6,000 govt teachers across state boycott work
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 7
Government teachers, under the banner of the Uttarakhand Teachers' Union, staged a protest march in support of their 17-point demands at the Secretariat here today.

Nearly 6,000 teachers belonging to primary and elementary levels boycott work.

Functioning at government schools across the state remained affected due to the teachers’ protest.

The main demands of the protesting teachers included increase in retirement age from 60 to 62 years and providing them with the benefit of the Assured Career Progression (ACP).

Their other demands included 20 days additional holidays in a year and the opening of new schools instead of upgrading the existing junior high schools in the state.

They threatened to intensify the stir if the government failed to fulfil their demands.

The teachers accused the government of betraying them and said it had failed to keep its words even after giving assurances on numerous occasions.

Leaders of the teachers' association included Karnel Singh, Sardar Singh Chauhan, Prem Singh Gusain, Jai Prakash Bahuguna, Narendra Singh Bist, Rekha Rawat and Indu Devi.

Demands

• Increase in retirement age from 60 to 62 years
• Benefit of assured career progression
• 20 days additional holidays in a year
• Opening of new schools instead of upgrading the existing junior high schools

Modi has vision, ability to become PM, says Koshiyari
Tribune News Service

Pauri Garhwal, November 7
BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has the ability, vision, experience and the political understanding that will make him a 'performing' prime minister.

This was echoed by veteran BJP leader and Upper House parliamentarian Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, here today.

Citing the presence of people and enthusiasm that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's pan-India electoral rallies are generating, Koshiyari said this suggests the pro-BJP wave going on across the India.

Terming the upcoming five state Assembly elections as a litmus test for the Congress, a former BJP national vice-president, said the Congress is on downside, while under Modi the BJP is ascending towards the 2014 Lok Sabha victory.

People of India are looking forward to Modi with hope and a belief that he can change their fortunes. The BJP with Modi at the helm will eradicate poverty, corruption and usher in a new economic progress, which has been dented by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, said Bhagat ,who also served for a brief stint as Uttarakhand Chief Minister in 2001.

On the opinion poll banning issue, Koshiyari termed it as a deliberate ploy by the Congress as the opinion poll will indicate its 2014 debacle only.

The Congress tried to rein in media during Emergency in 1975 and now in 2013 the party is treading same path it seems.

On prospects of his name figuring in as MP candidate fromNainital-Pitthoragarh constituency, Koshiyari said all depends on party high command and it’s too early to comment on this aspect.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna-led Congress Government, the Rajya Sabha member said be it flood disaster relief, resuce and rehabilitation or the rehabilitationof the Tehri dam-hit, the Congress has failed on all fronts.

He also cornered Bahuguna's statement of Lokayukta Bill being termed as unconstitutional and ratifed by President Pranab Mukherjee, which was passed by ex-BJP Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri in 2011.

Pharmacists’ stir takes toll on health care in Kumaon
Agitators threaten to intensify protest from Nov 10
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 7
In the wake of a strike by government pharmacists, functioning at most of the hospitals and sub-health centres in the Kumaon region remained suspended today.

KS Adhiikari, president of the pharmacists' association, Pithoragarh unit, said, “If the government does not agree to our demands, we will launch an indefinite strike from November 10.”

The Deputy Director (Health), Kumaon, said if pharmacists continued their strike, over 35,000 out patients, who come on a daily basis to different hospitals, would be affected.

There are 71 primary and sub-health centres in Pithoragarh district and people living in rural areas are dependent on these only.

Dr GS Joshi, Director-General (Health), Uttarakhand, said the department was already facing a shortage of doctors in rural areas, as against the requirement of 100 doctors, there are only 48 available at present.“We depend mostly on pharmacists in hill regions of the state,” he said. Earlier, government employees' strike had affected working in all state departments.

Now, a strike by pharmacists has added to the woes of the common man, who is facing inconvenience in getting his works done.

Works under the MGNREGA and the national health mission are also facing delay. Day-to-day required documents like character certificate, permanent resident certificate, family register copies etc are also not being made.

“All agriculture and horticulture expansion works have been affected due to a strike by field workers," said Bhagwan Singh Rawat, a social worker.

Folk artistes enthral at cultural festival
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 7
Folk artiste Nand Lal Bharti and his group held the audience spellbound with their performance at the rural sports and cultural festival under way at Kempty village, near Mussoorie, last evening.

The festival is being organised under the aegis of the Aglar Ghati Krida Evam Sanskritik Samiti.

Students from nearby villages also mesmerised the audience by their performances on the occasion.

Nand Lal Bharti started by invoking local deity Mahasu Devta amid the beating of traditional drums, which was much appreciated by the audience.

His musical adaptation, namely “Kedarmarcha”, based on the recent disaster in Kedarnath brought tears in the eyes of the audience. A 'Pandav dance' sequence was also performed on the occasion.

Meanwhile, in a volleyball match, the Bhandasari sports team won the opening fixture.

The other events were, however, delayed due to rain.

Senior BJP leader Munna Singh Chauhan and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Depts to publicise welfare schemes at tehsil, block levels
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 7
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam has said that a widespread publicity programme to disseminate information on public welfare schemes will be held at the tehsil and block levels on November 9 to mark the 13th state foundation day.

He directed Sub-Division Magistrates and Block Development Officers to hold similar programmes in their respective areas and also address the complaints registered by the people.

He directed them to contact the Chief Development Officer for further queries on the matter. “Various departments at the district level will hold their stalls at Parade Ground on November 8 and 9, where they would inform the public about welfare schemes of the government. It has been seen that a large section of society, for which these schemes have been launched, remain ignorant and do not avail the benefits. Now people will not have to take rounds of the offices to gather information about the schemes launched by the government,” he said.

Purushottam has nominated CDO as the nodal officer for these publicity programmes.

The DM also directed the Chief Education Officer and District Sports Officer to organise sports events in the schools. He also instructed the Additional District Magistrate to make arrangements for a small function at Martyr’s Memorial at the Collectorate on November 9 in coordination with the district Culture Department.

Legislators discuss methods for environmentally sustainable growth
Tribune News service

Dehradun, November 7
Legislators, political and social leaders from Uttarakhand today discussed the role of legislators in increasing Uttarakhand’s resilience to climate change and ensuring an environmentally sustainable growth pathway. The roundtable - ‘Connecting the Dots’ - was jointly organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and The British Deputy High Commission, North West India at Forest Research Institute (FRI), here.

The meeting was organised to coincide with the visit of Prince Charles to Dehradun who met legislators during his visit to the Forest Research Institute. Throughout his public life, The Prince of Wales has been concerned about sustainability, including efforts to address climate change as well as how to build environmentally, economically and socially sustainable communities. The Director of the Prince’s International Sustainability Unit, Justin Mundy, was part of the deliberations and shared his insights on how to tackle the climate change.

Addressing the roundtable, A P Makhuri, Deputy Speaker, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, said, “Understanding both the impact of climate change on development, and the impact that development has on climate change is important for Uttarakhand. As legislators, we have a crucial role to play.”

Delivering the keynote address, Nav Prabhat, MLA and Adviser to Uttarakhand Chief Minister on Disaster Management said “I personally feel that the visit of His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness to this state is at the most appropriate time when Uttarakhand is trying to cope up with the recent disaster. Himalaya, as the 3rd pole, deserves more attention from the world leadership.”

Phil Marker, Counsellor, Energy, Climate Change and Growth, British High Commission, said, “This discussion demonstrated the interest here in Uttarakhand among legislators, government and industry to tackle the climate change. The British High Commission looks forward to continue this important discussion.”

Moderating the session, Jai Raj, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand said, “I am confident that this initiative between India and the Great Britain will go a long way in combating climate change and provide succour to all life forms on this planet.”

A ‘Climate Change Toolkit’ for policy makers in Uttarakhand was launched at the roundtable. The toolkit details the impact of human activities on nature, shares best global and local practices for environment conservation and lays down a roadmap for a greener future. 

foundation day
Statehood agitators begin chain fast at Shahid Sthal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 7
Demanding specific amenities for the statehood agitators, members of the Identified Statehood Agitators Committee started a chain fast at Shahid Sthal today here.

President of the committee JP Pandey said, “The state government must extend the date for the identification of the statehood agitators who have not been included in the list. We must be accorded the status of ‘Rajya Nirman Sainani’ and given the facilities that are being extended to the freedom fighters. All statehood agitators must be given the same monthly pension of Rs 5,000. The government should also contest the high court stay on the proposal of 10 per cent reservation to the statehood agitators in government jobs in the Supreme Court. The dependents of the statehood agitators must be given reservation and rebate in fee for commercial education.”

He said the management of the state government-run enterprises like Anchal Dairy should be handed over to the statehood agitators for its operation.

All facilities given to the statehood agitators should be extended to dependents after their death. Pandey demanded 30 per cent reservation for statehood agitators or one of their dependents in state industrial units. He also demanded government jobs for statehood agitators or one of their dependents. He said the legal cases slapped on agitators during agitation for state creation should be withdrawn. Besides, he demanded that hearing sessions for the Muzaffarnagar episode be transferred to the district court in Dehradun. The statehood agitators should be given the facility of stay in statehood guest houses just like like MLAs. Gairsain should be declared the state capital.

Protesters Seek

• Status of ‘Rajya Nirman Sainani’ and same facilities as being extended to freedom fighters
• Monthly pension of Rs 5,000
• Reservation and rebate in fee for commercial education to dependants
• 30 pc reservation for statehood agitators or dependents in state industrial units
• Government jobs

Centre tells SSB to send reports of enlisted, able volunteers
Our correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 7
The statewide agitation of former Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) guerillas for the past several years seemed to have yielded results as the Centre has ordered SSB officials to send the reports of the enlisted and able volunteers to it after duly testifying and certifying their credentials.

“The work of testifying the certificates of the volunteers will begin from November 8 in the district and will be carried on by different offices situated in the district,” said AS Panwar, area organiser of SSB.

The services of thousands of volunteers, deputed on border with China and Nepal, to inform the SSB guards, about any anti national activity or new faces being seen in their respective areas, were discontinued after 1996, when the Government of India declared the SSB as a regular border force under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the SSB officers, the certification work would be carried 
up to November 19 in the district and would begin from Dharchula area as most of the volunteers were situated in that area at tri-borders of India, China and Nepal.

“After testifying the credentials of the erstwhile volunteers in the entire district, the final report will be sent to Ministry of Home Affairs for further action,” said Panwar. The erstwhile SSB volunteers were on agitation, demanding service for the able volunteers, pension for those who had reached the retirement age and ex-gratia for those who were dead. “We have served the nation at border area after 1962 war with China and need to have an honorable livelihood, even after the government has abandoned our regular services as volunteers,” said KS Phirmal, leader of the SSB volunteersin Pithoragarh district.

Ganga Canal closure may hit Chatth festival celebrations
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 7
With the closure of the Ganga Canal, the Chatth festival would also be affected the way it affected the Diwali festival. Due to which the saint community, religious organisations, teerth purohits, pundits, devotees, pilgrims and local people expressed anger.

The Chatth festival will commence from Friday in the city.

Initially as per the normal routine, water in the Ganga Canal was released on the eve of Diwali festival.

But this year, despite an assurance by the Uttar Irrigation Department, the water was not released in the Ganga Canal, leaving the sanctum sanctorum of Braham Kund, Har-Ki-Pauri and the adjacent Ganga ghats dry on the auspicious festival of Diwali.

Protests from various sections of the society was being witnessed in Haridwar over dry Ganga at Har-Ki-Pauri during the festival season.

It affected the devotees and pilgrims as they faced problem in offering holy Ganga jal and taking holy dip at Braham Kund, Har-Ki-Pauri and the adjacent Ganga ghats.

The Purvanchal Jan Jagriti Samiti also held a talk with the UP Irrigation Department over the availability of water at Har-Ki-Pauri on Chatth festival.

But, the UP Irrigation Department had made it clear that the Ganga Canal expansion project was huge and so everyone should cooperate with the department.

The Matra Sadan Ashram, widely known for save Ganga cause, had opposed the expansion work, which had led to the drying of the holy Ganga.

Under the aegis of the socio-religious organisations like Teerth Maryada

Raksha Samiti, Dharamshala Raksha Samiti, Small scale traders association, local traders and taxi owners union, a protest was carried out in the city against the UP Government for granting the extension to Ganga Canal closure during the festive season.

Sanjay Chopra, state chief, Teerth Maryada Raksha Samiti, had warned of agitation if water flow was not released prior to November 8. Ram Kumar Mishra, former president, Shri Ganga Sabha, had sought explanation from the current Ganga sabha executive working body.

Veer Virendra Singh Yadav, sub-divisional officer, Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, said owing to the delay in the ongoing Ganga Canal expansion work from Mayapur check dam till Prem Nagar ghat stretch, the closure had been extended till November 10.

UKD (P) to observe event as 'Sankalp Divas'
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 7
President of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar) Trivender Singh Panwar said today that the party would commemorate the state foundation day as 'Sankalp Divas' (pledge day) to press for its demand for the declaration of Gairsain as the state capital.

He said the party would also organise a statewide rath yatra in December to demand rights for the hill people in the state.

He said they would expose "shortcomings" and "irregularities" of the state government during the rath yatra.

He slammed the state government for giving much importance to Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker's visit to the state. He said, “The way dilapidated roads in the city, where the royal guests were expected to pass through, have been repaired exposes the concern of the state government toward its own people. It seems that the city dwellers have no right to have smooth roads. It is only when guests from outside the state come here that the condition of the roads and sanitation is improved to create a false impression on them."

On the disaster relief received by the state from various sources, he alleged, “The manner in which the state government is splurging on projects at Sitarganj, it seems that the entire donation money is being diverted toward the ambitious projects of the government. Villages in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, Prataparh etc, which were swept away during the disaster, are still awaiting relief and rehabilitation. But the state government is not bothered."

Contractual power staff postpone march to CM's house
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 7
Members of the Uttarakhand Power Contractual Employees' Association have postponed their protest march to the Chief Minister's residence at the insistence of trade leader Heera Singh Bisht.

They are protesting in support of their demands for the regularisation of their services and DA.

Bisht reportedly persuaded the agitators into putting off the march as this could put a bad impression on the UK royals, who are on a visit to the state.

Earlier in the day, four agitators, who were on a chain fast for the past four days, also ended their protest.

General Secretary of the association Manoj Pant said, “The state government is not concerned about the deteriorating condition of our four members, who were on a fast. So we convinced them not to die for a ruthless government and instead fight against injustice by regaining good health. They listened to us and ended their fast.” He said they had postponed the decision to hold the march but not cancelled it. 

Woollens are out as winter sets in
Tourists extend stay in hope of snowfall
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 7
With the mercury dropping to a freezing level after a partially cloudy sky, the winter seasons seems to have finally set in.

The change in the weather conditions has made the residents and tourists bring out woollens wear to beat the cold.

Shops selling woollen clothes did a brisk business today. The chill has brought back smile to those traders whose business suffered a setback after the disaster.

Handmade woollen items being sold at some shops near Landour Bazaar were also in demand due to low prices in comparison to the branded stuff being sold in the town.

Sheep wool items like socks, gloves and caps made by Bhutia community members were also in great demand.

Residents were seen collecting nettle leaves to prepare a local delicacy.

Some tourists extended their stay in anticipation of snow.

Mountain writers’ festival begins
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 7
The vintage rock-and-roll band from the highlands of Shillong featuring Headingson Ryntathiang, Shandalang Talang and Phom Lyttan from yesteryears mesmerised the audience with their music performance at the Sixth Mussoorie Mountain Writers’ Festival at Parker Hall here today.

Dehradun DM Dr BVR Purshotam, who was the chief guest, opened the festival by inaugurating the Thangka painting exhibition presented by the Tibetan community at Parker Hall in Woodstock School.

BVR Purshotam in his inaugural speech said he was pleased that the writers festival was being held in Mussoorie. He said every human being had been inspired by the mountains and he was no exception. Addressing the students he said climbing the mountains was tough, but staying there was even tougher and every student should try to stay at the top. Speaking about the festival he said Mussoorie writers festival was about ideas and place to recharge refresh and rejuvenate imaginations. In this age of mobile and internet we were losing out on renewable resource that is ideas and the festival will help in finding it back in coming days.

Purshotam also revealed his intentions to pen down his experience while working in the disaster struck region of Kedarnath in a book form and come to festival as an author member in future.

He thanked the organisers for inviting him and wished them success for the festival.

Woodstock School Principal Dr Jonathon Long said this year they had invited around 25 authors and mountaineers who would be sharing their experience and was sure that the students and staff alike would benefit from their experience and interacting with them in person.

Tom Alter, a Bollywood actor present during the festival, said such festivals were needed in the state like Uttarakhand that had seen a disaster in the month of June to raise the spirits of the affected people here.

The speakers to brief the audience will be Mark Vermeal on “Integrating Experiential Education into the Classroom: Reaping the Rewards and Managing the Risks,” Simon 
beams on “Adventure and Education: Standing at the Crossroads,” Freddie and Wilkison on “The Sanctity of Space,” Alpine Style Climbing.

Director of the festival Stephen Alter said the festival would help in creating awareness towards the fragile environment of the mountain region of the country. Authors such as Ganesh Saili, S Pundir, SDM, Mussoorie, Sonika, and others were present on the occasion.

Admn apathy leads villagers to build makeshift bridge
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 7
Residents of disaster-hit villages in Munsiyari subdivision took it upon themselves to build a makeshift bridge on the Gori river after their repeated pleas to the administration failed to elicit any response.

Villagers of Basantkot in Munsiyari subdivision have constructed a makeshift bridge on the river for their daily use, which the administration could not construct despite repeated pleas by the villagers.

“The villagers have constructed the bridge at Falyanti village of Munsiyari subdivision using local timber,” said Kavindra Devli, a local villager.

According to the villagers, the bridge would facilitate transportation for over 5,000 villagers of Basantkot, Matiyali, and Falyanti villages, who were cut off from the local markets after the old bridge was washed away by Gori River in mid-June disaster. “We had to cross a bridge which stretches up to 15 km upstream of the river to reach the market place and the market is only 500 metres away from our village,” said Devli.

“We have bounded the bridge with wires, which has turned the bridge into a suspension bridge, but, we are not sure of its stability and need a technical guidance from the concerning department,” said the villagers.