Shimla, November 17
The state government has taken up with the Centre the setting up of three airports and starting helicopter service to promote adventure activities to attract tourists.

Open spaces being a problem in the hilly terrain, the expansion of the existing airstrips at Gaggal (Kangra), Bhuntar (Kullu) and Jubar Hatti (Shimla) is difficult. The state has chalked out a proposed to have bigger airports at Sundernagar, Jwalamukhi and Una.

The Tourism Minister, Mr G.S. Bali, met the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Prafful Patel, last month in this regard. “Unless we have bigger airstrips, it is not possible to land bigger Boeing planes, which are more viable and can carry more passengers,” he said.

At present due to the length of the airstrips at Bhuntar, Gaggal and Jubbar Hatti being up to 4,500 mts, only the 18-seater Dornier aircrafts is being used. The airstrips Jubbar Hatti and Gaggal have been extended and there is no scope for further expansion. The Airport Authority of India is presently undertaking expansion of the airstrip at Bhuntar.

The government is exploring the possibility of involving the private sector in the setting up and running of these airports. “We have very scenic unexplored destinations which could attract tourists, especially foreigners, in large numbers but with accessibility being a problem, we are toying with the idea of having a helicopter service, preferably by the private sector or in joint partnership, Mr Bali said,

Considering the success of heli-skiing in the Manali area, the government is now keen to focus on adventure sports for which a regular helicopter service is a must. “Our first and foremost job is to create good infrastructure and facilities so that we can offer quality services to tourists and invite the private sector to be equal partners in promoting tourism in the state,” he said.

The state has once again pressed its demand for granting subsidised air travel in Himachal Pradesh on the pattern of North-East and Jammu and Kashmir. At present, only private airlines are running the smaller aircraft. Absence of reasonable airfare and erratic air service are some of the handicap, which have come in the way of tourism promotion.

“Mr Patel and the Secretary, Mr Ajay Prasad, have assured us that Himachal’s case would be considered sympathetically as we need to offer concessions is a boost has to be given to tourism, he added.

Shimla, November 17
The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has finally decided to implement a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to cut down its high employee cost.

According to sources, the board has already finalised a scheme for the non-technical staff based on the one circulated by the state government under which those seeking VRS will be entitled to one-and-a half -month salary for each completed year of service. The scheme will be implemented after seeking approval of the government.

Downsizing matters for the board, as it has accumulated losses to the tune of Rs 228 crore over the past five years, mainly on account of overstaffing. The 27,743 employees are not only far too many but also the highest paid in the country. The state is bound to follow the Punjab pattern in the matter of payscales but many categories were getting higher salaries.

The employee cost at Rs 1.33 paise per unit of energy supplied is the highest in the country. The next highest is 56 paise in Punjab. In case of states like Andhra Pradesh, where reforms had been implemented sincerely, it has actually come down to 16 paise per unit. It is about 40 paise per unit for Delhi.

The extent to which the board is overstaffed could be judged from the fact that its employee—consumer ratio is the lowest in the country. As against 149 consumers per employee in Gujarat and 118 in Uttaranchal , in Himachal an employee served just 61 consumers. The state regulatory commission has taken a serious note of the high employee cost and directed the board to take steps like implementation of VRS and abolition of posts lying vacant for the past three years to bring it down in accordance with the MoU signed by the government with the Centre. It had also not allowed the board to make appointments on compassionate grounds. Not only that the commission has issued direction that daily-wageworkers should be regularised strictly in conformity with the judicial orders and whenever they retire the posts be deemed to have been abolished.

The worsening financial health of the board can be judged from the fact that its rate of return has plunged from a positive 5.3 per cent to a negative 13.09 per cent over the past five years.

Another disturbing feature is that the total ban on new recruitments on one hand and the ongoing regularisation of daily-wage workers is creating an imbalance. While there is shortage of technical staff, the board is burdened with over 8,000 non-technical workers.

Solan, November 17
Having eked out a living by begging for many years, Asha (name changed) a Bangala tribal women, is today all praise for the National Cooperative Union of India for changing her life. Recalling her days of penury six years ago, which made her beg, Asha today shrugs at the contemptible life she was forced to live.

Funded by the Central Government, the project targeted the under-developed states and strived to uplift society both economically and socially. Under the project women beggars were divided into self-help groups to create income-generating activities.

The project headquarters has been shifted to Solan from Shimla to ensure better coverage of rural masses.

The education project officer, Mr M.K. Kaushal, while dwelling on the project objectives explained that co-operative educational courses were its backbone. It targeted the under-developed villages where the Scheduled Caste and backward classes dominated population. Blocks were created within districts, each having as many as 10 primary agriculture co-operatives.

About 13 women self-help groups were formed in Dharampur block with over 184 members comprising the illiterate Bangala community.

It was not easy for the project officials to reach out to these women. Sunita Thakur, a project mobiliser, recalls how the village women set their dog on her when she first approached them.

Unable to believe that she could bring about any change in their lives the village women had little trust in her. But her concerted efforts bore fruit after eight months. She dwelt on the importance of education, hygiene and sanitation and how it could transform their lives. These women then convinced the men folk and expressed their eagerness to participate in the project.

The biggest challenge before these women was income generation. Certain activities were identified in this regard like selling bangles, cosmetics, etc. from village to village.

Travelling a few kilometres each day the women used to first buy these and then sell in bulk. Today each of them earns Rs 40-50 per day. These women have also inspired the men to lend them a helping hand and shun alcoholism.

People who once scorned them are now ready to grant them loans. They can now read and write their names.

Shimla, November 17
The Himachal Pradesh High Court yesterday directed the state government to formulate a policy with regard to granting no objection certificate to privately-managed B.Ed institutions in the state by December 15, 2004.

A division bench comprising the Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Mr Justice Deepak Gupta passed the order on a petition challenging the action of state government for not providing NOC to run privately-managed college of education in the state.

This petition was filed by Mata Vaishno Devi Society of Nurpur in which it was alleged that the society had applied for a NOC in December 2003 but for the past one year nothing had been done by the state.

It was further alleged by the petitioner society that thousands of students were doing the B.Ed course from other states. Because there was a shortage seats in the state. But the state in its reply submitted that the 
government is going to formulate a policy within three months. But the court directed the state to formulate the policy in this regard by December 15.

Mandi, November 17
The state government has constituted the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) to promote herbal cultivation and herbal products and medicines in the state but farmers and manufacturers are facing hurdles to switch over to this industry.

Sources said on the sidelines of a workshop on medicinal and herbal plants here today the SMPB bought over 70 per cent of the herbal products and medicines even for state-run pharmacies from the manufacturers outside the state and the rest of the 30 per cent is procured from state-based units under the plea that it practices good manufacturing practices (GMPs).

The farmers said they faced problems in getting sanction for the projects both from the Revenue and Forest Departments.

“There are also no assured markets for our products. We do not know which medicinal plants to grow when and where as there are very few success stories of herbal farmers in the state to inspire us”, they said.

Contesting the claims of the SMPB, manufacturers of herbal products in the state said they did not have the assured markets for the products. “The board has no standards to judge the quality control and GMPs that the outside herbal companies employ and the state-based units do not employ”, they said.

“The board buys most medicines and herbal products from outside. The farmers and manufactures who have taken loan will find difficulty in repayig it as there is no support from the government and no markets for the products”, Mr R.N. Kapur, a manufacturer from Mandi, said.

“We have been practicing GMPs in our unit but the board decides on the procurement arbitrarily and not on the basis of results from testing labs,” alleged Mr G.K. Chadda, a manufacturer from Nagrota Bagwan in Kangra district.

Dr Dinesh Kumar, nodal officer of the board, said: “Those who wish to cultivate the herbs and medicinal plants need to be registered with the board. We are giving subsidies up to 30 per cent to set up a herbal garden or unit in the state. We buy herbal products from outside to maintain quality control,” he added.

Dr Kumar said the board would forward to the Chief Minister the problems of the farmers and manufacturers to simplify the procedures. “Open tenders are called to procure the herbal medicines and products for which all companies are eligible”, he claimed.

Dr D.R. Nag, project officer, Herbal Garden, Jogindernagar, said vast global herbal markets could be harnessed as the state could grow a variety of plants because of its varied climate.

Nurpur, November 17
The failure of the state government to initiate regular recruitment of teachers in government senior secondary and high schools has not only disappointed at least 35,000 unemployed trained teachers, but has created uncertainty regarding service of 2,200 para teachers employed temporarily in November last year. The Himachal Pradesh Unemployed Trained Teachers Association has taken strong exception to the move to continue service of para teachers.

Mr Sushil Sharma, president of the association, today protested against the move of the state government to continue the service of the para teachers, ignoring the directive of the Himachal Pradesh High Court to end this system on November 20. He said the assurance given by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to para teachers during his tour of Chamba district recently, was contrary to the high court directive.

He alleged that the appointment of para teachers was a backdoor recruitment exercise initiated by the state government last year, in which Subdivisional Magistrates were empowered to select them. He pointed out that Mr Virbhadra Singh had promised a delegation of unemployed trained teachers during his winter sojourn in January last that the government would start regular appointment of teachers from April 1 and 50 per cent teachers would be appointed batchwise and 50 per cent by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.

Mr Sharma rued that the government had admitted, in its reply filed in a civil writ petition, that para teacher appointments were temporary and now it was considering to continue the same. He appealed to para teachers not to be misguided by government excuses and hollow promises and join the association so that pressure could be mounted on the government to initiate regular recruitment of teachers.

Shimla, November 17
Accusing the state government of implementing its political agenda in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), a former minister and BJP leader, Dr Radha Raman Shastri, said employees were being pressurised to make wrong statements regarding the Kaul Committee report.

In a statement issued here today, he said the Vice-Chancellor was pressurising employees to make wrong statements as regards Kaul Committee report. “Employees who refused to make such statements were victimised and 14 employees, including the president and the general secretary of the HPU Employees’ Union, had been transferred,” he alleged.

He said the Vice-Chancellor himself ordered these transfers although the Registrar, the competent authority in the case, was present in the university, on October 16. “This proves that employees were being victimised for refusing to toe the line of the HPU authorities,” he added.

He said such tactics had vitiated the academic atmosphere in the university and the administrative functioning had virtually come to a standstill. “With the contentious issue of the Kaul Committee report being raked up by the authorities, there had been a considerable increase in the litigation against the university, which is likely to aggravate in the coming days,” he said.

“Such government moves are against the autonomous nature of the university,” he added. 

Palampur, November 17
Despite the fact that the state government has been spending crores on health care the health services in this town are poor. The local 100-bedded Civil Hospital is in a bad shape.

It looks after the medical needs of over four lakh patients every year. However, it lacks basic amenities. Posts of an eye and ENT specialist have been lying vacant for the past year, causing inconvenience to the patients.

After the closure of the blood bank four years ago, blood transfusion in the hospital has also come to a standstill. The operating theatre is also in a bad shape.

This is the only health institution in the region comprising Palampur, Baijnath and Jaisinghpur subdivisions, which has indoor capacity to admit 100 patients. Over 200 to 300 patients visit the hospital daily.

There is a shortage of doctors. Though the government had upgraded it about 15 years ago and raised the strength of beds to 100, there is no provision for emergency cases. Serious cases are seldom treated here and most of the time these cases are sent to the PGI, Chandigarh, or CMC, Ludhiana.

Recently a woman brought from the changer area died because there was no one to attend to her in the hospital. She died on the way to Chandigarh. Most of the accident cases are also not attended to in the hospital and are referred either to Dharamsala or Chandigarh.

The sanitary condition of the hospital is also poor. Heaps of garbage can be seen in the compound. General wards, too, leave much to be desired.

The hospital is ill-equipped and there is always a shortage of medicines, including life-saving drugs. Patients are asked to buy medicines from the market. However, a senior officer say that medicines worth crores have been piling up in stores but doctors working in the field and the subdivisional hospital do not lift the medicines despite repeated reminders.

The government has constituted the Rogi Kalyan Samiti which collects funds from patients who undergo operations and medical check-up in the hospital. In the past three years, over Rs 25 lakh was collected. A major part of the funds was spent on the purchase of equipment and on renovation.

Political interference has made the matter worse. All postings and transfers of doctors are made on the recommendations of local leaders. Groupism among the doctors has worsened the situation.

Mandi, November 17
Eight councillors in the 13-member Mandi Municipal Council today submitted a 15-points charge sheet against the council chief, Ms Sushila Sonkhla, and submitted a no-confidence motion against her to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ali Raza Rizvi, demanding her removal from the post.

Though the charge sheet was signed by eight councillors, the no-confidence motion was signed by seven councillors, as only seven members were required to pass the no-confidence motion in the 13-member House to remove the council president.

According to the charge sheet, a copy of which was released to the press today, Ms Sonkhla had failed on all fronts as health and hygiene had come to a standstill in the town.

The charge sheet followed a no-confidence motion passed against the municipal council vice-chief, Mr Hemant Vaidya, in September last. The case was in the high court as Mr Vaidya had secured a court stay over his removal.

The ‘charge sheet’ came as no surprise as councillors toeing the Congress line had been trying to corner Ms Sonkhla, a supporter of Mr Sukh Ram, Mandi Sadar MLA and former Himachal Vikas Congress supremo.

The councillors who signed the charge sheet included Mr Balak Ram, Mr Avninder Singh, Mr Pushp Raj, Mr Anil Kapur, Mr Sham Lal and Ms Indira Devi. Mr Virender Kumar signed the charge sheet, but did not sign the no-confidence motion,.

As the municipal council chief’s post was reserved for a woman candidate, Ms Indira Devi was being tipped for the post as she was considered a rubber stamp of Mr Pushp Raj.

Dismissing the charge sheet as baseless and politically motivated, Ms Sonkhla said she would answer in the House when there would be an open debate. “As regards the no-confidence motion, it is a democracy and each councillor has the right to support or not support me”, she added.

Mr Rizvi said he had received copies of the no-confidence motion and the charge sheet. “The municipal council chief is given 15 days’ time before the House passes the no- confidence motion”, he added.

Shimla, November 17
The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today said the government was contemplating weather insurance cover for apple, potato, mango and tomato crop with a view to safeguard the interests of the farmers.

He reviewed the progress of the Agriculture Department, Agriculture University and the HP State Marketing Board here today. He said cultivation of off-season vegetables was gaining popularity in the state and it was one of the best form of self-employment for the rural youth, including women.

“The modalities are still being worked out and the insurance will cover the risk factors involved in farming,” he said. He also stressed the need for encouraging organic farming and asked the scientists to educate the farming community in this regard.