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Anganwari
Appointments
Govt seeks additional plan assistance
Subsidised ration eludes Antodaya families
UK, Italian delegations to visit Dharamsala
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UPA ignoring Himachal, says BJP
‘BSP will not make a
difference’
Youth’s Death
Sale of unhygienic meat goes unabated
Monkey culling drive suffers for want of money
Development Corpn earns profit
Spread AIDS awareness: CM
Art school inaugurated
Bhagat Singh’s birth centenary celebrated
Man gets life term for raping daughter
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Anganwari
Appointments
Dharamsala, September 28 As many as 5,500 recruitments of anganwari teachers and workers were made in the district in July, this year. Thereafter, complaints of irregularities began pouring in with the appellate authority by the women candidates, who felt that they were more deserving for the selections but were ignored in the process of selection by their respective panchayats. Keeping in view of the huge number of appeals, DM Ashwani Kapoor has asked the ADM and the ADC (development) to assist him in the process of the scrutiny of records. As per the orders, the DM will scrutinise the records of Bhavarna, Bheru Mahadev, Panchrukhi, Baijnath, Lambagaon, Dehra and Paragpur blocks while the ADM would look into the appeals of Nagrota Surian and Fatehpur blocks. The ADC would scrutinise the records of Rait, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Nurpur and Indora blocks. As per rules of the state government, the DM was the sole authority to take action on the appeals pending before him within 15 days of their filing before his office. More than 90 per cent of the appeals pending before the DM were filed in August and the DM office could not decide them within the stipulated time period due to midway transfer of previous DM Bharat Khera. Meanwhile, the state government was forced to extend the date of filing appeals. While talking to The Tribune, district ADM H.S. Pundir and ADC K.D. Lakhanpal, said they would go through the original records of the panchayats to verify allegations made in the appeals and present their reports to the DM for a final decision. “We are not the competent authority to take any final decision on the appeals and are just assisting the DM because of the overload of work”, both the officers added. Only scheme to provide nutrition to children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers in the country was being run through anganwaris. Although this scheme was launched way back in 1975 but it failed to meet the target of improving the nutritional status of children in the state, particularly in Kangra, which was the biggest district. Without much response from the state to implement the scheme, the Supreme Court on July 25 had issued a contempt of court notice to the chief secretary of the state noting that Himachal was the worst performer on the anganwari front along with four other states Rajasthan, Kerala, Bihar and Orissa. The poor performance of anganwaris was being attributed to the failure of state to propagate anganwaris that disburse nutritious food supplements and provide pre-school education, immunisation referrals and other services, as part of the scheme. On the directions of the SC, the state government had sped up the recruitment process so that the scheme could be run effectively, but the complaints involved in the recruitment process had now given sleepless nights to the state government. |
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Govt seeks additional plan assistance
Shimla, September 28 The hike in bank interest rates over the past one year has come as a major set back for small savings, a major source of plan funding, as the investors were now finding bank deposits much more attractive. The gravity of situation can be judged from the fact that small savings collections have failed to touch Rs 200-crore mark in the first half of the year as against the plan target of Rs 870 crore. The Finance Department anticipates a shortfall ranging from Rs 550 crore to Rs 600 crore by the end of the year. It was huge amount considering the fact that the size of the annual plan for the year was Rs 2,100 crore. The state will, thus, have to raise an equal amount for the plan funding. The state will have to resort to RBI permitted borrowings to make up for the shortfall. The issue was discussed during the recent plan appraisal. Himachal has a good track record in implementation of plans and last year its achievement was 108 per cent against a plan size of Rs 1,800 crore. This year the Centre is giving special assistance of Rs 390 crore to fund the plan as the state does not have its own resources. As over 70 per cent of the state’s budget goes towards payment of salaries, pension and debt servicing it is seeking additional untied funds to maintain tempo of growth. Being the election year, the state could hope to get special dispensation from the Centre. The state has already been sanctioned a development policy loan of Rs 850 crore by the Wold Bank for carrying out fiscal reforms and it is also seeking a loan of Rs 1,700 crore from Asian Development Bank for hydroelectric projects to strengthen its resource base. Once the projects come up it would have a permanent sources revenue generation. |
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Subsidised ration eludes Antodaya families
Hamirpur, September 28 While the District Food and Civil Supplies (DFSC) department which prepares the ration cards is blaming the nagar parishad for the anomalies in submitting the list. The nagar parishad authorities on the other hand are passing the buck on the DFCS department for messing up the list. The problem was highlighted when the nagar parishad office was flooded with complaints from a large number of Antodaya families that their ration cards had been deleted from the Antodaya category. The state government had asked the nagar parishad Hamirpur to submit a fresh list of Antodaya families by August. Sources said the nagar parishad submitted the list of the BPL families instead of the Antodaya families and the DFCS department had issued ration cards to them. The nagar parishad took up the matter with the DFCS department and this discrepancy was pointed out. The DFCS department on the basis of a fresh list had already deleted the names of Antodaya families and the fresh list had been withheld. As such, presently, no such list exists for Antodaya families in Hamirpur. Nagar parishad president Deep Kumar said: “This problem in preparing the list has cropped up inadvertently and we have sought meeting with the DFCS officer to sort out the matter on Monday.” “We have issued almost 70 per cent cards and a fresh survey of Antodaya families can only be ordered by the government through a notification,” said district Food and Civil Supplies officer R.C. Mahashay. |
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UK, Italian delegations to visit Dharamsala
Dharamsala, September 28 According to an official press note issued by the Tibetan government-in-exile, during their 5-day stay at Dharamsala, they will meet with the Dalai Lama who had arrived here after a hectic tour of the European countries. The delegates are also scheduled to meet all top Tibetan dignitaries of the Central Tibetan Administration, including Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. They will interact with various Tibetan non-governmental organisations and visit various schools, monasteries, and institutions in the exile community in the region. Later this month, another 18-member Italian delegation from Counsiglio Regionale del Trentino and Consiglio Regionale del Piemonte will also visit Dharamsala from September 26 to September 30. |
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UPA ignoring Himachal, says BJP
Shimla, September 28 In a statement issued here today, state BJP spokesperson Randhir Sharma said leave aside giving a special relief package, the PM did not even wish to visit the state. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has still not fulfilled the announcement he made regarding giving a special financial package to Himachal and now he has cancelled his visit,” he said. He said the Congress regime at the Centre had always given stepmotherly treatment to Himachal. On the contrary, during the NDA regime, Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave a financial help of Rs 2,000 crore to it besides approving a number of projects. He said most of the prestigious and bigger projects like the special industrial package, Rohtang tunnel and national highways were approved by Vajpayee. |
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‘BSP will not make a
difference’
Una, September 28 He said most politicians who had joined the BSP were those who were rejected by the people and were not sure of getting party tickets of those parties to which they belonged in the forthcoming elections. He said may be very few would win the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections but admitted that presence of some of the BSP candidates may spoil the prospects of the Congress as well as the BJP candidates. Shanta Kumar lashed out at the present working of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and said at the end of his tenure he was taking defective and illegal decisions. He said large-scale bungling had been done in the selection of anganwari workers, para teachers and PTA teacher appointments in the state. In reply to a question, Shanta Kumar said the BJP if it returned to power in the next general Vidhan Sabha elections would not take action against the doings of the previous government only for the purpose of revenge but certainly action would be taken on wrong and illegal actions and corrupt method of appointments. |
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Dilapidated Dadour bridge is falling apart
Sundernagar, September 28 This bridge was constructed in 1961 and was inaugurated by the then Governor Jung Bhadur in the same year. With traffic on the NH-21 increasing the condition of the bridge could not be improved as it is the main bridge on Suketi Khud. According to the junior engineer, D.S. Rana, he was informed about the hole in the bridge on Wednesday night and he immediately visited the spot. Blocks were placed on both sides of the hole and were whitewashed to make them visible. Cracks had been detected in the bridge in the past also and information regarding this had been supplied to the ministry of surface and transport but no action had been taken so far. Officials sources confirmed that in the past a team from the ministry had inspected the bridge but steps were not taken to improve its condition. Rana said he had informed the police, and his superiors, about the incident. |
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Youth’s Death
Solan, September 28 DSP (headquarter) Padam, who visited the spot today, said a case under Section 302 of the IPC had been registered on the statement of Santosh, wife of the deceased. He said the police had earlier conducted investigations after registering a case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC for rash and negligent driving, but Santosh insisted that there was a fowl play behind the accident.Protesting against the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the Arki police in the case, a large number of people from Kunihar and Batal village today blocked the Kunihar-Bilsapur road for nearly four hours. Sanjay had reluctantly gone to attend the Sairi fair on September 18 on Mahender’s insistence. They, however, disappeared after the fair and were found unconscious near Batal village two days later. Sanjay, who had sustained grievous injuries on his neck and ear, succumbed to his injuries, while Mahender was admitted to the hospital. Villagers said since the keys of the scooter that was used by the two youth to attend the fair were found from the pocket of the deceased, it could not be a case of accident as held by the police. They further contended that the preliminary post-mortem report indicated that the deceased had been hit by a blunt weapon. There were injury marks on his neck and ear, they said. The villagers lifted the road blockade around 4.30 pm, but gheraoed the Arki police station. They said the police should make public the interrogation of Mahender, who had failed to disclose much after the incident. |
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Sale of unhygienic meat goes unabated
Kumarhatti, September 28 The meat-shop owners, most of them without license, were selling meat freely. Most of the meat supply came from Pinjore and Kalka. However, the open spaces were also used by the local meat shop owners in complete violations of law to fill demand deficit. As per norms, clearance of meat for sale is required from the Veterinary Department, which puts its stamp after finding it fit. No medical check-up of the animals that are to be slaughtered is being done before slaughtering it. There is not a single slaughterhouse in the area with basic amenities like water and proper cleaning facilities. Most of the self-made open slaughter points are surrounded by unhealthy conditions, where stray dogs roam freely thus causing a major nuisance for residents living nearby. According to the district Animal and Husbandry Department they were helpless as there were no proper slaughterhouses. It was the duty of the district administration to provide proper slaughterhouses and force meat shop owners to meet all compliances, a senior vet official said. |
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Monkey culling drive suffers for want of money
Kumarhatti, September 28 Monkey menace has not only caused a major loss to the farmers but has also forced them to abandon farming on a large scale. Hundreds of acres of land in the area has been lying barren due to the
fear of monkeys. General secretary of the sabha, Solan, Pyare Lal Sharma said Rs 2 lakh
was required for the successful implementation of the drive, but they could hardly collect Rs 20,000 from
the villagers. He said the drive was initially launched in five panchayats namely,
Bharti, Delgi, Deothi, Chamat Barech and Shadiana. “As against the expected population of 11,000 simians, we could manage to kill around 200 monkeys,” he said. The expected target was to kill
1,000 monkeys. But rain and bad weather caused a set back to the drive, he rued. He said there was also grave shortage of ammunition. Though there were 72 licensed guns in five panchayats, around 45 licensees helped in killing monkeys besides, 6 professional shooters were hired. The sabha planned to launch a drive in Garhkhal, Aanji
Maatla, Rori, Kanda and Gulhadi panchayats but failed to do so for want of
approval from the Forest Department. The Forest Range Office, Dharampur, took a long time to grant approval
to the drive despite repeated pleas, he added. |
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Cement plant opposed
Sundernagar, September 28 The procession started from the Sukhdev Batika and culminated in front of the SDM’s office. Volunteers marched and raised slogans against the Cement Industry protesting the government’s decision to set up the plant near Sundernagar. The protestors criticized the government as to how it had allowed Harish Cement Company to construct the cement plant which was near the town. Later office-bearers of the Prayavran Suraksha Samiti, Katrwari Sangarsh Samiti led by president of Sundernagar Sangarsh Samiti A.S. Raghwa submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. |
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Development Corpn earns profit
Shimla, September 28 The corporation has set a profit target of Rs 7 crore for the current year. The board approved the payment of a performance incentive to all employees of the corporation. It also reviewed the operations of the corporation for the current year and urged the employees to make concerted efforts to achieve the targets. The board reviewed the progress of the upcoming industrial estates at Davni, near Baddi, on which Rs 60 crore was being spent. Khachi said the estate was being raised on modern lines for which a loan of Rs 42 crore had been raised through the Infrastructure Development Board. While 425 bighas of land has been acquired, the process for acquiring another 180 bighas is under process. |
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Spread AIDS awareness: CM
Shimla, September 28 Virbhadra said the government was keeping a strict vigil over the spread of the disease and was responding to any case reported from any part of the state,” he said. He said the people should join hands and help various organizations engaged in war against AIDS. Virbhadra said nation-wide campaigns had been launched in association with international HIV/AIDS societies to create awareness about the disease and the precautions against it. “The government had opened free counseling and testing centres so that those who had acquired the infection could be guided and helped while others could get themselves tested,” he said. Virbhadra Singh said a research was being done to find a cure for the disease but what was important was to change the mindset of the people so that the stigma attached with the disease could be removed. “Those who had unfortunately acquired the infection should not be looked down upon but should be encouraged and helped to lead a respectable life,” he
emphasised. |
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Art school inaugurated
Kullu, September 28 The Governor stressed upon the ideals of Buddha, which, he said provided solutions to many modern-life problems. He said the present race of capitalism, commercialisation and high competition would bring about imbalance in the society. The teachings of Buddha would certainly put check on the apprehensive evils and make living peaceful, he added. Earlier the Governor was given a traditional welcome by Dechen Choskhor Mahavihara Shravasti (Sarabai). Later, he visited an old and new Thanka Painting Exhibition organised by the monastery and Reorich Art Gallery at Naggar. His Holiness Darukpa, Choegon Rinpoche welcomed the Governor and Lady Governor by presenting a Buddha statue and a shawl. |
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Bhagat Singh’s birth centenary celebrated
Bilaspur, September 28 Students and youths from the Indian People Theater Association presented a programme of patriotic songs and also staged a corner play at the main market Shahid Champa Park as youths took a pledge to follow ideals and principles of Shahid Bhagat Singh. They also took out a rally through the town bazaars. Those who addressed the gathering included the former deputy director of education W. S. Sidhu, comrade Ashwani Pathak, Lakhanpal Sharma and Vijay Sharma. |
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Man gets life term for raping daughter
Dharamsala, September 28 Giving details of the case and judgement,. B.K. Marwah, deputy district attorney told The Tribune that the accused Ramesh Kumar, a resident Jard village falling under the Jawali police station, raped his minor daughter on September 10, 2006 at his residence, when his wife had gone out to meet her relatives. Dev Raj, brother of the accused, was the first to hear the cries of a child from Ramesh’s house on that night and was a witness to the incident, said Marwah. Dev Raj immediately called Surinder, one of the neighbours, who too was a witness. The police was called, and he was arrested. Later, after the medical examination of the girl, rape was confirmed. Thereafter, a criminal case under Section 376 of the IPC was registered against Ramesh, Marwah said. He further revealed that during the year-long trial, as many as 13 witnesses, including eye-witnesses, were produced in the court by the prosecution to establish the case. Today, agreeing to the arguments of the prosecution side, the additional district and session’s judge sentenced Ramesh to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 20,000 on having found him guilty of raping his daughter. The judge had also ordered that if the guilty failed to deposit the fine, he would have to undergo another two years rigorous imprisonment in the jail. |
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3 killed in accident
Shimla, September 28 The deceased were identified as Chint Ram (34), Kala Devi (32) and Padam Singh (30), all from Gaura village. The driver of the ill-fated vehicle, Gopal has been admitted to the Rampur hospital with serious injuries. |
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Kaushal, Joshi expelled from Cong
Shimla, September 28 The two leaders, who have joined the BSP, were issued show-cause notices for indulging in anti-party activities. The party was not satisfied with their reply to the notices. |
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Hamirpur gets new DC
Shimla, September 28 Her posting comes in the wake of Hamirpur DC R. Selvam proceeding on Central deputation. He is going as the private secretary to state minister for home V. Radhika
Selvi. — TNS |
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