|
|
|
|
Bharat Bandh: Little impact in U’khand Helping hand eludes this philanthropist
|
|
|
Tribune Impact
Industrialists, wildlife experts dwell on biodiversity conservation
English debate contest ends
Tata House to adopt a species for conservation
BHEL employees get health awards
Medical students stage dharna
5th Introductory Eco Seminar held
People getting influenced by Maoist ideology, says IG
RIMC hockey: Chandragupta beat Pratap among seniors
Alok takes Ordnance Factory into final
St Thomas’ School eves win
Gypsy Young trample Yankees
YPS, MNSS cagers on winning streak
Unison School hold Guru Nanak Academy
Kailash Mansarovar project to begin after 18 months: Expert
Kumaon opposes proposal to change yatra route
|
|
Bharat Bandh: Little impact in U’khand
Dehradun, April 27 The bandh was by and large peaceful with some pockets of the state observing a closure. Apart from Dehradun, institutions were closed in Joshimath township in Chamoli and parts of Uttarkashi and Rishikesh areas. In the state capital, skirmishes did take place between bandh supporters and the police leading to injuries to one person. The police had to resort to mild lathicharge at the Inter-State Bus Terminus at Dehradun when bandh supporters tried to force closure of shops. The police also arrested two bandh supporters. The Samajwadi Party, a prominent constituent of the conglomerate that announced the bandh today, described the Bharat Bandh in Uttarakhand as historic. “There were apprehensions among many that the Samajwadi Party could ensure a bandh in the state, but on the contrary, the bandh has been highly successful,” Vinod Barthwal, state Samajwadi Party leader, pointed out, who led the bandh supporters. He said the message that the Centre was doing great injustice to people by fuelling inflation has been conveyed. Echoing similar sentiments, Communist Party of India leader Samar Bhandari, while claiming that the bandh in the state had commendable impact, expressed gratitude to the general public for their support. “Despite the Left or Samajwadi Party or even other parties backing the bandh have no legislator in the state Assembly, the bandh has received full support of the people,” Bhandari said. He said like other parts of the country, people in Uttarakhand too had been affected by rising inflation. Vijay Rawat, Jeet Singh,
|
||
|
Helping hand eludes this philanthropist
Dehradun, April 27 Azad runs the school for slum kids who cannot afford to get admission in schools. The vidhyapeeth is located at a far-off but serene place of Nalapani, Dehradun. Azad, follower of Indian hero Bhagat Singh, was born and brought up in Delhi, but basically hails from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The 40-year-old protagonist is a social worker by profession and runs two educational institutes in Dehradun. Talking about his love for kids, Azad said: “This tryst with slum kids began when I came to Dehradun in 1985. I often had acquaintance with kids from slums that struggled hard to continue their study or even visit schools like others. Their desires nagged me to do something for them”. Asahay Balak Vidhyapeeth, located adjacent to the Rajkiya Balika Prathmik Kendra, is deprived of all basic educational amenities that government schools are getting. The school depicts the apathy of state education board as well as of the administration that is falling incapable in rendering basic education system to the children whose parents are striving hard throughout the day to earn two square meals. No boundary walls, no toilets, no source of potable water in the school indicate the lack of concern of the administration in the state capital. Children are taught in one small classroom, with their meals being cooked in the same room. The noble idea of teaching slum kids is not that easy as Azad thought of it earlier. Purchasing stationeries, stuffs for mid-day meal or paying salaries to its staff are giving worries to him. He is still to pay bills worth Rs 16,000 of a shopkeeper from whom he buys rations for the mid-day meal. Azad is the man who doesn’t want to live an ordinary life but has the utmost desire to see every child around him to be educated. He wants more and more downtrodden kids to head towards the primary schools. Azad also faced many problems in motivating the parents of kids from slums to send them to him for studies. But, he never lost his patience and the result is that as on date there are around 53 slum kids who come to him daily. A majority of the children come just to have a time of meal along with their siblings. According to Raju, a 10-year-old kid from Chuna Bhatta, who used to work as a ragpicker, said: “After joining the school, I have learnt to write my name in English and Hindi and now I can count till 100. Sometimes I go for rag-picking when my parents say but somehow liking the life, which has improved. Master ji teaches us lessons, gives us football to play, shoes and one time good meal to us”. Azad says he is unable to pay six months’ salaries to the teachers and the cook, but has the satisfaction to make at least 53 children read and write. The children are able enough to work as literate labourers, but will never beg for alms in future. He is working with zeal to serve humanity and hopes to receive better aid in supporting education system after the implementation of the RTE Act to turn children’s dreams into reality.
|
|
Tribune Impact
Haridwar, April 27 The officer in a surprised inspection visited these camp areas and ordered health and sanitation officers to get all garbage and filth cleared in the areas. He even lashed out at the Chief Mela Health Officer for not paying attention to the woes of local people. On his impromptu visit at the above-mentioned areas, he found heaps of garbage and uncovered temporary toilets giving an open invitation to diseases and epidemic. A furious Vardhan even went to the extent of warning the health officers that until they took necessary action to improve the sanitary condition in those areas, they would not be relieved of Kumbh duty. “Don’t think that the Kumbh gets over in a few days and so one can get lenient. No laxity will be allowed and till the whole Kumbh area gets cleaned, you will not be relieved of Kumbh duty,” he said. Vardhan ordered that on a priority basis first the Bairagi camp area should be cleaned properly and if the need arose, additional sanitation employees should be employed. He directed the officers that all pits of open toilets should be filled with sand and chemicals be sprayed there to prevent the outbreak of a disease. Sector magistrates have been ordered to supervise the cleaning operations personally. Meanwhile, the last festive bath of the century’s first Maha Kumbh in Haridwar gets under way tomorrow. The administration has geared up for the Poornima festive bath and Vardhan is himself inspecting the mela area to ensure the Maha Kumbh gets over successfully and peacefully tomorrow. People from various states and foreign countries have started reaching Haridwar to attend the bath and see the proceedings related to the Kumbh.
|
|
Industrialists, wildlife experts dwell on biodiversity conservation
Dehradun, April 27 Entitled “Biodiversity: Earth Most Valuable Resource”, the colloquium saw participation from some top bosses from industry and eminent wildlife experts. In his keynote address at the inaugural session, Ravi Sharma, Director, United Nations Environment Programme, asserted that as per the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, species extinction rate has become manifold and is a cause for serious concern. “Most of the stakeholders do not understand the extent to which they actually rely on natural resources nor do they are aware of the effects of their reliance,” he said, terming them as the biggest challenge to biodiversity conservation. He, however, added on the brighter side over the years there had been an increasing interest in environmental issues and more and more companies had started reporting about their environmental impacts. Chairman, Third State Finance Commission, Uttarakhand, IK Pande asserted since biodiversity was in a crisis situation, people had risen to the occasion and were now trying to forge partnerships to undo the damage that had already been done. Earlier, welcoming the participants, BL Raina, Chairman, Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company, said in a world of increasing globalisation and environmental degradation, conserving biodiversity was, in fact, one of the greatest challenges. “One cannot be expected to put restrictions on the aspirations of countries for economic development but one, however, needs to practise the sustainable use of biodiversity,” he observed Director, WII, PR Sinha, in his opening remarks said this was the first opportunity that the WII had collaborated with the business community and was looking forward to undertaking a collaborative approach on biodiversity conservation with the CII. Delivering a vote of thanks, Rajiv Berry, Chairman, CII Uttarakhand State Council, stated the loss of biodiversity diminished the quality of life and profoundly affected the businesses. Other panelist that deliberated at the colloquium included Dr Nik Senapati, Managing Director, Rio Tinto India, Ravi Singh, Secretary-General and CEO, WWF-India, and Dr VB Mathur, Dean, WII. Apart from CII-ITC-Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development and the WII, the colloquium was supported by the WWF-India as partner institution and sponsored by Rio Tinto India and Kingfisher Airlines company.
|
|
English debate contest ends
Dehradun, April 27 The judges for the English debates were Umesh Anand, Ameya Kilara, Aditya Verma and Dev Lahiri. The two teams that reached the final round were Doon School and Daly College, Indore. The winning team comprised Sachit Taneja, Aman Sahu and Piroune Balachandran from Doon School. The award for the best speaker “for” the motion in the preliminary round went to Aditi Bhowmick of Welham Girls' School, while the best speaker “against” the motion was Tiraana Bains of Welham Girls' School. Rhea Sanghvi of Daly College, Indore, bagged the award of the most promising speaker and Arnav Sahu of Doon School was adjudged the best overall speaker.
|
|
Tata House to adopt a species for conservation
Dehradun, April 27 Their efforts come at a time when smaller business houses across the country have taken up tiger as brand species for conservation. Describing the attempt as part its corporate social responsibility initiative, Col Prakash Tewari (retd), Head, Corporate Social Responsibility, Tata Power, said the Tatas had always expressed sensitivity towards the biodiversity conservation programme and had now decided to adopt a mascot species in the country as part of the programme. He said the selection process for identification of the species was already in process and would be finalised very soon. “We are holding consultations and would soon zero on to one species to taken up for the conservation programme,” he said. Colonel Tiwari denied that being charismatic could be the main criterion in selection of the species. “It is not necessary that the species should be tiger or elephant. We are also thinking from the view of conservation,” he said. Tata, which came into the hydropower sector as early as 1920, has always kept biodiversity conservation on a high priority. “When we worked on the Western Ghats, which is a biodiversity hotspot, biodiversity conservation continued to be high on the agenda,” Colonel Tiwari said adding that Tata Power had always been open to suggestions from any quarters to ensure that none of its hydro projects proved to a bane for wildlife. The Tatas have been actively working with the BHNS, Wildlife SOS and Wildlife Trust of India for betterment of wildlife.
|
|
BHEL employees get health awards
Haridwar, April 27 A total of 36 employees - 29 employees from the HEEP unit and seven from the CFFP unit - were selected and felicitated. Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Executive Director DK Mody said behind BHEL’s success was its dedicated and healthy manpower. General Manager Vimal Kumar stressed on the importance of being healthy in today’s fast-paced world. “Those who are fit are hit, while those unfit are mis-hit,” quipped Kumar at the function. A presentation was made by Dr AK Singhal on common diseases that affect our daily life and a health quiz was also held. Chairman of the Swasth Karmachari Samman committee Alok C Kerketta read the committee’s report. Apart from BHEL employees, Nirmal Khandelwal, NK Gupta, Sanjeev Chauhan, Trilok Chand Bhatt and Arun Singhal were present on
the occasion.
|
|
Medical students stage dharna
Dehradun, April 27 The future of 150 students is at stake as the medical college, earlier known as Swami Narayan Medical College and now renamed as ND Tiwari Medical College, is believed to be running courses without affiliation. “In 2007-2008 we were granted admission on the basis of government UPMT counselling. The institute continued to conduct classes for the 2008-2009 session when it had not got permission. We managed to sail through three years of the course despite deficient faculty, as the stress was more on theory. But now in the third academic session the problem has worsened as we need good faculty and laboratory for carrying out practicals,” said a student on the condition
of anonymity. Students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, after paying course fees between Rs 1.10 lakh-Rs 1.14 lakh were
|
|
5th Introductory Eco Seminar held
Dehradun, April 27 Col (Dr) Paramjeet Singh Mavi, Commanding Officer, Eco Task Force, said the FRI experts at the seminar apprised the participants of the techniques of nursery plantation and works of
soil conservation. He said the proceedings at the workshop were prepared jointly by the FRI and the 127 Eco Task Force and approved by the Army
headquarters. The Bharatiya Samajik Welfare Committee on April 22 presented a scroll of honour to the Eco Task Force for its contribution to the sphere of environment.
|
|
People getting influenced by Maoist ideology, says IG
Nainital, April 27 Addressing the participants of a refresher course for youth coordinators of the Nehru Yuvak Kendras of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Pande underlined the need for a greater interaction among the youth coordinators and the police to ensure that the energy of the youth got channelised in positive direction. He pointed out that although there was no Maoist activity visible in Uttarakhand, there was evidence suggesting that people were getting influenced by the ideology. He said the condition would be similar in those districts of Uttar Pradesh that border Nepal. “This is a challenge that is emerging and has to be dealt with. There needs to be greater co-ordination in tackling the issue,” he said. Talking about his own department, he said he had directed his subordinates to take up exercises in eradicating social ills in the region. “Since there is not so much of regular policing to be done, I have told them to help in tackling issues of growing alcoholism and drug abuse, atrocities on women along with environment,” said Pande. The six-day refresher course being held at Administrative Training Institute here aims at
polishing various skills ranging from administrative, leadership and motivating skills to maintenance of accounts of the participants.
|
|
RIMC hockey: Chandragupta beat Pratap among seniors
Dehradun, April 27 In the first match that was played between Chandragupta and Shivaji sections in the juniors category, Chandragupta blanked their opponents 6-0. Shivtej (3 goals) Shivam Kumar (2), Rishav Raj (1) were the scorers for the winners. In the second match, Chandragupta and Ranjit sections clashed among juniors. Ranjit section won 2-1. Shiv and Chitij scored for Ranjit while Shivam scored for the losers. In the third match, seniors of Chandragupta met their Pratap counterparts. Chandragupta won 6-2. Ayush scored four goals while Suhas got a double. Piyush of Pratap section found the net twice. In the fourth match which was of the middle category, Ranjit and Shivaji sections crossed swords. Ranjit emerged the winners 3-1 with Arjun (2 goals) and Khumanlaba (1) being the scorers. Avinash got the consolation goal for the losers. In the fifth match which was again of the middle category, Shivaji section pipped Chandragupta 1-0. Kumar Vikram scored the winner. In the next match, Pratap and Ranjit juniors clashed. Pratap came out on top with a goal apiece from Hardaman, Nelson and Mohammad Salman. In the penultimate match, Shivaji seniors beat Pratap 3-2. Gokul (2) Sheshank (1) contributed for the winners while Piyush got two goals for the losers. In the last match that was in the middle category, Ranjit thumped Pratap 6-1. Piyush (2), Puneet (1) and Arjun (3) were the scorers for the winners while Ravi scored the consolation goal for the losers. The referees for the event were Sub Maj Magdum, Hav SK Patil, Hav Pratap, Sub Maj Kadam. The coordinators of the event were UP Dalvi and Birjesh Chauhan.
|
|
Alok takes Ordnance Factory into final
Dehradun, April 27 Batting first, PCDA got all out in 24 overs for 128 runs. Gopal with 38 and NS Kolal with 20 were the top scorers for PCDA. Parvesh, Chirag, R Rawat and Himanshu took two wickets each to wreck the Defence Accounts team. In reply, OFD achieved the target easily in 18.1 overs with a superb
batting display by opener Alok who played a scintillating knock of 70 runs. The team lost only three
wickets in the process. Himanshu scored 20 runs. Jassu of PCDA took two wickets. In the second semifinal, Survey of India will clash with IRDE at Survey Grounds tomorrow.
|
|
St Thomas’ School eves win
Dehradun, April 27 In the third match of boys’ category, Raja Ram Mohan Roy pulled off a narrow win by one wicket against Presidency International School while in the fourth cricket match Carman School defeated Aryan School. Luv Mohan from Carman School made the highest score of 23 runs. Tomorrow’s matches are St Jude’s School versus St Thomas’ School (girls), Doon Public School versus Carman School (girls), St Xavier’s versus Hilton School (boys) and Shivalik International School versus Guru Nanak Academy (boys).
|
|
Gypsy Young trample Yankees
Dehradun, April 27 In the second half, Gypsy Young maintained the tempo and attacked by their better skills and footwork. Gaurav scored the third goal for his side in the 55th minute and followed it up with another brilliant goal in the dying minutes of the game to give a lead of 4-0 to his team. Garhwal Sporting will play against Little Stars Football Club in the match tomorrow.
|
|
YPS, MNSS cagers on winning streak
Dehradun, April 27 Welham Boys-A defeated Sri Ram School 51-20. For Welham-A, Kishley scored 20 points while Madhav of Sri Ram School netted 15 baskets. In the second match, Blue Bells School defeated Welham-B team by 43-31. Rahul of Blue Bells School was the top scorer with 23 points . Gauran scored 12 points for his Welham team. In the third match, YPS, Mohali, defeated St Georges College, Mussoorie, 42-34. For the winners, Shahbaz scored 13 points while Raghav scored eight points for the Mussoorie cagers. Moti Lal Nehru Sports School, Rai, Sonepat, continued to dominate the tournament by defeating the Welham’s Boys-B team 55-12. In the one-sided match, Sports School cager Akshay scored 11 points while Gaurav of Welham-B scored seven points. In the fifth match, Welham Boys-A scored a win over Wynberg Allen, Mussoorie, 65-37. For Welham-A, Vishal scored 25 points while Nishant of Mussoorie School scored 14 points. In the last match, Blue Bells School defeated Punjab Public School by a narrow margin of two points. The scores were 36-34. For Blue Bells, Anmol scored 14 points while Gurmanjeet scored 12 points for the losers.
|
|
|
Unison School hold Guru Nanak Academy
Dehradun, April 27 Guru Nanak Academy girls launched an aggressive attack in the second half. In the 33th minute, Preeti scored the first goal for her team making full use of a penalty corner hit. Priya of Guru Nanak Academy equalised the score by a superb goal in the 45th minute. Both teams tried their best but could not score after the tie till the end. Guru Nanak Academy will clash with Shigally Hills International School tomorrow.
|
|
|
Kailash Mansarovar project to begin after 18 months: Expert
Pitthoragarh, April 27 “For the next 18 months, a combine team of scientists will study viability of the project and prepare a status report,” said Dr Palni. “The GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development as well as the Forest Department of Uttarakhand have been included in these projects as Indian representatives,” said Dr Palni, adding that these projects will include Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation of Nepal and Chinese Academy of Sciences. “These nodal agencies from the three countries have selected the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research from China and the Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal,” he said. Dr Palni said this programme of eco conservation of the Kailash Mansarovar region would be run using common methodology during the implementation period and the scientific data would be shared by all three nations. “During our workshop period in the Kasardevi Forest area, Almora, Dr Shipeili and Prof Young Yongping from the Chinese academy and Dr NP Acharaya, Dr KP Sharma, Prof RP Chaudhari and Dr KK Shrestha from Tribhuvan University of Nepal besides other scientists and environment administrators from India took part,” added Dr Palni.
|
|
|
Kumaon opposes proposal to change yatra route
Pitthoragarh, April 27 “The proposal of opening this yatra from Kashmir or the Niti-Mana Pass is not feasible as the routes from there are not only long to reach the Kailash region but also snowy enough to cross it while the Lipulekh Pass in Pitthoragarh district is suitable to cross even when fully snow clad,” said Dinesh Gururani, an official of the KMVN, who has wide experience of conducting Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from the Lipulekh route. The people from the Vyas valley of Dharchula subdivision of Pitthoragarh district in which five track route camps of the yatra fall are badly upset after Vijay requested the Foreign Secretary, who was in China last week, to put the proposal before the Chinese government to start the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from the Ladhak route. “There are more than 14 villages in the Vyas valley which totally depend on this five-month yatra season and if the yatra is diverted from here, then the villagers are bound to migrate from there high-altitude homes which are on tri-junction border of India, China and Nepal,” said Ratan Singh Raipa, a prominent tribal leader from the Vyas valley. People of Champawat have been protesting for the past 10 years to start this oldest yatra religiously described route which includes Champawat also. “If the Centre neglects the Puranic version of this pilgrimage, the people of Champawat will unite to oppose it, before diverting it to Niti-Mana or J&K. It is Champawat’s right to have this yatra started from the Champawat route,” said Shankar Pandey, a senior BJP leader from Champawat. Congress and BJP cadres, though divided politically, are united on this issue. Congress workers burnt an effigy of Tarun Vijay after he issued a statement supporting the start of the yatra from J&K. Similarly, after Satpal Maharaj issued the statement to start this Yatra from the Niti-Mana valley of Garhwal, BJP youth wing workers protested, saying that this is a clear conspiracy to undermine the Kumaon region from tourist point of view. “Even during the British era and before that the yatra had been conducted from the route of Tanakpur (Brandev), Champawat, Rameswar, Patalbhuneswar, Didihat and Dharchula,” said Girish Joshi, president of the BJP youth wing in Pitthoragarh.
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Dehradun, April 27
Dehradun, April 27
Haridwar, April 27
Dehradun, April 27
Haridwar, April 27
Dehradun, April 27
Dehradun, April 27
Dehradun, April 27
Pitthoragarh, April 27
