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Study finds 40 pc Shimla schoolkids on drugs
Baijnath Shiva temple sinking
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Govt depts owe Rs 70 crore to power board
Polyhouse scheme popular in Bilaspur
‘Har Gaon Ki Kahani’ set to fascinate tourists
A home stay unit in a Kullu village. Tribune Photo
Vignettes
Rohtang tunnel: Cong, BJP take credit
Tug of war between Mahila Cong leaders
Himachal diary
Ayurvedic docs demand launch of NRHM
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Study finds 40 pc Shimla schoolkids on drugs Drug addiction, flesh trade on the rise Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 13 A study undertaken by the Himachal Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (HPVHA) has indicated that 40 per cent of the schoolchildren below the age of 18 years in the state capital are into one or the other form of addiction, be it smoking, drugs or other intoxicants like cough syrups and erasex. The districts of Solan and Shimla, especially areas along the highways and industrial hubs, are emerging as the centres for immoral trafficking of women and young girls who are into prostitution. Surveys in the past have also confirmed the presence of call girl rackets in several tourist destinations like Shimla, Solan, Manali and Dharamshala. “We have written to the SPs to be more vigilant and stern in dealing with cases of flesh trade not just by booking those who are involved but by getting across to those who are running such rackets,” said N. Venugopal, DIG (CID). He added that the problem could be solved only if the people behind such heinous crimes were booked. He admitted that major tourist destinations, pilgrim centres and towns along highways were known for flesh trade, with many young girls and women into prostitution. The Kullu-Manali area has gained notoriety as a centre for cultivation of cannabis and poppy whose derivatives are used for making hashish and opium. No doubt the area is attracting hordes of tourists, giving a fillip to the tourism industry but the easy availability of drugs in the area is the biggest attraction for the younger generation. The death of the son of a former British MP in Old Manali due to drug overdose and that too a lethal cocktail of narcotic substances is only an indicator of the deteriorating situation. Today it is not just foreigners but also locals who have got addicted to drugs in Kullu-Manali. “It is only by way of education and better awareness that we can save the youth from getting into vices like smoking and drinking,” says Narender Sharma, Director of HPVHA. He says the fact that 40 per cent of the schoolchildren in Shimla are into smoking is reason enough for alarm. He laments that despite stringent laws, there is laxity in their implementation. “Despite the ban on sale of cigarettes near schools and other educational institutional, shops right next to them are making these things easily available to the students,” rues Sharma. He said it was only with active support of all, including parents, teachers, social organisations and various law-enforcing agencies that the situation could be brought under control.
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Baijnath Shiva temple sinking
Palampur, July 13 Even as the district administration and the archeological survey of India are planning to save the temple from further damage, immediate steps are required. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told The Tribune that he was deeply concerned with the situation and senior engineers and exerts from outside the state would be called to save the ancient temple. He said officials of the PWD, Revenue, Language and Culture were already on the job. The history of the temple is stated on stone slabs. According to it, the foundation of the temple was laid down by two local merchants in the 9th century. The date of inscription is itself given in two eras - Saptarshi and Saka. The Saka year 1126, which corresponds to 1204 AD, is considered more authentic. Renovation work in the temple was carried out by Raja Sansar Chand in the 19th century. Even today, the temple witnesses a large number of visitors throughout the year. The unique feature of the temple is its architectural style, which is Oriyan and different from the rest of the temples in the state. The temple is constructed in Shikhara style and is located within a well-maintained complex of gardens, lawns and pathways in a single walled courtyard. The exterior of the temple is beautiful with some exquisitely carved floral pattern and images of deities.
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Govt depts owe Rs 70 crore to power board
Hamirpur, July 13 Surprisingly, one government department, Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department, owes more than Rs 40 crore to the HPSEB for their thousands of electricity connections throughout the state, which are being used for pumping and supplying water. Another large debtor of the board is nagar parishads located in major towns of the state. As nagar parishads are one of the major consumers of the electricity, their electricity bills are also quite huge. Since most of the parishads fail to mobilise their own resources to provide public amenities in the urban areas and are dependent on grants from the government, their electricity bills have also been piling up. Different nagar parishads owe more than 17 crore to the HPSEB for electricity charges. How serious the
problem of the HPSEB's pending electricity dues with the government departments is can be gauged from the fact that even in a small district like Hamirpur different departments have not paid their electricity bills of about Rs 4 crore. In Hamirpur, the biggest debtor again is the IPH department and owes Rs 2,73,46,958 to the HPSEB for its electricity bills. Hamirpur nagar parishad has also not paid electricity bills of Rs 65,90,409 for quite some time, while other government departments, which include DC office and other such important offices, have not paid electricity dues of Rs 24,20,395. The HPSEB authorities said: "We cannot disconnect electricity connections of government departments like other consumers, especially those maintaining essential services, for non-payment of bills." "We have been persuading the government debtors, even through ministers and MLA's to realise the dues and taking up this issue at the state government level also," they added.
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Polyhouse scheme popular in Bilaspur
Bilaspur, July 13 This success of the polyhouse concept is based on the attention and care given in growing off-season and exotic vegetables, fruits and flowers, which have a ready market in big cities. The polyhouse technology is actually a cash crop technique for providing favourable growth conditions to plants under controlled temperature, humidity, light, ventilation, carbon dioxide etc for achieving maximum yield under a totally sealed higher grade polythene roof and side walls dome structure made of either angle irons or wooden and bamboo poles supporting it. Its results mostly depend upon care, timely and suitable vermin compost feedings and controlled water sprinkle system. Insecticides, pesticides and some times even fertilisers are also essential for better results. This technique is most suited and beneficial for diversification and production of exotic varieties of cherished and palatable vegetables like capsicum green, coloured capsicum (deep yellow and fast red) cucumber, tomatoes and all varieties of other popular dishes like ladies finger, bottle gourd, bitter gourd and creepers, apart from growing flower varieties like rose buds of all hues and shades, which are much sought after for loving presentations and impressive decorations. The government has also made a provision of 50 per cent subsidy on providing controlled micro-irrigation system
based on sprinklers or drip in polyhouses, including storage tanks and structures and water augmentation schemes. Bilaspur has got the distinction of being the first district in the state in achieving the target of setting up polyhouses. The district has set up 473 polyhouses against the target of 432 till last month, claims deputy commissioner Nandita Gupta. She says Rs 5.13 crore subsidy has been provided under this scheme. She says she has visited a number of polyhouses in Ghumarwin subdivision near here, including those at Luharwin, Panyaala, Hatwaad and Dehra villages and she had found that polyhouse owners had worked hard to increase their agrarian income several folds through this novel process. Dr Sukh Ram Chauhan, a former director of the HP Health Services, who turned a polyhouse farmer, says he is satisfied with the exotic flowers he has grown in his polyhouse at his native village Gasaud in the Jukhala valley. Maj Lekh Ram Sharma (retd) of Amarpur village and president of the HP Green Growers Association, says the government must wake up to the utmost necessity of providing suitable facilities to farmers for marketing their produce from these polyhouses and they would be free from the exploitation of market agents in Delhi, who eat away most of their profits. He also rues that the government has not yet given them relief from the charges of Rs 10 per package of their produce by HRTC buses.
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‘Har Gaon Ki Kahani’ set to fascinate tourists
Palampur, July 13 Tourism is one of the key areas which can strengthen socioeconomic activities besides attracting tourists to the state. According to Dr Arun Sharma, director, tourism, people across the state have been asked to send fascinating stories and legends, stories of gods and goddesses, prevalent religious beliefs, interesting anecdotes, local customs, rituals followed on the occasion of marriage and festivals etc related to their native place. These would then be reviewed and published by the authorities in tourism literature to woo tourists. “If the story is interesting and has some historical facts, the tourism department will allot funds to that village to develop tourism infrastructure. The concerned Panchayats can send such stories/anecdotes, incidents directly to the office of deputy commissioner or the district tourism development officer concerned”. He says Himachal Pradesh happens to be the first state in the country to link MNREGA with the promotion of tourism. Tourism infrastructure of selected villages will be developed by roping in local villagers and using funds under MNREGA. “Har Gaon Ki Kahani” scheme will generate self-employment and decongest the urban areas. Besides, local people will also get a chance to showcase their cuisine, folk culture and handicrafts. For the implementation of the scheme, a committee has been constituted under the chairpersonship of the deputy commissioner and comprises the district tourism development officer concerned, district language officer, district public relations officer, district panchayat officer and any other member (non-official). Meanwhile, the home stay scheme, launched in 2008, has been popular among tourists. The scheme focuses on rural tourism to generate employment, income and promote new destinations by exhibiting ancient heritage and culture of the state. Till date, 246 home stay units have been registered with 75 in Kullu, 49 in Kinnaur, 31 in Kangra, 38 in Shimla, 10 in Mandi, 12 in Chamba, 19 in Lahaul-Spiti, six each in Sirmaur and Solan district and more are in registration process. As many as 653 rooms are available in these registered units where tourists can experience rustic lifestyle in a homely atmosphere. In the past one year, 5,532 Indian and 220 foreign visitors stayed in the registered home stay units in the state. Kullu district has attracted maximum number of tourists in its 75 registered home stay units. As many as 1,539 domestic and 132 foreign tourists stayed in the units situated at Jong-Katrain, Manali, Jibhi, Banjar, Prini, Naggar, Jagatsukh, Bahang, Mohal, Haripur, Kasol, Kullu etc.
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Hill Nightingale-Baba Kanshi Ram
by Shriniwas Joshi
He went to Lahore in 1898 in search of livelihood. There he came in contact with revolutionary Hardayal, M.A., Sufi Ramzahid, Sardar Ajit Singh and others, who kindled the embers of freedom from British yoke in the young mind. His purpose of life changed. He decided to awake the hill-folk and press upon them the need for joining the mainstream for the cause of freedom. He learnt music at Lahore to add melody to the pahari verses that he used to write, "Gandhi ne kahaa/ niklo is bhumi se/ Subhashji ne deraa poorva laayaa/ Phirangiyan de ghar sog chhaayaa/ Sabne Bande Matram gaayaa/ Hamne Tiranga aaj banaayaa/ Kanshi ne usko lehraayaa." His verse had the flow of stream, easily picked up by the general public, and had the melody and rhythm that inspired whoever listened to it. This voice reverberated in the hills and the valleys and became vox populi. His Lahore stay was prematurely terminated by the Kangra earthquake of 1905. He returned to his land and served the suffering humanity along with Lala Lajpat Rai. The Delhi Darbar of 1911 injured his esteem when he saw the nababs and princes of Indian states kneeling before the British authorities and he bewailed: "Angrezaan jitna andher machaayaa/asaan utna hi jaal bachhaayaa/ Phirangia jo bhi chaal chali/ Asaan uste rang jamaayaa." Now popular as Baba Kanshi Ram, he went in and out of jail from 1920 to 1930. He was deeply saddened by the "hanged till death" verdict of the British on Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. As it was the blackest of all decisions for him, he decided to wear black clothes till India got independence and was 'syahposh' (wearer of black clothes) till his death on October 15, 1943. When Sarojini Naidu, known as the nightingale of India, heard him hum tuneful verses baptized him as the 'Hill-Nightingale'. Such mellow and melodic was his voice. The finest hour for the people of Himachal Pradesh was in 1937 when Jawaharlal Nehru bestowed upon Kanshi the title of 'Pahari Gandhi'. In memory of his exemplary selfless services, a postal stamp was released on 'Pahari Baba Kanshi Ram' by Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, at Jwalamukhi, Kangra, on April 23, 1984. His book on verses "Naane di Kahani-Kanshi di Zabani' narrates a touching story of a woman who gives shelter in her home to a stranger ready to die for his country but kills her own husband who smells of a traitor. The Art, Culture and Language Academy celebrated the 129th birth anniversary of Pahari Gandhi at the Gaiety on July 11 when one of the speakers lamented that the house belonging to Baba Kanshi Ram at his village in Dada Siba was in a pathetic condition. He wanted the assembled gathering to raise a voice so that it could be declared and maintained as a heritage house where such a soul was born that suffered and died for the cause of hill-folk and independence of the country. Why can't the government convert it into a small museum where the belongings of Pahari Gandhi are displayed and sketches of his life be exhibited, if no photographs are available? The likes of Pahari Gandhi are not born again and again.
Tailpiece
Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right. -Mahatma Gandhi, 1931.
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Rohtang tunnel: Cong, BJP take credit
Mandi, July 13 The strategic tunnel will end the long isolation of the snowbound landlocked tribal Lahaul valley forever, once it becomes operational in 2015 as targeted by the BRO, the road wing of the Ministry of Defence. Leading the Congress is Union Steel Minister and Mandi MP Virbhadra Singh who has said the long-cherished dream of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has come true. Virbhadra Singh said he would give due credit to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who expedited the construction of the road from south portal of the Rohtang tunnel from Manali side. "We are not opportunists like Chief Minister PK Dhumal who has been thankless by not appreciating the role of the UPA in giving funds and projects to the state and yet take all credit for development in Himachal Pradesh," he charged, referring to Dhumal's statement in the media. Virbhdra Singh said it was persistent efforts of late Indira Gandhi and successive Congress governments that the people of Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi and Bharmour would get all-weather road connectivity. "A German company has been awarded the tender to construct the tunnel which will be completed by 2015 at a cost of over Rs 1500 crore," he added. Besides, Virbhadra Singh has ridiculed BJP's claim that two national highway projects, NH-21 and NH-22, were brought in by Dhumal. He cited two letters dated December 31, 2009 and June 19, 2009, signed by Minister for Roads Transport and Highways Kamalnath, giving credit to Virbhadra Singh. But the state PWD could not utilise even 50 per cent of Rs 58 crore allocated for the projects so far, he remarked. State Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur has also claimed that it is the achievement of the Congress that Rohtang tunnel is going to become a reality. On the other hand, state BJP president Khimi Ram claimed that it was the efforts put in by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the dream of permanent connectivity to Lahaul valley was coming true. "Chief Minister PK Dhumal also took up the issue from time to time", he added.
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Tug of war between Mahila Cong leaders
Hamirpur, July 13 Interestingly, Rakesh Rani, who was earlier appointed to the post in January after replacing Raj Dhiman, was unceremoniously removed after a few weeks. She has once again been appointed to the post by state president of the Mahila Congress Kamla Prarthi. The tug of war between two Mahila Congress leaders is, in fact, a result of
factional fight between two groups of Congress leaders who have been trying to prove their supremacy in the party by appointing their people on key organisational posts. While Rakesh Rani is considered close to a few state Congress leaders, Raj Dhiman enjoys the patronage of Nadaun MLA Sukhvinder Singh, who had reportedly helped her getting reappointed to the post in January. Now, the reappointment of Rakesh Rani has led to regrouping in the District Mahila Congress. While supporters of Rakesh Rani have welcomed her appointment, the group of Raj Dhiman has come
openly against the move and flayed Kamla Prarthi. Rakesh Rani said, “I was appointed as District Mahila Congress president by the state president in December last year, but since it took time to get approval from the national president, a few leaders manipulated the things and got appointed
Raj Dhiman.” She said, “Since I am also an elected representative, I would strengthen the organisation and hold programmes after reorganising the district and block bodies”. On the other hand, Raj Dhiman said, “Injustice is being done by removing me several times. My supporters and I would soon meet national leadership and seek my reappointment.”
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Boost for performing arts in Shimla
Performing arts, particularly dramatic activities, have got a boost with the restoration of Gaiety Theatre. Local theatre groups are coming up with new productions on a regular basis. Last week the Natraj Theatre Group staged a play "Sanshaya" (See picture), providing an opportunity to local talent. Written by Arun Bharti and directed by Mohan Joshi, the play depicted discord in the life of a couple after marriages and how they ultimately come to accept each other to lead a peaceful life. The female lead was played by upcoming actress Shashi Sharma while National School of Drama-trained Kedar Thakur was in the role of the husband. A new artist, Anita Thakur, also got an opportunity to exhibit her talent in the role of a friend of the wife. The play was sponsored by the North Zone Culture Centre (NZCC). Director Mohan Joshi now plans to make a tele-film based on Swadesh Deepak's award winning play "Court Martial". It will be his second tele-film based on a play. Last year he produced "Moksha". He also plans to make a tele-film on the play "Dagialia Ki Raat", penned by S.N.Joshi which won All India Radio's best play award for 2008. The most ambitious tele-film project is based on late Nirmal Verma's play "Derh Inch Ooper". In command already
Senior IAS officer Rajwant Sandhu, OSD (monitoring and coordination), who is to take over as Chief Secretary on August 1, is already on the job. She has started reviewing the ongoing programmes of the state government at various levels. In one such meeting at Hamirpur recently Sandhu directed all government departments in the district to complete the ongoing projects on priority. She emphasised the need for regular review by the officers concerned to monitor the progress of major programmes like the "Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan" which would go a long way in improving the quality of education in the state. She also asked officers to evaluate benefits of e-governance and other facilities provided by the government. Sandhu called for popularising social welfare schemes through advertisements and by distributing pamphlets among schoolchildren so that their parents and neighbours could be made aware and benefits reached more and more people. Similarly, the campaign on AIDS awareness among young people was also need of the hour. She asked bank officials to evaluate the benefits of various loans given to people and motivate young people to go for self-employment ventures to widen the network of beneficiaries.
Green Hikers campaign
In its endeavour to encourage responsible tourism in the environmentally fragile Himalayas, the World Wide Fund for Nature has launched its "Green Hikers Campaign", aimed at raising awareness about the vulnerability of the ecosystem, in the state. Manisha Nanda, Principal secretary, tourism, formally launched the campaign to encourage tourists and tour operators to adopt responsible practices to help reduce the impact of tourism on the fragile ecosystem. She said it was the collective responsibility of the tourism sector along with NGOs, industries associations and operators to sensitise the tourists about preserving the pristine hill environment by ensuring that they did not leave any litter, sewage, garbage in the high-altitudes ranges. A comprehensive presentation on the Green Hiker Campaign was made by Vandana Thaplyal, State Director of WWF-India, followed by the screening of a short green hiker animation film, created to spread awareness. The proposed activities to take place in the state under the aegis of the campaign were announced by Sanjeev Sharma ,Senior Project Officer , WWF-India ,which included display of collaterals at vital tourist destinations, co-ordinating with tour-operators, visiting the wetlands and setting up awareness camps there, arrange and promote meaningful contact between tourists and local people. (Contributed by
Rakesh Lohumi and DP Gupta)
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Ayurvedic docs demand launch of NRHM
Nurpur, July 13 Yogesh Raina, president of the association, said people of the state would get all medical systems under one roof if the government launched this scheme. Raina informed that under the NRHM, Rs 19 crore had been allocated to the state Ayurveda Department, but the same remained unutilised due to the reasons best known to the government. He claimed that 173 unemployed ayurvedic doctors would get jobs following the implementation of the scheme.
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Kamlesh chosen silai teachers union chief
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One of the oldest Shiva temples at Baijnath, 16 km from here, which was built in 1204, is sinking from one side, threatening its survival. The boundary wall of the temple has come down and there are major cracks on the first
floor.
The home stay scheme has been attracting hordes of tourists to lesser known and remote destinations of the state since its launch two years ago. Another scheme, “Har Gaon Ki Kahani”, is set to fascinate tourists. This novel scheme aims at developing villages of historic importance as “tourism villages” by providing basic amenities that will provide tourists a peep into the rustic life of the hill state.
He abode of Lakhnu Ram at Padhyali Gurnad village in Dada Siba, Kangra, resonated with the pious sounds of conch-shell on July 11, 1882 when Lakhnu's wife, Revati, gave birth to a son. The newborn was named Kanshi Ram. Kanshi was only nine years when he was married to five-year-old Saraswati. He had not touched his teens when he lost his parents, forcing him to struggle for livelihood.
Shimla: The following have been chosen office-bearers of the HP Silai Teachers Union: Kamlesh Dhiman (Pragpur block)-president; Usha Rani(Poolani block)--vice-president; Neelam Kumari(Aloh block)-secretary; and Sushma Sharma(Muhin block)--cashier.