Himalayan day in Uttarakhand
Pledge taken to work for conserving environment of Himalayan region
Scientists make presentations at seminar; NGOs take out environment awareness rally
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 9
Himalayan Day was observed in Uttarakhand today. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Forest Research and Institute and several other organisations, both government and non-government, observed the day by reaffirming their pledge to work for conservation of environment of the Himalayan region.

At Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, officiating Director V C Tiwari briefed about the objectives and need of Himalayan Day.

He stressed on possible contribution of the institute scientists to facilitate sustainable and safe development in the Himalayan region.

Three important presentations on diversified research field of Himalaya were made by the scientists. Presentations on Himalayan diversity, ecological and non-ecological disaster were made by PS Negi. Sushil Kumar presented work on Himalayan earthquake. Narendra Meena spoke about sediments and their role in predicting historical disasters. Santosh Rai deliberated upon the river dynamics and their role in understanding of Ganga river system. A poster presentation was also organised for the research students. The first prize in poster presentation was won by Koushik Sen and the 2nd and 3rd prises were conferred on the Leena Kama and Bhanu Thakur, respectively.

At the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Himalayan Day observation function, chief guest, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand, RBS Rawat, advised that recommendations of institutes working on Himalayan ecology and environment should be taken into consideration while undertaking developmental activities in the Himalayan region. He said that for sustainable and ecofriendly conservation and development of the Himalayan ecosystem, a proper planning is the need of the day. He was of the view that appropriate professional knowledge should be appreciated at every level.

Earlier, Jayshree Ardey Chauhan, the Director in charge, in her welcome address apprised the distinguished guests about importance of Himalayas for the livelihood of the people. She further emphasised that the protection and conservation of Himalayan ecosystem was the moral duty of everyone.

Subhash Nautiyal, Senior Scientist, FRI, laid emphasis on conservation of flora and fauna of Himalayan region to establish ecological balance in the nature. He said that cultivation of cash crop may enhance the economy of local people. Growing of medicinal plants may be alternative source of earning. He quoted that a scientific study of the area where dams are usually proposed should be done to minimise the risk of natural disasters. All officers, scientists of ICFRE, FRI and students of FRI Deemed University were present on the occasion.

As of NGOs, Himalayan Environment and Scientists Conservation Organisation, Mahila Samakya, WWF, Agaaz, Sambhav Natya Manch and Jai Gaura Matra Shakti volunteers jointly today took out a Himalayan environment awareness rally which was followed by a workshop at Hindi Bhavan, Dehradun. The Save Himalayas rally started from St Thomas School and took to Darshan Lal Chowk and Subhash Road route before culminating at Hindi Bhawan, where a workshop on Himalayan issues was organised.

The speakers at the workshop asserted that the Himalayan ecosystem was facing challenges such as population growth, natural resources degradation, stress on ecosystems, climate change, melting glaciers and increasing disaster risks. They said to meet out these challenges, one should adopt a strategy for sustainable development, conservation and protection of ecosystems. The speakers also called for strengthening of the ecosystem services and disaster risk reduction. Basanti Bisht, Nutan Gairola, Kusum Ghildhiyal and Hemlata were among prominent speakers.

Members of Sambhav Natya Manch staged street plays at a number of places in Dehradun to apprise people about environmental challenges linked to Himalayas.

DRDA staff not yet merged with govt
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 9
The sword of uncertainty hangs on the future of the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), the institution that administers central government schemes in the state.

The problem has been exacerbated by the state government's reluctance to merge the staff of the DRDA with the state government or even accommodate the staff in the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRML), the scheme that is set to take shape in the state.

The DRDAs were set up as independent societies in the 1980s and have been principal organs at the district level to oversee the implementation of the Ministry of Rural Development's anti-poverty programmes.

But on the recommendation of the Ramachandaran Committee, the central government announced the disbanding of the committees and asked the state government to merge the DRDA staff with the state government.

"Since 1999, the issue of merging the DRDA staff with the state government is pending, but no one has shown any interest in resolving the issue. Now the central government has finally said that the DRDAs that have not been merged with the state government would function as professional divisions of zila parishads and will not have a separate independent autonomous existence through the Societies Act by April, 2014,"said Rajender Bisht, president of the DRDA Employees Union.

He said if the state government failed to absorb the DRDA staff before April 2014, the 2,010 staff members would face a grim future. "Along with suitable reimbursement, we have been raising the demand of retirement benefits and have asked Minister for Rural Development Pritam Singh to intervene in the matter," added Bisht.

Interestingly, the DRDA staff also found themselves excluded from the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) scheme, a central government scheme which would replace the Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SJSY), and would be started in the state.

Along with the SJSY, the administrative part of DRDA has also been merged with the NRLM.

"The DRDA is fully equipped to run the new scheme, but we were not considered as the officers in the Department of Rural Development were interested in cornering all the plum posts," alleged Bisht. 

Mining work in rivers will not be given to private hands: Hriyadesh
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 9
Giving in to the pressure put by transporters of the Gaula mining area in Haldwani, state Finance Minister and local MLA Indira Hriyadesh has announced that the mining work in all major rivers in the state will not be given to private hands and Uttarakhand Forest Corporation will continue to handle the work.

Talking to mediapersons at her residence, Indira Hriydesh said that strong action will be taken against the concerned government officials, if any one was found was giving work to private contractors. ''We have decided to take the final decision on it in our Cabinet meet which is to be held on September 12,'' said the Finance Minister.

The announcement followed agitation by transporters of Gaula mining area, after the news of giving Gaula mining work to private hands spread. The transporters of sub minerals were on agitation to make the government position clear on this point. ''We have contended before the government that if the mining work gets into private hands, not only will the thousands of small transporters be rendered jobless but several local youths who had taken loans will also become jobless,'' said Amarjit Singh Sethi, one of the transporters who has been on protest for several days.

The work of withdrawal of sub minerals from 12 rivers of the state, including that in major rivers of Gaula, Koshi and Dabka in the state, is undertaken by Uttarakhand Forest Corporation, which involves thousands of local small transporters and other labourers in this work. ''We have fears that if private players are allowed in this work, more than 60,000 persons will be rendered jobless as private parties will come up with their own transportation and labor force,'' added Sethi.

UKD (Airy) to take up victims’ plight 
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 9
Leaders of the UKD (Airy) faction have decide to take out a march from Kapkot to New Delhi on September 15 to draw the attention of the Centre towards poor living conditions of the disaster-hit in Bageshwar district.

They will also hand over a 33-point charter of demands to the authorities.

UKD (Airy) general secretary Kamaljit Narayan Das said, “Ten party volunteers will participate in the march,” he said.

Their main demands included an accurate information about the disaster victims and works carried out by the district administration and other agencies for their welfare.

“All relief works carried out by the authorities have been done in hurry and only to complete formalities,” said the UKD leader.

UKD leaders said they would apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of conditions in which the disaster-hit in the remote areas of Bageshwar were being forced to live.

Aam Admi Party activists stage protest 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 9
Aam Admi Party today staged a protest outside Hindi Bhavan, Dehradun, when the district administration did not allow them to take out a march as part of Himalayan Day observation.

The protesters alleged that the district administration had earlier allowed them to stage a Himalayan rally but stopped them for taking out the rally at the last moment. They later submitted a memorandum addressed to Uttarakhand Governor to the district administration. In the memorandum, Aam Admi Party activists stressed on conserving Himalayan glaciers to protect the existence of Himalayan rivers.

Bhargav Chandola, Sanjay Bhatt, Ranvir Singh Chowdhary and Harish Arya were prominent Aam Admi Party workers present on the occasion. 

Experts laud efforts of computer technology at seminar
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 9
Experts lauded the role of computer technology in day-to-day life and making world a mini global family.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Director General Dr Mana Madnal, while speaking at the concluding session of Emerging Trends and Computational Research Development, said to utilise one’s full skills and resources, usage of computer had become imperative in today’s time.

Dr Mandal, in his address, said balanced approach was the need of the hour.

He said outer knowledge as well as the inner knowledge was essential for an overall development.

Dev Sanskriti University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Chinmay Pandya reiterated the commitment of the university-a flagship branch of social outfit Shantikunj-to work for Indian culture and moral ethics.

Indian Institute of Bombay professor Dr Rajni Joshi shed light on the mass usage of computer today.

IIT Jodhpur professor Dr Vivek Vijay, Gurukul Kangri University’s professor Dr KS Bhatia, DIT professor Ritika, BIAS Nainital’s Dr Ashutosh Bhatt, JPIET Meerut Dean Dr Sanjeev Sharma, Chitrakoot Gram Udyog University Registrar Kamlesh Thapa and other computer engineers also shed light on the impact and benefit of computer technology.

Coordinator of the seminar Dr Abhay Saxena announced the names of the best research scholars of the seminar: Gopal Dutt (Bhimtal), Divya Rathi (Meerut), Pankaj Chandel (Gwalior), Deepak Saxena (Azmer) and Dipika

Mali (Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar).

Earlier, Dr Manas Mandal inspected the Dev Sanskriti University and held a brief chat with Computer Science students.

He exhorted upon the need of research and mutual discussion among teachers and students.

Urging students never to resort to shortcuts, Dr Manas said with deep and intensive study, one should also write thesis.

Homoeopathy can play major role in giving relief to hill patients: Doc 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 9
Renowned homoeopathic practitioner Mukesh Batra opined that in the hill state of Uttarakhand homoeopathy can play a pivotal role in providing medication to the hill and far-flung terrain patients.

Batra pointed out that while costly allopathic treatment was not in the reach of the majority of the patients, the effective homoeopathic medical therapy can do wonders without having any side effects.

Talking to The Tribune Mukesh Batra ,who was recently conferred as ''Asia’s

Most Promising Leader Award'' at an award function held at Dubai, in a telephonic chat said that homoeopathy was fast emerging as a major first option medical therapy not only in India but in Western world, too.

He said that India had emerged as a hub of homoeopathic treatment along with ayurveda, which bodes well for the country.

He cited the medical journal reports that pointed a whopping 25 per cent growth in the past five years for homoeopathy therapy.

“It’s fast becoming the first choice for treatment of many ailments and has become the world’s second largest medical system,” said Batra.

Notably, Batra has also been listed in the Limca Book of Records (Edition 2004-05) for becoming the first ever Internet-based clinic to offer online consultation to over 4.5 lakh patients annually.

World’s first tele-homoeopathy clinic has also been launched by Batra, which enables real time multi location connectivity getting ISO 9001-2008 certification.

Via Positive Health Foundation Batra provides free homoeopathic treatment to poor people with, till date, 20,000 such patients being treated free of cost.

The foundation is also involved in other social causes like donation to orphanages, animal welfare shelters and old-age homes.

Free medical check-up for prisoners, jail staff 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, September 9
The Rotary Club of Kankhal organised a free medical camp for jail staff and prisoners serving sentences in various cases at the Roshanabad jail.

Medicines were distributed free to the prisoners on the occasion. Their medical health card was made by doctors of the club.

Judge Chandra Mani Rai inaugurated the medical camp. Mani, while lauding efforts of club members, said the Rotary Club was doing a commendable job in providing health check-up and treatment to the prisoners.

Mahendra Singh Gwal, jail superintendent, also shed light on the social works being carried out by the Rotary Club, Kankhal, in the jail.

Gwal pointed out that due to the efforts of club members, many prisoners have shown a drastic change in their thoughts and conduct.

The jail superintendent also urged other social organisations to extend their help in reforming and changing the lives of prisoners.

Rotary Club chief Dr Mahendra Ahuja said club members were committed to the social cause and by doing such services, they were only contributing to society and country.

“We as members of the club have been doing such social works in society. Everyone should come forward and contribute as per his/her capability so that the world around us becomes a happy place,” Ahuja said.

Godiyal chief of new executive panel of manch
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, September 9
The Uttarakhand Andolankari Manch announced its new executive committee during a meeting held at a hotel today.

Jaiprakash Uttrakhandi has been nominated patron while Devi Godiyal has been elected president of the manch.

Sushila Rawat has been elected general secretary, Gangotri Rawat and RD Gupta vice-president, Devendar Bhatt secretary, Pooran Juyal treasurer and Sunil Kumar and Pitambar Dutt Semwal specially invited members. Bijendar Pundir and Satish Kumar have been made media secretaries.

Speaking on the occasion, newly elected manch president Godiyal alleged that the Vijay Bahuguna-led state government had failed on all fronts. It had also done nothing for welfare of the statehood agitators.

Godiyal said people were still struggling to fulfil their basic needs. He stressed the need to launch a mass movement, so that the dreams of the people who sacrificed their lives during the separate statehood movement could be fulfilled.

Patron of the manch Jaiprakash Uttarakhandi said the forum would raise the issues of development at a state-level convention in Dehradun on September 14.

He said a two-day workshop and convention would also be held in Mussoorie in October. 

Statehood fighters seek transparent policy

Pithoragarh September 9
Statehood activists from the Kumaon region have demanded facilities on the lines of freedom fighters and said every statehood activist under 50 years of age should get state government jobs.

The activists, who held a convention at Nainital under the banner of the Sanyukta Uttarakhand Rajya Aandolankari Sangharsh Morcha, today said a resolution passed at the convention stated that a transparent policy in identifying the statehood activist should be adopted. “We want the method adopted by the government should not be on party lines. What the parties have been doing till now has resulted in a large number of statehood activists being left out of the government list,” said Girish Chandra Upreti, president of the convention.

The activists have also passed a resolution demanding reservation of seats for statehood activists in panchayat bodies and a quota in nomination in various government-owned corporations. — TNS

Gaiety marks celebrations of Haritalika Teej
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 9
Residents of Galjwari gram panchayat celebrated Haritalika Teej here yesterday.

Chief guest Congress leader Saket Bahuguna honoured five-aged women who participated in the festival. He said Indian culture was full of variety and women had always played an important role in conserving the traditional festival and rituals.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, gram pradhan Galjwari, Leela Sharma informed the gathering that Haritalika owes its origin to Goddess Gauri who observed Haritalika fast to get Lord Shiva as her husband. She said women both married and unmarried observe Haritalika fast either for well being of their husband or to fulfil their wish to get a suitable husband.

Dehradun district panchayat member Godavari Thapli and large number of Galjwari villagers were also present.

Mesmerising Kathakali performance

Dehradun, September 9
The Dehradun chapter of SpicMacay organised a Kathakali performance by Kalamandalam M Amaljith at Graphic Era University here today.

The programme was attended by Pro Vice Chancellor A K Awasthi ,Vice Chancellor Sanjay Jasola and a large number of faculty members and students. It is for the very first time that the art form from Kerala was performed in Dehradun.

Kalamandalam M Amaljith performed various exercises, mudras and expressions. The performance ended with Dakshayagam from Shivopranam with full costumes. The mesmerising performance kept the audience spellbound.

The chairman of the university Kamal Ghansala said that he will support the SpicMacay movement in its endeavour to create awareness about Indian tradition and art forms amongst youth. — TNS

628 bodies found, cremated 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 9
As many as 628 bodies have been found in the aftermath of the natural disaster in the Kedarnath valley that resulted in widespread devastation where hundreds of people lost their lives and thousands were still missing.

“Out of the total 628 bodies found, 529 have been recovered from Rudraprayag district only, which was the most-affected district during the disaster,” said Pradeep Rai, ASP, who is associated with the post-disaster rehabilitation work.

It is pertinent to mention here that police has carried out a two-phase search mission to recover the bodies from the Kedar valley. In the first phase of the search mission that went on for more than 15 days, the joint team of the Uttarakhand Police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), led by DIG GS Martolia, recovered 298 bodies near the Kedarnath shrine. The search mission was stopped due to incessant weather conditions.

The second search mission began on September 3 with a 25-member state police team, led by DIG GS Martolia. The team camped at Gaurikund and Gaoumkura and widened their hunting, including nearby higher reaches.

Notably, the team was able to recover 231 bodies on the higher reaches of the Kedar valley. Almost 68 bodies were found between the Gaurikund and Garudchatti mountain belt near the Kedarnath valley and were cremated with necessary rituals.

According to police sources, maximum bodies have been found between the stretch of Kedarnath temple and Rambara, which were the worst-affected areas during the disaster.