Palampur, June 13
As an aftermath of controversy that aroused yesterday, the jury of Golden Peacock Awards has withheld the announcement of award of Vedenta Aluminium Limited and Vedenta Resources Plc..

While talking to The Tribune Dr Aditya N Saksena, director-general of Golden Peacock Awards, said the facts regarding Vedenta that had been brought to fore were not known to them earlier. He said the jury would examine the facts but till then the award to Vedenta had been withheld.

He also said Madhav Mehra despite being chairman of the organisation had disassociated himself from the jury that decided awards since 1992. The awards are decided on the basis of set rules and data provided by companies.

Madhav Mehra while talking to The Tribune alleged that the some residents of Palampur had hatched a conspiracy against him by bringing in ‘paid protesters’ to disrupt yesterday’s programme.

Meanwhile, experts in the convention today said there was urgent need on the part of governments across the globe to increase investments in environment. Instead of giving bailouts to companies that are responsible for current economic recession the government should invest in eco-friendly technologies.

DK Kaarthikeyan, a former director of the CBI, while chairing the morning session today said in India alone there were about 200 laws to protect the environment. However, unfortunately they were not being enforced properly. In future also the governments would have to plan laws to counter problems likely to be created due to climate changes.

Jija Hari Singh, DG, Police, Karnataka, who is the only woman IPS officer in the country acting as DG, while speaking on the occasion said the government should give tax concessions to organisations and corporate sector that adhered to environment norms.

Richard Little from Impact International, a UK-based organisation, says that business is the only activity that can make a considerible impact to protect environment. However, there is need to inculcate the environment education in business schools. Presently in most of business schools benefits of environment protection are not a part of study curriculum.

Keith Browne, another expert from the UK, spoke on the role of media in environment protection. Thomas Haahr from the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy said global agreement on protection of environment should not be delayed.

Bilaspur, June 13
All of us have to be very careful and should ensure preservation of environment by planting maximum number of trees. This was stated by DC Nandita Gupta while presiding over the concluding function of the Environment Week celebrations at Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS) here today.

She exhorted the students to conserve water, plant  trees and fight pollution with zero tolerance.

Earlier, declamation contest on the subject of environment and spot-painting competitions were held, in which children from various schools participated.

In declamation, Neha of GSSS, Kallar, got first position, Aanchal of GSSS Boys, Bilaspur, was second and Pallavi of Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Bilaspur, was third among the juniors. In the seniors, Vishwa Mohan of GSSS, Bilaspur, was first, Deeksha of GGSSS, Bilaspur, was  second and Deeksha Sharma of DAV School, Bilaspur,  was third.

In painting, Nisha Rani of GGSSS Bilaspur was first, Dipansh of DAV School, Bilaspur, was second and Abhishek of GSSS Boys, Bilaspur, was declared third in the junior category. Among the seniors, Medha of DAV School, Shreya and Manisha of GGSSS, Bilaspur, were first, second and third, respectively. 

Shimla, June 13
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma today hinted that in view of the worst ever recession since the Great Depression in 1930, industry and all other major sectors would be given special stimulus, which would have a positive impact on the economy.

Speaking at the concluding session of the Tourism Conclave organised by Department of Tourism and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said, India which was less adversely affected by recession than other developed countries would bounce back with a growth rate of 7 to 8 per cent. “The capital goods sector, including cement and steel industry, are already showing signs of looking up and the budget will provide more relief to all,” he said.

He assured that there would be something special for all hill states, including Himachal, as they deserved a special dispensation. “When we talk of special industrial package we have to be very clear that only eco-friendly industries like IT, communications and fruit processing which are non-polluting and employment generating are promoted,” he said.

While stressing that the government and private players have to join hands to promote tourism, he said haphazard construction in the form of “architectural monstrosities” would have to be avoided. “Himachal should encourage sector like tourism, education and IT as these have vast potential to generate income, employment and growth,” he said.

Sharma said for investment to come to HP we need to improve on our infrastructure which means better roads, connectivity, water and power.

He assured that when it comes to protecting the interest of Himachal, he and Dhumal were one and the hill state would get much more from the Centre than it had been given in the past. “When it comes to allocation of resources the UPA regime is not just fair but generous,” he remarked.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister PK Dhumal requested the minister to restore the special industrial package given to Himachal till 2013 as it would get over next year. “Though all this has more of a psychological impact, the fact that the special package was curtailed for HP and Uttrakhand and not J&K is logically, ethically and morally wrong,” he said.

He hoped that the minister would plead Himachal’s case in every sphere and the state would benefit by having two union ministers.

Hamirpur, June 13
While members of Parliament are finding it difficult to reach a unanimity on giving 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies, impressed by the experiment of women’s empowerment through reservation in panchayats, a research team from the United States (US) is coming to Hamirpur district to assess the impact of reservation to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in regard to women’s empowerment here.

The research team headed by Prof P.G. Lawrence from Minnesota University (US) along with his team of research scholars would be visiting Hamirpur district soon.

The US team would be carrying this study in collaboration with Prof Kavita Chakravarti from Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, from where eight research scholars would join the survey.

The theme of Prof Lawrence’s research would be visual impact of women’s reservation in PRIs in the direction of influencing social and economic development at the panchayat level.

The researchers would interact with 60 (30 men and 30 women) elected representatives from different panchayats and also hold meetings with them.

While several research scholars would be joining this team from MDU Rohtak, Katherne, Katty and Anjole would be accompanying Prof Lawrence from Minnesota itself.

Telling about this research programme District Panchayat Officer Satish Sharma told The Tribune, “Prof Lawrence has sent this proposal to us which is basically a research- oriented project to asses the impact of women’s empowerment through reservation in PRIs and we are finalising the programme with the team.” 

Shimla, June 13
Even though din of elections is over but the tussle between the Congress and the ruling BJP continues as Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said it did not behove Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal to talk of discrimination and take credit for schemes which had come Himachal’s way because of the UPA regime.

Even as he pledged full support to the state government for protecting Himachal’s interest and ensuring that the hill state benefits in every possible way, he was candid enough to say that it was wrong on the part of Dhumal to take credit for projects like the central university, the IIT and ESI medical college which had been given by the Congress-led UPA regime.

Addressing party workers at the Congress Bhawan here today on his first visit after being sworn in as Cabinet Minister he assured that he would definitely try to bring in benefits to Himachal. “Even though the elections are over but I would like to put the record straight that the central university and the IIT were given to Himachal by the UPA regime when Virbhadra Singh was the chief minister and the announcement was made by the then Finance Minister P. Chidambram on the Ridge,” he clarified.

Sharma assured that with two ministers from Himachal being in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet, Himachal would get much more than before. “I can say with certainty that during the NDA regime, non-BJP states were discriminated with but with the Congress having a different way of thinking and approach no state was give such treatment during the UPA regime,” he remarked .

The figure of Himachal having received financial help of Rs 23,000 crore during the last UPA regime as compared to Rs 13,000 given to the hill state while the NDA was in power was once again repeated by him. “There is change of political power every five years but the interest of the nation must be protected at all costs rising above party politics,” he opined.

Palampur, June 13
Lack of job opportunities in Himachal Pradesh has forced thousands of youths to move out of the state in search of jobs leaving behind their aged parents. It has become a compulsion for youngsters here to leave homes in search of jobs, particularly in IT and computer industry, as the state has no such network here.

It was revealed that in educated families every third parent is living alone as their children are working in cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Hyderabad or Gurgaon. In 10 per cent cases children are also working aboard.

The Tribune interacted with more than 100 such parents in Kangra and Mandi districts. It was revealed that parents had no other option except to send their children outside the state for studying as well as for jobs because the state neither has any major industry nor IT park where the youths could get jobs.

Situation in rural areas was quite alarming as most parents were scared and feeling insecure as there was no medical aid worth the name and there will be none to look after them after a few years. The deteriorating law and order situation, increasing incidents of theft and robbery had further made the matter worse. There are instances where old people were robbed off their valuables.

An old couple sitting in veranda of their house, near Palampur, said their son had time and again requested both of them to leave Palampur and move to the USA, but it was very difficult for them to leave the ancestral home where they had spent their life. If they shift to the USA they have to live in isolation, as both son and daughter-in-law are working and return home in late hours. We will not have any company there, they added. This was the problem with many other parents also who interacted with The Tribune.

During a survey it was revealed that 10,000 more youths from Himachal are likely to join IT and computer industry in the next two years.

Despite the fact that Chief Minister PK Dhumal time and again announced that the state would set up IT parks, but all in vain.

Mandi, June 13
After discarding a laid-back retired life at his native Hamirpur town, Hem Raj Chadda (66), a retired ITBP assistant commandant, embarked upon a new mission of life on March 22, 2009, from Shimla: “Down with female foeticide”.

Fired by his zeal of social service Chadda wearing “yellow robes” and armed with “cloth flags” with the message “down with female foeticide” has already covered 4,000 km on foot reaching out to different people and schoolchildren in Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Kangra, Una and now he is in Mandi, spreading his message.

But this social service is not a new thing for Chadda. He has already won the Godfrey Philip Social Award for his social service.

He rushed to Rajasthan and Gujarat and worked with bomb-blast victims there for over a month. He travelled to Orissa and Bihar when floods ravaged the states and worked with rehabilitation teams there for months.

Chadda, here to sound people on the danger of female foeticide, said, “The middle class people are now realising that female foeticide can lead to a serious imbalance in society. The state government has enacted the PNTD Act to combat the evil, but it remains confined to TV or radio talks.” “I am making a small individual effort to spread awareness among people,” he said.

Chadda goes to the OPDs at hospitals, meets people there, carrying his message, “down with female foeticide”. He enters the morning-prayer meetings at government schools and addresses young students cautioning them about the chapter on female foeticide prescribed in their biology text books.

Chadda says all ultrasound and diagnostic centres carry the statutory warning on sex determination tests. But there are agents who work clandestinely with certain centres and get these tests conducted, he observed during his yatra and talks with people.

But attitude towards the girl child is changing. “I met a doctor couple who has two daughters and another couple who has a single daughter and they have planned their families,” he said. The problem lies among some middle class families, who still prefer a male child, he added.

He said let there be ultrasound clinics, but when there would be so much of awareness the people would just ignore them as they would not want to go in for the sex determination test. “This change of mindset can be achieved only if society does not differentiate between the male and female child,” he said.