Dehradun February 15
On her first visit to Dehradun, State Minister for Rural Development Agatha Sangma today had a first-hand experience of local innovation when she visited Dhokwala a water millers’ village in Prem Nagar near Dehradun.

Eliciting keen interest in the activities of the villagers centered around the water mill that is not only providing power, but also helping in run a cotton combing unit, she said: “Models such as these that encourage local innovative villagers self-sufficient should be encouraged and replicated”.

The villagers are beneficiaries of the training programme imparted by the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO).

Accompanied by Dr Anil Joshi, patron of HESCO, the minister also envisaged interest in the canal system that was being utilised for running the water mill and other allied economic activities like rearing fishes.

The organisation has also successfully introduced Turkey in the village to supplement the income of the villagers. At Ambiwala village the minister visited the bakery being run by Kala Bisht who underwent an intensive training programme learning to make cakes, pastries and squashes in Switzerland.

Later, she visited Fatehgram the village adopted by Doon School and HESCO, here the school boys have contributed in the construction of toilets.

Dehradun, February 15
In a major breakthrough, Dehradun Forest Division today busted a gang of organised poachers by arresting two persons who were allegedly involved in the gruesome hanging of a leopard at Jhanjara a few days ago. Three clutch wires and other poaching apparatus were recovered from their possession.

Thirty-year-old Bijnore resident Sompal was nabbed from Thaiyalawala with three clutch wires and other material. His associate Dhara Singh (50) from Haryana, who works as a night watchman, was also arrested.

Taking leads from the scene of crime, Dehradun forest officials zeroed in on to Sompal, a labourer, who, along with Dhara, managed to lay a trap at Janjhara, resulting in the death of the leopard. Both have been sent to judicial custody. The forest officials are not ruling out the involvement of these poachers in other acts of poaching.

The forest authorities, who were under a tremendous pressure to bust the case, particularly after pictures of the hanging leopard were carried in the media.

Expressing relief over the success in the arrest of the two poachers, Meenakshi Joshi, Dehradun Forest Division Officer, said a task force was being constituted with the help of Mussoorie and Kalsi forest officials to check poaching under all circumstances.

February 12 proved deadly for two leopards, which were poached in west Dehradun. The first poached at Barowala had its limbs severed and other at Janjhara was found hanging. The forest authorities had managed to arrest two persons for the Barowala leopard poaching.

Bhimtal, February 15
On the cold and partially cloudy morning of Monday, India’s butterfly man Frederick Smetacek Junior was laid to rest in a grave very close to his abode June Estate.

Fredy, as he was fondly known, passed away last evening after a prolonged struggle with a disability resulting from a fall at home that had kept him bedridden for more than a decade. His contribution to the conservation of environment in the area around Bhimtal is unparallelled and he, while taking forward the legacy of his father Frederick Smetacek Senior, was responsible for setting up a museum of moths and butterflies, which is perhaps the biggest one in Asia.

The collection amounts to more than 10,000 specimens of butterflies, moths and beetles, a treat for anyone who cares for the tiny colourful creatures. In the morning, Fredy’s coffin lay amidst those huge framed windows containing thousands of butterflies he had collected in his lifetime, as a small prayer service was held for him.

“I remember him from the time when as a child he would prance around the area, with a net in hand and with the mission of collecting butterfly specimens. He was a noble man who helped everyone in our Bhatyur village. I knew him since his childhood and we were sort of friends. Whenever he heard the sound of an axe falling on a tree, he would rush to the spot to save the tree. He did a lot for this village when he was elected the village head from 1981-85. I can just say that he was a royal man,” villager Dan Singh told The Tribune. He wept inconsolably when Fredy’s coffin was lowered into a grave that was dug next to those of his parents.

As a child, Fredy Jr was inspired by his father’s small collection of butterflies. He converted his passion into a lifelong hobby. As a child he used to frequent the Raj Bhawan campus in Nainital that was close to St Joseph School where he was studying to collect the colourful insects. People who knew him recount that for 10 years from 1962 it was a daily routine for him to move around the mountains in search of elusive species of butterflies and he had gone as high as the Pindari Glacier to capture the rare species of snow apollo.

His father was a collector by nature who had collections of postage stamps, matchbox covers, currency, butterflies and insects. Fredy Sr was a German-speaking man of Czech origin who had come on a horseback from Kathgodam to buy a house and later June Estate from his earnings as a supplier of goods to the Allied Forces in Kolkata during World War II. He had earlier fled Nazi Germany. He had gone on to marry an Indian girl Shaheda.

Locals say it has been less than a month that Fredy Jr lost his mother and a brother who were residing in Germany. Leela Bisht, who had been his caretaker for almost a decade, said: “He always wanted that the museum should continue to grow. He had taught us to take care of the butterflies and insects in his collection. We will always remember him for his nobility”.

Born on July 4, 1951, Fredy Jr had been royal in whatever he did. “He used to donate generously for the sports activities in the villages around June Estate. Even when he was bedridden, he played a perfect host. He knew how to enjoy life as even in such a condition he had modelled for an advertisement for a liquor company with a female model,” said Deepu Chanautia, a local resident. The pictures of Fredy Jr in various moods and poses, including the one shot for the advertisement, are pinned up in the house. He was known to receive his guests wearing a cap that had a butterfly on it.

Fredy Jr leaves behind his wife who lives in Delhi, a son working in Mumbai and a daughter residing in Canada.

“We will have to sit and decide what can be done about the museum,” said his wife Ranjana. Ironically, no representative from the administration or the government turned up at the funeral of the person who has left a unique treasure to the people of Uttarakhand.

He is also learnt to have formed the Society of Appeal for Vanishing Environment, affiliated to the Eco-Ethics International of Germany to create awareness on the destruction of the mountains.

Dehradun, February 15
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank laid foundation stone of Sudhowala-based Technical University and unveiled several projects at the university here today.

The Chief Minister unveiled the road project worth Rs 879.57 lakh, road plan Rs 776.45 lakh, state mental health institute Rs 252 lakh, along with two community projects worth Rs 7.47 crore, four primary health centres and two health centres.

Calling the Shimla road an important road, the Chief Minister asked to estimate the relaying of it. He also instructed officials to remove the Sudhowala Tubewell Project from swap turn. He assured GIC Bhaowala of financial help in the field of science.

Dehradun, February 15
Students are enthusiastic, curious, anxious, innocent, playful and they like to involve, therefore evaluate them sincerely for their shortcomings. Don’t lose your patience, modify behaviour by giving concrete examples, don’t complete your task by punishing the child or write a note for the parents. This was the opinion of Dr Lalit Saxena, a lifetime educator, doctor by profession, but a learner in the real-life situation.

He was speaking at a seminar for BEd students organised by the Faculty of Education, ICFAI University, Dehradun, today. Giving emphasis on open curriculum, he said teachers should teach through different creative methods such as - psycho drama, storytelling, interactive jigsaw puzzle and co-operative learning. He gave many examples of innovative experiential learning techniques that he has been practising in his school, Times World School, and receiving wonderful results in the achievement of average students. He said the teachers must take responsibility to prepare not one AR Rehman, but many social, cultural, political and educational leaders. Describing the “teaching as celebration of learning”, he gave hundred tips to the BEd students to be a successful teacher.

Dr Sujit K Mukherjee, former Director of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and president of the Friends of Doon Society, addressed the prospective teachers about their responsibilities to involve the future citizens in environment protection activities. The session was very interactive and educative.

Through question-answer method, Prof Mukherjee develop the awareness of the audience towards recent environmental issues and the solution thereafter. He answered many questions posed by the trainee teachers and involved them in environmental game. He emphasised on compulsory environmental studies curriculum in the teacher education programme.

Vice-Chancellor GP Srivastava, Dean DK Giri and faculty members of the university were present on the occasion. Dr Giri presented a brief description of the placement programme of the department.

The guests were welcomed by presenting saplings and Prof Sarina Negi gave the keynote address. Prof RS Rana presented the vote of thanks. The students presented a colourful cultural programme. At the end, the Vice-Chancellor presented mementos to the guests.

Dehradun, February 15
MKP (PG) College held an exhibition on home science at its college auditorium here today. The prime attraction of the exhibition was tie and dye, knitting, soft toys, handkerchiefs, charts, posters and bed sheets made by students and were kept on sale.

Principal Dr Indu Singh and other staff members were present at the exhibition.

Students were in full whirl of enthusiasm and excitement to display their project work. The students also put up stalls of snacks and refreshments. 

Dehradun, February 15
Abhimanyu Cricket Academy lifted the u-17 District Cricket League here today. In the final it defeated Rao Cricket Academy by eight wickets.

It was a fine bowing display by Abhimanyu Cricket Academy team bowlers who picked up wickets at regular intervals and made Rao batsmen struggling for runs.

Batting first, Rao Cricket Academy scored 106 runs in 34.3 overs. Opener Manish scored 17 runs off 28 balls, whereas Ashwani made 9 runs. Middle order batsman Ashish scored 29 runs.

Another batsman Saurav played a knock of 31 runs off 49 balls. For Nishant, Saksham and Abhimanyu claimed two wickets each.

In reply, Abhimanyu Cricket Academy achieved the target with ease.

Priyanshu scored 26 runs off 56 balls, whereas Abhimanyu played a knock of 50 runs off 72 balls.

Vishal scored 15 runs for the team.

For Rao Cricket Academy, Dipankar and Ashish Pal took own wicket each.

Rakesh Bhatt Chairman of Kasiga School gave away the prizes to the winners and runners up.

Abhimanyu Cricket Academy has been consistent with its performance throughout the tournament.

A strong batting lineup and disciplined bowling helped the team take home 
the trophy. Abhimanyu Cricket Academy was high on confidence after winning the tournament and charge for future tournaments.

Dehradun, February 15
The New Star Cricket Club cruised into the final of the Subhash Chand Memorial Cricket Tournament here today.

Outstanding batting lineup of the New Star Cricket Club helped the team score 177 runs off 20overs.

Opener Sanjeev paved the way for his team victory. He hammered the bowlers all over the ground to play a knock of 55 runs in 37 balls.

Although another opener Garry failed to perform with his bat and got out early after making two runs. First down batsman Amit Lara further accelerated the run rate to score 23 runs off 18 balls.

After a fine batting display by the top order batsmen, middle order batsman Aslam gave a power packed performance to play a knock of 42 runs off 32 balls.

Sanjay supported him well from the other end to make a quick fiery 14 runs.

For the BJP team Siddharth took two wickets, whereas Hannu and Nishu took one wicket each.

In reply the BJP team could only manage to score 121 runs off 17.4 overs. The team’s batsmen gave a poor batting display.

Opening pair of Rituraj and Siddharth made 7 and 8 runs respectively. First down batsman Tarun made 10 runs, whereas Mohit scored 11 runs.

Most of the runs were scored in the form of extras. For the New Star Cricket Club, Garry and Sanjeev took two wickets each, whereas Azad, Junaid and Sanjay took one wickets each. 

Dehradun, February 15
Selection trials for induction of more trainees in table tennis under the Sports Authorities of India Day Boarding Extension Scheme will be held at Summer Valley School tomorrow.

Student age between 14 to 18 years and those who have participated at the district, state and national-level competitions are eligible to participate at the tournament.

Selected players will be entitled to receive Rs 500 scholarship per month as well as a kit from the Sports Authorities of India.

All players wishing to participate in the trials, will be free to report at Summer Valley School at 4pm, along with age proof and certificates of the tournaments they have participated.