 |
|
|
Hamirpur to have Lokmitra centres
Waste management projects to get
World Bank funds
Honour killing: man kills sister, paramour
BJP promises to amend service rules of employees
HPTDC to hold Caribbean food fest during World Cup
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Weavers await patenting of Kulu shawl
Lt-Gen Naidu is GOC-in-C of ARTRAC
Holland
experts to help horticulturists
Strength of women cops to be raised
Functioning of police to be computerised
Preamble in govt offices, colleges
Snow eludes New Year revellers
BJP office-bearers of Kulu district
Ban on land sale hits Baddi industrialists Police station inaugurated
Dog goes on biting
spree
2 killed in accident
One held for murder
|
|
Hamirpur to have Lokmitra centres
Hamirpur, January 1 A report prepared in this regard, seeking networking of the 24 Lokmitra centres set up in different parts of district, with the help of the BSNL, the Irrigation and Public Health Department and the state Electricity Board, has been sent to the state government for approval. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajneesh Kumar, said here recently that if the government accepted the proposal, these centres would act as 'focal points' for a whole range of activities. These centres were originally set up with an idea of facilitating people to send their grievances regarding government departments in the form of an e-mail by going to the centre of their area, which saved them from the botheration of coming to the department concerned. "The system of sending across grievances will continue to
exist. The people going to these centres for depositing bills can easily drop in a complaint," he added. He further said the main reason behind the failure of this project was the fact that most communications sent by people were not actually grievances but applications for financial grants. Meanwhile, requesting anonymity, a 'pracharak' of a Lokmitra centre, said initially the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education used to provide results in advance. Then they used to make money by selling its printouts. This was when cyber cafes had not come up in every nook and cranny. People could lodge grievances or complaints against the listed departments in a pre-defined format. For these classified complaints, either the grievance would be redressed or the action initiated by the District
Administration. In any case, the complainant would get a reply within 10 days. They could also ask any relevant question from the given departments, seek counselling and advice, or narrate their grievances, not listed under Classified Complaints sub-head, and they would receive a reply within a reasonable period of time, say 30 days, from the departments concerned. "But because Hamirpur is a very small district, people prefer to come to the departments concerned and meet the in charge in person, instead of using the Lokmitra service," the Deputy Commissioner said. Another official added that the task of downloading a grievance in the nodal centre set up in the Deputy Commissioner’s office, forwarding it to the department concerned and then transferring it to the centre was not only a cumbersome task, it involved a lot of inter-departmental co-ordination to yield desired results. The web-enabled government-citizen interface was introduced as a pilot project in the year 2001 with an objective of "using Information Technology (IT) in governance (e-Governance)" at the doorsteps of people. However, the much-hyped promises of better dissemination of government information, resulting in better awareness among rural masses about various government schemes, bringing in transparency, saving in time and cost of people visiting district headquarters for getting information, lodging complaints and enquiring their status and reduction in response time by the departments’ concerned and increase in their accountability failed in no time. |
|
Waste management projects to get
World Bank funds
Shimla, January 1 The bank will fund two projects in this regard under which detailed studies will be conducted to generate authentic data about waste generation on the basis of which pilot projects will be implemented to work out the best possible model for its management. It will engage consultants to carry out various studies and formulating projects for waste management. The project will also focus on capacity building. Once the models were developed, training will be provide to the personnel of the agency concerned for operating the waste management system. The two "demonstrative investment" projects will take care of all kind of hazardous waste and solid waste. Besides proper management of industrial waste, particularly, the hazardous waste, the projects will focus on solid waste generated in hills towns. The solid waste management project will have three components to develop models for effective management of waste in different locations. Under the first component, a typical hill town will be selected for the project and under the second component a temple town, which requires a different waste management mechanism, will be taken up. The third component will help develop a model for regional waste management facility to cover two or more towns. It is important as waste management facility for small hill towns, which do not generate large quantities of waste, is not a viable proposition. Under the regional approach a common waste disposal facility will be set up for two or three towns. Mr S. P. Vasudev, secretary of the state environment and pollution control board, said Himachal was the only state in the country which had been included for all three components of the project. The board would prepare detailed project reports for the two projects shortly. The projects will go a long way in finding a permanent solution to the problem of disposal industrial and municipal wastes, the main sources of water pollution in the state. |
|
Honour killing: man kills sister, paramour
Mandi, January 1 After the crime, accused Avinash Patial (19) a student of BA 1 at Sarkaghat college, walked to the Sarkaghat police station 3 km from his house and surrendered to the police around 5 am today. The police arrested him and recovered the sharp-edged weapon and bodies of the victims from the room of his house in Paplog village. A case of murder under Section 302 of the IPC was registered against him. Victims have been identified as Anjna (23), who was doing Elementary Education Training from Jammu and Kamal Kishore, (23), who was pursuing BCA course at an institute in Chandigarh and son of Mr Rajvir Singh, working in the Health Department at Pangi in Chamba district. Both of victims were spending holidays in the village, said villagers. SHO Sarkaghat Uttam Chand said the weapon used in the crime had been recovered from the room. “The victims had clothes on their bodies. Kishore was wearing shoes. Bodies of the victims were lying on the floor of the room”. Parents of the victims told the police that both families knew each other and their relations were cordial. Avinash’s mother Mrs Kanta Devi told the police she was sleeping on the first floor while her daughter and son were sleeping in two separate rooms on the ground floor. Avinash confessing to the crime, told the police he heard that somebody enter her sister’s room at 2.30 a.m. today. He woke up and opened the door and found his sister and Kishore in the room. He took the ‘daraat’, a sharp-edged weapon and done them to death in a fit of rage, the police said. The postmortem reports have been received and bodies handed over to family members, who live in the same village 150 yards away, the police revealed. “The victims died due to the deep wounds on their necks inflicted by the sharp-edged weapon”. The villagers expressed shock over the incident. There was no untoward incident in the village.
|
|
BJP promises to amend service rules of employees
Shimla, January 1 At a press conference here he said the government was using association with the RSS as a ploy to harass dedicated employees. The RSS was not a political organisation but the Congress was using links with the organisation to take action against employees to settle political scores. He said such an amendment had already been made in Madhya Pradesh where the BJP was in power. Terming the 2006 as a black chapter in the political history of the state during which the state hogged limelight for the Thind episode and the CPMT question paper leakage scam. The manner in which the government defended and protected Mr
B.S. Thind, Additional Director General of Police was arrested by the CBI in a land grab case, showed the extent Congress could go to shield the corrupt. Similarly, no action was taken against Dr
L.R. Verma, Vice Chancellor and other functionaries of the Himachal Pradesh University who were responsible for the leakage of CPMT question paper. The government failed to secure any special financial assistance from the Centre. On the other hand the Centre reduced the state’s quota of foodgrains under the annapurna scheme. He said the government should take up the issue for setting up central university in Kangra district with the Centre. He had as a Member of Parliament taken initiative in this regard. Referring to the agitation against the 1000 MW Karcham Wangtu Project Mr Bharadwaj said the government should settle all issued to the satisfaction of local people. He said the government should adopt a policy not to give farm land for special economic zones, industrial venture and hydroelectric projects as it denied farmers their means of livelihood. |
|
|
HPTDC to hold Caribbean food fest during World Cup
Shimla, January 1 Encouraged by the good response that the HPTDC received to the food and cultural festivals organised here, HPTDC plans to make the Caribbean Food and Cultural Festival a regional level event. The festival will be held at Hotel Holiday Home, here, where special attention would be paid towards creating a Caribbean ambience. The officials of the HPTDC are already in touch with event managers who will be arranging chefs and artistes who will perform here, while the World Cup will be in progress in the West Indies during March-April. With April being the peak tourist season in Himachal, the authorities are hopeful that the event will be a great success not just within the state but also among people from nearby places like Chandigarh. The corporation is looking for sponsors for the event, as besides the chefs who will dish out Caribbean dishes, there will be troupe of artistes. "We are planning to hold the Caribbean Food and Cultural Festival here as part of our policy to hold events all the year round to attract tourists," said Mr Yogesh Behl, Deputy General Manager, Hotel Holiday Home. The authorities point out that with cricket being the most popular sport in India, fans would love anything to do with the game, especially at a time when the World Cup is on. The HPTDC has for the past one year been holding food festivals in the state capital, especially during the peak tourist season. To begin with, the Kerala Food Festival organised in the summer was a big hit as tourists as well as locals freaked out on the coastal dishes, especially the sea food. This was followed by the rich cuisine of Avadh as chefs from the region dished out tongue tingling delicacies prepared in traditional style. The HPTDC also organised a Himachali food festival to give the visitors a taste of the hill food. During the past few days the Goan Food Festival was a big attraction. Besides the food from Goa, it was the musicians who had people rocking to their foot tapping music. |
|
|
Weavers await patenting of Kulu shawl
Solan, January 1 The process for the same was initiated around a year ago by the Geographical Indices Survey of India, but the end has not been achieved so far. The delay has caused setback to the traditional weavers in the state. Weavers of Kullu shawls today said the trade required marketing support to outshine the shawls made using machines. The Himbunkar is organising 11-day exhibition of handloom articles here. Eight societies from various parts of the state have displayed their products including shawls, gloves, jackets,
scarfs, etc. here. The weavers from different parts of the state say Ludhiana-made shawls, which are much cheaper than Kullu shawls, have flooded the markets in the state. Since shawls are made using machines in Ludhiana, their cost of production is much less than hand-woven shawls. With more variety in patterns and lesser price,
Ludhiana-made shawls have been giving Himachali products a tough competition. Mr K.K. Negi, an entrepreneur from Lahaul Spiti, said, “Weavers get meagre remunerations as compared to the effort put in. It is, therefore, difficult to sustain a family on this income alone. Hence, lesser number of weavers are continuing with this work now.” A Ludhiana-made shawl cost around 25 per cent less than a handmade shawl, he added. Rakesh Sharma, in charge of the exhibition, said the exhibition drew more people in Una than elsewhere in the state. There was great demand for these articles in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow and other parts of the country, he added. “With a view to bring about modifications in designs, help has been sought from the NIIFT and the NIFD. This has enabled the Himachali weavers to improve shawl designs and bring these on a par with machine-made shawls,” said Mohammad Ali of the Raina Weavers Society. The approach of weavers from Kullu and Kinnaur was professional, while those from Lahaul Spiti continued with an amateur approach towards the trade. Meagre financial gains had led to a decline in the number of weavers in the state. It had been reduced to a three-month trade undertaken from October 15 to January 15. Erratic power supply in rural areas during winters also affected the trade adversely. The government should give provide incentives to save the trade, weavers said. |
|
|
Lt-Gen Naidu is GOC-in-C of ARTRAC
Shimla, January 1 An infantry officer, General Naidu was commissioned in the Rajput Regiment on December 1967. He has held several coveted command, staff and instructional appointments, including command of an infantry division during the operation “Parakram” and the Leh-based 14 Corps responsible for the defence of the Siachen glacier, the highest battlefield in the world. Lt Gen Naidu has a vast experience of staff assignments, having served in various formation headquarters in all ranks, including at the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters, New Delhi. He also had a stint as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, and the Infantry School, Mhow. He was also the Military Attache in the Indian Embassy at Bonn, Germany. As Commanding officer of the 5 Rajput he participated in operation “Pawan” in Sri Lanka and in recognition of the excellent performance of his battalion he was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal. His went on to achieve a postgraduate degree in environmental and ecological sciences. He is currently doing PhD in management of ecology. |
|
|
Holland
experts to help horticulturists Dharamsala, January 1 He said the state government had already spent a sum of Rs 35 crore from the amount received so far, adding that it had helped in ushering in a revolution in the state after implementation of the Mission. Replying to a supplementary question in this regard, the minister said experts from Holland were likely to visit the state during the first week of January to help the farmers produce quality flowers. He said options were also being explored to set up a flower market in Chandigarh.
Over 40,000 persons have so far been benefited under the mission, which was launched in the state on October 9, 2003, he added. Replying to another question put by Ravinder Singh of the BJP and four other members, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said his government had opened and upgraded as many as 1,165 schools in the state since March, 2003, till November 30 this year, besides, several government degree colleges.
He said that in all, 744 schools were upgraded to middle schools, 275 to high schools and 346 to senior secondary schools. He further said the state government would soon recruit 100 Punjabi teachers to teach Punjabi in the schools from the next academic session. In reply to a question of Jagat Singh Negi, Congress MLA from Kinnaur, the Chief Minister said the blood bank at the regional hospital of Reckong Peo was not functioning in the tribal belt due to non-receipt of licence from the licencing authority to operate the blood bank. However, he assured the house that the blood bank would soon start functioning after completing all the necessary formalities.
|
|
Strength of women cops to be raised
Sujanpur (Hamirpur),
January 1 Mr Ashwani Kumar, Director-General of Police, who was in Sujanpur today for a community police programme, said there was shortage of women police men in the force and the existing strength was not sufficient for duties, to be done by women cops. Cops would be given facilities like lodging in the districts of the state. He said as per the HP Police Act, 2007, activities of the community policing would become mandatory in the state and meetings would have to be held at regular intervals. He said this would bridge the gap between the police and people. At present, the police carries out community-policing programme on its initiative. It is not mandatory to hold a fixed number of meetings with the local population, especially in the far-flung areas. On the various charges made by ADGP B.S. Thind, Mr Kumar said it was up to the state government to hold an inquiry into these. Mr Daljeet Thakur, Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur, said at present there were only two women constables at the Hamirpur police station. He said there was shortage of women police personnel at all levels, from the rank of constables to the Sub-Inspector level. Mr Thakur said the community-policing programme was being carried out in the district and this had helped in maintaining law and order effectively. “We have made groups of local youth at panchayat levels, who are in touch with police parties and even pass on valuable information about the area,” he said. |
|
Functioning of police to be computerised
Shimla, January 1 This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while inaugurating the Web Portal of the Himachal Pradesh Department and Common Integrated Police Application Project at the state police headquarters, here today. The Chief Minister said about 1,400 more police men would be recruited besides getting sanctioned on more India Reserve Battalion for the state during current year. He said modernisation of the police was in progress besides updating their skills and modes of investigations and dealing with crime and other law and order problems. About 1,400 new posts will be created and filled to strengthen the department. He said that 11 police stations in Shimla, Solan and Bilaspur had been covered under the first phase, while 29 police stations would be taken up in second phase and remaining 60 by the year end. The Chief Minister emphasized the need to make information and communication and use of modern technology a must for policing programmes. The programme was bound to improve accessibility, transparency and bring accountability in the functioning. He said that the police must update its skills to deal with the cyber crime. |
|
|
Preamble in govt offices, colleges Shimla, January 1 This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while releasing the Preamble along with two other publications "Samajik Suraksha Ka Paryay-Himachal Pradesh" and "Grameen Vikas Yojnayaon Se Sapane Huye Sakar", brought out by the Department of Information and Public Relations here today. He said the Preamble had been published to educate people about the Constitution by which they were being governed. Every citizen was required to know the constitution of the country so that it could be followed in letter and spirit. The Chief Minister said that publications were being brought out by the Information and Public Relations Department regularly to highlight the achievements of the government. The latest publications provided detailed information about the social welfare and rural development activities being carried out by the government. The publications would be delivered to gram panchayats, educational institutions, government offices and people in general. The booklet concerning social welfare reveal that the government was spending 48.71 percent of the total budget on social welfare sector. In addition to it, 11 per cent of the total budget had been earmarked for Scheduled Castes Component Plan. As many as 64 castes have been declared as scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and another 47 castes. In the last three-and-a-half years, 13,718 additional beneficiaries were covered, bringing 2,12,250 persons in all under the cover of social security cover. Four new ICDS projects have been started in Shimla Urban, Taundi Devi, Bhedu Mahadev and Haroli and 10,894 additional Anganwari centres were being set up during the current financial year which will provide employment to over 21,788 workers and helpers in the state.
|
|
Snow eludes New Year revellers
Shimla, January 1 The Mall Road and the Ridge areas of the towns were overcrowded with tourists and there was no space even to walk. The tourists and local people sang and danced till past midnight braving intense cold wave conditions under open sky at the Ridge and Mall roads. The local administration had arranged for orchestra and folk dancers troupes and police band to entertain the tourists who enjoyed every moment as curtain rung on 2006. The police was deployed in large numbers to maintain law and order and regulate the traffic. — PTI
|
|
BJP office-bearers of Kulu district
Kulu, January 1 Vice presidents — Dev Raj Tyagi of Bhatgran, Mr Hukam Chand Thakur of Bandrol and Mr Kailash Bragta of Bahan. Treasurer — Raman Khera of Kulu. Secretaries: Bishan Thakur, Manali, Bodh Raj Thakur, Sarsei and Goyla Devi of Kuani. The 22 executive committee members were also nominated besides all elected state delegates from this district. The state delegates elected were Govind Thakur, Jiwan Thakur, Nime Ram and Mrs Suman Lata. Mr Ram Singh said that all mandal presidents general secretaries were also taken members by virtue of their posts. Ten invitees and four special invitees were also nominated, he added.
|
|
|
Ban on land sale hits Baddi industrialists Baddi, January 1 The state government had imposed the ban to check the haphazard growth of industries here. Though the state government was terming the ban as temporary, the move has badly effected the prospects in those cases where the land was purchased from local agriculturists though local agencies like HPSIDC and HIMUDA before the implementation of the ban. The ban on lease deed of land has put a considerable number of industrialists in a tight spot over their future course of action. They were facing problems in getting loans from banks to carry out construction work. They could not mortgage their land to get loans for want of lease deed. The Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association (BBNIA) has made representations to the Principal Secretary of Industries and Secretary, Revenue, seeking a solution to the problem. The industrialists’ fraternity of the belt feel that the main aim of the ban should be to regulate construction rather than to reduce industrial growth. Mr Ashok Thakur, Principal Secretary, Industries, was not available for comment. However, a senior functionary on the condition of anonymity has said that the ban was only a short-term measure.
|
|
Police station inaugurated Baddi, January 1 Addressing his staff, he said the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh industrial area was facing rapid changes in economy and the social changes were leading to law and order problems. This was having a direct bearing on the police working. He said a 24-hour patrolling had been initiated in the area and about 10 vehicles would be provided by the department while another six would be provided by the industrial association.
|
|
|
Dog goes on biting
spree
Mandi, January 1 The victims were rushed to the zonal hospital where they were administered anti-rabies vaccine.
|
|
2 killed in accident
Shimla, January 1 The accident took place around 10.30 pm. The deceased have been identified as Suresh Kumar (25) of Kundli and Gian Singh (28) of Dhanout.
— TNS |
|
One held for murder
Nahan, January 1 Sources said Raju was a construction worker of bridge across the Jalal river. Last night when a group of labourer was taking meals, an exchange took place between Raju and Arjun Rai. Arjun stabbed Raju with a knife. Arjun has been arrested. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
