|
|
|
|
Protest by JBT trainees, anganwadi staff
‘Campaign Reservation Express’ in Dharamsala
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
RTI Info: Ministers not bound to attend office
NGO raps forest dept over fires
Panel inspects Banala, Falana pooling sites
Arrest of chief engineer
‘Murder of Patwari’
Move to ease traffic at Parwanoo barrier
Bali takes on govt for ad hoc policies
Bindal pays Bali in same coin
No further action against nursing institute
Meeting held on lease rules
Uniform policy for recruitment sought
Contract docs to go on mass leave
Govt to bear differential cost
HRTC buses stoned; staffers thrashed
Goof-up in SFSL papers
Docs threaten mass resignations
Work begins on Hamirpur bypass
Society to hold march
|
|
Protest by JBT trainees, anganwadi staff
Dharamsala, June 2 The JBT trainees started their procession from the Martyrs Park raising slogans against the present government. They alleged that the present government was doing injustice to them by recruiting them on contract. It would create a disparity between them and JBT teachers recruited in the last batch. The teachers recruited on contract would be doing the same job, but getting just half the salary and no service benefit. Meanwhile, the anganwadi helpers alleged that the government was exploiting them. They were being paid peanuts while the work load on them was being increased every year. They demanded that the anganwadi workers should be paid Rs 4,000 per month while the helper should be paid Rs 3,000 per month. Hamirpur: Hundreds of anganwadi workers and helpers union today held a protest rally to highlight their demands here. They marched through the bazaar and later held a corner meeting at DC office which was addressed by CITU state general secretary Kashmir Singh Thakur, anganwadi leaders Kaushlaya Parihar, Raj Kumari and CITU leader Joginder Singh. The union is demanding regularisation of jobs, monthly salary of Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 for workers and helpers, respectively, etc. Mandi: Supported by the left wing of the Kisan Sabha and the Janvadi Mahila Morcha, a large number of anganwadi workers from different parts of the district today staged a protest here and submitted a memorandum of their demands through the DC to the government. They demanded that the workers in the ICDS should be regularised and privatisation of the ICDS should be stopped. Addressing the protesting workers, state president Indira Thakur and district president Sumitra Kumari warned that they
would speed up the agitation if their demands were not accepted. They claimed that the anganwadis were the backbone of the village schemes which were not implemented by them. The protesting JBT students today gheraoed principal secretary, education, Srikant Baldi, while he was inspecting Government Bijay Senior Secondary School here today. Baldi assured the protesters that he would sort out the issue after discussing it with each DIET in the state. |
|
Parents join protesting students
Hamirpur, June 2 The JBT trainees, who have been agitating for quite some time, are on indefinite hunger strike since Tuesday. They marched from Gandhi chowk through Hamirpur bazaar, carrying placards and raising slogans against the government. Sunil Kumar, district vice-president, JBT Trainees Kalyan
Sangh, said trainees from Una and Hamirpur district and their parents today joined the rally. The agitation would continue till their demand was accepted by the government, he added. |
|
|
‘Campaign Reservation Express’ in Dharamsala
Dharamsala, June 2 A spokesperson of the event said they had organised the awareness campaign in favour of the Women Reservation Bill after it was stalled in the Lok Sabha. The way the Bill had been stalled and the government had maintained a silence, it seemed that the male-centered groups had prevailed upon the idea against passing the Bill. They alleged that if the Bill was not passed in the Lok Sabha within stipulated time, it was likely to lapse. The government would then again have to introduce it in the Rajya Sabha and things would be back to square one, she alleged. The campaign is being organised by feminist organisations, including the Jogori, the Human Rights Law Network and the Nishtha. The organisations started a procession from Jhasi from May 20. The women participating in the march have divided into three groups that will cover the entire country travelling approximately 15,000 km. The activists after travelling through 56 cities will culminate their procession on June 7 in Delhi. The spokespersons said on June 7, they would submit a memorandum of signatures collected by the activists from the across the country in favour of the Bill to the Prime Minister. Later in the day today, the participants organised a programme in zila parishad hall. The participants who were from Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Haryana and Tamil Nadu shared their experiences with local workers of women NGOs. When speaking on the occasion the women activists expressed doubts about the intentions of those in power regarding the Bill. They said that the three major parties, including the Congress, the BJP and left parties, had expressed support for the Bill. The said parties had 2/3rd majority in Parliament. In case, they are serious, the Bill can easily be passed in the Lok Sabha. |
|
|
RTI Info: Ministers not bound to attend office
Shimla, June 2 This is evident from the information made available by the Cabinet Secretariat. An application in this regard was filed by RTI activist Dev Ashish Bhattacharya with the office of the Prime Minister on March 22. He had sought to know whether or not it was compulsory for the ministers to attend the office. The application was transferred to Cabinet Secretariat the very next day by deputy secretary Sanjukta Ray who is also the central public information
officer (CPIO) . However, the CPIO in the Cabinet Secretariat evaded a reply stating that the information sought was not covered under the definition of information under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. Bhattacharya filed an appeal with the joint secretary and first appellate authority Rajive Kumar against the refusal to supply information.
He accepted the appeal and informed that there were no rules that prescribed that the minister had to attend office at a fixed time.’ Bhattacharya had also sought detailed information about the tours undertaken by union ministers, including foreign visits, particularly the number of days they remained since the UPA government assumed office. The reply of the CPIO was ‘the information was scattered in large number of ministries and he was advised to file applications with the ministries concerned.’ If there are no rules making it mandatory for a minister to attend the office, they could not be faulted for not doing so, points out Bhattacharya. However, the moot question is if they remain away for weeks or even months together who will clear the files? Therefore, there was an urgent need to frame rules to make it mandatory for ministers to attend the office so that the functioning of the government was not affected due to their prolonged absence. |
|
NGO raps forest dept over fires
Shimla, June 2 Expressing concern over failure of the department to take necessary preventive measures Rajeshwar Negi, national convenor, NWI, said today that claim of the department that there were less fires during the current season and only 6,685.24 hectare of forest was affected, causing a loss of Rs 72.29 crore, tells only part of the story. The incidence of fires was much higher and not all the fires were reported. More importantly, the loss was being quantified only in terms of forest produce. The long-term consequences like degradation of soil, loss of moisture, micro-organism, wildlife and biodiversity, depletion of water sources, rise in temperature and above all implications on the livelihood of people were being completely ignored, he added. The Supreme Court had, a few years ago, imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore on a private company which painted advertisement on some rocks and boulders in Kullu valley on the ground that the paint affected micro-organisms. However, the forest department seemed unconcerned about the real impact of fires, he said. Studies conducted by the Forest Survey of India indicate that 90 per cent of the fires were man-made and these could be checked only by toning up the watch and ward system at the field-level. More forest guards were needed along with provision of deterrent punishment to the offenders. He urged Chief Minister PK Dhumal to deal with the issue of forest fires on priority and take steps like making field duty mandatory for forest officers and strengthening the field setup by recruiting more guards. No leave should be permitted to field staff during the fire season, he asserted. |
|
Panel inspects Banala, Falana pooling sites
Mandi, June 2 The five-member committee, led by Srikant Baldi, managing director, transmission corporation, today inspected the Banala site where the PowerGrid Corporation of India (PGCI) has already started the work to set up the “pooling station” to evacuate electricity. The team also inspected the Falana site suggested by the villagers who are up in arms against the Banala site as it would reduce the green cover in the area. Other members of the team included chief engineers, Transmission Corporation and PowerGrid corporation, Mandi DC and Mandi conservator
of forest. The villagers pleaded that the corporation could save the green cover at Banala as Falana site was barren with no habitation around. They alleged that some land mafias, in connivance with certain officials and local politicians, had managed the buy land at Banala site and built houses overnight, thereby getting huge compensation from the
corporation. The PGCI claimed that Rs 350 crore 400 KV pooling substation was approved by the MEOF. On the other hand, the petitioners have challenged the approval given to the pooling station on the ground that thousands of trees would be axed for the station. They suggested that an alternative barren site at Falana, measuring 116 bighas, was available on the left bank of the Beas. |
|
Arrest of chief engineer
Mandi, June 2 “We condemn the district administration for taking Singla in custody as he never misbehaved with the IPH Minister during the meeting of the district grievance redressal committee in Mandi last week,” a spokesperson said. BBMB superintendent engineer (HRD) and BBMB employees’ union president criticised the police action against the BBMB engineer. “We will take up the matter with the state government and the Union Power Minister,” they said. They claimed they had clarified a number of times questions related to the damage done to agricultural land, fields and drinking water supply schemes due to disposal of silt in Suketi and Lohari khud. They clarified that the next hearing in the case had been fixed for July 2. They made a counter charge that it was the IPH Minister who misbehaved with Singla at the meeting in the presence of senior officers. “If the IPH minister was so annoyed, it would have been sufficient for him to ask the officer to leave the venue. Police intervention in the said matter was totally un-called for and the BBMB strongly objects to this action,” they asserted. Meanwhile, IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi and Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Thakur remained firm on their stand and have decided to take the matter with the Vidhan Sabha privilege committee. |
|
‘Murder of Patwari’
Nurpur, June 2 In her complaint copies of which were given to mediapersons here today, she blamed the Haripur police for unfair investigation. The deceased patwari, who hailed from Jonta in this subdivision, had been posted at Manaee. His body was found in a gorge at Ranital on May 23 morning. The police has registered a murder case but failed to nab culprits even after 11 days today. The head injury has been stated to be the cause of death in the post-mortem report. She alleged in her complaint that the police was trying to hush up the case by declaring it a case of accident. She stated that the deceased before his disappearance was accompanying with his department colleagues. The police had only recorded their statements but did not interrogate them. She said a senior department official’s assertion before the police that Kehar Singh had died of natural death and asking the police to close investigations had raised suspicion of foul play behind his alleged murder. Paras Ram, Dehra DSP, denied allegation of hushing up the case and added that the police was investigating the case. He said the police had recovered the mobile phone of the deceased and rounded up a Bihari youth but during interrogation, he was not found innocent. |
|
Move to ease traffic at Parwanoo barrier
Solan, June 2 The step would help ease traffic jams occurring due to queuing up of trucks waiting to deposit forms after filling them at the barrier. Since the government has already issued TIN-VAT numbers to traders, the department decided to introduce some changes in the modalities. Explaining the rationale behind the change, Additional Commissioner Devinder Gupta said this would help generate instant data about the vehicles entering the state with the kind of goods they were carrying as an online entry would be made as soon as the form was submitted. Earlier, the process of procuring information took days as CDs had to be manually sent from Parwanoo to the head office. A trial of new modalities would begin from tomorrow. At present, all bills and GR are deposited at the barrier itself by the
transporters. This hectic process often creates traffic jams at the Parwanoo barrier, causing chaos among commuters throughout the day and particularly in the evening. An awareness had already been created among traders and transporters about this procedure through a number of workshops. Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jagdish Chander Sharma confided that although this practice would be introduced from tomorrow, the department has also decided to carry on with the old system for a month till transporters became aware of this change. He further said after a few days, the old system would be completely withdrawn and traders would have to follow
the new one. Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner Devinder Gupta urged transporting companies and traders to come forward to join hand with the new and most important initiatives taken in accordance with the long-pending demand of the traders. This system would soon be introduced at all state barriers in the near future, he added. Almost 300 to 500 trucks crossed the Parwanoo barrier daily in addition to the 800 to 1,000 smaller vehicles on weekdays. This rush increased substantially during weekends. |
|
Bali takes on govt for ad hoc policies
Dharamsala, June 2 Bali alleged that the government had now adopted a policy to recruit doctors on contract for six years and then regularise their services. There was no procedure to select doctors on contract. In the absence of proper procedure, there was a large scope for backdoor entry. If the government wanted to select doctors, it should do so through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC). The government was earlier replacing the PTA teachers recruited by previous the Congress government by teachers recruited by it on contract. The high court has now barred it from doing so. Earlier, the government conducted a written test for recruitment of bus conductors. Thousands of students appeared in the written test. However, later to the astonishment of many, the written test was scrapped and the government decided to recruit “Bus Sayaks” (a new term coined for bus conductors). He also threatened to launch an agitation in case doctors were not posted at the first referral unit in his constituency. He said despite the fact that it was only referral unit in the area, just one doctor was posted there. Bali also claimed that he had taken up the issue of difference in user charges rates at Tanda Medical College and IGMC, Shimla, in the Himachal Vidhan Sabha. The user charges at Tanda were much more than what were being charged at IGMC, Shimla. In the House, the government had assured him to look into the matter. However, till date nothing had been done to reduce the rates at
Tanda. |
|
Bindal pays Bali in same coin
Shimla, June 2 Reacting to the statement of Bali, he said professors, assistant professors and associate professors were appointed during the last two years, posts of registrar and staff nurses were
also filled and ward sister and matrons were posted in the college. The Medical Council of India had also carried out inspections from time to time and recognition was also accorded to postgraduation. As many as five seats in postgraduation had been sanctioned and filled. He reminded Bali that it was due to the relentless efforts of Chief Minister PK Dhumal which ensured recognition for the MBBS course during his last tenure. He said the charges of the Congress leader were politically motivated. Over 2.40 lakh BPL families had been covered under the Health Insurance Scheme.
|
|
|
No further action against nursing institute
Shimla, June 2 While passing this order, the court listed this matter on June 16 and directed the state to file its response. The petitioner challenged the decision of the government to cancel the NOC granted to the National Public Career Samiti for running General Nursing and Midwifery (nursing) and BSc (nursing) courses at the institute on the ground that the state authorities had illegally and arbitrarily taken the action against the institute without providing an opportunity of being heard. It is pertinent to mention here that the students had alleged that basic infrastructure, staff, hostels, and other facilities, required under the guidelines of the Nursing Council of India, were not available, excess fee was being charged and number of students admitted was more than the seats sanctioned. |
|
Meeting held on lease rules
Shimla, June 2 After finalisation, these rules would be placed before the cabinet for its approval, meeting of which is slated to be held on June 9. Education Minister ID Dhiman, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi, Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary Harinder Hira, besides other senior officers attended the meeting. |
|
Uniform policy for recruitment sought
Shimla, June 2 The Medical Officers’ Association and the Veterinary Officers’ Association point out that policy for regularisation of staff recruited on a contract basis, which has become the norm of late, are being framed without taking into consideration the years put in by a particular category for obtaining the minimum qualification. The veterinarians want the parity with medicos maintained. They are demanding non-practising allowance for contract appointees and regularisation after six years in accordance with the latest policy framed for medicos.
— TNS |
|
Contract docs to go on mass leave
Shimla, June 2 The Himachal Medical Officers’ Association maintained that the service of six years for regularisation was too long and it should be reduced to two years. A deputation of the association met Chief Minister PK Dhumal here last evening and impressed upon him that doctors could not be treated at par with daily wagers who were recruited at the age of 18 years whereas the former entered service at the age of 26 years or even more. It urged him to restore the earlier policy for allocation of seats of various postgraduate courses and scrapping of the current policy forthwith. It demanded restructuring of the health department by creating a post of director general of health services at the state-level and deputy chief medical officers in each district, increasing the number of joint directors from four to eight.
|
|
|
Govt to bear differential cost
Shimla, June 2 Chief Minister PK Dhumal said here today that the government would not allow the farmers to suffer on account of reduction in central assistance and it would bear the differential cost to ensure adequate availability of fertilisers in the state. The differential freight from rail rake point to block godowns would put a burden of
Rs 3.50 crore annually.
|
|
|
HRTC buses stoned; staffers thrashed
Hamirpur, June 2 According to information, bus no HP 67-1142 on its way from Avah-Devi to Katra was stopped by about 12 miscreants sitting on the road at Niyajpur at about 1 am and demanded money from the driver and the conductor. Later, they also stopped another bus no HP-67-7587 plying on the same route coming from Katra and thrashed the HRTC staff, stoned the buses and even manhandled a few passengers, leading to traffic jam for several hours. Driver Dharampal, Rajinder and conductor Jagan Nath and Pyare Lal were taken to civil hospital Nurpur in injured condition. Regional Manager of the HRTC said, “The buses were stopped and damaged by miscreants at Niyajpur and two drivers, Rajinder and Dharampal, are admitted to hospital and we have registered an FIR in this case at Nurpur and four persons have been arrested till now.”
|
|
Goof-up in SFSL papers
Mandi, June 2 The HPPSC has conducted examinations for deputy director on May 11 and assistant director on May 12. The candidates have lodged complaints to the commission, demanding cancellation of the examinations. The candidates, who already hold posts in the SFSL, demanded that the HPPSC should also follow the UPSC pattern to fill the posts. Talking to The Tribune, the candidates complained that there was a goof-up in the question papers. “Many questions have either wrong answer keys or sentences were half-printed without making sense or many questions were out of syllabi or repeated”, they said. The physics paper was out of syllabus. They further complained that chemistry paper had questions of narcotics, while physics had photography questions despite both were separate specialities. They alleged that 30 questions in the biology for the DD were cleverly repeated to give advantage to candidates who also appeared in AD tests on May 12. Not only this, many sentences were incomplete. “Even the answer keys for many questions were wrong”, they charged. They claimed that the DD (DNA) and DD (forensic science), DD( Narcotics) were all separate specialities in the SFSL, but there was a goof-up in the paper set. The candidates have made a written complaint to the secretary, HPPSC. HPPSC secretary PS Draik told The Tribune that they would examine the merit of each complaint before taking any action.
|
|
|
Docs threaten mass resignations
Shimla, June 2 The doctors have already been wearing black badges as a mark of protest against their appointment by the RKS and not through the State Public Service Commission as is the case with regard to class-I officers. The doctors have warned the government in case the latter did not regularise their services, they could consider mass resignation. “The doctors, most of whom are appointed in rural areas, will arrive here on June 4 and will take out a silent protest march and submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Health Minister and Secretary, Health,” said Dr Ashish Chauhan, spokesperson, Joint Action Committee of the Himachal Medical Officers’ Association (HMOA). Dr Chauhan said the doctors vehemently opposed their appointments by the RKS as it was only an NGO.
|
|
|
Work begins on Hamirpur bypass
Hamirpur, June 2 He said this while addressing a public meeting at Dugha after performing bhoomi pujan of Hamirpur bypass being constructed at a cost of Rs 27 crore here today. Thakur said the construction of the 6.355 km bypass to Hamirpur town would ease traffic congestion in the town and this would also provide opportunities to young people to establish their business along the bypass. The MP later heard people’s grievances in “Prashan Janta Ke Dwar” programme and also laid the foundation stone of government high school building at
Dugha.
|
|
|
Society to hold march
Shimla, June 2 Development projects were rendering people landless in rural areas who were forced to migrate to urban centres to earn livelihood. However, they were forced to live in squalid conditions in make-shift shelters, said Bipin Rai from the IGSSS. Representatives from across the country would meet here on June 3 and 4 to finalise the programme for the proposed national city-makers caravan, to be followed by the zonal-caravans. The national caravan was a collective effort to provide the city-makers (homeless citizens) a larger and equal platform, he explained.
|
|
|
|
| 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 | |
