The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Experts fear rise in H1N1 cases
Dehradun, December 9
With the onset of second phase of the H1N1 influenza, cases of people falling prey to the deadly disease may further rise.

Training programme for panchayats begins
Dehradun, December 9
To impart knowledge, information and implement skills regarding the social welfare schemes, a two-day training programme for gram panchayats of development block, Raipur, began here today.

Bio-metric bank cards for customers in remote areas
Nainital, December 9
Almora Kshetriya Gramin Bank has started providing its customers from remote parts of the region with the facility of bio-metric cards. The latest village to join the ranks of those having the facility to help people undertake money transaction through bio-metric cards is Dholigaon.

Dealer shot in Roorkee
Roorkee, December 9
In the case pertaining to yesterday’s murder of a local businessman, the police is still groping in the dark to ascertain the identity of the murderers.

Highest SAP for Cane
BKU’s Tikait compliments Nishank
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Mahendra Singh Tikait during a meeting with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in Dehradun on Wednesday Dehradun, December 9
Mahendra Singh Tikait, leader of the BKU, today met Uttarakhand CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and complimented him for announcing the highest SAP of sugarcane. The Chief Minister reiterated his resolve to work for the benefit of sugarcane farmers, sugarcane cooperative societies as well as the sugar mills for the overall development of the state.
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Mahendra Singh Tikait during a meeting with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Ramlila Maidan Row
Bureaucracy under fire
Nainital, December 9
The issue pertaining to ruckus being created by Hindutva organisations over giving the Ramlila grounds at Haldwani for marriage purposes to a person from the Muslim community continues to simmer with the bureaucracy coming under fire from various quarters for bowing to the pressure created by these organisations.

Eco-rally taken out
A rally on conservation of the environment being taken out in Dehradun on Wednesday Dehradun, December 9
On the occasion of the foundation day of the nagar nigam, a rally on environment conservation was organised here today. Members of UK-AID organisation along with officials of the nigam participated in large numbers and talked about of importance of forest conservation, use of biodegradable items and other environment friendly products.
A rally on conservation of the environment being taken out in Dehradun on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Anil P Rawat

	Chamoli hits back Tribune News Service Dehradun, December 9 Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli today dismissed Congress’ charge that a little has been done by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation board towards adding necessary civic amenities in the city. A day after Congress councillors squarely blamed the BJP and the Mayor in particular for failing to contribute much towards bettering civic amenities in Dehradun, Chamoli claimed that the present board had worked convincingly and has so far exceeded the volume of works done by previous board. Putting before mediapersons some of achievements of the present Dehradun Municipal Corporation board, Chamoli said the long-pending self-tax assessment policy came for implementation while benefits linked to JNNURM were brought to shape. Redressing the problems linked to spread of cow dung by the dairies, hiking benefits provided to members of sanitation committees, installation of street lights, cycle rickshaw and issues such as construction of fly over in Bhandaribagh were taken up in priority by the board. He said the problem due to a lack of space for burial for the Muslims was finally taken care of with the incumbent board allotting 15 bighas for a burial ground and Rs 10 lakh for constructing a boundary wall around it. Stating that city’s importance has increase manifold under the present board with the city getting distinction of being selected for counter magnet city and the solar city projects. Taking a dig at the Congress, Chamoli said the previous Congress majority board proved least sensitive towards the concerns of civic issues. He said the previous board had shown least concern to development and had only resorted to act that lowered the dignity of the House. He said it had been solely due to the BJP that the corporation had started celebrating Foundation Day of the state, which was never in practise during five years of the previous Congress majority board.
	Cong workers celebrate Sonia’s birthday Tribune News Service Haridwar, December 9 After getting a huge success in the last parliamentary elections in Uttarakhand wherein the Congress had a clean sweep in all five parliamentary segments of state, now the party is focusing on the state assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2012. Haridwar district unit of the party today vowed to win all the assembly segments falling in the district on the occasion of Congress chief and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s 63rd birthday. Congress activist held various functions in the district praying for the longevity of Sonia. The major function was organised at Ranipur, near Chandracharya Chowk, where participants garlanded the portrait of Sonia and cut a cake and distributed pastries. City unit chief OP Chauhan highlighted the role of Sonia in the back-to-back success of the UPA at the Centre and said her vision and hard work were the qualities which every Congress worker should follow. Uttarakhand women commission former chief Santosh Chauhan termed Sonia as an epitome of sacrifice, patriotism, visionary and a complete stateswomen. “She has put India on road to prosperity and world is recognising our potential and the place we deserved in global forum whether it be political, defence, economic or culture,” said Chauhan. Youth Congress activists celebrated the day by distributing fruits among patients at hospitals and poor people living in slums. Led by Youth Congress Haridwar chief Ravish Bhatija, youth workers had gathered the amount voluntarily for this purpose.
	Experts fear rise in H1N1 cases Tribune News Service Dehradun, December 9 With the onset of second phase of the H1N1 influenza, cases of people falling prey to the deadly disease may further rise. Epidemiologists fear that more than the winter conditions the lifestyle pattern that people follow to protect themselves from the chill indirectly supports the spread of virus. People begin to remain indoors frequently, shutting windows and doors in extreme winter conditions. It makes the ground fertile for the spread of the virus. “As the virus spreads through air and personal contact which increases in the winter months, chances of the number of cases increasing after a brief lull are high. You will find people sharing quilts at home and even in the market place they can be seen huddled together near a bonfire. It is in these situations that the virus spreads quickly. It is difficult to ensure that the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines of maintaining a distance of one metre is implemented voluntarily,” said Dr Pankaj Jain, nodal officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP). Adding that the community surveillance to detect clusters of the illness are important, in many instances people do not undertake adequate precautions. “We have been repeatedly telling patients to immediately report at the designated health facilities as soon as they experience H1N1 influenza-like symptoms but they seldom do. Even after reporting for tests they do not curtail their activities, as a result in case of a positive test the virus has chances of spreading to others,” said Dr CP Arya, DG (acting), Health. According to the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), the flu will start retreating only after it spreads among at least 50-60 per cent of the population. In the latest guidelines, WHO officials said anti-viral medicines could prevent the onset of severe disease from H1N1 and should be given when patients complain of fever. Meanwhile, with the Kumbh Mela drawing nearer, knowing fully well that they cannot restrict the entry of pilgrims nor dictate terms to them as religious sentiments are involved, the state government is seeking cooperation from other states to spread awareness about the hazards of undertaking a pilgrimage when not of sound health. “This is the only way out. We cannot force states to issue fitness certificates as the pilgrimage is not like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. What we can hope is that people on their own volition do not undertake the long pilgrimage, in case they are not well,” stressed Dr Arya.
	Training programme for panchayats begins Dehradun, December 9 To impart knowledge, information and implement skills regarding the social welfare schemes, a two-day training programme for gram panchayats of development block, Raipur, began here today. The programme was inaugurated at the Raipur auditorium by zila panchayat president Madhu Chauhan and MLA Ganesh Joshi. Chauhan said, “As there is no fixed age and time to learn, it’s very essential that for the benefit of the people and villages gram panchayats should learn the nuisances of social welfare schemes. As 60 per cent of the population of our country was dependent on agriculture and were residing in villages, its very important that schemes for villagers were implemented well. — TNS
	Bio-metric bank cards for customers in remote areas Tribune News Service Nainital, December 9 Almora Kshetriya Gramin Bank has started providing its customers from remote parts of the region with the facility of bio-metric cards. The latest village to join the ranks of those having the facility to help people undertake money transaction through bio-metric cards is Dholigaon. According to a spokesperson of the bank, the card has the photograph and the thumb impression of the customer and he does not have to rush to a branch for a transaction. All he has to do is to approach a machine that would identify his thumb impression and help him withdraw and deposit money by following a simple procedure. The machine provides him with an instant receipt for the transaction done. President of the bank RK Gupta has offered the facility to the state government for disbursing old-age and widow pensions, scholarships and even wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) through bio-metric cards. According to him, this scheme will help in bringing bank customers residing in remote areas into the main stream of Indian banking.
	Dealer shot in Roorkee Akash Ghai Tribune News Service Roorkee, December 9 In the case pertaining to yesterday’s murder of a local businessman, the police is still groping in the dark to ascertain the identity of the murderers. The businessman, Navin Jindal, who was a dealer of electrical appliances’ company in the Civil Lines market, was shot dead by unidentified criminals around 9.30 pm near his house at Solanipuram here. Jindal, who died on the spot after being hit by four shots from behind, was returning from his shop. Though the police claimed to have detained certain criminals of the area, including Chinu Pandit, in this connection, it is clueless even about the number of the miscreants involved in the crime. “The police has no eyewitnesses so far. Even in the FIR, the brother of the victim, Pankaj Jindal, or neighbours could not tell about any details of the criminals,” said Ajay Joshi, SP (Rural). Chinu Pandit is a notorious extortionist of the region. However, the police officer claimed that it did not seem to be a case of extortion. One of Pandit’s gang members Sushil Rathi had threatened Pankaj (Navin’s younger brother) with dire consequences two years ago, following which the police had provided him security. “Pankaj had asked to withdraw the security man around four months ago. “If it were a case of extortion, the gang members should have contacted the family instead of attacking the victim. But, we are not ruling out any possibility,” said the SP. Last night, Navin (42) was returning from his shop on his bike when he was attacked by the miscreants. The criminals, who the police thinks might have followed the victim from his shop, pumped four bullets into to Navin from behind by two firearms just near his house. Immediately Navin’s wife Payal and Pankaj came out of the house and took him to a local clinic where Navin was declared brought dead. Meanwhile, the murder created a panic among traders as well as the local residents. The police has registered a case at the Civil Lines police station here. Another under-trial escapes Dehradun: In a second such incident in less than a month, an under trial fled from the police custody this morning as he managed to dodge cops at Pathri, near Haridwar railway station, while he was being taken back to Dehradun after a trial in a case from Haldwani in a train. He had allegedly asked the cops to go to attend the call of nature. But, at the time of washing his hands, he jumped from the moving train, which had just started off. The undertrial was lodged in the Dehradun jail and was taken to Agra for a trial. After coming from Agra, the police took him for another trial in Haldwani. The criminal Shakeel was allegedly the leader of the Kalu gang and several cases of theft and robbery were registered against him in Dehradun. Meanwhile, the three cops, who were accompanying the criminal, were suspended. They are head constable Gopal, constable (armed police) Manoj and constable (armed police) Tosibh. A few weeks ago, another under trial fled from the police net while he was being taken for a trial in Uttar Pradesh. The Dehradun SSP had suspended the three cops and ordered an inquiry. Travel agent nabbed Dehradun: The police caught a travel agent who had duped people of lakhs of rupees on the promise of sending them abroad and was absconding since 2007. The police caught him at Bijnore after a tip-off and brought him to the city today. The suspect Achal was booked in several fraud cases in Dehradun. There was also a reward of Rs 1,000 for anyone giving information regarding him.

Ramlila Maidan Row
Bureaucracy under fire
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 9
The issue pertaining to ruckus being created by Hindutva organisations over giving the Ramlila grounds at Haldwani for marriage purposes to a person from the Muslim community continues to simmer with the bureaucracy coming under fire from various quarters for bowing to the pressure created by these organisations.

Buckling under the pressure, the district administration at Nainital had attached Haldwani Tehsildar Sunder Singh to the district headquarters on Monday.

It is being pointed out that even if he was technically at fault, the message that his attachment is a result of the agitation by the Hindutva organisations should not have gone out.

Critics say he could have been dealt with in some other manner. Adding fuel to the fire, activists of the Hindutva organisations went ahead with the purification of the Ramlila grounds by having a pooja and sprinkling the Ganga water over there.

Talking to The Tribune, former minister and senior Congress leader Indira Hridayesh said: “The bureaucracy has just become weak and is yielding to such demands. Throughout my experience, even during the time when Uttarakhand was a part of Uttar Pradesh, such things were never allowed”.

In a very guarded manner, she said young officials do make mistakes and the best thing in such a scenario would have been to bring responsible people from different faiths together and solve the matter through a dialogue.

Leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Bahadur Jangi was severely critical of the act of the Hindutva organisations.

“Where lies the harm if a marriage of a person from a minority community got solemnised there? Are we not a secular democracy? These organisations with a fascist outlook are always looking for an opportunity to foment communal trouble. We condemn such acts and people believing in the secular principles should do the same.”

Even smaller civil society organisations like Ramnagar-based Krantikari Lok Adhikar Sangathan have reportedly condemned the act of Hindutva organisations and have sought the reinstatement of the Tehsildar at the same place.

District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli, while confirming the attachment of Sunder Singh, said on Monday: “It was found that the matter at hands was sensitive in nature and Sunday being December 6 (the anniversary of Babri Mosque demolition) there was all the more need to be cautious. In addition to this there was also violation of bylaws pertaining to the Ramlila Maidan”.

Haldwani had witnessed unsavoury scenes on Sunday night as people from Hindutva organisations protested against the decision of the Tehsildar to give the ground for the marriage purpose to a Muslim. The Tehsildar was the official receiver on behalf of the Ramlila Committee which governs the ground.