Mandi, September 25
The Himachal Pradesh State Lecturers Association (HPSLA) has announced that it will launch an agitation on October 8 against the state government’s recent decision of designating 562 teachers as postgraduate teachers (PGTs) in place of school lecturers after promotion and the department’s new criteria for admission to the science stream in senior secondary schools.

Accusing the government of dividing the state cadre of school lecturers into PGTs and lecturers, association president Ashwani Kumar, general secretary Pramod Pathania and state secretary Sachin Thakur warned the government that if the government did not withdraw “its use of PGTs for school lecturers” from all its notifications or official appointments, they would launch a statewide stir on October 8.

“We are disappointed that the government is creating a wedge between the school lecturers, which will not be allowed to happen,” they said.

Citing the example of 562 teachers, who were promoted recently and designated as PGTs rather than school lecturers, they said the government was not serious about promoting goodwill among the school lecturers by “creating PGTs in place of lecturers”.

“We will burn copies of all government notifications which use the designation PGTs for lecturers,” they warned.

Besides, they said the Education Department was not serious about promoting quality education in government schools as it had reduced the pass percentage for admission to the science stream from 50 per cent to 33 per cent.

“We oppose this decision as it will bring in non-serious students into the science stream that will hit those who have an aptitude for science,” the association leaders said.

Director, Education, OP Sharma, said there was no question of dividing the lecturers as far the PGT designation was concerned. It was in line with the norms of the National Council of Education according to which the PGTs were designated as per their qualifications.

Shimla, September 25
Alleged discrimination by the Dhumal government against the Shimla Municipal Corporation, particularly the reduction in the grant-in-aid and stalling of projects by way of diversion of funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), will be the main plank of the Congress in the coming elections to the biggest urban local body of the state.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Shimla District (Urban) Congress, convened specially for the purpose, here today by Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kaul Singh who announced that a committee would be set up to carry out a ward-wise survey to get a feedback about the possible candidates for the poll, to be held early next year. Another committee will be set up to finalise the party’s manifesto for the poll.

The party has been ruling the MC ever since it was upgraded to a corporation in 1986 and it faces a major challenge as unlike the past, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be elected directly by the electorate. All senior leaders, numbering about 20, spoke at the meeting and they not only talked about the issues pertaining to the MC but also spoke about the Anna Hazare and Ram Dev campaigns.

The party maintained that the BJP government deliberately did not pursue the projects sanctioned under the JNNURM seriously for which a Rs 3,750-crore city development plan was got approved from the Centre by the previous Congress regime. While work on the Rs 11.5-crore Auckland tunnel and bridge project was progressing at a snail’s pace, forcing the high court to intervene, the Rs 24-crore scheme to build 652 flats for the urban poor, the Rs 21-crore project of a modern slaughterhouse, the Rs 72-crore water supply upgradation project, the Rs 22-crore solid waste disposal projects, the Rs 16-crore car parking project and several other schemes had virtually failed to take off.

Kaul Singh said the present government had not only taken several anti-people measures, including withdrawal of all exemptions on house tax, imposition of taxes in merged areas without providing any facilities, but also granted permission to favoured realtors for building apartments in violation of the norms to add to the problems of the already congested city.

Shimla, September 25
The decision of the government to provide a pilot vehicle and an escort to Anurag Thakur, the elder son of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who represents the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, has evoked a sarcastic reaction from the Congress.

Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kaul Singh, while interacting with mediapersons here today, said the decision was indicative of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “If the son of the Chief Minister is not safe, then one can well imagine what will be the fate of the common man,” he asked. The government had taken care of the security of the Junior Dhumal and had given no thought to the safety of the common man.

Never before was an MP provided such facility and it provided a fair idea of the manner in which the BJP government had been functioning and abusing the police machinery. The police was adopting double standards and the motto seemed to be to harass Congress leaders and workers by registering false cases against them.

Not only the police, other agencies and organisations were also being misused as was evident from the grant of clearance to builders in and around Shimla in violation of the norms. The case of Bemloe Developers was the most glaring in which clearance was granted to raise apartments in a thick forest in a single day and to build a road on forest land on applications with forged signatures.

Benami deals were taking place whereas land worth lakhs of rupees was being bought in the name of persons hailing form below poverty line families. Instead of acquiring the Bantony Castle, the government was facilitating its sale, which indicated its deep involvement in shady deals. These issues would be appropriately addressed in the charge sheet being prepared by the party against the Dhumal government, he added.

Shimla, September 25
An effective solution to the problem of animal-human conflict seems a far cry as farmers’ bodies and animal rights organisations have crossed swords on the issue and have blamed the “wrong policies” of the government for the situation.

While the State Kisan Sabha wants the government to carry out scientific culling of monkeys to save crops, Nature Watch India (NWI) maintains that there is no justification for taking such extreme measures, without any credible data and proper assessment of the ground realities.

Convener of the NWI Rajeshwar Negi blames it on the lackadaisical approach of the government towards scientific management of wildlife. It has till date not constituted the State Animal Welfare Board and has failed to reconstitute the State Wildlife Board, as mandated under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act - 1960, and the Wildlife Protection Act - 1972. The NWI has taken up the matter more than once, but in vain.

These bodies had been envisaged to advise and assist the government in their formulation and execution of policies, and to provide expertise regarding the problems, emergent issues associated with the survival, welfare and management of animals in the face of uncontrolled urbanisation and deforestation. In the absence of any such statutory bodies and lack of wherewithal, certain outfits were maligning the role of animals to pressure the government into undertaking measures such as indiscriminate culling of any animal perceived as a problem.

It will not only be a violation of animal rights and against human ethics but also a contravention of constitutional provisions under Articles 41 A and 51 A(g).

The NWI has challenged the authenticity of the census carried by the Wildlife Department which estimated the population of monkeys at 3.19 lakh and that of langurs as 55,000. It finds the claim of the Kisan Sabha that 2,301 of the total 3,243 panchayats in the state have been affected and the total annual loss in terms of damage to crops and the “man days” wasted on protecting the crops is over Rs 2,000 crore as far too exaggerated. To counter the claim, Negi draws the attention to the three consecutive bumper crops and the record fruit crop last year. The fruit production touched an all- time high 9.60 lakh tonnes and the state produced a record 14.68 lakh tonnes of foodgrain last year. The vegetable production crossed the 11-lakh-tonne mark despite the fact that thousands of hectares of cultivable land was being diverted to other purposes every year. This would not be possible if wild animals were such a serious problem.

Instead of allowing wanton killing of animals, the government should review its development strategy to factor in the carrying capacity of the fragile hill ecosystem and in turn contain haphazard urbanisation and deforestation, besides taking stringent measures to prevent diversion of agriculture land. 

Mandi, September 25
Even as the Department of Health and Family Welfare has been complaining about a shortage of over 100 specialist doctors (postgraduate doctors) in zonal and other district hospitals, the irony is that the state’s two medical colleges produce over 110 PG doctors each year and even those doctors who have done their PG from outside the state, still await appointment letters in some cases.

“Our daughter has done PG in medicine from a medical college in Gujarat and had applied for a post in a hospital in Kangra district in July last, but she hasn’t got a response from the government so far,” rues her parents.

There are many PGs who prefer private hospitals or jobs outside the state because the Heath Department is not bothered to offer them appointment in time.

The parents resented that the department’s claims of offering walk-in interview to specialists were hollow as they had not received a call from the department so far.

“We brought it to the notice of the Chief Minister last week, but to no avail,” they added.

Though the IGMC, Shimla, and Dr RP Medical College, Tanda, produce over 110 PG doctors every year, most zonal and district hospitals, including the zonal hospital, Mandi, the regional hospital, Kullu, and the one in Keylong have no specialists.

The Director, Health Services, Dr Vinod Pathak, said PG doctors were welcome anytime for a walk-in interview at the station of their choice and the department was offering Rs 55,000 salary per month. “We need 100 PG doctors in different streams in district and zonal hospitals at this point of time,” he added.

Dr Pathak said the state was facing a shortage of specialists because of the PG doctors produced in the state over 50 per cent left the state as they came from different states under the Central quota. However, the problem would be resolved in the

near future as PG seats had been increased from 90 to 112 at the IGMC, Shimla, and from 20 to 39 seats at the Tanda college, he said.

Dharamsala, September 25
To help the rural poor earn their livelihood, the Department of Rural Development Authority (DRDA) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) are giving skilled training under the PNB Rural Self-Employment Training Institute (PNB RSETI) programme here. The programme will run for a month and a half.

The programme works under the Ministry of Rural Development which has selected PNB as its lead bank in providing such training. “Children from all over the district are being trained in various skills, free of cost, which will help them in building a secure future,” said RS Rana, Director, PNB RSETI.

Students and others in 18-45 years age group could avail training under the programme. The programme was specially for the rural poor, for which 70 per cent of the beneficiaries must belong to the below poverty line (BPL) category, said the Director.

At least 56 members from all the 15 blocks of the district have been taking up the training course which includes mobile repair, textile designing, computer-related courses, telly course, fashion designing etc. Professionals from all over the district are providing training to these students and the course will run for a more than a month depending on the tenure of different courses.

Certificate of training will be provided to the students after completion which will help them in availing loan from any bank to start their own business. Funds for the course are being provided by the DRDA and the 
PNB jointly.

Dharamsala, September 25
Capt Amit Singh from Himachal, working as chief pilot with Indigo Airlines, has been honoured by the Royal Aeronautic Society, London, with the coveted award of Fellow of Royal Aeronautics Society.

Capt Amit Singh, who belongs to Una district, graduated from Indira Gandhi Udan Academy as a “flier” and started his career in Indian Airlines in 1990. He joined Indigo and piloted the inaugural flight of Indigo to Manipur.

He had recently suggested promoting small airlines and short airstrips in the state. He had said the road or rail network in the state was not adequate to cater to the growing rush of tourists.

Shimla, September 25
About 70 per cent of the state population avail of government health facilities compared to only 30 per cent at the national level.

Stating this in his inaugural address at the Conference of Obstetrics and Gynaecology here last evening, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the state had been ranked first in the delivery of health services to people at their door steps. Quality health services were now available within the state, he added.

Dhumal said the female sex ratio was improving compared to many other states and sex determination tests had been totally banned. He urged the medical professionals to help check pre-natal tests. The government had launched the Beti Hai Anmol programme to help poor families by ensuring economic security of the girl child.

He expressed concern over the practice of unnecessarily referring patients to hospitals outside the state for the ailments which could be treated within the state.

He said the state had enhanced the intake in medical colleges from 115 to 200 and in post-graduate courses from 39 to 111. The matter of for enhancing 30 more post-graduate seats had been taken up with the Medical Council of India and with two more medical colleges coming up, about 200 more seats would be added.

He said the second phase of Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Swasthya Yojna had also been launched under which de-worming drugs would be administered to every student in government schools.

Shimla, September 25
Rich tributes were paid to RSS and Jan Sangh ideologue Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on his birth anniversary here today.

Addressing the 95th birth anniversary celebration function at the state BJP headquarters, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said his government had named various development schemes after the visionary leader as a tribute.

The Rs 353-crore Pandit Deen Upadhyaya Kisan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna, aimed at reviving the traditional agriculture sector with modern and advanced farming technologies, was the flagship programme of the government. Under the scheme 80 to 90 per cent subsidy was available to the beneficiaries for the construction of poly houses, drip and sprinkler irrigation schemes to help farmers diversify from traditional crops and grow cash crops under controlled climatic conditions.

The Matri Shakti Bima Yojna was launched on September 25, 2000, providing insurance cover of Rs 25,000 in case of death and Rs 12,500 in case of grievous injury to women of BPL families. The amount had now been enhanced to Rs 1 lakh (death) and Rs 50,000 (injury) and the scheme had been extended to cover husbands from September 25, 2008. The Rs 300-crore Doodh Ganga Yojna was launched in 2009, under which 33 per cent subsidy to Scheduled Caste and 25 per cent to beneficiaries of general categories.

Dhumal said the state had started schemes in the memory of all the visionary leaders, including BR Ambedkar, Swami Vivekananda and Thakur Sen Negi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 

Solan, September 24
In a case of left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing, the Nalagarh Municipal Committee (MC) has invited tenders for two works which are already underway in the town.

The works include the construction of a garbage store next to a rural hospital in ward No. 1 at an extimated cost of Rs 69,000 and a room in the existing building in the Ramlila Ground at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh.

The matter came to light when BJP leaders, including press secretary of BJP’s Nalagarh constituency Neeru Sharma, councillors Saroj Rattan and Anju Jain and former vice-president Pawan Pamma, complained that the two works for which tenders had been invited on September 6 were already in an advanced stage of construction. These leaders were demanding an inquiry into the matter.

According to their complaint, fresh tenders had been invited for these two works through newspaper advertisements till September 21 and it was stated that the tenders would be opened on September 22.

Though Executive Officer Ram Krishan Sharma had cancelled the two tenders after media inquires, he said the tenders were cancelled after it was found that the construction of the room in the Ram Lila Ground was underway by private people on their own and the land for garbage room required forest clearance.

The issue has brought to the fore the working of the Nalagarh MC where a grave irregularity had been committed by inviting tenders for works which were near completion. This had given rise to serious questions as to who had provided funds for the two works and how was the garbage room being constructed without due clearance from the Town and Country Planning Department. 

Kangra, September 25
Controversy has cropped up over the death of BSF jawan Ravi Kumar, 40, a resident of Lipyana village of this subdivision, while on duty on the Indo-Pakistan border near Barmier in Rajasthan. His body was cremated with state honours at his native village today.

The body was brought to the village at 4.30 am today by BSF jawans from Amritsar. The family was communicated by the BSF authorities that Ravi had committed suicide by hanging himself.

Kangra Tehsildar Bal Krishen Choudary said the family members expressed doubt about his death as Ravi did not bear any marks round his neck. So there was no question of his committing suicide by hanging. On the contrary, Ravi had injury marks on his head and abdomen.

Choudary said the family members and people present there suspected a foul play in the death of the jawan. They said an FIR was lodged with the police and post-mortem done in the Civil Hospital of Bagdhar, near Barmair. But the FIR should have been registered with the BSF or military police and the post-mortem done in the BSF or Military Hospital.

Bhupender Singh Negi, SDPO, Jawali, said the post-mortem report stated death due to suicide by hanging. He said the family members demanded an inquiry at a higher level.

Kewal Singh Pathania, Congress spokesman, condoled his death. He said Ashok Bharti, uncle of the deceased jawan, had moved a request with the Home Ministry demanding a high-level probe.

Ravi Kumar has left behind his mother Kamlesh Kumari, wife Ranjna Kumari and two daughters Neha,10, and Nisha, 5.