Kangra, December 20
Jeewan Kumar, a resident of Palampur, bagged a gold and four silvers in different categories of 120 KG group in the fourth Commonwealth Powerlifting and Bench Press Championship, which concluded at Bournemouth, London (UK), recently.

Jeewan was the only powerlifter from Himachal Pradesh who represented India in the championship. He was sponsored by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) for the event.

Kewal Singh Pathania, manager of the Indian team, and Amit Pal Singh, an official with the team, applauded the success of Jeewan. Kewal Singh Pathaina said Jeewan not only brought laurels to this hill state but also to the country.

He said the first day of the championship was dominated by Indian powerlifters who clinched 11 gold and two silver medals in different weights and categories. He said while Sanjay Kumar won four gold medals in different categories of 59-kg group, Rana Shayam Singh won four gold medals in the 66-kg group and Bhupender Vyas won three gold and two silver medals in the 74-kg group.

Pathania further said India became the leader in the first day of medal tally with the Great Britain and Australia in second and third spot, respectively.

The manager also said he along with general secretary of Indian Power Lifting Federation Subrata Datta and Amit Pal Singh had a meeting with Richard Parkar, general secretary of the International and Commonwealth Power Lifting Federation, and requested him that Himachal Pradesh should be given a chance to host an international event of the sport in the near future.

Nurpur, December 20
The Pong Dam Oustees Sangharsh Samiti has taken exception to the decision regarding not giving benefits to oustees whose less than 30 per cent land had been submerged in the Pong Dam about four decades ago.

A meeting to chalk out the future strategy of the samiti to demand benefits for the oustees was held at Chakbari near here which was presided over by TR Sharma, president of the samiti.

Ashwani Kumar Awasthi, general secretary of the samiti, said they had taken serious note of the notification issued by the Rajasthan Government to make only those oustees eligible for the allotment of agriculture and abadi land for the construction of houses whose 30 per cent or more landholdings had been submerged in the Pong Dam.

“The state government admits that less than 30 per cent land of these oustees had been submerged in the dam, but it neither considers them land owners nor Pong Dam oustees,” he said.

Awasthi said after struggling for two years, he had taken information from the Rajasthan government under the RTI Act after which they came to know that oustees whose less than 30 per cent land had been submerged in the dam were not eligible for any land allotment in Rajasthan.

“The samiti has expressed its anguish over the non-implementation of the decision of a high-powered committee taken at its twelfth meeting in the regard. The Rajasthan government was supposed to complete the rehabilitation proceedings by December 2007 while the HP government was supposed to rehabilitate these oustees by January 2008,” he said.

Bilaspur, December 20
Lahaul & Spiti district has achieved the first position in terms of sex ratio in the state which today stands at 1,013 girls for every 1,000 boys while the state’s overall position has improved from the earlier ratio of 898 (in 1993) to 922.

This was stated by state Health Minister Rajiv Bindal while addressing a state-level function at Kisan Bhawan here recently.

Lauding the achievements of the state in this field, he exhorted the people to come forward to ensure that the tendency to destroy female foetus was discouraged at all levels and not a single such incident was allowed.

The Health Minister claimed that Himachal had attained the first position in the country in the health sector as it was one of the four top priorities of the state government. He said the Atal Swasthya Seva Yojna had proved a boon for the villagers in times of emergency.

He said a record number of one lakh lives had been saved by the “108” emergency service in the last one year. It provided service even at the highest village of Asia, Kibbar in Kinnaur district, where it reached in record time of 57 minutes, he added.

This service helped deliver 532 babies in its own ambulances, saved lives of 486 snakebite cases by providing timely help of anti-venom serum in this ambulance itself, the minister claimed.

Bindal said last year, five lakh schoolchildren were covered under the Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Yojna and 872 children were detected with heart diseases which were treated and their lives were saved. He said the government spent Rs 25 crore under the Smart Card Health Scheme and provided medicines and medical facilities to 2.40 lakh families. In Bilaspur district, Rs 55 lakh had been spent on this scheme.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker Rikhi Ram Kaundal and the Health Minister flagged off a “Beti Hai Anmol” rally of nursing students and others in the town. MLA Randhir Sharma was also present on the occasion.

Bindal also honoured women, girl students and mothers who made a mark in highlighting the concept of “Beti Hai Anmol” in society. Earlier, the Health Minister along with Kaundal, Randhir Sharma, deputy commissioner Ritesh Chauhan and a large number of local BJP leaders paid tributes to prominent freedom fighters at the Swatantarta Senani Park here.

Solan, December 20
A two-day international conference on ‘Recent advances in electronics and computer engineering’ was inaugurated today by Padam Bhushan Dr Khem Singh Gill, Ex Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and vice president of Kalgidhar Trust at Akal College of Engineering, Baru Sahib.

It worked as a forum for the presentation and exchange of ideas by the academia pioneers, researchers, educationists and experts in the field of electronics and computer engineering.

Dr Manmohan Singh Atwal, Vice Chancellor, Eternal University, welcomed the delegates and emphasised the importance of the advancement in the engineering profession in today’s hi-tech world. Later Dr Davinder Singh, Registrar, Eternal University, and also secretary of the Kalgidhar Trust, reiterated the need to inculcate moral and spiritual values along with the highest standard of professional training to the budding engineers.

Dr Kenneth Berman, Prof of computer science, University of Cincinnati, USA, spoke on the ‘Flow matching and load balancing in networks’.

In another interesting session, Prof PS Grover, Director-General, Guru Teg Bahadur Institute of technology, GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi, presented his paper on ‘Automatic embedded systems and software design strategies’.

Prof Himmat Singh, former scientist, IIT- CSIR, Chief Technical Advisor, elaborated on the use of cloud computing concept and application in refining the industry which was appreciated for its versatility.

Prof Farshead Fotouhi, Dean College Of Engineering, Wayne State University, USA, also gave a presentation on various topics.

The two-day deliberation helped exchange useful information on the advances in computers and provided an insight into international thrust of advanced engineering technologies. 

Mandi, December 20
Theatre artistes were at their best yesterday while portraying the “corrupt” politicians who have landed in Tihar Jail, state government as a “property agent”, farmers landing in police stations, rising monkey menace and FDI in retail shops and drama over the Jan Lokpal bill.

Making full use of the popular street theatre here, the CPM is gearing up to make its state-level rally here on December 23 a grand success.

CPM Member of Parliament and Politburo member Sita Ram Yechury and state general secretary Rakesh Singha will address the rally highlighting the issues what they termed as “anti-farmers and anti-people policies of the state and Central 
governments.”

Striking a chord with the audience, the artistes sang songs that 
touched every aspect of the 
prevalent corruption.

Touching national issues, the artistes portrayed dramatic scenes of the 2G Spectrum scam, Reddy brothers of mining mafia in 
Karnataka, Lokpal bill with Anna Hazare as central figure and about FDI in retail.

The present BJP government was allegedly portrayed as “property agent”, selling Himachal’s prime land to outsiders through 
benami deals.

On the other hand, the artistes painted a pathetic plight of state’s farmers who have landed in the police stations as the government has lodged thousands of FIRs against them in encroachment cases.

Besides, the farmers were portrayed as “hopeless creatures as they face not only FIRs, but the monkey menace that has wreaked havoc with their crops in the state”.

They also highlighted the plight of state’s unemployed youth who are getting paltry Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per month in government jobs given to them through outsourcing while they are made to work overtime to perform various tasks for government schemes.

CPM general secretary Bhupender Singh said they would take up issues like price rise, corruption and anti-people policies of the government to every corner of the state. 

I confess the past week’s “Vignettes” column on school health plan described the situation that had existed prior to the launching of “Chief Minister School Health Programme” on August 15, 2010. I recently visited the districts of Sirmaur and Solan to assess the working of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and without an iota of doubt can say that the health programme has really made inroads into the government schools of the state.

On the day of my visit to Paonta, a team of medicos of Rajpur Block had gone to attend a school health cluster camp in the interior (see picture). An encouraging feature is that Dr Ashok Gupta, BMO, tours far and wide in the block to make people aware of health-related issues and he himself attends a majority of the school health programmes. His self-coined maxim resonates in my ears: “If a person wants to die of his own negligence, it is a different matter, but there are varied schemes and adequate funds with the Health Department and we would not let a person die”.

It is to the credit of the government that Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country that has launched a programme that would not only end in check-ups but also provide medicines to around 10 lakh students of the government schools.

Another programme, named Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Karyakram, covers all 15,045 government schools of the state. The problem earlier faced by the doctors was visiting the schools that were located within the walking distance (1.5 km) of the child. It was decided to have 4,334 clusters, each cluster being located in a middle school where a team of 13 medicos, a male and a female MBBS doctor, an ayurvedic doctor, a dentist, an ophthalmic assistant and seven paramedics, would visit. The good part of the programme is that there is a provision of follow-up too. Once the initial check-up is done, a team of a doctor and a paramedic would visit the school again after a gap of six months to assess the improvement in the health of schoolchildren.

I am surprised to find that a letter from the Directorate of Education to all principals and headmasters for such a laudable programme was dispatched on July 6, 2011, almost an year after the launching of it, but it did not deter the Health Department from going ahead and it organised 2,895 cluster camps from August 2010 to June 2011, inspecting 5,90,188 students. The top five diseases with which the students suffer are: dental problems: 1,05,169 students; anaemia 1,00,116; eye problems: 38,856; skin diseases 30,174 students; and ENT problems 29,110 students.

Another surprising element for me was that 884 students had heart problems too. I had read a book “Take care of your heart” by a renowned cardiologist of India long ago. The author had said the people in Himachal Pradesh had little chances of having heart problems because they walked a lot up and down and sometimes carried their baggage on their backs. I believe the sedentary lifestyle and roads going from here to anywhere have resulted in school students suffering from heart trouble.

The department would cover the entire 10 lakh student population in the second phase and it would then be a continuing programme. Dr Gopal Chauhan looking after the school health programme at the state level was all praise for Dr Ambika Sood, working at PHC Ghaini in Sunni Block, whose dedication and commitment, he said, was worth emulating. “Such doctors are the backbone of this programme,” he said.

Rakesh Kanwar, managing director of NRHM in the state, informed me that organising a cluster camp required an expenditure of Rs 4,000 which included Rs 3,000 for medicine and Rs 1,000 for logistics. He has planned to include counseling on adolescent reproductive sexual health, substance abuse and health and hygiene from the next year, besides routine check-ups and providing medicines and has a budget of Rs 2.50 crore for the same. A right step when the hazard of pre-marital sex is on the increase in the state.

Bilaspur, December 20
The Himachal Pradesh State Sarva Karamchari, Pensioners, Shramik and Unemployed Youth Samyukta Morcha (SKPSUYSM) has demanded that special increment after a service of 8, 16 and 24 years should be given and all the benefits of 4, 9 and 14 years of service be given to all the employees of the state on Punjab pattern.

This was stated by state vice-president of the morcha Paras Ram Parmar and district president of the morcha Jagir Singh Thakur while addressing a district-level meeting of the morcha at Suharghat here recently.

They stressed that all the allowances and other financial benefits being given in Punjab should be released from the same dates in Himachal also as was promised by the BJP in its last election manifesto.

The meeting resented the failure of the government in meeting other demands like giving service on compassionate grounds to dependents of employees, filling all vacant posts, release of CPF statements of employees in Forest, PWD and IPH Departments, increase in Punjab pay band of Class III and IV employees and release of all pending arrears of Punjab pay scales.

Those who addressed the meting included district general secretary of the morcha Jagdish Kumar Sharma, district vice-president Mahender Daangi, treasurer Daljit Thakur and Gopala Ram, Hari Ram, Ram Kumar, Balak Ram Thakur, Roshan Lal Thakur, Devi Ram Sharma, Madan Lal, Ram Chand, Jamuna Devi, Soni Sharma and Ram Lal Sharma. 

Kangra, December 20
AIDS Awakening Day was observed by the Red Ribbon Club of Dronacharya College of Nursing Yol at the hostel campus near Chamunda. A blood donation camp was also held in collaboration with the DRPGMC Tanda. Both staff and the students donated blood on this occasion.

Dr RK Sood, District AIDS Programme Officer, shared that any healthy person from the age of 18-60 weighing 45 kg or above should donate blood. It did not lead to weakness, he said. He elaborated on the importance of open discussion on HIV AIDS. Health educator, Nagrota, Anjali, emphasised on the difference between HIV and AIDS.

SHO Yol Kartar Singh, Cantonment Board members, Principal of Dahuladhar Public School and Panchayat representatives also graced the event.

Dr Sood said the club was a platform to encourage a dialogue among the youth and empowers them to be able to protect themselves from the HIV. He said that the open discussions could help in addressing the problem of the HIV and AIDS among the youth. He said the peer educators would be trained to mobilise young people. Equipping young people with knowledge and life skills helps prevent the HIV spread and in building self-confidence,” added Dr Sood.

BN Raina, MD of the institute, said the club was established in the institute and had been active in the HIV awareness. Principal Jovin emphasised on the role of the nursing professional in dispelling stigma and creating of enabling environment.

A captivating skit on HIV and the risk vulnerability among youth was presented.

Mandi, December 20
State Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu yesterday said the government had already made provisions to provide time-bound services in five departments to citizens under the Right to Services rules, which have been notified in the state.

Talking to The Tribune after honouring the officials who completed the HP census 2011 here, the Chief Secretary said, “The time-bound delivery of services in five departments have been finalised and all departments will put them on the board outside their offices for the citizens”.

Sandhu also directed all the officials from Mandi division, including Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, present at the meeting that there was some laxity in the RTI Act as it was not understood by them. Now, the service delivery rules were strictly time-bound and could attract punishment though the government had given ample time for delivery of services to citizens keeping all aspects in mind, she added.

She said the Forest, Rural Development and three other departments have been notified for the time-bound services and six others, including Agriculture, Police, Urban Development and three others, would be notified soon for the same. “The officers will be made accountable and they must ensure compliance”, she warned.

Despite Chief Secretary’s advisory on the Right to Services rules, the notification is yet to reach the respective Deputy Commissioners to initiate training of officials over the Right to Service rules.

Meanwhile, she the efforts of officials and honoured them for successfully accomplishing the task of completing the HP census 2011.

She presented mementos to officials and watched a presentation on census operation in HP in which Director Census Operation Balbir Tegta was also present.

Chamba, December 20
The electrical division functioning at the district headquarters town of Chamba is one of the largest divisions of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited in terms of its huge network, spread out in difficult mountainous terrains of Chamba district.

The electrical division has been covering Chamba, Churah and Bharmour revenue subdivisions for the past over 30 years.

To reduce the workload of the existing electrical division of Chamba, a proposal for creating a new electrical division with its headquarters at Salooni by bifurcating the largest electrical division headquartered at Chamba had been put up before the state government long ago. However, the proposal has not been cleared so far.

According to official sources, the electrical division based at Chamba also covers the three Assembly constituencies of Chamba, Bharmour and Churah, besides a part of the Bhattiyat Assembly segment having four development blocks - Chamba, Mehla, Bharmour and Tissa.

Residents of Salooni tehsil say because of the vast expansion of the electricity network due to the implementation of flagship power development schemes, there is a need for the creation of a new electrical division at Salooni.

The residents have again raised their long-pending demand regarding creation of an electrical division at Salooni township.

Bilaspur, December 20
The state Pensioners’ Welfare Association president and former Deputy Commissioner, Jiva Nand Jivan, presided over a conference of pensioners from all parts of the state here.

Addressing the conference, Jivan said the government should fulfil its promises and commitments of its earlier election manifesto and clear public declarations of the Chief Minister regarding acceptance of the demands of pensioners of the state.

He said the government should not test their patience too much and should at least fulfil its own public announcements and commitments and provide much required relief at the old age when they need financial assistance more than anything else.

Chief guest and another former Deputy Commissioner and former chairman of HP Public Service Commission Devraj Sharma justified the demands of pensioners and hoped that the government of the state would consider their demands and provide relief despite all its financial difficulties.

Special guest of honour Mallika Nadda, general secretary of a prominent social organisation, Chetna, assured the pensioners present that she would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

The chief guest also honoured more than 125 pensioners. Dr Nadda was also specially honoured for getting the Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award from the Government of India recently for her selfless social service.

Many prominent leaders from all parts of the state warned the government against the consequences of any confrontation with this class which has always been very sympathetic towards difficulties of government. They asked all pensioners of the state to remain prepared for any type of agitation if their demands were not accepted till December 31.

With the chief minister, ministers and senior bureaucrats away to Dharamsala for the winter Assembly session, the corridors of the Secretariat here wear a deserted look while beautification work is on at Dharamsala Vidhan Sabha complex (see pictures).

With the entire government paraphernalia having moved to Kangra, there are hardly any people who normally come to the Secretariat for work. Those officials, who have not gone to Dharamsala, love the peaceful atmosphere as they can do a lot of pending work without any call from the ministers or other bosses.

Keen to cut down on the expenditure accruing from holding of the winter session at Dharamsala, the government has issued instructions that only those officials will travel whose department-related issues are to be raised during the session. Even then, all senior secretaries, heads of department and their supporting staff has moved to Dharamsala.

It is the Kangra district administration which is having a tough time accommodating the sudden influx of politicians, officers, mediapersons from the state capital and the other VIPs.

Chamba, December 20
The Chamba Welfare Association has urged Chief Minister PK Dhumal to apprise the Union Government through a resolution passed by the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet regarding reconsideration of the decision of the amendment of the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act 2010, keeping in view the problems being faced by the people of the region.

In a forceful representation made to the Chief Minister, the association president RK Mahajan said the AMASR Act had forbidden any construction, including addition or alteration, either vertically or horizontally within a radius of 300 metres from the protected monuments without the grant of permission from a competent 
authority.

“Chamba is a ‘town of temples’ and the amended Act has directly or indirectly affected the people of Chamba town badly. The town has a large number of temples and palaces which come under the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India and are protected. All protected temples are located centrally so that the people cannot construct or renovated their houses,” Mahajan bewailed.

To solve this intricate problem of the Chamba residents, Mahajan strongly appealed to the government to make certain necessary amendments in the AMASR Act in the public interest.

Hamirpur, December 20
Over 1,300 physical education teachers working in government schools of the state have expressed resentment over the prevalence of complete stagnation during their job period and alleged indifferent attitude by the state government towards their promotion.

State Diploma holders in the Physical Education (DPEs) Association has raised demands of physical education teachers through their association.

Newly elected state president of the DPE Association Praveen Pathania said: “It is quite disappointing that DPEs appointed on the post retire on the same post and this is the only category of teachers which do not get even a single promotion during their service period.”

“The DPEs working in government schools are teaching physical education subject in class XII, besides taking physical education activity in schools and remaining busy from morning till evening,” said DPEs.

Though the DPEs are having postgraduate degrees in the physical education subject, they are not being considered for any promotion like other teachers as headmasters and school lecturers having similar qualification.

“This category of teachers has not even been given any proper designation and a proper pay scale,” said office-bearers of the association.

The association has demanded giving them proper designation and pay scales equivalent to government school lecturers.

The association has urged Chief Minster PK Dhumal to give one-time relaxation to DPEs having lower qualification while considering them for promotion and also concede their other demands.

State president of the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha Narinder Attri has also supported the demands of the DPEs and has urged the Chief Minister to consider their demands in a sympathetic manner.