Dehradun, April 2
Studies place the occurrence of autism in India at approximately one in 500. There are only two standardised diagnostic tools used internationally and only a handful of experts who can diagnose autism, no wonder then, the problem remains undetected.

“The DSM-IV test is used to identify autistic children. We are yet to come up with our own version of the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) which can be used while issuing disability certificates for autistic children. At present, we have Western parameters and some psychologists use the two known international tools to diagnose autism,” said Saswati Singh, President, Inspiration.

In Uttarakhand where there is no official record of mentally challenged children, autism is only now beginning to receive desired attention and the survey under way, to be completed in June, is expected to come out with a comprehensive record.

Its goal is to bring out children, afflicted with various disabilities, in the remote areas of Uttarakhand. Children suffering from autism have impaired social interaction and their actions and activities may often be repetitive and restrictive.

Psychologists say that autism can be tackled better if schools begin offering services for autistic children. “As the Persons with Disability Act (PDA) does not mention autism, children do not get disability certificates and in that sense, they are at a disadvantage. Even if the Centre comes with recommendations, the states are not bound to follow them and we will have to wait for them to include similar provisions which is too much to expect,” said Saswati Singh.

The National Trust under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, and set up under the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act had recommended designing an India-specific scale.

“The separate test, if it comes into being, will go a long way in helping autistic kids attend regular schools. Schools are still hesitant to admit children with mental retardation and as autism is difficult to decipher, such tests, if accepted in the country, will allow children to be absorbed in regular schools,” said Madhu Maikhuri, Secretary, Gokul, an NGO.

To treat children, the role of parents is of utmost importance. Later, special educators and speech therapists can take over.

Experts opine that if detected early, an autistic child can respond to treatment and raises hope for him adjusting to society better.

Advocating inclusive education for them, Jo Chopra, founder of Karuna Vihar, emphasised on the need for making autistic children independent so that they adapt to societal needs.

Garur (Bageshwar), April 2
A temple complex, which is not only a delight for visiting pilgrims but also a treasure trove for researchers of history and archaeology, stands neglected on the outskirts of this booming township.

Popularly known as Baijnath temples, the complex that stands in the league of Jageshwar in Almora district, are crying for proper maintenance, publicity and prominence.

A small board at the roadside is perhaps the only indicator for a visitor on what route to take to reach the temple. The complex otherwise stands eclipsed by monstrous concrete buildings of all shapes and sizes on all sides. If a visitor misses the small signboard, there is no chance of his locating the temple complex.

For a tourist or pilgrim, what can be more painful than the revelation that out of 18 temples, he is able to see idols in only two. The rest of the idols are lying safely under lock and key.

If anyone wants to see the remaining idols, he has to take permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and it is only then that the lock to the room where the idols have been kept is opened.

“It is a pity that travellers like me are not able to see all gods and goddesses even after having spent so much time and money to come here,” said Debasis, a visitor from Malda in West Bengal.

Till a few days back, the complex was even devoid of power supply. It is learnt that the ASI has recently paid Rs 55,000 for restoration of the supply.

The complex stands well guarded by the personnel of a central paramilitary force to ensure that there is no damage done or pilferage from the complex.

The group of temples, popularly known as Baijnath, consists of main shrine of Lord Shiva with 17 subsidiary temples known as Kedaraeshwar, Lakshmi Narain and Brahmini Devi etc built in the Nagara style.

The main temple - Pancharatha - is on plan with a projected portico while the ‘shikhar’ of the temple had collapsed in the past. The prime attraction is the standing statue of Parvati made of grey schist with tresses of 26 miniature images around it.

On the basis of archaeological features, these temples can be assigned to the ninth to the 12th century AD. They were probably built by Katyuri rulers of ancient Kartikeypura.

When contacted, the Superintending Officer of the ASI at Dehradun, Dr DN Dimri, said that efforts were being made for the proper upkeep of the temple complex.

Accepting the problem pertaining to visitors being unable to view the idols, he said, “We need to have a museum for that. A proposal has already been sent. It is not only the problem in case of Baijnath. We are encountering similar problems in Lakha Mandal and Gopeshwar also.

Pitthoragarh, April 2
In ancient Sanskrit and Hindi literature, the description about a legendary tree called ‘kalp vriksh’ is quite common. Sanskrit poets like Kalidas and Bhas as well as some Puranic writers have mentioned that this tree is found in the Himalayas and drops of honey and butter come out from it when these are sought!

This honey-yielding tree called chiur can still be seen on steep slopes or cliffs at an altitude of 1,200 to 4,300 ft in the mid-Himalayas, particularly in Uttarakhand, Nepal and Bhutan. In Uttarakhand, this forest plant is cold chiur (aesandra buty racea butyracea).

“When the tree blossoms in October and November, it attracts honeybees and hence, helps locals cultivate honey on commercial lines. After the flower becomes the fruit, local people eat these due to its high content of sugar. In Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, these fruits are also sold in the market,” said Dr Narendra Kumar, District Horticulture Officer, Pitthoragarh.

“Not only fruits, but seeds of chiur are also very important in local diet. Localites take out these seeds and extract oil and ghee from these seeds. Before the introduction of market goods, this was the only substitute of oil to them,” said Shekhar Joshi, a resident of Doobash in the valley of the Kali river. Joshi added that the juice of fruit is also consumed by local villagers as it contains sugar.

Dr Narendra Kumar, who has done extensive research on the chiur tree, said, “Chiur seed contains about 60 to 75 per cent oil. Ghee from cow’s milk contains 64.5 per cent saturated fatty acid and chiur ghee has 60.2 per cent. Chiur ghee has 36 per cent mono-unsaturated fatty acid which is 27.2 per cent in cow ghee. Chiur ghee has 3.8 per cent poly-unsaturated fatty acid which is only 2 per cent in cow ghee.”

The local people in places where the chiur is widely grown use its leaves as fodder for cattle as well as disposable plates to be used during feasts.

“The wood of this tree is used as building material as it is solid and long-lasting and does not attract termites (white ants),” says Jeevan Chandra, a resident of Bilai village.

But this tree with immense economic possibilities is being neglected by the local governments in the Himalayan state.

“In our country where more than 30 to 40 per cent food oil is imported to fulfil the domestic demand, chiur ghee can do miracles as a 15-year-old chiur plant produces approximately 150 kg fruits, 14 kg seeds and 20 kg oil.

“It is estimated that if 100 chiur trees are planted today, these can give an output worth Rs 1.5 lakh in a year after 15 years,” said Dr Narendra Kumar quoting his study on the chiur plant.

“The chiur plant is mostly found in the Saryu and Kali valleys in Pitthoragarh district, mainly at Baluvakot, Gorihat and Seelbadhuli in Champawat where the local population is dependent on it for its oil and seasonal fruit,” said Devendera Oli, social worker at Khetikhan in Champawat district.

According to Dr Narendra Kumar, a tree similar to chiur in the plains is called mahua, the fruit pulp of which is used in making high-quality local wine by tribal people.

Dehradun, April 2
One lakh children in Uttarakhand are without education. Though it will take some time before the state government comes with its own Right to Education Act, the state Education Department’s focus will be on persuading parents of these children to send their wards to schools.

Despite the fact that the focus of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for the past eight years was to universalise education and increase enrolment, there are at least one lakh children who don’t go to schools. “The government of India puts the figure at 56,000 while the SSA pegs it at 8,000. But, these are only conservative estimates. My assessment is that there are at least one lakh children who are without education. It is a mockery of the abhiyan that we have not been able to target children living in slums or those of migrant labourers who work at brick-kilns and on river beds,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar, Secretary, Education.

Essentially, the Muskaan pilot project underway in Nainital, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar under the SSA to educate children of migrant labourers will be spread to more districts of the state where there are slums, brick-kilns and riverbeds.

The programme is aimed at giving children of migrant labourers from eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh who take up quarrying activities at the site of the Gaula river of Nainital district access to education. The project was started in 2006.

Besides, in the pipe line are plans to replicate the pilot project at riverbeds of Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Haridwar and Dehradun. Altogether 5,000 children are expected to get benefit for which a sum of Rs 1.5 crore has already been sanctioned and 41 centres will be established. In Dehradun, the project is already underway at the Song riverbed and 350 children are enrolled in the programme. In all 7,000 children are enrolled at Muskan centres.

“Education is the only equaliser. We cannot deny education to children of migrant labourers who move from state to state in search of labour. We will be fulfilling the goal of Universal Elementary Education (UEE) that continues to remain elusive as the number of children, particularly those from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections, who do not join schools due to economic reasons continues to be very large. We have to bring the hidden children out and provide them education and then mainstream them,” said Dr Kumar. There are around 250 brick-kilns, 30-40 riverbeds where children of migrant labourers live.

The state government will also be roping in private schools so that 25 per cent of the seats are allocated for children from weaker sections of society. A state-level committee has been created headed by the Additional Secretary (Education) and members of the Education Department to look into the implementation of the Right to Education.

“An orientation workshop will be held for district officers in April and Rs 338 crore would be required for implementing the Right to Education Bill in the state, according to the findings of a study carried by an independent group. But, nothing has been concretised and modalities regarding the percentage shares of the state and Central governments are yet to be worked out,” said Radhika Jha, Additional Secretary, Basic Education and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.

Haldwani, April 2
Even as the government has taken a major step in providing education to all by announcing the Right to Education (RTE) Act, women deployed in cooking mid-day meals in schools have taken to the streets demanding a better allowance that can help them make both ends meet.

Popularly known as “Bhojan Matas”, these women sat on a dharna in Ramnagar on Thursday and handed over a memorandum to the local authorities, which was addressed to Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank.

These women are demanding regularisation of their jobs, besides being paid minimum wages. These women gathered under the banner of the Bhojan Mata Sangathan and marched through various schools of the town and then sat on a dharna.

They charged the government for trying to do away with the women who have been deployed on the job for a substantial period of time.

A similar protest was also carried out in Kaladhungi by a large number of women. Supporting their cause, state in charge of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Raja Bahuguna extended the support of his organisation to the agitation being launched by the women. He said these women must be paid as per the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act.

Dehradun, April 2
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Blood Bank is organising “Rakt-Pravah 2010”, a conference on Total Quality Management in Transfusion Services, on April 3 and 4, aided by Sir Ratan Trust in association with Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Society, NABH, Roche Diagnostic and Bio Rad.

Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Alok Ahuja, Organising chairman, said a group of eminent doctors and speakers would be participating in the conference giving their input on “Total Quality Management in Transfusion Services”.

“Three workshops have been planned for doctors, technicians and motivators on the two-day programme,” he said.

Dr Prashant Agarwal, Associate Professor, Department of Transfusion Medicine of SGPGIMS, Lucknow, Dr RR Sharma, Associate Professor Department of Transfusion Medicine, PGI, Chandigarh and Dr RN Makroo, HoD of Transfusion of Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital among others would be the main speakers.

“Simultaneously, a workshop for technicians that will deal with quality control aspect on blood banking donor and blood component production will be held for technicians at the IMA bank,” said VS Bhardwaj, manager social marketing, IMA Blood Bank.

Mussoorie, April 2
In a seminar held at a hotel in Mussoorie on the issue of “tourism promotion, awareness and preservation in the state, chief guest on the occasion former professor of DAV, Dehradun and historian Vijay Pal Rawat said the tourism could be promoted in the state only when the heritage buildings were preserved and not demolished. He further opined out that the demolition of Heritage Clock Tower in Mussoorie was unfortunate and the Palika instead should have made efforts to preserve the structure.

The seminar was organised by “Uttarakhand Paryatan and Teerthatan Sarakshan Samiti”, an organisation working to preserve and promote the heritage of the state and bring it on the tourist map of the country. Another invited guest Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola said the government should form an effective tourism policy linking towns and cities with villages so that benefit of the tourism industry accrued at the rural level too. He further said Mussoorie was a centrally located for the promotion of religious and adventure tourism, hence it should be developed as a major hub. He also said, “Basic amenities like drinking water and electricity are important aspect if we want to increase tourism in the state.

Earlier, Gunsola felicitated the guest speakers by presenting the shawl on the occasion. The seminar was presided over by Dr Hari Dutt Shailesh, who also said the Uttarakhand had the rich heritage in terms of religious and historical tourism and it was time that we should preserve, cherish and promote it in a tourism form. Rajendar Rawat, Bharosi Rawat, Sarojini Kaintura, Shailendar Bisht and others were present on the occasion. The seminar was coordinated by Kamal Bhandari.

Haridwar, April 2
The strike by the Gurukul Kangri University staff over the withdrawal of deemed status entered its 38thday today.

University teachers, students and non-teaching employees today sat on dharna demanding instant steps by the Central government to restore the university’s status.

A ‘hawan’ and ‘yagya’ were held early morning under the guidance of Dr Ved Prakash Shastri. As many as five agitators - Prof Dinesh Bhatt, Dr Jaspal Singh, Ashish Sharma, Sushil Kumar, Hemant Negi - observed a fast today as a mark of protest.

Now, the Gurukul University is demanding the coveted central university status for the century-old institution.

Dr Mahaveer Aggarwal, chief of the Uttarakhand Sanskrit Academy, termed the university as a training ground for freedom fighters and ideal students who by their character and ideals gave direction to society and the country.

Teaching as well as non-teaching staff members also lend their support to the agitation. Among others who were present at the agitation spot were Dr Pradeep Joshi, Kamal Singh, Sompal Singh, Shashi Kant Sharma, Mahavir Yadav, Prof Sharavan Kumar, Ambush Sharma, Narendra Singh, Yashpal Singh Rana, Bijendra Pant, Manoj Negi, Vijendra Singh, Prem Niwas Gupta, Dr Raj Kumar Arya and Satya Prasad Bhatt.

Haridwar, April 2
Fast-paced lifestyle has given more and more people mental stress and made every other home a hub of problems. The need of the hour is to be at peace internally which is the solution of a majority of mental ailments.

This was stated Rajyog Centre’s Brahm Kumari Vijay Behan from Jind, Haryana, at a programme in the Neeldhara camp in Haridwar.

Pointing out that a whopping 92 per cent of diseases emanate from mental tension and unrest, the Brahm Kumari said due to this unrest people were getting afflicted with diseases easily and were thus inviting more trouble for society as a whole.

She also stated that the urge to be in power had also resulted in aggravation of unrest while science and modern technology only adding to this problem.

“History itself states that about three-fourths of the war has been due to greed and power. In present time, nuclear and sophisticated weapons have only added to tension and unrest due to which man is not able to even sleep,” she added.

She lauded the efforts of Brahm Kumari University in promoting spiritual knowledge and easing tension among people.

Speaking at a seminar, she said God was the only thing which was everlasting while luxury items existed momentarily.

Lauding the efforts of Brahm Kumari’s, Swami Rameshwar Shastri said the way they had been giving a new direction to society would continue so in the future too.

Among other who spoke on the occasion were Dr Swami Shashwata Nand Giri of Panchayati Akhada, Shri Niranjani, Mahant of the Sindhi community, Dr Swami Gangadas Udasing among others.

Dehradun, April 2
Buoyed by a brilliant century by Prateek Pawar (130), Gush Academy Delhi scored an easy win over ICL Haryana in the 3rd All-India Uttarakhand Cup held on the Rangers Ground here today.

He scored 130 runs in just 108 balls and was the mainstay of the innings of Gush Academy. He smashed a six and reached the fence 17 times during his knock.

Pawar was well supported by Ankur Julka (66) who struck two sixes and five boundaries. With this batting performance, Gush Academy mounted a huge total of 308 runs in 40 overs losing eight wickets.

Vicky took the most wickets for ICL. He captured four wickets giving away 47 runs in eight overs. While Mohit took two, Vipul Chadha and Amardeep got a wicket each.

Facing a mammoth target, ICL couldn’t match their rivals. Though Amardeep (41) and Vishal (46) started their campaign well, they couldn’t convert their individual scores into big numbers.

The team was packed off for just 208 runs in 37.4 overs. Bharti Awasthi scalped three wickets, the most of their side, while Varun Khanna took two wickets. Shoaib Prasad, Mohit Mahendra, Dhruv Singh and Gurpreet Singh chipped in with one wicket each.

Dehradun, April 2
19th Garhwal Rifle posted a 1-0 win over Cantt Blues through Lalit Singh here today during the second BS Negi Memorial Football Tournament being played at the Dr BR Ambedkar Stadium.

Lalit struck in the 20th minute of the game to become the only scorer of the match. Even while other players of both sides put in their utmost to score a goal, all attempts were foiled.

Midfielder Saurabh Thapa of Cantt Blues was declared the Man of the Match.

In another match, Doon Star beat DFA Chamoli 4-2 in a tiebreaker. Both teams played a goalless match.

For Doon Star, Tenzing, Ajay Chauhan and Khunchuk found the net in the tiebreaker while Mohit’s hit was defended by the DFA goalkeeper.

KC and Manoj Rawat scored a goal for DFA, but Sumit and Ashish couldn’t convert their chances into goals.

Goalkeeper Bisht of the losing side was declared the Man of the Match.