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Panchayats to be involved in health
programmes
Hoteliers, residents to seek judicial
remedy
Tibetans demand release of condemned
leader
Six killed in
accidents
HPCC chief interacts with
councillors |
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Petition seeking Mayor’s extension
dismissed
Rashtriya Gaurav award for Dr Renu
Workshop on cropping system
begins
Govt spends 11 pc funds on SCs: CM
Rs 35.87 cr sanctioned for rural roads
Kokje favours cheap farm techniques
Plan to renovate temple
State youth festival ends
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Panchayats to be involved in health
programmes
Shimla, December 2 Being part of the proposed reform programmes in the health sector, the department will prepare information kits called ‘PARIKAS’ to educate the masses about health issues and the 13 programmes being run by the government. These PARIKAS will be given to Panchayati Raj members, health workers and block medical officers who will further carry the message to the people. In the first phase, workshops and sensitisation meetings will be held for Panchayati Raj members. “The first phase of the programme has been launched and Panchayati Raj members from four districts have been imparted training at a workshop held in Kangra some time back,” informed a health official. A similar workshop is to be held at Pari Mahal here soon to train the members of adjoining districts. It is with the help of the Panchayati Raj members that community mobilisation will be done as people will be informed about basic health issues like immunisation and sanitation. “Despite the Health Department running a number of programmes, apart from national health programmes, people in some remote and far-flung areas are not aware of these and as such cannot avail the benefits,” said a health official. Another important aspect of this programme is empowerment of panchayats through devolution of power. Instead of policymakers chalking out programmes for various region, panchayats will be asked to submit need-based “Programmes will be made keeping in mind a particular disease like tuberculosis, which is more prevalent in districts like Sirmaur and Chamba, or goitre, which is relatively more common in Kangra,” explained health It is being felt that giving need-based services and more importantly entrusting responsibility for its smooth implementation on Panchayati Raj members will make the programmes more effective and the health staff more accountable. The Health Department has started training Panchayati Raj members and information kits ‘PARIKAS’ are being “The members need to know the basic health programmes so that they can be effective instruments in dissemination of information,” say the officials. |
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Hoteliers, residents to seek judicial
remedy
Dalhousie, December 2 The authorities had made attempts to remove such structures identifying these as “benami deals, illegal and unauthorised” constructions since 1993, but the entire exercise proved futile and “a mere drama” to terrorise entrepreneurs striving for the promotion and development of tourism industry in this hill station. So far hardly a few structures were partially demolished by the Municipal Council but no action has yet been taken against the skyscrapers, which have already been declared-“unauthorised and illegal” and served with notices under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1977. These developments were nurtured under the nose of the civic body, thereby eating into the forest cover of Dalhousie hills. Moreover, these structures were availing the basic facilities of water and electricity in contravention of the directives of the state government. Amazingly, most of the unauthorised buildings running hotel business and other trades have been registered by the Departments of Labour, Industries, Food Supplies, Excise and Taxation, Weights and Measures and the Pollution Control Board under various Acts. Certain public sector financial institutions have financed the constructions of some of these structures. Simultaneously residents of this hill town fail to understand why and how these structures have been declared “unauthorised and illegal”. The demolition drive of the government has proved a mockery and has become a farce in the public and the people of this town who are now sure that the government could not succeed in its mission. The defaulters describe it as a political stunt to harass and victimise the people. It may be recalled that the Municipal Council was dissolved nearly one year ago on grounds of mushrooming illegal and unauthorised constructions in Dalhousie but the structures raised like this were yet to be demolished and the functionaries to be held accountable for all this chaos. According to official sources, more than 150 structures in and around Dalhousie have been served with notices for their being illegal and unauthorised and for carrying out deviation in the existing structures. |
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Tibetans demand release of condemned
leader
Dharamsala, December 2 The procession started from the main temple in McLeodganj and ended outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra. In their speeches, leaders of the TYC said Tulku Tenzin Delek had been “wrongly condemned, unfairly tried and unlawfully sentenced to death for the crimes he did not commit.” After six years of religious education in India, Tulku had returned to Tibet in 1987 to dedicate himself to serving the Tibetans. Apart from spearheading the major anti-deforestation drives, he was instrumental in building several monasteries, schools and old-age homes, said the TYC leaders. Meanwhile, the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) and the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet jointly expressed their deep anguish and concern over the impending death sentence of Trulku Tenzin Delek, whose two-year reprieve ended on December 1. In a letter addressed to the Chinese President Hu Jintao, the ATPD Vice-Chairperson Gyari Dolma urged the Government of People’s Republic of China to ensure a fair trial for Tulku as laid down in the Constitution and the Criminal Procedural Law of China. |
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Six killed in
accidents
Chamba, December 2 The deceased were identified as Sanjay, a resident of village Chobia, in Bharmour tehsil, Vyas Dev, a resident of village Bindla in Churah tehsil and Ashok of Hardaspur, Chamba. The SP informed that the bodies of the deceased had been handed over to their kin after post-mortem examination and a case had been registered. SOLAN: Three persons were killed and one was injured when a truck (HP-14-2557) they were travelling in, rolled down a deep gorge near forestry nursery at Gamberpul last night. While the truck cleaner Ram Chand sustained injuries, the driver, Dhani Ram, hailing from Kharyad in Rampur tehsil and two other occupants Sanjay Kumar, of Haripur village and Surender Kumar of Badol in Haripur died on the spot. A case of rash and negligent driving was registered by the police at Dharampur. |
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HPCC chief interacts with
councillors Shimla, December 2 The three-member committee, constituted by the Congress to consult the councillors to arrive at a consensus on the names of candidates, will meet tomorrow morning. The committee, headed by Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has Mr Kuldeep Kumar and Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Kaul Singh as the other members. The Congress has 16 councillors, BJP seven and there is one Independent member. Those still in the race for the top post includes present Mayor Sohan Lal, Deputy Mayor Nand Kishore Mehta, Mr Shashi Shekhar and Mr Ashok Sood. With an Independent councillor, Mr Harish
Janartha, who had contested as a rebel candidate, joining the Congress two days back, his name as a hot contender for the post of Mayor is also doing the rounds. |
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Petition seeking Mayor’s extension
dismissed
Shimla, December 2 While dismissing the petition filed by the local Bhartiya Balmiki Dharam Samaj, a Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mr V.K. Gupta, and Mr Justice A.K. Goel observed that there was nothing in the Municipal Act whereby the term of the office of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor could be extended. The High Court also turned down the plea of the petitioner organisation to restrain the authorities from holding elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor on December 3. It was further alleged in the petition that the term of the office of Mayor and Deputy Mayor was to expire today and for holding fresh elections, notification had been issued. The All-India council of Mayors has requested the Chief Minister of the states to extend the term of office of Mayor from two-and-half years to five years. It was further stated that in the state of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala this term had been extended to five years. |
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Rashtriya Gaurav award for Dr Renu
Shimla, December 2 The award, given every year in recognition of meritorious services in various fields, will be presented at a function in New Delhi |
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Workshop on cropping system
begins
Palampur, December 2 He said the research findings of the project on the cropping system had resulted in increased production, but care should be taken for integrated nutrient management. He said it was high time to think about resources, rich biodiversity and crop diversification and use of non-chemical inputs for production. He also emphasised on quick transfer of technology to the fields. While presiding over the function, Dr Gurbachan Singh Assistant Director-General, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, advised the scientists to link research with the issues related to value addition. He said a number of farmers were using industrial waste and sewage water to produce crops, especially vegetables, near cities. The issue should be talked about and efforts made to avoid harmful effects of such produce. He also talked about the problems of depleting irrigation sources and increased cost of production. He said crop diversification could solve several problems. Dr R.C. Thakur, Director of Research of the university, said scientists were working on the cropping system keeping in view the actual problems of the farmers. He thanked the ICAR for liberal grants for sustained research. Dr S.K. Sharma, project director, gave information about the project achievements and future strategies. Dr H.L. Sharma, Head of the Agronomy Department, and Dr J.J, Sharma, Chief Scientist, also expressed their views. Some scientists’ publications were also released on the occasion. |
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Govt spends 11 pc funds on SCs: CM
Shimla, December 2 Stating this while presiding over a meeting of the state Kabirpanthi Welfare Board here today, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the Scheduled Castes constituted 25 per cent of the total population of the state and the special component plan was over and above the regular budgetary provisions. He said that Rs 116 crore had been earmarked under the component plan for the current financial year. Expressing satisfaction over the increase in the literacy rate amongst Scheduled Castes, which had gone up from 31.5 per cent in 1981 to 64 per cent in 2001. He said that the students of these categories were being provided various incentives in the shape of scholarships and other assistance so that they were able to pursue their higher studies. The government was vigorously implementing the Central Civil Rights Protection Act, under which practice of untouchability and unsocial behaviour against the Scheduled Castes was punishable. |
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Rs 35.87 cr sanctioned for rural roads
Shimla, December 2 The projects to be undertaken include 26 rural roads and eight minor irrigation projects. The construction of these roads will create 214 km all weather roads in the districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and Una. The irrigation schemes, on the other hand, will provide assured irrigated land of 756 hectares in the districts of Kangra, Mandi, Solan and Una. During the current financial year, the total sum sanctioned under the rural infrastructure development fund stands at Rs 57.80 crore. —
TNS |
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Kokje favours cheap farm techniques
Kumarhatti, December 2 The Governor expressed satisfaction over the modern facilities being provided to scientists and students at the university. He paid tributes to Dr Y.S. Parmar. He congratulated the university scientists for doing yeoman service in the field of the horticulture and agriculture. He also released various books written by university scientists on the occasion. Dr S.S. Negi, Vice-Chancellor, highlighted the university’s achievements. Throwing light on university activities, he said during this year the university had developed one and two hybrid varieties of capsicum and tomato, respectively. On the occasion the VC gave oath to newly elected office-bearers of the Students Central Association of the university. |
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Plan to renovate temple
Chamba, December 2 Giving this information here today, Mr Hari Ram Puri, convener of the samiti, said that it was decided at the meeting to give a new lease of life to the temple. Under the project, replacement of roof around the main temple, laying of marble on the floor, fencing of the whole area, levelling of the compound, planting grass and construction of a rain shelter would be undertaken, Mr Puri said. Besides, a new temple of Lord Shiva would be constructed at the place of the old structure as the existing one was on poor shape, Mr Puri added. Mr Puri said that so far Rs 69,701 had been contributed by way of donations made by 12 members of the samiti. |
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State youth festival ends
Nahan, December 2 |
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