Dehradun, April 25
The state animal and endangered species — musk deer — faces extinction as the state’s sole Musk Deer Breeding Centre in the Mandal valley of Chamoli district has been witness to as many as 42 deaths within the past two decades. The reasons behind the deaths are still to be ascertained.

The animal is been kept in seven protected areas of the state, including Gangotri National Park (NP), Govind Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and Govind NP, Kedarnath WLS, Nanda Devi NP, Valley of Flowers NP, Binsar WLS and Askot WLS. According to Uttarakhand Wildlife census data, there are around 279 musk deers in the state, with 137 within the protected areas.

In 1982, the then Uttar Pradesh forest authorities set up this breeding centre at Kanchula Kharakh on a wide expanse of 20 hectares with the aim to keep a check on the dwindling population of the animal and to carry out studies.

Starting off with three male and four female musk deers, the centre initially proved to be of immense benefit leading to a rise in their population. In 2004, four musk deers were also sent to Darjeeling’s high-altitude zoo. But between 1982 and 2006, the centre lost 42 musk deers, failing in its very purpose.

The viscera of the deceased musk deers were sent to IVRI Barilley, Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun and Pant Nagar University Pantnagar. But, the exact reasons for these deaths could not be ascertained. Stomach disorders, pneumonia, heart attack and snake bite were attributed to be the possible reasons behind the deaths.

The situation today came to such a pass that presently the centre houses a singl female musk deer Pallavi.

Kedarnath Forest Division DFO Dheeraj Pandey said efforts were on to revive the centre and suggestions for its shifting have also come up.

“We are holding consultations with the Central Zoo Authority, Delhi, and are expecting positive outcome. Climate change seems to have made Kanchula Kharakh no more suitable for musk deer breeding and could be the major reason behind the deaths,” he said.

In the last century, the animal was subjected to large-scale killing by poachers, particularly during winters, when due to drop in snow line the deers migrated to lower reaches. Degradation of habitat due to increase in biotic pressure, lack of funds and infrastructure, lack of intra-state and inter-state communication between the protected areas, and absence of a well chalked-out conservation plan were some of the factors that proved detrimental to the existence of musk deers.

But, there certainly seems to have been efforts to safeguard the endangered species in the upper reaches of the state. The protected areas in the upper reaches, namely Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Kedarnath forest division and Pithoragarh forest divison, have been subjected to large-scale plantation of Ringal bamboo at the behest of Uttarakhand Fibre and Bamboo Board. Ringal bamboo is an integral part of musk deer habitat.

This initiative comes under an ambitious project that entails covering 730 hectares through Ringal plantation in a period of 5 years. In Nanda Devi Biosphere, it’s 230 hectares; Kedarnath forest division 250 hectares; and another 250 hectares in the Pithoragarh forest division. As against the target of 120 hectares, a total of 135 hectares of ringal saplings were planted last year by the bamboo board, which includes 75 hectares in Nanda Devi National Park and another 60 hectares in Kedarnath Wild Life Division.

As many as 3,37,500 saplings were planted in the process. Interestingly, this initiative has been funded by the oil giant, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited. The financial assistance runs into a total of Rs 3 crore 72 lakhs.

The project has lately added 250 hectares of Pithoragarh comprising Shankdhaura, Harkot, Lari Pangtee van panchayats and the Surmoli and Suring Reserve Forest areas.

Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute’s expertise has also been sought for monitoring of Ringal saplings to ensure that the plantation project becomes a huge success.

STS Leptcha Chairman Uttarakhand Bamboo Board pointed out that while the Ringal species of bamboo favours the habitat for both musk deer and even the pheasant Monal, it was providing livelihood opportunities to the local villagers who prefer utilising the bamboo for manufacturing furniture and other goods. He held that better results would follow as the project proceeds to its subsequent phases.

Dehradun, April 25
Independent and paying for their own education, a group of four medical students from United States of America are a contrast to their counterparts here.

Bearing the burden of education loans, the group of four medical students is making most of their training underway at Doon Hospital and a private clinic.

Part of Child Family Health International and NGO based in USA with interlink ages in India, it is an association of medical and nursing students, with members from other countries as well. The funding is made by the government of USA that remains in touch with their Indian coordinators in Dehradun.

At the OPD today, the students learnt about heart diseases that are raising in India, under the guidance of Dr K B Joshi, Cardiologist Doon Hospital.

“They studied echocardiography reports discussed finer points about clinical cardiology and also examined the patients. Their local coordinators have prepared a trip that would give them academic and cultural exposure. Primarily they are learning about the practical aspects of examining a patient at the OPD,” said Dr Joshi.

Surprised at the dependency of most Indian students on their parents to foot bills for their education, Andrea Poulson, IVth year medical student, Wayne State University, Michigan said, “I have taken a loan of 18,000 US dollars to foot my studies and my expenditure incurred during the course of my studies. The private colleges may charge as much as 22,000 US dollars. We hope to pay it back after getting employed.”

Visibly taken aback by the number of measles cases continue to reported in India, she said the US health programme was focused on children and infectious disease. There are rare cases of measles and chicken pox among children, she said.

Their visits to the wards have been fruitful, “We are getting good exposure here, the general principle of medicine in all countries is the same only cases and approach may be different,” said Minh-Ha-Hoang, a IVth-year medical student of Des Moines University, Iowa USA.

The students were impressed with the involvement and approach of doctors and nurses in examining the patients and visiting one ward after another, the four agreed that it is indeed a tall order to give individual care to patients who come from far-off places.

“The patients at the government hospital can access even specialty treatment and advise which is a good sign especially when treatment available outside is very costly. In USA, an echocardiogram can cost up to 680 US dollars,” said Kurt Eifling, a fourth year medical student at North Western University, Illinois.

Commenting on the trends in medicine in USA, he said the research is oriented towards eradicating HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and cancer.

“There are large public endowments in the US funding the research and the focus is also on the diseases prevalent in the third world countries,” said Kurt Eifling.

Among the four, Emily Marrae is a pre-medical student at the University of Illinois said, “I know studying and practicing medicine is no mean task, but I think I can contribute my bit by serving the people,” she said.

Dehradun, April 25
One of the dirtiest and the most polluted Chota Bindal river crossing the Chabel Bagh, Govindgarh locality in the city is not only a black spot but also speaks volumes about the incompetence and laid-back attitude of the administration here.

The Chabel Bagh area is home to hundreds of people and even passersby use it as a bypass. The stench of the river which is littered with polythene bags, garbage and left-over meat thrown in it by the adjoining butcher stalls is unbearable. It is a virtual dumping ground, what with heaps of garbage that makes the river an open drain especially made for dumping of trash.

“Many a times we have complained to the area counsellor, but no ones pays heed to our complaints because no initiative has been taken by the municipal corporation. No wonder, people from far-off areas too take the liberty to litter the river,” said Subhash a music store owner.

In the midst of garbage, one sees children playing in the dirty water with pigs and dogs resting for hours here. More than 50 per cent of the population living in the Chabel area is very poor and unaware about the need for hygiene since they are illiterate.

“People living in the Chabel Bagh area are mostly uneducated and cannot afford to shift to a better locality due to financial constraints, but then it’s the government which should make the people aware of the harm this filthy river can wrought,” said Rajendra Kumar, the owner of a jewellery shop.

These places also prove to be a safe haven for anti-social elements and a few years ago it was a common sight to find alcoholics loitering on the roads as well as indulging in gambling. “I am working in this area from 1986, but over these many years I haven’t noticed a significant change in the environment.

Since we want peace, we avoid any arguments with the residents here,” said Mohammad Sameer a tailor in the Gobindgarh market.

The Municipal Corporation Chief Executive Officer Sushil Kumar Sharma said, “Last year we cleaned it twice and this year before the monsoon, we will again get it cleaned.” He said that MC is also planning to build an elevated road in the area so that the problem is solved once and for all. 

Haridwar, April 25
A group of young students have taken the initiative to spread and teach English to the local students, most of them who cant afford to study in expensive English medium schools, or those who cant access to the English coaching institutes.

The students have been doing this job for past two years and now they have taken a step forward in this regard as they have formed a social organisation called Shri Yogendra Mishrapuri Jagrook Sanstha. They have an ambitious plan to teach the language to the students here under one roof.

Neha Sharma, secretary of the organisation, said that it is a different feeling of teaching a global language to the students who face difficulty in learning it because they don’t have access to public schools or private organizations. “Initially, we had tough time as it needs patience apart from experience to teach properly but now after a year its now all part of our mission and the response we get from the people is tremendous” said Neha.

Itika Jain, another member who also teaches dance said initially people doubted their credential. “But now after teaching hundreds of students that too free of cost people are recognising our work and have started volunteering and helping us financially,” she said.

In this mission these young guns are getting support from all quarters of the society. Interestingly, knowing about their efforts a South American resident Claudia Volavia too is helping these youths and is all praise for them. “When I got to know about their efforts, I thought I should support them in every way one can,” said Claudia.

Locals have also starting appreciating the organisation’s hard work and have also sending their children to the class for learning the language. “As the summer vacations start I will send my son to learn English from the sanstha,” said Vivek Sharma, a parent.