Dehradun, September 19
With Navrataras beginning today, the city is all set to welcome the first nine nights in the seventh month of the Hindu calendar Ashwin celebrated mainly in honour of Goddess Durga. From a Durga temple to markets, the city is decorated creating a festive spirit among people belonging to different stratas of the society.

With fast being observed during this period, people are avoiding non-vegetarian food and are thronging markets, which are decked with food as well as other necessary items required during this season.

People in a large number gathered around Hanuman Chowk, an area which is famous for selling puja related items. From coconuts, idols of deities, religious books, utensils and various other articles are available in plenty here.

“For these nine days I am fasting and along with visiting temples I am only consuming food related to fast. Non-vegetarian food during this period is strictly prohibited in my house,” said Radha, a devotee.

However, with prayers being offered in many temples, later in the evening the famous dandiya dance was also organised with a great enthusiasm. Interestingly, for those who want to relish the delicacies, particularly cooked during this time, many restaurants in the town have got special menus for the Navrataras. Without onion and garlic, this food comes handy and is appetising.

The 10-day-long period of Navrataras holds a lot of importance for the Bengali community as they celebrate Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, the demon. For the celebrations of Durga Puja, all major temples, called as Badis, are decorated with beautiful idols, particularly crafted by an artist from Kolkata. Sweet shops and jewellery shops are also jam-packed with attractive items.

Dehradun, September 19
In order to bridge the existing gap between trained manpower and their availability in the area of the critical care and the disaster management, the Critical Care (India) Foundation is coming up with short-term programmes for training paramedics and technicians.

Stating this at a press conference yesterday, Dr Mahesh Kuriyal, president of the Critical Care(India) Foundation, said to begin with a workshop would be organised tomorrow on the different facets of the critical care, “In the coming days, we will run diploma courses that will be validated by the Medical Council of India,” said Dr Kuriyal.

He said the courses would be of short duration with limited seats, “Critical care is an area of concern, as there is limited awareness about the need to handle critically-ill patients.

The initial few hours that he is wheeled in the hospital are very important, it has often been seen that mishandling during this time can proves detrimental to the patients,” Dr Kuriyal said.

He said the training would be spread to the peripheral towns of Dehradun, which would strengthen the medical care in these places.

Dr RK Jain patron of the foundation said the workshop would take up key medical care issues such as use of ventilators and was also open for the public, “The workshop will be an eye opener for the general public, teaching them how to take steps while facing emergency like situation,” said Dr Jain.

Experts from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital comprising Dr Debashish Dhar and Dr Neeraj Tyagi will be present during the workshop. 

Dehradun, September 19
The two popular ongoing schemes under the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA) aimed at encouraging self-employment are facing an uncertain future after the state government took a decision to discontinue one and not allocate finance to the other.

No funds have been allocated under the Uttarakhand Gramin Sarwrozgar Yojana and 
Uttarakhand Sarvbhom Rozgar Yojana.

The state government has decided to wrap up the Uttarakhand Gramin Sarwrozgar Mission Yojana as the central government is already running a similar scheme in the district.

“We have received a written communiqué from the state government so no new targets will be set and no allocations made under the scheme,” said Hemanti Gunjiyal, project director, DRDA.

The district authorities have decided not to fix new targets to be achieved under the Uttarakhand Sarvbhom Rozgar Yojana.

“We have been asked to carry forward the goals of previous year and consequently achieve the targets as no new financial allocations have been made,” said Gunjiyal.

As per the information provided by District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), a total of 673 people benefited from the Gramin Sarwrozgar Yojana during 2006-2007, 423 in 2007-2008 and 771 during 2008-2009.

Under the Uttarakhand Sarvbhom Rozgar Yojana, 1220 persons benefited during 2006-2007, 308 during 2007-2008 and 137 during 2008-2009.

Dehradun, September 19
Rafters of Rishikesh operating on the Ganga have decided to end their five-day-old strike following an assurance by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

He has assured the rafters associated with the Sahasik Paryatan Sangharsh Samiti that he would look into their demands. Deepak Bhatt, president of the samiti, said the Chief Minister accepted the idea of auctioning of rafting beach camps is not in favour of local operators who established this rafting industry and had promoted a product of rafting and beach camping not only nationally but internationally as well.

Therefore, the Chief Minister assured and ordered in the presence of the Forest Minister to stop the beach auctioning scheme immediately and told the rafters that the government would involve local operators who promoted rafting in India on the international level in the committee formed to decide a new policy for rafting industry.

After having an assurance from the Chief Minister, Bhatt announced the end of their strike today.

A meeting of the samiti was held at Muni ki Reti in Rishikesh where members welcomed Nishank who was on his way to Narendra Nagar and appreciated his initiative.

Dehradun, September 19
The police arrested the youth who had attacked the state president of the National Student Union of India (NSUI) outside the Doon club along with his friends here late last night.

Jagat Ram Joshi, SP (City), told The Tribune that Shekhar Chauhan who had beaten up Sangram Singh last night was arrested at about 2 pm yesterday.

Chauhan, an MBA student from Delhi, told the police that Sangram had slapped him first over some issue and he had fallen down. Later, he called up his friends, who were having a party there at the club, and thrashed him.

The police said there were a few more persons involved in the incident. Chauhan had told us about his friends’ whereabouts and they would be behind bars soon, said the police.

Sangram had sustained injuries and was admitted to the Doon Hospital.

He was reportedly beaten up with iron roads inflicting fracture on his right hand and also a severe injury on his head. 

Roorkee, September 19
Two alleged vehicle lifters died in an accident near the local bus stand here last night.

Both miscreants, Amit Sharma and Amit Sirohi, were going on the stolen motorbike, when the accident took place opposite the SDM’s residence on the Dehradun-Delhi highway.

Their motorbike was hit by a bus, which was on its way to Delhi from Dehradun. Amit Sharma was a resident of Yamunanagar, while Amit Sirohi hailed from Bijnaur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Sharma died on the spot, while Sirohi succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.

According to the police, the stolen motorcycle belonged to Ram Kumar of Chau Mandi here.

Dehradun, September 19
Sergio Sabadello, a former Spanish tennis player who has coached players like Ana Ivanovich, Sose Luis Clbrc and Diego Hipperdinger, is in Dehradun. He is presently running a tennis academy, Vilas Tennis Academy, in Spain.

He has come to Dehradun to make his student, Peredadenko Natalia, to participate at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women Tennis Tournament underway in the city. “I came to Dehradun just to make my student get the vital experience of playing in a tougher condition.

Although as per her age, she is too small to the tournament, this is the right time her to get the much-needed exposure. She does not lack in technique but is lacking the strength to match the opponent,” said Sabadello.

Right now Natalia is just 14 years old with and is under Sabadello’s guidance for the past two years.

Sabadello had been represented his country at many ATP tournaments in the 1980s and won tournaments like Toronto Tennis and Challenger Tournament and had played against top players like Boris Baker and so on.

Speaking about his experience with The Tribune, Sabadello said there was no dearth of talent in India in women tennis but one needed to start playing tennis at an early age. “Here girls start playing tennis very late, whereas in the foreign countries girls begin early and give 200 per cent to the game.”

He further said many Indians come to his academy for training.

Former Indian number four player, Sheetal Gautham, is also in Dehradun to participate in the ITF tournament. She said Indian women tennis had undergone sea change in the past four to five years, with more talented players coming to the forefront.

“Sania’s achievement in the international level has boosted the confidence of youngsters, who take up the game with the view to present Indian at the international domain.”

Sheetal has many ITF tournaments under her belt, but she had to leave in between which brought down her ranking. She is making a comeback after four years layoff. “I intend to make to the top rank players of the India by the year end and then aim to go for international event. But until then it is all hard work”.

Sheetal has come to Dehradun for the first time and is satisfied with the kind of facilities provided at Shanti Tennis Academy.

Dehradun, September 19
St Joseph Academy (SJA) lifted the Dehradun Council School Football Tournament trophy here today. In the final, it defeated Carman School, Prem Nagar, by 3-0.

Carman School began on a poor note at the final. It was a shaky start by Carman School, which allowed the SJA team to penetrate their defence without much difficulty.

The lethargic approach cost them their first goal in the 10th minute. It was SJA’s forward Abhay Rana who rebounded the shot by Carman School’s defender that sailed over the goalkeeper’s head in the net.

After conceding the first goal early in the match, Carman School defence was under pressure. SJA ace striker Pramanshu gave Carman School their second set back in the 15th minute.

After the second goal, the spirit of the SJA team was high and dominated the game, they frequently penetrated the Carman School defence.

The goal margin for the SJA team would have been much higher, but its forward could not make use of the scoring opportunities they got.

Carman School was completely on the defence in the first half and failed launch any penetrating move at SJA defence.

In the second half, Carman School did show some aggression to penetrate the SJA defence, but could not give good finishing touch to its move. In the 42nd minute, the SJA team almost earned their third goal, but it was good work by Carman School’s goalkeeper under the bar to prevent a certain goals. In the 47th minute Abhay Rana scored his second goal in the 47th minute to make it 3-0. In the end it proved to be an easy victory for the SJA team.