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CHINESE INCURSION
Teachers to be sensitised on climate change
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Farmers seek release of tubewell connections
mp3 player latest rage among Doonites
Commercial Tax Dept to recover Rs 631 cr from traders
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CHINESE INCURSION
Pitthoragarh, September 17 After the Chinese incursion in 1962, there has been a speedy migration from border villages on the India-China border due to the absence of any alternative means of employment after trade with Tibet, which had been going on for thousands of years, came to an abrupt end due to the war. During the 1962 Indo-China war, persons living on the border provided vital help to Indian forces who were hitherto new to the area. “But this has become a thing of the past. Now, there are very few people left in border villages to help armed forces. During the past 46 years, state governments have done nothing to provide employment to people in these remote villages,” said a villager from Dar village in the Darma valley of Pitthoragarh district. As much as 375 km of the India-China border lies in Uttarakhand. The border with China has been divided into three sectors and the border in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh falls in the mid-sector. “China, which had almost nil access to this part of Tibet in 1962, was able to mobilise 1.5 lakh troops to this sector in 2000. Now, it has mobilised 5 lakh troops,” said Lt Gen OP Kausik (retd). “Despite the Chinese capacity, we have neither sufficient infrastructure nor old nomadic communities to inform about happenings on the border,” he said. “When residents of Garbyang village, at the tri-junction border with China and Nepal, started shifting in 1962, the government did not pay any attention. “Now only 50 families out of a total of 250 in 1962 are left,” said DS Garbiyal, a resident of the village who is presently District Magistrate of adjoining Bageswar district. Garbiyal lamented that if the government had provided road, electricity, health facilities and employment, the locals would have preferred to live in their native places. “Our people used to go up to Kalapani for farming which is now a barren land,” said Garbiyal. According to statistics in Pitthoragarh district, out of nine border villages in Darma, five in Byans and 12 in Johar valley, almost 80 per cent residents have left their traditional homes. “As much as 25 per cent of these migrants return every year to their respective villages to worship the deities of their clan,” said Navneet Pandey, SDM of Dharchula tehsil bordering China and Nepal. Not only in Pitthoragarh, but people along the border villages in Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts, living in high-altitude border villages, have also shifted en masse during the past 46 years because of the absence of local means of survival after the Tibetan trade closed in 1962. “Residents of the Manna valley have not moved out at a fast pace as the Badrinath pilgrimage every year gives them employment. The people of the Niti valley are shifting downhill and have started living in Gopeshwar, Joshimath and Chamoli towns,” said NS Negi, District Magistrate of Pitthoragarh who has served in the area. It was Laxman Singh Jangpangi from Johar Munsiyari who in 1952 informed the government of India about the Chinese build-up in the area. The Union government realised the importance of this information in 1959 when China occupied the whole of Tibet. Jangpangi was awarded the Padma Shri on January 8, 1959. “Jangpangi was able to get this information as his facial features were akin to those of Tibetans. He worked as a trade agent in western Tibet in 1950,” said SS Pangti, a retired senior IAS officer. Now, this type of real-time intelligence for Indian security forces will be hard to come due to the absence of villagers. It remains a tough task for paramilitary personnel guarding the borders to identify any outsider from across Tibet. “Outsiders and suspected elements from across Tibet can only be identified by villagers living on the border,” said NS Negi, District Magistrate, Pitthoragarh. Apple orchards in the Gangotri area have somewhat stopped this migration, but the borders, where neither apples are grown nor there is any alternative means of employment, people have migrated in search of gainful employment. “Before 1962, the Khampas residing at Khimling village used to rear cattle close to the India-China border. This proved helpful to security forces. But this entire village shifted to lower valleys many years ago,” said GS Garbyal. “The state and central governments did try to stop these villagers, but in the absence of any basic facilities, all efforts went in vain. “Now, the government of India has started a border area development scheme to provide infrastructure with 100 per cent central funds to these border areas. New hydroelectric projects are also coming up in these areas. This creates hope that these border villages could be revived,” said
Negi.
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Teachers to be sensitised on climate change
Dehradun, September 17 The workshop comes as a second phase of WWF-India Young Climate Saver Programme launched in 2007. According to coordinator of the programme in Uttarakhand Jitendra Singh Rawat, the workshop will be part of WWF-India’s efforts to make teachers aware vis-à-vis climate change and thus to further the cause of sensitisation of schoolchildren of India about one of the immediate environmental challenges of the world. “Teachers play a crucial role towards motivating the young minds towards efforts to mitigate climate change”, Rawat said, adding that eminent climate scientists Prof Prakash Nautiyal and Dr NPS Bisht will be delivering lectures on the subject. More than 23 teachers from all major boarding schools of Dehradun and those in the periphery will be participating in the workshop. In Dehradun, more than 2,800 students from 21 schools have participated in the first phase of Young Climate Saver Programme. Young Climate Saver Programme, which is under way in more than 22 major cities of India, is a collaborative initiative of WWF-India, country’s leading environmental organisation, Tetra Pak Limited, a global beverage carton manufacturing company with excellent environmental credentials and long-time partner with the WWF in the Global Forest Trade Stewardship and member of the Climate Savers collaborative. The workshop aims at training and building capacities of teachers on threats and impacts of climate change and measures to mitigate it. Education for a sustainable development, to impart training to school students on ways and means of mitigating climate-change impacts, to reach out to larger sections of society through students on technology-based solutions for a sustainable development and to help children quantify reduction in energy consumption and emissions, converting incandescent bulbs to CFLs, implementing energy efficiency measures, converting school buses from petrol to CNG and conduct regular pollution checks are other aims of the workshop.
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Genuine Bengali articles at this one-stop shop
Dehradun, September 17 With a motive to provide people of Uttarakhand a taste of genuine Bengali articles, Sandaya Nagar since 1993 has been successfully running this store. “Though originally I don’t belong to Bengal, I love the artistic work of Bengal. I thought of establishing a Bengali store so that not only Bengalis can avail benefits, even others get to know about the culture and beauty of Bengal,” said
Sandaya. With a week left for the final celebrations, the store has got ample stuff for everyone. For Durga Puja as sari plays an integral role, a wide collection of cotton and silk saris are available. The famous Murshidabad, Santiniketan, Vishnupur Balachuri and Kantha silks and many varieties of cotton such as Tassar, Tat etc are reasonably priced. “Apart from cotton and silk, I even have designer saris, but as far as Puja celebrations are concerned, ladies prefer to have sober-looking cotton saris as worshiping Goddesses Durga and Kali in itself is considered very sacred affair among Bengalis,” said
Sandaya. “As Durga Puja is one of our biggest festivals, during this time every day we wear brand new clothes. While women wear saris, men are clad in kurtas or dhotis,” said Pal. Moreover, other beautiful accessories such as Santiniketan leather goods, traditional jewellery and various masks of Durga and Kali complement in setting a perfect mood for enjoying this festival amid friends, rich food and prayers. “As soon as Durga Puja is about to begin, I especially visit Kolkata so that I can get authentic stuff for my customers. At present my store has got almost all items of Bengal, but in case anyone wants something special, we get that at once,” added
Sandaya.
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Farmers seek release of tubewell connections
Roorkee, September 17 With the pendency of around 400 tubewell connections in the department concerned, the farmers too are not happy the way they are being treated in the matter. The unpredictable monsoon, which had eluded the cultivators during the initial stages of the season, left the farmers demanding immediate release of tubewell connections. “Though the recent rains in the area came to our rescue to some extent, we are in urgent need of tubewell connections in our fields for better irrigation,” said Ravinder Kumar, a farmer in Mohanpura village of the district. Giving reasons for the delay, the power authorities have been maintaining that the delay was not deliberated. “Actually, we are short of material like cables, poles, transformers etc. “Moreover, the supply of the required material is not only slow, but inadequate also,” said a senior official of the UPCL (Roorkee), requesting anonymity. There is reported total pendency of as many as 385 new connections in Roorkee division only. Many farmers have reportedly had applied for new tubewell connections last year, but they were still awaiting the release of their connection. It takes over six months in providing new connections . “The delay is just irritating. Why do they (the authorities) not understand the problems of our community? “If we do not get adequate water, how can the crop be produced,” lamented Sanjay Chaudhary, president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Haridwar district. The farmers’ leader added that the installation of the tubewell should took place within two months after the submission of an application by the farmer. On the issue, the power authorities admitted that if they had required material for commissioning the new connection, the duration of two months was enough for the purpose. This year, the department received a total of 222 applications, seeking new tubewell connections in Roorkee rural division (since January) and only 58 connections could be released so far.
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mp3 player latest rage among Doonites
For the past two years, people in the city have gone so health savvy that many high-class gyms have come up here. However, those who are anti-gym culture can be found jogging and walking with their headphones, endlessly playing their favourite chart busters. The latest in this technology is Sony Unwired Walkman, which, within two months of its launch, has got a fabulous response. Fulfilling the style quotient, portability and brand value is what these mini portable mp3 players are all about. “Whenever I go out for my jogging session, I prefer to have my music player on. After all music helps me burn calories in a more fun-filled manner,” says Rahul, a student. From youngsters to middle-aged, everyone loves to combine music and exercise so that exercise sessions don’t end up being a monotonous affair. “It’s been two months since Sony launched it’s new unwired walkman, and as its got style, durability and convenience factors, from youngsters to middle-age are thronging our shop. “Moreover, nowadays people in the city are becoming heath enthusiasts and this is one particular music equipment which is best suited for a hassle-free exercise routine. “Mostly its more of middle-aged people who always enquire about its compatibility while going out for morning or evening walk,” said Amit Bhel from Sony. Where Sony Unwired costs Rs 5,000, in the lower segment offering quality are mp3 by Philips, Creative and a few other renowned companies. Within Rs 2,500 these thumb sized mp3 players can be used with the help of an armband. “Sony Unwired, being wireless, is definitely catering to the needs of people who are pro-exercise. But even economically priced mp3 by Philips, Creative and Apple Shuffle have got a massive sale and can be easily combined with an armband when jogging, walking or even relaxing,” said Gaurav, owner of Cinema Art shop. Having the largest display of equipment in north India, Fitness Systems is a one-stop centre having all latest fitness equipment in Dehradun. “For the past seven years, people have definitely become very active regarding health-related issues,” said Himanshu Sahani, owner of Fitness Systems.
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Commercial Tax Dept to recover Rs 631 cr from traders
Dehradun, September 17 The Commissioner (Tax) said this huge amount of dues was related to cases pending since long before the state came into being. Recoveries were being made on case-to-case basis. But its pace was suffering on account of acute shortage of staff. Some cases were even written off as no recovery was possible, especially in case in which firm concerned had ceased operations or turned bankrupt. “But we have not given up. The shortage of staff is a major handicap,” he added. Of the total dues, about Rs 73 crore is pending on account of court cases. As such, this cannot be considered as arrears. Apart from this, notices have been issued for recovery of more than Rs 184 crore. Officials argued that it would be wrong to assess the performance of the department on the basis of this outstanding amount. An efficient system of recovering dues is in place since creation of the state. The department collected Rs 63 crore more than the target of Rs 1,842 crore in the financial year 2008-09. Due to this, the target this fiscal has been increased to Rs 2,200 crore.
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Pitthoragarh, September 17
Dehradun, September 17