Central Command celebrates 50 years of service 
Surya Kiran torch relay to cover 5000 km in 2 months across 7 states
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
Central Command is celebrating 50 glorious years of its service to the nation 
in 2013.

Spanning seven states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, Central Command is organising Surya Kiran torch relay covering a distance of more than 5000 km over a period of two months.

Starting from Bareilly on March 2, 2013, Surya Kiran torch rally, covering 39 cities and six state capitals, aims to highlight 50 years of service to the nation and rekindle the spirit of patriotism, unity and strength by reaching out to veterans and motivating the youth.

The Surya Kiran torch rally will pass through all the important towns and cities of our hinterland, that comprises the strategic pivots of our country.

The message of this torch relay is 'Valour of Veterans to kindle the Passion of Youth.' The torch with its flame symbolising valour, hope, unity and passion will reach out to the veterans and youth in the interiors of the seven states, showcasing the secular nature of Indian Army.

The seven rings on the torch depict the geographical reach of Central Command in seven states, extending from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Enjoined hands symbolise unity and strength of gallant veterans (of yesterday), the brave soldiers (of today) and the vibrant youth (of tomorrow), Kal, Aaj aur Kal.

The Surya Kiran torch relay has multiple objectives of strengthening the process of nation building, unifying masses across the heartland of India, rekindling the spirit of patriotism by showcasing the stories of valour and sacrifice, motivating the youth to join the armed forces and assisting veterans and veer naris to ameliorate their grievances.

By reaching out to veterans and the youth simultaneously, Surya Kiran torch takes the slogan 'Hamare Haath Aapke Saath' to every nook and corner of the heartland of India Expertise gained by Central Command under its flagship programme 'Desh Seva' will be utilised during Surya Kiran torch relay to reach out to the veterans living in far-flung areas in a three-phase 'contact, collate, eliminate programme.'

The seven states of Central Command contribute 29 per cent of serving soldiers of Indian Army and accordingly 30 per cent of veterans of India live in the Command's area of responsibility.

In its long journey, the torch relay will be flagged in and flagged off at each location by civil and military dignitaries, veterans, veer naris, NCC cadets, youth and school children. The torch is arriving at Roorkee station on March 14 from Raiwala.

While addressing a press conference, Col SS Negi, Officiating Deputy Commandant, Roorkee, apprised the media about the major functions scheduled to be held at Centenary Pavilion Ground, BEG & Centre, Roorkee, on March 14, 2013. Aziz Qureshi, Governor of Uttarakhand, has consented to be the chief guest for the torch relay programme, where he will facilitate selected ex-servicemen and veer naris.

Along with him many senior officers from the Army and civil administration as well as prominent civilians will attend the function.

An open invitation has been extended to all ex-serviceman and veer naris of nearby areas for this function.

A free medical camp and grievances' cell are being established at the venue where the camp will be conducted by a team of specialist doctors from MH Roorkee, and free medicines will also be provided. In conjunction, the problems related to pension, allowances, welfare schemes will be attended to.

Experts from Record Office, Pay and Account Office will be on the panel of this cell.

A horse show is also being organised in which a team from Remount Training School and Depot, Saharanpur, will take part.

The horse show will be followed by gymnastics by Boys' Sports Company nurtured by Bengal Engineer Group and Centre. Thereafter, the BEG military band will play and perform famous military tunes to enthuse the spectators.

Diversify to earn more, small farmers advised
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
The four-day farmers' fair (kisan mela), which started on March 8 concluded here today. The closing and prize distribution ceremony, which was presided over by the Registrar of the University, Dr JP Pandey, was organised in the university auditorium.

A member of the Board of Management, Dr SK Bhadula, was the chief guest of the ceremony. Another member of the Board of Management Kundan Singh Panwar, Member of Legislative Assembly and Member of University's Board of Management Rajesh Shukla, a progressive farmer Lalai Prasad, Director, Extension Education, Dr YPS Dabas, Officiating Director, Experiment Station, Dr Ramesh Chandra were also present on the dais in this concluding ceremony. Dr JP Pandey, in his presidential address, said farmers were shown the application of new technologies and cultivation of new varieties at different research centres of the university in the fair. He said the fair was the place where scientists, farmers and the industry met to show each others product and assess their needs. It ultimately resulted in the welfare of agriculture and farming communities as well.

Dr SK Bhadula, chief guest, emphasised the need of integrating animal husbandry with farming for sustainable agriculture and healthier generation.

He also asked to develop technologies suitable for small and marginal farmers, who, he said, would be bringing second green revolution. Dr Bhadula advised small farmers to adopt diversification in agriculture for more income.

Rajesh Shukla signified the importance of Pantnagar farmers' fair in upkeeping the image of Pant university. He also emphasized on taking the technologies to the remotest farmers by combined efforts of the university, the state government and other agencies.

Kundan Singh Panwar said farmers saw their future with the scientists and described the fair as a place to learn more and more new things every time. Earlier, Dr YPS Dabas, Director, Extension Education and chief coordinator of Kisan mela, while welcoming the guests, delegates and visiting farmers, informed the audience that more than 10,000 farmers got themselves registered at the kisan mela.

He said 171 big firms and 307 medium and small firms put their decorative and informative displays during this fair. The farmers from Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himanchal Pradesh, Punjab, etc. enthusiastically participated and bought seed, planting materials, fertilisers, plant protection chemicals and farm machinery.

At the end of the concluding ceremony, Dr Ramesh Chandra presented vote of thanks. The stall of Punjab National Bank, Pant Nagar, was adjudged the best performing stall whereas the stall of the State Bank of India, Pant Nagar was awarded the best stall award in the concluding ceremony.

Latuva Baba Kisan Club gets award
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
The Latuva Baba Kisan Club based in Khalayat village in Pithoragarh has been honoured with a state-level award in recognition of its achievement in the creation of joint liability group (JLG) accounts, transfer of technology to farmland and the adoption of scientific methods of farming through collectivism by National Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (NABARD).

Eleven other farmers were also honoured with district-level awards at the state-level kisan club review programme here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief General Manager, NABARD, S Selvaraj said the bank acted as a link, so that farmers could access funds by forming JLG accounts without having to pay for the collateral. "Farmers as members can directly approach the bank for loans without any corpus fund, with members of the club acting as guarantors for each other. Later, NGOs are roped in to initiate further activities and strengthen the clubs," he said.

As of now, the club, which was formed in 2009, has 45 members, including 20 women members, and they grow vegetables in poly houses and dairy development activities. "All members have opened JLG accounts and availed a loan of Rs 24 lakh for setting up 44 dairy units. The club has also made a saving of Rs 8,000," said Madan Singh, president of the club.

Himmat Singh Nayal, a farmer of the Dhari block, Nainital, and president of the Bajrang Kisan Club, was also felicitated for growing lilium in three poly houses and in open space. "I took a huge risk by growing liliums in the open area as the crop had to be shielded from hailstorm by putting up hail nets. In the end, I was rewarded because I would now be able to get my own seeds and thereby reduce my dependency on the seeds brought from Holland," said Himmat Singh Nayal.

Adopting local innovation, Ramesh Singh Rawat, president of the Kokila Kisan Club, in Masuriya village, Pithoragarh, has developed a potent application that is helping him keep monkeys at bay. "Earlier, monkeys used to destroy my vegetable and fruit crops, but this application made from cow urine has managed to repulse the monkeys," he said.

The 11 district-level kisan clubs that were honoured are Todhra Dhudoli Kisan Club, Almora, Ma Chilta Kisan Club, Bageshwar, Ghatku Baba Kisan Club, Champawat, Kranti Kisan Club, Chamoli, Shakumbri Kisan Club, Haridwar, Bajrang Kisan Club, Nainital, Kasyali Kisan Club, Pauri Garhwal, Kokila Kisan Club, Pithoragarh, Selvani Kisan Club, Tehri Garhwal, Chakarpur Kisan Club, Udham Singh Nagar and Kutete Kisan Club, Uttarkashi.

Lawyers observe strike for a day
Tribune News Service

Deharadun, March 11
The Dehradun Bar Association (DBA) today observed a strike for a day in the wake of manhandling of advocates in Jaipur in a rally. President of DBA Surender Singh Pundir said the strike call was given on the direction of Bar Council of India.

He said the attacks on advocates were increasing day by day. He further said that if Bar Council of India took up such matters and passed directions to other advocate organisations then the entire advocate fraternity stood to support that call. He said he condemned the misbehaviour with advocates in Jaipur in strong words. 

Trafficking in girls in Gangolihat comes to light 
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, March 11
The Gangolihat police in Pithoragarh district has started a campaign to check trafficking in girls belonging to poor families. It had recently arrested five persons from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh who had lured a woman of a remote village in the subdivision into selling her 13-year-old daughter to them for Rs 25,000, said Anurag Arya, SDM, Gangolihat.

“The arrested persons had come from Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh to purchase the poor girl. The mother of the girl had agreed to sell her in lieu of money. She (mother) has also been arrested,” said the SDM.

He added after the incident came to light the Gangolihat administration came to know about more incidents of trafficking in poor Dalit girls who were sold by their poor parents. “Of 50 girls who have been taken out of the region on the pretext of marriage, 25 have gone missing. Their parents do not know about their addresses since the day they married them off,” said the SDM.

Sources in the local administration said the poor girls were taken away in lieu of money mostly by people belonging to Haryana and Moradabad and Bijnor districts of Uttar Pradesh. “All girls, who were taken away in the name of marriage in the last 12 years, were below 14 years of age and were sold by their drunkard fathers,” they said.

The SDM has gathered alarming data regarding trafficking in girls from Gangolihat for the last 10 years. He said many girls had returned home from Haryana and Bijnor. They were made to leave their homes on the pretext of marriage but their grooms never turned up. “In a case a 13-year-old girl was married to a 22-year-old man at her home in Gangolihat but when she reached Moradabad a 50-year-old man was introduced to her as her husband,” he said.

The SDM added trafficking in girls in the region was taking place mainly due to poverty and their fathers’ addiction to liquor. Mothers of these girls too were found to be willing to send away their daughters in the name of marriage or in lieu of money. “We are also trying to bust the gangs of middlemen as poor girls belonging to all castes have been victimised in the last 12 years,” she said. 

Workshop on Cyber Crime
Tech firm officials to train Special Task Force
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
A two-day workshop on the subject "Cyber Crime Forensic And Ethical Hacking" was started in the state crime record bureau office here today.

The lectures will be given by experts of i3 India Technologies, New Delhi, who will train officials of the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttarakhand in understanding the basics and intricate aspects of cyber crimes connected to fishing, hacking, facebook, ID theft, financial scams related to credit cards and debit cards.

The experts will also give presentations on various techniques which could be used to unravel these cases. Director of i3 India Technologies Deep Arora is leading his team for the workshop.

The workshop was inaugurated by Inspector General, Law and Order, Ram Singh Meena. Addressing STF officials and police personnel, he said it was important to provide knowledge with regard to high technology in cyber crime to police officials.

"The relevance of cyber crime is increasing rapidly in the present times. In future as well, the rate of crime committed through the Internet will rise. Hence, a training in the cyber crime investigation and cyber forensic is very important for the police force," he said.

He further added that it was important to set up cyber crime police stations in the state in wake of increasing cases of cyber crimes. So it was important for the police to be conversant with the provisions of cyber crime laws in order to effectively contain such crimes.

He also indicated towards the new techniques used in cyber crime by criminals. Thus, the police personnel must keep updating themselves with newer techniques in this respect.

The workshop was attended by SSP, STF Santhial Abudai, ASP and STF Mukesh Kumar and other officials.

Promotion of 50 govt doctors approved
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
The Uttarakhand government has approved the promotion of a total of 50 government doctors of the rank of Senior Medical Officer, Joint Director and Additional Director.

The approval was given during a meeting of Department Promotion Committee and the government order is likely to be issued in a day or two. For the first time the DPC for the post of Additional Director, Dental, was also undertaken.

“Among the 50 promotions, the promotions of Senior Medical Officer (specialist cadre) to the post of Joint Director would boost the morale of the doctors who had been demanding promotions,” said a senior doctor.

While the doctors have welcomed the government's decision to undertake promotions, they are also demanding implementation of Direct Assured Career Progression Scheme (DACP).

However, the government has so far not responded positively on the issue of implementation of DACP. Non-existent promotional avenues and poor salaries are some of the reasons that are discouraging young doctors from rendering services in the state.

“At the meeting of our association office-bearers, we have been demanding that the government should provide promotional avenues for doctors so that government services become attractive for the young medicos. After implementing the DACP in 2002, the Central Government had asked the state governments to implement the scheme as part of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for the government doctors,” said BC Ramola, president, Provincial Medical and Health Services (Uttarakhand).

The benefits of DACP would allow doctors to be in line for time-bound promotions and increments. As soon as the doctor completes four years, his first promotion would be due, together with the time-bound increment. Thereafter, he would be eligible for three more promotions. This would automatically encourage the young doctors to join the government services.

Beside, the PMHS is also calling for revision of allowances such as the postmortem duty allowance and other allowances. 

People trust ayurvedic hospitals despite poor facilities, says doctor
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 11
Despite lack of infrastructural facilities in ayurvedic hospitals in the district, people are showing more faith in these hospitals, which are spread in all corners of the district.

"Despite all these problems, the number of patients in our hospitals is on the increase. The number of out patients, which was 2,57,343 in 2009, has now increased to 2,86,563 till last year, and is on the increase day by day," said DC Kandpal, district ayurvedic and unani doctor of he district.

According to the ayurvedic doctor, most of the hospitals in the district have neither doctors nor sufficient other medical staff. According to the officer, out of a total 57 ayurvedic hospitals in the district, only 47 doctors were deputed in the hospitals. Ten ayurvedic hospitals were functioning without doctors. "Not only are there very few doctors in ayurvedic hospitals, there is also shortage of other staff members like pharmacists and sweepers at some hospitals. We need at least 40 more staff members," said a spokesman.

There is an acute shortage of buildings and other basic infrastructure like vehicles. "Out of 57 hospitals in the district, we have only 15 buildings. The rest of the hospitals are running in rented accommodation, some for the last three decades, said Kandpal.

According to him, even the office of the district ayurvedic officer and hospital attached to it are running on rent since the last 30 years. "The total rent amount we have paid to house our hospitals all over the district and headquarters in the last 30 years is sufficient to construct permanent buildings for these rented hospitals,” said Kandpal.

BJP workers protest over delay in civic poll
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
Workers of the city unit of the BJP, led by their newly elected president Neelam Sehgal, staged a demonstration in front of the District Magistrate's office in protest against the delay in holding the civic elections in the state.

The workers gathered at the city office of the BJP and marched to the office of the District Magistrate. They held a protest there and raised slogans against the state government.

The BJP workers alleged that the state government did not contest the petition filed in the Nainital High Court to delay the poll.

They also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor demanding his intervention in the matter and direction to the government to hold the elections. They said the delay in holding the elections was a negation of the democratic process.

Governor releases book ‘Vaigyanik Kshitij’
Tribune News service

Dehradun, March 11
Governor Aziz Qureshi today released “Vaigyanik Kshitij”, a book written by Dr Shriram Verma, head of Department of Physics, DBS College, Dehradun.

The Governor said knowledge and imagination know no bounds and these were the personal treasure of an individual. He congratulated the author of the book, which is full of knowledge and enlightening facts.

Verma thanked the Governor and said he wrote the book in Hindi as he wanted to reach out to students, who study in the Hindi medium, as well as the masses.

Prof Vinod Kumar Jain, Vice-Chancellor, Doon University, and the Joint Director, UCOST, praised the efforts of the author saying the book would benefit students and researchers equally.

Vineet Bahuguna conducted the function. DBS College principal OP Kulshrestha and DAV College principal Devendra Bhasin were among those present. 

Army arrests Palestinian from BEG campus

Roorkee (Uttarakhand), March 11
A Palestinian national was caught by the Army for trying to enter the Bengal Engineering Group (BEG) campus here, the police said today.

The accused, who was wearing the uniform of a security guard, made the attempt yesterday purportedly to ask for a job at the BEG, and has been handed over to the police.

On interrogation, he identified himself as Hashim. He had come to India in 2008 and married a local girl in 2009.

He was arrested after his visa expired in 2010, but was later released on bail, they said.

He had been working as a security personnel at an industrial unit in the nearby Sidkul area and apparently entered the campus for employment at BEG.

The Palestinian had been able to make a voter identity card, they said.

The police is going through the mobile phone call details and documents recovered from the accused. — PTI 

Pranab to be chief guest at IIM-Kashipur convocation
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain today reviewed the preparations for the coming visit of President Pranab Mukherjee.

The president will be the chief guest at the first convocation of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kashipur, on March 17.

He will reach Kashipur at 11 am and the convocation will begin at 11.30 am. At 1 pm, he will leave for New Delhi.

The Chief Secretary said all preparations must be made in time and a rehearsal be held on March 14.

Those present at the meeting were DGP Satyavrat Bansal, Principal Secretary (Civil Aviation) Rakesh Sharma, Secretary (Protocol) MH Khan, Commissioner Kumaon Hemlata Dhaundiyal DIG GS Martolia, the District Magistrate and the SSP, Udham Singh Nagar.

Encroachment stays at Rajaji park despite SC orders
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 11
Despite the orders of the Supreme Court delivered in July 2004 on removing all encroachments, including religious ones, from Rajaji National Park , the park administration has not removed these encroachments till date. This has been revealed in an RTI reply to Gurvinder Singh Chadha, an RTI activist in Haldwani.

The director of the Rajaji park has replied to the activist that despite the order of the Supreme Court, the park administration has not removed the religious encroachments from the park. "This is an act of contempt of court and shows that the park authorities have no fear of even the highest court of the land," said Chadha.

According to Chadha, the reply from the office of the forest conservator and director of the Rajaji park was received by him on March 1, 2013, and the query was sent to the park authorities on December 12, 2012. 

Clear pending property cases, DM tells officials
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
District Magistrate, Dehradun, BVRC Purushottam held a staff meeting with ADM, City Magistrate, SDMs and tehsildars in his office today. He expressed anguish over several matters pertaining to property pending with the officials. He warned them to complete those cases in time and cautioned them with strict action if they failed to do so.

He directed them to complete the target of wrapping up revenue-related cases in their respective courts in this financial year. He also directed Lekhpal (Revenue clerk) to take certificates from the concerned people to ensure that Gram Samaj land was not disposed off in illegal fashion.

He directed Nayab Tehsildar and tehsildar to make collections from defaulters within this financial year. He directed SDMs to complete the sealing of the government land occupied illegally by land mafia. 

Ghalib, Gupt works in Raj Bhavan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11
Works of renowned poets Mirza Ghalib and Maithlisharan Gupt were presented at the Raj Bhavan auditorium by Tom Alter and Chandramohan Khanna on Saturday.

The programme was organised by “Hamari Zimmedari”, an organisation constituted recently to spread awareness about the need for a safe society for women.

While Alter recited several famous ghazals of Ghalib, Khanna recited, in a unique manner, from “Jaidrath Vadh” of Gupt.

The Governor said each person should be sensitive towards women. “Only then can we build a civilized society, ” he added.

Founder member of the Hamari Zimmedari Suchit Narang said the organisation

was making efforts to enhance awareness regarding the need to protect and respect women.

Present at the function were the family members of Governor, Dr S Farooq,

I K Pandey, A B Lal ,VK Dhawan, Sharmila and Rajiv Bhartari and several other eminent persons.