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| Sunday, November 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Engineer threatens immolation Nod to phase II of
afforestation project An eye bank only in name |
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Shastri inaugurates Lavi fair Blood bank sans testing kits Court, camps held in Pangi valley Delegates being pressurised:
Prasada group Festival for disabled
organised Beating up of scribe:
HP orders probe ‘Petite Orange
Queen’ chosen
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HVP not to merge
with BJP: Mohinder PALAMPUR, Nov 11 — Mr Mohinder Singh, Himachal Public Works Minister and Himachal Vikas Party (HVP) chief today ruled out the possibility of merger of his party with the BJP in the state. However, he announced that his party would continue to support the BJP-HVC government in Himachal Pradesh. Addressing a news conference here today, Mr Mohinder Singh said there was no immediate threat to Prem Kumar Dhumal Government and it would complete its term. Mr Mohinder Singh said the Public Works Department had constructed 500 km of new roads in the rural areas of the state. He said by the end of 2002, the state government had planned to connect all villages with link roads in the state. He said there was no financial crisis in the department. The minister said all state highways in the state would be converted to double lane. The National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development had also agreed to finance the state highways under a time-bound project and state government had already taken up the work, he said. Referring to the bad shape of national highways in the state, he said because of faulty planning of the HP State Civil Supplies Corporation, the Public Works Department could not get the bitumen in time which caused a delay in the metalling of highways. Mr Mohinder Singh added there was no plan to contest the coming panchayat elections on party symbol. He urged the panchayats to provide land for the construction of roads. |
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Engineer threatens immolation KANGRA: A family of four, including two minor children, belonging to the Scheduled Castes has decided to resort to immolation in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi on Republic Day next year as it is reportedly starving with the only male member, a diploma engineer, having been denied a job by the government for the past 12 years. Mr A.B. Raajbansh, a resident of Ansoli village, near here, and son of an ex-serviceman, has been struggling to get a job after he obtained a diploma in mechanical engineering in 1988 with 56.5 per cent marks. He also cleared a one-year post-diploma proficiency course through the Ministry of Human Resource Development. He claims he failed to get a job because he had no “political links.” Mr Raajbansh is the son of the late Naik Basant Ram, recipient of the Sena Medal and the Raksha Medal, who fought for the country in 1962 and 1965. A matriculate with 65.69 per cent marks, Mr Raajbansh said he had been going from pillar to post to get a government job. He said he had crossed the age limit of 38 for general candidates applying for such jobs, but as a Scheduled Castes candidate he had two and a half years left before his fate would be sealed. Mr Raajbansh, who is the recipient of a commendation certificate from the Superintendent of Police (Vigilance), Northern Range, Dharamsala, for supplying valuable information in a corruption case, said he even tried to join as a voluntary teacher, for which he applied in 1991-92, but was rejected. He claimed that a matriculate candidate with only 37 per cent marks was accommodated because he had “political links”. Mr Raajbansh said he had approached the President of India, Mr K.R. Narayanan, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Union Ministers Shanta Kumar and Ram Bilas Paswan, Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal and others to help him. However, only the President replied and referred the matter to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary on August 5, 1998, for appropriate action. He said the Chief Secretary did not bother to write to him. He said his wife, Sapana Raajoo (32), was the granddaughter of freedom fighter and INA soldier Khaimdi Ram of Bhadrol. Emotionally shattered and dejected, Raajbansh, father of two, Madubala (10) and Shekhar (7), said: “In India there is no one to protect the interests of the common Scheduled Castes members and poor persons and I am now left with no option but to resort to immolation along with my wife and two children in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 26 next year. I cannot see them begging on the streets.” |
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Nod to phase II of
afforestation project SHIMLA, Nov 11 — Approval has been given for the implementation of the second phase of the Rs 169-crore German Government-aided project and the Rs 30-crore World Bank-aided Changar project in order to achieve the afforestation target in Himachal Pradesh. Besides, efforts are being made to cover the entire state under the special Himachal projects being implemented in Mandi and Kulu districts. Mr Roop Singh Thakur, Forest Minister, disclosed this yesterday on his arrival here after an extensive tour of the forest areas of Shimla district. He said a Rs 67.35-crore budget had been allocated for forestry, besides the target of covering 20,000 hectares under forest plantation this year. He said village forest development committees had been constituted under the Sanjhi Van Yojna in order to have the active participation of people in forest management. He said under this project, small-scale schemes were being prepared with the help of people. He said the Parishram Hamara Van Hamara Yojna had been started under which necessary material and technical know-how was being given to people for carrying out plantation programmes. He said under this scheme, 720 panchayats of 72 blocks and 25 to 30 high and senior secondary schools would be covered this year. The Forest Minister said effective steps were being taken to stop encroachments on forest land, besides preparing a Rs 44-crore 10-year plan to combat forest fires. He said provision had been made to provide special training to people and department employees to combat forest fires under this scheme. |
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An eye bank only in name SHIMLA, Nov 11 — Established 14 years ago, the eye bank here has not done a single corneal transplant so far because it has not been provided proper accommodation and equipment by the government. The eye bank has so far remained only on paper although Himachal Pradesh became one of the first three states to enforce the Transplantation of Human Organs Act five years ago in 1995. It is learnt that 2000 donors have got themselves registered with the eye bank of the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here since 1986. A couple of them have died without their desire to make others see with their eyes having been fulfilled. Most of these donors were from Shimla district. The eye bank was registered with the Eye Bank Association of India, Hyderabad, in 1996. For the past nearly 20 years the Ophthalmology Department is functioning in a makeshift barrack-type accommodation in the backyard of the IGMC which is unfit for establishing a proper eye bank and installing sophisticated equipment for preserving the donated eye tissues. The doctors feel handicapped. No separate operation theatre has been provided for eyes and the existing arrangement is not sufficient to meet routine requirements. It is learnt that the bare requirement of a separate round-the-clock telephone line and a vehicle for collecting donor material from nearby places has not been provided to the bank, despite repeated pleas. When contacted, doctors said the eye bank could become functional only after the minimum requirements were met. Inquiries revealed that for the past over 10 years, doctors of the Ophthalmology Department had repeatedly highlighted the constraints under which the eye bank was functioning, but in vain. It is worth mentioning that about 20 per cent of the blind of the world are in India. A majority of them suffer from corneal blindness which is curable. |
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Shastri inaugurates Lavi fair SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The traditional “Lavi fair” today was inaugurated at Rampur by the Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, amidst gaiety and fervour. The Governor said that fairs and festivals generate deep sense of fraternity and affection in the society and play a vital role in the integration of social fabric. He said that these fairs also provided a citadel for the preservation of our cultural heritage besides entertaining people with variety cultural extra-vaganza. These festivals also enable people from different religions and regions to come together and establish mutual rapport, undertaking and friendliness among themselves he added. The Governor stated that unity of our society was a great source of creating courage to face difficult situations unitedly, further adding that communal amity among people from different walks of life generate social strength. Underlining the importance of the international Lavi trade fair, the Governor said that it provided ample opportunity to the traders for selling their goods as well as to the buyers purchasing items of choice and liking. Inaugurating the exhibitions put up by various departments Mr Shastri said that these highlighted their respective products and departmental activities besides informing the masses about developmental and welfare programmes launched in different fields from time to time. He hoped that the masses would be benefitted from these exhibitions providing them information about different welfare programmes of the government. He evinced keen interest in the exhibitions. The Governor also inaugurated the Kinner Bazaar and Khampa Bazaar set up in the mela ground. He also released a souvenir published on the Lavi fair. Mr Chet Ram Negi, Himachal Parliamentary Secretary, speaking on the occasion said that fairs and festivals played a good medium for extensive publicity of our cultural heritage. Earlier, Mr Singhi Ram, MLA, welcomed the chief guest and shed threw light on the importance of ‘Lavi’ fair. |
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Blood bank sans testing kits KANGRA, Nov 11 — Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College Hospital blood bank at Dharamsala is short of the blood-testing kits, for testing hepatitis ‘B’ and ‘C’ virus, for the past 10 days, putting the patients in need of the blood transfusion to inconvenience. According to the hospital sources, the ‘HBSAG’ and ‘HCV’ testing kits for the testing of hepatitis ‘B’ and ‘C’ virus respectively were not available in the blood bank for the past 10 days, so patients are forced to purchase these kits from the market, and the price of these kits allegedly becomes two fold in odd hours and nights. The sources said that testing kits for the HIV testing was also at exhausting point and testing of blood for HIV virus before transfusion would not be possible after a few days in this blood bank for want of these kits. According to these sources the unavailability of the budget has created the crisis and the patients are in a difficulty. According to blood bank sources the transfusion of the blood was not possible without the hepatitis ‘B’ ‘C’, and HIV testing as the apex court on March 6, 1997 had directed to hold tests for hepatitis ‘C’ as it was made mandatory. This mandatory requirement was in addition to already existing HIV and VDRL testing and this direction was made effective from July 1997, sources added. This blood bank has consumption of nearly 250 units per month. Hospital authorities had informed the higher authorities in Shimla through fax of kit crisis but without result. This blood bank when established had capacity to store 1000 units of blood at a time but it has now been reduced to 250 units only. This was due to poor response from the people as blood donation camps were organised rarely. Blood bank sources said that only 15 units were available against monthly consumption of 250 units. The Vivekananda Kendra, a spiritually oriented service mission with headquarter at Kanaya Kumari provides soccour to the patients by providing blood donors at call. The organisation has more than 450 blood donors at its call and the organisers help needy patients and provide them blood when approached by the Kangra Red Cross Society, hospital authorities, or by the attendants of the patients directly. The kendra uses the services of the cable networks when rare blood group was required and the donors come forward in response to kendra’s call, Mr C.R. Mahajan, kendra organiser, disclosed. The blood bank is also depending on the students of the government degree college Dharamsala for blood donation every now and then, blood bank sources said. The Medical experts at the medical colleges said that due to lack of awareness, poor diet and social tensions the haemoglobin goes as low as 3 gms among pregnant women in this hill district and such patients require at least six units of blood for safe, normal or operated delivery. These experts, added that in this hill district even a normal delivery requires transfusion of at least one unit of blood, so the blood bank should have sufficient blood with it. The patients under treatment in different hospitals in the district, except the subdivisional hospital Palampur and a private nursing home at Dharamsala are refused blood in exchange from this blood bank. On enquiry, blood bank authorities said that the Director, Health Services, had permitted them to provide blood in exchange only to Palampur hospital and a private nursing home at Dharamsala. Dr Anju Puri, in charge of the blood bank, however said that the blood bank had sufficient blood in store to meet requirements. |
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Court, camps held in Pangi valley CHAMBA, Nov 11 — For the first time, a court was held at the Killar subdivision headquarters of the Pangi valley in the district last month in which three session trails were conducted. Mr J.L. Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, said here yesterday that besides the sessions trials, a legal literacy camp was also organised in coordination with the Resident Commissioner of Pangi, Mr R.D. Nazeem, and the local officials. Legal literacy guidance was imparted to the people in the camp. Mr Gupta said so far in the district, court fee amounting to Rs 7111 was paid by litigants and a sum of Rs 13,923 was spent for the engagement of counsel under the Model Scheme for Legal Aid. Besides, eight legal literacy camps were organised at different places in the district in which 1162 villagers participated. Lectures regarding legal rights and the concept of lok adalats were impacted. |
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Delegates being pressurised:
Prasada group SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The Jitendra Prasada group has accused the Chairman of the state Election Authority, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, of pressurising Congress delegates here on the eve of the organisational elections to vote for Mrs Sonia Gandhi for the post of the AICC president. Mr Deepak Rathore, who is polling agent of Mr Prasada in Himachal Pradesh, today alleged Mr Rao was trying to influence the delegates in favour of Mrs Gandhi. He alleged the organisational elections in Himachal Pradesh conducted by Mr Rao had already come under severe criticism and many partymen had gone to the court. He likened the electoral fight between Mr Prasada and Mrs Gandhi as that between common workers and paratroopers who had formed a coterie around the latter. Mr Rathore alleged the coterie, which had become strong, never wanted the grassroots youth to come forward in the organisation. He claimed at least 35 delegates in Himachal Pradesh had promised to vote for Mr Prasada as they were convinced with his crusade for internal party democracy which was also cherished by the late Rajesh Pilot. He said it was disappointing that the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, had jumped onto the bandwagon of sychophants of Mrs Gandhi who did not even listen to his complaints regarding rigging of the party elections in the state. Mr Virbhadra Singh should not have compromised on the situation which had embarrassed him, he added. |
Festival for disabled organised SHIMLA, Nov 11 — At least 300 children today participated in the first-ever festival for the disabled here. The event was organised by the Centre for Disabled Children at Bishop Cotton School. Children from Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Dharamsala, Una, Shimla and Delhi participated. The Sports Minister, Mr Parveen Sharma, who was the chief guest, appreciated the initiative taken by the school in organising the event. Besides sports events, a painting competition was held. |
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Beating up of scribe:
HP orders probe SHIMLA, Nov 11 (PTI) — The Himachal Pradesh Government today ordered a judicial inquiry into the beating of Kangra-based journalist Prakash Badal on September 25 and the subsequent clash between demonstrating journalists and anti-social elements at Kangra on November 3. The District and Sessions Judge, Sirmaur, Mr Naneshwar Goel, will head the one-man inquiry commission and submit a report within three months, according to a government notification. The inquiry commission would go into the circumstances and events pertaining to these incidents. |
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‘Petite Orange
Queen’ chosen KASAULI, Nov 11 — Women held a get-together at the 120-year-old Kasauli Club, the first event after the newly-appointed executive committee took over the reins of the club in October this year. The event, which was hosted by women of the Military Hospital here, was attended by 50 women from Jatog, Dagshai, Solan and other nearby places. “Treasure from trash” was a versatile pick of the day. The “Petite Orange Queen” title was bagged by Mrs Shefali Bahadur. Mrs V.S. Tonk, wife of the Station Commander, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes. |
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