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D E H R A D U N    E D I T I O N

Ensure better ties with industry, CM tells officials 
Dehradun, August 8
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank today directed the officers concerned to Chief Minister RP Nishank prepare a concrete work plan to accelerate the pace of industrialisation in the state. Presiding over the meet organised by Industries Association of Uttarakhand (IAU) here today, the CM appreciated the concern of the industry that officials must adopt a pro-active approach while dealing with their issues.

n Pays tributes to freedom fighters

Chief Minister RP Nishank

Post-altercation, students hold protest against police excesses
Mussoorie, August 8
Students of MPG College protest outside the SDM’s office in Mussoorie Students of MPG College here have complained against police atrocities and filing of false cases against college students.

Students of MPG College protest outside the SDM’s office in Mussoorie on Saturday. A Tribune photograph 




EARLIER STORIES


43 killed in cloudburst
Dehradun, August 8
At least 43 persons were killed in a massive cloudburst that struck three hill villages in Munsiyari tehsil of Pitthoragarh district in Uttarakhand last night.

SIDBI gets senior citizens back in the saddle
Dehradun, August 8
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has chosen Uttarakhand as the first state in the country to use the services of retired or senior citizens to provide short-term consultancy to fix problems of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

State govt anti-employee: Arya
Dehradun, August 8
Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Yashpal Arya today said their party had always taken care of the interests of labourers and employees.

Demands removal of VAT on khadi products
Dehradun, August 8
The state Congress unit today demanded that the manufacturing and sale of Khadi products purchased by authorised organisations from Khadi and Gram Udyog Board should be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

Social welfare dept gears up for campaign
Dehradun, August 8
The social welfare department would soon organise a statewide public awareness campaign to identify physically challenged persons, widows, elderly and persons living below poverty line, so that more beneficiaries could avail monetary benefits under various government schemes.

Ranbir’s kin in CBI custody?
Dehradun, August 8
The Central Bureau of Investigation Special Investigating Team (CBI-SIT) is learnt to have arrested Ram Kumar, relative of Ranbir Singh who was allegedly killed in the fake encounter by the Dehradun Police on July 3.

Student bodies release election manifestos
Dehradun, August 8
Student organisations at DAV (PG) College are geared up for the student union election, which is schedule to be held later this month. The organisations have started canvassing for the election at the college premises.

SFI demands release of scholarships 
Dehradun August 8
Student Federation of India (SFI) today warned the DAV (PG) College principal of protest if they failed to provide scholarship to SC, ST and OBC students, who had submitted their forms last year.

Doon theatre needs a fresh lease of life
Dehradun, August 8
Suresh Sharma In the absence of patronage from the state government and National School of Drama (NSD) alumni, the Hindi theatre movement is on the decline here in the state. To the disadvantage of the state once it became a separate entity the theatre links that it had while being part of Uttar Pradesh too collapsed. Expressing dismay at the lack of initiative on the part of the NSD alumni Suresh Sharma chief NSD Repertory Company (professional wing) said, “The state can be justifiably proud of having maximum number of pass outs from NSD, but not many have come back here to support and nurture local theater.

Suresh Sharma

Play showcases corrupt ways of the world
Dehradun, August 8
A scene from ‘Jaat Hi Poocho Sadhu Ki’ staged during the Theatre Fest ‘09 in Dehradun The second play of the festival ‘Jat Hi Poochu Sadhu Ki’ directed and designed by Rajender Nath was staged today at the National Theatre Fest 2009.




A scene from ‘Jaat Hi Poocho Sadhu Ki’ staged during the Theatre Fest ‘09 in Dehradun on Saturday. A Tribune photograph 

Ability Unlimited celebrates life with challenges
Dehradun, August 8
Doon School has partnered with the world first therapeutic dance theatre Ability Unlimited to launch a nationwide awareness campaign for the cause of people special needs. For the purpose, the challenged artistes will present dance performances at the school on August 16 and 17.

Gairsain martyr remembered 
Dehradun, August 8
Uttarakhand Sanyukt Sanghrash Samiti (USSS) today observed the death anniversary of statehood agitationist Baba Mohan Uttarakhandi as Gairsain Day.

U’khand Police pip Doon Star
Dehradun, August 8
Uttarakhand Police registered a narrow 1-0 victory over Doon Star at the District Football League here today. It was tough contest between Uttarakhand Police and Doon Star team. Both teams were physically agile and showed some good ball passing.
It was a game between equals in the first half with both teams launching attacks and counter attacks on each other.






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Ensure better ties with industry, CM tells officials 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank today directed the officers concerned to prepare a concrete work plan to accelerate the pace of industrialisation in the state.

Presiding over the meet organised by Industries Association of Uttarakhand (IAU) here today, the CM appreciated the concern of the industry that officials must adopt a pro-active approach while dealing with their issues.

He issued directions for speedy clearance of pending investment proposals worth Rs 39,000 crore.

Nishank emphasised on better coordination between government officers and entrepreneurs. For the purpose, he directed the Principal Secretary, Industries, PC Sharma, to organise Udyog Mitra meetings every two months at the district level.

He also apprised those present at the meeting about his efforts to get extension of the special package of incentives till 2020.

IAU chairman Pankaj Gupta said the response shown by the CM toward various problems of the industry, which was still in a nascent stage in the hill state, was laudable. He highlighted more than 40 issues in the demand charter, which needed immediate attention of the government.

Nishank promised to hold another round of discussions with the industry to take a final decision on the issues discussed at today’s meeting.

Pays tributes to freedom fighters

Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has offered his tributes to the freedom fighters on the eve of August Kranti Diwas.

Dr Nishank said that the August Kranti Diwas popularly known as Quit India Movement led to emergence of strong opinion in favour of independence movement. He said the movement led to a sense of unity among the people in their fight against British. Recalling contribution of freedom fighters towards the cause of independence, CM called upon the younger generation to follow the ideals set up by the freedom fighters. He reminded the young generation that independence has come at a cost, a fact he said must always be remembered by younger generation. 

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Post-altercation, students hold protest against police excesses
Anmol Jain
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 8
Students of MPG College here have complained against police atrocities and filing of false cases against college students.

The students took to the streets today and submitted a complaint against the police to the SDM in protest against the registration of cases against 27 students following an altercation between the students and the police on Friday.

Hundreds of students participated in the 3 km-long protest march which began from MPG College and ended at the office of the SDM after passing through Gandhi Chowk and Mall Road.

On Friday, an altercation had taken place between police officials and college students over the parking of a motorcycle near Gandhi Chowk.

This led to a massive protest by the student fraternity of Mussoorie on Friday evening.

The police then accused the students of damaging public property and assaulting police officials and a case was registered in the name of 12 students while the names of 15 others was not mentioned.

This has led to widespread anger among college students who have termed these cases as false and have accused the police of harassing the students.

Narendra Panwar, student leader of MPG College, demanded that the cases be immediately withdrawn and the local SO be transferred.

The students handed over a complaint against the police at the office of the local SDM. State NSUI president Sangram Singh Pundir and former MPG College union presidents Megh Singh Kandari and Gaurav Gupta were among the protesters.

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43 killed in cloudburst
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
At least 43 persons were killed in a massive cloudburst that struck three hill villages in Munsiyari tehsil of Pitthoragarh district in Uttarakhand last night.

According to state government officials, the cloudburst, which brought in a huge amount of water on the hill slopes together with boulders, trees and debris, buried more than 12 houses in Blah, Mate and Chetla villages in Nachni area of Munsiyari district on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

Rescue teams of the ITBP, police and district administration including DM Pitthoragarh rushed to the disaster site to expedite relief and rescue operations.

Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Parkash Pant, who hails from Pitthoragarh, rushed to supervise the rescue operations.

A total of 13 bodies were recovered from the debris by afternoon. “There were 23 men, 17 women and three girls of eight families living in these three hamlets,” said Parkash Pant on phone from the disaster site.

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SIDBI gets senior citizens back in the saddle
Raju William
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has chosen Uttarakhand as the first state in the country to use the services of retired or senior citizens to provide short-term consultancy to fix problems of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The SIDBI has signed an agreement with the Industries Association of Uttarakhand (IAU) having about 15,000 member MSMEs for implementation of the action plan within six months. The project aims at creating a pool of retired experts to act as business development providers (BDS) to this segment of the industry. “The concept is to facilitate an alternative model of BDS providers for the MSMEs in the state. It will also enable creation of utility for retired persons,” said S Gunasegaran, Chief General Manager, SIDBI.

It has been observed that over a period of time, the number of MSMEs is decreasing either due to obsolete technology or poor quality of products or due to financial reasons. Most of those running them are the first-generation entrepreneurs having very little knowledge of the available resources for resolving difficulties being faced by them.

On the other hand, many retired or senior citizens intend to assume new roles but find no platform.

The project envisages using their lifetime experience in general management, training, technology upgrade, productivity, waste reduction, quality systems improvement, market linkages, taxation, labour and finance.

“We believe them to be the most suitable BDS providers as given the wealth of knowledge acquired by them during their careers, they will require little re-orientation to be available at an affordable cost to the enterprises in need.

“So, we have taken the responsibility to match such retired experts with assignments from small business enterprises which need short-term consultants,” informed Pankaj Gupta, chairman, IAU, which has already started their detailed profiling.

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State govt anti-employee: Arya
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Yashpal Arya today said their party had always taken care of the interests of labourers and employees.

Addressing a programme organised by the party’s Mahanagar Congress Labour Cell in Atam Dharamshala, here today, Arya told the activists to make efforts to bring labourers and employees who are presently in the unorganised sector back into the fold of the organised, and then launch an agitation for the redressal of their grievances.

Terming the present BJP government as anti-employee, he said ever since BJP took over reins of the state industrial development has come to a standstill. “During the previous Congress government’s rule, there was investment worth thousands of crores in the industrial sector, but the policies of the present government are extremely detrimental for the industry.

“Therefore, no new industrial units are coming to Uttarakhand,” he said.

“Those unemployed are extremely upset because of this attitude of the state government. Until and unless industrial development takes place in the state, they won’t get any jobs,” said senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana, while adding that on the anniversary of the Quit India Movement tomorrow, the state Congress would launch the “Gaddi Chhoro” agitation against the BJP government. 

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Demands removal of VAT on khadi products

Dehradun, August 8
The state Congress unit today demanded that the manufacturing and sale of Khadi products purchased by authorised organisations from Khadi and Gram Udyog Board should be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

In a letter to Chief Minister Nishank, the state Congress president Yashpal Arya has demanded that after Independence the Union and state governments had kept the Khadi products free from taxation. But the imposition of VAT on them has pushed the sector to the brink of closure. He demanded that the government should announce the exemption on Gandhi Jayanti this year. Arya termed the government step as unjustified because big industries were being given tax exemptions, but this small-scale industry segment was being ignored.

“The government should note that this sector provides employment to a large number of people in rural areas. The VAT on sale of these products will not increase the revenue, but certainly create unemployment,” said Arya. 

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Social welfare dept gears up for campaign
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
The social welfare department would soon organise a statewide public awareness campaign to identify physically challenged persons, widows, elderly and persons living below poverty line, so that more beneficiaries could avail monetary benefits under various government schemes.

Social welfare minister Matbar Singh Kandari gave these instructions to officers of the department in a meeting held here yesterday.

He asked all social welfare officers to conduct the campaign in their respective districts in a manner that eliminates any problem of accessibility to them.

The officers have also been asked to cover beneficiaries in SC/ST, BC and minorities categories so that they could avail monetary help under various schemes.

Kandari also proposed to establish two homes for the mentally challenged in Garhwal and Kumaon regions. The idea comes after his recent surprise checks of Nari Niketan facilities at Dehradun, Almora and Haldwani where he found that normal women inmates and those mentally challenged were being kept together. He termed the practice as highly improper.

Kandari also suggested that vocational training should be imparted to inmates of Bal Niketan to help them become financially independent when they grow up.

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Ranbir’s kin in CBI custody?
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
The Central Bureau of Investigation Special Investigating Team (CBI-SIT) is learnt to have arrested Ram Kumar, relative of Ranbir Singh who was allegedly killed in the fake encounter by the Dehradun Police on July 3.

Although there has been no official confirmation in this regard, sources revealed that Ram Kumar has been arrested by the country’s premier investigating agency.

Despite repeated attempt CBI SP Neelabh Kishore could not be contacted. Other CBI officials in Dehradun also refused to divulge any details in this regard.

Ram Kumar's role in the matter is very crucial, as Ranbir's father had claimed that he was along with his son when the reported scuffle between Ranbir and the SI GD Bhatt took place on Balbir Road in Dehradun on July 3.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that CBI officials have also managed to collect a blood-soaked handkerchief from one of the four police vehicles, used in the police encounter.

“We will now conduct a DNA test and if the DNA and blood group matches that of Singh, it will establish beyond any doubt that he was carried in the police vehicle.

“That would nail the lie of Dehradun police, which claims that Ranbir was trying to flee on a motorbike,” said sources. 

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Student bodies release election manifestos
Vishal Thakur
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
Student organisations at DAV (PG) College are geared up for the student union election, which is schedule to be held later this month. The organisations have started canvassing for the election at the college premises.

DAV (PG) College in-charge of National Student Union of India (NSUI), Shrawan Kumar said that this year union is focusing on improving the educational environment of the college, which will be high in the election agenda.

“College management has failed in organising regular classes in various subjects. He said that professors of various subjects skip classes at will. Therefore, union has decided to provide a better study environment to students from this year onwards,” said Shrawan.

At present the members of the union have started pressurising the college management to increase the number of fee counters, considering the rush of student. NSUI will soon be declaring their candidate for the upcoming student union election.

On the other hand, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s Ashish Bahuguha said that Parishad has decided to fight election on the issues like renovation of the college building, removing financial irregularities, organising proper classes for the students.

City president of Student Federation of India (SFI), Rajveer said that SFI has raised issues of providing safe environment for girls in the college campus.

He said that last year college has formed a committee to look into the security of girls, but the committee remained inactive.

Former general secretary, Atul Thapa who is supporting independent candidate said, “The issue which needs to be addressed in the college is the strength of students. At the present the strength here is 30,000, whereas the actual strength prescribed by the student 7,000.”

He said that unless and until the strength of the college is reduced the management here could not function efficiently.

The second issue they have raised is of providing regular supply of drinking water to the students here. He alleged that presently college administration does not have a proper supply of water in the campus. 

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SFI demands release of scholarships 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun August 8
Student Federation of India (SFI) today warned the DAV (PG) College principal of protest if they failed to provide scholarship to SC, ST and OBC students, who had submitted their forms last year.

Score of students led by SFI’s state secretary, Lekhraj gheroed DAV (PG) College principal, Ashok Saxena. Lekhraj alleged that many SC, ST and OBC students who had submitted application in 2008-09 for scholarship still have not received these.

As a result these students, who belonged weaker section of the society are unable to take admission due to financial problems.

Principal brought to the notice of the leaders that post office account numbers of some students were wrong.

But the student leaders were not ready to listen to principal and demanded that students with correct post office account number should receive scholarships as soon as possible. 

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Doon theatre needs a fresh lease of life
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
In the absence of patronage from the state government and National School of Drama (NSD) alumni, the Hindi theatre movement is on the decline here in the state.

To the disadvantage of the state once it became a separate entity the theatre links that it had while being part of Uttar Pradesh too collapsed.

Expressing dismay at the lack of initiative on the part of the NSD alumni Suresh Sharma chief NSD Repertory Company (professional wing) said, “The state can be justifiably proud of having maximum number of pass outs from NSD, but not many have come back here to support and nurture local theater.

Only Shrish Dhobal tried to work in this direction by establishing ‘Shail Nat’, a theater group in all the districts of the state. Similarly, the attitude of the successive governments too has not been encouraging, the state has failed to frame a cultural policy.”

Actor and director Suresh Sharma who has directed two plays ‘Kafka’ and ‘Ek Violin Samundar Ke Kinari’ is in Doon as part of the Annual National Theater Festival said that space for theater is shrinking in northern states.

“It can be revived only if decentralisation of National School of Drama takes place. At least one repertory should be established in each state to nurture talent and expose locals to quality performances,” he said.

He said that the Bharaitya Natya Akademi drama repertory in Almora has almost become defunct after the state was created. “Separate funds were allocated for the repertory but it does not exist any more,” he added.

Ruing at the lack of initiative on the part of the state and the central government to introduce Drama in the school curriculum Sharma said, “On one hand politicians decry the influence of western films and television on our society but they seldom take steps to promote local theater and drama.” 

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Play showcases corrupt ways of the world
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
The second play of the festival ‘Jat Hi Poochu Sadhu Ki’ directed and designed by Rajender Nath was staged today at the National Theatre Fest 2009.

The play is a satirical comment on the prevailing corruption in society as the protagonist Mahipat goes about in his single minded quest to acquire MA degree.However, rejection slips during numerous interviews make his journey difficult.

During his unemployment phase he takes up the study of Nepotism only to get a job as a lecturer in a remote area without the use of influence.

His happiness does not last long as during the course of his tenure he encounters a diffident staff of the college, Nalini, a student, who makes a desperate bid to get herself educated.

At the end of the play Mahipat remains an uneducated and unemployed youth chastened by the ways of the world.

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Ability Unlimited celebrates life with challenges
Raju William
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
Doon School has partnered with the world first therapeutic dance theatre Ability Unlimited to launch a nationwide awareness campaign for the cause of people special needs. For the purpose, the challenged artistes will present dance performances at the school on August 16 and 17.

It promises to be a cultural event as audiences will see physically challenged and hearing-impaired artistes performing on wheel chairs and crutches for the first time.

The internationally acclaimed performances are conceived and directed by social activist and Guruji Pasha. He is the founder of Ability Unlimited, which is the only professional dance theatre organisation that utilises art to broaden thinking and resolve issues of inclusion that people with challanges face in society.

Doon School, headmaster Peter McLaughlin said that the idea is to bring about an attitudinal change in the students’ minds by showcasing indomitable spirit of the differently able artistes. The audience on the first day will comprise students of Doon School, Welham School and prominent people while the second day’s show is meant for students of other schools.

“Celebrating Abilities is 60 minutes of intense dance performances in which spinning speed of a wheel chair is faster than any accomplished Kathak or Ballet dancer’s spins. You will find dance-theatre performances on themes of martial arts, Ramayana, Durga, Bhagwad Gita etc,” said Pasha, a recipient of National Award from the President of India for outstanding performance in empowering Persons With Disabilities (PWD). 

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Gairsain martyr remembered 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
Uttarakhand Sanyukt Sanghrash Samiti (USSS) today observed the death anniversary of statehood agitationist Baba Mohan Uttarakhandi as Gairsain Day.

The samiti held a series of functions all over the state and also in Delhi to offer their tributes to the leader.

Samiti’s central president Dhirendra Pratap, a former Uttarkhand Minister, said that the people of state remember Baba Mohan Uttarakhandi’s sacrifice for the cause of the getting permanent capital status for Gairsain.

Baba Uttarakhandi had died after undertaking a 38-day-long indefinite fast demanding the declaration of Gairsain as the permanent capital of the state in place of Dehradun, the interim capital of the state.

Dhirendra Pratap also took the opportunity to announce a Uttarakhand Bandh on October 2 in support of popular public sentiment of the state in favour of Garisain.

He declared Baba Uttarakhandi a great martyr and urged the state government to construct a memorial at Satpuli in Pauri Garhwal district in his memory.

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U’khand Police pip Doon Star
Vishal Thakur
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 8
Uttarakhand Police registered a narrow 1-0 victory over Doon Star at the District Football League here today.

It was tough contest between Uttarakhand Police and Doon Star team. Both teams were physically agile and showed some good ball passing.

It was a game between equals in the first half with both teams launching attacks and counter attacks on each other.

In the 18th minute, Uttarakhand Police launched a sharp attack from the right. But they failed to score as Doon Star put up a strong defence.

Five minutes later, Doon Star launched a counter attack on Uttarakhand Police but missed out on scoring. The first half was goalless.

In the second half, Uttarakhand Police managed to score a goal in the 65th minute of the match. It was Veer Singh for Uttarakhand Police who scored off a powerful right kick to help his team win.

The second match, played between Sunderwala Boys and Cantt Blues, ended in a goalless draw. Sunderwala dominated the proceedings in the first half and launched a number of attacks.

Despite dominating the half, Sunderwala Boys forwards failed to convert their chances into goals. The second half was not much different and no team managed to score a goal. 

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