The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Journalism for men of character not weak minded, says Dua Tribune News Service Shimla, April 26 Mr H. K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune publications, said today “idealism” and “courage” were essential in the profession of journalism as reporters had to perform the “sensitive task” to scrutinise the conduct of others. Addressing students of journalism and mass communication at the Himachal Pradesh University, here, he said that the conduct of mediapersons should be above board so that they had the moral courage to expose the “wrongs” and reveal truth to the people, ultimate masters to whom they were accountable. Above all journalists must have enthusiasm and energy to serve the larger public interest. They were the “voice of the people” and if they did not fight against corruption and other ills plaguing the society then who would ? he asked. Those attracted by “fat” pay packets and apparent “glamour” of the profession should rather not opt for it. The profession was not meant for the chicken-hearted. One must have an intrinsic spirit to fight injustice and stand up for the cause of people, which often posed difficulties and called for sacrifice. Only those, who had these essential elements of character would find the profession rewarding. The main responsibility of the media was to educate people and create awareness so that they could see the issues in right perspective. However, to educate others one had to learn first and it required an insatiable urge “to know”. Only well-informed journalists could act as “catalytic agents” for bringing desirable changes in society. They should be very sensitive towards concerns of the people and a “fair” mind to analyse events dispassionately and decisions affecting them. The media would thrive as long as it enjoyed the support of the people which could be ensured only by maintaining a high degree of credibility. The need of the hour was to shift focus from the “shining India” to the vast “unreported India” which was crying for attention. The fact that attempts to “glorify” social evils like “sati” should continue even 150 years after Raja Ram Mohun Rai launched a movement against it, made it obvious that media had not been able to create the required degree of awareness in the society. A lot more was needed to be done. Dr L.R. Verma, Vice-Chancellor, complimented The Tribune for maintaining high standards of journalism in a highly competitive environment. This was perhaps the reason that it had a dedicated readership. He announced the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication would be strengthened by providing more teaching staff, computers, projectors and a new building. Dr Vir Bala, chairperson of the department, said that placement rate was almost 100 per cent and the passouts were getting jobs in reputed organisations both in print and electronic media.
	BJP rath yatra a gimmick: CM Kasauli, April 26 Criticising BJP President Rajnath Singh for undertaking the rath yatra in the state, the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, said today that such gimmicks solved no purpose to unite the masses. Addressing a gathering at Garkhal, near here, after inaugurating a police station and the Kimughat-Chakki-Ka-Mor road, he said such yatras only ignited communal passion. Expressing concern at the water scarcity in the region, he directed the officials of the IPH Department to chalk out a master plan for Kasauli and its surrounding areas. While fixing responsibility to complete various developmental projects in time, he said the officials showing laxity would not be spared. He blamed the previous BJP government for breeding corruption and said it had weakened the social and economic structure of the state. Enlisting his achievements, he said the government had achieved well in the field of social service by ranking first in the country. Education, health and overall development were other areas where the state had achieved acclaim. Earlier, he inaugurated a lift irrigation scheme at Kuthar and Modern Primary Health Centre at Patta Mehlog. He announced to upgrade high schools at Kot Beja and Pratha; primary schools at Kasauli, Neheri Kalan and Kadon; and middle school at Sanawar. — OC
	BJP leaders’ yatras flop shows: Congress Tribune News Service Shimla, April 26 Terming the “Bharat Surkash Yatra” of the BJP president, Mr Rajnath Singh, as a political gimmick, Mr Kuldeep Rathore, general secretary of the state Congress, today said there was no occasion to embark on such a journey as the country was not facing any security threat. Addressing a press conference here today, he said the “chal, chritra and chehra” of the BJP had been fully exposed while it was in power and it would not be able to mislead the people by indulging in such gimmicks. He said it was not surprising that the two “yatras” being undertaken by Mr Rajnath Singh and Mr L. K. Advani had turned out to be “flop” shows. He condemned the student violence on the Himachal Pradesh University campus and asserted that unauthorised persons should not be allowed to stay in hostels. The clashes among supporters of rival students unions vitiated the atmosphere and brought a bad name to the institution. Mr Rathore, who is the chairperson of the committee set up by the PCC chief to inquire into the reasons for the defeat of the NSUI, a frontal organisation of the party, in elections to the Students Central Associations across the state last year, said the final report would be submitted by May 6. He said the committee was of the view that non-students should not be made office-bearers of the union. He urged the government to assess the loss on account of damage to crops by drought and hailstorm and provide relief to the affected farmers.
	Model village scheme hangs in balance Rajiv Mahajan Nurpur, April 26 Residents of the remote and backward gram panchayat, Hadal, in this subdivision had dreamt of getting a facelift under the “model village scheme” on December 10, 2001, when former Union Minister of Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs. Shanta Kumar had laid the foundation stone of the model village scheme. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) had sponsored the scheme. Although the project was announced to be completed within six months, it is still hanging in the balance. Inquiries made from the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO), Nurpur, which has been executing the much-publicised model village scheme, reveal that Rs 70 lakh had to be spent on the overall development of the panchayat. HUDCO and the state government had to share Rs 35 lakh each on the facelift project of the panchayat. The project had to provide the basic infrastructure like water, electricity, civil and veterinary dispensaries, pucca village paths and houses to poor families and community centres in the panchayat. During the foundation-laying ceremony, HUDCO had released the first instalment of Rs 6.08 lakh of its share which had been spent on the construction of a dispensary, a community centre and four houses for poor families in the panchayat. According to the information, the state government had released its share of funds by means of earmarking a number of proposed development works of the panchayat. But HUDCO had failed to release its share despite several reminders from the office of the BDO. The people have demanded that the state government should take up the issue with the higher authorities of HUDCO to ensure completion of the model village scheme soon.
	Bank manager held in fraud case Tribune News Service Mandi, April 26 Though the Kulu police has arrested the manager of HP State Cooperative Bank (HPSCB) in connection with the Rs 65.14 lakh fraud case, allegedly committed by a clerk of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) in connivance with bank staff and a local resident last evening, the fake account holder, one Khimi Ram, a resident of Bhuntar, is still at large. The Kulu police arrested the branch manager of the HPSCB, the payee bank in the fraud case, Akash Kapur, last evening under Sections 467-68, 470 of the IPC on the charges that he did not verify the authenticity of the “forged drafts” issued by the Bhuntar branch of the KCCB. The police arrested the KCCB’s junior clerk, Ravi Kant, on April 20. Superintendent of Police G.D. Bhargava said in the alleged fraud, worth Rs 44.25, investigation was on. “The beneficiary Khimi Ram had opened an account in the KCCB at the Bhuntar branch with limit worth Rs 1.5 lakh and withdrew the forged drafts issued allegedly by the clerk at the HPSCB Nagwani, which were never verified,” he added. Mr Khimi Ram’s anticipatory bail application was rejected by the district courts today, while Mr Kapur will be produced before the District Court Judge tomorrow. The managing director, KCCB, Mr Subhash Kalsotra, who reached Kulu today, said the departmental inquiry had revealed that the junior clerk “stole some stationery” of the bank and then managed to issue the fake cheques from the bank, which were withdrawn from the HPSCB at the Nagwani branch by a beneficiary. “We are investigating the exact amount involved in this case”, he added, and put the part of onus on the branch manager, Nagwani. Commenting on the case, the General Manger, HPSCB, Mr A. K. Vashishat, claimed that the branch manager, Mr Kapur, had faxed a message to him last evening, stating that the account holder had withdrawn the money from the bank after the KCCB issued the drafts to Khimi Ram. “I have asked for a detailed report on the matter from the branch,” he added.
	Endangered bird dead Our Correspondent Kulu, April 26 A 15-year-old Monal, the state bird of Himachal Pradesh, died at the Wild Life Rescue Centre at Manali, yesterday. Sources said the rare bird was brought to the centre a year ago in injured condition and was saved by the veterinary doctors. The bird had breathing problem for the past one week but was not given medical aid, it was alleged. The postmortem examination revealed that the bird had infectious lungs. It was also learnt that the endangered species kept at the centre, faced danger because of shortage of trained staff. Two pheasants (locally called karari) had laid eggs at the centre last week but one of the eggs was reportedly broken by the bird. The laying of eggs happened after 1990. One Himalayan Black bear also died in March this year due to lack of proper care. The Divisional Forest Officer (Wild Life) was not available for comments.
	Autonomous wildlife authority on cards Tribune News Service Shimla, April 26 The state government is considering to set up an autonomous authority for the management of four major protected wildlife areas in the state. This was stated by Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Forest Minister, while presiding over a meeting of the governing body of the Bio-diversity Conservation Society, here today. He said the scope of the existing society was only managing the Great Himalayan National Park. The proposed authority would also take care of the Pin Valley National Park, the Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary. He said the new organisation, to be called the Great Himalayan Conservation Authority, would be responsible for the management of all four major protected areas. He said the authority would have a flexible administrative procedure and governing board structure to help ensure continuity of funding across financial years and eliminate bureaucratic delays. He said the authority would be headed by a Chief Conservator of Forests, who would be responsible for the management and achievement of various objectives. It would also have non-official members on its board and ensure people’s participation in the management of protected areas.
	“Water” to be screened at film fest Tribune News Service Dharamsala, April 26 The controversial film “Water” by Deepa Mehta will be screened as part of the Tibetan Film Festival to be organised at McLeodganj from May 1 to 7. Mr Lobsang Wangyal, director of the festival, said apart from screening films made by Tibetans, there would be other films selected from filmmakers around the world on political, social and environmental issues. Films on any other subject will also be considered, making the festival a platform for uplifting the quality of life, art and creativity. The films, he said, would be screened purely for creating awareness, sharing concerns about art and entertainment and important issues of daily life. The other films to feature in the festival include “Dreaming Lhasa”, a film by Tenzin Sonam and Ritu Sarin; “Angry Monk”, a film by Luc Schaedler (Switzerland).
	Rs 1.5-cr budget for Parwanoo Our Correspondent Parwanoo, April 26 The local Municipal Council has passed its current fiscal budget yesterday. The budget involving Rs 1.50 crore has aimed at accelerating the development activities in the town. An amount of Rs 45 lakh has been earmarked for the towns development activities. Work on solid management project would also start this year. The 2,500 square metre land for the project has already been sanctioned in Sector 5. For the project, the MC has received Rs 50 lakh from the government. To overcome the poor maintenance of streetlight problem, Rs 10 lakh has been kept for this purpose. Interestingly, sewerage management continued to be remained sidelined in the budget. In fact, the MC has no funds to meet the huge expenses required to revamp the 25 year sewerage management of the town. Meanwhile, the proper management of tax recovery has started to yield positive outcomes for the MC. In last fiscal, the MC has generated its own income to the tune of Rs 48 lakh. This was Rs 6 lakh more than of 2004-05 income generated by MC.
	BJP workers perform ‘puja’ for Mahajan Our correspondent Kangra April 26 The BJP workers along with former Agriculture Minister Vidya Sagar and city BJP chief Narender Trehan last evening paid obeisance at the Brajeshwari temple here and sought blessings for the welfare of BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan who was under treatment in Mumbai for the gunshot wounds. Mr Vidya Sagar said the shooting of Mr Mahajan was most unfortunate. Mr Narender Trehan, BJP city chief said that local unit of BJP would hold a havan in the temple soon after Mr Mahajan would recover and return home.
	Judge to probe varsity violence Shimla, April 26 A retired judge, Mr O.P. Sharma, will hold an inquiry into the incidents of violence and vandalism on the Himachal Pradesh University campus during the past two days. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, held to take stock of the situation last evening. Though minor clashes between activists of different political outfits keep taking place on and off, the latest incident led to a virtual rampage in which belongings of many students in the boys hostel were burnt. — TNS
	Factory manager killed Our Correspondent Kumarhatti, April 26 A factory manager was killed after he was hit by a Maruti van on National Highway-21 near Nalagarh on Tuesday. The deceased, Dr Surender Mohan Khanna, was on morning stroll when the van (DL-6CE-8401) coming on high speed from Baddi hit him. Dr Khanna got serious injuries on the head and he succumbed to his injuries after a few minutes. Dr Khanna from Aurangabad in Maharashtra was posted a few days back in Vaibhav Pharma Industry at Maanakpura.
	2 booked for extortion threat Parwanoo, April 26 Two youths were booked by the Kalka police for issuing extortion threats to a man last evening. The youth has allegedly threatened Kapil Sod to pay Rs 50,000 and a mobile. Mr Sood was threatened to be killed by the youths if he failed to meet the demand. — OC