The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

SDMs recommend quashing of 37 PTA appointments
Ambika Sharma

Solan, September 23
With as many as 37 appointments of teachers made through the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) found bypassing norms in the district, respective SDMs today recommended their quashing. The SDMs who were conducting an inquiry into 56 such complaints found that merely 19 appointments were found in order while the remaining had been made bypassing merit.

The SDM, Kandaghat and Arki, were yet to conclude their reports. Arki subdivision had received 180 complaints. Though the opposition Congress had been making much hue and cry about quashing such PTA appointments it was found that various tactics had been adopted to adjust favourites.

While deliberate vacancies had been created to adjust kin of the senior Congress leaders in the Arki subdivision it was also found that the regular teachers were transferred to as far as Chamba in some cases to pave way for PTA appointees.

Officials said it was shocking to know how some of these appointments had been manipulated. In at least eight of the 18 cases quashed in Solan subdivision no interviews were held and initially teachers were shown to be appointed on a voluntary basis after which a recommendation was sent to the deputy director to seek grant-in-aid for the post. Thus, the candidate was absorbed as a PTA appointee without any interview as a single candidate. The SDM has now ordered immediatel stoppage of their grant-in-aid for these eight cases while directing the respective PTAs to remove them. In Nalagarh subdivision out of the 29 complaints 19 had been quashed while 10 had been found in order.

SDM, Solan, Vivek Chandel said the maximum number of 13 complaints had been received in the case of drawing teachers while others included lecturers in commerce and English etc. In one such case it was found that a commerce lecturer failed to qualify and after evaluation of his case he fared as low as number 10th. This candidate had been granted exceptionally high marks of 9.33 out of 10 in the interview.

What had cast a question mark on the whole procedure was the fact that in majority of the cases the PTA presidents who conducted the interviews were unqualified to interview the teachers. In one such case a PTA president himself appeared as a candidate though he had resigned before appearing for the interview.

Though the government move to probe such appointments had drawn flak from the Congress the virtual go-by to merit had exposed the nepotism and favouritism of the former Congress regime.

Child sex ratio improves
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 23
The Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) today said though there had been some improvement in the sex ratio of children between zero to six years, more efforts were needed to improve the scenario in the urban areas.

Speaking on the eve of the International Girl Child Day, the state president of the (HGVS), Kuldeep Tanwar, said the improvement in the child sex ratio that had touched a low of 897 as per the 2001 census had improved to 903.

“It is the sustained efforts by the HGVS and other voluntary organisations that awareness has been created against female foeticide and the results are showing up,” he said.

He said after touching an all time low of 803 in the year 2003, the scenario was improving.

“However, the discrepancy in the sex ratio in the urban areas that was still low at 844 showed that still a lot has to be done,” he said.

He added that this was 56 points less than that the rural child sex ratio, which was considerably better at 900.

He said Kangra district in the state, which was adjoining the state of Punjab, had the worst record. The sex ratio had declined by 141 points between 1981 and 2001.

“Number of ultra sound clinics had come down in the state from 29 to 24. This had also contributed significantly in checking this disturbing trend,” he said.

“Earlier, we used to focus our campaign on March 8, which happens to be International Women’s Day. But seeing the positive results, we have decided to have a sustained campaign from 24 September to 15 October, which is World Rural Women Day and again from November 25, which is Violence Against Women Day to December 10 that happens to be Human Rights Day”, he added.

Tanwar said there was a lot of scope for improvement in child sex ratio in the rural areas, as 41 per cent villages had a child sex ratio of less than 800 and 52 per cent villages below 900.

He said while Chamba, Kangra, Bilaspur and Shimla districts have shown continuous decline in child sex ratio over the years, it has been the least in the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti and in Kullu, too, it was quite satisfactory.

Arrange for apple procurement at orchards: DCC
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 23
The Shimla District Congress Committee (Rural) has urged the government to procure apple crop right at the orchards through its agencies. This will help growers who are not in a position to transport their produce to the market due to the disruption of road network.

The committee that met under the chairmanship of president Vidya Sagar here today also urged the government to make prompt assessment of the damage caused by rain and come out with a special package to provide relief to the farmers and fruit growers.

Over 60 lakh boxes of apple were stuck at various places in the district. Even the fruit procured under the market intervention scheme was rotting by the roadside.

It drew the attention of the government towards the extensive damage caused to roads and the water supply in Jubbal Kotkhai, Theog, Rampur, Kusumpati, Chopal and Kumarsain areas. In Rohru alone, 36 roads were closed due to landslides, it said.

Meanwhile, president of the Jubbal Kotkhai unit of the party Laik Ram Austa has expressed concern over the virtual collapse of health services due to shortage of staff.

He said seven out of the total eight posts of doctors were vacant at the Jubbal civil hospital while the Kotkhai community health centre was also facing staff shortage.

CM announces benefits for ex-servicemen
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 23
Announcing several benefits for the ex-servicemen hailing from the state, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the margin money on loans to ex-servicemen had been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000.

Addressing the delegates at the annual Civil Military Liaison Conference between top functionaries of the state government and the Western Command at Chandimandir today, he said the government had also enhanced the financial assistance being provided to the paraplegic and destitute ex-servicemen from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 out of the Special Fund for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Ex-servicemen.

He said recently, the state government had also enhanced the rates of financial assistance being granted to the widows of Second World War veterans from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month. The Government Departments had also been directed to ensure the prescribed quota of 15 per cent reservation in government jobs at all levels for the ex-servicemen, he added.

Earlier, in his inaugural address, the Chief Minister thanked the Army Commander for hosting the meeting, which he said, provided an opportunity to discuss and resolve issues of mutual interest.

He lauded the role of the Armed forces and stated that he was proud of the traditional bonds that existed between the armed forces, the people and the government of the state.

He said his government, the administration and the people of the state would never be found wanting in providing any possible assistance to the Armed forces and assured the Army of full cooperation from the government to further reinforce the existing ties.

In his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt-Gen T.K. Sapru, said the state administration of Himachal Pradesh had always given a very positive response to the issues taken up with them. He lauded the decisions taken by the Chief Minister and the benefits announced for the welfare of the serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and next of kin of the martyrs.

ADC orders taking over of school
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 23
Revoking an old order passed by the Kangra DC in 2004, ADC Mamta Chaudhary has ordered the take over a senior secondary school being run by the Deva Dev Siksha Committee in Rajiana village, near Nagrota Bagwan.

The school takeover has been ordered amid allegations that government funds were used to construct its building on private land. The government scheme under which the funds were allotted to the committee for the construction of building made it mandatory that the land on which the institution was being brought up should be transferred in the name of Education Department.

However, the committee members did not transfer the land to Education Department. They allegedly continued to run the school as a private institution. The government grant worth Rs 8.38 lakh was alleged used for the construction of school building.

On a complaint in 2004, the then DC ordered the takeover of the school building.

However, the order was not implemented for four years as the order of the DC got lost in files of the office.

The ADC said the matter came to her notice after an applicant sought information as regard the action taken on former DC’s inquiry report under the RTI Act. The BDO concerned had been ordered to take over the school building, she said.

At present, the senior secondary school in question has over 400 students. President of society running the school Uttam Chand said future of students would be at stake if the government locked the school.

Bus stand hub of mishaps
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, September 23
The bus stand in this town has become a hub of minor accidents. The buses heading towards Barog, Solan, Nahan and Dagshai cross through the bus stand that was already a congested place. There are frequent traffic jams in the area.

Moreover, a blind curve on the Kalka-Shimla national highway just before the bus stand has made things more dangerous. The district administration, however, has failed to take any action despite many pleas made by the locals in this regard.

Moreover, the deteriorating condition of the road at the bus stand was another cause of concern.

Power board frames transfer policy
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 23
Belatedly though, the state electricity board has finally framed a transfer policy which, if implemented in letter and spirit, will not only reduce political influence in postings but also help plugging leakage of revenue.

The state electricity regulatory commission (SERC) has directed the board to frame a rational transfer policy to improve efficiency and bring down commercial losses more than two years ago. As per the policy approved by the board the normal tenure in a post will be three years and field staff right from the level of superintending engineers downwards will not be posted in the home circle, division, sub-division and section. The officers and employees currently posted in violation of these norms will be shifted by May 2009. The only exception will be in case of postings made in the design wing and project wing and the class IV employees.

In case of postings in head offices the maximum tenure in one seat will be three years and the total tenure in a station will not exceed 10 years. The newly recruited employees will be posted in the tribal and other hard areas where they will be required to serve for two winters and three summers. After having completed the tenure they will give station of choice for which they will be required to give five options.

Widows, wives of army personnel, handicapped persons and other such employees would be given due consideration and accommodated as far as possible. The employees with two years or less for superannuation will be posted near home town. Those aged more than 55 years will not be posted in tribal and hard areas.

The general postings and transfers will be affected during April and May or as and when the government lifts ban on transfers.

The SERC had also directed the board to focus on revenues sensitive positions, particularly the field postings in industrial areas, and ensure that the incumbents were not allowed to overstay. It had observed that officers and employees have been serving in the revenue sensitive industrial areas for decades and asked the board to shift at least 50 per cent of the staff which had completed tenure in one go.

The board has shifted three executive engineers posted at Nahan, Paonta and Parwanoo. The SERC had expressed its displeasure over the short tenure for which members of the board were appointed.

Dhumal open to simultaneous assembly, LS polls
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 23
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today said he was open to holding Assembly elections in Himachal along with the Lok Sabha elections in case there was consensus on the issue.

He was speaking at a function where Himachal was given the ‘Diamond State Award’ for the steps taken by it in environment protection and increasing the green cover. The award was received by Dhumal from former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi today.

Dhumal said frequent elections had caused adverse impact on social and economic development of the country. “I am personally in favour of an amendment in the Constitution to make legal provision for the holding of the assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously,” he remarked.

“I am even willing to go in for the Assembly elections in Himachal with the Lok Sabha elections in case there is political consensus on the issue,” he said. Holding of elections every now and then diverted the attention of the government from real issues.

He said global warming was a critical issue and environment protection and increase in green cover was the only solution to the problem. He said the people of Himachal were committed to increase the green cover so that everyone could benefit. Steps were being taken to improve the quality of air in the region, he added.

Virbhadra may contest LS poll
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Mandi, September 23
Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh may contest the Mandi parliamentary seat in the coming Lok Sabha elections if the party high command wants him to do so.

This was stated Virbhadra Singh while on a private visit to the town three days ago. However, he warned his detractors within the party saying “Virbhadra Singh is not a name that every Tom, Dick and Harry points out as and when it suits them or as they want it”.

State Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur here today said Virbhadra Singh was the strongest candidate at present. “The party will decide on the issue soon,” he added.

There had been a talk among Congress rank and file that a secret survey got conducted by the party had suggested that Virbhadra Singh and former telecom minister Sukh Ram were the two strong winning options from the Mandi seat.

Being the second largest district in the state after Kangra, Mandi deserved more government attention than it was getting, Virbhadra Singh said. He dwelt at length on the issue of medical college in Mandi. “It was a Cabinet decision to start government medical college in Mandi from 2008 academic session. The BJP government withdrew the notification and is now talking of punishing officials who issued it. Dhumal should face us, why punish officials,” he said.

He said he welcomed participation of private medical colleges in the state to make it an educational hub. “But the Congress wants that a government medical college is opened at Mandi. We will fight for it politically,” he added.

On BSP leader Vijay Singh Mankotia rejoining the Congress, he said there were no permanent enemies or friends in politics. “He has said that he is not interested in joining the Congress,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sukh Ram has stated that he has quit the “active election politics”, but if the high command wants him to contest, he will do so.

4 helicopters to rescue the trapped today
M.C.Thakur

Manali, Septmber 23
Four helicopters of the armed forces are reaching Lahaul and Spiti district tomorrow to rescue hundreds of persons who have been stranded on various trekking routes for the past four days due to heavy snowfall, sources said here today.

"Four rescue copters, two each of the Army and the Indian Air Force will carry out sorties on the 222-km long Manali-Leh and the Manali-Kaza road," the souces said.

They said first of all they would identify how many people were held up on various trekking routes and then rescue only those who were either ill due to high altitude sickness.

"Preference will be given to those who are suffering from high-altitude sickness and old people," they said.

22 persons rescued
Our Correspondent

Kullu, September 23
Twenty-two persons, including a Japanese woman, out of the 105 stranded passengers at Batal in the Spiti Valley were rescued and brought to Kaza today. A team headed by Kaza SHO Ravi Kumar left for Batal to rescue the remaining passengers.

This information was given by Kaza tehsildar Vikas Shukla. He said 12 Belgians, two Spanish and two Swedish nationals were to be flown to Chandigarh by an IAF helicopter today, but the flight could not take off due to bad weather. He said the Kaza administration had changed timings for all 68 schools from 10 am to 1 pm for one week.

Pong Reservoir
Water level up, alert sounded
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, September 23
The administration has sounded a high alert in the district due to rising level of water in the Pong Dam reservoir. According to official information, a communiqué was received by local SDM Inder Bhardwaj from the Kangra DC yesterday about the probability of water level touching the upper limit (1,390 ft) in the reservoir.

The Shah Nehar headworks division, Talwara, flashed messages to the DCs of Kangra, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Ferozepore and Kapurthala to caution the public that the water level in the reservoir was nearing the danger mark (1,388 ft) and the authorities might release 50,000 cusec water in the Beas, downstream Shah Nehar barrage, at any time.

According to the SDM, the administration has conveyed the message to the inhabitants living near the Beas and asked them to stay away from the riverbanks.