School inspectors for HP subdivisions
KANGRA, Nov 19 — In order to improve the standard of education in the government schools, inspectors of schools will be appointed in the subdivisional headquarters in all 49 subdivisions of the state. These posts will be filled by senior Principals of the Department.

MCI team to visit Tanda college
DHARAMSALA, Nov 19 — A team from the Medical Council of India is likely to visit Tanda Medical College next month so that temporary recognition can be granted to it.

Ekta Divas observed
SHIMLA, Nov 19 — Rich tributes were paid to Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary which was observed as Ekta Divas today.

Dances of Tripura performed
KANGRA, Nov 19 — At a cultural exchange programme sponsored by the Sangeet Natak Academy, dances depicting the cultural heritage of Tripura were staged here this afternoon.

DYFI rally against price rise
THEOG, Nov 19 — The Democratic Youth Federation of India, Theog unit, organised a rally and staged a dharna at the local bus stand today against the price rise and "saffronisation" of educational institutions in the state.

Smugglers' gang busted
HAMIRPUR, Nov 19 — The police busted an inter-state gang of smugglers and recovered some sophisticated arms, gold biscuits and contraband worth several crores from its members near the Betwa bridge here yesterday.

4 GR contingent going to Lebanon
By Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

SUBATHU (Solan), Nov 19 — A contingent of the second battalion of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles (4 GR) will soon join the UN Interim Force for Lebanon. This was proudly announced by Lt-Gen Chandra Shekhar, Vice Chief of Army Staff, at a reunion of 4 GR held here today.

The General, who is also the Colonel of the Regiment, said this is the second time that Indian troops would be serving in the Middle East. A contingent of 4 GR was part of the UN forces in 1956 in Gaza.

Commenting on the upgradation of the Army, he said monetary resources were a constraint. He refused to comment on the replacement of the ageing fleet of T 72 tanks and said the matter was under discussion at the highest level. However, the Vijanta and T 55 tanks are being upgraded.

Bonhomie and camaraderie marked the day and tales of valour and gallantry various theatres of war across the world were recounted with zest.

Eighty three-year-old Lt-Col F.J. Meikle Hayes, the oldest among a group of seven British officers, mingled with other officers and replied to queries from young officers.

Maj D.S. Day, who is the president of the British Gorkha Soldiers Association, and is presently in the armament business, said unlike India, they have a reunion every year on the second Saturday of June officers from India are also invited. Last year nine officers, including a Major-General, attended the reunion. The reunion here is held after four years.

Commenting on the changes in the regiment, he remarked that the Gorkhas joining it are definitely taller. But the devotion to duty, discipline, agility and fighting spirit, as far as he could see, were the same. Other officers of the group include Lt-Col W.S. Stannard, Maj M.J. Fuller, Maj G.R. Lloyd, Capt A.I. Andrews, J.S. Mc Michael, Capt E.W. Pope Simmonds and Capt W.S. Senior.

Another old warhorse was Brig B.C. Pande (85), the only Army officer to have been awarded the Padam Shree. "Even I do not know how I got the civilian award", he jokingly remarked, except that I got it during the 1971 operations in Bangladesh.

Recalling those days, he said General M.A.J. Usmani, Commander-in- Chief of the Bangladesh Army had surrendered to him. Another major milestone in his career was his stint with the Nepalese Army which he trained for three years from 1951 onwards. Officers and jawans who were there then still refer to me as their Dronacharya.

He also introduced mediapersons to Lt-Col Stannard whose father was his Regimental Sergeant Major in the forties. Col Stannard’s son is also an officer in the British Army and is stationed in Singapore.

The reunion saw the meeting of the three brothers — Tej Bahadur Gurung, K.B. Gurung and K.S. Gurung — who share the unique distinction of being sergeant majors (SMs) in the same regiment, 4/4 Gorkhas. The youngest a serving officer, met his brothers after 15 years.

The espirit de corps was evident as old (Gorkha) officers and guests danced on Nepali songs and in step with young officers.

The day’s events started with a guard of honour where Lt-Gen Chandra Shekhar, Colonel of the Regiment, took a general salute. Following this a memorial service was held at the war memorial.

Spread over the next two days, the events include a ‘pagal gymkhana’ and a ‘barakhana’. A first day cover was also released on the occasion.

A sainik sammelan was held. A book titled "Veer Yoddha" by Lt-Gen K Chiman Singh (retd) and The Reunion Newsletter by Lt-Gen Vijay Madan (retd) was also released by the Colonel of the Regiment. A regimental cycle expedition, covering a distance of 3,500 kms from Calcutta, to commemorate the reunion was flagged off.

Stress on streamlining potato marketing
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 19 — Lack of market integration at the national-level is mainly responsible for the sharp fluctuation in the prices of potato, despite adequate production.

While the output of potato has been steadily increasing, even surpassing the annual compound growth rates of wheat and rice in terms of area, production and yield, over the past 30 years, not much has been done on the marketing front, scientists of the Central Potato Research Institute, here lament. When the yield and production of cereals like rice and wheat increase the achievement is hailed as the ushering in of the green revolution, whereas in the case of potato, which has contributed much more per unit area than these two crops to the national economy it is termed as a "glut", they point out.

While wheat with 12.7 per cent of the total cropped area, accounts for just 12.1 per cent of the total value of output from agriculture. Potato with just 0.5 per cent of the total cropped area contributed as much as 1.9 per cent to the total value of agricultural production.

Since Independence the compound growth rate for potato production has been as high as 6.7 per cent, which is much higher than wheat (5.83 per cent), rice (2.75 per cent) and total food grains (2.76 per cent).

The problem of marketing has been compounded due to semi-perishability and bulkiness of the commodity, in adequacies and malpractices of cold storages, transport bottleneck and imperfect competition in the market. Further as the demand for potatoes is inelastic, a slight increase in output leads to glut and severe marketing crises.

Dr GS Shekhawat, Director of the institute, says potato cultivation has reached a stage where it can no longer be treated merely as a vegetable. It has become imperative to accord the tuber the status of a food crop to supplement the total supply of cereals.

Besides to regulate the market, a suitable storage regime also must be developed. At present out of the total cold storage capacity of eight million tonnes, almost 90 per cent is being utilised for potato but it is adequate only for 40 per cent of the production. Besides, the practice of storing the tubers at below four degree centigrade also requires to be changed as under very low temperature starch is converted into sugar, rendering it unsuitable for processing.

The institute has recommended that potato should be stored at temperature of around 12 degree centigrade after treating with sprout suppressants. This will not only save precious energy but also keep it fit for processing.

The institute has formulated a plan to increase the total annual production of potato from the present about 19 million tonnes to 49 million tonnes by 2020. The area under the crop is to be doubled from the existing one million hectare and the average yield from 17 to 24.5 tonnes per hectare.

The technological breakthrough made by the institute over the past four decades had made it possible to increase the output but it needs to be done to handle the crop at the post harvest stage, particularly storage and processing.

Scrap finance panel, says parishad
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 19 — The Himachal State Panchayat Parishad has demanded scrapping of the second Finance Commission which, it alleged, had been constituted in contravention of provisions of the Panchayati Raj Act. It also threatened to move court if the government failed to accept the demand.

The parishad, which met here today, pointed out under the Act the Finance Commission could be constituted only after a gap of five years. The first commission was set up in April 1994 and as such the second commission should have been set up after April 1999. However, the present government constituted it in May this year to oblige Ms Shyama Sharma, a BJP leader who had been made its Chairperson, the parishad alleged.

Mr BS Thakur, Chairman of the parishad, lamented the recommendations of the first commission had not been fully implemented so far. It had recommended that the grants of the Finance Commission amounting to Rs 8.05 crore should be provided to gram panchayats for performing the mandatory functions assigned under Schedule I of the Act to create permanent assets. The government diverted this amount for performing the delegated functions of 15 departments.

It demanded a separate Director for looking after the Panchayati Raj as at present the Director was not able to devote even 10 per cent of his time for the purpose. He was mainly pre-occupied with target-oriented schemes of rural development.

The parishad also demanded that the panchayat secretaries should be put under the direct control of district panchayat officers at the district level and under the establishment of Panchayati Raj at the directorate level. The panchayat secretaries were appointed to perform the duties of Panchayati Raj institutions but they had been placed under the control of the rural development wing.

The parishad regretted that till date these functionaries had not been trained as the state government had not provided funds for the purpose. A sum of Rs 25 lakh was given by UNICEF but this amount had been diverted to only two districts, namely Mandi and Hamirpur, on political considerations.

Kashmiris set up trade in Kangra
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 19 — The arrest of a Kashmiri from the nearby Yol Cantonment has once again exposed the threat to security in Kangra district on account of the increasing number of Kashmiris in the area.

The Army authorities had nabbed, Akram from the prohibited area in the Cantonment on November 14 and handed him over to the police. What is intriguing is the fact that the Karnal address that he gave to the police could not be verified. Akram had remained in judicial remand for more than a month after he was arrested from Shahpur area and released on the 13th of this month.

It is strange that he was released when the address given by him in Karnal could not be verified.

During the past few years the number of Kashmiri labourers and shawl vendors visiting Kangra has been on the increase. There is no information with the police regarding their number, activities and antecedents. The Army and intelligence agencies has warned that there was a need for a greater vigil by the police on their activities.

Some Kashmiris have also set up business in Dharamsala and McLeodganj. The Army authorities who checked the antecedents of these Kashmiris found that a majority of them hailed from the Kupwara area which is the hotbed of militancy. Some of them also hail from Baramula.

Last year the Kangra police had arrested a militant belonging to the Harkat-ul-Ansar outfit from Jwali area of the district. He even admitted during interrogation that he had been promised he would be made "commander" of Kangra if he managed to recruit local youths. Another Kashmiri, Saif Din, a suspected Hizbul Mujahideen (Ansari) militant, had been arrested from a remote village near Baijnath a few months back.

School inspectors for HP subdivisions
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Nov 19 — In order to improve the standard of education in the government schools, inspectors of schools will be appointed in the subdivisional headquarters in all 49 subdivisions of the state. These posts will be filled by senior Principals of the Department.

This decision was conveyed to the Himachal Government Teachers Union by Secretary, Education, at a meeting on Tuesday, a joint statement of the Union president, Mr Vasu Dev Basu, and general secretary Shivdyal Chaudhary said here today.

The statement said the Secretary had told them that ad hoc and tenure teachers who were serving the government without break would be given proficiency step up and other service benefits with effect from June 1, 1985.

The training tenure of untrained graduate teachers would be counted as study leave and that teachers' unions representatives would be given representation in the Joint Co-ordination Committee, the statement added.

They said seniority and confirmation lists of teachers would be issued by the Department by January next year.

MCI team to visit Tanda college
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 19 — A team from the Medical Council of India (MCI) is likely to visit Tanda Medical College next month so that temporary recognition can be granted to it.

The meeting of the review committee for the medical college was held here yesterday in which the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, also took part. The Health Secretary, Mr Arvind Kaul, the Director, Medical Education, Dr Nath, and the ADC, Kangra, Mrs Anuradha Thakur, who is also the OSD of the medical college, took part.

Apart from visiting the local zonal hospital, which is part of the medical college, the team visited Tanda to see the progress made during the past one month. Construction work has been expedited at Tanda under the supervision of the OSD.

As per the requirement of the MCI, work on four operation theatres has begun in the first phase after the shifting of the CMOs office. While work on the laboratory complex has already begun, plans for the central sterilisation unit have been drawn out.

A master plan has been prepared for the entire campus so that there can be systematic development over the coming years. The case for acquisition of 123 kanals to meet immediate requirement has already been sent to the government. An area of 60 kanals shall be further acquired for future expansion. An amount of Rs 4.5 crore has been placed at the disposal of the PWD for the construction of the paraclinical block. Work on this has already begun.

Since good progress has been made in the construction of the boys and girls hostel and the staff quarters, the MCI team, which had come here in August, is likely to pay a visit to Tanda next month.

Ekta Divas observed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 19 — Rich tributes were paid to Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary which was observed as Ekta Divas today.

Mrs VS Rama Devi, Governor, garlanded the statue of the late Prime Minister at the ridge. Mr Manoj Kumar, Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, a former minister, and several other leaders also paid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi.

A function was organised at the office of the state Congress committee here which was presided over by Mr Musafir. He recalled the contribution of Indira Gandhi in building a strong nation and strengthening its integrity and unity

Dances of Tripura performed
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Nov 19 — At a cultural exchange programme sponsored by the Sangeet Natak Academy, dances depicting the cultural heritage of Tripura were staged here this afternoon.

Artistes from Tripura staged Rabindra dance, depicting the long association and relationship of Rabinder Nath Tagore with Tripura. They presented Gajan dance, Dhamail folk dance, Nabanna dances, besides the famous Bharatnatyam.

The cultural team invited Himachali artistes to visit Tripura to strengthen the cultural ties between Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.

DYFI rally against price rise
From Our Correspondent

THEOG, Nov 19 — The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Theog unit, organised a rally and staged a dharna at the local bus stand today against the price rise and "saffronisation" of educational institutions in the state.

The rally was addressed by Bal Krishan Bali and Sohan Singh, local BDC members, Rakesh Verma, a panchayat president, and Vidya Sagar and Devender, local DYFI activists. The activists gave a call for a statewide bandh and traffic blockade on November 25 against the steep hike in the price of essential commodities.

Smugglers' gang busted

HAMIRPUR, Nov 19 (PTI) — The police busted an inter-state gang of smugglers and recovered some sophisticated arms, gold biscuits and contraband worth several crores from its members near the Betwa bridge here yesterday.

The police said a team from Delhi was following the smugglers for a long time and managed to nab the gang members yesterday with the help of the Kanpur police.

The Maruti van in which the smugglers were travelling had been recovered, the police added.