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Industrial workers continue without EPF benefits
Kingpin detained in medal theft case
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Irregular supply of fertilisers hits Himfed
MLA flays Virbhadra for politicising flight service
Man held with 4 kg of charas
‘Promote chief engineers’
Crop insurance no attraction for hill farmers
Students who presented a folk dance of Tamil Nadu along with Dr DS Dhillon, principal, Dalhousie Public School. A Tribune photo
Patrolling intensified in Rohtang Pass area
State does brisk business in trade fair
‘Increase retirement age’
7.28 lakh tonnes of foodgrain target
State reels under cold conditions
Teachers’ convention ends
‘Relax LPG booking period’
Dental implant facility
Five kiosks gutted
Official held for harassment
Plea on board restructuring
Liquor seized
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Industrial workers continue without EPF benefits
Dharamsala, November 29 The GM, industries, Una, said the case had been sent to the EPF commissioner. The EPF benefit could be extended to employees only after the EPF commissioner allots them the account numbers. In gross violation of the EPF and Gratuity Act, officials of various Industrial Area Development Agencies (IADAs) in the state have exploited the labourers. According to sources, in many of the IADAs across the state, officials are not deducting the EPF of the labourers serving under them. The result is that despite putting over 30 years of service in many cases, poor labourers are not likely to get any retirement due. They have been bereft of the benefit of the schemes floated for them by the government. The IADAs where the EPF had not been deposited in the accounts of labourers include Mehatpur in Una district where there are 13 labourers, Kangra three labourers, Poanta in Nahan district seven labourers, Kullu two labourers, Bilaspur one and Baddi two labourers. Besides, the labourers working in the Tahliwal industrial area are also a harassed lot. According to documents available with The Tribune, the director, industries, in a letter issued on January 28, 1999, had stated that the government had regularised the services of all said labourers working in various IADAs. The government had also issued grant-in-aid of Rs 10 lakh to the said IADAs to meet additional expenditure of increased salaries of all employees. However, despite regularisation of service, no funds were either deducted or contributed towards provident fund of poor labourers. According to the PF Act, the IADA officials should have deducted at least 12 per cent of the basic pay paid to labourers and also contributed an equal amount to their account from the employer’s side. A portion of their salary should also have been sent towards ESI that would have created the provision of pension for labourers after retirement. As per the Act, it is the duty of the principal employee that, in the present case, are the chairmen of various IADAs. The principal employees of the IADAs can be held legally liable for not depositing the funds to PF accounts of labourers. Certain officials in the IADAs, while speaking on condition of anonymity, said the funds were not deposited in the accounts of labourers as it was not mandatory in case less than 20 labourers were employed by any organisation. However, according to sources, the condition of not deducting PF in case less than 20 labourers were employed was applicable to contractors or organisation carrying out temporary works of short durations. The affected labourers were now demanding that the government should compensate them in some form so that they could make a living after retirement. |
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Kingpin detained in medal theft case
Shimla, November 29 While Kirpal Singh was being interrogated, search is on to trace SP Chaudhary of Bassi Pathana who had signed as witness on the forged affidavit in which the accused had affirmed that he had received five medals, including the George Cross, from his wife Brahmi Devi as reward for services provided for looking after her. He had further stated that he gave the medal to one SL Jain of East Patel Nagar, Delhi, to be included in his antique collection. Interestingly, the affidavit had not been attested by any magistrate and thus carried no value. The police feels that it was improper on the part of the auction house to accept such document. The other affidavit stated that Brahmi Devi had gifted the medal to Kirpal Singh whose hobby was to collect such items. The thumb impression on it was mutilated and could not be deciphered, while witness Sita Devi did not exist. This document had also not been attested. Brahmi Devi has already termed the affidavit as fake and asserted that she never donated or sold the medal. Additional Director General of Police ID Bhandari confirmed that Kirpal Singh had been located and detained for questioning. If required, he would be arrested and brought to Shimla. “All evidence collected by the police, which conclusively proved that two affidavits were fake and fictitious documents, would be send to the Scotland Yard police and also the auction house with which the police authorities had established direct contact. The police is hopeful that the evidence will convince the auction house that the documents submitted were fake and the George Cross will not go under hammer,” he added. Retired IAS officer Shakti Singh Chandel, who first brought the issue to the notice of the government, wants the police to go deeper in the matter as this case could held bust the racket dealing in stolen war medals and other antiques. The George Cross in question could fetch upto Rs 50 lakh in the world antique market. The gallantry medal, awarded posthumously to Kirpa Ram of the 8th Battalion of 13th Frontier Force Rifles, was stolen in 2002 and Brahmi Devi, his widow, had lodged an FIR at the Bharai police station regarding the theft. |
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CPM flays Centre over affidavit in SC
Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 29 Accusing both the BJP and the Congress of undermining the state’s interests, the party, in a statement here today, pointed out that the hill state had been given a raw deal as evident from the fact that it had not been given its full share of power in the inter-state projects to which it was entitled under the Punjab Reorganisation Act as the successor state. Instead of 7.19 per cent share worked out on the basis of population ratio, it was only getting an ad- hoc share of 2.12 per cent and that too only in the BBMB projects. The state was not getting anything from other major projects like Dehar, Pong, Baira Siul and Thein dam. According to estimates, the total amount the state had been denied if 12 per cent free electricity and a share of 7.19 per cent is taken into account calculated retrospectively, upto March 2001, worked out to a whopping Rs 3,862.39 crore. Availability of such huge funds would end the financial crisis of the state. Member of state secretariat of the party Tikender Panwar said the state had to face a huge loss for the commissioned hydel projects which again was not being compensated. According to the Electricity Minister’s statement in the Vidhan Sabha, nearly 1 lakh hectare land up to 1980 had submerged because of construction of dams and canals under these projects. The net area under crop was 5,82,600 hectares out which 1,00,000 hectares, 15 per cent, had already submerged. It is in such a background that the CPM had demanded that the state should not only get 12 per cent free power, but should also have an equity of 25 per cent in all hydel projects. Incidentally, the state though had a large capacity of hydel generation, it had to buy 333.4 million units of electricity during the winter from outside to meet the demand. He alleged that the two cabinet ministers at the Centre from the state had been exposed as they failed to protect the interests of the state and its people.
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Irregular supply of fertilisers hits Himfed
Shimla, November 29 In fact, the supply of fertilisers is fast turning into a loss-incurring venture owing to irregular supply and uncertain weather which increase the inventory carrying cost substantially. For instance, during the current kharif season, the federation procured sufficient stocks of urea but only 60 per cent of the stock was lifted. The federation, which availed the cash credit limit for the purpose, paid Rs 3.32 crore as interest whereas the total income as handling charges came to just Rs 1.5 crore. Thus, it incurred a loss of almost Rs 2 crore. In case of other fertilisers, the supply was inadequate. In October, only 870 tonne was made available to the federation against the requirement of 5,000 tonne for the rabi sowing. The delayed supply will add to the financial woes of the federation as farmers will not lift the stocks after the sowing period is over. The meagre margin of Rs 235 per tonne, fixed almost two decades ago, also did not help the cause of the federation as it is not proving enough to even meet the inventory carrying costs. While the establishment costs and operational expenses are mounting, the income of the federation is not increasing in the same proportions, leading to a huge revenue gap. The overall deficit for the year 2008-09 came to Rs 2.37 crore and it is likely to go up further substantially this year on account of revision of salaries. The only way out is to provide government funds to meet the inventory carrying costs as has been done by state like Uttar Pradesh, which has given Rs 200 crore, and Uttarakhand (Rs 30 crore). Managing director of the federation MP Sood said the board of directors had decided not to pay arrears of Rs 2.10 crore on account of pay revision and dearness allowance (DA) till the financial situation improved. The federation was diversifying its activities. It had acquired the dealership of SAIL for the entire state and set up three steel yards at Parwanoo, Shimla and Mandi. It was handling the supply of tree spray oil of the IOC and trying to get the franchise for supply of lubricants. It had also ventured into supply seed and introduced hybrid rice seed for the first time in the state. The government had
declared the Himfed as the state warehousing agency and it will be able to create network
of storehouses for the FCI in the private-public partnership (PPP) mode.
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MLA flays Virbhadra for politicising flight service
Manali, November 29 He also criticised Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh for trying to get political mileage out of the emergency helicopter service to evacuate the stranded persons in Kullu and Lahaul valley. He was addressing mediapersons at the local circuit house here today. The MLA said when as many as 14 persons, on their way to Manali from Lahaul valley, were killed in high velocity winds and severe cold conditions and the rescue teams were busy evacuating the stranded persons on the Manali-Rohtang Pass road, Virbhadra Singh, instead of extending moral and
constructive support in the relief and rescue operation, tried to politicise the issue. The MLA further alleged that
whenever floods wreaked havoc, particularly in Kullu valley, the then Congress Chief Minister never rushed to know the wellbeing of the flood-affected
persons. He added that in 1995 floods, it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who reached Manali to take stock of the flood situation. He alleged that when Solang village was gutted in fire, the then Congress MP Pratibha Singh, inspite of being at Bhuntar, did not visit the fire-hit village. Thakur expressed his gratitude to Manali residents, local administration, rescue teams from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, taxi operators, Beopar Mandal and local NGOs for extending their support and co-operation to those stranded in Manali and those who escaped the tragedy on the Manali-Rohtang Pass. |
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Man held with 4 kg of charas
Solan, November 29 According to police officials, Om Prakash, who ran a bee-keeping business at Panipat, was asked by his partner to get some charas from Karsog in Mandi district. He was returning back to Panipat after procuring the contraband in the Rohru-Delhi bus which he boarded from Shimla around 1.00 pm last night. The Parwanoo police, which had laid a naka, arrested him during a search. A case under the NDPS Act had been registered and further investigations were underway. The charas was valued around Rs 4 lakh in the market and inquires revealed that this bus was being frequently used by smugglers to carry contraband outside Himachal. While the second such case had emerged in the past less than a week at Parwanoo, it is worth mentioning that since the state-owned HRTC was the lone service provider for long routes, they were being conveniently used for such nefarious activities. Police sources revealed that the contraband was usually procured from Mandi and Karsog area. The smugglers first entered Kullu district and later moved on to Hoshiarpur and Pathankot. They had, however, changed their route now and it was observed that smugglers travelled along Karsog-Ani-Rampur-Shimla and used NH-22 to transport it out of the state to avoid police detection. An analysis of the past several cases, registered under the NDPS Act, revealed that Rohru had emerged as a favourite destination where a network of charas smugglers was in existence. The fact that Om Prakash’s partner at Panipat had directed him to procure charas from Karsog, revealed the popularity of this contraband in the far-off Haryana. Interestingly, while smugglers boarded the late night HRTC buses travelling between Shimla-Delhi, not much police checking had been taking place en route Shimla-Solan where several police stations were located. This was evident from the lack of detection of such cases all along the route. The two cases, where more than 12 kg charas had been recovered in less than a week, were detected near Parwanoo. It was the lack of police checking earlier which had emboldened smugglers as was clear from the large quantity seizures. |
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‘Promote chief engineers’
Shimla, November 29 The issue was raised during a meeting with management of the board by the association which insisted that director-level posts in the state power corporation must be filled from among the serving chief engineer (electrical) to be selected from the panel of engineers, instead of calling for interview and it should be considered as cadre post of board which had 40 per cent equity participation in the company. General secretary of the association Suneel Grover claimed that the management assured that such recommendations would go from the board to the corporation after approval of the state government and effort would be made to fill the post falling vacant on November 30 filled in this manner. On issues like revision of delegation of financial powers, rationalisation of norms and material management, it was decided to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of secretary of the board which would submit its recommendations within a month. Regarding filling of vacant posts of senior executive engineers and superintending engineers, the management informed that some interim arrangements were being made to fill in view of status-quo ordered by the high court. However, it was agreed to fill vacant SE’s post immediately. It was further informed that the process for recruitment of 88 posts of assistant engineer had been started and the management also agreed to recruit at least 50 engineers every year henceforth. The association stressed the need of creation of posts of superintending engineer (protection) in the board as it was the only utility in the country, which did not have this important organ. Also the need for strengthening the SERC directorate and creation of director (training) was highlighted to which the management agreed. The management agreed that the demand for providing incentives to engineers working in power houses and in the state load despatch centre was genuine and assured that suitable decision regarding quantum of incentives would be taken shortly. |
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Crop insurance no attraction for hill farmers
Shimla, November 29 Addressing a press conference here recently, Managing Director and Chairman of UCO Bank, SK Goel, said it was surprising why the crop insurance scheme started for apple, tomato and mango as a pilot project had not caught the fancy of the state. “Even today most farmers in Himachal consider crop insurance an avoidable expenditure not realising that in case of calamities it can be a major help,” he regretted. He said as compared to crop insurance by almost 70 per cent farmers in other states, in Himachal the figure had barely touched 10 per cent. “It is probably adherence to old thinking and mindset that the scheme has failed to pick up, so there is need for more convincing the farmers that ultimately it is in their interest,” he opined. Goel said with all 12 districts of Himachal being declared drought-hit, the recovery of crop loans had been hit very badly. “The decline in recovery of loans is but a natural phenomenon when the farmers are hit by drought and in line with the RBI guidelines we have had to reschedule loans given to farmers,” he said. The general manger and convener of the state-level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), Ripan Murgai, said a meeting had been convened in the first week of December to assess the exact situation arising due to decline in the recovery of loans. “The MD of the two cooperative banks in Himachal have been directed to assess the situation and look for solutions so that recovery of loans can be improved,” he said. Goel said the situation arising out of drought had been discussed at the SLBC meeting. “In Himachal there is a good coordination between banks and the government and we are keen to finance major projects, including those in the hydro-power sector,” he said.
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Trekking camp organised
Dalhousie, November 29 GS Dhillon, director-cum-principal of Dalhousie Public School (DPS), was the chief guest at the valedictory function of this trekking camp. After giving away certificates to the trekkers, Dhillon advised the students to remain focused in life at this stage as there was no short cut to success. “Luck comes disguised in hard work, hence always believe in hard work and do not try for short cuts in life,” he said. He said he was very impressed by the guard of honour and the march past
by students. S Muthukrishnan, principal of the academy, said the school was recognised by Cambridge University and students took up the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). The school concentrates in the overall development of the student and this trekking was organised as a part of confidence building activity in the students,
he added. Students, who presented a folk dance of Tamil Nadu, included Prathme, Akila, Megna, Vanmathee, Parkavi, Mansa, Akshaya, Gayathri, Atulya, and Aishwarya. Dr Nanjil Kennedy, chairman of the school, presented a memento to Dr
Dhillon. |
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Patrolling intensified in Rohtang Pass area
Shimla, November 29 This step was taken following the death of 14 persons recently after they were caught in a snowstorm while crossing the pass, officials said. Teams based at Koksar, on the Lahaul-Spiti side, and at Marhi, on the Kullu-side, patrol every morning and evening to stop people from crossing and rescue those who despite warning attempt to cross the pass and get stuck, according to Narayan Dutt, in charge of the team at Koksar. Just days after November 20, when 14 labourers from Jharkhand died after getting caught in a snowstorm on Rohtang, a group of 21 persons, mostly locals of Lahaul-Spiti, set out to cross the pass. “When they insisted despite our warnings, we had no option but to get it in writing from them that they were doing so at their own risk and the district administration would not be held responsible for any casualty,” Dutt said. Kullu Superintendent of Police KK Indoria said little could be done except for giving strong warning to such people against crossing the pass in inclement weather conditions.
— PTI |
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State does brisk business in trade fair
Shimla, November 29 “During the IITF, Himachal Pradesh-based companies received orders worth
Rs 5 crore from dealers,” RR Patyal, director of the Himachal Pavilion, said in a
statement. As many as 15 leading companies, including Spice Digital, Sonalika Group, Skyline and Marksons, displayed their products during the IITF. He said 1.5 million people visited the Himachal Pavilion during the fare and the sale of products worth Rs 25 lakh was reported. “Products like shawls, herbal medicines, handicrafts, juices and tourism packages were much in demand,” Patyal said. The IITF concluded on Friday, drawing a mammoth 150,000 visitors on the last
day. — IANS |
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‘Increase retirement age’
Nurpur, November 29 Association’s state president PC Vishavkarma and general secretary Atul Vaid, in a joint statement here today, also raised a demand to enhance administrative allowance of school lecturers and education officers from Rs 300 to Rs 1,500 and grant 4-9-14 financial benefit under the Sixth Pay Commission. The association also demanded appointment of additional deputy directors in Mandi, Kangra and Shimla districts to ensure smooth inspection of government schools. The association leaders also underlined the need to appoint two deputy directors in small districts. They also demanded to give priority to school lecturers in appointments of deputy secretaries in the education
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7.28 lakh tonnes of foodgrain target
Shimla, November 29 Director of agriculture JC Rana said keeping in view the growing popularity of organic produce, the department had registered 15,040 farmers to bring 5,500 hectares under organic farming. It had organised 8,900 tonnes of improved seeds, 36,680 tonnes of fertilisers, 10 tonnes of bio-fertilisers, 50 tonnes of pesticides and 40,000 farm implements. To ensure quality 1,750 samples would be drawn and 62,500 soil samples would also be analysed to enable the farmers to make judicious use of fertilisers. He stressed the need to maximise production by adopting proper crop management practices right from preparation of fields to harvesting. He said the weather-based crop insurance scheme would continue during the rabi season for wheat and barley, for tomato in Solan district and potato in Kangra and Una districts.
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State reels under cold conditions
Shimla, November 29 Shimla recorded a minimum of 9°C and a maximum of 19.3°C, a bit higher as compared to yesterday's 17°C, officials from the Met office said. The lower hills registered a marginal rise in day temperatures in the absence of rain but still remained relatively chilly due to cold wind. Elsewhere in the state, Sundernagar recorded a day temperature of 17.3°C while it was 13.4°C in Kalpa in Kinnaur district. The Met office has forecast mainly dry weather in the lower hills while it may rain or snow in the higher reaches tomorrow, which is likely to bring down the temperature further Meanwhile, a report from Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti, said the 13,050 feet high Rohtang Pass, the only road link to the district which has been closed since November 9 due to untimely snowfall, could not be opened today. — PTI
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Teachers’ convention ends
Hamirpur, November 29 The convention also held its election for the state body in which YS Rana was once again elected as the president. The mahasangh decided to take up the cause of all teachers working in nursery school to university level. It also decided to raise the issue of anomalies in the pay scales of para teachers and assured them that the sangh was committed to fight for their demand of bringing their salaries at par with the contractual teachers. Rana said the mahasangh would take up the demands of vidya upasaks and teachers working in Balwari centres and would try to resolve the anomalies of salaries existing among different sections of the teaching community. |
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‘Relax LPG booking period’
Chamba, November 29 These organisations were of the view that since Himachal Pradesh, being hilly and cold for about five months from November to March, the restriction for booking of LPG refill cylinders after 21 days from previous delivery was not justified and such restriction should be relaxed forthwith. In their separate representations, these organisations urged the government to restructure the prevailing system of LPG refill booking in the wake of winter period in the state. |
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Dental implant facility
Shimla, November 29 Dr Ravinder Pal Singh, who, after undergoing a certificate course in Dental Implant from New York University, has started the facility. “The facility is available in the government sector now and patients don’t need to go to private sector for a tooth implant,” he said. He said the entire procedure, costing about Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000, would take about four months’ time. The expenditure on getting the procedure done in the private sector would be almost double, he added. “People who have a missing tooth or those who, due to weak bones, cannot take a denture, can gain from tooth implant,” he pointed out. The different stages involved include putting the implant, allowing the bone to heal, fixing the abutment and then placing the ceramic crown on it to complete the procedure. “My objective is to make people aware about the procedure of dental implant and its benefits and more importantly the fact that the facility is available in the government sector at a much lower cost,” he said.
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Five kiosks gutted
Manali, November 29 According to sources, these kiosks were occupied by Nepalese labourers - Maili (wife of Sanga), Suku (wife of Nisukum), Kanchi (wife of Kancha), Dhan Bahadur and
Sita Ram. According to fire station sources, the loss of property was estimated to be Rs 6 lakh. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained. Fire tenders from Manali rushed to the spot and helped extinguish the fire. Local MLA Govind Thakur visited the fire-hit place and met the victims. He directed private entrepreneurs to come forward to extend help to the victims.
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Official held for harassment
Solan, November 29 SDPO Sanjiv Lakhanpal said the woman had also complained that when she stopped him from acting immorally, he threatened her with dire consequences. The police has registered a case under Sections 354 and 506 of the IPC. The police revealed that initially the woman was very traumatised with the incident that she could not muster courage to speak against it but later she discussed the case with her husband and they decided to lodge a complaint. The woman revealed that he was alone when she visited his office and when she inquired about some inspection, the official tried to allure her that it would be done as per her wishes. It was then that he tried to outrage her modesty.
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Plea on board restructuring
Shimla, November 29 The issue was discussed at a meeting with the management on Thursday. The union drew attention to the victimisation of elected office-bearers who had been transferred in violation of the norms and demanded the cancellation of all such transfers. It also raised the issues pertaining to the secondment of board’s employees to the SJVN and the HPPCL, in which the board had 40 per cent equity. It expressed concern over the delay in providing appointments on compassionate ground to the dependents of deceased employees. |
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Liquor seized
Chamba, November 29 A case under the Excise Act has been registered at the Chamba Sadar police station, the sources said, adding that further investigations were in progress.
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