Dehradun, March 7
The forces of market economy are doing more than any movement or manifesto could do to propel women into joining the job sector.

Leading vibrant and secure lives, even specially abled women are slowly realising the merits of economic independence though jobs and a miniscule percentage is making its presence felt.

The story of three women workers with hearing and speech disorder who overcame their lack of communication skills to contribute to manufacturing the finest watches in the country at Dehradun’s Titan factory is a case in point. The fourth Shiwani Pundir works with the Water Works Department.

Despite their disorders, it is their precision and patience that adds an edge to the watches that are even exported.

Having joined Titan in the nineties, Parul Singh is an old hand who has put in 10-15 years of service.

“There were days when people responded with pity and that often left me unsettled. They still continue to do so, but now, I confidently shrug them off. The only problem I face is while communicating in sign language as no body understands it,” she said.

The biggest challenge for these special persons in India is to ensure that sign language gets its due and is made a compulsory subject in schools.

Even while their world is limited, yet they revel in strong bonds that they share with their colleagues. The urge to give their best allows these women to forget their disabilities and compete with their physically abled counterparts.

“I grabbed at the opportunities that came my way knowing fully well that my limitations were of a physical nature. Some day, I will run an independent enterprise that provides livelihood opportunities to my other sisters. The movement should spread,” said Ruchi Hemdan.

She also knows that it would be an onerous task to gather cash and then set up her own enterprise. “I don’t know about any organisation or private agency like banks that will willingly lend us loans, but it would be worth trying,” said Ruchi.

If happiness is an idea defined by an individual, then Meenu Talwar, a quality controller at Tanishq is a living example. Her job entails giving approval to jewellery pieces that adorn housewives to film stars.

“The exposure has been immensely rewarding. I have learnt to value money. A major portion of my earnings is put to productive use. I am also saving for a rainy day,” said Meenu Talwar, whose parents too are deaf and dumb, but did not leave any stone unturned to educate their daughter and make her independent. A movie buff, her spare time is spent helping others of her tribe learn the sign language.

Members of the Deaf Welfare Association, these women know that their voice can only be heard if they are organised, and the association gives them that kind of leverage.

In fact, Shiwani Pundir, who is also afflicted with hearing and speech disorder and works with the Water Works Department, has been spearheading the women’s chapter of the association.

“We meet every week to discuss issues that concern us. We can only be heard if we are united,” said Shiwani Pundir.

On International Women’s Day tomorrow, the only wish that these women want fulfilled is a bagful of opportunities for women and an inclusive society that allows all to live and prosper.

Mussoorie, March 7
As the world gears up for International Women’s Day on March 8, women of the country find themselves standing at crossroads with many of their problems remaining unsolved. Most women here feel that the road to freedom and social acceptance goes through empowerment.

According to Beena Bhardwaj, Principal, Vidya Global School, Meerut, and a resident of Mussoorie, the idea of an International Women’s Day arose at the turn of the century. This was a period in industrial expansion, booming population growth and radical ideologies.

On March 8, 1857, women working in clothing and textile factories (called garment workers) in New York staged a protest against the inhumane working conditions and low wages.

On March 8, 1908, women in large numbers marched through New York demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labour.

They adopted the slogan “Bread and Roses”, with bread symbolising economic security and roses a better quality of life.

From those early years, the International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women, said Beena Bhardwaj.

She felt that empowerment of women was essential for her success and that could be achieved through education and sheer determination.

Reminiscing, she said education played an important part in her life. She recalled that she had been a rebel in her childhood and had challenged men in every activity.

That’s how she learnt skating at the age of four. Her father, a keen sportsperson, took her to the rink at Kulri Bazar. Watching young men roll freely on wheels, she asked her father to get her a pair of skates.

As in those days, few women took up the game, she was the centre of attention at the arena.

Her male counterparts joked about her and remarked that she would never learn the tricks of the trade. But she surpassed the test and later became a renowned exponent of the sport.

At 15, she entered the competition in the men’s section. Ever since, she has won several accolades, including the state and national championship. She also represented the country at the international level.

After her primary education from Meerut, she completed her schooling from Waverly Convent School, Mussoorie Girls Inter College and graduation from MKP, Dehradun.

She also completed her MA in three subjects - political science, English and history. She cleared the central services exam in 1972, but did not join. She cleared her written exam in the next attempt too, but could not go for the interview due to illness.

Determined, Beena did not lose hope and joined Waverly Convent School, Mussoorie, as head of the English Department. She worked there for 10 years. She also worked in various schools at Chandigarh, Kalimpong, Bangkok and Indonesia.

Her most challenging assignment was as Senior Education Officer at the Women Teachers Training College, Nigeria, on the invitation of the government for four years. Despite the language barrier, she weathered the storm and completed the tenure.

After 40 years in the field of education, she opined that some progress had been made regarding the condition of women, but still some issues remain.

The major challenge still being faced by women is domestic violence, especially in rural areas. Gender bias and female infanticide are other major issues.

She asserted that all this could change with education, economic empowerment and sheer determination.

Instead of looking to men for help, women should armour themselves with the best of education and technology.

Beena also believes that women reservation in politics should not just be façade controlled by men from the back.

Women should be able to take her own decisions and freely voice her cause, then only reservation in politics for which a Bill is on the anvil would be justified.

Mussoorie Women Congress president Bharosi Rawat, however, felt that the Women Reservation Bill that has 33 per cent reservation for women would go a long way in changing the condition of women.

She said the Bill would ensure active participation of women in policy making. She said if women in large numbers voice their concerns in Parliament, they could force changes in policies for the benefit of womenfolk of the country.

She added that the Bill would make it easier for women to reach a vantage point from where they could raise and address their problems effectively.

Dehradun, March 7
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Chief Minster Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank extended greetings to women here today. He said since time immemorial, women had proved their potential in varied fields and contributed in the development of the nation.

Referring to the contribution of women in Uttarakhand, he said the role of women in getting Uttarakhand a separate status had been enormous. Special provision had been done to provide 50 per cent reservation in panchayats to enhance girl education and curb heinous acts of female foeticide.

Further discussing the future agendas in the field of women empowerment, he added that to felicitate women achievers in different arenas, the Tilu Rautali Scheme would be started very soon.

Meanwhile, Governor Margaret Alva also extended her greetings to the people of Uttarakhand and the country on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

In her message she said, “On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, I extend my greetings and felicitations to all my sisters in their continuing role and their relentless effort in shaping the destiny of the nation”.

She also said empowerment of women was the most effective tool for the development as well as poverty alleviation.

Dehradun, March 7
On the eve of International Women’s Day, the Uttaranchal Mahila Association (UMA) felicitated women achievers and organised a flower exhibition here today.

The function began with the lighting of the lamp in the presence of Agriculture Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, state Minister for Women and Child Vijaya Barthwal, president of State Women Commission Sushila Baluni and mandal manager SR Kumar as the chief guest. Following it was the Vande Matram song in the guidance of Sandhya Joshi.

Highlighting the meaning of Women’s Day, UMA president Sandhya Sharma asserted the need for a cooperative and congenial environment for their development. However, following the traditions since 2003, UMA felicitated 11 women from different fields for their contribution towards women and society.

Dr Vinita Gupta (medicine), Dr Meenakshi Uniyal (medicine), Madhu Makuri (social work), Komal Negi (journalism), Rakesh Dhawan (social work), Priya Gulati (journalism), Dr Indu Singh (education), Rani Arora (education), Neesha Sharma (education) and Daya Joshi (social work) were the awardees.

A colourful Garhwali dance, classical dance performances, prize distribution of flower exhibition, along with an annual report of UMA, was presented in the later hours of the programme.

Haridwar, March 7
Though for the Maha Kumbh, a special police force called the mela police is assigned the task of security and other arrangements, and the district police takes a back seat, yet the lack of coordination between the two has hampered several aspects of policing during the mega fair.

With Haridwar city coming in the mela police’s area and several police stations in the area belonging to the district police, it has been seen that the mela and district police personnel keep blaming each other when criminal activities take place.

To sort out their differences, Mela police DIG Alok Sharma has issued instructions to both units regarding Kumbh duty and the security setup.

The DIG has clearly stated that Kumbh duty is not only confined to the mela police only and it is the duty of the district police also to see that the mela passes off peacefully.

He has also directed the mela police to take necessary action if something happens outside the mela zone and not shun its responsibility citing that it was out of their mela territory.

“If any untoward incident happens near or outside the mela and district police purview, it doesn’t mean that they should be mute spectators. Take necessary steps. Later, the jurisdiction area can be solved,” he said.

On the huge inconvenience and restrictions imposed on the local public during the first Shahi Snan, the in charge stated that during the second Shahi Snan on March 15, a responsible and mature police officer would be placed at all traffic diversions to ensure that minimum altercation between the police and public happens.

Urging police personnel to be patient and cordial in dealing with pilgrims, locals, senior citizens and the media, DIG Alok Sharma said the mela administration is trying to ensure the problems of the first Shahi Snan are not repeated.

District police head Sanjay Gunjiyal has also assured full cooperation from his side to the mela police for the better management and control of mela crowds. SSP Gunjiyal has intensified night checking by putting up barriers at requisite points.

Meanwhile, the mela police felicitated constable Vimal Negi for his act of bravery at the mela area last week. Constable Negi saved several lives by putting away a live electricity wire which had dropped on the road from where thousands of people daily passed by.

The mela DIG gave him a cash award of Rs 2,500 and lauded his efforts saying such police personnel ensured that duty came first and eventually helped in the successful hosting of the Kumbh.

“I am elated at receiving the honour and this will propel me to work more assiduously to make the people of my state proud,” said Negi.

Dehradun, March 7
Following an old custom laid down by Guru Ram Rai, Mahant Devinder Dass dressed in traditional robes undertook parikrama of old areas of the city this morning. He was accompanied by a large number of pilgrims, tourists and locals. The parikarma is held a day after the flag-hoisting ceremony.

Starting at 9 am, the group passed through Jhanda Sahib, Khurbura, Prince Chowk, Bhandari Bagh and Matawala Bagh, covering a distance of 10 km.

A nagar kirtan was held at the Bindal Bridge.

“The practice was started by Guru Ram Rai, who took the round of the areas as though measuring his empire that was under his control. The tradition has been kept alive to this day, as whoever heads the seat takes a round of the town, mingling with people and accepting their greetings,” said VP Nautiyal, coordinator of Darbar Guru Ram Rai.

At the Clock Tower, a silver ‘mukut’ was presented to the Mahant by the Paltan Bazar Shopkeepers Association.

Before winding up, the group paid obeisance at the samadhi of Guru Ram Rai near Matawala Bagh.

Haridwar, March 7
With the Maha Kumbh in its third month, rituals and religious activities assuming a feverish pitch. With a week to go for the second Shahi Snan, three akhadas today hoisted their dharam dhwajas (holy flags).

Out of 13 akhadas, seven akhadas had already hoisted their dharam dhwajas before the first Shahi Snan on February 12. Now, it is the turn of the remaining six akhadas to do so.

Today, three Bairagi akhadas - namely Bairagi Digambar Arni Akhada, Nirmohi Arni Akhada and Nirwani Arni AKhada - jointly performed their flag-hoisting ritual at the Bairagideep camp.

From early morning itself, the atmosphere was enchanting and filled with religious fervour at the Bairagideep. Thousands of saints, devotees and tourists attended the ritual.

The auspicious time for hoisting the flags was 11 am and as soon as the dharam dhwajas were put in place, the whole area reverberated with religious chants.

For today’s flag-hoisting ceremony, puja and other rituals had started a few days earlier. At the Mata Chandi Devi Temple, rituals were performed and then all three akhadas conducted rituals in their akhadas.

According to Bairagi saint and Akhada Parishad chief Mahant Gyan Das, the dharam dhwaja ritual has a specific importance in the Bairagi tradition.

As most saints related with the three akhadas have reached the Kumbh area, today’s ritual wore a grand look.

After today’s ritual, for the first time at the Haridwar Kumbh, Bairagi akhadas will be taking out religious processions known as Peshwayi before the second Shahi Snan of Somwati Amawasya that falls on March 15.

With today’s functions, the Bada Akhada, Naya Akhada and Nirmal Akhada are left to perform their flag-affixing ritual and will also take out their Peshwayis.

Mussoorie, March 7
The Mussoorie Hotel Association (MHA) has planned to shut down their hotels and restaurants in the town if the government doesn’t roll back the hike in power tariff, VAT, luxury tax and bar licence in the state.

MHA president RN Mathur stated that the state government was bent upon destroying the tourism industry by levying exorbitant taxes, thus forcing the members to shut down their establishment beginning this summer season.

Mathur elaborating further informed that the hopes of the hotel industry were raised with the formation of the state that a barrage of development would be undertaken to support the tourism industry and Mussoorie would become a major hub. Huge projects like cable car and new tourism spots like Tehri Dam and Lakhamandal would be created, but the government had failed to do so till now, he said.

Speaking on the issue of luxury tax, Mathur said it was started by the then UP government in 1975 managed by the tourism ministry. It was decided that the industry would be charged under the slab of 3 per cent, 5 per cent and 7 per cent. After deliberations with the government it amended the laws in 1999 and Rs 1,000 minimum was charged that came to be 5 per cent, in which food was not included.

The association repeatedly has demanded that due to the increased cost of living, the limit should be raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500-3,000. The association also met Tourism Minister Madan Kaushik in this regard and he also assured them that he would consider the matter, but instead of that, the government had transferred the luxury tax compliance to the VAT Department.

The VAT Department was harassing the hoteliers by demanding records of the past three years going against their own norms, which was impossible to furnish as most of them were under the self-assessment scheme. Due to the lackadaisical approach and incapability of the Tourism Department, it had lost the right to collect luxury tax, thus leading to decrease in the tourist inflow in Mussoorie.

Apart from this, the town has not been connected through road transport with Haridwar and Chandigarh by introducing luxury state department buses.

MHA executive member GS Manchanda said the government had increased the power tariff under minimum consumer guarantee charge where a hotel was being forced to consume power despite low occupancy in the hotels.

MHA secretary Ajay Bhargav added further that on the one hand the government was providing subsidy to Haj pilgrims and on the other it was gifting them with additional burden of luxury tax during the Maha Kumbh.

Spokesperson MHA Sunny Sahni tabling the comparison charts with other states said firstly Uttarakhand received mostly pilgrim tourists with low-budget capacity in comparison to Goa which received highly affluent foreign tourists; secondly Goa and Himanchal are well-connected through luxury buses and frequency of chartered planes, whereas Uttarakhand is devoid of such connection.

Other states have more than 50 five/seven stars hotels and Uttarakhand has only two. In Goa, liquor licence is available within seven days of application at the fees of Rs 7,000 per annum, but in Uttarakhand the procedure of obtaining the licence was cumbersome and the fee amounting to Rs 4.5 lakh per annum.

He also stated that minimum wage structure of Uttarakhand was around Rs 3,598, whereas Himanchal had Rs 2,550 per month.

The MHA, in a letter addressed to CM Nishank, has demanded to increase the subsidy from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000; the rate of luxury tax should be kept at 5 per cent; Rs 5,000 per annum to be collected from low budget hotels, including the paying guest houses, which were not paying any tax as such; and a decrease in the rates of power tariff, water, excise and food similar to Himanchal.

The MHA members said in unison that if these demands were not met, then after a state-level meeting on March 11, they would be forced to shut down their hotels.

Nainital, March 7
The state government has decided to withdraw cases against 60 residents of the Betalghat area of Nainital district that had been registered during the staging of Ramlila in October 2007. The cases registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertained to a violent clash between two groups that had been followed by closure of the market and another round of skirmishes at the police station.

While 15 persons had been booked after being identified, cases had also been registered against 45 others. Following a public outburst, the matter had been given to the Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CBCID) of the state police. Right from the first day, public representatives had been pressing for the withdrawal of the cases.

Senior BJP leader Hem Arya, who was instrumental in getting the cases withdrawn at the level of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, told The Tribune, “The people of the area are relieved by the decision. While others were lining up for getting ‘lal battis’ (beacon lights) and ministerial ranks, I was striving to help the people out of their problems. There is a wave of joy and elation in the area following the decision”.

It is learnt that orders for withdrawal of cases have been given by office of Joint Commissioner (Home) JP Joshi. 

Dehradun, March 7
The UIT outplayed Govind Pant College by a solitary goal at the Uttarakhand Technical University Football Tournament underway at Maharana Pratap Sports College Premises here today.

The UIT team played aggressive football throughout the match. The team scored its first goal in the 8th minute through Sandeep to make it 1-0.

After the first goal in the match the UIT team created many scoring opportunities. It came close on scoring in the 14th minute of the match, but missed the bar by inches.

In the 18th minute, the team was on the move again but failed to score the goal. In the second half there was not much action from both the teams and the match ended with UIT winning it by solitary goal.

In the second match of the day, the DIT team defeated Quantum team by 4-0. It was N Malawa who opened the the account for DIT team in 3rd minute.

He came back to score his second goal in the 8th minute. It was Akshay for the DIT team who scored the third goal for the team in the 12th minute.

In the closing times Ayush came up with fourth goal for his team making it 4-0.

The day’s third match was played between Graphic Era and GRD Academy. Striker Gayol pumped in two goals in the 12th and 17th minute of the match to give his team an upper edge. Shashank scored the third goal for his side in the 21st minute making it 3-0. GRD team managed to reduce the lead by just one goal.

It was Pravesh for the GRD team who scored for the team in the 47th minute to make the final score 3-1.

While in another match, Dev Bhoomi Institute defeated Shivalik team by 2-1. First half did not see much action from both the side and the team score was 0-0.

But in the second half Dev Bhoomi team pumped two goals. It was Saurabh for the team in the 45th to make it 1-0.

The Shivalik team came back strongly to score an equaliser in the 52nd minute through Kunal. But Dev Bhoomi scored its second goal in the 83rd minute through Saurabh to make it 2-1. 

Dehradun, March 7
The Amba Club team defeated the Champ Club by 53 runs at Jitendra Anand Memorial Cricket Tournament underway at OFD Stadium here today.

Batting first, the Amba XI team piled 179 runs in 20 overs. It was Shudhir for the Amba XI team who paved the way for his team victory scoring runs at ease. He smashed the bowlers all over the ground to score 68 runs off just 22 balls. Another opener Bharat started strongly for the team and went on to make 12 runs off 6 balls. Radiya smashed 23 runs off 20 balls.

Lower order batsman Mahendra scored 14 runs off 7 balls. For Champ Club it was Kapil, Pankaj and Sumit who picked up two wickets each.

Chasing the victory target of 179 runs, the Champ Club got all out for 126 runs. The team had a poor start to the match failing to score runs at will, opener Gaurav scored 8 runs off 10 balls, whereas Madhur got out for a duck.

Sumit could only make 6 runs. Lower order batsman Pali and Rohit showed some resistance to help their team give some fight in the match. But once the batsmen returned to the pavilion none other batsman could occupy the crease for a long and the team was all out for 126 runs.

For the Amba Club team, Shudhir, Mahendra and Rodiya picked up two wickets each.