Azad announces funds for cancer institute at Haldwani 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 30
Conceding to the long-standing demand of the people of the state, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced financial assistance for setting up a cancer institute at Government Medical College, Haldwani, and a cancer tertiary care at the upcoming Dehradun Medical College.

“The Centre will release Rs 120 crore for a cancer institute at Haldwani college and Rs 45 crore for cancer tertiary care facilities at the upcoming college in Dehradun,” said Azad during the launch function of Centrally funded medical schemes.

The Union minister said since he took over the portfolio of medical and medical education, he had been raising the financial stakes for the hill states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh by revising the Central assistance and fixing it in the ratio of 90:10 (Centre and state contributions) for 
various health schemes under the National Health Mission.

“As these states do not have proper financial resources, it seems this, too, is not enough as Union Water Resource Minister Harish Rawat and Uttarakhand Medical Education Minister Harak Singh Rawat have requested for more assistance. We have decided to extend financial assistance in some more areas, including the 
setting up of a neuro, cardiac and trauma centre at Srinagar Medical College,” said Azad.

The minister today officially launched four health schemes in the state, namely the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram under which children from birth till they turned 18 years would be eligible for free tests at government facilities; free generic medicines for all' free national iron folic acid distribution and the renaming of 108 ambulances as National Ambulance Service 108.

The minister said the Centre had decided to rename all Centrally funded 108 ambulances and it would carry the code of the National Ambulance Service.

The Union minister also laid the foundation stone of Doon Medical College at Dehra Khas.

Meeting demands

* Four health schemes for the state launched

* Centrally-funded 108 ambulances to be renamed

* Foundation stone of Doon Medical College at Dehra Khas laid

Impasse continues, striking staff blame Addl Chief Secy
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 30
On a day when Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was to hold talks with the striking employees and break the impasse, nothing of the sort materialised, leaving the two lakh employees blaming the Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma for playing politics.

The officer-bearers of the State Employees Joint Council said that the Additional Chief Secretary kept the employees engaged by assuring them that their demands had been met. But then he came up with a new plan today that the employees had to first give in writing that they would call off their indefinite strike. Only then their demands would be met.

“There was duplicity in the manner in which the Additional Chief Secretary asked us to sign the papers without delivering on our main demand. He also told the Chief Minister that the employees were willing to call off their stir when there was no assurance on our main demand,” said an office-bearer.

Angered at the attitude of the government, the striking employees will meet tomorrow to chalk out their future strategy, “We have not called off our stir. A meeting of all state office-bearers would be held to decide on the future course of action,” said Thakur Prahlad Singh, president of the council. Meanwhile, due to the support extended by laboratory technicians to the striking employees, diagnostic tests are not being conducted in hospitals.

Post-mortem houses in state still use hammers, saws
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 30
Vestiges of the British era, the post-mortem house in Dehradun and in other districts are still using an antiquated mode of conducting examination. They more often than not use a hammer and a saw as tools for dissecting the skull and the sternum leaving enough room for erroneous diagnosis and shoddy investigation.

Senior doctors say in the last century the methodology of conducting autopsy has changed considerably but the demand for a shift towards newer ways in most of the district hospitals of the state have fallen on deaf ears. “Bone cutters and other sophisticated instruments are being used instead of hammers that are being used by us for opening the skull. The impact of the hammer at times could lead to a fracture during the autopsy,” said Dr Alok Teotia, a senior physician.

A similar situation prevails at all other postmortem houses in other district hospitals of the state.

A visit to the postmortem house in Dehradun constructed during the British rule is an eye opener. “For all these years the doctors have been conducting autopsies under dim light with the help of antiquated tools fit only for building activities. There is no proper ventilation and at times stench emanating from bodies becomes unbearable. There is no proper room for the preservation of decomposed bodies. I am waiting for the moment when I will be deemed ineligible for conducting postmortems when I turn 55,” said a medical officer.

For that matter there is an urgent need to train the doctors in preparing detailed autopsy reports. “For the most part these reports comprise single pages that may not prove to be of much help to the investigating agencies. The autopsy reports prepared by the doctors help as a clinching evidence against the accused. Every detail of the corpse needs to be recorded,” said a senior official in the Department of Home.

Though the Department of Home has been stressing on the computerisation of post-mortem reports, the fear of secrecy getting compromised due to leak of reports has nixed the project.

Significantly, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has constructed a modern mortuary at Coronation Hospital at a considerable cost, but opposition by a local school management has so far stalled the functioning of the post-mortem house. 

UPSC chief hails FRI’s role in forestry R&D
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 30
Prof DP Aggarwal, Chairman, Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi, visited the Forest Research Institute (FRI) today and held discussions linked to forestry with the Deputy Director Generals, senior officers, scientists of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and the Forest Research Institute.

Dr PP Bhojvaid, Director, FRI, and Dr GS Goraya, DDG, Research, ICFRE, briefed the dignitary on the ICFRE and its various achievements.

Dr Bhojvaid made an elaborate presentation on the history, achievements and the future programmes of the FRI.

The Director, FRI, emphasised the need for manpower and financial requirements of the institutes to support R and D activities related to livelihood security of the forest dependent committee.

Professor Aggarwal appreciated the role of the FRI and the ICFRE in forestry research and development. He emphasised the need for greater collaboration with other organisations like Indian Council of Agriculture Research so that inter-disciplinary researches could lead to consolidation of knowledge for the welfare of the people.

Several senior ICFRE and FRI officials were present in the meeting.

Number of women voters decreases in Pithoragarh
Our correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 30
The District Magistrate, Pithoragarh, has ordered ASHA and Aaganbari workers to survey villages in the district to ascertain the reasons for the decrease in the number of women voters.

According to sources in the district election office, the number of women voters in the district, which was more than that of men during the last survey, has decreased in one year. “The number of women voters has decreased from 1,023 in year 2012 to 1,014 this year,” said District Election Officer Neeraj Khairwal.

He added the trend was worrisome as the district was known for more women voters. “This was also a symbol of women empowerment and a progressive and educated society,” he said.

Khairwal said due to more women voters in the district the contestants used to concentrate on winning their votes. This benefited women and they got more respect and the district saw women-friendly development activities. “If the number of women voters decreases further, they will lose their dominating position in the elections,” he added.

Various reasons have been cited for the decrease in women voters. One of the reasons is that they fail to get their names enrolled on the voters’ list as they work in their fields and men do not take much interest in getting them registered as voters. “The number of women voters has been high in the district as men usually go to other places to earn their livelihood. The cause of concern is that the number of women voters has decreased in the district when the number of men voters has remained nearly the same,” Khairwal said. 

Three motorcycle thieves held
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 30
With more than half-a-dozen motorcycle thefts taking place in Haridwar district within a month, district police initiated on mass scale vehicle checking drive. As a result of this drive, police today busted an Uttar Pradesh-based two wheeler lifting gang, who used to steal motorcycles from inner lanes of colonies.

Mayapur Kotwali in charge Dharmendra Rautela said on a tip off and during an intense vehicle checking drive, police team nabbed three persons with a stolen motorcycle. The motorcycle was stolen from an inner colony lane near Lal Taura bridge, Mayapur area a week ago.

Vivek Tyagi, Vishal Tyagi and Madhur Tyagi have been arrested. They all hail from Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh and were on another motor cycle theft mission when police nabbed them late last night near Devpura.

Those arrested have confessed to their involvement in similar thefts in both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the recent past. They used to sell these stolen bikes immediately to avoid suspicion.

They used to eye Hero Honda Splendour bikes as these can be easily opened by one master key and also have good resale value.

Superintendent of City Police Surjeet Singh Pawar has lauded the efforts of the Mayapur police team and has directed all the 13 police station house officers to carry out routine vehicle checking drive both on the city periphery and also on other major areas.

Meanwhile, as per district police headquarter office today, as many as 445 challans were issued in the entire district against traffic violations. A total sum of Rs 47,700 was accrued from the violators which have been deposited in the state exchequer.

First day cover on Shivalik Brigade released
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 30
As part of the golden jubilee celebrations of Shivalik Brigade, a special first day cover was released by Maj-Gen Manoj Oka, GoC, Golden Key Division, during Special Sainik Sammelan organised at Garhi Cantt here today.

The special cover has been designed keeping in view the glorious history of the Brigade, which has the distinction of leading the advance of the Army into East Pakistan during the 1971 Operations.