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| Sunday, December 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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WB project
for women weavers Way
cleared for college recognition Hydel
generation to be doubled ‘Health
for all’ still a dream HP impasse
unresolved CM’s
residence jinxed? |
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Limit
private sector share: engineers Seven
die in mishap ABVP
plans strike against fee hike 192
file papers for zila parishad poll Father,
son vie for pradhan’s post HP reels under cold wave
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WB project for women weavers DHARAMSALA, Dec 2 — She might be just another simple village belle, sitting on a “khaddi” and weaving a shawl, a common sight in Himachal, but unbelievable as it may sound, she will soon be a techno-savvy business woman, using the latest concept of e-commerce for marketing her product. A World Bank project, being implemented by the Georgetown University, USA, for the women’s weaving cooperatives could herald a revolution in taking the traditional Himachali shawls to the world market. With the project to be implemented in just four cooperatives in Kangra district, a major task is to develop an e-commerce website, so that the goods can be marketed to all countries where these shawls are in demand. The four cooperatives selected by a project team from the Georgetown University, includes Banuri Handloom and Handicraft Production-cum-Sale Cooperative Society, Palampur, Dhauladhar Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Industrial Society at Totarani village near here, Rural Women Handloom and Handicraft Industrial Society, Brindaban near Palampur and the Shiva S.C. Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Industrial Society, Pragpur in Dehra. Initially two women from each of these four cooperatives, will be given computer education. “Our cooperatives are not in a position, at present to produce world quality products and as such they need to enhance their understanding of design, colour and style,” remarked, Mr Ajit Kumar, chief coordinator for the project. It is expected that as these artisans cooperatives learn more basic skills, such as using e-mail and business related software, they will gain the experience as well as the positive reinforcement required to extend their skills towards mastery of Internet-based market research and commerce. Linda Garcia, principal investigator for the project from Georgetown University, is optimistic about the success of the project. “Their sense of determination gave us hope and a reason to believe that this project was bound to succeed,” she said. The Georgetown University, will help the cooperatives in looking for markets, having demand for the Himachali shawls. Some shawls had been taken from here to the USA, as part of test marketing. The response was quite remarkable and an order of 400 shawls was given immediately. Effort will be made to retain the original style and colour with only minor changes according to the demand. The women will be imparted training in three phases. To begin they will be imparted training in cooperative management knowhow for a week. They will receive training in use of vegetable colours and design at Andretta, near Palampur for 15 days. The computer education being imparted to them by Aptech, will be of two months’ duration. Mrs Rekha Kaul, running the
Aptech Centre at Palampur said that the women, after attending the demonstration, sounded enthusiastic about the whole concept. “I am very positive that the women will gain a lot and more importantly the profit that goes to the middlemen will go to the cooperatives,” she said. It is being hoped that if this first e-commercing pilot project in Himachal is a success, other cooperatives all over the state can move on the same lines to get better profits from weaving shawls, which is done in practically every home in the villages of the state. |
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Way cleared for
college recognition SHIMLA, Dec 2 — The Chairman of the Dental Council of India, Dr R.K. Bali, has said that the hurdles in the way of recognition of Shimla Dental College had been cleared and the institution will get approval after furnishing the list of its students. Dr Bali was speaking at the sixth annual conference of the Indian Dental Association here today. He asked the Himachal Pradesh Government not to waste resources by restricting to only 20 the number of seats in Shimla Dental College, where the infrastructure and faculty were available for more students. He said that instead of going in for new dental colleges, the capacity of the existing ones should be increased. It had already been decided by the Dental Council of India (DCI) to recommend to the Centre the recognition of Shimla Dental College. The formal letter would be forwarded to the Centre only after receiving the list of students. Once the college was recognised, then the question of starting postgraduate classes would be considered. Dr Bali said that the issue of recognition of Bhojia Dental College at Baddi would be taken up the DCI at its next meeting. The DCI has stopped further admissions to two dental colleges of Punjab and Haryana as these did not have the required faculty, proper infrastructure and because irregular admissions were made by these institutions. To meet the shortage of faculty, the DCI had formulated a two-pronged strategy. Under the strategy, Dental Postgraduate National Board Examination will be started next year. This will be equivalent to the MDS degree. The course will be available to BDS qualified doctors after 2002 to help those in private practice. He said the DCI had approved postgraduate courses of two years duration in all disciplines. Besides, courses in sophisticated dentistry would also be allowed, for which the notification was expected to be issued in April next. There were only three dental colleges in the country at the time of Partition and now their number has increased to 123. As many as 29 new colleges were in the pipeline and this would increase the total number of seats to 10,000. There were only 35 colleges with 600 postgraduation seats in the country. He stressed the need for quality dental education and warned that certain institutions were indulging in the unethical practice of carrying the faculty from one college to the other during inspection by the DCI. The DCI was concerned about quality education and not increasing the number of colleges. The Secretary, Health, Mr P.C. Kapoor, said that the state government was giving top priority to health reforms. The infrastructure for medical education should be of high quality. The President of the Indian Dental Association, Himachal unit, Dr Nanak Chand Rao, pointed out that the delay in promulgating the Dentists Act in the state had resulted in quackery. Over 100 quacks had got themselves registered in Himachal Pradesh in the absence of the legislation. He demanded that dentists should also be considered for being appointed as Director of Medical Education in the state.
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Hydel generation to be
doubled CHAMBA, Dec 2 — The Union Power Minister had set a target of generating 1 lakh MW of hydroelectricity in the country by 2012 but since the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had given high priority to power generation, this target would now be doubled. Addressing a news conference at the Chamera complex today. Mr A.K. Basu, Secretary to the Government of India, Union Ministry of Power, said a potential of 1.40 lakh MW of power had already been identified in the country, claiming that the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) was doing excellent work to identify and harness the hydel potential in the country. Mr Basu stated that recently the Prime Minister had signed three major hydroelectric projects with foreign collaboration to promote hydro-electric generation, which provided cheap and perennial supply of power. He said that to cope with the power shortage in the country in the peak season, which was about 15 per cent, efforts were afoot to promote hydel power generation. At the moment, there was 60 and 40 per cent rationing in thermal and hydro-electric generation, which was expected to be balanced in future. Twelve corporations in the country were engaged in different kinds of power generation besides state electricity boards. The Union Power Ministry had decided to harness 30 per cent power potential through the private sector and 70 per cent through the Central sector. He said that the USA and Germany were providing more financial assistance and equipment to India for power generation. The Power Ministry had decided to rationalise the power distribution and tariff system all over the country and impose penalty on beneficiary states who were chronic defaulters in paying their arrears of electricity. The ministry would also impose certain restrictions on states delaying the payment of electricity arrears, he added. The task of restructuring of the State Electricity Boards across the country had been put into operation to improve the power tariff system and revamp their network enabling them to work more efficiently. The NHPC was keen to undertake the construction of the 260-MW Kuther Hydroelectric project and 231-MW Hibra hydroelectric project on the Ravi in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh for which the NHPC had received a nod from the Himachal Pradesh Government. Earlier, Mr Basu reviewed the progress made on the ongoing 300-MW Chamera Hydroelectric Project (Stage-II). Mr Yogendra Prasad, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), NHPC, said that 50 per cent of the total
tunnel, having a length of about 20 km, had already been excavated in a short span of 13 months. |
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‘Health for all’ still a dream MANDI, Dec 2 — The pledge of “health for all by 2000” has remained a dream if the outcome of the survey conducted in Himachal Pradesh by the Gyan Vigyan Samiti of the state is any indication. Even the claims of the government to have wiped out six dreaded diseases inflicting infants have been found to be hollow. At the three-day national workshop held in Osmania University of Hyderabad on the occasion of World Health Day on April 7 this year it was resolved to conduct nation-wide survey to find out whether the objectives of the Almatti conference have been realised. Besides health for all the nations which signed the declaration has resolved to provide clean potable water, balance food, shelter and congenial working conditions. The Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti, which had been assigned the job of conducting survey in state picked up 52 panchayats of Mandi district for random appraisal. Mr Sunder Lal Lohia, president of the samiti says the survey reveals “dismal and startling” findings. During investigations of 16,459 householders it was found that in these scattered and thinly populated panchayats 465 children had not been vaccinated against the six dreaded diseases which take heavy toll of children. The survey further disclosed that 10,856 cases of child births were reported during the year of which only 1059 women were admitted in government hospitals or dispensaries. Others did it on their own either through the local dais or with the help of old ladies of the village. This was done partly because of financial hardships and partly because the health centres were located at far-off places. The report further reveals that of the total 16,459 householders only 2,712 families confirmed that they received monthly health information from the health workers. This indicated virtual failure of the system of providing monthly health information to the rural poor. There has been less than marginal improvement in sanitation. Only one-third families had toilets. It is learnt that the survey reports of other states depicted almost the same story. The survey reports of all states were placed before the two-day national conference which concluded yesterday at Calcutta. |
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HP
impasse unresolved SHIMLA, Dec 2 — Futile efforts were made today to break the impasse in settling the revolt by six dissident legislators of the ruling BJP against the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal. Emissaries of Mr Dhumal held a series of talks with the Transport Minister, Mr K.K. Kapoor, throughout the day but the deadlock remained as the other five dissidents had gone to their respective constituencies for withdrawal of rebels in the panchayat elections. The Irrigation Minister, Mr Ramesh Dhwala, the Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Hari Narayan Singh, and legislators — Mr Dulo Ram, Mr Des Raj and Mrs Nirmala Devi, who raised the banner of revolt against Mr Dhumal left for their respective areas early this morning. The emissaries, Mr Jai Ram Thakur, Mr Karamveer, Mr K.D. Dharmani and Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, shuttled between the residence of Mr Kapoor and the secretariat to brief Mr Dhumal about developments in talks. The Vice-Chairman of the HRTC, Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, who also belongs to the Shanta Kumar faction of the BJP, accompanied Mr Kapoor for the talks. Unlike yesterday, there were no direct talks between the rebels and the Chief Minister today. Mr Kapoor said the talks could progress only when the other five dissidents returned on Monday. Mr Kapoor reportedly insisted that the Chief Minister should without further delay accept their two basic demands of dropping the Minister for Public Works, Mr Mohinder Singh, and terminating the services of his own OSD, Mr Omkar Thakur, for creating a congenial atmosphere for further talks. It was probably because of lack of confidence in the present leadership that the dissidents were sticking to their guns and were not willing to relent on the promise that Mr Mohinder Singh would be dropped shortly after his daughter’s marriage on December 11. The talks were proceeding in a positive direction yesterday between Mr Dhumal and dissidents Mr Dulo Ram and Mr Balnatah. However, a stalemate has reached when the dissidents reportedly wanted that their other demand of removing the imbalance in the organisational set-up should be taken up simultaneously. Sources said the demand could not be considered as the state BJP chief, Mr Jai Kishen Sharma, was not available here. Even the supporters of Mr Dhumal wondered why Mr Sharma should have chosen to leave for his home district of Una while the Chief Minister was facing a serious crisis here. There were indications that supporters of Mr Dhumal might approach the BJP high command at Delhi for intervening in the matter and taking disciplinary action against the dissidents. |
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CM’s residence jinxed? SHIMLA, Dec 2 — Is Himachal Chief Minister’s official residence “Oakover” jinxed which makes the chair of the political boss rattle mid-term? Previous records affirm that there is something wrong with the building on The Mall which does not allow the occupant to complete full term in office. In view of the current revolt in the ruling BJP, it is to be seen whether Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal overcomes the jinx. Ever since the building was purchased by the Himachal Pradesh Government from the Maharaja of Patiala to provide a respectable residence to the Chief Minister in the early seventies, no occupant has completed his term. After becoming Chief Minister in March 1998, Mr Dhumal was initially hesitant to shift to “Oakover” from the State Guest House where he was camping. He moved to the official residence only after prayers and “havans”. A temple was also constructed in the premises. All this could not make the going easy for him and he faced an open revolt by three ministers and an equal number of BJP legislators in the 33rd month of his rule. The revolt had started brewing a few months ago. The first occupant of “Oakover”, Dr Y.S. Parmar, known as the maker of Himachal, faced ouster from office shortly after shifting to the newly acquired building. His successor, Thakur Ram Lal could enjoy the comforts of the palatial building for only five months in 1977 when the Janata Party government headed by Mr Shanta Kumar came to power. Mr Shanta Kumar remained Chief Minister for about three years when his government was dismissed. Thakur Ram Lal, who again came to power, remained Chief Minister for less than three years and was asked to quit office. His successor, Mr Virbhadra Singh, who remained Chief Minister for three terms at different times, opted not to shift to “Oakover” and resided in his private residence “Holly Lodge” in Jakhu. He managed to complete full term, except the last one when he played the gamble of holding mid-term elections and lost to make way for the BJP-HVC combine government. Mr Shanta Kumar again formed the BJP government in February, 1990, but could survive in office only for about 33 months. His government was dismissed on the Ram Temple issue in December, 1992. During his tenure, Mr Virbhadra Singh did not stay in the “jinxed” building, but utilised it for his official work. |
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Limit private sector
share: engineers MANDI, Dec 2 — The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Project Engineers Association, at its annual convention held here on Thursday, said while the association was not opposed to the proposed formation of a power corporation, it cautioned the government that the share of private sector must not exceed 50 per cent. The convention lauded the new policy of the government to give priority to hydel power generation. It also opposed the Kol Dam agreement with the National Thermal Power Corporation. The engineers expressed their reluctance to merge permanently with the corporation and preferred to go on a deputation regarding the project. The association demanded the filling up of the vacant posts by holding regular meetings of the DPC. It also demanded time scales to the stagnating engineers. The Additional Chief Secretary, multipurpose power projects, Mr Harsh Gupta, inaugurated the convention. |
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Seven die
in mishap KULU, Dec 2 — Seven persons travelling in a truck (Tata 407) were killed when the vehicle collided with an autorickshaw at Khegsu village near Ani in this district, 130 km from here, late last night. Mr N. Venugopal, Superintendent of Police, said the autorickshaw (HP 25 1137) was coming from Luhari to Dalash. All occupants of the ill-fated vehicle were killed on the spot. Three of the deceased were brothers. The dead were identified as Khushi Ram, Joginder and Jai Ram, residents of Khegsu village. The SP said the accident was discovered yesterday by a driver of an HRTC bus at 11 am yesterday. The Sub Divisional Magistrate, the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Block Medical Officer, Ani, along with a medical team, rushed to the site.
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ABVP plans strike
against fee hike HAMIRPUR, Dec 2 — The Himachal Pradesh unit of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad has opposed the commercialisation of education in the state. This policy has led to an increase in the tuition fees and was thus harming the cause of the poor people of the state, according to Mr Kamal Nayan, Secretary of the state unit of the parishad. Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, Mr Nayan asked the student community to get ready for another state-level agitation for the withdrawal of fee hikes as well as against the commercialisation of education. He alleged that huge fees was being collected from the students in the name of NRI accounts and self-financing scheme. |
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192 file papers for zila
parishad poll SHIMLA, Dec 2 — As many as 192 candidates have filed nominations for 24 wards of the Shimla zila parishad. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.C. Katoch, 40 candidates had filed nominations for four wards of Rampur block, out of which 11 were found valid. He said that two OBC women filed nominations for reserved Jangle wards of Chirgaun block, but their papers were rejected, while nomination papers of two women in Khashdhar reserved ward were found valid. He said that 29 candidates filed their nomination papers for Bachheech and Tikkar ward of Rohru block which were also found in order. |
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Father, son vie for
pradhan’s post MANDI, Dec 2 — In an interesting contest for the post of a village pradhan in Gaunta Panchayat of Sarkaghat sub-division in this district, a father and son are fighting against each other. Panjkoo Ram Kumhar (50) is facing his hostile son Ram Lal (30) in elections of the Gaunta panchayat which is reserved for the other backward classes (OBC). The relations between the two had strained when the father married another woman. Since then they have been living separately. |
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HP reels under
cold wave SHIMLA, Dec 2 (PTI) — Most of the tribal areas in Himachal Pradesh were cut off from the rest of the state as higher reaches had fresh snowfall since last evening, intensifying cold wave conditions in the state. The twin valleys of Lahaul and Spiti shivered under sub-zero temperature as mercury dipped sharply in Shimla, Kulu, Manali and Chamba. The Rohtang pass, gateway to the Lahaul valley, Kunzam pass and Saach pass were closed to traffic. |
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