Dehradun, February 9
Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva, in the capacity of the First Citizen of the state, recorded the requisite information in a Census form under the second phase of the National Census 2011 Programme at the Raj Bhawan here today.

The work under the second phase of Census 2011, which began today, will come to an end on February 28, 2011.

Terming the recording as highly significant in view of the formulation and operation of all future development plans of the state, the Governor appealed to all the citizens of the state, especially women, to render their fullest cooperation in the preparation of Census 2011 by giving accurate information without any hesitation.

She said, "The information provided in the forms filled up by citizens is an important and basic document for the development of the state. These will also reflect the status and direction of our society and, hence, it is imperative that the forms are filled in an accurate manner".

In the second phase of Census 2011, detailed information of each and every household is being collected by filling up of the 29 column form.

Those who were present on the occasion included the Governor's husband Niranjan Alva, Secretary to the Governor Ashok Pai, Director, Census Uttarakhand, Snehlata Agarwal and other officers.

Haridwar, February 9
The much-awaited and publicised Census 2011 enumeration exercise kicked off in the district today. The first person to be inked in the Census here was local legislator Madan Kaushik, who is also the state Cabinet Minister for Tourism in the state government.

The Census team accompanied by municipality executive officer BL Arya, who is also in charge officer of the Census in the city municipality area, visited Khanna Nagar Colony situated residence of the state Cabinet Minister to put on record the details of his family members. While filling the details, Madan emphasised upon the need of having all the residents of the state to make sure their name was enrolled in the Census.

To be carried out on a large scale, a total of 4,604 employees have been pitched in to carry out the Census process in the district, which would be carried out till February 28. Apart from municipality executive officer, 17 other officers have been made as charge officers to make sure the entire process was conducted smoothly, covering each and every person in the district.

For this Herculean process, more than 3,000 enumerator blocks have been made with 608 invigilators aided by 40 master trainers will be assisted by 313 enumerators and 66 supervisors as reserve employees.

After the completion of the Census, counting of homeless people will be done from next month to make sure the correct figures and data was tabulated. Notably since 1872, the Census has been carried out in the country with count database of this decade to help in issuance of the proposed National Identity Card, which would be quite helpful in making pan-India multi-information identity card for the residents of the country.

Informing about the details to The Tribune, BL Arya said, “Under the Census 2011 there is a household Schedule that contains 29 questions to be filled by the individual. Questions like the name of the person, relationship to the head of the household, sex, date of birth, marital status, religion, mother tongue, languages known, literacy, economic activity, place of last residence, among other aspects, are being recorded. We urge people to cooperate in this exercise by making sure they get registered as well as put correct details in the form, as it will also benefit the individual immensely,” said Arya.

Mussoorie, February 9
Finally, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today paid a visit to noted author and ailing journalist Sudhir Thapliyal at his residence here. Nishank also presented a cheque of Rs 4 lakh to Thapliyal. Thapliyal, moved by the gesture, thanked the Chief Minister and apprised him about his ailment.

The CM wished him a speedy recovery and said the government would assist him during his ailment as and when required.

President, Press Club of Mussoorie, Bijendar Panwar also thanked the Chief Minister and presented a memorandum of long-standing demands of the scribes to him. He also apprised Nishank of the housing problem in the town.

The CM said a housing project would soon be started for Mussoorie and a press conference hall and guest house, as demanded by the Press Club, would also be built.

Speaking on developing the Tehri Lake as a major sports centre, Nishank said the lake area of Tehri had 42 sq km of area, which was one-of-its-kind and, therefore, it was decided that first a national water sports would be conducted and following that an international water sports would be organised in the near future. He also said the Tehri Lake Development Authority had been constituted and Rs 5 crore had already been sanctioned for the purpose.

Speaking on the issue of parking problem in Mussoorie, he said already one parking had been constructed and more would follow soon.

Nishank also informed that Chief Ministers from the Himalayan region would soon meet at Dehradun and demand from the Centre a separate policy for the Himalayan region.

Nishank further said he had also demanded from the Centre a separate ministry for the Himalayan region similar on the lines of North-East.

Speaking on the issue of the Central government’s proposal of declaring the area from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi as eco-sensitive zone, Nishank said a proposal did appear in the Ganga River Basin Board meeting where the proposal was opposed vehemently by Uttarakhand. Being critical of the alleged role of certain environmentalists, the CM said, they, sitting in their offices in Delhi, were formulating false reports. They should understand that every person of Uttarakhand was an environmentalist who understood the area better so they should not announce without any concrete proof which was sensitive and which was not.

On the issue of winter religious tourism, he said the state government was working on the lines as the tourism had increased manifold after the Kumbh Mela and plans were to include temples apart from the Char Dham in the winter tourism circuit.

About regularising teachers in government and semi-government organisations, he said most of the problems of Shiksha Mitr and Bandhus had been solved and as for the regularisation of the teachers in semi-government schools, the government wold also try to regularise them soon.

Dehradun, February 9
A group of 30 NCC cadets visited the YWCA Oldage Home here yesterday and spent quality time with aged members there. The cadets were accompanied by their Commanding Officer, Lieut-Col BS Ahluwalia of 29 UK Battalion NCC, along with an ANO, a JCO and an NCO.

The cadets freely mingled with the old people, exchanged ideas and heard them at length. They distributed fruits and lunch among the members who were overwhelmed by their gesture. The cadets also soothed their emotions assuring them that they were not alone in the world. They also promised them that they would visit the home again and help them whenever required.

Dehradun, February 9
A group of 24 new cadets of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) took out a day from their busy schedule to go to Santhla Devi Temple, a 10-km trek from the campus.

They were accompanied by Sanjay, an experienced mountaineer, U Dalvi and Wing Commander SK Thapliyal.

The cadets started their trek early in the morning while enjoying the scenic beauty. But to their disappointment they found polythene and plastic bags all along the route.

After paying their respects at the temple, the cadets decided to clean the trek route. But after three hours of laborious work, more disappointment was in store for them. When they reached the village at the end of the trek, they found that there was no system of garbage collection. They had to carry the garbage back with them for about 5 km till they could find a dustbin.

The cadets woke up to the fact that environmental encroachment had reached close to the RIMC. They also realised that it was every person’s responsibility to look after their immediate surroundings.

It was an educational trek that had fun and freedom rolled in for the first-termers as they were allowed to go out for the first time after 40 days of their admission to the RIMC.

Dehradun, February 9
Garhwal Sporting edged past Garhwal Boys 4-1 in the tiebreaker to make it to the final of the 19th Narayan Gurung Zics Memorial Football Tournament today on the Mahindra Ground here. Sporting will now take on Junior Cantt in the final tomorrow at 2.30 pm.

Today’s closely contested semifinal went scoreless till full time. In the tie-breaker, Sporting’s Pradip Negi, Vijyant, Ashok and Naveen all scored while for Garhwal Boys, only Prashant found the net.

Dehradun, February 9
Hosts Raja Ram Mohan Rai Academy (RRRA) crashed to a seven-wicket defeat against St Joseph’s Academy (SJA) in the ongoing Junior Boys Council School Cricket Tournament here today.

RRRA won the toss and opted to bat first. The team was bundled out for only 80 runs in 10 overs. Manish (13) and Nikhil (12) were the highest scorers.

Garvit of SJA took three wickets. Ashish, Anshuman, Madhav and Rickshit were also among the wicket takers.

In reply, the SJA team easily achieved the target of 81 runs losing only three wickets in 10 overs. Apurv top scored with an unbeaten 43. Manish of RRRA was the only wicket taker with two wickets.

Dehradun, February 9
The United Cricket Association (UCA) will hold the Uttarakhand Cup Beehive Challenger League from February 10 at Matawala Bagh.

A total of 25 teams will vie for the title. The competition will be played on a league basis in the first round in which four matches will be played by each team.

Then on the basis of points, the teams will enter the semifinals. In the final, the players will don coloured outfits and the game will be played with a white ball at the Matawala Bagh, said Amit Kapoor, Vice-President of the association in a press conference today.

After this championship, the UCA will organise the Gold Cup Cricket Tournament in the first week of April. In the Gold Cup, teams from different states will take part.

The association will also hold the Uttarakhand Premier League from May 15. The state will be divided into five zones and these five teams will take part in the league.

Every zone will be handed over to some corporate franchise and the name of the zone will be on the name of the corporate, informed the members of the association.

Meanwhile, over the issue of non-affiliation to the BCCI, the UCA members said they didn’t want any posts of office-bearers and had set no conditions for uniting with other cricket associations in order to get the affiliation.

“In the past 10 years, the career of several players of the state has been ruined due to the non-affiliation to the BCCI. All cricket associations in the state should shed their egos and come on a single platform,” said Kapoor.