Nainital, May 16
The political establishment in Uttarakhand came in for heavy criticism from a group of intellectuals, social activists and people from other streams who had come together to analyse where the dream of having an “own ideal state” had evaporated. The group had got together to discuss the present socio-political and socio-economic scenario in the state and what needs to be done to put things on the right track.

The participants were almost unanimous in their opinion that political parties and successive governments in the state have let down people and have not done anything to turn their aspirations into a ground reality.

The most vocal and emotionally charged criticism came from the eminent folk poet and cultural artist Girish Tewari, who is fondly known as Girda across the state. His contribution in making the state of Uttarakhand become a reality is unparalleled.

“The state was carved out in haste. The situation was such that neither the receivers of statehood and nor those giving the statehood of Uttarakhand were prepared with a future road map. In fact, the creation of all three states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand was a result of a political conspiracy that was going on across the nation at that point of time. Today, all three states are frowning,” he said.

He hit out at the present government for making the traditional Kumbh fair a playground for those in the state Assembly. He also denounced the political parties for their lack of will on the issue of having a permanent capital in the state.

”No one has the guts even to say that Dehradun will remain the permanent capital. The state was made not for those living in palatial houses or for those owning vast tracts of land. Instead, it was made with the notion that the Chief Ministers would regularly move in rural areas and the public representatives would address the grievances of a common person. But what we have got is useless talk. I want to ask those in power where were you when the struggle was on and where are you now? Those who were not to be seen anywhere at that time are now enjoying the fruits,” said Girda.

Social activist Mohan Pathak, who is involved in carrying out a movement for the rights of unemployed educated youth, pointed that things would not improve unless educated youth were provided with employment opportunities.

Senior mediaperson and statehood activist Rajiv Lochan Sah pointed to the continuing emigration from rural areas and people abandoning agriculture as a profession. He also called for a concerted fight by people being displaced because of hydro-power projects. He advocated that local people must have ownership rights on these projects.

Sah was also critical of those statehood activists who are seeking benefits for their contribution in the struggle for the creation of Uttarakhand.

Legal activist Bipin Chandra Bhatt said, “There is rampant corruption at the political level and even the funds of public representatives are being disbursed on the basis of commission. Development has failed to percolate to the poor section of the society”.

State Information Commissioner and former Chief Secretary RS Tolia, who was also present at the meeting, said there was a need to do research on the law and order scenario and administration in the newly created states of the country.

He said, “We can draw solace from the fact that situation is far better than in other states.” He also said the Finance Commission had commended the fiscal management of the state and given an additional grant of Rs 1,000 crore.

Dehradun, May 16
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesman Tarun Vijay has expressed concern over the vulnerability of the country’s border areas vis-à-vis Chinese incursions.

Interacting with newspersons in Dehradun, Tarun said there had been frequent Chinese incursions in Ladakh, Sikkim and even Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and alleged that the Central government was still to come out with reasons behind these incursions. “As many as 62 Chinese incursions took place in Ladakh in recent times. Similar incursions have taken place in Sikkim and here too in Uttarakhand, Chinese incursions had been frequent in border district of Chamoli last year,” Tarun said.

He said the Congress government needed to answer and reveal as to whether it had taken up the issue with their Chinese counterparts? Tarun also referred to the situation in Manipur. He said while national highways had been blocked, Manipur today was only connected to the rest of the country by air services. “Manipur is facing the worst of crisis and the Congress in Delhi seems to be taking the matter lightly,” Tarun asserted.

“The Congress-led Centre is acting as a mute spectator to these incursions which is not in the interest of the country,” he added.

He pointed out that migration from border villages was a matter of urgent concern from nation’s security point of view and held that around 58 villages in Chamoli district had gone empty due to lack of employment opportunities.

Demanding better infrastructure for border areas of the country, the BJP spokesman said by depriving infrastructure assistance to border districts, the Centre was doing great injustice to border states like Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Potable Water Minister Prakash Pant also present here said the state BJP government was working to ensure a comprehensive water policy for the state. He said a total of 132 potable water schemes had been affected due to diminishing of water volume in the natural water sources.

While asserting that the government was laying much emphasis on water conservation, Pant said the state government was preparing a comprehensive water policy for the state.

BJP media in charge Dr Devendra Bhasin, Mahanagar BJP president Puneet Mittal and BJP Uttarakhand spokesman M Mahendroo were present at the news conference.

Nainital, May 16
The Uttarakhand government aims to set up 500 mini-banks across the state over the next three months to give a major boost to the co-operative sector. These banks are initially to be set up at the nyaya panchayat level in villages chosen under the Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana.

Giving details about the government plans, the Vice-President of the Uttarakhand State Co-operative Council Hyatt Singh Mehra said, “It is a pity that the state has been unable to bring into existence a co-operative structure in the last one decade. Now, we are trying our best to do so and bring Uttarakhand in the league of states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka where the co-operative movement is very strong. We want to make Uttarakhand a role model for smaller states in the country.”

When asked why a proper structure has not existed in the state till now, all that he could say was, “It is saddening.”

He said that of the total proposed new branches of mini-banks, 20 are to be opened in Nainital district over the next month. He also stated that each of these 500 banks would recruit an accountant who would be paid a remuneration of Rs 2,000 per month and this would help in generating employment at the rural level.

Mehra added, “These banks are being opened with the view that the accounts of the beneficiaries under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and various pension schemes will be maintained here.

“It is a well-known fact that the people residing in remote areas are facing problems with regard to opening and operating their bank accounts as the branches of various banks are located in places that are far off from their villages and since most of the pensioners are old and disabled, they face an additional handicap.”

To woo the rural masses towards these banks, the government is offering them half a per cent of additional interest than what is prevalent in the market to the depositors. “In addition to this, the money deposited with these banks will be totally exempt from taxes,” said Mehra.

These banks would also offer a loan of Rs 60,000 for purchase of two dairy animals. In case the loan is obtained by a group of five persons to the tune of Rs 3 lakh, they will also get a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh.

Mehra informed that the state plans to invest Rs 4,000 crore in making these banks a success. He also stated that efforts are also being made to open District Co-operative Banks in the three new districts of Champawat, Bageshwar and Rudraprayag.

Dehradun, May 16
The plan to tackle the problem of shortage of doctors in Uttarakhand, mooted two years ago, is gathering dust in some bureaucratic file. If the Diplomate to National Board (DNB) project was given a go-ahead, from the inception of the project, the state would have got five doctors in the first year, 10 doctors in the second year and 15 in the third year.

The project was pushed with vigour by former Principal Secretary Keshav Desi Raju and CMS of Doon Hospital Dr RK Pant. The plan could not move an inch as the Planning Department did not show any interest.

Considering the need to increase manpower that can render the highest degree of professional work, the Doon Hospital on getting a go-ahead from the regulatory body could have become a training centre for young medical graduates with aptitude for higher learning. The Doon Hospital is equipped to conduct training for pediatrics, general surgery, orthopedics and medicine,” said Dr RK Pant.

However, students will have to appear for theoretical exams for DNB at the selected centres in any part of the country. The National Board of Examinations is an autonomous organisation established by the government of India in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The prime objective of the Board is to conduct high uniform standard of postgraduate and post-doctoral examinations in various disciplines of modern medicine and allied sciences on an all-India basis for the award of Diplomate of National Board.

“The emphasis is on evaluating professional ability and practical application of sound theoretical knowledge in the practice of the speciality a candidate is certified in. “A private hospital at Herbertpur is already giving training in family medicine for the past five years in Dehradun district,” stressed Dr Pant.

Even the selected centres are first inspected by the regulatory body and then the centre has to pay an inspection fee of Rs 5,000. The Diplomate is equivalent to MD and MS courses.

Sources said if the government had passed this project the problem of hiring experts on contractual terms handling the ICU unit could have been solved. From the third year onwards, the hospital would have started getting 15 trained MDs every year.

Dehradun, May 16
Top gastroenterologist of the country Padma Shri Randhir Sud said poor sanitary conditions and contaminated water continued to figure as major health hazards and several years after independence, patients continued to die due to gastroenteritis.

“There are poor sanitary conditions in the most of the towns and children continue to fall ill in the villages due to water contamination,” said Dr Sud, Chairman of Medanta Institute of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences, Medicity, Gurgaon.

He was speaking today at the annual academic symposium organised by the Association of Physicians of India, Dehradun branch.

A part of the delegation of doctors from Medanta City apprised local doctors of the advances taking place in the fields of cardiology, neurology and gastroenterologist.

Dr Sud also dwelt on the harmful effect of pain killers, which, he said, could be minimised through availability of new drugs.

Dr Sumit Singh, neurologist, also from Medanta City, highlighted the role of the latest advancement in the treatment of widespread and common disorders like migraine, epilepsy and parkinsonism other than medicines there were techniques like implementation of peacemaker in the brain for the patients who did not get relief from medicines alone.

While Dr Praveen Chandra said the field of cardiology was changing rapidly and was helping more and more patients with heart problems, hypertension and other vascular problem. The problem of heart attack was affecting young individuals commonly these days and hence it was very important that people should take care by eating right food and taking up regular exercise. “In case of high blood pressure, regular blood pressure should be undertaken. Otherwise there is three-four times higher chance of a early heart attack and paralytic attack,” said Dr Chandra.

Dr Kaushal Madan spoke about the liver related diseases that sets in during pregnancy in some patients. “It is very vital to understand the functioning of the liver so that the disease is managed timely,” said Dr Madan.

The treatment of heart attack and angina has been revolutionised by the use of medicated stents and a large number of patients can avoid bypass surgery.

The event was followed by installation ceremony of the association, where association’s present chairman Dr Samir Swami and present secretary Dr Kranit Nandi handed over the charge to incoming chairman Dr Harish Basera and secretary Dr Puneet Tyagi.

Dehradun, May 16
Expressing concern over deteriorating law and order situation in Dehradun, the Mahanagar Congress today burnt an effigy of the state government at Ashley Hall, Dehradun.

Led by former Mahanagar Congress president Lalchand Sharma, Congress workers asserted that the law and order situation in the state capital was turning from bad to worse. He said there had been no sincere efforts to check the rising crimegraph in Doon.

“Over half a dozen incidents of eve teasing and loot have taken place in Dehradun in the past fortnight, which is a matter of serious concern,” Sharma alleged. He said even VIP areas of the city were witnessing incidents of chain snatching and eve teasing quite frequently.

Women Congress district secretary Geeta Bisht also accused the police administration of doing little to check the flourishing flesh trade racket in the capital. She said the Women Congress would shortly be staging a statewide agitation if the administration did not check the rising crime.

State Congress spokesman Surendra Arya, Nenu Sehgal, Ashish Lohani, Ajay Sonkar, Rajkumar and Jitendra Chauhan were among the Congress workers who took part in the protest. The Congress workers also rent the air with anti-administration slogans.

Mussoorie, May 16
Bhagwan Parshuram’s, the sixth reincarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu, birth anniversary was celebrated with fervour at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Mussoorie here today. The day is also celebrated as Akshaya Tritya and is considered very auspicious in the Hindu calendar.

Chief guest on the occasion Mahamandleshwar Swami Vivekanand Saraswati inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp. A debate highlighting the life of Bhagwan Parshuram was also held in which students of Saraswati Shishu Mandir and Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Landour, participated in large numbers.

The Brahman Chetna Samiti, Mussoorie, also felicitated 10 personalities for their service in various fields of excellence.

Students were also awarded certificates on the occasion.

The chief guest on the occasion Vivekanand Saraswati shed light on the life of Bhagwan Parshuram. He said Bhagwan was born in the Bhrugu dynasty in the 19th Tretayug (in the transition period between the Treta and the Dwapar Yugs, according to the Mahabharat).

Bhagwan Parshuram was born in a dynasty which was predominant in divine radiance (Brahmatej) and kindled with the radiance of the fighting spirit (Kshatriyatej). He also said Parshuram was known as killer of kings (Rajvi-Mardan) and not as killer of Kshatriyas (Kshatravi-Mardan). It can be inferred that Parshuram did not kill all Kshatriyas, but only those of them who were wicked and vile and taken away the Kamdhenu (a divine, wish-fulfilling cow) and her calf from the hermitage of Rushi Jamadagni. He repeated this campaign 21 times. After fighting the last war at Samantapanchak, he washed his blood-smeared parashu (axe) and laid down his arms.

MLA Rajpur Ganesh Joshi said one should learn from the life of Parshuram and fight injustice. Palika president OP Uniyal said the members should go and invoke others to strengthen the society.

Mussoorie, May 16
If a man is committed, no barrier can stop him from aiming high. This was stated by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harbans Kapoor in a felicitation ceremony at Jaypee Residency Manor at Barlowganj here today.

Varun Jain, who lost both legs in an accident in 2004, with his sheer grit and determination was able to complete a feat which most wouldn’t dare.

He drove in his four-wheel bike from Rishikesh to Chamba via Dhanulti and reached Mussoorie in record time registering himself in the Limca Book of Records.

Varun was welcomed by Harbans Kapoor at Jaypee Residency at Barlowganj. He was full of praise for the youth who was committed to achieve great heights.

He said youth like Varun should be an inspiration for others who just sit and lament on the incidents. He further said it was inspiring to know that Varun had completed the task of rafting, biking and achieved the degree of BBA and MBA despite the fateful accident.

The Speaker commended the efforts of the youth and said he should be seen as a role model for other such persons and youth should strive breaking all such barriers which they came across in life.

Varun thanked his family for their support and said now he would try for the Guinness Book of Records.

He said he had opened an NGO called Breaking Barriers to support such person in need.

Rishikesh MLA Prem Chand Aggarwal, Palika president OP Uniyal were also present on the occasion.

Dehradun, May 16
The desperation of procuring drugs was so high for minors that they fell into vehicle-lifting to earn fast money to procure it.

The vehicle thieves who were arrested by the police on Thursday, were in the age group of 14 to 17 years. The police revealed that it was the addiction to drugs that forced the four to fall into auto lifting. Sonu, Digambar, Dinesh and Aman, all residents of Chandramani hailed from lower middle-class families and were school dropouts.

They were all into drug abuse and when they couldn’t arrange money for it they started with small thefts such as of wood or cycles.

Gradually, they shifted to lifting motorcycles and scooters. This is not the lone case that children in such small age have got trapped into anti-social activities for buying drugs. On Monday, Chanchal Chetri (21) who used to sell drugs to school students was caught by the police near the Nanda-Ki-Chowki.

“The anti-social activities and drug abuse are very much co-related. A drug addict can’t differentiate between good or bad and easily gets involved in petty crimes,” pointed out Dr Nand Kishore, a city-based psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist attributed the reason behind drug abuse at this nascent age to the circumstances. “If the child is from a poor family, then broken families, domestic violence can lead children towards drugs. While in rich families it is because of parents who give less time to their wards and remain preoccupied with their social obligations,” Dr Kishore added.

Haridwar, May 16
District Magistrate Meenakshi Sundaram has recommended 11 new panchayats for Haridwar district. With these new panchayats coming in existence there will be 313 panchayats in the district.

After much deliberation, the committee gave the green signal to the formation of the new panchayats yesterday and finally the District Magistrate gave his consent on the recommendations of the committee.

These panchayats will be at Sajanpur, Peelipadav, Giddawali, Jogawala, Khanpur, Makhapura, Khelpura, Hasanwala, Changmajra, Gaindikhata and Naglacheena.

Chief Development Officer Brijesh Kumar took the delimitation complaints and then gave the recommendations for the formation of additional panchayats.

Thousands of villagers had gathered at the Roshanabad district headquarters to press for their demands in front of the delimitation committee for turning their gram sabhas into gram panchayat.

Dehradun, May 16
The administration will soon initiate action against those employees who have failed to take up census duties so far.

At least 363 employees and supervisors supposed to take up census in the Nagar Nigam area have not started work nor taken up kits.

On Monday, the administration will start the procedure for registering cases against the employees playing truant. For undertaking census in the Nagar Nigam area, 811 enumerators and 142 supervisors have been deputed for 811 blocks. Only 590 enumerators have been taken up duties. Census work has already begun in the Survey Estate Block at Hathibarkala.

Dehradun, May 16
Eminent environmntalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna admitted to Sri Mahant Indresh Hospital after he complained of uneasiness here today.

According to his son Rajiv Nayan Bahuguna, his father, who returned from Nainital yesterday, was feeling uneasiness and went for a checkup in the hospital.

He said his father was feeling well now. The hospital authorities conducted routine tests on him.

Dehradun, May 16
A delegation of the Muslim Falahi Tanzeem, a Muslim social organisation, called upon Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and urged him to urgently look into the problems faced by the community in the state.

Saud Sabri, president of the Tanzeem, in a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanded that all encroachments from the Wakf Board properties should be removed, the state government should constitute the Arbi-Farsi Madrassa Board, construct a Haj house in Roorkee and provide a sense of security to the minority community. — TNS