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Virbhadra induction
Reduced tax holiday induces industrial exodus
Ban on construction in green areas may go
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Undertrial escapes after drugging cops
Court for subsidy on life-saving drugs
Open school awaits Cabinet nod
MLA condemns move to expel BJP activists
Patwaris to be recruited
Plan to boost higher studies
Companies asked to furnish validity papers
Nine new ‘panchkarma’ centres
Govt decision hailed
Class VIII Results
Solan students excel
Man gets life term
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State hopes to capitalise on ‘double gain’
Rakesh Lohumi/Kuldeep Chauhan Tribune News Service
Shimla/Mandi, May 27 Induction of a second Cabinet minister from a small state like Himachal Pradesh, which has just four MPs, seemed rather improbable. The elevation of Anand Sharma to the Cabinet rank on the very day Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the Prime Minister for a second term had left supporters of Virbhadra Singh demoralised. They saw little hope for their leader as the Congress had been under tremendous pressure from its allies for more ministerial berths. Virbhadra Singh reportedly met party president Sonia Gandhi three days ago and discussed political scenario in the state. The fact that his name had been cleared for inclusion in the ministry made it obvious that he was able to put across his point of view. The induction of Anand Sharma in the Cabinet ahead of Virbhadra Singh had lent credence to reports that the latter had fallen from grace in the eyes of the party high command. However, all this will change with his inclusion in the Cabinet and the political stature of the veteran leader will be raised further. He will be joining the union ministry for the third time. For once, the factional rivalry in the Congress seems to be working in favour of the state. With two representatives in the highest decision-making body of the country, the state is set to gain tremendously on the development front. MANDI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s decision to induct Mandi Lok Sabha MP and five-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh into the Union Cabinet has come as a cheerful news for his supporters and admirers here. While the move is set to create “two power centres” in the state Congress, it can also upset BJP’s political apple cart as, for the first time, the Congress has given two Cabinet berths to the state. The Congress high command has aptly responded to the “hopes and aspirations of the people of the state by clearing Virbhadra Singh’s name for inclusion in the Cabinet”. By doing so, the high command has tried to strike “balance of power between the two camps”, political observers say. Meanwhile, Virbhadra Singh said he would be happy whatever portfolio was assigned to him. However, his admirers wished that he should either get “power or tourism” as these two portfolios had direct bearing on Himachal and other Himalayan states. “However, the news does not seem good for the BJP government here as the state has to depend on central funds for development works and the two Congress ministers can counter the Dhumal government on the achievement front when the battle lines will be redrawn in 2013,” observers said.
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Reduced tax holiday induces industrial exodus
Solan, May 27 A top executive of a leading pharmaceutical unit said, “With reduction in income tax holiday, doing business here has ceased to be a lucrative proposition. The sudden reduction in excise duty in non-incentive states from the earlier 16 per cent to 8 per cent in a span of just one year has brought the industry in Himachal almost on a par with other states. The remaining margin gets consumed in meeting freight charges for the transportation of raw material and finished products, leaving little in terms of profitability.” While companies like Zydus, Cipla, Cadila, Alkem, Intas, Sun Pharma, Indchemie, etc. had already shifted production of a majority of their products to Sikkim, companies like Unichem, Torrent, Aristo, Alembic, Glenmark etc. have either bought land in Sikkim or construction of their plants was already at an advanced stage there. RK Arora, chairman of the association of pharmaceutical entrepreneurs belonging to Himachal, Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, said, “The state government should urge the Centre to extend the income tax holiday for a period of 10 years, bringing it on a par with Sikkim.” Officials of the industries department said it was a condition originally mentioned in the 2003 industrial package and they were endeavouring to get the package period increased to its original term of 10 years (up to 2013). Since Himachal was still at its nascent stage of industrialisation more was needed to uplift it economically. The issue would be taken up if investors made a suitable representation voicing their concern, they added. |
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Ban on construction in green areas may go
Shimla, May 27 The final decision on the matter is likely in near future. There has been a complete ban on construction in the 17 greenbelts spread over 414 hectares in the town since December, 2000. A committee constituted by the government to look into the issue of relaxing the ban on construction in green areas has given a favourable report. “It is almost certain that the ban will be lifted completely and double-storied structures will be allowed in green areas,” sources said. The Director, Town and Country Planning, is the chairman of the committee, while officials of the municipal corporation, urban development and forest departments are its members. Compared to the earlier view that only those persons who purchased plots in green areas before 2000, when the 17 greenbelts were designated, should be given permission, the thinking now is to allow everyone. There had been tremendous pressure on the government to relax restrictions on construction in green areas. |
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Undertrial escapes after drugging cops
Chandigarh, May 27 The accused, Sanjay Kumar, who was facing trial in several theft cases, allegedly lured the head constables to consume some eatables and drinks laced with drugs and when they lost consciousness, he escaped after hitting one of them in the bathroom at the
ISBT. However, the three head constables- Kamaldeep, Shanti Swaroop and Nal
Krishan- have been suspended. According to local police officials, the constables had revealed that they had consumed some cold drinks on their way back from a shop in Delhi. When the bus reached the ISBT around 10 pm, the accused requested them that he wanted to go to the toilet. While he was being escorted there, he managed to free himself by pushing one of the head constables and fled from the spot. Senior police officials here are, however, not entirely convinced with the statements of the head constables because of their physical state. They claim that the constables were apparently in a semi-conscious state when they reached the ISBT and the accused managed to take advantage of the situation. According to doctors attending on the head constables, their condition was stable but they were “delirious” and unfit to give any statement because of their semi-conscious
state. Mandi SP Sonal Agnihotri said the trio had been suspended and inquiry had been ordered in this regard. Meanwhile, a case has been registered in the Sector 36 police station against the three head constables. |
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Court for subsidy on life-saving drugs
Shimla, May 27 “Healthy citizens makes strong a nation. When the state can provide subsidy on horticultural, agricultural and other things, it can always frame a scheme to subsidise life-saving drugs to alleviate the sufferings of person afflicted with dreaded diseases,” the court observed. If due to financial crunch, the government could not provide drugs free of cost, it could subsidise such drugs. The court suggested that the application for life-saving drugs must be processed through the CMO and submitted to principals of medical colleges in the state. Medicines should be subsidised only on the recommendations of a committee comprising principals of medical colleges. In case of any difficulty, the committee could recommend the matter to the Principal Secretary (Health), it said. For dealing with fraudulent claims, it suggested that any person found making fraudulent claims be dealt with sternly. Even FIRs could be registered in such cases. The court further suggested that the government might grant 50 per cent subsidy to SC, ST and BPL families and 30 per cent to others, subject to creamy layer in both categories. The principals of medical colleges might nominate senior-most professors or the heads of departments to ensure transparency and effective implementation of the reimbursement process by way of subsidy. The court passed this order in connection with a petition filed by a teacher wherein she had challenged the recovery order in respect of her medical reimbursement bill. Restraining the government department from recovering the amount from her, the court said it was desirable that the state framed a scheme for providing life-saving drugs to its citizen free of cost or subsidise the same. |
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Open school awaits Cabinet nod
Kangra, May 27 Chairman of the board Dr Chaman Lal Gupta stated this while talking to The Tribune here today. He said in view of the increase in number of dropouts of class X, which was multiplying every year, the open school would now prove boon for them. He said in the matriculation examinations conducted by the board out of 1.2 lakh students 50,000 failed and with an optimistic view half of them remain dropouts and this number increases every year and needs to be
taken care of. Gupta said irrespective of the age the admission would be granted in the open school. If a student passes in three subjects during his regular studies he would have to appear only in remaining subjects through the open school to pass the examination. He said in 12 states of the country open schools were functioning and Himachal also needs one. He said 18,000 students were studying in Punjab Open School, which includes 7,000 students from the hill state. So why not provide this facility to the dropouts in their own state, the chairman asked. He said syllabus and prospectus for the open school was ready and the study material on normal rates was available with Delhi Open School for the purpose. He said the infrastructure too was ready and if the government approves the proposal the first session of the open school for class X students would start
from July. He said Rs 1,200 would be the annual fee, which include examination fee, cost of books and counselling fee. Open school would be most beneficial for students from the far-flung areas. They would have examination centres within their vicinity and local teachers would be
their guides. Secretary, Education, PC Dhiman said the government had received the proposal from the board and awaits nod from the Cabinet and the Chief Minister. |
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MLA condemns move to expel BJP activists
Hamirpur, May 27 Talking to mediapersons here today, Thakur said, “Neither was the meeting of the Sujanpur Mandal of the BJP convened in a proper manner nor does it have the power to expel any party office-bearer, as it can only recommend any such action to the party’s state committee.” Thakur claimed, “This decision is unconstitutional, taken in a closed door room since no proper meeting was convened and a large number of mandal committee members were not even invited to the meeting and I have complained to the state party leaders and party high command about this.” She said, “The expulsion of party activists Pradeep Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Japan Singh, Vinay Kumar and Onkar Singh by few leaders of the Sujanpur Mandal is not only constitutional but also an attempt to demoralise the party workers who had put in a lot of work during the parliamentary election to ensure the victory of BJP candidate Anurag Thakur.” The BJP MLA accused, “Such actions are handwork of some of her detractors who have worked against her in the last Assembly election and complaints of anti-party work against them are still pending before the disciplinary committee of the party.” Coming down heavily against some of her ‘detractors’ in the party, she said, “It is a tragedy that despite my round the clock work for the party for the last 25 years, including this election, I and my supporters are being targeted for few vested interests today.” Thakur said, “This is time for introspection and review and not to expel party workers since it is the party workers who had ensured the victory of the BJP candidate from here despite immense pressure.” The booth committees’ in charges present in the conference also criticised the move to expel five party activists and vouched for their good work during the election.
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Patwaris to be recruited
Shimla, May 27 He said it would go a long way in bringing about better functioning in the department. The maximum 66 vacancies would be filled in Mandi district, followed by Kangra (59) and Shimla (30). He said all Deputy Commissioners had been directed to post the patwaris forthwith in the patwar circles against vacant posts in their respective districts. The case of filling another 78 vacant posts of patwari would be sent to the finance department for clearance. He added 80 kanungos, 18 naib tehsildars and seven tehsildars had been posted in the consolidation department on secondment basis. The revenue minister further stated that a budgetary provision of Rs 5.24 crore had been made for construction of residential accommodation in each patwar and kanungo circle to ensure safety of revenue records. A sum of Rs 8 crore had been sanctioned for the construction of a building for the Revenue Training Institute, Jogindernagar, and work was being carried out on a war footing to complete the project. Thakur said that a provision of Rs 4.29 crore had been made for a pilot project for carrying out survey work through satellite in Sirmaur district and Rs 2.14 crore had been released in the first phase. He said one tehsil would be selected under the project on experimental basis. The minister said 10 franking machines had been provided in different departments to check selling of fake stamp papers in the state. Patwaris had been directed to ensure presence in office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in a week in their respective patwar circles for the convenience of the people.
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Plan to boost higher studies
Shimla, May 27 Chief Minister PK Dhumal while addressing a congregation at Taradevi Temple complex at the installation of Sri Vaishnavi Shakti Maa Dudhadhari idol said as against the national average of 10 per cent over 20 per cent of pass outs pursued higher studies. However, the government aimed to make the hill state a knowledge hub of the country and it would take steps to motivate youth and ensure that at least 50 per cent continue with further studies. He said the state government would invite 15 of the top educational organisations to set up their universities in private sector in the state and bring about qualitative improvement in the existing educational system. The government would make an elaborate plan to develop all prominent religious centres to help prolong stay of the visitors to such places. Besides upgrading the basic infrastructure at such places, recreational parks and other facilities to entertain visitors would be created. The government was committed to make the state free from open defecation by the year 2010 and to achieve this there was need to educate the masses about the importance of the “Total Sanitation Campaign” under which various awards were being given to the gram panchayats which excelled in its implementation.
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Companies asked to furnish validity papers
Shimla, May 27 He said in case these companies failed to provide validity documents, cases would be registered against them. The police has been receiving complaints about such private financial companies. The step has been taken by the police as a precautionary measure to save people from being fleeced. It was only yesterday that Ramesh Jhingta, owner of a private bus, registered a police complaint against two finance companies for cheating him. Hailing from the Rohru area he has got the police complaint registered in Dhalli police station. Two persons posing as agents of finance companies kept collecting the instalment towards repayment of the loan taken by him for the purchase of loan.
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Nine new ‘panchkarma’ centres
Shimla, May 27 He said the state had great potential for promoting health tourism and the Ayurveda and Tourism departments would be involved in the initiative. “We have 40 trained ayurvedic medical officers who specialise in panchkarma system,” he said. He added that this sector had vast employment and self-employment potential, which could help youth in setting up their own ventures. He said the state had 4,000 health institutions out of which 1,154 were of ayurveda, homoeopathy and unani system of medicine. “Himachal has the highest density of health institutions as compared to most other states and well above the national norm,” he stated. Dhumal said the state had launched an anaemia free programme in Kangra and Hamirpur districts. “Out of a total of 6.75 lakh persons examined, 56 per cent were found to be suffering from anaemia,” he said. |
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Govt decision hailed
Hamirpur, May 27 General secretary of the association SS Kashyap said the decision was held in abeyance since 1994 but the current decision would restore the original cadre strength of 159 posts for the HPFS. He said the HPFS officers would be directly benefited from this decision and the state executive body of the association had thanked Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Forest Minister JP Nadda. |
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Top spot shared
Our Correspondent
Bilaspur, May 27 All three scored 674 marks out of 700. Dhiraj expressed his desire to become a space scientist for which he is determined to put in hard work. Ankita Sharma from Saraswati Vidya Mandir High School, Ghumarwin, and Dipali Soni from Saraswati Vidya Mandir Girls High School, Lower Nihal, Bilaspur, have got seventh and tenth positions, respectively, in the state. They scored 665 and 661 marks, respectively. Ankita wants to serve the country as an IAS officer while Dipali wants to serve society as a scientist.
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Solan students excel
Solan, May 27 Among those who made it to the top included Prabh Simran Singh Baweja who scored 95.4 per cent making him the third top scorer in the CBSE examinations in the state and second position holder in the district. His parents who are scientists at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry attribute this success to the hard work put in by their child and his dedication towards achieving his goal. Aspiring to join Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) the boy would proceed to Delhi for further education, revealed his jubilant mother Dr Parvinder Baweja. What had caught everyone’s attention was the performance of another student Komal Thakur from the same school who scored 94 per cent marks in class X. Daughter of a small dhaba owner the girl has proved her calibre amidst exceptional circumstances. Aspiring to become an engineer, she said she would try to secure admission in a top institute after clearing the AIEEE.
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Man gets life term
Sundernagar, May 27 The court further convicted him to undergo simple imprisonment for two years and to pay a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section of 201 of the IPC for destroying evidence after the crime. The body of the deceased was found from Sone Khad on February 14, 2008. The convict had killed his father and subsequently the convict’s brother had lodged an FIR that Deep Ram had a quarrel with his father on January 31, 2008.
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