Rawat: Cong govt's policies have always been pro-farmer
"State giving highest sugarcane support price"
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 2
Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat and Uttarakhand Sugarcane Cabinet Minister Surendra Singh Negi said here today that the Congress government’s policies were pro-farmer both at the Central and state levels.

Both the ministers were speaking at a discussion forum organised by Sugarcane Development and Sugar Industry Department, Uttarakhand, at Gurukul Kangri University.

Harish Rawat cited recent allocation of Rs 27,049 crore in fiscal Budget for 2013-14 by Finance Minister P Chidambaram as just one indicator of Congress government’s concern for the farmers.

He pointed that this is a 22 per cent rise from previous year's Budget and separate funds of Rs 500 crore had been allocated to start a programme on crop diversification.

“Agriculture credit limit has also been increased from 5, 75,000 crore to Rs 7, 00,000 crore and promotion of technological innovation is also being taken care of by the government," said Rawat.

Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Surendra Singh Negi cited highest support price for sugarcane in the entire North India being given by Uttarakhand government alone.

“Our’s is highest sugarcane supportive price (Rs 285-295), which is benefitting thousands of farmers and more are opting for sugarcane production in view of this price. We are providing best of the facilities to the sugarcane farmers and sugar mills,” said Negi.

Citing one such move, Negi said that the state government had last year taken a pro-sugarcane industry step of converting the outstanding debt of six government sugar mills amounting to Rs 498.88 crore, including Rs 227.21 crore interest, into equity to shore up their financial health.

He added that the ambitious ‘nutri farms’ project is also being envisaged in Uttarakhand, which will encourage new crop varieties such as iron-rich bajra etc.

At the discussion forums sugarcane farmer representatives also put forth their problems before the ministers, like revising the sugarcane loading tax, which has been upped by Rs 6 as was generating a major loss to the farmers.

Demand of providing technical-agro expertise at village level was also made as well as power cut problem, irrigation water shortage and below market rates being given to farmers, whose agricultural land had been acquired by the government in the name of development activities.

State told to ensure health scheme cover for the disabled
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
Poonam Natrajan, chairperson of the National Trust (for the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy), yesterday asked the state government to ensure persons with mental retardation and BPL card holders were covered under the health insurance scheme.

She was speaking at “a road map” committee meeting with the state government, the National Trust ( for the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities) and the State Nodal Agency Centre (SNAC ), Uttarakhand, held at Raphael Ryder Cheshire International Centre.

Natarajan gave an outline of the National Trust Act and the schemes for the benefits of persons with disabilities. To facilitate the implementation of these schemes, the National Trust needs to cooperate with the state government and make a road map for Uttarakhand. She briefly explained the concept of ‘evolving capacity’ in the UNCRPD.

On the other hand, Chief Secretary Alok Jain in his address said that the activities of the National Trust will be revived in the state and especially the functioning of the local level committees. He accepted that in the rush of daily life, one tends to neglect the issues of the handicapped, who are always bypassed. “We need to have design systems and programmes that increase the quality of life of the handicapped persons. If we want to get noticed as a nation, then we need to look at this section differently,” he added.

On the other hand, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, S.Raju, emphasised on the completion of the disability survey so that certification process could become easier.

Air Marshal (retd) BD Jayal, Chairman, Raphael, explained the SNAC charter and made some suggestions for the road map. These included a formal partnership between the state govenrment and the National Trust, the importance of a databank, streamlining the issue of disability certificates, regular meetings of the local level committees and sensitisation of all stakeholders.

It was also suggested that ARUNIM, the marketing federation for the National Trust, could hold a state-level workshop to help persons with disabilities, and NGOs identifying products that are marketable.

Registered NGOs from Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri and Tehri attended the meeting. They had an open discussion with the National Trust and resolved many issues relating to schemes and programmes, which they are attempting to facilitate in their districts.

PDS computerisation suffers due to lack of power 
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
It will be a tough task for the Department of Food and Civil Supplies to computerize the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Uttarakhand as 154 of the 196 godowns continue to be without power supply.

While the computerisation of the PDS in Chhattisgarh has steam-rolled and become a benchmark for other states to follow, the response of the Uttarakhand government has been lack-luster. The process of the computerisation of the PDS, which is moving at a slow pace, may get derailed in the absence of power supply to these godowns.

Of the 196 godowns in the state, 173 are in the hill region.

There are 154 godowns without electricity while there are 14 areas without electricity where zgodowns exist.

There are 23 godowns in the plains and of these 13 have no power connections.

Though the process of digitisation of the data of ration cards and fair price shops has started and it will enable issue of smart cards to around 4 lakh ration cardholders, the matter of lack of power supply remains to be sorted out.

“The software is ready for allocation and once we pilot it in Tehri, Dehradun and Nainital, these districts should ensure power supply to the godowns or else the computerisation of the PDS in the state will have to wait. Already, there has been an inordinate delay in the digitisation of ration cards,” said a top government official.

“Though some officials of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies had visited Chhattisgarh to see for themselves the working of the computerised system, we will have to put in a lot of efforts to catch up with that state,” said TS Fartayal, Deputy Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies.

The objective of the exercise is to ensure that subsidised food items reach the designated people and plug leakages in the PDS.

Police foils dacoity plan, five arrested
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
The Rishikesh police has arrested five persons who were allegedly planning to commit a dacoity in the house of a renowned businessman of the city.

DGP Satyavrat Bansal has rewarded the police team with Rs 10,000.

SSP Kewal Khurana said the accused were arrested from a room built in a plot on Haridwar Road, where they were hatching a conspiracy to commit the dacoity.

The IG (Law and Order) has also rewarded the team with Rs 5, 000 and SSP Kewal Khurana with Rs 2,500.

The team will also be honored in a function to be held at the Police Lines.

The accused have been identified as Ravi Kumar and Pir Mohammad, residents of Rishikesh, Sonu Kumar and Vipin Kumar of Muzzaffarnagar and Ashvani Kumar from Bijnor.

The police has also seized three revolvers and two knives from their possession. It also recovered a rope, tape, chilly powder, masks and gloves from them.

CCTV cameras to be installed at Purnagiri fair
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 2
With the Purnagiri fair at Tanakpur, Champawat, beginning from March 29, CCTV cameras will be installed at six places for the security of pilgrims.

After taking a meeting of the Purnagiri Mela Committee today, Champawat District Magistrate Sridharbabu Addhakhi said the fair would culminate on May 31.

He said they would also seek financial cooperation from local donors for the smooth conduct of the mela.

The DM said adequate police force, home guards and PRD jawans would be deployed at the venue. A control office would also be set up at teh Bharav temple.

Tobacco items and polythene bags would not be allowed in the temple's periphery. The DM said the Champawat administration would cater to the administrative needs of the fair, the Champawat Zila Panchayat would make arrangements for the temporary sheds for personnel on mela duty. 

Sana Khatoon wins mehndi competition
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 2
Rangoli and mehndi competitions were organised during the ongoing Youth Fest week at Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru College here today.

Principal SK Batra declared the names of the winners. In the mehndi competition, Sana Khatoon of MA (Social Science) won the first position, followed by Megha Mishra of BA (II) and Preeti Kumari BA (I). Seema and Tamanna won the consolation prizes.

Pooja, Nidhi Kashyap and Megha were declared winners in the rangoli competition.

College management committee chief Mahant Bilkeshar Giri, Principal Sunil Kumar Batra, Dr Saraswati Patham and Dr Nalini Jain congratulated the winners.

Meanwhile, the last date for the submission of MA and MCom (private) forms is March 9. These forms are available at the college administrative office.

Sanjeev’s poems speak of social issuesSandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 2
Haridwar resident Sanjeev K Sharma has made a mark in the defence services, but it seems poetry comes naturally to him.

Getting rave reviews for his maiden poetic compilation ‘Trickles of Life’, Sanjeev has tried to raise concern for the Ganga.

‘Trickles of Life’ is a compilation of 21 theme poems that reflect deep sentiments of the writer, a solider-turned poet.

The book raises questions on integrity of people by pointing out a dual nature- one that regards the Ganga a holy rive and the other that throws sewer, garbage, plastic and other waste in it.

His poems namely ‘Ganges :The Immortal Nectar’, ‘Temples of Nature’, ‘Gratis Bird’ or ‘Dream of Dreams’, talk about importance of water, environment, hope, peace, nature, humanity and life’s realities. The poet has successfully brought out thought-provoking topics in a simple yet subtle way.

Working at BHEL at present, Sanjeev is penning ‘Shadows of Terror and Other Stories’ which will give an insight into the life, struggle, hardships and patriotic valour of our soldiers posted in Siachen, border areas and naxal-affected regions.

Talking to The Tribune, Sanjeev narrated his experience while he was posted at Siachen, the world’s highest and toughest battle ground.

“It is an unforgettable experience. A place where temperature dips down to -50C, our soldiers remain vigilant to save us from enemy aggression. But the tough life and the emotional hardships that families of our soldiers suffer remains etched in my mind, which I decided to depict in my new book,” said Sharma.

Sanjeev has already started getting regognition as a writer in BHEL, and is now a known face in Haridwar. He has also been receiving invitation to deliver guest lectures at various institutes in the city.

Face of the week

His poems namely ‘Ganges :The Immortal Nectar’, ‘Temples of Nature’, ‘Gratis Bird’ or ‘Dream of Dreams’, talk about the importance of water, environment, hope, peace, nature, humanity and life’s realities. He has successfully brought out thought-provoking topics in a simple yet subtle way.

Medha Patkar terms Budget anti-woman, anti-poor
"FDI will boost growth is a misconception" 
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, March 2
Eminent social activist Medha Patkar, who played an active role in Narmada Bachao Andolan, termed the Budget announcements made by Finance Minster PC Chidambram as 'anti-woman and anti-poor.'

Medha Patkar, who was at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) for a lecture yesterday, speaking to media persons at a hotel said that India was not for sale and foreign investment cannot be the bedrock of Indian economy.

Medha Patkar, elaborating further, said that Chidambaram, in his Budget speech lasting 2 hours with undoubted eloquence talked much about poverty to equity, churned out thought and principles of taxing the rich, empowering women and youth, enabling children and including the poor.

However, if one looked at his principles and promises on one hand and the plans, projects and allocation on the other, one finds a very limited redressal of grievances and non-fulfilment of dreams of the toiling section of India.

She further said that as expected, the Finance Minister's presentation of the Budget revolved much around the womenfolk and dealt with the question of violence and their security.

However, the new plans to use the contribution of human resource, creativity, preservance, hard work and the productivity with skills of women were missing in the Budget.

Patkar was of the view that only a small share in the sectoral or schematic Budget calculated on the basis of proportional number of women as beneficiaries, was being projected as 'gender Budget' indicator, which was not enough to ensure that every girl child received education, nutrition,health facilities and every mother shelter and livelihood.

Medha Patkar further said that with no adequate increase in the Budget allocation for health, education or even MGNREGA, the security of women cannot be ensured.

Medha Patkar, taking a dig at the announcement of all women's bank by the Finance Minister in the Budget, said that no doubt the first ever women's bank was an attractive gift but cash-based approach to almost all welfare schemes, which are being now expanded to the PDS sector, is certainly anti-women. Until economic and social security is provided to poor, the all women banks were meaningless.

Medha Patkar further opined that the pension, provident fund or any livelihood security measures for women in farming or any other unprotected sector should have been included in the Budget.

Patkar welcomed the move of raising taxes on the rich earning above Rs 1 crore but also said that the total collection by charging 10 per cent of additional taxes, that, too, for one year "can't fool us."

"By adopting the policies such as granting Rs 30 lakh crore worth/duty concessions to the corporate sector during just 6 years from 2005-2012, the Finance Minister cannot hide behind the 10 per cent surcharge levied on few rich individuals.

Medha Patkar said that the Budget lacked any innovations and had failed to deliver in the field of education and health.

She said that the slogan 'health for all' had now been reduced to a mere slogan than a targeted goal.

She also said that it was a misconception that foreign investment would boost growth and bridge fiscal deficit.

"The crucial sectors such as khadi village industries and micro, small,medium industries have been left to the World Bank and other multinational development banks, but the sops to the corporate sector or the heavily funded infrastructure is not thus showing the influence of the foreign investments in the country," added Patkar.

She said that only that Budget would be termed as good that was able to provide food, shelter, clothing and livelihood for every citizen.

Medha Patkar would be starting a movement under the banner of National Alliance of People's Movement soon over the basic land acquisition rights of farmers and against the 'anti-people laws' being drafted by the government.

Ramasami: Science should focus on social welfare
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
The Secretary to the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India, Dr T Ramasami, has referred to the importance of role of science in solving socially significant problems.

Delivering a Science Day lecture at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) here, Dr Ramasami said 30 per cent of the Indians were devoid of basic needs and thus, the science needed to focus on people-centric goals.

On food security challenges confronting the nation, Dr Ramasami said the country that produced only 50 million tons of food grains in 1950 today produced 250 million tons. He, however, said the Indian population was projected to reach 1.5 billion people by 2050 and the food grain requirements were bound to rise up to 350-400 million tons. The science, thus, needed to work on fulfilling country’s future requirements of food supply, he pointed out.

Referring to the challenges of the Indian agriculture sector, Ramasami said while arable land was decreasing, the country was already utilising 85 per cent of its water in agriculture. 

Declare Gairsain permanent capital: UJKD
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 2
The newly found regional outfit Uttarakhand Jan Kranti Dal has said that Gairsain should be declared as permanent capital of the hill state.

This was stated by general secretary of Uttarakhand Jan Kranti Dal Rana Ranbeer Singh today in Haridwar.

Making it clear that UJKD will be raising the issues that it had been raising previously as Uttarakhand Kranti Dal -Democratic, Rana Ranbeer said that they want only permanent status for Gairsain.

“What’s in a summer capital status when the climate of the hill state of Uttarakhand is cold for major part of the year?Gairsain deserves permanent capital status, which will be a befitting tribute to legendary Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, who had envisaged a separate hill state way back in 1952.Garhwali had written a letter to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru about Gairsain being an ideal place for being the summer capital of the united province,” said Rana. On issue of domicile certificate's cut-off date, UJKD maintains that adhering to Indian Constitution's clarification, 1950 should be regarded as the cut-off date and not November 9, 2000, when a separate Uttarakhand was created.

Demanding identification of statehood agitators to be made from 1979, when Uttarakhand Kranti Dal was found and statehood agitation spread on mass scale in erstwhile Uttar Pradesh, Rana Ranbeer lamented that for the past 13 years people of Uttarakhand were being befooled by both BJP and Congress. He put forth Jan Kranti Dal as the ideal party that had been found for sole interests of the hill state only and apprised that from March 15 from Haridwar, a Jan Kranti rath yatra will start that will complete its journey of all 13 districts of the state in three months.

“We will be regrouping our lost mass base by this rath yatra as well as bring consensus on issues like declaration of Gairsain as permanent capital venue, employment for youths ,separate hill policy and setting up semi-small scale industrial units in hill districts, too,” remarked Rana.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar College bags best team trophy in debate contest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
The second day of the Sardar Gurcharan Singh Memorial 6th National Debate Competition under the aegis of Uttarakhand Technical University being held in Sardar Bhagwan Singh Post Graduate Institute of Bio-Medical Sciences & Research, Balawala, Dehradun, witnessed fiery exchange of views. The topic was “Is our dependency on advanced technology restricting our thinking prowess and limiting our abilities to work?” by the students representing various renowned universities, e.g. Delhi University, Meerut University, Lucknow University, HNB Garhwal University and affiliated colleges/institutions from Northern India.

The panel of distinguished judges comprised Ramvinay Singh, associate professor, Hindi, at DAV (PG) College, MSB Gill, Principal, Heritage School, and Brig(Retd.) BB Sharma.

Narinder Jit Singh Bindra, Chairman, Minority Commission, Govt of Uttarakhand, the chief guest of the valedictory function, was welcomed by SP Singh, Chairman, Gaurav Deep Singh, Managing Secretary, and Brig (Retd) PPS Pahwa, Additional Director.

Narinder Jit Singh Bindra presented the running trophy to the winning teams of the national debate competition.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Delhi University, bagged the best team trophy and the first and second prizes were won by Aanchal Rana, SBSPGI, and Disha Bansal SBSPGI, respectively. In English oration the first prize went to Imran Khan of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Delhi University, and second prize to Amit Yadav, CLC Faculty of Law, Delhi University, in Hindi . Consolation prizes were given in English to Harpreet Singh Kukreja of DIT Dehradun and in Hindi, Mohit Soni of CLC faculty of Law, Delhi University. While appreciating the institute management for organising this debate completion, Narinder Jit Singh Bindra expressed that such platforms give an opportunity to budding students to explore their potentials.

Disha Bansal, secretary, debating society, while thanking the chief guest for sparing his valuable time and cooperation for hoisting the event, also thanked the distinguished guest and participants. Ms. Chaurasia specially thanked the panel of judges for their worthy evaluation and the time spared for the event. She gave her heartfelt thanks to her other members of the committee and to all of them who were directly or indirectly involved in organising the event. All the judges were felicitated with mementos and gifts by the chairman S P Singh. 

Traders differ over toilet construction
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2
Paltan Bazaar shopkeepers are demanding a proper toilet on the lines of Sulabh Shauchalaya in the market on a vacant land near Mission School. There is not a single washroom in the bazaar.

However, a group of shopkeepers is opposing it and demanding an ATM centre or drinking water arrangement on the place. Owing to this, the land has now become a place to throw litter.

Councillor Santosh Singh Nagpal said the business of shopkeepers in Paltan Bazaar would get affected if a toilet was constructed. He said public toilets in the city were never maintained after they were constructed. This one would meet the same fate, he stated. He said the customers would have hard time shopping, as the dirty toilet would emanate foul smell in the entire bazaar.

Daljit Singh, a trader, said those shopkeepers whose shops were situated far from the vacant land were demanding a toilet as they would not get affected by it. Hence, instead of a toilet, a drinking water system should be built on the land, saying that there was no arrangement of drinking water in the entire market.

Sunil Gupta, a trader in favour of a toilet in the bazaar i, said, “In every city, there is a toilet for the customers in the main market but there is none in Paltan Bazar, which is the busiest market of the town. The Shulabh Shauchalaya management can be given the task to build and maintain the toilet. This will not pose any problem to the shopkeepers or the customers.”

There is neither any drinking water facility nor any washroom for the customers in Paltan Bazar. The traders are fighting among themselves over the issue. After the restriction over parking in Paltan Bazaar, the customers have to walk a lot while shopping.

Slogan writing contest at Unison school
Tribune News service

Dehadun, March 2
Unison World School organised a slogan writing competition on topics ‘water conservation', 'noise pollution', 'education', 'world peace', 'women empowerment', 'corruption and terrorism’ here on Saturday. The students responded well with evocative slogans and their enthusiasm was at its pinnacle.

The school campus was transformed into an expanse where the creative minds of the school experimented with their creativity and used their wit. The participants were judged on the basis of message, creativity, originality, ingenuity and impact. The toppers were felicitated.

GPL Memorial students enthral
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 2
The annual function of GPL Memorial was celebrated at Town Hall here today. Noted socialite RK Bhatt inaugurated the function by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Bhatt said co-curricular activities must be organised in every school as they were a source of encouragement for students.

A dance presentation titled ‘Seasons of Joy’ was highly appreciated by the audience.

Principal Mohan Goswami said school had been providing education to lower strata of society and no money was taken from children any function. Coordinator Ruchi Saini stated that more than a hundred students presented variety of programmes, laying stress on social themes like child molestation, parental pressure, child labour and illiteracy. Meritorious students of the school were honoured on the occasion.

The function was coordinated by Sneh Lata, Vandana, Shivani, Urmila, Ruchi Saini, Diksha, Nisha, Puja, Renu, Kavita, Shilipi and Sheela.