Shimla, September 23
The Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe, Mr Kunwar Singh, has stressed the need of protecting the fragile environment of the tribal areas and protecting the interests of the locals while executing hydel projects.

Mr Kunwar held a meeting with senior officials of the state government, here today. “The condition of roads in the tribal areas must be improved as it is the lifeline of people, besides being the only means to transport apples and other agricultural produce to the market,” he said.

He also stressed the need of reviewing the effectiveness of various welfare schemes so that the benefit reached the people for whom these had been formulated.

Mr Kunwar Singh asked the officials to fill vacant posts so as to accelerate the pace of development. He asked the officers to redress the grievances of the tribal people, which they had brought to his notice. He assured that he too would take up the issue of getting additional funds for the tribal areas from the Centre.

The Chief Secretary, Mr S.S. Parmar, said the government was ensuring that there was no environmental degradation during the execution of the hydel projects. He said the government had constituted welfare boards to protect the interest of the various communities.

Mr K.N. Singh, Joint Secretary at the Centre outlined the aims and objectives of the commission. Mr Gajendra Singh, Vice Chairman, Mr B. Srinivasulu, Mrs Prem Bai, members of the commission, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and heads of department also attended the meeting.

Shimla, September 23
The Forest Department will now rope in banks and other corporate houses having operations in Himachal to raise funds for the effective implementation of the Green Shimla project as this will also lead to public participation.

The department has written letters to various banks, corporate houses and major mobile phone operators in the state to extend financial help for undertaking plantation all over the town so that a greener “Queen of Hills” welcomes tourists. The help could be in the form of plantation, funds for their care and maintenance or in any other form.

The forest authorities have also written to the Municipal Corporation and the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla to extend financial help in making Shimla green and restoring its lost glory. Due to poor regeneration and depleting forest wealth, the green cover of the town has been shrinking.

Funds to the tune of Rs 6.17 crore will be received under the Green Shimla project, launched last month. The forest authorities opined that by seeking financial help of banks and corporate houses, they will be able to ensure people’s participation, which is a must for the success of any government project.

Unlike other parts of the state, ensuring the safety and survival of the plantation in the state capital is proving to be a difficult task for the Forest Department. “Owning to smaller patches, which could comprise of just one plant also we will have to labour very hard to ensure the survival of the plantations, for which we will need more funds and of course public cooperation,” point out forest officials.

The Forest Department has already undertaken a plantation of over 27,000 saplings, Mr R.K. Raj, DFO, informed

Parwanoo, September 23
India is finally witnessing a concerted campaign to address linkages between migration and HIV/AIDS. The much-needed initiative, which was critical considering the growing evidence of migrants getting infected in the wake of low awareness and poor access to healthcare, has come from a group of development experts committed to the cause.

They are covering highly vulnerable states where the incidence of migration and mobility is high, thereby increasing the risk of HIV infection. These include West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The idea it to collect evidence to support the fact that regions with high rates of migration and mobility report high HIV/AIDS prevalence

After all the regions have been covered, the experts will conduct a quantitative sample study of 6600 migrants' families at source, transit and destination. The survey will look at the availability of sources of information on HIV/AIDS and also on access to treatment, care and support.

"Once we have collected inputs from the states, it would be easier for us to submit our report to National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) for it to address the sensitive issue in the National AIDS Control Policy - III.

“We have covered West Bengal and Orissa, where we were impressed with the innovative techniques the state governments have devised to protect migrant populations at risk. The Orissa government has tied up with district authorities at Surat where most of the migrants from Orissa go for work.

“We are looking for similar replicable models in northern states," said Dr Ashok Gulalia, a social behavioural scientist engaged with HIV/AIDS prevention for 15 years.

He is at Parwanoo for two days, leading the team of experts mapping trends of migration and HIV/AIDS vulnerability in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. By the end of the day, he had collected enough evidence to suggest that HIV continues to affect migrant populations.

This highly vulnerable group includes temporary migrants like truck drivers, tourists, illegal migrants, returning nationals, refugees, sex workers and asylum-seekers. The infection often stems from overcrowding, unsafe water and unsafe sex.

Migrants also suffer cultural shock due to language barriers, non-conducive atmosphere and poor family support. Hence the need to identify risk factors they face and address the problem by devising innovative methods for enhancement of awareness and promotion of safe sex.

The issue is being hotly pursued under the ongoing campaign sponsored by Department of International Development and organized by Development Research Society. It seeks to map trends in the area and develop the first-ever index which will enable state-wise assessment of HIV/AIDS vulnerability in India.

On the first day of the regional seminar at Parwanoo, officers from Haryana State AIDS Control Society and doctors from the PGIMER, Chandigarh, endorsed the trend of migrants being at risk -- more so in northern states where targeted intervention projects to prevent HIV/AIDS came much later than in Southern states.

Dr Sanjai Bhatt from Delhi School of Social Work made pertinent observations, stating, "Globalization has led to enhanced connectivity and increased migration. It is thus important to address the risk factors migrants face primarily because they are on the move and hence "free to indulge". The realistic facts and figures must form part of the national programme on HIV/AIDS prevention."

Solan, September 23
A theft accused was re-arrested by the police within 24 hours of his escape from the lock-up here.

Hardeep Singh, alias Jaskaran, was arrested by the Barotiwala police while driving a tempo (HP-12-A-6851) carrying stolen articles, including an LPG cylinder, an oxygen cylinder, 10 pipes and some equipment to cut pipes, on Thursday evening.

The police lodged him, along with another accused, in one of the two cells at the Barotiwala police station from where he fled around 5 am by breaking open the grill.

Gurpreet Singh, the other accused lodged in the same cell, did not come to know anything about the Jaskaran’s breaking the grill as he was asleep at that time.

He was, however, re-arrested from Balachaur in Punjab late last night. The police later learnt that the accused had lied about his identity at the time of his earlier arrest. He had told the police that he was a resident of Ropar and his name was Jaskaran, while he actually lived at Balachaur.

SP Gianeshwar Singh today suspended the munshi of the Barotiwala police station in connection with the escape.

Kangra, September 23
Thousands of pilgrims thronged this temple town amid tight security on the eve of the first day of Ashwin Navratra today to pay obeisance at the feet of Goddess Bajjreshwari at her temple.

Pilgrims from Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir and from other parts of the country had started thronging to the town since morning. They were reciting bajans, vedic hymns and slogans “Jai mata dee”. There were long queues of devotees waiting for their turn for darshan at the temple. It has been tastefully illuminated.

Mr Virender Thakur, DSP, said reserved armed police personnel had been deployed in the town besides the regular police for traffic regulation and patrolling. Even bomb disposal squads had been on standby at the district headquarters.

The pilgrims visiting the temple during the Navratras remember Dhyanoo Baghat, an apostle of devotion and dedication. Dhyanoo Baghat, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was a regular visitor to the Nagarkot Dam Bajjreshwari temple. He cut his head himself on a stone called dharam shila to please the Goddess. It is in his memory that pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Bihar and Punjab, wearing yellow clothes, pay obeisance to the goddess during the festival.

Mr R.P. Sharma, one of the trustees of the temple, said Himachal Pardesh had four shakti peeths, out of a total of 52. The Bajjreshwari temple was one of the four shakti peeths. The other three were Naina Devi (Bilaspur), Jawalamukhi (Kangra) and Chintpurni Una).

Bajjreshwari is the kul devi of most of the people living in Uttar Pradesh because of Dhyanoo Baghat’s sacrifice, he said. 

Kangra, September 23
A resident of Rumaid village here had been allegedly raping his minor daughter for the past three years. The matter came to light when the victim told about it to an activist of the Chinmayanad Gram Vikas Sangathan (CGVS) who informed the police.

The police has arrested 55-year-old Manohar Lal under Section 376 of the IPC.

The victim informed Ms Sushma, president of the CGVS Mahila Mandal, who sent information to the head office of the CGVS at Tapovan Sidbharai. The victim was taken to the Nagrota Bagvan police station where she narrated her tale of woe to the police.

Mr Surender Sharma, SHO, Kangra, said Manohar Lal’s wife expired 12 years ago. He had four children, including three daughters. Two daughters were already married. He was living with his other two children, 14-year-old victim and 16-year-old son Munish.

The accused and the victim were sent for a medical examination yesterday. Meanwhile, Manohar Lal was produced in a local court here and remanded in police custody till September 26.

Ms Maya Devi, village pradhan, said the village was stunned after the incident came to light. Ms Pushpa Devi of the Chinmayanad Gram Vikas Sangathan, Tapovan, has appealed to philanthropists to come forward to help the minor children of the accused.

The brother of the victim said his sister had told him about the conduct of his father, but he could not do anything to save his sister.

Shimla, September 23
The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has demanded a separate credit policy in the farm sector and a distinctive agricultural and horticultural policy for the Himalayan region.

Speaking at the seventh meeting of Congress Chief Ministers at Nainital today, he said the high cost of diversification to horticulture and vegetable cultivation could be met only through a higher ceiling of loans. “The interest rate should also be lowered from 7 to 4 per cent so that farmers do not get into a debt trap,” he said.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the definition of small and marginal farmers, rainfed farming and the structure of various Centrally-sponsored schemes in the agricultural sector should be different for the mountainous region due to scattered and small holdings.

The Chief Minister said horticulture contributed over Rs 1,500 crore to the economy of Himachal annually and farmers had now diversified into other areas like floriculture, aromatic and medicinal plants, spices and off-season vegetables. “The government will import planting material for apples and other fruits, seeds and bulbs from abroad for five consecutive years at a cost of Rs 1 crore annually to improve the quality of horticultural produce,” he informed.

The Chief Minister said the government had taken some bold decisions in attracting private investment and so far Rs 200 crore had been invested in post-harvest management and cold chain infrastructure. He said the Rs 80-crore National Horticulture Technology Mission was being implemented in Himachal for diversification of horticultural activities.

He urged the Centre to reimburse the entire expenditure being made on the police force in Chamba district, sharing a boundary with Jammu and Kashmir as security-related expenditure. “The ITBP forces deployed in Chamba on the border with Jammu and Kashmir should remain there and in case these have to be withdrawn, an India Reserve Battalion should replace these,” he said.