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Cell shock
Dehradun, December 9 Ask an official and prompt comes the reply that its upkeep is done every week. But the inside condition tells a different tale.The cell, in which Nehru penned a part of “Discovery of India”, despite its historical significance, is in an appaling state. The tin roof of the toilet is missing.The open yard is full of bushes. The plaster of the cell’s ceiling is peeling off and the verandah has cracks. “We will do the needful,” replied Bhaskaranand, IG, jails, when told if the state of the cell, which is preserved by the state home department. He said that it would be preserved at its original location despite the jail having been to another place.The issue of its upkeep cropped up when it was decided to shift the jail to Suddhuwala village on the city’s outskirts. The then Chief Minister ND Tiwari had asked the home department to protect it as a monument. The matter was taken up with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) but no headway could be made as its protection comes under the state domain. The marble plaque at the entrance of the cell mentions that Nehru was imprisoned here in 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1941 but the board put up inside refers to only two terms. “We could not trace the complete record despite all efforts,” claimed jail superintendent BP Pandey. Head of the ASI office in Uttarakhand, Dr Dharam Vir Sharma, has offered to undertake research to retrieve the missing record as well as technical help in preserving the cell. It is one of the four monuments in the state related to the freedom struggle but technically it does not fit in the category of monuments preserved by
the ASI. Any monument taken up by it should be a at least a century-old with ancient architectural value, which the Dehradun jail housing the cell is not. “But we cannot overlook its significance. It should be protected for posterity. Ideally, the state cultural department, the municipal corporation or the district administration should come forward for the task. We will provide all help,” said Dr Sharma.
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Betrayal in olive green
Dehradun, December 9 Staying in the border district of Pitthoragarh in Kumoan region for the past one week, she claims to have found her
husband. She has lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that Major Chandershekhar Pant, an Army doctor posted at Pitthoragarh, is her husband. She has alleged that two years ago Major Pant, while on a deputation to Afghanistan with the Red Cross, had befriended her in Kabul. Since she new Hindi and worked as a translator for the Red Cross, they fell in love and got married according to Islamic laws. Sabra claims that Major Pant converted to Islam to marry her and was re-named Himmat Khan. They were married on August 19, 2006. Sabra has with her a copy of the "Nikahnama" which she showed to the police and the media. Sabra says they stayed in Kabul as husband and wife for a year. She alleges that after completing his tenure, Dr Pant returned to India with the promise that he would call her to India soon. But he did not contact her at all. She managed a visa to India to search for her “husband” and was finally able to locate him in Pitthoragarh. To her shock and dismay, she found that the man she trusted and loved so dearly was already married and had two children. After pleading with him in vain to accept her, Sabra decided to lodge a complaint with
the police. " We have lodged a complaint under Sections 494, 495 and 498 of the IPC against the officer," said Puran Singh Rawat, SP,
Pitthoragarh. On action against the doctor, Rawat said since the matter involved two nations, senior Army officials and the union home ministry would have to be informed. "We are awaiting instructions from them," said the police officer.
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Eagle watch at Assan
Dehradun, December 9 Only a few hundred pairs of these eagle species are left in the wild in India.This pair of Fish Eagle that has made Assan its permanent home for the past few decades has till date failed to come up with an
offspring. After nesting in Assan for several years, the Fish Eagles’ eggs have failed to hatch due to reasons unknown. “Either it is due to presence of some toxic effluents in the water and fish or these Fish Eagle have passed their prime and are now infertile or their eggs continue to be destroyed by predators like crows”, contends Dr Arun Pratap Singh, a bird watcher who has been keeping track of this eagle for two decades now. Orthinologists now are keenly monitoring the development as a change of site has raised hope
in them. There has also been increased human interference with increased activity witnessed at the Assan barrage in recent times. While tourism-related activity in Assan is on the rise, quarrying for gravel and sand in close vicinity to the conservation reserve has also been a cause of concern. However, there has been little effort on the part of the state forest authorities to undertake any focused efforts towards ensuring conservation for the eagles at the Assan barrage, the first conservation reserve in the country dedicated to birds by the President of India. Interestingly, this eagle pair preys on the Coot and Ruddy Shelduc. They fly to the upper reaches during the dry season that is further upstream the Tons, the main tributary of the Yamuna. Few of these bald eagles are found in the region in the Bhimgoda barrage, Haridwar, and Corbett National Park areas of Uttarakhand. The orthinoligists are keeping fingers crossed that a newborn will be added to this eagle family this winter, finally. However, there has been little effort on the part of the state forest authorities to undertake any focused efforts towards ensuring conservation for the eagles at the Assan barrage, the first conservation reserve in the country dedicated
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Of human bonding
Dehradun, December 9 Hailing from the UK, Vicky is a physiotherapist by profession, while her two friends Erica and Alice are pursuing university degrees at New Zealand. There is a a close camaraderie between the inmates and the visitors. "I help the teachers in whatever way I can. Since I am a physiotherapist, I can easily relate to the needs of children," says Vicky. The effort to learn is reflected in the interactions that the girls have with the children. They want to learn not only about a different culture but also compare notes on the level of care being imparted in India with its limited resources. "I think in India a lot of institutions are working in this field, but the society at large needs to bring a qualitative change in its attitude, by accepting differences and ensuring that the mentally challenged get their due," says informed Vicky. Erica and Alice have managed to bridge the cultural and language divides-their "Namaste" and "Hello" elicit a warm response from children of Ava Vihar who learn craft work and drawing from them. " "Children respond more positively to colour. It is a joy to watch them follow instructions carefully before giving vent to their creativity," says Erica. Besides art and craft, Alice has also tried teaching culinary skills to the inmates. "They taught me their method of making a salad and I mine," says Alice with a laugh.
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Doon Hospital needs more pathologists
Dehradun, December 9 As doctors rely more and more on tests for diagnoses, the number of patients on any given day is more than 100 at the OPD where blood samples are collected in the morning hours only. In addition, several tests have to be conducted on patients admitted at the hospital. The department has two pathologists, Dr N.K Mishra and Dr T.R. Joshi, whose services have been extended, and four laboratory technicians. The shortage is met by taking in non-permanent staff member, most of them trainees on stipend from para medical colleges. Since 2002, the pathology department has not recruited any staff despite the rush of patients with patients coming from western Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. “We are overworked and overburdened.The whole day is spent on collecting samples and then tabulating reports,”said MP Dhobal, a technician. Health experts point out that routine blood urine and stool tests earlier conducted by pathologists are now being conducted by laboratory technicians. In that respect their grouse of being overburdened is justified. The Doon pathology department has semi-automatic and fully automatic biochemist units but sophisticated tests are not conducted here. “The pathologists should carry sophisticated tests as they can devote much more time to research, but this is not being done at the hospital which prefers patients to seek private pathological laboratories,” said a doctor on the condition of anonymity.
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Improve working, CM tells forest officials
Dehradun, December 9 Presiding over the first meeting of newly constituted State Wildlife Board yesterday here, Khanduri was quite vocal in his criticism of the state forest department asserting that no new proposal could be passed until and unless the forest officials improve their working style. Yesterday, the Chief Minister had taken serious note of little progress made by the department in the promotion of cultivation of medicinal plants. He held that community participation was key to conservation and enrichment of forests, wildlife, herbs and even water resources. He called for protection of critical wildlife habitats in the state while maintaining a balance between conservation and development. The CM said the coordination between forest and other departments was essential in carrying forward the works of conservation. Hike in compensation of victims of wild animal attacks, survey linked to Kandi motorway at Ramnagar, appointment of honorary wildlife warden in the districts, rewards for forest officials who check poaching were some of other issues taken up for deliberations. Srikant Chandola, member secretary, Uttarakhand Wildlife Board, and additional principal chief conservator of forests, through his presentations put forward the core issues including man-animal conflict. He informed the board about conservation efforts of flora and fauna in protected areas. Uttarakhand forest minister Bansidhar Bhagat issued instructions for compulsory holding of a meeting once in every six months. Board members Karen Mayer Hilton and Diwan Singh Bisht, additional chief secretary NS Napalchayal, principal chief conservator of forests Dr R.B.S. Rawat and former chief wildlife warden AS Negi participated in the meeting.
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