Dhumal foresees no problem
SHIMLA, April 19 — Unruffled by the fall of the BJP-led coalition, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today asserted that he did not foresee any problems in running the government as any government which came to power at the Centre was obliged to fulfil its constitutional responsibility towards states, particularly in respect of financial assistance and inter-state issues.

Lapse of funds: govt seeks report
HAMIRPUR, April 19 — The Himachal Government is reported to have taken a serious note of the lapse of about Rs 17 lakh by various government departments in Hamirpur district under the 'Special Component Plan' during the 1998-99 financial year.

Dhumal 'weakening' panchayat bodies
BADDI (SOLAN), April 19 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress is confident that once the party-led government is sworn in at the Centre under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the BJP-led government in the state too would go the Vajpayee way.

Procured wheat not lifted
RAMPURAPHUL, April 19 — Even as the wheat crop is coming in huge quantities to this market and other purchase centres, farmers and commission agents are facing the problem of non-lifting of and non-payment for the wheat procured by the government agencies.

Make Red Cross mass movement: Governor
CHAMBA, April 19 — Mrs. V.S. Rama Devi, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has underscored the need to make Red Cross a mass movement in the state for bringing succour to the sick and the needy.

Threat to launch agitation
SHIMLA, April 19 — Mr Gopal Das Verma, a non-gazetted employees leader, has threatened that employees would start an agitation if the government fails to accept their demands within one month.

Blind seek quota in jobs
SHIMLA, April 19 — The Himachal Federation for the Blind has urged Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, to ensure 1 per cent quota in government jobs for the blind.

Fall of Vajpayee govt

Dhumal foresees no problem
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 19 — Unruffled by the fall of the BJP-led coalition, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today asserted that he did not foresee any problems in running the government as any government which came to power at the Centre was obliged to fulfil its constitutional responsibility towards states, particularly in respect of financial assistance and inter-state issues.

Mr Dhumal who returned here from Delhi today said that he was not worried over the developments as the Centre had to help the states rise above party politics. Moreover, the financial crisis was not confined to Himachal Pradesh but most other state governments were also plagued with it.

The financial crisis in the state was not a party issue. It was there when he took over the reins of the government and it would continue for the next few years till the state became self reliant.

He said the Vajpayee government had been more than helpful to the state. It not only provided timely financial assistance which enabled the state to tide over the crunch situations without resorting to market borrowings but also sanctioned a number of projects. He also helped the state in settling several pending issues involving the neighbouring states.

The Chief Minister said he had no reason to presume that the next Prime Minister would not be helpful as it was Mr Vajpayee.

He said development activities would not be allowed to be affected on account of the financial crisis and the government would explore all possible avenues for raising resources, including market borrowings. It would maintain complete transparency and try to get loans at the lowest possible rates of interest. The state required a lumpsum assistance of Rs 1000 crore to tide over the financial crisis.

He denied the charge of Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan, general secretary of the Himachal Vikas Congress that he was functioning under the influence of the Sangh Parivar, and said if any specific instance was brought to his notice he would look into it. In a democratic set anyone could meet the Chief Minister, irrespective of the political affiliation.

Mr Mohinder Singh, a senior HVC leader and Minister for Public Works, who was also present said his party was behind Mr Dhumal back.

Mr Dhumal said there was a little possibility of the non-BJP parties coming up with a stable government at the Centre. The only alternative for the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, was either to invite Mr Vajpayee again or order a mid-term poll.

When asked if the state could also go for a simultaneous assembly poll, he said the possibility could also be considered in consultation with the alliance partner, the HVC.

Concern over Tibetan monks' lifestyle
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, April 19 — The Tibetan community has expressed concern over the non-observance of vows by the monks and their indisciplined behaviour.

Tibetan monks came in for severe criticism by Tibetan leaders, government officials and Tibetan NGOs at the second administrative conference, held at McLeodganj recently. During this conference, participants from India and abroad exchanged views to bring about improvement in the functioning of the various departments of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

Practically everyone present at the conference, expressed disappointment over the behaviour of monks and felt that they were not living up to their vows, whether it was here in India or in other monasteries in Nepal. It was pointed out that the monks instead of adhering to a strict, disciplined life of a monastery, were generally spotted watching movies or roaming around aimlessly.

It was stressed that the Department of Religion and Culture must lay more emphasis on quality rather than increasing the number of monks. In a Tibetan society, a monk was held in high esteem, and such behaviour would lead to disrespect for them, the participants felt.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who also addressed the conference, said that "slackness" had creeped into Tibetan administration, despite a good set-up and the latest facilities. He added that the Tibetan bureaucrats in the early years of exile were much more committed and hard working, despite all odds. He warned that if this "slackness" continued, it could pose a major threat in the coming years.

Reviewing the functioning of the Department of Education, the participants felt that there had been a deterioration in the quality of education. The number of school dropouts was on the rise, whereas the menace of drugs and drinking was ruining the lives of these misguided youth. These youths were a lost "generation", which was neither completely Tibetan nor westernised. It was felt that the Department of Education must take steps to improve the quality of education, so that the youths stayed away from drugs and other social evils.

It was also felt that the Department of Information and International Relations, was not doing adequate publicity in various Tibetan settlements about the deteriorating situation in China-occupied Tibet. They felt that it was necessary for Tibetans living in exile here to know about the plight of their brethren in Tibet.

The first administrative conference had been held here two years ago to discuss the functioning of the various agencies of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

Lapse of funds: govt seeks report
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, April 19 — The Himachal Government is reported to have taken a serious note of the lapse of about Rs 17 lakh by various government departments in Hamirpur district under the 'Special Component Plan' during the 1998-99 financial year.

It has sought detailed reports from the departments concerned, sources said.

A meeting of the plan monitoring committee was held here today with Mr Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Deputy Commissioner, in chair. It reviewed the progress of various programmes and expressed satisfaction over the achievements made last year. The meeting, however, took serious note of those departments which had failed to achieve the targets and surrendered the money to the Centre.

The sources told The Tribune that while the Department of Transport had announced to spend Rs 40,000 for the construction of a rain shelter at Badehar village of the district, the Department of Animal Husbandry also announced that it would construct two rooms in the Dalit bastis in the Nadaun area.

There was no reply from the Department of Food and Supplies which had failed to locate land for the construction of the godown in and around any Dalit basti in the Sujanpurtira block of the district.

The Department of Industries had failed to give reply to the Deputy Commissioner why a sum of Rs 10 lakh had lapsed.

Sources said the general manager of the District Industries Centre, Hamirpur, had been summoned to Shimla.

Meanwhile, opposition parties in the district have taken a serious note of the lapse of money under the 'Special Component Plan' for the Dalits. They have described the step of the departments concerned as anti people in general and anti Dalits in particular.

Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania an ex MLA, had demanded an inquiry into the lapse of the funds and fixing of responsibility on the erring persons. In a statement here today, he said it was shocking that the money given by the Central government was sent back. This, he said, showed the weakness and inept handling of the affairs by the state government.

Dhumal 'weakening' panchayat bodies
From Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

BADDI (SOLAN), April 19 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress is confident that once the party-led government is sworn in at the Centre under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the BJP-led government in the state too would go the Vajpayee way.

This confidence was displayed by leaders of the Himachal Congress at the day-long state-level Panchayati Raj convention organised by the party to highlight the alleged attempts by the Dhumal government to undermine the Panchayati Raj institutions.

The Congress leaders alleged that the motive behind the "undemocratic move" of the Dhumal government was the fact that about 90 per cent of the members of the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions owed their allegiance to their party.

The AICC secretary, Mr Anil Shastri, who is in charge of the party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, said categorically that once the Congress Government was formed at the Centre, the "day is not far when the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh will fall due to its inherent contradictions".

He reminded the state party leaders how their infighting had harmed the interests of the Congress in Himachal. He said the Congress had almost won in the last assembly elections and it would have formed a government in the state but for "inner party differences". He said the Lok Sabha elections were not far off and it was the responsibility of each Congress leader in Himachal to ensure "total unity and cohesiveness" in the party.

Mr Shastri assured the party workers attending the convention that if their leaders worked unitedly the Congress would win all four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal.

He said the Panchayati Raj was well established in Himachal for which the credit went to Rajiv Gandhi and Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister of the state.

Procured wheat not lifted
Tribune News Service

RAMPURAPHUL, April 19 — Even as the wheat crop is coming in huge quantities to this market and other purchase centres, farmers and commission agents are facing the problem of non-lifting of and non-payment for the wheat procured by the government agencies.

As the per acre yield of wheat crop is good this season, the arrival of wheat in the mandis has picked up. In the past six days, the mandi here has not been left with any vacant space.

The procured wheat bags are being stocked in the vacant spaces available to the commission agents here and at the Mandi Kalan and Krarwala purchase centres as not a single bag has been lifted so far by the state government's procurement agencies. The problem is so acute that there is little space to accommodate additional wheat crop.

Mr Jaswant Rai Ballho, President, Kacha Arthias Association, has appealed to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to make immediate arrangements for the lifting of and payment of wheat procured by the government agencies.

He added that Punjab farmers were already a disappointed lot due to successive crop failures in certain areas. Non-payment for their procured wheat crop would add to their financial crisis.

Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, said that the Additional Deputy Commissioner had been sent to the spot to solve the problems of commission agents and farmers. There was earlier some problem in lifting of wheat due to a labour dispute with transporters but it had been resolved today. Now payments would be made to all farmers, he added.

However, Mr Pawan Kumar, a commission agent pointed out that about 50,000 bags of wheat were lying unlifted in this market, 16,000 bags in Mandi Kalan and 15,000 bags in Krarwala purchase centre.

Mr Parveen Vij, District Food and Supplies Controller, claimed about one lakh tonnes of wheat had been procured by the government agencies in Bathinda district so far .

Mr Ladhar said to tide over the problem of plenty in this market, the FCI had been asked to make bulk purchases. Earlier, the FCI was not allotted this mandi.

Malaria cases up in Himachal
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 19 — Due to the half-hearted implementation of the malaria eradication programme, there has been a sharp increase in the incidence of the disease in the state over the past few years.

The number of malaria cases shot up from 4,062 in 1993 to 8,349 in 1996. In all, 34,768 cases were detected in the state during the 1992-97 period. Kangra district, with 9000 cases, accounted for 26 per cent of the total cases, followed by Sirmaur where 7,257 cases were detected.

There were as many as 47 falciparum cases and the percentage of such cases was as high as 36 per cent in Kangra and 19 per cent in Sirmaur.

The main reason for the alarming increase in the cases was due to the fact that the Health Department had failed to carry out the required spraying operations. There was a shortfall of 38 to 47 per cent in spraying of human dwellings in the first round and 65 to 96 per cent in the second round during the five-year period. Similarly, the shortfall in spraying of cattlesheds ranged from 26 to 46 per cent in the first round and 63 to 95 per cent in the second.

In seven districts Rs 25.39 lakh spent on the spraying operations in the first round had been wasted as the second round was not carried out at all.

In some districts the officers concerned showed "fictitious" use of DDT. For instance, 17.06 tonnes of DDT worth Rs 11.49 lakh was shown either used or was not accounted for in Bilaspur, Kangra, Sirmaur and Solan.

Moreover, spraying operations were carried out without conducting any entomological study of susceptibility of vector of DDT. In fact, the stipulated visits of entomological teams for conducting various tests were not conducted. As against the required 288 visits during the period, only 151 were actually conducted. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India had also pointed out such irregularities in its latest report.

While the Government of India had banned the manufacture and use of Benzene haxachloride (BHC) by March,1997, the department sprayed 8.21 tonnes of it during April-September, 1997.

Besides, timely treatment of positive cases could not be done due to delay in the examination of blood slides. Blood smears were to be examined within a period of seven days of their collection. The delay at various stages from collection of blood smears to the final treatment reduced the efficacy of the programme.

The department opened 4996 dry distribution centres against the target of 8,910 and only 2,241 fever treatment depots were opened against a target of 4,455 up to 1997.

The department also failed to properly monitor the programme and activity reports were not prepared at all. Independent appraisal teams were to be constituted by the Centre to evaluate the programme, but no such team visited the state during the five-year period.

Make Red Cross mass movement: Governor
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, April 19 — Mrs. V.S. Rama Devi, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has underscored the need to make Red Cross a mass movement in the state for bringing succour to the sick and the needy. She said Red Cross committees should be set up at the sub-divisional level for carrying out welfare activities at the village level.

The Himachal Governor said this while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the District Red Cross fair at Chamba Chowgan today.

The Governor appealed to well-to-do people and philenthropists to donate liberally to Red Cross. She emphasised the need to involve women and voluntary organisations in the Red Cross movement.

Hill women played a pivotal role in the economy of the state and they should participate actively in all social and economic activities, she said.

Women should become more health and hygiene conscious and stressed the need for organising awareness camps for them.

The Governor commended the gesture of Mr Ravi Khanna who donated an ambulance to the Red Cross Society for use at Dalhousie.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kishori Lal, Himachal Industries Minister, announced that regional hospital-level facilities would be provided at the district Hospital Chamba and the hospital would be upgrade. He said Rs 17 lakh had been sanctioned for the installation of lift in the hospital. Two medical specialist had already been posted in the hospital. ultra-sound machines were being installed at health centres in Bharmour, Tissa and Pangi tribal areas. Earlier, the Governor, Mrs. V.S. Rama Devi, visited the exhibition put up by various departments on this occasion and evinced keen interest in the exhibits.

The Governor gave away five sewing machines to poor women, artificial limbs and hearing aid machines to eight handicapped persons and blankets to 23 lepers. She also gave away life membership certificates to 194 members of the district.

Mr Mohan Lal, state Ayurvedic Minister, Mr Tulsi Ram, MLA, Malvika Pathania, Chairman of the Social Welfare Advisory Board, Mr Deepak Sharma, Vice-Chairman, H.P. Red Cross, were prominent among those who were present.

The Governor said she would direct the State Government to do something concrete for the development of tourism in the hill stations of Dalhousie Kalatop, Khajjiar, Chamba and Bharmour.

She underlined the need to promote package tourism in these hill stations.

Threat to launch agitation
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 19 — Mr Gopal Das Verma, a non-gazetted employees leader, has threatened that employees would start an agitation if the government fails to accept their demands within one month.

He said an action committee would be set up shortly to prepare programme for the agitation. He said the employees had been forced to take up the course of action due to indifferent attitude of the government which failed to take any decision on the demand over the past one year.

He appealed to district presidents and general secretaries of the state non-gazetted services federation to boycott the meeting of the federal committee on April 22 convened by Mr Ganga Singh.

He said he had postponed the election of the federation slated for April 20 and 21 in view of the court case.

Blind seek quota in jobs
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 19 — The Himachal Federation for the Blind has urged Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, to ensure 1 per cent quota in government jobs for the blind.

A deputation of the federation led by Mr Devachand Negi met Mrs Rama Devi at Raj Bhavan here today and apprised her of the problems being faced by the blind. The deputationists informed the Governor that despite the assurance given by the state Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, the blind were being denied the quota. There was no mention of it in the advertisements for jobs issued by the government.

The facility of quota in jobs was available to the blind in other states.

They also urged the Governor for opening a school for the blind.