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Sexual Harassment
University site: War of words continues
Chamera Lake to be a tourist hub
Shortage of labour from UP, Bihar hits development works
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Haryana drug authority raids 4 pharma units
Himalayan Ski Village
Govt ‘committed’ to women’s empowerment
Meeting to discuss Dec 30 function
Temple takes precedence over houses
Lawyers seek independent probe
Cut in bus fares sought
Veterinarian award
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Sexual Harassment
Shimla, December 6 Representatives of these organisations today submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal for strict implementation of the SC guidelines to protect women against all forms of exploitation, especially at work place. Women associated with these organisations said every office be it government or private should have a sexual exploitation grievances committee. Nirmala Chauhan and Sunita Chandel said the members of the committee must have proper knowledge of the SC guidelines with regard to protection of women against sexual exploitation at work place and must dispose off complaints in a time bound manner. They said issues like holding workshops on gender sensitisation and giving representation to women organisations on these committees need to be looked into. “A women cell must be constituted at every work place so that women-related problems can be raised and tackled effectively before the agencies concerned,” they demanded. They said cheap canteen facility, crèche, women staff room, separate women toilets and reservation of seats for women in buses must be done. The government needs to ensure that the guidelines with regard to sexual exploitation of women must be strictly adhered to in the offices of the private sector. On the occasion, many women employees shared their experiences at their respective workplaces, but allegations of sexual exploitation by an employee of the state secretariat left everyone shocked at the workshop. The woman employee working in the Finance Department was almost in tears while she narrated her ordeal at the hands of a fellow colleague. “Despite raising the matter at the highest level I have not got justice
as my tormentor wields political clout,” she said. She said on the contrary an FIR had been registered against her by the fellow colleague, who also happens to live in the same locality. “Despite the secretary, GAD, asking my colleague to shift his residence elsewhere, he has now complied due to his political connections,” she said. She said despite not getting justice she had not given up and would continue her fight against such exploitation. |
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University site: War of words continues
Dharamsala, December 6 They said they were ready to debate the issue with any of government representatives at any forum. They alleged Dharamsala was a better location for the central university on all parameters, including connectivity, location, importance, vicinity of domestic airport and environment. However, still the government wanted to shift the premier institution to Dehra, they said, adding that the decision to shift it to Dehra was just a political. The committee members have also recently written to the union minister of the HRD regarding the matter. Ministers of the ruling party, who have been countering the sangharsh committee, alleged that the union government’s role was just limited to sanctioning the project. It was for the state government to decide where to locate the project. They said the government wanted an equal development in all areas of the state, adding that, the committee members were taking up the issue of the location without any basis. The government is trying to appease the disgruntlement in Kangra residents over its location by announcing other projects for the area. Recently, the government has announced that the national institute of fashion technology will be located near Kangra. However, the issue of the location of university is likely to become an issue in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. However, sitting Congress MP from the Kangra parliamentary constituency Chander Kumar has already started en cashing the displeasure among resident of the Dharamsala area. He has openly opposed the idea of locating proposed university at Dehra and even approached the union ministry for the HRD. However, this push and pull over the location will defiantly delay the premium project that can give boost to higher education in the state. |
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Chamera Lake to be a tourist hub
Chamba, December 6 This was announced by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while addressing a public meeting at Salooni, near here, after laying the foundation stone of Rs 8.30 crore government degree college building today. He said the district had immense potential replete with natural wealth and best suited to tourism promotion by creating an additional infrastructure, which could cater to the emerging needs of thriving tourism industry of this mountainous region. The CM said the state government would create infrastructure in and around the lake thereby generating ample employment and self-employment opportunities; adding that in the initial stage a sum of Rs 50 lakh would be spent on the creation of requisite infrastructure for propping up adventure sports activities in the region. He said the Salooni area would be getting added attention in terms of speedy development thereby delivering the development benefits to every house and individual so that the development start from the villages. He assured the inhabitants of Salooni area that all their genuine demands would be considered sympathetically and at an appropriate level so that their area could develop speedily and keep pace with the rest of the state. Dhumal said Rs 197 crore were being spent on the creation of education infrastructure in the state during the current fiscal year which was about 150 per cent more to the previous financial year. He said Rs 353 crore agricultural projects sanctioned for the state would be befitting about 60,000 families, who would be eligible to draw 80 per cent subsidy for polyhouses, irrigation, and allied agricultural activities. He said the scheme is aimed at strengthening the farming sector so that it would emerge as livelihood generating activity and fetch remunerative prices to farmers with their products. He stressed the need for organic farming which was in great demand in the national and international markets. The CM said women empowerment was top agenda of the state government and 50 per cent reservation would be implemented in the coming PRI (panchayati raj institutions) elections in the state. He said one woman IRB (Indian Reserve Battalion) had been decided to be set up in Bilaspur district to generate employment to women. He said women empowerment and socio-economic uplift to women was being accorded top priority adding that three women constables would be listening to the women complaints in each police station of the state. Speaking about PTA teachers, the CM said PTA appointees would not be vindicated and all their genuine demands would be considered sympathetically. Earlier, the CM also laid the foundation stone of a Rs 24.38 crore government polytechnic complex at Banikhet and a prestigious Singadhar water supply scheme with an outlay of Rs 90.37 lakh which would benefit about 1,200 population of 23 habitations. |
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Shortage of labour from UP, Bihar hits development works
Dharamsala, December 6 The contractors while talking to The Tribune said that the shortage of migrant labour had hit their works. The low influx of labour from UP and Bihar has been affecting the contractors of northern region for the past one month. In addition to that now the contractors of the state are being forced to complete with employers from adjoining state like Punjab who are offering sops to attract scanty labour. The contractors blamed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) for acute shortage of labour being faced by them. In Kangra district especially the NREGS scheme has been very successful. As per officials till date 1.25 lakh man days of employment has been generated in Kangra district through NREGS. Since the local labour is getting employment through NREGS they are not serving the contractors any more. The sources here said the NREGS was also responsible for less influx of labourers from UP
and Bihar to the northern states. The PWD officer when contacted said that the contractors as well as department was facing acute shortage of labour. The problem is likely to cause delay in some of the development works. Besides the contractors, the farmers of lower areas are also facing problems. Some progressive farmers who are carrying poultry on industrial scale when contacted by The Tribune said that earlier they used to get labour at rates varying between Rs 2200 to Rs 2500 per month. However, now they are being forced to shell out more than Rs 3000 per month for hiring. Even after that they are finding it hard to find labour. The shortage of labour has also hit the construction activity in private sector. In Himachal also the construction works, especially in the lower areas of the state, are dependent on migrant labourers from UP and Bihar. The younger generation of local artisans as carpenter and masons in most of the cases has given up the traditional work. The younger generation of local artisans after getting basic education are now looking for government jobs rather than carrying the traditional work that is more paying but is not associated with status symbol in the society. Besides the state also does not have enough Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to produce labour for basic jobs. |
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Haryana drug authority raids 4 pharma units
Solan, December 6 Though this was not the first instance when a team from another state had raided a unit at Baddi after its samples had failed but the frequency of such instances has put a question mark over the quality of drugs manufactured here. Sources said drug officials from Haryana had earlier lifted about 22 samples from two wholesale dealers at Panchkula and it was their laboratory analysis which confirmed that at least three such drugs manufactured in Himachal had failed to conform to the standard quality. These drugs pertained to one unit each at Baddi, Kala Amb and Solan and the active ingredient found in these drugs was much less than the standard quality. Interestingly, one such unit was already facing prosecution at Gurgaon as another of its sample had failed laboratory test some months back. The officials from Haryana had now initiated action against these units and it was learnt that the similar action would follow for the remaining two units. Shunning responsibility the officials here had little to comment on the whole issue. While the drug licensing authority concerned at Baddi Navneet Marwaha did agree that the team had come to Baddi he could not specify any further, official at Solan Kapil Dhiman who looked after Solan and Kala Amb was unavailable for comment. A lone drug inspector was supposed to man almost 350 pharmaceutical units in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area as well as retail counters. |
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Himalayan Ski Village
Shimla, December 6 A high-level meeting of senior officials from various departments, including tourism, revenue, environment and forest was held here yesterday to look into various aspects over which there is still concern in the government. Secretary of the tourism Manisha Nanda presided over the meeting in which it was decided to hold a hearing of public objections in January, next year. Even though the previous Congress regime had signed an MOU with the Himalayan Ski Village Pvt Ltd on December 9, 2005, ever since the BJP assumed power in Himachal, a decision was taken to review the project. Some of the areas still remain to be thrashed out and the government had expressed its concern in this regard to the managing director of the company, John Sims. The deputy commissioner, Kullu, in his earlier communication had stressed that the grazing rights and the rights of passage of the local people must be protected. Director of the company Ajay Dabra said he was confident that the project would soon take off after the government satisfies itself with regard to environmental and other aspects. While being in opposition the BJP had expressed reservations against the project and had said it was not acceptable to them in the present form at that time.
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Govt ‘committed’ to women’s empowerment
Hamirpur, December 6 This was stated by education minister I.D. Dhiman while addressing students of Rani Lakshmi Bai Girls College during its sixth annual prize distribution function held at Bhareri today. Dhiman was the chief guest on the occasion. He said: “The private institute opened at Bhareri has helped students in providing education facilities in rural areas and the college has made a significant contribution towards educating girl students.” He further said the government had decided to fill 1,172 posts of female health worker and another 1,007 would be recruited in the Indian women reserve battalion. He also announced to give Rs 1.50 lakh for putting up a hand pump at Kharal and
Rs 10,000 for the students who participated in the cultural programme presented on the occasion. |
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Meeting to discuss Dec 30 function
Shimla, December 6 The executive meeting of the district BJP unit will be held here on December 10. The senior party leadership has already indicated that Advani will specially come here to attend the celebrations on December 30. The district BJP chief, Ganesh Dutt today said detailed discussions would be held at the meeting with regard to function in which Advani will be present on December 30. “Other organisational matters, including the progress of the Aajivan Sahyog Nidhi, will also be discussed at the meeting,” he said. State BJP general secretary Khushi Ram Balnatal will also be present at the meeting. Dutt said Advani’s visit to Shimla would pave the way for the victory of the BJP candidate from the Shimla Lok Sabha seat. |
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Temple takes precedence over houses
Kullu, December 6 The villagers had vowed after facing the nature’s wrath that they would rebuild the temple first before the re-constructing their own houses. The inaugural ceremonies were performed here on Wednesday. The ‘kardars’ (caretakers of properties of devi-devtas) of all 12 temples in Jamlu, situated in Kullu district, assembled besides Maheshwar Singh, ‘kardar’ of the chief deity of Kullu Raghunath. Malana is considered to be the oldest democracy in the world and a favourite research destination for its historical, economical and religious importance. Maheshwar Singh said the temple had been built according to the ancient architecture of the
damaged temple. He said the villagers had saved most of the ancient “marks” and orchestral instruments. Budh Ram, priest of the temple, said the reconstruction work took eight months, while the re-establishment of the villagers might take some more time. |
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Lawyers seek independent probe
Shimla, December 6 In a letter to the principal secretary (Home), chairman of the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh Ramakant Sharma today demanded that an independent agency should be entrusted the investigations to ensure a fair probe. “Since the police is abusing its powers and acting with mala fide intentions against Gita, a lawyer of Mandi, it will be appropriate if the mater is handed over to an independent agency,” he said. He said till the inquiry is on the police officers and personnel concerned should be transferred to enable a fair probe. The Bar Association of the high court also echoed similar sentiments in a meeting held here yesterday. President of the association Rajendra Kishore Sharma said the complaint against two lawyers Gita and Uttam Singh, members of the Mandi Bar Association had been lodged with mala fide intention. “The police refused to lodge a case when the lawyer went to the police station which clearly reflects the revengeful nature of the police,” he said. He added that in this case the police had abused its powers and as such the High Court Bar Association demands that the immediate transfer and legal action against the erring police officials. He hoped that the government would intervene in the matter at the earliest. |
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Cut in bus fares sought
Kangra, December 6 He stated this while addressing a press conference at his residence here today. He said, “It is unfortunate, disgusting and painful that employees of the HRTC were ignored and forced to protest in support of their demands.” Bali stressed the Chief Minister to negotiate with the HRTC employees and accept their demands. He was critical of the government for planning to install “governors”, a speed breaking instrument in HRTC buses, and put an unnecessary burden on the state exchequer to the tune of nearly Rs 8 crore. He said the drivers of the HRTC were trained and efficient to control the speed so the installation of the said “governors” was an unwanted affair. |
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