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Virasat postponed for lack of funds
Performers at Virasat 2008 in Dehradun. Tribune file photograph
Projects won’t affect Ganga flow: CM
Cong slams govt over elevation of MLAs
City don attends conference in Oxford
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Football camp for girls begins
 Dehradun, October 5
The third international football coaching camp for girls organised by the Premier Indian Football Academy (PIFA) in collaboration with coaches of Inspire Academy, England, began at Unison World School here today. Gary Judge, who is a qualified coach at Inspire Academy, said, “India has abundance of budding footballers who just need the right exposure. Gary Judge, football coach of Inspire Academy, UK, gives tips to girls at Unison School, Dehradun, on Monday. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir
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Virasat postponed for lack of funds
Dehradun, October 5
What has made matters worse is the non-payment of dues for the past two years amounting to Rs 70 lakh by the state government. The organisers of the event, Rural Entrepreneurship in Art Culture and Heritage (REACH), are optimistic that talks with the government would be able to help them tide over the financial crisis. “More than 300 artistes had given their consent to participate in the festival. The Ministry of Handloom had already issued letters regarding their availability in October. “As the festival has been postponed to November, we are in a bit of a bind. We have to inform artistes and craftsmen about the cancellation but at same time, ask them to stay on board in case, it is held on a later date in November,” said RK Singh, secretary, REACH. At stake is the reputation of the festival built over the past 16 years. So much so, besides being referred to as the biggest Afro-Asian festival in the country, the dates of the festival also find mention in the Incredible India Tourism Calendar. It has also emerged as a people’s festival and is keenly awaited by the denizens of Doon. The festival received direct patronage from the Tourism and Culture Department of Uttarakhand. When contacted, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Madan Kaushik said, “We are looking into the matter and will take appropriate action. Cultural events such as Virasat are a window to our culture and tradition.” Popular rural artistes from Garhwal strike the first beats at the festival by singing traditional songs that are popular in the remote mountains of Uttarakhand. More than 300 craftsmen from Uttarakhand and other states participate in the festival that provides national and international exposure to artistes. “I was patiently waiting for the festival to unfold, but it came as a bit of a surprise when it did not take off on October 1. “It will be such a shame if the government does not extend financial support. For a layperson like me, the festival provides a great opportunity to learn about art and culture of different states,” said Aditi Kaur, a social activist and a regular at the festival. Along with the presence of local artistes, famous troupes from Indonesia, France, Sri Lanka and South Africa have been regularly participating in the festival adding an international edge to the whole affair. The artistes prepare for the festival four months in advance and a cancellation like this can upset several plans. “Moreover the reputation of the fair has taken a severe beating which had assiduously been built over the years. Festivals like Virasat send a definitive message that the government and the administration of the day encourages people’s participation in festivals that celebrate life,” said Lokesh Ohri, Principal, Jaswant Modern School. The festival had also given a fillip to local businesses. Right from hoteliers, travel agents to food stalls earn a tidy sum along with the craftsmen. According to the organisers, during the 15-day-long fair, the artistes manage to earn around Rs 1.5 crore through the sale of their craft items. This year, the organisers had even suggested to the government of Uttarakhand to weave a tourism destination plan around Virasat, linking it with Rishikesh, Haridwar and Almora.
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Projects won’t affect Ganga flow: CM
Dehradun, October 5 An official spokesperson for the Uttarakhand government said here that Dr Nishank demanded the setting up of a Ganga research institute in Uttarakhand with a view to preserving cultural heritage of the Ganga as a knowledge centre. Besides, the Chief Minister also demanded the setting up of a Ganga museum where various aspects of Ganga could be shown to pilgrims and tourists. He pointed out that 65 per cent land of Uttarakhand was covered with forests and the state was tremendously contributing to maintaining environment of the country. Development works in the state were being hampered due to a strict implementation of the Forest Conservation Act. Dr Nishank demanded that the union government should compensate state to the tune of Rs 10, 000 crore per year for safeguarding environment. He also demanded that 1,000 MW electricity from the hydro-power projects over the rivers passing through Uttarakhand be given to the state free of cost. In order to check pollution in the Ganga effectively, the Chief Minister urged the Centre that tourist facilitation centres at every 50 km from Gangotri to Haridwar should be set up. These should have all kinds of facilities for tourists. The work of authority should begin from Gangotri, the origin of the Ganga. Badrinath, Joshimath, Gopeshwar, Nand Prayag, Gochar, Rudra Prayag, Srinagar, Kirinagar, Uttarkashi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Ranipur should be included in the project aimed at controlling pollution in the Ganga, he demanded. He apprised the meeting that the Uttarakhand State River Conservation Authority would be set up in the state soon. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Union Minister of Urban Development S Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) Jairam Ramesh, senior officers of Uttarakhand and other dignitaries were present at the meeting.
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Cong slams govt over elevation of MLAs
Dehradun, October 5 Deputy leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Tilak Raj Behad took on the government on the issue, saying that the step was unconstitutional that is why none of them was administered the oath of office by the Governor. He alleged that the step was actually taken to save the government. It was against public interest as well since they cannot perform any constitutional duty. Behad had a dig at the BJP leadership, saying that it has done what it accused the previous Congress government of doing.
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City don attends conference in Oxford
Dehradun, October 5 Dr Pokhriyal is at present serving as Reader and Head in the Department of English, MKP College. Her present fields of interests are the post-colonial studies and 20th century literature and literary theories. Selections of 50 papers from various disciplines were carried out for the conference from over 300 abstracts, which were received at Oxford. The conference was attended by delegates from countries across the world, including Canada, Italy, Portugal ,Finland, England, India, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Israel, Singapore, Hong Kong, Romania, Turkey, Iran, USA, Japan, Ireland, the Netherlands and Poland. It is a matter of great pride for the entire state of Uttarakhand, and Dehradun in particular, to find representation in the university as prestigious and one of the oldest ones in the world as Oxford. Dr Pokhriyal has also been invited to attend a conference on feminism at San Diego in July next year. This conference is organised by the Contemporary Womens Writing Network, Oxford.
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Football camp for girls begins
Dehradun, October 5 Gary Judge, who is a qualified coach at Inspire Academy, said, “India has abundance of budding footballers who just need the right exposure. “It all depends on the coaching one gets. Therefore, good coaches need to work at the grassroots level to help them acquire the right technique.” Gary added that good players are not born but made and coaches play a crucial role in it. He said that India needs to provide basic infrastructure to footballers in cities and villages. Efforts should be made to tap talent from villages after making them realise that there is a future for them in the game. About the camp, Gary said that the focus of the camp was to make the children work on their technique, dribbling and ball control. “We will make them learn simple drills and help children use them during a game,” said Gary. Another coach at the Premier Indian Football Academy (PIFA), Mumbai, Firmin D’Souza said that in India, a proper system needed to be in place for systematic development of the game. “Though it is a slow process but once the requisite system is in place, the game will develop at a rapid pace,” he said D’Souza said there has been a great change in the football scenario in India. With money flowing in, there are greater opportunities for young footballers. “One just needs to create awareness among the masses about the game and the future one could have playing football,” added D’Souza.
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Uncertainty looms large over the future of ‘Virasat’, a folk life and heritage festival that has been postponed indefinitely for the lack of finances.
