Clock Tower statue and resented encroachments encircling the Badoni’s statue. “ Bicycles, bricks and chairs were placed usually scattered near the statue and the municipal authorities have so far failed to remove these,” said Pramila Rawat.

Echoing similar sentiments, another UKD leader NK Gusain sought increase in the height of grill put across the Badoni’s statue. He also demanded action against those responsible for encroachments.

Jaam continued for an hour before it was finally ended on the intervention of the administration. The administration assured to take up the matter on priority.

Dehradun, August 6
The district administration, taking serious view of the merciless beating up of a Dalit woman at the Hanol temple in Tyuni tehsil of Chakrata sub-division on Tuesday, has asked the police to investigate the matter and take strict action against the culprits.

According to reports, the temple priests and workers not only beat up the woman but also tore her clothes.

Meanwhile, Dehradun District Magistrate D. Senthil Pandian termed the incident as unfortunate and asked the district police chief to depute an officer of DSP rank to investigate the matter and take action against the culprits.

Dehradun, August 6
New Gypsy Club hammered Yankee team by 5-0 to win their second match at the District Football League here today.

New Gypsy dominated the proceedings right from the beginning. The New Gypsy team was on the attack right from the beginning and made some sharp moves in the initial minutse of the match to mount pressure on the Yankees.

But Yankees team came out of pressure to launch a counter attack, which they missed on converting into a goal by a whisker.

New Gypsy team opened their account in the 33rd minute through Mahinder Singh. At the end of the first half New Gypsy team led by a goal.

In the second half New Gypsy team came with a better strategy to score four consecutive goals. Kiran scored a brace to help New Gypsy take an invincible lead 3-0 in the match.

He scored his goals in the 40th and 45th minute of the match.

Sunil scored the fourth goal in the 55th minute and Rajesh scored the fifth goal in 62nd minute to make 5-0. Yankees team failed to make an impact.

In the second match Uttarakhand Police team beat Doon Challengers by 3-0. Due to heavy rains Uttarakhand Police team failed to score on a number of occasions.

Despite this they dominated the game throughout. Veer Singh scored the first goal for Uttarakhand Police team in the 5th minute.