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Uttarakhand set to boost herbal yield
Geothermal Energy |
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Young scientists get tips
Dr VP Dimri, Director, National Geophysical Research Laboratory, delivers a talk at the Young Scientists Conference in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph
Street vendors set up shop outside minister’s house
Comprehensive policy soon
Few highs, many lows
Saakshar Bharat Programme
Dr Rakesh Kumar, Secretary Education addresses a workshop on Saakshar Bharat in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph
Secretariat lift trophy
A bowler tries to catch a wayward throw in a match at the District Cricket League on Saturday. A Tribune photograph
History lessons for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims
ABVP locks Principal office
Kashish fashions Nehru Tigers’ 57-run victory
A batsman faces a delivery in a match at the SC Goyal Memorial Cricket Tournament in Dehradun on Saturday.
A Tribune photograph
Hockey teams of Welham and MKP schools play a friendly match in Dehradun on Saturday.
A Tribune photograph
Badminton player assaults lensman
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Uttarakhand set to boost herbal yield
The Chief Minister’s Jhari Booti Yojana has finally set the ball rolling even in key issues like making the requisite funds available and providing manpower for undertaking research and development that had continued to be overlooked. “In the herbal sector, we are pitted against a buyer-driven market. The only way sellers can make a difference is to produce herbs on a large scale. The programme’s focus is on undertaking large-scale cultivation of herbs and aromatic plants in all districts and creating nurseries of plant material so that the scale of activity rises manifold in the next five years,” said Vinod Fonia, Secretary, Department of Horticulture.
“We will be focusing on providing an entire blueprint to the farmer that will focus on the best practices of cultivation addressing the larger issue of sustainable use and conservation. “The farmers will be provided training in herbal cultivation so that can grow area-specific herbs and eek out a comfortable livelihood. In the beginning, the cultivation of 26 plant species will be undertaken and 50,000 farmers will be involved in 318 clusters in each district,” said Vinod Fonia. It will be undertaken by the Gopeshwar-based Herbal Research and Development Institute (HRDI). As of now, 17,000 farmers are already involved in herb cultivation in Uttarakhand. At each block level, three nurseries will be created that will pretty much address the issue of non-availability of plant material, the biggest hurdle that prevents farmers from taking up large-scale cultivation. Simultaneously, herbal gardens too will be created in each district showcasing the herbal bounties of the state that is blessed with diverse agro-climatic zones. Another disadvantage that a small farmer faces is of accessible market for his produce. This will be addressed by establishing 70 collection centres that will in turn be connected to the already existing mandis at Rishikesh, Tanakpur and Ramnagar. “The farmer will also be trained into post-harvesting techniques of value-addition comprising grading and packaging his produce,” said GS Pande, Additional Secretary, Horticulture. “From here, the product will be valued and certified for its herbal content (percentage) to be undertaken at the Herbal Analytical Laboratory in Gopeshwar and for aromatic plants at the Selaqui-based institute,” said Pande. The government has already streamlined the functioning of different institutions by recommending the creation of the State Plant Board office in the capital that will be the nodal organisation of the herbal sector. So far so good, but experts point out to the omission of research and development in the entire scheme of things. It is an open secret that the Gopeshwar-based HRDI is facing acute shortage of manpower. No credible research can be attributed to the organisation whose functioning has almost come to a standstill as no budget allocation was made last year. Significantly, they also point out that the proposed board can only play a meaningful board if it manages to get the services of scientists and does not become a one-stop shop for bureaucrats.
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Tapoban may show the way
Jotirmay Thapliyal Tribune News Service
Dehradun, February 6 NGRI head VP Dimri, who was recently bestowed the Padma Shri by the Union government, said here today that the institute was looking into all possibilities of establishing a geothermal plant in Tapoban area, a place in the hills known for its hot springs in Chamoli district. Green energy from geothermal sources has so far never been a source of power generation in the country and success at Tapoban could lead to its replication in other parts of the country. He said that this was first geothermal initiative that has reached an extent where the NGRI was highly hopeful of success. Long back, another Central institution, the Geological Survey of India, had demarcated Tapoban as a potential site for exploring geothermal energy. Referring to the importance of geothermal energy, Dimri said that Iceland has put geothermal energy to maximum use. “Eighty per cent of Iceland’s energy comes from geothermal sources as the island nation adds to itself 4 cm of landmass every year,” he pointed out. The NGRI has asked the Uttarakhand government for the acquisition of some land to carry out the exercise that will go a long way in putting the state on the geothermal global map. The NGRI and NTPC had entered into a memorandum of understanding some time back and will now be pressing Japanese drillers into service for better results. The Tapoban region has a cluster of hot springs with surface temperatures reaching as high as 70 to 90 degree Celsius. This makes it a fit case for a geothermal plant. “While below 90 degree Celsius water temperature can be utilised for room heating, that between 90 and 150 degree Celsius can be used for a variety of purposes. But water above 150 degree Celsius can help move a turbine and thus become a source of power,” Dimri said. Welcoming the initiative, Dr BR Arora, Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, said the first geothermal energy plant would be a great asset to Uttarakhand and the country. He said he was very hopeful that the NGRI under the leadership of Dr VP Dimri would successfully accomplish the Tapoban task, setting an example for other parts of the country and abroad. Dr GS Rawat, who heads the Uttarakhand Chapter of the National Academy of Sciences, said geothermal sites in Uttarakhand held much importance for the country. He said that being non-polluting, geothermal energy was much in demand in the West. It involves little and one-time expenditure. Geothermal energy is the Earth’s natural heat available inside the earth. This thermal energy contained in rocks and fluid that fill up fractures and pores in the Earth’s crust can profitably be used for various purposes. Geothermal is the boiling water inside the Earth that is put to use in the form of energy. It is clean, reliable and homegrown and that makes it a better energy option when compared to others.
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Young scientists get tips
Dehradun, February 6 Inaugurating the proceedings, the chief guest, Dr VP Dimri, Director of the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, and recipient of Padma Shri, outlined the importance of accuracy in data gathering. “You must have accurate data. Any insufficient or inaccurate data could lead to disastrous consequences,” Dimiri told the gathering of young scientists. Director-General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education GS Rawat dwelt at length upon the scope for young scientists in the sphere of forestry and wildlife. Secretary, Vijnana Bharti, A Jaikumar said such young scientists’ conferences proved excellent platform for young scientists. He said science needed to be oriented towards the need of the common man and should reach the remote villages of the country. The Director of the Forest Research Institute, Dr SS Negi, asked the young scientists to take maximum advantages of scientific institutions and attend as many scientific symposiums and workshops as one could. Earlier, welcoming the delegates, Dr Rajendra Dobhal, Director, UCOST, said there was a need to generate interest in students towards pursuing researches in basic science by making certain technical changes in the examination pattern at the intermediate and graduation levels. He further added that a dedicated centre of climate change should be set up in Uttarakhand to get a realistic view of the adverse effects of climate change. He emphasised technology intervention in potential areas of Uttarakhand like water and natural resources. Therefore, areas like water technology, nano technology and geothermal energy needed focus and attention. “For this, good manpower and infrastructure are the need of the hour,” he observed. Narayan Singh Rana, Lecturer, Government Kirti Inter College, Uttarkashi, was conferred the award of Best Madhyamic Science Teacher for his dedication and contribution towards educating the underprivileged students. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a memento and has been instituted by the Uttarakhand chapter of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Street vendors set up shop outside minister’s house
Haridwar, February 6 Similar incidents were witnessed all over the city as all street hawkers, street vendors and small traders set up shop outside the compound of a state Cabinet Minister’s home in Khanna Nagar. This symbolic protest was staged by the vendors to show their dissent and anger towards the state government and particularly towards the Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik for non-compliance of assurances made to them. They were also demanding a separate hawking zone during Maha Kumbh in the mela area as most of them have been displaced from the mela zone during the anti-encroachment drive. Hundreds of street vendors gathered at the Old Tehsil in Devpura with their vending-hawking resources. Then they moved in line towards the Khanna Nagar residence of Madan Kaushik, Urban Development Minister in the BJP-led state government. It was a rare sight to see vendors of vegetables, fruits, ice creams, cigarette-tobacco, consumer goods, bakery and groundnuts moving in a queue on the city’s main roads. Many persons were seen asking questions about the unusual movement of these traders. Raising slogans against the state government, the vendors gathered and set up a vending zone in the lane outside Kaushik’s residence. Then, leaders of the Mini-Traders Association addressed the gathering. State head of the association Sanjay Chopra said that despite repeated attempts, Madan Kaushik was not giving them time to meet him and had been ignoring the association’s demand for a long time. “This is only a token protest. We urge the minister to at least listen to our woes as otherwise, hundreds of families of vendors like us will come on to the streets,” said Sanjay. While Tej Prakash Sahu, state general secretary, remarked that despite being a local politician, Kaushik’s attitude towards them was totally discriminatory. He said that while the mela administration was uprooting their homes and shops, on the other side, the state government was catering to the demands of big builders and corporate houses. Today’s unique protest by vendors created quite a flutter and was the talking point in Haridwar. As Madan Kaushik was in the state capital to attend a meeting, the protesters had to go back without meeting him. Association members have said that they were willing to meet him on Sunday at the state guest house in Damkoti.
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Comprehensive policy soon
Dehradun, February 6 For the first time, vendors in these nagar panchayats will be identified, issued identity cards and allocated space without having to worry about handing down bribes to the police and the municipal authorities. In consonance with the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors, the State Urban Department is preparing a policy that will take the form of a State Vendors Act that is expected to come this year. “We will be framing a comprehensive policy that will look into all issues of street vendors, allocation of space for them and creation of mobile-vending zones in consultation with the Home Department, Social Welfare Department, local bodies and the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) as the spaces earmarked for vending activities will have to be incorporated in the master plan,” said Additional Secretary, Urban Development, Nidhi Mani Tripathi. The main objective of the national policy is to organise street vendors so that they have access to a variety of insurance products, access to financial services, development of small and medium enterprise, housing and vocational training and upgrading of skills. A part of the exercise is also aimed at removing congestions from the city as the vendors or rehriwallahs have been occupying pavements and roads contributing to traffic congestions and untidiness in cities. The composition of vending zones will be based on the population of nagar palikas and all vendors will be identified on the kind of vending activity being undertaken by them. “The traditional ‘haats’ that are set up by farmers in certain key urban areas will also be incorporated in the policy, so also the issue of floating population and whether they should be allowed to take up any vending activity. “At these markets, the provision of public toilets, solid waste management disposal, electricity, aesthetic design of push carts and issues of cleanliness and hygiene will have to be taken care of by the civic authorities,” stressed Nidhi Mani Tripathi. Financial allocations will be made from several central government schemes, including the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). For the purpose of designating vendors markets and no-vending zones, town vending committees will be constituted that will comprise members of the municipal authority, traffic and local police, public land owning authority, associations (market, traders, residents’ welfare, slum and chawl etc.), representatives of associations of street vendors (static and mobile) and representatives from leading nationalised banks or commercial banks.
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Few highs, many lows
Dehradun, February 6 According to Prashant (name changed), a reformed addict, substance abuse is a major threat to stressed schoolchildren and youngsters. He said, “I dropped out of college in 2008 because I had plans to study abroad. When things did not work out, I became stressed and turned to alcohol. Later, I started using prescription drugs and got addicted.” The paucity of money forces students to turn to ‘prescription drugs’ that are medically used as painkillers. These are cheaper and easily available than alcohol and drugs like marijuana, cocaine etc. Though these painkillers are not supposed to be sold without a prescription signed by a certified doctor, they are readily sold to youngsters by local chemists. Pratap, a school student, said, “Chemists sell these ‘chemicals’ to a few persons who supply it to the rest of us. Some students, who tie up with a chemist start dealing in prescription drugs making a marginal profit themselves.” These drugs exchange hands usually at local teen hangouts like snooker rooms, cafes etc and are injected or consumed by the students later. Many school students voiced a common grievance - that they were under stress to perform well in every field. One student even said, “These drugs act as a catalyst and increase my creativity. After taking these, I am able to sing really well on stage and compose better music. However, this creativity lasts only till I am high.” Eric (name changed), a college student, said, “I had been taking pills for six years, but I quit last year when I suffered a fit. Now, I am on a three-year treatment. A friend, who took these pills, had a fit, fell from a bus and died on the spot.” The fact that these drugs have adverse physical and mental implications makes this trend scarier. Hallucinations, short-term memory loss, epileptic fits, stomach cramps and physical dependency are a few of these effects. Dr CP Vishnoi, an anaesthetic at the Combined Medical Institute, Dehradun, said, “Narcotic analgesics provide a state of euphoria to the user and it is known in society that these are abused. “Unrestrained use of these drugs can lead to hypertension, heart disease, liver problems and epileptic fits. In case of injections, HIV AIDS and hepatitis infections can also occur. Prolonged use can lead to death.” Dr Vishnoi said, “A victim of substance abuse should undergo a change of surroundings under medical supervision. They should be removed from the peer group or situations that led them to prescription drugs in the first place.” The remedy for academic or social or familial stress-induced substance abuse by the students is confidence. Hemlata Thapliyal, Principal of Doon International School, said, “Academic stress and anxiety occurs only if the child is not well prepared. With the syllabus finishing on time and holding of regular tests prepare the students to face the Board examinations confidently. Apart from these, counselling and proper guidance can prevent students from taking up substance abuse. “Parents can also be counselled into not pressurising their child to perform beyond his capability. A strict vigil and firm support of the family, school and peer group can prevent prescription drug abuse from becoming a menace in Doon valley.”
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Focus on educating migrant labourers
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, February 6 Though the thrust of the programme now under way in five districts is on female literacy. There is an urgent need to involve the migrant labour population in the programme. “We will leave no stone unturned in making our women fully literate. We are committed to the goal of achieving full literacy but another issue that is troubling us is the population that is left behind, comprising migrant labour mostly working at brick-kilns, river beds and industrial units. “They hail from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Eastern Uttar Pradesh and are mostly concentrated in Haridwar, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun. They may not belong to our state, but we need to focus on their education too and reach out to them,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar, Secretary Education. He was speaking today at the state-level orientation workshop on Saakshar Bharat, organised by the State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA) at the State Resource Centre. Along with Dr Kumar, state education officers and other representatives and volunteers from the education sector also attended the function. On the other hand, Jagmohan Singh Raju, Joint Secretary, Adult Education and DG National Literacy Mission Authority (NLMA) while presenting an overview of Saakshar Bharat programme said it is part of the Bharat Nirman programme that aims to achieve 80 per cent literacy in the country by 2012 and aims to reduce regional, social, inter-state disparities and universalise adult education. “We will be taking lessons from the National Literacy Mission that achieved 50 per cent literacy in 1991 had its drawbacks too. It was not institutionalised, there was no record keeping on the total number of literate. Now, an entire system will be created along with brand equity with focus on the villages only.” He also announced that all the funding for the five districts comprising Tehri, Bageshwar, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar would be routed through the banks to the State Literacy Mission Authority, which would then be passed to district level, block level and Panchayat level. A memorandum of understanding between NLMA, SLMA and State Bank of India was also announced. Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) quoted the success story of an educational programme in which Van Gujjars were the main beneficiaries.
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Secretariat lift trophy
Dehradun, February 6 Batting first NIIT team put up a decent score of 226 runs. The opener gave a good start to the team. Deepak played a knock of 28 runs off 35 balls hitting three fours in his innings another opener Sanjay scored 18 runs. Amareshwar scored 39 runs off 61 balls. Middle order batsman Manoj came up with a blistering 41 runs off 34 balls and Rohit scored 35 runs. For Secretariat team Ankit took two wickets and Rajender took two wickets. In reply, Secretariat team got off to a flying start to the team. Bhupender Kumar scored 33 runs off 23 balls, hitting six fours for his match. Amit Ghai came up with useful knock of 26 runs. It was TH Khan who played a match winning knock of 79 runs off 71 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes. Ankit supported Khan well from the other end to play a knock of 54 runs of 43 balls. For NIIT team Bhagat, Amit, Amareshwar and Rohit claimed one wicket each. Meanwhile, in the pre-quarterfinal match super league, Old Garhwal team won by 152 against Khudbura XI team. Batting first Old Garhwal team scored 215 runs off in 29.3 overs. Nazir was the highest scorer for the team with 71 runs, whereas Ravi made 45 runs. For Khudbura team Shibbu, Sudheer and Mantu scored three wickets each. In reply, Khudbura XI team got all out for 63 runs. Suheer scored 27 runs off 15 balls. For Old Garhwal, Abhishek took six wickets and Anuj and Amit took one wicket each. Vice-Chancellor of Technical University, Prof DS Chauhan was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Other distinguished guests on the occasion were IN Aggarwal and senior congress minister Hira Bisht and others.
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History lessons for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims
Pitthoragarh, February 6 “The museum, for which a sum of Rs 75 lakh has been approved, will also have a replica of ancient tribal culture of the Rang tribal community living in the high Himalayan valleys of Dharma, Beas and Chaudans,” said NS Negi, District Magistrate, Pitthoragarh. According to administrative sources, Chief Secretary of the state NS Napalchayal, also a member of the Rang community, has shown interest in this venture and has taken the advice of DR Seepal, a renowned architect from the area. “After construction, this multi-purpose museum will display not only all old documents about Kailash Mansarovar Yatra but also have old time utensil of the tribal people as well as their handicraft products,” said Dr DN Tiwari, in charge of the government museum at Pitthoragarh. Tiwari said this museum would be under the control of the Rang Kalyan Parishad, a cultural organisation of tribal people, and will cater not only the historical and social aspect of the Rang people but also promote their ethnic identity and culture by organising academic programmes on these topics from time to time. “After the building will be completed, the murals of tribal life at the gate building depicting the identity of the material inside would be erected. The museum would also have the living scenes of tribal life on the lines of Delhi Haat and all Puranic material of tribal people will be essential part of the building right from the construction stage,” said DR Seepal, the architect assigned to decorate building. Local division of Rural Engineering Service (RES), the government agency that has been given the work to construct of museum has also confirmed that this building will also have an emporium of tribal crafts. “The building has a joint budgetary provision from Rang Kalyan Prishad and Department of Industry of Uttarakhand government,” said D Khunu, Executive Engineer of RES.
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ABVP locks Principal office
Dehradun, February 6 They also raised slogans against the college authorities outside. President of the local unit of the ABVP Ashish Bahuguna told The Tribune that the college authorities had promised to give the students college magazine “Jigyasa” within 12 days but it had been over three months and the students had got no magazines. Bahuguna alleged the college of perpetrating Rs 24-lakh scam in the publishing of the magazine. “This was the fund of the college students and why the college authorities were not issuing the magazines?” he questioned. He also alleged that a number of first year students couldn’t deposit their fees due to the lengthy process of the
fee submission. The party also registered its protest as the authorities engaged NSS volunteers for removing the posters pasted on the college walls.
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Kashish fashions Nehru Tigers’ 57-run victory
Dehradun, February 6 Kashish smashed 57 runs off 46 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. Middle order batsman Shuham played an important knock of 11 runs off 11 balls. Bablu made 9 runs, whereas Sultan made 10 runs. For Nehru Tiger team Faisal and Gaurav were the pick of the bowlers claiming two wickets in their four overs spell. But other bowlers failed to support them well. Chasing the victory target of 131 runs, Nehru Tiger began on a strong note and scored free in the match. Jama and Gaurav gave a fine start to the team scoring runs at will. Jama scored 19 runs off 19 balls, whereas Gaurav scored 21 runs off just 11 balls. Middle order batsman Ahmed also played an important role in the match smashing 21 runs off 7 balls. For Doon Champ team Vickey picked up three wickets, whereas Kashi and Sanjeev took two wickets each.
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To promote hockey, Welham Girls gift sports kits to MKP school
Dehradun, February 6 This is the first initiative of its kind by any public school. SAI hockey coach, Maharishi said, “The initiative taken by the
Welham Girls School is an important step in developing a healthy and harmonious relation among the players. Girls have a great craze for hockey and it is expected to grow in the near future.” The coach as well as students expect many such events in future. After the ceremony, the Welhams and MKP girls played a friendly match that was won by MKP by 4-2.
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Badminton player assaults lensman
Haridwar February 6 The incident happened when Love Kumar, a press photographer, was clicking the pictures of a match when a non-playing team member from Delhi objected to it citing disturbance to his teammate. This led to a heated verbal conflict between them and the u-16 player finally assaulted the photographer. The organisers remained mute spectators during the whole event and didn’t take any action against the player. It was only when other media personnel arrived that organisers tendered an apology but still didn’t take any disciplinary action against the player. This led to the boycott by the media personnel present there for today’s matches. Late evening an apology was tendered from the organising committee.
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Steps like the creation of collection centres, making planting material available and value addition to the produce during the post-harvest period may finally provide a realistic and achievable edge to the hitherto fanciful vision of making Uttarakhand a leading herbal state.
Dehradun, February 6
Dehradun, February 6
Dehradun, February 6