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Thursday,
June 28, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Sops for
OBC creamy layer Virbhadra
men may be co-opted into PCC Sukh Ram
unhappy with Centre Bhan
outlines media role |
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Political
compulsions cause of financial mess Leprosy
patients cry for care, amenities Resource
crisis in farm university Poor
results plague govt schools Commuters
seek more evening buses Woman
gangraped Student’s
death: notices to Home Secy, DGP Minister
to inaugurate water board office Diversification
of crops top priority: minister BJP
directive to party leaders Hamirpur
girl tops middle exam Foreign
national arrested SFI
submits memo to Bhan ABVP
threatens agitation 
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Sops for OBC creamy layer Shimla, June 27 The decisions were taken at the meeting of the state Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, here today. The income limit for agriculturists and property owners was enhanced from the existing Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh per annum and for professional classes and those engaged in business, industries and other avocations from the existing Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh per annum. The rule of exclusion will only be for reservation in jobs and not for any other purpose. The limit has been raised on the recommendation of the state Other Backward Classes Commission (OBCC). The government, which has been under attack for imposing hospital charges, decided to waive the registration slip charges of 25 paise in hospitals. The meagre relief, however, may not pacify the people and opposition parties who are agitating for the withdrawal of hospital charges. The Cabinet reviewed the existing policy regarding private sector hydel projects exceeding 5 MW in Himachal Pradesh to provide more flexibility to the independent power producers (IPP) in disposal of power generated by them. The developers of the projects with capacity of more than 5 MW and up to 25 MW shall now have the option to sell power to other states or to make captive use of it outside the state. Incentive and disincentive scheme for early and delayed commissioning in terms of reduced and enhanced free power will also be applicable to projects where the developer opts to sell power outside the state. The royalty structure in such cases will be the same as applicable to projects exceeding 25 MW 12 per cent for the first 12 years and 18 per cent thereafter for the remaining agreement period of 28 years. They, however, will have the option to sell power to the state electricity board if the tariff is found attractive by the board. The tariff is to be approved by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). The developers can also incorporate new public and private limited companies for implementation of the projects with registered office in Himachal Pradesh. The promoters will have flexibility with regard to equity structure in these companies. They will have to retain the controlling interest in the new company up to the commercial operation date and at least two years thereafter. This will provide the requisite flexibility to the promoters with regard to the equity structure. The Cabinet also decided to stand guarantee in favour of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation to enable it to avail cash credit facility to the tune of Rs 30 crore to meet its day-to-day expenditure in view of the expanding activities of the corporation. The present cash credit limit is Rs 20 crore. It approved the proposal for setting up nagar panchayats for the towns of Baijnath and Paprola in Kangra district. The two towns fulfil the criteria of a minimum population of 2,000 and annual income generation in excess of Rs 5 lakh from its own resources for constituting a nagar panchayat. It will have a staff of 37 with a annual financial liability of Rs 25 lakh. To ensure planned development of Palampur town the Cabinet decided to bring 14 more revenue villages with an area of 1,783 hectares under the planning area. The Palampur planning area will now consist of 27 revenue villages with a total area of 2,570 hectares. The Cabinet also approved the rates for procurement of mangoes under the market intervention scheme for the current season. The seedling varieties will be procured at Rs 3.08 per kg and the grafted varieties at Rs 3.75 per kg. As many as 44 procurement centres would be set up which will function from July 1 to August 15. It reviewed wool procurement and decided to allow the state wool federation to purchase wool from sheep rearers in accordance with the market trend with prior permission. The rates for autumn clip will be Rs 32 per kg, summer clip Rs 25 per kg and winter clip Rs 16 per kg. The Cabinet approved the terms and conditions for partnership with the private company for setting up two wineries in Shimla and Mandi districts. The company will pay the cost of land worth Rs 2 crore over a period of 10 years in equal instalments. The state will have an equity of Rs 2 crore (20 per cent) in the joint venture. |
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Virbhadra
men may be co-opted into PCC New Delhi, June 27 His supporters were upset over the way in which organisational elections were held in the state and had levelled charges both against the returning officer Mr P. Hanumantha Rao, and the rival group headed by Ms Vidya Stokes, who later became the PCC chief. They had alleged that elections were not held at a number of places and the PCC was not “balanced”. Mr Virbhadra Singh, who had publicly criticised Mr Rao, later made several trips to Delhi to seek early redressal of the election-related complaints. He had even conveyed his resentment against the “delay” in disposal of these complaints. To bring about a rapprochement between the former Chief Minister and Ms Stokes the AICC general secretary Ms Mohsina Kidwai, took steps for early redressal of the election complaints. AICC sources said the Central Election Authority of the Party had heard the parties concerned in all cases and had made up its mind. The decision would be announced after consulting Ms Kidwai, the sources said. Ms Kidwai, who has herself been a witness to the groupism within the Himachal Pradesh unit, has said she will convene a meeting of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Ms Stokes and other senior leaders to bring about a complete unity. According to the Congress Constitution, 15 per cent of the strength of the PCC can be co-opted. Supporters of the two groups, who do not find a place in the expanded PCC, are likely to find a place in the various state-level cells of the Party, including those on the farmers, labourers, SCs and STs and minorities. |
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Sukh Ram unhappy with Centre Chamba, June 27 Mr Sukh Ram flayed the BJP-led government for its failure in putting forward specific policy on Article-370, Ram Mandir and Common Civil Code as had been promised by the NDA in its combined election manifesto. He said his party had requested the BJP-led government many a time but to no avail. He asserted that the since HVC was a coalition partner it had the right to plead for the problems of the masses. Answering queries of reporters, the HVC chief, pointed out that in the light of the prevailing political scenario in the country, the coalition culture was likely to continue for 10 more years as it was the time for the coalition culture and he also wanted that the experience of coalition culture should not fail. Mr Sukh Ram said the only ideology of his party was to make a Himachal a prosperous state and formulate a minimum economic programme for the poor adding that those politicians who found this ideology conducive could join the HVC. Mr Sukh Ram asked the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal and Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System (PDS), Mr Shanta Kumar to clarify their stand on the recent starvation death in Kangra district. He said the HVC was going to celebrate its founder’s day on July 6 at Kangra town where his party would announce a part of its manifesto for the next Assembly elections and make certain recommendations to the BJP-led government in the state and if the Dhumal government wanted it could consider these recommendations. Earlier, Mr Sukh Ram addressed a rally organised by his party and stressed the need for generating self-employment as the government could not provide jobs to everyone. He also favoured the setting up of eco-friendly industries and projects in the state. |
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Bhan outlines media role Shimla, June 27 He exhorted the journalists to meet the requirements of information, education and entertainment of people with honesty and uphold high standards in the profession to bring about a socio-economic transformation. The Governor said journalism was a challenging profession and asked professionals to update themselves with the latest know-how. Recollecting the contribution of journalism during the freedom movement, he said journalists had made immense sacrifices in getting the country freed. He complimented the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication for organising the refresher course, which, he said, would be very useful for the discipline. Prof S.K. Gupta, Vice-Chancellor, HP University, while welcoming the chief guest and other dignitaries, underlined the importance of media in the dissemination of information. He said media was not only a vehicle of projecting social reality but a tool of social justice as well. Mr Govind Thukral, a fellow at the Indian Institute of Advance Studies, presented an impressive study of how ethnic and political violence is covered by the media and its impact in his key-note address. He said the media coverage of the Gulf war made it look as if the war was being fought in your drawing room. He stressed the need for building a strong information network to bring forth the truth. Prof Yoginder Verma, Director, Academic Staff College, UGC, while detailing the activities of the college, disclosed that it was the first refresher course in the discipline in North India. He said 98 refresher courses, 56 orientation programmes and 21 workshops had so far been organised by the college. Dr Vir Bala Aggarwal, chairperson, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, detailed the objectives of the course and presented an outline of the subjects to be deliberated upon during the course. She disclosed that Ph.D registration in journalism had begun at the university. Prof Vepa Rao said journalism was facing many challenges and practising it was like treading in a landmine area. The Governor released a book titled “Handbook of Journalism and Mass Communication” authored by Dr Vir Bala Aggarwal. He also released reading material for the course. As many as 27 teachers in journalism from various universities and colleges are participating in the 21-day course. |
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Political
compulsions cause of financial mess Shimla, June 27 An elaborate exercise undertaken by the Finance Department to prepare a medium-term fiscal restructuring plan has revealed a grim picture of the state finances. The Budget deficit, assuming that there will be no addition in the total number of employees, will increase by about Rs 500 crore annually and double from the present Rs 2400 crore by 2004-05. The expenditure, despite the much publicised austerity measures, will grow by over Rs 600 crore whereas the receipts will increase by less than Rs 100 crore annually. The Finance Department has based its projections on the assumption that 5000 employees will retire annually and there will be only replacements and no net additions. Given the government’s inability to implement any strict measures to curtail unproductive expenditure, the situation appears to be beyond redemption. The medium-term restructuring plan is being prepared on the direction of the Centre to seek additional funds to tide over the crisis. However, senior officers point out that despite the assurance held out by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to bail out the state from merry financial situation, the Centre would not be able to do much unless the political leadership showed courage to take harsh decisions and pursue reforms in the right earnest. The government has in the past three years shown an increasing tendency to succumb to pressures from various interested sections as a result most of the decisions to curb expenditure were either reversed or diluted to an extent that the very objective was defeated. For instance, the scheme for reducing the fleet of government vehicles was withdrawn even before it could be implemented. The new scheme has been designed in such a way that it may prove counter-productive and a further drain the state exchequer. Similarly, last year the government had undertaken an exercise to reorganise the development blocks to reduce nine blocks. However, ultimately, it ended up creating three more development blocks to further burdening the state exchequer. The plan for disinvestment in public undertakings has also not taken off. The decision to impose users-charge on water has been diluted following opposition from the Congress and the HVC. The charges on health services are being levied in fits and starts that too after converting hospitals into societies. Now that almost 18 months have been left for the Assembly elections the government has been caught in a piquant situation. It is a no-win situation while harsh measures would evoke adverse public reaction allowing the situation to drift could spell disaster for the economy of the state. The crisis could be managed to an extent by speeding up the disinvestment process and taking measures to reduce the burden of pension. In other states the discount factor to calculate the value of money for the purpose of commutation of pension has been increased and ranges between 10 per cent and 12 per cent. In Himachal it continues to be a meagre 4 per cent. If it is increased like other states, the outflow on account of pensions will be reduced significantly. The state could raise substantial amount through disinvestment in the PSUs but that requires political courage. Mr Arun Jaitley has, while addressing officers emphasised that the state should adopt an aggressive approach while going in for reforms. People must be convinced that the steps being taken by the government would benefit them. Things could improve if the state manages to raise Rs 800 crore to Rs 900 crore for repaying the expensive loans which will become due over the next four years. If the government arranges for the payment of loans without raising fresh loans, the interest burden will be reduced by about Rs 150 crore, which is substantial amount, over next four years. The moot question is whether or not the government will pick up political will and courage to take unpopular decisions to put the economy back on the rails. |
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Leprosy
patients cry for care, amenities Kasauli The 75-bedded hospital was reduced to 20 beds in March this year. Most of the patients are from Chopal, Shillai, Chamba, Bharmour, Kullu and Nalagarh area besides a fair number of Nepalese. The staff has been discouraging admission of patients. Most of the inmates say despite repeated visits the needy and sick patients from far flung areas like Manali, Kullu, Chamba are not admitted. At times they come with painful and swelling wounds with worms infesting their feet and hands, but the doctors discharge them after giving preliminary treatment. This has discouraged patients from coming here in the hope of getting cured. It is a pitiable situation for those suffering from leprosy as they are not given treatment in the general dispensaries. Mani Ram, a Nepalese patient who has been here since the hospital got shifted from Mashobra area of Shimla in 1979, bemoans his plight following unsuccessful leg and back operations. He lost his left eyesight and fears that if his right eye does not receive immediate medical aid it will face the same fate. Despite repeated requests, the doctors have failed to get his eyes the necessary treatment. Like him there are many more patients waiting to get their eyes operated. They lament that the voluntary organisations who come forward to conduct operations are turned back on petty excuses like non-availability of vehicle availability. This is despite the fact that two government vehicles remain stationed there. The solar heater which went out of order about seven months ago still remains unrepaired. With even coal not available the patients have to bear the cold conditions in this hill station. The electricity wiring has also worn out. The patients have to contribute money from among themselves to buy bulbs. The three tubes of the first floor of the male ward have been non-functional since long posing problems for the old and sick inmates. The inmates also complain that the dispensary is open only for a few hours. The doctors rarely take rounds of the wards. Earlier the charts of individuals patients with medicines prescribed each day were put up but now no such practice exists. The patients are unanimous in their complaint saying things are going from bad to worse. The helpless inmates have not even been provided with proper shoes and uniforms which are sanctioned by the government for the past three years. Even the washer man is not available and the disease-inflicted leprosy patients with bandaged hands are forced to help themselves. One patient said when the HP Health Minister visited them some time back uniforms were duly distributed to them to be exhibited before the Minister. But soon after his visit the uniforms were taken back. None of the patients are seen wearing any uniform or proper shoes. With no newspaper and a non-functional television they feel cut out
from the outside world. Most of the patients also feel that the government should provide bus passes to them on a permanent basis as they do not have the money or resources to renew them. The Zonal Leprosy Officer, Dr Bhalla, was not available in the hospital when this correspondent visited it. The medical officer, who has been serving here for the last about 16 years said there was no shortage of funds as continuous grant was available from the Government of India. Even voluntary organisation contributed from time to time. The admission of patients was being discouraged as it is felt that those admitted were considered a social stigma on society. Patients with mild problems were discharged after administering medicines. He also added that there was no staff shortage. Besides one zonal Leprosy Officer there was no staff shortage. Besides one Zonal Leprosy Officer, there was a medical officer three pharmacists, one ward sister, four sweepers and nine Class IV employees. |
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Resource
crisis in farm
university Palampur, June 27 The Vice-Chancellor told this reporter here today that this situation had risen because the state government had reduced financial assistance to the university this year. He said though the university had been making allout efforts to raise its own resources to meet its financial requirements and to become financially self-sufficient yet it could not be done overnight. Dr Partap admitted that one of the reasons for the poor financial health of the university was over staffing in various departments but hastened to add that it was now not possible to undo it. He said in view of the poor financial health he had asked all departments not to extend the tenure of ad hoc employees without the prior approval of the Registrar. Besides, various decisions taken by the previous Vice-Chancellor relating to the appointments were being reviewed and some of the appointments had already been cancelled. Stressing the need for strict financial discipline in the university, Dr Tej Partap said, in future diversion of funds from one head to another head would not be allowed and particularly the funds allocated for research work would be spent only on result-oriented research activities and the scientists would not be allowed to take up wasteful research. |
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Poor results plague govt schools Kasauli, June 27 An exceptionally low pass percentage has shocked the parents. A bare 27 of the total 133 students have been declared passed in all subjects. As many as 46 students have got compartment in maths and another one in science. Not only this, only two students have managed a first division with 68 being the highest percentage. The full pass percentage is a low 20.3. It is noteworthy to mention that the examinations were marred by irregularities of sorts requiring the Tehsildar to intervene. A mathematics teacher of the same school was appointed as invigilator for the mathematics exam. The actual invigilator was learnt to have gone on leave for that particular paper. The Tehsildar, Mr J.C. Sharma, objected to this and asked the Principal to change the invigilator. But it was not until the Secretary, HP Education Board, was informed of the irregularity and a woman constable sent with the orders to this effect by the Tehsildar that the change was brought about, informed Mr Sharma. The said invigilator had already spent an hour in the examination hall by that time. The then Principal was transferred to Sirmour district. The present Principal when contacted stated the large number of compartments in maths were attributed to the tough manner of the question paper. The results of surrounding schools were equally disturbing. In Dharampur Government School less than 20 students have passed out of a total strength of 128 with more than 35 compartments. In Chamian Government School only seven students have passed in all subjects with 28 compartments out of total 86 students. The result of the senior secondary school at Sabathu was also learnt to be quite bad. The Principal when contacted refused to disclose the results. But the girls high school at Subathu showed better results with 60 out of 62 students passing. In the Kishengarh school 14 compartments in maths out of total 57 students with four failures summed up the result. |
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Commuters
seek more evening buses Shimla, June 27 In the areas like Tara Devi, no local buses ply after 7 pm causing hardships to the residents. Located on the national highway, its residents cry for the local bus service. They allege that long-route buses do not carry the local passengers. Last year they even blocked the traffic, demanding more buses. It was decided that the both long-route state transport and private buses would carry local people, but the bus operators are turning a blind eye and passengers are suffering. The local residents have repeatedly urged transport authorities to ply more buses in the evening, but to no avail. The Lakkar Bazar bus stand is in chaos in the evening due to limited bus service to Sanjauli and Dhalli. People complain that they have to hire taxis after 8 p.m. as no local buses ply to these areas, though it was decided that local buses would ply upto 10 p.m. This was implemented only for a couple of days. The private bus operators often overcharge from the passengers. The passengers of Dhalli, Sanjauli and Tara Devi demand more local buses and increase in the local bus timings. Authorities admitted that there were only a few buses plying to Tara Devi in the evening and said the department would provide more buses. There are four buses to Vikas Nagar, four buses to Pantha Ghati in the evening and last bus to Sanjauli leaves at 9 p.m. |
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Woman gangraped Kulu, June 27 The
victim, wife of a gardener, resident of Padder in Mandi district, was
working in the fields in the afternoon when she was allegedly dragged
by two persons and raped in the fields. The police sources confirmed
this and said four persons had been rounded up for interrogation but
the victim had not identified them as the accused involved in the
crime. A case has been registered. |
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Student’s death: notices to Home Secy, DGP Shimla, June 27 It was alleged in the news reports that Shoba Devi was punished by the physical education teacher and principal of the school. Because of the punishment, the girl become unconscious and was taken to PGI Chandigarh where she died after two days. The situation had become very tense with both accused being beaten up by the local residents. The court also issued notices to the SP, Solan, SHO, Kasauli, principal of the school and the teacher. |
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Minister
to inaugurate water board office Dharamsala, June 27 The Union Water Resources Minister, Mr Arjun Charan Sethi, will inaugurate the office here tomorrow. With the opening of this office, the problems of getting the latest equipment from Jammu, during summer, for tapping underground water will be solved. With the setting up of this office, the unexplored areas of Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur and Shimla will be covered. The latest technology like ground radar technology will be used for providing drinking and irrigation water to people of the area. Stress will be laid on detecting underground water with the help of small rigs in the hilly areas. The setting up of the office will also help in the socio-economic development of the people by highlighting the importance of better ground water management. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, will preside over the inaugural function. |
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Diversification
of crops top
priority: minister Shimla, June 27 Stating this here yesterday Mr Vidya Sagar, Agriculture Minister, said the state had earned a distinction in temperate vegetable production and Lahaul-Spiti, Shimla, Mandi, Kulu and Solan districts had recorded highest increase in the area under vegetable production. He said four lakh tonnes of offseason vegetables valued at Rs 250 crore were being exported from the state which included tomato, cabbage, peas, cauliflower and beans. He said the Department of Agriculture was exploring the possibility of introducing corrugated cartons for marketing tomato and capsicum. The Agriculture Minister said that support price of vegetables, including potato, was introduced in the state for maintaining prices of vegetables at reasonable levels. He said diversification from traditional cropping pattern and commercialisation of exotic vegetables were the thrust areas getting priority. Small-scale irrigation schemes were being developed for ensuring efficient management besides strengthening the marketing structure for
off-season vegetables. |
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BJP directive to party leaders Shimla, June 27 The directive were issued after a meeting convened by Mr Jai Krishan Sharma to sort out the differences between Mr Suresh Chandel, MP, and Mr Baldev Sharma, President of Hamirpur district unit of the party, here last evening. The meeting was attended by all the ministers and other important leaders of the party whose constituencies fall under the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat. Mr Baldev Sharma had accused Mr Chandel of organising programmes without taking the party unit into confidence during his recent tour of the area. The supporters of two leaders had been making allegations against each other ever since causing much embarrassment to the party. The legislators and MPs were asked to highlight each other’s achievements and send the right message to the people. The party has decided to convene similar coordination meetings for other three parliamentary constituencies in due course. |
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Hamirpur
girl tops middle exam Dharamsala, June 27 The pass percentage in the middle examination stands at 66.21 per cent, with a total of 1,02,070 students appearing for the examination. Out of this, 66,374 students were declared pass, and 9,460 were placed under the compartment category. Apart from this, 3,113 of the total 3,821 students who took the compartment examination, have been successful. With only 685 students failing in the compartment, the pass percentage stands at 81.47. The first 10 toppers in the middle examination merit list include Jyotsana of JP Senior Secondary School, Karan Singh Thakur of Government High School, Gaarli, Hamirpur, Shailja Sharma of Silver Bells Senior Secondary School, Hamirpur, Pratima Kumari of Government Senior Secondary, Ganvi, Shimla, Dipti Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School, Smaila, Mandi, Reena Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School, Nahhdle, Bilaspur, Yogesh Negi of SVM Middle School, Balakrupi, Mandi, and Aditya Mahajan of Government Senior Secondary School, Sihunta, Chamba. |
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Foreign national arrested Kulu, June 27 Mr N. Venu Gopal, SP stated in a press note that a number of foreigners had been staying here without valid papers and the police had launched an intensive campaign to nab them. He said these people usually indulged in drug smuggling. He added that two foreigners namely Isaac Onyeamechi Ukwuan, a Nigerian and Ian Rollance Stilman, a British national had been convicted by the District and Sessions Court here under the NDPS Act. |
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SFI submits
memo to Bhan Shimla, June 27 The federation has demanded that the plus two students with
compartment should be given admission in B.A. classes. The other
demands include plying more buses for day scholars and university
staff, and starting B.Ed, arts classes, on the university campus. The
SFI also held a rally on the campus and raised slogans against the
state government and the university authorities. |
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ABVP threatens
agitation Shimla, June 27 The ABVP lamented that the university authorities had not taken its demand for making English an optional subject and review the fee hike as agreed last year. A three-member committee was set up to take a decision in this regard but nothing had happened. |
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Chamba
DCC chief Shimla, June 27 |
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Retaining
wall collapses Solan, June 27 The parking lot was formally inaugurated on June 12 by the Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr Parveen Sharma. Locals alleged that the wall collapse, which had put the parking lot out of use, occurred due to faulty design and execution by the PWD staff concerned. |
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