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| Monday, February 21, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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43
HIV cases in Himachal
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43 HIV cases in Himachal KANGRA, Feb 20 — The number of HIV positive cases in Himachal Pradesh has gone up to 43 which includes 16 full blown cases. The maximum number of AIDS patients are in Hamirpur district. According to health department sources, the national-level AIDS detection camps were organised in different parts of the state for pregnant women, truck drivers and youths. Out of 400 patients who were examined for AIDS atleast one to two patients were found to be HIV positive. As per the survey report number of HIV positive cases in the state could be estimated between 5,000 to 10,000. An AIDS control team headed by Dr Asha Goel recently conducted the survey on the Shimla-Dharamsala highway to locate the places where truck drivers usually stop and at those places free condoms were reportedly distributed. An AIDS awareness and the sexually transmitted diseases camp for the truck drivers was held at Fatehpur today in which 60 drivers from all over the district participated and they were made aware of the safety measures. On this occasion Dr V.K. Mahajan,BMO, Tiara, informed them that the treatment of the sexually transmitted diseases have been simplified with syndrome approach. People infected with it were more prone to get infected with AIDS.
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Directive to disband Yuva Vichar
Manch SHIMLA, Feb 20 — The Congress high command has taken a serious note of the alleged anti-party activities of disgruntled Youth Congress men and directed the state leadership to immediately disband the Himachal Pradesh Yuva Vichar Manch, a parallel organisation floated by them to undermine the official body headed by Mr Sukhwinder. Mr Moti Lal Vohra, General Secretary of the AICC and in charge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, has in a letter to the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, pointed out that there was no provision for setting up a separate outfit within the party when a regular Youth Congress body exited. They should work under the umbrella of the Youth Congress, which was a frontal organisation of the party. Mr Vohra directed Mr Mahajan to take immediate steps to disband the ‘manch’ and report back to him. The prompt action of the Congress high command has given a severe jolt to the dissidents who had floated a parallel organisation with the blessings of senior party leaders who were against the appointment of Mr Sukhwinder as the President of the Youth Wing of the party. Mr Sukhwinder, a supporter of Mr Sat Mahajan was elevated to the post despite opposition from Mr Virbhadra Singh, the leader of the Congress Legislative group in Himachal Vidhan Sabha. The former Chief Minister had even written letters to the high command to stall his appointment. However, Mr Mahajan managed to appoint Mr Sukhwinder as the Youth Congress Chief. The rival camp had been trying to dislodge him eversince. While revamping the organisational set up of the Youth Congress Mr Sukhwinder showed the door to many leaders of the rival camp. And when the efforts of dissidents to upstage Mr Sukhwinder failed, they floated a parallel organisation. Subsequently, a committee headed by Mrs Viplov Thakur, General Secretary of the PCC, and Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Harbhajan Singh and Mr Kuldeep Rathore as members, was set up to look into the activities of the dissidents. Leaders of the manch were issued show cause notice. In the meantime the matter was brought to the notice of the high command which acted promptly and asked the state unit to disband the manch forthwith. The directives of the
high command is being seen as a snub to the leaders who
were supporting the dissidents. Party sources points out
that with the high command taking a tough stand,
disciplinary action might be taken against Mr Manjit
Thakur, Mr Pramod Sharma, Mrs Renuka Dogra and other
leaders associated with the manch. |
Fresh snow in Shimla SHIMLA, Feb 20 — Shimla and high altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh had fresh snowfall while lower areas had rain today, bringing down the temperatures. The upper areas of Shimla district, including the tourist places of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda also had snowfall. The higher reaches in the tribal district of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and the Pangi valley in Chamba district had another spell of snowfall, making people groan under the intense cold. The Rohtang Pass and the Dhauladhar mountains also had snowfall, renewing the cold wave in the Kulu and Kangra valleys. The lower areas including Mandi, Dharamsala and Solan had rain. The higher reaches of Mandi district also had snowfall, a report from Mandi said. Heavy snowfall has been reported from Chhota Bhangal, the Chauhar valley, Karsog and Chachiot areas. The tourist place of Manali has had snowfall since this afternoon. Chopal, Kharapatthar, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Thanedhar and Rohroo areas in upper Shimla were cut off as all roads beyond Kufri were blocked due to the heavy snow. The fresh snowfall further intensified the cold wave which has caused drinking water pipes to freeze in many localities of the town over the past one week. The snowfall has brought
cheer to apple growers who are now hopeful of a bumper
crop in this season. |
Papers decry postal authority's
action CHAMBA, Feb 20 — Resentment prevails among the owners of various small newspapers in the state over the "arbitrary" orders issued by the Chief Postmaster General Himachal circle cancelling the postal registration of these newspapers. In a press note issued here today, the owners of these newspapers alleged that the Chief Postmaster General had exercised his powers without citing any reason for the rejection of the postal registration of the newspapers at concessional rates. Some of the newspaper owners say their weekly newspapers have been published for the past 10 years with the postal registration. But now after 10 years, their postal registrations have been rejected without any reason. They maintained that they fulfilled the conditions prescribed for postal registration yet it had been cancelled. The owners of these newspapers have decided to move the court. If the Chief Postmaster General (Himachal Circle) failed to review and reconsider their case for the renewal of postal registration.
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Pong dam has tourist
potential: Shastri DHARAMSALA, Feb 20 — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri has said efforts should be made to promote the Pong dam, as it has immense tourism potential. The Governor, visited the dam site, yesterday and saw various activities being undertaken by the Wild Life Department and the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. He said the government should lay stress on development of the dam as a tourist spot. Mr Shastri, paid a visit to the Rainsar island, amidst the dam, to watch thousands of birds, which migrate here during the winter from Siberia and Mongolia. So far, 220 species of birds have been spotted in the Pong bird sanctuary. While speaking on the concluding function of First National Invitational Kayaking and Canoeing Championship, at the Pong Dam, he said adventure sports were attracting tourists these days, and water sports could be organised here in a big way. The Governor, also paid
a visit to the rock cut Masroor temple. |
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