|
|
|
|
|
Norms issued for death certificates of flood-hit
84 kosi parikrama by sants in Ayodhya may disrupt peace, fears Azam Khan
Dawn of a new era in Bagwal festival
|
|
|
18.60 lakh families will suffer due to food scheme: Prakash Pant
Chiranjeevi to reward British activist for relief work
Ashram students tie thread around trees on Raksha Bandhan
BSNL staff stir enters second day
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Norms issued for death certificates of flood-hit
Dehradun, August 22 In all the cases concerned, missing persons who are being presumed dead, whether they are residents of Uttarakhand or hail from other states, the death certificates would be issued under the provisions of Section 7(2) of the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969. “Based on the procedure, the death certificates would be issued, but the formalities concerning verification of missing persons hailing from other states would be carried out by the states as well as Uttarakhand where the calamity occurred,” said Principal Secretary, Health. The persons who went missing in the natural calamity would be divided into three categories, viz permanent residents of the flood-affected villages, residents of other districts and present in the flood-affected villages and tourists from other states. While declaring the tourists from other states dead, the procedure calls for making an enquiry by the officer in the originating state for establishing facts that the family members or relatives or friends of the person concerned had filed FIR/missing persons' report well in time (before June 30, 2013). If it is beyond this time limit, the reasons for approaching the police late should be enquired. Enquiries should also be made that the persons concerned had travelled to Uttarakhand before June 16, 2013. After the enquiry the report of the officer of the originating state, similar enquiry has to be carried by the designated officer in Uttarakhand into the fact of disappearance of the persons concerned by looking into the data base of missing persons maintained by the missing persons' cell at Dehradun. Based on the enquiry, the provisional presumption of death would then be communicated to the designated officer in the originating state. Based on the report, the designated officer would issue the death certificate to be made available free of cost to the next of kin. For enabling the process, the designated officer, SDM, in Uttarakhand may be declared as a Registrar. missing persons
The formalities concerning verification of missing persons hailing from other states would be carried out by the states as well as Uttarakhand. |
|
|
84 kosi parikrama by sants in Ayodhya may disrupt peace, fears Azam Khan
Haridwar, August 22 Azam Khan,Urban Development Minister in the UP cabinet, in conversation with TNS at the state guest house in Damkoti this morning, said the decision was taken in view of the fear that the pilgrimage could affect the secular environment of the holy city and other parts of Uttar Pradesh. He said as per the reports of the district administrations of the districts from where the yatra would pass, anti-social elements and communal forces could use this occasion to disturb the peaceful environment of the state. Alleging that some people were deliberately including his name in this issue, Khan said that he respects Hindu sentiments as much as of any other religion. "Not for anything I was made Maha Kumbh-Allahabad 2013 mela in charge and I essayed the role with success, despite being a Muslim," said Azam. On the prospects of the Samajwadi Party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Khan, who is considered right hand of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, said that due to the able governance of the Akhilesh government for past one year, the people of the state would vote for the party. "We will be a major party and no coalition government can be deemed without Samajwadi Party support," said Khan who holds eight portfolios in the Akhilesh Yadav government. Last night, Azam Khan had to face opposition from Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists as he was going to participate in the religious function at Shri Dakshin Kali temple. VHP activists accused him of being the man behind the UP government's diktat of stopping the 84 kosi parikrama in Ayodhya this year. Khan attended the religious function of Mahant Kailashanand Brahamchari, who is a spirutal guru of Mulayam Singh Yadav's family. Mahant Kailashanand concluded his 'maun sadhna' observed in Shravan month, worshipping the Lord Shiva. Meanwhile, Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad national chief Shri Mahant Gyan Das Maharaj has expressed his concern over 84 kosi parikarama issue. Mahant Gyan Das urged the Uttar Pradesh government to not stop the sants from offering obeisance. But he also made it clear that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad should not be allowed to take leverage out of this issue and ignite communal forces. The revered saint questioned the purpose of the 84 km parikrama this time, adding that as this is the month of 'Chatur Mass' of the Hindu calendar, as per our Vedic traditions, no sant leaves his temple-ashram-muth and offer specific religious rituals during this period as its not considered pious. |
|
|
Dawn of a new era in Bagwal festival
Pithoragarh, August 22 “We have initiated the change from this year and will take it to the final stage in the coming years,” said Laxman Singh Lamgaria, the patron of the temple committee. According to local historians, stone war on the occasion of Bagwal is a tradition in practice from primitive era to offer blood to the deities. These deities were termed patrons of the inhabitants who settled in remote areas. These deities started quenching their thirst by taking socially weak people at the alter of sacrifice. According to Dr Ram Singh, a Kumaon historian, when the settlement increased and people became aware of the demerits of this human sacrifice, they converted it into animal sacrifice. “But at Devidhura the local people preferred to shed blood equal to that in the body of a man by playing Bagwal and using stones as instrument. This method to please the blood-sucking deity was unique as it shed fresh human blood from several bodies through Bagwal,” said Dr Ram Singh. The administrative officers of Champawat, who were assigned to manage this year’s Bagwal with fruits and flowers under instructions from the High Court, claimed that Bagwal was played with fruits, but some outsiders threw stones in between. “We have been regularly consulting the leaders of four principal clans of the festival throughout the Bagwal period. All these persons agreed with us on playing Bagwal with fruits in place of stones from this year,” said Dependra Chaudhary, District Magistrate, Champawat. Outsiders, who reached to witness the festival, were disappointed when they were told that Bagwal will be played with fruits. “When the people support the tradition of stone throwing Bagwal, where and why is the need to change it,” asks Sumita Keshav, a tourist reached. Sumita said she had reached Devidhura only to witness the stone war of Bagwal. The gathered VIPs expressed different opinions. Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani lauded the new beginning. Bhagat Singh Kosiyari, BJP Rajya Sabha MP, said the tradition of stone throwing gave strength to the brave youths. “The tradition has a record of not injuring any person,” said Kosiyari. |
|
|
CM promises all help to Chamoli residents in rebuilding their lives
Dehradun, August 22 He surveyed the disaster-hit areas of Tharali and Deval in Pindar valley. Bahuguna shared the problems of the disaster-hit and assured them of all help. He said the state government was always there to assist them. The Chief Minister said they were making all efforts to reopen closed roads and connect the cut off villages, so that normalcy could return in the disaster-hit areas. He added the state government had decided to provide a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to those who had lost their houses completely while Rs 1 lakh would be given to those whose houses had suffered damages. He said even those persons who had their homes on government land would be given Rs 1 lakh. Bahuguna said if anyone was not satisfied with the compensation amount, they could make an appeal to a special committee having the local legislator and the MP as members. The decision of the committee would be final. The locals informed the Chief Minister that banks were deducting their loan instalments from the compensation amount deposited in their accounts. Bahuguna directed the District Magistrate to immediately hold a meeting with the bank officials concerned and sort out the problem. He said strict action would be initiated against the banks if they failed to comply with the order. Taxi drivers of the area demanded the relaxation of taxes. Bahuguna directed officials to take up the matter with the transport department. He also directed the authorities to survey the damaged roads in the district and ensure that these are repaired on a priority basis. He gave an assurance to the Muslim community that the damaged mosque in the area would be repaired from the disaster relief fund. Dr Jeet Ram, Tharali legislator, apprised the Chief Minister about the problems faced by the locals following the disaster. |
|
|
Shantikunj offers food, tents to villagers in Pathri
Haridwar, August 22 Led by the Shantikunj disaster management cell, a team has reached the temporary site of Gujjar Colony in reserved forest area of Pathri, where the affected villagers are currently living. Shantikunj volunteers are providing them two meals a day, water, plastic tents and medical aid. Milk and other nutritious food is also being provided to children. Gauri Shankar, Shantikunj disaster cell chief, said when they got to know about the woes of the flood-affected people of Gangdaspur, they decided that till district administration provided aid to them, Shantikunj would be providing them food and other aid. More than 200 families of Gangdaspur, Bada Gangdaspur and Maharajpur villages are temporarily staying at this forest vacant land. The Gujjars, who live a nomadic life, have also been providing the affected villagers with milk and ration. Without any water, power supply and ration, these villagers are in distress as their households, agricultural lands, crops and pets, all have been drowned or washed away in the recent flood fury. Ritesh Kumar of Maharajpur village said that for past two days, many of them passed the night in fear, as the jungle is home to elephants, leopards, reptiles and insects. Balchand of Gangdaspur village said the way Shantikunj had been offering them help was commendable, while district administration and state government's aid seemed to be only on paper. |
|
|
BJP councillors protest alleged abduction of colleague’s daughter
Dehradun, August 22 BJP councillors blamed the police of Raipur police station for taking no action in the case and requested Dehradun SSP Kewal Khuranna to transfer the investigations to SP, Rural, Mamta Vohra. Accepting the request, the SSP asked the SP, Rural, to oversee the investigations into the case. Reportedly, on Wednesday, six men allegedly abducted 17-year-old daughter of Neetu Valmiki, who is the BJP councillor from Rishinagar, from outside her house. She registered an FIR in the Raipur police station against the six men with their names and demanded their immediate arrest. SP Mamta Vohra told The Tribune: ''Our first priority is to find the girl and then only we will get to know the real issue in the case.'' It is to be noted that the police is also looking at this case from the angle of love affair, as the alleged kidnappers were seen roaming in the area and police has interrogated them. According to Mamta Vohra, the police has put the girl's phone on electronic surveillance and is trying to trace her location. On the other hand, Neetu Valmiki has alleged that the abductors of her daughter are threatening her if she does not take back her complaint in the police. |
|
Sexual assault case: Probe sought against Asaram Bapu
Haridwar, August 22 National chief of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad Mahant Gyan Das Maharaj said if the charge against Asaram Bapu was true, he had hurt the rich spiritual and religious legacy of saints of the country. The Mahant said the Union government should order a high-level probe into the matter so that truth could come out. Sanskrit scholars from the Dev Vani Paropkar Mission held a protest at the Rishikul-Malviya intersection demanding a thorough probe into the incident. Ishwar Suyal, chief of the mission, said the self-styled godman had remained in controversies in the past too and it was time that the people should be revealed truth about him. Suyal demanded a CBI probe into the incident and said if the allegation was found to be true they would oppose Asaram’s entry into Haridwar. Sanskrit scholar Shiv Charan Naudiyal said Asaram Bapu gave sermons for three days in Haridwar every year and devotees arrived here from around the country. Sanskrit scholars also demanded an Anti-Superstition Bill on the lines of one propounded by the Maharashtra government. Vinod Maharaj said whenever such an allegation was levelled against saints they should present themselves to an open investigation so that doubts and charges could be dispelled. |
|
18.60 lakh families will suffer due to food scheme: Prakash Pant
Pithoragarh, August 22 Over 18, 60,000 ration card holder families in the state will be driven out of the ambit of these provisions of food security, alleged BJP state general secretary and former minister Prakash Pant. Talking to mediaperson here, Pant said: '' The recently invented category of the poor by the Central Government, who earn Rs 32 per day in urban areas and Rs 28 per day in villages, will be under category of beneficiaries of this scheme, which will automatically exclude the medium and lower-medium category of APL families from the beneficiaries for food security scheme. “Out of a total 22, 80,560 ration cards in the state, maximum number of ration card holders are of APL category, who also get PDS ration under a former system made by the NDA in 2004. But this government, by fixing minimum earning per day to be able to get ration under food security scheme, has ousted these beneficiaries of middle and lower-middle classes, from the PDS system as well as food security scheme in the state,” said Pant. Pant has demanded that all 18,60,000 middle class ration card holders be given benefits of the food security scheme as these fall under poor category in the state. “According to the economic survey conducted by the state government, 47 per cent population in the state is under poor category, which should also be given benefits of the food security,” said pant. The BJP leader has also alleged that this new system denies the provisions made by the NDA in 2004 to get ration for all the members of the APL families. “Until Chhattisgarh pattern of food security scheme is adopted in the state, the poor can neither get ration nor nutrition,” added Pant. |
|
MAHAR to reserve 10 hotel management seats for women
Dehradun, August 22 Most importantly, management of MAHAR has decided to offer the course free of cost to 10 women candidates. “It is a step forward for women's empowerment in the hospitality industry, as women who want to pursue hotel management but are not able to go ahead due to financial constraints would be most benefited,” said Hemant Kochar, Director, MAHAR. Speaking about the rationale behind the decision, Hemant Kochar said: “I feel that women have the inherent quality to excel in the field of hospitality. Women are ahead of men in the hospitality sector because they carry compassionate approach, empathy towards others and they are better communicators, which are pre-requisites for the hospitality business.” He also said that MAHAR, which started in 2005, provides industry- specific training to the hotel management students, which makes them fit for taking future challenges in the hotel industry. |
|
Students’ union poll at DAV on Sept 5
Dehradun, August 22 The polling will take place on September 5. Nomination forms will be made available from August 28 to August 30 and the last date to submit the same is August 31. The last date to withdraw nomination is September 2. Dr Gopal Chetri has been made chief election officer, Principal Devendra Bhasin patron, Dr RK Johri polling officer and Dr Savita Rawat counting officer. Meanwhile, the college management today met the SSP and the SP (City) to discuss security issues in the wake of the elections. From August 23 till the elections, traffic on the DAV road would be one way from 9 am till 2 pm. |
|
Chiranjeevi to reward British activist for relief work
New Delhi, August 22 Underhill has been collecting garbage strewn near foodstalls at Doon Helidrome in Dehradun, where pilgrims rescued from the natural calamity in various parts of the state have been temporarily rehabilitated and provided food and shelter. Underhill is the founder of 'Mountain Cleaners', a voluntary organisation involved in cleaning pilgrimage sites in the Himalyan belt. The environmentalist has also co-founded two other groups - Love 4 Tibet and the Cornholme Community Project. Meanwhile, on the occasion of the filmstar-turned- politician's birthday today, members of the All-India Chiranjeevi Fans Association are donating Rs 15 lakh to the Uttarakhand flood relief fund. Besides, Telugu actors Ram Charan and Allu Arjun would donate Rs 10 lakh each. The cheques would be handed over to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in
Dehradun. — PTI |
|
Ashram students tie thread around trees on Raksha Bandhan
Dehradun, August 22 Ashram officials said the rishikumars (students of Parmarth Gurukul) underwent a yagno pavitri (sacred thread) ceremony in the morning. Pujya Swamiji (Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji) says the three sacred strings denoted as the three gunas are tied in a knot which is called brahmagranthi and it symbolises the united trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The thread is to remind the wearer that he must through self-study, sadhana and seva transcend the bondage of three qualities to merge with the divine. A special prayer was held for the team of Project Hope that has gone to survey disaster-affected regions in Uttarakhand, especially Guptkashi, to make a detailed plan for green rehabilitation and reconstruction. The young boys pledged to protect not only their sisters, but also Mother Ganga and trees. They pledged to be green ambassadors and tied raksha sutras on trees and plants. |
|
BSNL staff stir enters second day
Dehradun, August 22 The employees, under the banner of BSNL Employees Union (Uttarakhand Circle), are demanding the removal of anomalies in their salaries, which crept in after the implementation of the 2007 Pay Commission recommendation. The employees say that many of them are experiencing a stagnation in their salaries, which must be removed by the government. The employees' union is of the view that non-executive employees must be entitled to the E-1 band salary. They are also demanding the restoration of leave encashment. The three-day agitation began here yesterday. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
