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| Saturday, September 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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HP Cong takes steps to prevent
rigging A crowded market no longer Insurance cover for poor women Bar unions object to CM’s
statement ABVP sweeps SCA elections |
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NGO
transforms face of village Locals to observe wildlife week Project in Capt Kalia’s memory in
limbo Advocates warn govt on kisan pass
books 113 seats reserved for women Mahajan promises free and fair
poll Workshop on child adoption held Tribunal upholds its jurisdiction Audit academy’s golden
jubilee HPCC set to finish party poll
process Dharampur block Cong poll stayed Truck driver held for attacking
cop Introduce Hindi in offices:
Governor
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HP Cong takes steps to
prevent rigging SHIMLA, Sept 15 — In a bid to defuse tension following allegations of rigging of the two-phase organisational elections of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, held separate meetings with leaders of both groups of the party here today and stressed on closing ranks to unitedly fight the ruling BJP. Mr Mahajan, who came here from Nurpur this morning, had a luncheon meeting with Mr Virbhadra Singh a day after 17 Congress legislators issued a joint statement expressing apprehensions that the elections might be rigged. Earlier, he met Mrs Vidya Stokes in the morning and heard the views of the other group. Mr Mahajan told newsmen that although the PCC has no role in the conduct of these elections, nevertheless precautions will be taken to prevent rigging. He hoped that differences among partymen on the issue will be settled and said that the election authority should take steps to ensure a free and fair election. Mr Mahajan clarified that he had no differences with Mr Virbhadra Singh and reports giving this impression were baseless. After his meeting with Mr Mahajan, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the party was united and efforts would be made to bring back those who were out of step. He said there was no question of his being anti-youth. No political party can flourish without encouraging the youth, women and weaker sections of the society, he said, adding he had introduced a large number of youths during the mid-term elections to the Assembly in 1985. He said he would, welcome the party high command sending observers following apprehensions expressed by legislators and senior functionaries. Meanwhile, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, a member of the state election authority, claimed that first phase of the elections for the block Congress committees had been completed peacefully and he had not received any complaint from anywhere. He said that the election will be held in a free and fair manner. On the other hand, Mr A.N. Bazwaria, permanent secretary of the PCC, said it had come to the notice of the PCC that the membership list approved by the Pradesh Election Authority was being changed at some places. The list of active members approved by the election authority was the final list and no district or assistant returning officer has any authority to alter the list, he said. He warned that such an act was a breach of discipline and the constitution of the Congress. He directed the DROs and AROs to strictly abide by the final list. Meanwhile, Mr Om Prakash
Sood, president of the DCC (Urban) here alleged
large-scale irregularities by were ARO in conduct of the
elections here today. |
A crowded market no longer DAGSHAI: The local market, where traders used to once come from far-flung areas during British rule, has now turned into a place of closed shops. Most of these establishments are no longer in business. The old-fashioned wooden doors of some of these shops with big locks on them give the impression that the shops may have closed down years ago never to reopen. The importance of this market can be gauged from the fact that people from areas in adjoining Sirmaur district would come here to buy and sell goods. A major part of the wholesale business was conducted from this market. In the post-Independence period, this well-known market gradually lost its identity. Once crowded, it now presents a deserted look. In the 18th century, Dagshai was part of the Maharaja of Patiala’s “riyasat”. The Maharaja gave five villages, including Dagshai, to the British free of cost to set up a cantonment. These villages later formed the present Dagshai, which is spread over 827 acres. In 1901 it had a population of more than 2,000. Until 1947 two regiments of the Army from Ferozepore and Lahore used to come here. Nearly 250 women meant for the entertainment of about 1,000 jawans accompanied them. Every Friday was pay day and on that particular day the market was overcrowded. The regiments used to stay here from April to September every year. The shopkeepers would earn so much during this period that they would not worry too much when business was affected in the winter due to snowfall. After Independence, the population of Dagshai dropped by half. Most of the shopkeepers shifted to Kumarhatti, Dharampur and Solan or left for Pakistan. Till 1985 there were two units of the Army based at Dagshai. In 1986 an Army school was opened. Now Dagshai has a civilian population of nearly 2,200 The Kalka-Shimla National Highway, which passes through Kumarhatti, has adversely affected Dagshai. At present only one bus service is available to Dagshai. Residents have to trudge around one mile to board buses. Under the rules, people
cannot sell or purchase land here. Even for minor repairs
to their houses residents have to get sanction from the
Cantonment Board, which takes up a lot of time.
Cantonment Board meetings, which should be held once a
month, are currently not being convened. Residents allege
that nothing concrete has been done to save this
historical place from further decline despite their
repeated pleas in this regard. |
Insurance cover for poor women CHAMBA, Sept 15 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to provide insurance cover of Rs 25,000 to some 5,78,000 poor women in the age group of 10 to 75 on the birthday of Din Dyal Upadhaya, on September 25. This was stated by the Himachal Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal while speaking on the occasion of a kisan pass book function organised at Chamba today. The Chief Minister said that the premium for the insurance cover would be paid by the state government. The insurance would be a guarantee of compensation for any loss including sickness and death. Applauding the role of security forces along the state border with Jammu and Kashmir, he said they had foiled militants plans with a grit and boldness. The Chief Minister asked the officers and employees engaged in the task of second phase of the census to exercise caution while conducting census duties so that suspect persons were not included. He said a relief and rehabilitation package for the oustees of the Chamba cement plant to be set up at Sikridhar had been okayed and efforts were on to get clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment for the project which will provide employment to thousand of youths. The Chief Minister said that hydroelectric projects already cleared on the river Ravi as well as a tea plantation project in the Bhattiyat area would be undertaken soon. He expressed his gratitude to the Chamera authorities for providing Rupees two crore for construction of an additional building of the district hospital and said Rs 99 crore had been spent on construction of roads in Chamba district during the past two years. He said the state government would formulate a policy on removal of illegal encroachments and to provide such land to poor widows. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kishori Lal, Himachal Industries Minister, said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been finalised with a private company for the Chamba cement plant and 1100 hectare of land identified for a tea plantation in the Bhatiyat area. Earlier, Mr S.K. Dodeja,
Executive Director, National Hydroelectric Power
Corporation (NHPC) presented a cheque of Rs 72,500 for
the CM’s Relief Fund contributed by the officers and
staff of Chamera and Baira Soul Projects. |
Bar unions object to CM’s
statement BILASPUR, Sept 15 — The state action committee of the All-Himachal Bar Associations has objected to some statements made by both Chief Minister and Revenue Minister calling new amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Revenue Act as ‘‘very beneficial’’ for farmers of the state giving an impression that advocates of the state were agitating against these amendments without any valid reasons. The committee has given a call for an emergency meeting of the state action committee at Bilaspur on September 17 in the district. Bar room here to consider the entire situation and the chalk out its future strategy. In a signed statement here yesterday the state action committee president, Mr D.R. Sharma, who is also president of the district Bar association, said here that the action committee did not like the attitude of the Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister as both had launched a propaganda campaign of ‘‘virtual misinformation’’ throughout the state under the garb of government functions organised for distribution of kisan pass books Mr D.R. Sharma said they
had suspended the agitation after the Chief Minister
assured them that within one month bar representatives
and farmers organisations would be consulted and the Act
would be suitably amended. He said no invitation had been
sent to the action committee till now for the final
talks. |
ABVP sweeps SCA elections DHARAMSALA, Sept 15 — The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), made a clean sweep in the SCA elections, at the Regional Centre of the university and Government Degree College here. The ABVP bagged all four top posts and eight of the 10 departmental representatives at the Regional Centre. Atul Bhardwaj was elected president Raj Kumar vice-president, Dheeraj Sharma general secretary and Sanjeev Kumar joint secretary. Out of the 10 seats of departmental representatives, the ABVP won eight while the Regional Students Union won only two. The ABVP won seven of the representative seats unopposed. In the degree college, the ABVP again made a clean sweep, bagging all four seats. The college which has been an ABVP stronghold, elected Mahesh Dutt as president, Pawan Kumar as vice-president, Vishal Chauhan as general secretary and Surinder Kumar as joint secretary. The ABVP also won a majority of the class representatives seats in the college for which voting was held today. HAMIRPUR: The ABVP swept the students central elections in various colleges of this district. ABVP candidates won the posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary. It also won 20 posts of class representatives at Postgraduate College. The ABVP candidates won by more than 1,000 votes for all major seats. NURPUR: The elections to the students’ unions of four colleges in the sub division held on Friday passed off peacefully. At Arya Girls College independents were declared elected. However, they were supporters of the National Students Union of India (NSUI). But had filed their nominations as independents. Puja Puri, Neelam Kumari, Reena Gupta and Anita Kumari were elected as president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. At Government College NSUI supported candidates won the key posts. Nitu Samyal, Kuldeep Kumar and Raj Dulari were elected president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. Minakshi Sharma, an ABVP candidate was elected vice-president. At Deen Dyal Public
Degree College, Sughbatolli, all posts were bagged by the
ABVP. Narinder Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Sushma Devi and
Naresh Thakur were elected president, vice-president,
general secretary and joint secretary, respectively. |
NGO transforms face of
village PARWANOO, Sept 15 — Pratha, a panchayat in Dharampur block of Solan district, was till some years ago a non-descript backward area with hardly anything to look forward to. Then came on the scene Anand Welfare Centre, a non-governmental organisation, with its plans for the uplift of rural women, adolescent girls and youths of the area. The centre is part of Sant Nischal Singh Foundation which operates from Parwanoo and has been in community service in Dharampur block for nearly 10 years. Its programmes to train village boys, girls and women in self-employment generating activity have so far covered 34 panchayats with a population of about 40,000. Under its programme in the Pratha panchayat area, it is running four tailoring centres, two loom training centres, one Balwadi, one music centre, one art training centre and one computer training centre. In this effort it is receiving help from the integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), a Government of India scheme, the ICICI and some other banks. Mr Sansar Chand, Community Development Manager of the centre, says that 72 persons have already benefited from this programme. About 30 women have started making independent income after receiving training under this programme. Some of them who were trained in tailoring have started stitching school uniforms. Some others have opened shops in their villages. The Yogindra Cooperative Bank has funded some of these ventures with loans to self-help groups. Five women have become proficient in carpet weaving. Their carpets measure up to the requirements of the export market. Mr Sansar Chand recalls that in a base line survey of Dharampur block, Pratha was listed as a backward panchayat with no road, no health facility. The people were not aware of any development plans of the government. Then, with help from the Himachal Pradesh Government, the multipurpose community centre was built. Now a 12 km link road from Barog to Pratha is under construction. The Indira Gandhi Open
University has recognised the centre’s certificate
course in computer training. Its diplomas in electricals,
electronics and tailoring are recognised by the Himachal
Pradesh Government. It is also running child health care
and population control projects in the area. |
Locals to observe wildlife week DHARAMSALA, Sept 15 — Continuing their agitation against the denial of grazing and herb extraction rights in the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), residents of the surrounding areas have decided to observe a wildlife protection week from September 17 to check poaching and illegal forest activities. The residents of Seraj and Jiwa valley in Kulu district had barged into the park area, defying the ban on grazing and herb collection, on August 15. “In a unique example, it is the locals who have taken the responsibility of checking poaching and illegal forest activity in the area,” Mr Ajit Kumar, who heads an NGO in Yol, said. He said people had decided to form committees to check hunting, herb-picking and other illegal activities in the park area. It was only with the help of the locals that the park authorities could protect the area. Extending support to the cause of the people, Mr Ajit Kumar said if the government did not settle the matter at the earliest, environmentalists and NGOs from all over the state would join the agitation. “It is not a trivial issue as the question of the livelihood of over 10,000 persons is involved, which needs to be settled at the earliest,” he said. Accusing the park authorities of implicating the people who were fighting for their rights in false cases, he alleged all this was being done to divert the attention from the real issue. Environmentalists said it was because of the non-settlement of the compensation issue, even the World Bank refused to extend the eco-development project being fund by it. They said it was natural for the locals to agitate if their rights were discontinued without providing them with alternatives. They said the government had no reservations in denotifying 10 sq km area of the park for the Parbati Power Project but it was least concerned about the livelihood of the locals. The locals had been
ekeing their livelihood by collecting herbs from March to
September from the park area. They took their animals for
grazing into the park area as most of the pastures were
located there. |
Project in Capt Kalia’s memory
in limbo PALAMPUR, Sept 15 — Sorabh Van Vihar, a project launched last year in the memory of Capt Sorabh Kalia, who died fighting in Kargil, is in a state of neglect. It has not been completed due to shortage of funds. The project comprises a tourist resort being developed at Bandala village, near here. It is in bad shape and the Forest Department entrusted with the job of developing it has expressed its helplessness. During the past one year, the state government has spent over Rs 18 lakh on the project. Of this amount, Rs 10 lakh was given by Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies, while the remaining was provided by the state government. During the current financial year, however, no funds had been allocated for its completion. The project site, spread over 10 hectares, is covered with congress grass and thick bushes. The paths and lanes, which were constructed, have been damaged due to heavy rain. The entrance to the resort has virtually been washed away. It is alleged that Forest Minister Rup Singh Thakur, who had laid the foundation stone of the project, neither visited the site again nor enquired about the requirement of funds. Chief Minister Prem
Kumar Dhumal, who had also announced funds for the
project, had also failed to fulfil his promise. He had
stated that it would be completed within a year. However,
it appeared that the state government had now almost
abandoned it. |
Advocates warn govt on kisan pass
books SHIMLA, Sept 15 — The Himachal Advocates Action Committee has taken a serious note of the decision of the government to distribute kisan pass books at public functions and termed it as clever ploy to make the farmers accept the controversial amendments in the state Land Revenue Act. Mr Devinder Chauhan, general secretary of the committee, said it was a useless document and would not serve the farmers’ interest any better. He said government, it seemed, was not serious about reviewing the ‘anti-farmer’ amendments as assured by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, during talks with representatives of the committee. He said the advocates had not surrendered to the government’s will on the issue and they would chalk out the future course of action at meeting of the committee to be held at Bilaspur on September 17. Mr Chauhan said the action committee would not hold talks with the kisan wing of the particular party and would foil the efforts of the government to create a wedge between farmers and advocates. The committee appealed
to the farmers not to accept the kisan pass books and
boycott the functions organised by the government. |
Workshop on child adoption held SHIMLA, Sept 15 — A proper network of child adoption resource agencies will be set up in the state which will function in coordination with the state Child Welfare Coordinating Council with the headquarters situated here. This was stated by Ms Harinder Hira, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Social and Women’s Welfare, while presiding over a workshop on training and awareness on adoption organised by the state Child Welfare Council in collaboration with the National Institute of Social Defence and Central Adoption Resource Agency here on Wednesday. She said the state government had to play a very important and proactive role in the matter of identifying institutions to facilitate adoption of abandoned, relinquished and destitute children in the state and licensing them for the purpose. Ms Hira called upon the participants to ensure that no destitute child up to the age of 10 years remained for a long period in such institutions without declaring the child legally free for adoption. At times legal formalities had to be relaxed in the interest of child. She urged the police officers to come forward with assistance and liberal attitude to ensure that private and unregulated adoption was prevented and the destitute children were directed only to the licensed homes and agencies. Mrs Vinita Bhargav, president of Central Adoption Resource Agency, assured all possible help to the Himachal Pradesh State Child Welfare Council in organising training and awareness workshops on adoption. She further said the
state government should ensure that proper records and
documents were maintained by the licensed agencies
involved in the child-adoption activities in the state.
Mass awareness programmes through media should be held
from time to time, besides strong networking with other
NGOs doing developmental work for women and children, she
added. |
Tribunal upholds its jurisdiction SHIMLA, Sept 15 — A Full Bench of the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal consisting of its Chairman, Mr Justice A.L. Vaidya, the Vice-Chairman, Mr Attar Singh, and the Member (Judicial), Mr Narinder Thakur, today held that the notification issued by the Government of Himachal Pradesh on August 5, 2000 regarding withdrawal of jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear matters pertaining to all boards and corporations have no legal entity and could safely be ignored. While delivering the 35-page judgement, the Bench observed that the power so exercised by the state government could be so done under the scheme of the Act administratively. It was for the legislature which in the present case was Parliament to amend, repeal, modify or rescind any provision of the Act. The state government had
empowered the tribunal to hear he matters pertaining
recruitment in all boards and corporations of the state
vide a notification August 29, 1986. Accordingly, all
such cases pending before the state high court and its
subordinate courts prior to 1986 were transferred to the
tribunal. |
Audit academy’s golden
jubilee SHIMLA, Sept 15 — The National Academy of Audit and Accounts (NAAA), which has been playing a vital role in imparting professional skills to auditors, will celebrate its golden jubilee on September 16. The academy started as a training school in 1949 when professional training was first introduced for officers of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service. Initially, the school functioned from the majestic Gorten Caste. The present Director-General, Mr B.K. Chattopadhyaya is a senior officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service. The golden jubilee
lecture will be delivered by Justice J.R. Verma, Chairman
of the National Human Rights Commission, on
“accountability and good governance”. Seminars
and more such lectures will be organised throughout the
year as part of the golden jubilee celebrations. |
113 seats reserved for women SHIMLA, Sept 15 — Of the total 331 seats of panchayat pradhans in the district, 113 seats have been reserved for women and 60 for the Scheduled Caste category. Notifying the reservation, Mr P.C. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner, said that of the total 171 members of nine panchayat samities 30 seats had been reserved for the Scheduled Castes, 20 for SC women and 39 for other women, whereas for 24 seats of Zila Parishad, eight seats are reserved for women and four for the Scheduled Castes. Giving the block-wise
details, Mr Katoch said in Basantpur block out of 26
seats of pradhans, four have been reserved for the SC,
three for SC women and six other women. In Jubbal-Kotkhai
of 48 posts, eight have been earmarked for SC, four for
SC women and 12 other women. In block Chhohara, of total
26 pradhans, four for SC, three for SC women and six
other women. |
Mahajan promises free and fair
poll NURPUR, Sept 15 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has claimed that free and fair organisational elections of the party will be held in the state. Talking to mediapersons here last evening, Mr Mahajan expressed faith in the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. When asked to comment on
reports of alleged differences among party stalwarts on
the eve of the election, Mr Mahajan said the Congress was
a democratic party and during its elections, petty
bickering was possible. He maintained that the party was
capable to solve amicably difference of opinion, if any,
at the appropriate time. |
HPCC set to finish party poll
process CHAMBA, Sept 15 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) is all set to complete its party elections process at the constituency level by September 22 and at the district level by October 2 in the state. Announcing this here yesterday Mr Chander Mohan, District Returning Officer (DRO) of the Congress, said primary units had been constituted in all five Assembly constituencies (blocks). He said one Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for each block had also been appointed to assist the DRO in conducting the elections. Party members would elect one President, one state representative and six district representatives from each Assembly constituency. He said it was for the first time in the district that 2,500 active members had been enrolled. The election of the
President of the HPCC would be held on November 1, he
said, adding that the party high command had appointed Mr
Hanumant Rao as the State Returning Officer and Mr Mangat
Ram and Mr K.D. Sultanpuri as the Assistant State
Returning Officers to supervise the elections. |
Dharampur block Cong poll stayed SUNDERNAGAR, Sept 15 — Mr Rattan Singh Thakur, Sub-Judge, Sarkaghat, Mandi district, has stayed the organisational elections of the Block Congress Committee, Dharampur, Sarkaghat subdivision, which were scheduled to be held from September 16 to 22. Mr Amar Singh Chandel, a Congress activist, had filed a civil suit against the Assistant Returning Officer, (ARO), Dharampur, along with four others. He alleged that 43 names, including his, were removed from the voters’ list without assigning any reason. The court issued stay
order restraining the ARO from conducting the elections
of Block Congress Committee, Dharampur. The next date for
hearing is September 18. |
Truck driver held for
attacking cop KANGRA, Sept 15 — The district police arrested Chood Singh, a truck driver from Nawanshahr, yesterday for allegedly attacking a traffic policeman with a kirpan and injuring him at Rajiana village, near here, on the Pathankot-Mandi highway, the police said here today. SHO Surender Singh said traffic policeman Ramesh Chand, who was on duty at the Tehsil chowk, had directed the driver to park his truck on the roadside but the latter drove off. Mr Chand chased him and when he stopped him at Rajiana, he was allegedly attacked by the driver. The former was admitted to the local subdivisional hospital and discharged later. The driver told mediapersons that he was allegedly asked by Mr Chand to pay an entry fee, which he refused to pay and left. He said he was stopped at Rajiana and beaten up by the traffic policeman along with some local people. He said he had used the kirpan in self-defence. A case has been
registered against the driver under various sections of
the IPC. The SHO, however, said nothing illegal was found
from the truck and the driver had the necessary
documents. |
Introduce Hindi in offices:
Governor HAMIRPUR, Sept 15 — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shashtri, has stressed the need for the use of Hindi in every sphere of life. He said efforts should be made to introduce Hindi in offices, research, business, judicial and related activities to make it popular among masses. Addressing a state-level
Hindi day function at Nadaun Kaswa of this district last
evening, the Governor asked those occupying top posts to
work in Hindi. The Governor paid rich tributes to
Yashpal, a revolutionary and a writer. |
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