Dharamsala, October 24
The waiver of farmers’ loans in the country has hit the recovery of the Himachal Pradesh Backward Classes Finance and Development Commission.

Sources said the loan takers from the commission had developed the apprehension that like farmers, their loans would also be waived by the Centre. In the last national-level meeting of state finance commissions for backward classes, a resolution was adopted to waive the bad debts of loan holders of the commission, just like farmers. Though the resolution was adopted, the Centre did not make any further move to waive bad debts of state backward classes finance commission.

In fact, it has now hampered the recoveries of the state backward classes finance commission. Apprehending that the loans of defaulters would be waived, many loan holders have stopped paying instalments to the commission. Managing director of the commission J.R. Gazta admitted that there had been a substantial fall in the recovery of loans. The recoveries had gone down by 25 per cent in case of the Himachal Pradesh Backward Classes Finance and Development Commission.

The presumption that the loans of defaulters would be waived has set a negative sentiment among the beneficiaries. Even the people who were paying regular instalments earlier are now turning defaulters in the hope that their loans will also be waived.

Besides the backward class commission, all other financial institutions and banks are also facing fall in recoveries of loans from farmers and beneficiaries under other social welfare schemes, sources said.

Gazta said the residents of the Malana area in Kullu district had been declared members of backward classes. Similar was the case with residents of 14 villages in the Chauhar valley of Mandi district. The residents of these areas, irrespective of their caste, would be entitled to the benefits extended to other backward classes. 

Shimla, October 24
Political realignments in all major political parties, including the BJP, the Congress and the BSP in the coming days could throw some surprises as disgruntled leaders could take refuge in rival parties just before the Lok Sabha elections.

The recent political developments where some BJP leaders joined the Congress could be a cause of concern for the ruling party but the fact that some disgruntled Congress and BSP leaders are in touch with the ruling party could give solace to the ruling party.

With state BSP convener Vijai Singh Mankotia quitting politics, the possibility of his supporters, including party legislator from Kangra assembly segment, Sanjay Chaudhary, associating with the BJP could not be ruled out.

On the Congress front also there is a talk of some leaders, including a former senior minister from Kangra and a former MLA, Natha Singh being in touch with the BJP leadership. The fact that they have been sidelined within their own party is giving credence to rumours that they could be heading the BJP way.

Besides wooing leaders from the Congress and the BSP, the BJP is also making efforts to win back its own partymen who had parted ways or had been expelled following anti-party activities.

“Some of the partymen who left the party at the time of the assembly elections have made a formal request for being taken back into the party,” confirmed Thakur. Some of the BJP leaders in the recent past have headed for the Congress party. This includes Narinder Thakur, son of BJP stalwart Jagdev Chand from Hamirpur. Narinder also happens to be the brother-in-law of Urmil Thakur, sitting legislator from Hamirpur segment.

Karan Singh, a former education minister, hailing from Kullu too joined the Congress recently. In the coming days there could be some more political surprises before the Lok Sabha elections.

Shimla, October 24
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a protest rally against the alleged failure of the UPA regime on various fronts, including price rise, internal instability and communal tension.

DYFI activists took out a protest rally from the DC office to Sabzi Mandi. They were led by federation leaders Sumit Chopra, Balbir Prashar and Pushpender Tyagi. Due to repeated terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, there was a feeling of insecurity among the people while the government had failed to take action against such anti-national elements, activists said.

During its four-year rule, the UPA government had failed in generating employment opportunities as a result of which the situation had become grim, Kushal Bhardwaj said. DYFI leaders said failures of the UPA regime would be highlighted and efforts made to reach out to the people in every nook and corner of the state. 

Shimla, October 24
The ABVP today staged a demonstration against the infiltration of Bangladeshis into India which was leading to imbalance in population and unemployment.

Speaking at a seminar on the threat to India because of infiltration of Bangladeshis here today the organising secretary of the northern region of the ABVP, Bihari Lal Sharma said the total number of Bangladeshis had risen to five crores and over 6,000 of them were entering the country daily.

He said tat as a result of this infiltration a number of problems like population imbalance, unemployment, communal unrest, conversion and militancy had arisen. He added the ABVP would stage a protest on November 12 against infiltration of Bangladeshis.

He said no ABVP activists were involved in the blasts that took place in Malegaon. The ABVP activists submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner and staged dharna in protest against the name of ABVP being dragged into the incident.

Shimla, October 24
The state government has decided to enhance the monthly honorarium of part-time water carriers from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000 with effect from November 1.

Making an announcement to this effect at a public meeting at Udaipur in the Lahaul valley, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the government would provide all possible financial benefits to its employees and part-time workers. He said the honorarium of grameen vidya upasaks and primary assistant teachers. The case of part-time water carriers was also at the top of the agenda of the government that had adopted the election manifesto as the official policy document.

He said the decision to increase the monthly honorarium of part-time water carriers would benefit 6,000 workers recruited in accordance with the 2001 policy. The government had already enhanced the honorarium of part-time water carriers who had been recruited on hourly basis in accordance with the 1996 recruitment policy. The hourly emoluments were increased from Rs 10 to Rs 13, enhancing the daily honorarium from Rs 40 to Rs 52.

He dedicated the new ITI building, constructed at a cost of Rs 25 crore, to the students of the institute and laid the foundation stone of a rest house, estimated to cost of Rs 70 lakh, at Udaipur. Labourers in tribal areas were being paid 25 per cent additional daily wages. They were getting Rs 125 daily as compared to Rs 100 in the rest of the state.

He said the government was updating the vocational education curriculum to introduce emerging trades to provide self-employment avenues to the youth. As many as 634 college lecturers would be recruited. To meet the emergent demand of tribal areas, the government would consider appointing eligible local youths for teaching students till regular appointments were made.

He announced upgrading of a senior secondary school, a middle and a high school in the valley, besides providing funds for the construction of various link roads. He also assured that Mrikula Devi temple would also be restored with help from the Centre.

Dharamsala, October 24
A 1998-batch Himachal Administrative Services (HAS) official Rakesh Kapoor has been convicted by the special court, Kangra, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The judgement on the quantum of sentence has, however, been reserved by the additional district and sessions judge S.L. Sharma for October 30, the next date of hearing in the case.

During arguments, the prosecution being represented by Sanjeev Katoch, deputy district attorney vigilance, pleaded for maximum sentence for the accused officer.

After hearing the arguments, the judge reserved the judgement on the quantum of punishment.

The accused officer can be sentenced to minimum imprisonment of one year and maximum imprisonment of seven years under the Prevention of  Corruption Act.

Complainant S.S. Sidhu, who is holder of general power of attorney of White Heaven, had alleged that the accused officer was demanding a bribe for the registration of his hotel.

On the complaint, a trap was laid and Kapoor was caught red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 in his office located at Dharamsala.

Shimla, October 24
The high court today directed the state to disclose the names of persons involved in the grant of permission for the felling of trees in the municipal limits despite the peremptory orders passed by the court.

Justice Rajiv Sharma summoned the entire record pertaining to the felling of green trees in the violation of the court orders. During hearing, it was brought to the notice of the court that there had been large-scale felling of trees within the territorial jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation, Shimla.

The state has not filed any reply in sequel to the October 17 order whereby the court had directed the state to give details pertaining to the matter.

While passing the order, Justice Rajiv Sharma observed that it was apparent that the state had propensity not to disclose the names of all persons involved according to permission on October 4.

The permission accorded by functionaries of the state despite the ban imposed by the court is in the defiance of the rule of law.

The court further observed that it was clear from the record that the initial recommendations were made by the Tree Committee constituted by the Municipal Corporation and thereafter the recommendations made by the committee were placed before the principle secretary, urban development.

Thereafter, the matter had gone to the Cabinet Sub-Committee.

The recommendations made by the committee were placed before the cabinet.

The cabinet had accorded the permission to fell the trees, which has led to the issuance of felling order on October 4.

The court directed the state counsel to file the reply by October 25. The case will come up for the hearing on October 27.

Shimla, October 24
The government proposes to install global positioning system (GPS) on buses of the state road transport corporation for tracking and operational monitoring of vehicles.

Stating this while presiding over the meeting of secretaries here today, chief secretary Asha Sawroop said that the modern gadget would improve operational efficiency and enable the corporation to ply bus services strictly adhering to the time schedule. She directed the transport department to prepare a project so that necessary funds could be sought from the union ministry of surface transport.

She stressed the need for extensive use of information technology in all sectors.