Himachal to set up health services corpn
CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The Himachal Pradesh Government proposes to set up a health services corporation on the lines of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, announced at Bhanu, near here, today.

An ‘ailing’ civil hospital
DEHRA GOPIPUR: The local civic hospital which attends to over 3 lakh patients every year is in bad shape because of apathy on the part of the state government.

Plea to probe irregularities in raising loans
SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The state BJP has urged the government to probe the irregularities in raising loans during the Virbhadra Singh Government to expose the end users of the commission paid to the arrangers of loans.

1,274 teachers sent to remote area schools
SHIMLA, Nov 28—In a bid to provide adequate staff in the primary schools in remote areas in the state the Himachal Government has posted 1,274 teachers from schools located in and around main towns to these schools.

Plan to merge HP Housing Board
SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The government is planning to merge the H.P. Housing Board with the Nagar Vikas Pradhikaran in a bid to stop overlapping in the functioning of the two organisations.

Without water for 48 hours
MANDI, Nov 28 — Parts of the town went without water for 48 hours when a worker engaged in making a link road to the house of an Assistant Commissioner, which was under construction, damaged four pipelines of the Irrigation and Public Health Department on Friday for two days leading to resentment among consumers.

Insurance plan to the aid of HP farmers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yozna being implemented in the state from the ensuing rabi season will go a long way in protecting hill farmers from the vagaries of weather playing havoc with their crops.

The rapid degradation of the environment due to denudation of hills has over the years brought about significant changes in the climatic conditions. In fact, with the weather playing truant the fortunes of farmers have been oscillating between drought and deluge.

The introduction of the insurance scheme would not only help stabilise the income of farmers but also encourage them to adopt latest know-how and high-value inputs to increase production. While wheat and barley are being covered during the current rabi season, maize, rice and potato will be brought under the scheme during the next kharif season.

The scheme will be extended to horticultural and commercial crops over the next three years. It covers yield losses due to natural fire and storm, hailstorm, tempest, hurricane, flood, pest attacks, drought and landslides. The sum insured extends to the value of the threshold yield of the crop, with an option to cover up to 150 per cent of the average yield of the crop on payment of extra premium.

An exclusive organisation, under the aegis of the General Insurance Corporation of India, will soon be set up for implementation of the bima yojana. Until then, the GIC would continue to function as the implementing agency. In addition to this, to meet catastrophic losses, a corpus fund would be created with contributions from the Central and state governments.

The rate of premium for wheat is 1.5 per cent of the sum insured, whereas in the case of barley it is 2 per cent of the sum insured. The scheme is compulsory for the farmers who have taken crop loans from financial institutions and optional for non-loanee farmers.

The level of indemnity in the case of wheat will be 80 per cent and the sum insured will be up to the limit of Rs 6,120 per hectare with a premium at the rate of 1.5 per cent of the sum insured.

Small and marginal farmers will be allowed a 50 per cent subsidy in premium which would be equally shared by the state government and the Centre.

Loss assessment and indemnity would be done in two ways. If the "actual yield" per hectare of the insured crop for the defined area falls short of the specified "threshold yield", all insured farmers growing that crop would be deemed to have suffered a shortfall in their yields and, thus, the scheme seeks to provide coverage against such contingency. Loss assessment and settlement of claims in the case of localised perils, such as hailstorm, landslides and floods, would be provided on an individual basis.

HP govt bankrupt, says Virbhadra
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Nov 28 — Himachal Legislature Congress Party leader and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has declared that present alliance government led by Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal is "under grave financial crisis" and government has become "bankrupt". He said not only the normal bills, including those of employees, pensioners and contractors were being returned unpaid by the banks but withdrawals from GPF accounts had also been banned for the past several weeks.

While addressing mediapersons at Circuit House here last night in the presence of state Congress President Sat Mahajan and other top leaders from all parts of the district, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the BJP leaders used to raise a hue and cry when the previous Congress government took loans to give a boost to development work in the state, but now the BJP-led state government was also doing the same.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said Dhumal government had gone in for market borrowing to the tune of Rs 800 crore apart from raising funds through boards and corporations.

The former Chief Minister said the so-called economic measures announced recently by the state government were an eye-wash as ministers, chairmen and vice-chairmen of boards and corporations were still spending huge sums of money on extravagant life styles and functioning. He also said that Prof Dhumal’s hopes of getting some financial help from the Prime Minister had also been dashed to the ground.

Giving details of the so-called financial help of Rs 300 crore provided by the Prime Minister to Himachal Government, Mr Virbhadra Singh said this amount was actually a part of state’s funds and there was nothing like financial aid in it. He said at first Rs 100 crore were given as "wage and means advance" at 10.5 per cent interest which had to be returned during the last financial year, while remaining amount of Rs 200 crore was part of the annual state plan and was adjusted against state’s central plan and not a single penny was paid to government in cash. He added that the state government had also got another Rs 200 crore from the Centre at time of Lok Sabha elections but it was Himachal’s share in Central government taxes paid one month in advance.

He said all these amounts granted to the state were "share and right" of Himachal people but the BJP leaders used these allocations to highlight the image of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and as an election prop.

He said he was not aware of any more funds being given to the state government by the Centre and if at all Dhumal government had got any more Funds from the Centre, then it must come out with details and also the way this amount was spent.

Mr Virbhadra Singh challenged Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal to publish a "white paper" on the financial position of the state during the past one and half years with details of the loans and funds being raised by the government along with the details of bankers charges, raisers fee and commissions to enable the people of Himachal know about the government’s financial dealings.

He took strong exception to BJP leaders making an election issue of raising funds by the state government for essential state purposes by Congress government. Thus taking undue advantage of poor financial status of the state.

"Coterie" influencing CM
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The senior leadership of the ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh is feeling offended by the "coterie" which these days influences the decisions of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal.

Some senior partymen reportedly expressed displeasure over the casual manner in which important issues were being handled at the Chief Minister’s office.

It is being alleged that Mr Dhumal is under the influence of the "coterie" comprising four officers, who are allegedly running the show. Their advice is reportedly sought on various issues.

A senior BJP leader belonging to the Dhumal camp, who was recently here in connection with a meeting of party office-bearers, warned that the popularity graph of the BJP-HVC combine government would fast decline in case Mr Dhumal continued to depend on these officers and distance himself from his political colleagues.

He also took exception to the red tapism in the disposal of recommendations of the BJP leaders by the special cell at the Chief Minister’s office. Certain senior partymen were feeling insulted as their recommendations remain unattended for days together. Only such issues were attended to in which the "coterie" was interested, it was alleged.

Some partymen expressed the fear that as the people had high expectations from Mr Dhumal after having voted unprecedently in favour of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, any lethargic attitude in meeting their demands might upset the apple cart.

The bureaucracy was also annoyed over the manner in which the "coterie" succeeded in moulding the opinion of the Chief Minister against certain senior officers. It was alleged that it made several futile attempts to even get the Chief Secretary, Mr A.K. Goswani, dislodged from the post.

Mr O.P. Yadav, who was made the Chief Secretary by the BJP-HVC combine government, was unceremoniously removed from the post allegedly on the advice of the "coterie".

An IAS officer, who had remained close to Mr Virbhadra Singh during the Congress government, had become a confidant of Mr Dhumal, who had been consulting him on various issues.

Several BJP leaders were also annoyed over the delay in disposal of files by various ministers who hardly sit in their offices.

Acute fertiliser shortage in Kangra
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Nov 28 — Farmers in Kangra district have been facing an acute shortage of fertiliser.

Government-owned fertiliser stores in the district have not received the supplies for the past one-and-a half months. Hundreds of farmers have been visiting the stores daily but in vain. State-run agencies like Himfed have badly failed to ensure fertiliser supplies for the rabi crop.

Farmers belonging to Baijnath, Palampur, Nagrota Bagwan, Dehra and Nurpur subdivisions have complained about the non-availability of fertiliser despite repeated requests to officials of the State Agriculture Department. In a written complaint to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal they said the sowing season for the rabi crop was in full swing and if fertiliser was not made available to them soon there would be a complete crop failure in the district. Farmers also pointed out that in block development offices, there was no one to listen to their grievances. Though in every block the government had appointed two agricultural development officers, their services were never made available to them.

In the rural areas cooperative societies have been dealing with the supply of fertiliser. But at present, the Agricultural Department has failed to provide adequate stocks to the societies. In the Changer valley the sowing season is in progress. Ram Singh, a resident of Chaadiar, complained that despite his repeated requests he was not given fertiliser by the society and he had to leave sowing mid-way. Vijay Kumar a farmer from Baijnath, told this reporter that he was in need of 10 bags of fertiliser but he was given only two. Likewise in Nagrota Bagwan farmers have been forced to complete the sowing operation without fertiliser. In Samloti, Kachhyari, 53 Mile, Hatwas and Pathiar, farmers were critical about the illegal distribution of fertiliser. They told mediapersons that the sowing season was over and now there was no use, if they got fertiliser.

Enquiries made by this reporter revealed that at present, the fertiliser stock in the district was nil and the government was expecting the supply of 700 tons soon. The total requirement of fertiliser in the district is about 3000 tons for the rabi crop.

Meanwhile, various political and non-political organisations in the district have criticised the state Agricultural Minister Vidya Sagar, who belongs to the district, for his failure to procure adequate supply of fertiliser for farmers in the district.

An ‘ailing’ civil hospital
From Bijender Sharma

DEHRA GOPIPUR: The local civic hospital which attends to over 3 lakh patients every year is in bad shape because of apathy on the part of the state government.

The new complex of the hospital was constructed four years ago. Earlier there was provision for only 25 beds but now the hospital has 100 beds. The strength of doctors has also gone up from three to eight, including four specialists. Over 300 patients visit the hospital daily, some coming even from Jaswan, Pragpur and Guler.

There is a perpetual shortage of medicines at the hospital. Besides, medicines are substandard. In most cases patients are asked to bring their own medicines. Even life-saving drugs are not available. Oxygen and glucose are also not readily available. Many a time a patient dies for want of medicines at odd hours when chemists shops are closed. There is also a shortage of bedsheets and blankets. Blankets are not washed regularly.

The hospital lacks cleanliness as a result of which patients live in unhygienic conditions. Bathrooms and latrines stink. Most of the latrines remain uncleaned for many days. Heaps of garbage keep lying at the back of the hospital as it is not lifted for weeks. Drinking water is in short supply in the hospital. The PWD, which looks after the functioning of drinking water supply, remains unconcerned. Many a time doctors have to cancel operations in the absence of adequate water in the operation theatre. There is a shortage of para-medical staff, including nurses, compounders and pharmacists.

In the rainy season, the general wards of the newly built complex of the hospital leak, putting patients to inconvenience. Serious cases are mostly referred to Chandigarh or Ludhiana as the hospital lacks special medical facilities. X-ray and ECG equipments seldom functional. As the post of X-ray technician has been lying vacant, patients are advised to get X-ray and ECG done at private clinics.

It is surprising that no lift facility exists in the multi-storeyed building. People demand the provision of a mortuary in the hospital. With the transfer of some doctors from the hospital, things have gone worse.

Himachal to set up health services corpn
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The Himachal Pradesh Government proposes to set up a health services corporation on the lines of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, announced at Bhanu, near here, today.

Speaking at a continuing medical education programme organised by the Himachal Doctors Alumni Association at the ITBP complex, Mr Nadda made it clear that Himachal would study the Punjab experiment and rectify all its lacunae before introducing the scheme.

Appreciating the good work done by Himachal doctors, he said it was gratifying to note that some doctors were occupying prestigious and senior faculty positions both at the PGI and the Sector 32 Government Medical College Hospital. He, however, was unhappy over the way the bureaucratic wrangles forced these doctors to leave the state and work outside.

Mr Nadda announced a grant of Rs 25,000 from his discretionary funds to the association. Earlier, Dr Raj Bahadur, professor and head, of the Department of Orthopaedics, at the Sector 32 Government Medical College Hospital, said that both the PGI and the GMCH, where some of the students of Government Medical College Shimla were occupying key positions were ready to provide facilities for exchange programme for the Himachal doctors to update their knowledge.

Dr J.S. Thakur, general secretary of the association, said that epidemiological studies should be conducted in district hospitals in Himachal Pradesh to evaluate the incidence of various diseases in the State.

Three special lectures were organised. Dr T.S. Mahant, a cardio-thoracic surgeon at Batra Hospital in New Delhi, who deliberated upon the recent advances in the field of coronary bypass surgery and its indications and risk factors said there was no age no bar for surgery.

Dr Savita Malhotra, Additional Professor, Psychiatry at the PGI, said child health was related to the physical health and had to be dealt separately. In her view, the incidence of diseases was 20 per cent to 50 per cent in Western countries as against 8 per cent to 10 per cent in India.

Dr S.S. Pandov of the Department of Ophthalomology of the PGI, talked about the role of computers in medicine.

Plea to probe irregularities in raising loans
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The state BJP has urged the government to probe the irregularities in raising loans during the Virbhadra Singh Government to expose the end users of the commission paid to the arrangers of loans.

Mr Ganesh Dut, the party spokesperson, also demanded an inquiry into the undue benefit showered on a "katha manufacturing factory and the "Wild Flower hall" deal in which the economic interests of the state were sold out to a private hotel group.

He ridiculed Congress leaders Virbhadra Singh and Sat Mahajan for levelling "wild" and "baseless" charges against the coalition and reminded them that it was the Congress Government which legalises corruption by paying a huge commission to middlemen in raising loans. Over Rs 3 crore was paid as commission to raise loans at an exorbitant rate of interest.

Not only that valuable property of the state tourism development corporation known as the Wild Flower Hall which had trees worth crores of rupees was virtually given away for a song. The extent of irregularities and favouritism in recruitment could be gauged from the fact that even blind and medically unfit persons who did not even fulfil the minimum physical standards were recruited as policemen.

In his anxiety to give an undue benefit to an industrial unit, Mr Virbhadra Singh allotted "khair" wood to it after losing the confidence vote in the House without the mandatory approval of the Cabinet.

1,274 teachers sent to remote area schools
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 28—In a bid to provide adequate staff in the primary schools in remote areas in the state the Himachal Government has posted 1,274 teachers from schools located in and around main towns to these schools.

Mr Karan Singh, the Minister for Primary Education, said the teacher had been sent to remote areas to ensure that students in the far-flung areas did not suffer. He said the previous Congress government had also drawn up a rationalisation programme but it could not be implemented due to the lack of political will.

The problem of shortage of staff had been aggravated due to indiscriminate opening of schools by the Virbhadra Singh government without providing adequate staff and buildings for these schools. The present government was trying to improve things despite the financial crunch, the minister said.

Plan to merge HP Housing Board
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The government is planning to merge the H.P. Housing Board with the Nagar Vikas Pradhikaran in a bid to stop overlapping in the functioning of the two organisations.

It is learnt that the government may give its approval for the merger within the next few days.

The two organisations have been performing almost similar functions and the pradhikaran has become almost irrelevant by confining its activities to the town.

The Housing Board is headed by Mr Ganesh Dutt as Vice-Chairman.

It is learnt that there was also a move to merge the Town and Country Planning Department with the two organisations to effectively check illegal constructions in the state.

Employees of the department have expressed resentment against the merger move.

Without water for 48 hours
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Nov 28 — Parts of the town went without water for 48 hours when a worker engaged in making a link road to the house of an Assistant Commissioner, which was under construction, damaged four pipelines of the Irrigation and Public Health Department on Friday for two days leading to resentment among consumers.

The pipeline were damaged without the consent or approval of the I&PH Department, an official said.

In a complaint to the Chief Engineer, I&PH, Mr P.D. Sharma, consumers demanded that no work should be allowed to be carried out till the supply lines were buried deep into the ground.

When contracted Mr D.K. Sharma, SE, PWD, said the construction of the road and the building of the Assistant Commissioner was not being done by the PWD.