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Stokes quizzed on new parliamentary secretaries
HP power board introduces VRS
Apply seismic norms in HP: town planner
Registration of migrant labour made mandatory
Lawyers protest against professional tax
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Thakur Ved Ram awards given
Traders resent govt failure to hold talks on VAT
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Stokes quizzed on new parliamentary secretaries
Shimla, April 21 According to party sources, the Chief Minister has not taken lightly the public reaction to an allegation by Ms Stokes that merit was ignored while making the appointments of seven chief parliamentary secretaries and four parliamentary secretaries. She had also alleged that the main purpose of the exercise was to remove the regional imbalances but that did not happen. In the letter the Chief Minister is learnt to have termed her statement as an act of indiscipline and asserted that her remarks had hit the party interests. Confirming that he had indeed written a letter to Ms Stokes, Mr Virbhadra Singh said it was wrong on the part of a person who was part of the Cabinet to make such statements. It prima facie appeared to be a deviation from the principle of joint responsibility of the Council of Ministers. He said the exercise was carried out with the approval of the high command and he had taken due care to balance out regional and caste factors and provide representation to all left out districts. Merit and experience were also taken into consideration and there was no discontent in the party on the issue. All those appointed were happy with the assignment and no one had come to him seeking transfer. Mrs Stokes confirmed that she had received the letter. Refusing to say anything about it, she said Mr Virbhadra Singh knew rather well who had been indulging in indiscipline. The rift between the two leaders has surfaced at a time when the process of organisational poll was under way and there was every possibility of the factional war percolating down to the grass roots. Mr K. C. Lenka, state election authority for the organisation poll, had issued a stern warning to leaders not to indulge in any misdemeanour to monopolise the party organisation and that any such attempt would be ruthlessly thwarted. |
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HP power board introduces VRS
Solan, April 21 The scheme is applicable to the employees who have put in 10 years of service or have completed 40 years of age. A copy of the notification available with The Tribune states that the employees whose offer for VRS is accepted would be entitled to an ex gratia equivalent to 45 days emoluments for each completed year of service or monthly emoluments at the time of retirement multiplied by the balance months of service, whichever is less. All terminal benefits in the form of balance of provident fund, cash equivalent of the earned leave, gratuity, pension including commutation have also been given to the employees opting for VRS. The benefit of five years’ service in total qualifying service as available under the CCS (pension) rules would not be applicable under the scheme. Only the actual period of service shall be counted for calculating the benefits. The notification further says that the offer once made cannot be withdrawn. An opportunity to avail the benefit for a limited period has also been introduced. Welcoming the scheme, employees said they could consider opting for VRS if they were transferred to other stations when the board’s trifurcation was done. It was learnt that the south zone of the board comprising Solan, Sirmaur and Shimla districts had about 5,430 technical staff and 1,729 non-technical staff on its rolls. |
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Apply seismic norms in HP: town planner
Dharamsala, April 21 Talking to this reporter, Mr P.P. Raina, Divisional Town and Country Planner, said the Act was applicable only to Dharamsala and Palampur. “The towns of Nurpur and Kangra were equally prone to earthquake and adherence of seismic norms is equally important there as well. But construction is going on along the national highway without applying the provisions of the Act and the owners and architects don’t even have to submit an undertaking,” he said. Mr Raina suggested that the Act should be applicable uniformly in the entire state and committees consisting of block development officers and tehsildars under a Magistrate concerned be constituted to ensure that people adhere to the norms. |
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Registration of migrant labour made mandatory
Shimla, April 21 Deputy Commissioner, Sushil Negi promulgated an order under Section 144 of the CrPC today, saying that no employer, contractor or trader shall engage any migrant labour in any kind of service till he has furnished his photograph and particulars for identification and verification of antecedents. The police has been unable to track down the culprits in many cases as after committing the crime, they flee to Nepal. The number of Nepalese working as domestic servant or as labour in apple orchards in Upper Shimla is significant. A large number of Kashmiri migrants visit the state in winter selling shawls, dry fruits and other items. It will also be mandatory for them to get themselves registered in police station, said police officials. |
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Lawyers protest against professional tax
Nurpur, April 21 Meanwhile, the Bar Association passed a resolution to expel four members from the Bar, including two senior advocates, for not complying with the decision of the Bar taken at the meeting on Wednesday and did not participate in the demonstration today. Later, the advocates sat on chain fast in front of the office of the Subdivisional Magistrate. According to Mr S.K. Sharma, president of the Bar, the fast would continue till April 28. The striking lawyers have demanded to revoke the professional tax and warned to continue their agitation if the government failed to do so. KANGRA: The lawyers of the Kangra Bar Association raised anti government slogans to greet Mr Surender Kaku, Parliamentary Secretary, when his reception procession crossed the court premises on his arrival from Shimla. The lawyers took out a protest march through the streets of town and blocked the traffic at the Tehsil chowk for an hour leaving hundreds of the vehicles stranded. Mr Himal Chand, lawyer, Member National Executive, CPI, addressed the lawyers and denounced the decision of the government. |
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Thakur Ved Ram awards given
Kulu, April 21 Dr Maheshwari Prasad, Director, Parshavnath Vidyapeeth, Varanasi, received Thakur Ved Ram national award for literature. Jitender Awasthi, News, Editor, Dainik Tribune was conferred with the award for his contribution in the field of print media and journalism while Neeraj Thakur of Zee News has been awarded for excellence in electronic media. Mr G.C. Chambial, a retired IAS officer, was given the national award for his contribution to. The co-operatives movement Mr Sangat Ram Thakur was awarded for his contribution in the area of handloom and handicraft. Purohit Chander Shekhar Bebas Samriti National Award was also given to Dr Surat Ram Thakur for his contribution to ‘Pahari Bhasha Aur Sanskriti’ (language and culture of the hills) and Dharmender Sharma was awarded Lal Chand Prarthi Chand Kullavi Award for folk songs written and sung
by him. Tej Ram Negi was given Molu Ram Thakur Award for Pahari literature Mr Braham Swaroop Thakur, Managing Director of Bhuttico, said there were as many as 508 cooperative societies in this district having 45,659 members and a total capital of Rs 995.66 lakh. He said nine cooperative societies had been given the licence to export their products. Mr Satya Prakash Thakur, Chairman, HP State Marketing Board, said the recognition given to skilled workers through the Thakur Ved Ram awards would go a long way in the development of every field. He said that the Bhuttico society had withstood the WTO challenge due to the unending efforts of Thakur Ved Ram. He said, “We should follow the footsteps of such a ‘yugpursh’. Dr T.D.S. Alok, in his address, said in the present era of automatic machines the labour intensive industry has to toil hard to compete. If the small entrepreneur or a cottage industry weaver were to be encouraged good results could be reaped. He lauded the work of Thakur Ved Ram and said his foresightedness was a model for society. He had thought of starting a cooperative movement in the field of handloom by encouraging the village-level weavers. He lauded the efforts of Bhuttico Society for achieving international fame in the area of handloom and handicraft. A kavi sammelan and cultural programme were also organised. |
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Traders resent govt failure to hold talks on VAT
Bilaspur, April 21 Addressing mediapersons here today, State Beopar Mandal president Hemchand Sood said that as per the decision of the state executive of the State Beopar
Mandal, taken at a meeting in Palampur on April 10, all traders and shopkeepers would not now deposit the sales tax of last quarter of this financial year, which was to be deposited on April 30. He said now traders would be ready to face consequences and if the government started harassing and intimidating shopkeepers, the State Beopar Mandal would be forced to launch “Jail Bharo
Andolan” as a mark of protest against the government “repression”. He said all traders and shopkeepers throughout the state would observe a strike on April 29 against the imposition of VAT on the day of “Bharat Beopar
Bandh” call given by the All-India Industries and Trade Federation. |
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CM, Governor extend Mahavir Jayanti greetings
Shimla, April 21 In his message, the Governor said both Lord Mahavir and Prophet Mohammad propagated peace and brotherhood. Their teachings were still relevant in the present context. The Chief Minister said Prophet Mohammad and Lord Mahavir worked for the uplift of the poor and needy. By following their teachings a prosperous and healthy society could be built. |
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One held, 5 kg charas seized
Solan, April 21 He was arrested from the Parwanoo bus stand during police checking. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against him. |
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