Dehradun, August 19
Confusion prevails over the circumstances surrounding the death of Ronak Singh, who was suspected to have been infected by the swine flu (H1N1) virus.

He died yesterday at the New Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital while awaiting treatment.

While his inconsolable parents blamed private hospitals for refusing admittance. They went from one hospital to the other in the hope of getting better treatment for their son whose condition deteriorated at the government Coronation Hospital.

As the hospital does not possess a ventilator, the authorities had recommended him to a speciality hospital in view of his condition.

Unable to get a favourable response, the parents of Ronak Singh then came to the Doon Hospital where he was put on a ventilator on August 17.

“As we have only two ventilators, it could not be immediately spared but taking note of his serious condition, we managed to do so.

“A team comprising three physicians and anaesthetist attended on him. Once on the ventilator, the SPO2 amount too improved,” said Dr RK Pant, CMS, Doon Hospital.

His parents decided to take him to Delhi for treatment yesterday morning for which an ambulance with ventilator facility was hired but it is believed that his condition deteriorated midway. The hospital authorities in Delhi then pronounced him dead.

The Doon Hospital was specifically asked to set up an ICU ward for influenza (H1N1) virus patients after the team members from the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) had found the hospital wanting on several fronts.

The state health hospitals had also set up additional isolation wards at the Coronation Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Doon Hospital authorities charged that the patient’s family members did not approach the government hospital as soon as the patient began displaying symptoms of the virus.

“He was already undergoing treatment at the private nursing home and precious time was wasted,” said Dr Pant.

The patient died before tests could confirm swine flu. The hospital authorities had already sent the samples to the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD), New Delhi.

As per reports, the NICD is currently facing a six-day backlog of cases. Earlier, the test reports were available within 48 hours.

“It takes at least 48 hours to conduct a single test for H1N1. We are awaiting reports for over 60 samples now,” said Dr Pankaj Jain, State Nodal Officer.

The Rapid Response Team has also taken samples of the family members of the victim and sent for testing as a precautionary measure.

Today, panic prevailed at the neighbourhood of Ronak Singh in Race Course as neighbours, relatives and friends gathered to pay condolences, keeping a safe distance from the house and wore protective masks.

Dehradun, August 19
The district administration of Pitthoragarh has recommended to the state government that the persons whose bodies have not been traced so far in the recent cloudburst-landslides incident should be declared dead so that their families could get the ex-gratia grant.

Of the total 43 villagers who were feared dead in the recent massive landslides caused by cloudburst at Lah and Jhela villages in Munsyari tehsil of Pitthoragarh district, the rescue parties could only trace 25 bodies.

In the letter written to the state government, District Magistrate NS Negi mentioned that 18 bodies remained untraced in spite of comprehensive search operations launched since occurrence of the natural disaster on August 8.

He justified the step on the grounds that this would enable the sanction of the grant given to the next of the kin of the deceased.

The administration has also decided to issue a public notice to seek any information about the untraced bodies.

Around 250 persons were buried under the debris of a massive landslide on Malpa hill on August 17, 1998. But only seven bodies could be recovered during the search operations. All untraced victims were later declared dead.

Officials expect an early decision by the government on the recommendation of the DM taking a humanitarian view of the tragedy. The administration has also submitted the details of the loss of property to the government.

Dehradun, August 19
The byelection to Vikasnagar seat is likely to be a triangular contest between the Congress, BJP and independent candidate and former legislator Munna Singh Chauhan as the BSP has decided to remain out of the fray.

The decision has been taken by the party supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati who has conveyed to the state unit that it should focus on the party’s mission to contest the assembly election due to be held in 2012. Interestingly, the state unit had already sent a panel of ticket aspirants to the high command.

The state BSP unit president Meghraj Singh Singh confirmed the decision that has also been conveyed to the state unit office-bearers during the state executive meeting.

Though it is too early to comment how far the BSP decision could impact the final outcome of the byelection, political observers attributed the decision to avoid any further damage to the party’s electoral prospects after the dismal performance of its candidates in the recent parliamentary elections.

It had contested all five seats in the state. The observers also felt that any loss in the byelection could have a demoralising effect on party workers.

Meanwhile, the Congress, BJP and Chauhan have started campaigning. While the BJP has announced its candidate, the Congress is most likely to try former minister Navprabhat who had lost to Chauhan in the last assembly election held in 2007.

While the state unit of the Samajwadi Party is yet to make up its mind to contest the byelection, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) has so far remained indifferent. 

Dehradun, August 19
The proposal to constitute a State Industrial Security Force on the pattern of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has evoked mixed reactions from the industry.

The state police has prepared the proposal put across in the recent Chief Ministers’ meeting held in Delhi to review of internal security in the country.

Besides Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, chief secretary Indu Kumar Pande and Uttarakhand DGP, Subhash Joshi attended the meeting.

It is proposed that the constituting such a force was required to provide security to more than 1,000 industrial units in view of the Maoist threat.

As per the intelligence inputs, around 16 frontal Maoist organisations active in the state have started enlarging their base in the state.

Hence, security of the industrial blocks is a cause of concern.

Chairman, Industries Association of Uttarakhand, Pankaj Gupta said it was too early to comment on the move of the state police, as the industry never raised demand of such a dedicated force.

“Since we do not have details of the proposal, we want to know whether the state government will bear its expenses on its own or the industry would be required to contribute in monetary terms for the services provided by it,” he said.

On the other hand, director CII State Council Vibha Malhotra has welcomed the move as deploying understaffed regular police for security to the industry amounts to stretch it too far.

The police strength has not increased in the state in proportion to the industrial expansion.

“It will be a good thing to have such a force in place as sense of security is a very important element of conducive industrial and business atmosphere. It can help spare the regular police for routine duties,” she said.

Dehradun, August 19
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited BSNL non-executive employees have gone on a two-day strike from today protesting against the non-fulfillment of their long pending demands.

The employees owing allegiance to BSNL Employees Union Joint Morcha comprising of Telecom Employees Progressive Union, BSNL Mazdoor Sangh, All-India Backawrd Classes, Telecom Employees Organisation, SC/ST employees Welfare Association of BSNL, Bahujan Trade Union of BSNL and Sancar Nigam Association of Telecom Technical Assistance are participating in the stir.

“We have been forced to take such a step as the government has failed to heed to our demands.

“All the employees of the Uttaranchal circle are participating in the stir,” said PC Kandpal, secretary BSNL Employees Union, Uttaranchal Circle.

The employees are demanding wage revision, promotion policy, implementation of anomaly committee report and end of unfair labour policies.

The dharna was staged at all the telecom (district) headquarters. The employees today raised slogans and demonstrated outside the BSNL offices.

The dharna was staged at all the telecom (district) headquarters. The employees today raised slogans and demonstrated outside the BSNL offices.

The participants include PC Kandpal, secretray Uttaranchal Circle, Rajveer Singh Rawat, secretary, Singh Bisht, Jagmohan Singh, Hukim Singh, Dhan Bahadur, Balwant Singh and others.

Meanwhile, in Haridwar after observing a one-day indicative protest last week, state-run (BSNL) employees today went on a two-day strike after seeing no headway to their demands by the management.

The employees are demanding pay hike, wage revision and other benefits in accordance with the Sixth Pay Commission and held protest under the Joint Union of thr BSNL Unions, which comprise of the BSNL Employees Union, Telecom Employees Progressive union, BSNL Majdoor Sangh, All-India Backward Classes Telecom Employees Union, SC/ST Employees Welfare Association of BSNL, Bahujan Trade Union of BSNL and the Sanchar Nigam Association of Telecom Technical Association.

The main demands of the union are instant pay revision with fitments benefit on 78 per cent dearness allowance and pay revision be done every fifth year.

The employees are also demanding retirement benefits on par with the central government employees in addition to 50 per cent DA merger for the pensioners.

Employees seem quite perturbed by the working of the management and say that “unfair level practices” prevalent in the company hierarchy is hurting the company working environment the most.

“We are treated secondary employees despite working assiduously to make BSNL one of the largest and biggest company of the country, but despite repeated attempts and apprising the management and government of our demands what we are getting is sheer neglect,” said MPS Chauhan, district head of Haridwar BSNL employees union.

Pointing on the unfair practices applied by the BSNL management, employees said it would only be a backfire.

“In line with the private companies the BSNL management is trying to create division in the registered unions by supporting non-working unions who work on the directions of company management,” said SK Kala, general secretary of Haridwar BSNL employees union.

In Haridwar and Roorkee there are more than 300 BSNL employees, including the ones on contract, and all observed strike today.

Customers had quite a tough time but protesters had put banner on the main gate which stated the cause of the strike and an apology to the customers for inconvenience caused to them due to this strike.

“I had to take a new fixed line BSNL connection so as I can have an broadband connection for my children, but today its closed.

“In India it’s common to go on strike,” remarked Tej Prakash, a shopkeeper.

Among those who addressed the protesters were Circle council Jasveer Singh, VS Dubey, Munni Lal, Saroj Lal, BK Bandhu, Suresh Sharma, Sompal and Rajendra Singh. 

Dehradun, August 19
In a unique initiative, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and animation education leader, Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) have announced an exclusive partnership to offer a BA degree in 3D Animation and Visual Effects as an IGNOU offering.

As part of the tie-up, MAAC and IGNOU are jointly offering a flagship BA degree in 3D Animation and Visual Effects (36 months), a diploma in Computer Generated Imagery (18 months) and a certificate in Film Making (6 months) at all the 70 MAAC centres across the country, including Chandigarh, Dehradun and Ludhiana.

The curriculum is stewarded by a joint coordination committee of IGNOU and MAAC.

In addition to detailed technical and creative skills, the curriculum will impart soft skills, business and production management training, and an orientation to student on an actual project of creation of content.

Ronald D’mello, MD and CEO of Maya Entertainment Limited, the parent company of MAAC said, “Animation is a serious career requiring specialised skills and in depth learning. MAAC emphasises on creatively oriented education with equal opportunity of access and high quality of delivery all over India.

“It is a natural fit with IGNOU’s own objectives, and we can now provide an even wider platform for formal education in animation and VFX from the largest central university.”

On a specific question on why BA, while mostly offer BSc, he clarified, “We consider animation and VFX as creative careers and use of technology is only incidental and a tool to express the creativity.

We, and our Academic Advisory Board, which consists of dignitaries from Indian and western animation studios, feel that Indian animation talent has to change orientation from just being software experts to creative talent to bring themselves at par with international talent.

“BA degree program is our effort in such direction in its true spirit as some international institutes like Sheridan College (Canada) offering Bachelor of Applied Arts in Animation and International Fine Arts College (USA) offering BA in Computer Animation.”

Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, Prof VN Rajasekharan Pillai, said, “IGNOU is pleased to enter into this collaboration with MAAC to offer animation education. MAACs strong curriculum, dedicated faculty and high-end infrastructure in their widespread centres make them the ideal partner for IGNOU in this endeavour of providing quality education in the rapidly growing animation industry.

“The industry has the potential of providing large employment opportunities to the Indian youth.”

The courses will be delivered from MAACs education centres nationwide and internationally using its state-of-the-art infrastructure.

IGNOU will implement norms for examinations, assessments and university standards.

The courses will also offer lateral entry to MAAC alumni to upgrade themselves based on various criteria.

Haridwar, August 19
The success on which India is riding in the information technology and related fields and the representation that women are getting in the panchayats happened due to the broad vision of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi.

This was opined by state vice-president of the Mahila Congress Pushpha Khanduri at an all-women meeting organised on the eve of Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary in Himalayan Colony.

Recalling the ‘transformation India’ made since mid 80’s when computer entered India due to special interest and initiative taken by Rajiv Gandhi, Khanduri said, “He brought computers to India and linked it with common man and thus now we are front runners in the technologies for which nation is indebted to him.”

She said it was also Rajiv’s thinking to make available telephone to all citizens.

“Today even a farmer, an auto rickshaw driver, a street vendor and a postman use mobile phones, which was unbelievable a decade back. Indians have got a new identity and independence with the information technology,” said Khanduri.

Presiding over the meeting, Mahila Congress general secretary Saroj Sahu said today that women were getting proving themselves as better political leaders in the panchayats, which was also due to Rajiv Gandhi’s vision.

“Making amendment in the Panchayati Raj by fixing 33 per cent reservation for women has proved now that women are no less than men in any field and if this reservation is further extended in Parliament too then it will be only good for the country and corruption will get lessened,” said Sahu.

Further adding reminded that women in politics are excelling she said, “We have a women President, women LS Speaker, women chief of ruling party, women Governor and women chief minister and all proving that if more representation is given to women we have the ability and vision to change the future of India to a developed nation.” 

Dehradun, August 19
The Excise Department, Dehradun, along with the police, nabbed a gang of liquor smugglers, including two Tibetan women, here today. According to officials, one Nresh Kumar of Kurukshetra in Hryana was nabbed with 15 boxes of liquor.

On his interrogation, he said he was supplying liquor smuggled from Haryana to a gang who were selling it in the Tibetan colony on the Sahstradhara road. On his identification, Ravi Kumar and Sachin were arrested with a consignment of liquor worth Rs 2.75 lakh.

Dehradun, August 19
BC Milan registered a narrow 1-0 victory over the Vijay Cantt team at the ongoing District Football League here today.

The B C Milan took an early lead through Abhinav in the 15th minute of the match to make it 1-0.

The second half was no different from the first as the BC Milan team managed to hold on to its lead and won the match.

Meanwhile, DAV Inter College and SGRR Mission will clash for the title at the ongoing u-19 District Football Championship here today.

DAV registered a thumping 7-0 victory over Welham Boys School in the semifinal match played here today.

DAV Inter College scored the first goal in the 6th minute through Rahul to take the lead by 1-0.

Gaurav scored in the 24th and Manoj scored in the 29th minute for DAV. Gaurav scored again in the 39th minute of the match to make its 4-0 for his team at half time.

In the second half DAV Inter College further increased its lead by three goals.

Bhagwant scored the fifth goal for his team in the 40th minute and Subham scored immediately after to make 6-0. In the 47th minute Bhagwant scored again in the 47th minute to make the final score 7-0.

SGRR Mission beat SGRR Nehrugram by 2-1 to make it to the final.

The SGRR Mission team scored through Narendra in the 22nd minute to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

In the 52nd minute Mukal scored for SGRR Mission to make its 2-0. The SGRR Nehrugram scored in the 55 minute through Gyandra to make it 2-1. 

Dehradun, August 19
Ramakant Sharma has qualified for the Veteran World Badminton Championship for the second time.

The championship is to be held at Puntaombria, Spain, from September 27 to October 3.

Three other players from the state have been selected for the championship that include SK Patel from ONGC, RS Goyal from Roorkie and Col Arora have been selected for the championship.

Sharma will represent India in a 60 plus category. Two years ago, Sharma had reached the quarterfinals at the championship which was held at Taiwan.

This year, Sharma would represent India in singles and doubles. In doubles his partner would be Col Arora.

Sharma has expressed his happiness over his selection in the Indian squad. “Last time my run in the championship ended in the quarterfinal stage, but this time I wish to win the championship,” said Sharma.

SK Patet will present India in a 55 plus category, whereas RS Goyal will play in a 65 plus category.