Almora, June 7
Hills of the Himalayan range are known for the wild growth of a plant popularly known as stinging nettle or “bichhu ghas”. It will be very difficult to believe that someone will even hold the plant in his hands with comfort.

But, a women’s enterprise in Almora has done the almost impossible deed of manufacturing apparel from this plant. Not only have the women weavers of Panchachuli developed this apparel, but they have gone ahead in value adding to it and generating the commercial demand for it.

The shawls and scarves being made from the bicchu ghas are so soft that one can hardly believe that the plant actually has some stinging quality. The plant when touched on any part of the body has the ability to cause massive itching that resembles a sting from an insect.

Talking to The Tribune, Pooja, who is a senior functionary of Panchachuli, said: “There was a tremendous amount of research that had been going on for sometime on this plant and the question was whether apparel can be derived from it”.

People from Nepal and other countries have been working on the project. The research is being done in areas around Munsiyari. Pooja says the process of deriving yarn from the stinging nettle is pretty long and it can take as much as one month for getting 1 kg of this yarn. The process involves boiling the plant as the steam helps in deriving the fibres which are obtained from spinning. This is followed by knitting which is again a very long and drawn-out process.

“It takes almost 22 days for knitting one stole,” she said. Besides producing shawls and scarves from the fibres derived from the plant, the value addition is being done in the form of giving it a silk lining and bead work. While the plain shawl is being sold for Rs 900 per piece, the value added works are sold for Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,500 per piece.

However, this year has not been a good one for the production of these items as quality stinging nettle could not be procured in bulk because of certain sourcing problems. Pooja said most of the products were being exported and the emphasis was on stringent quality control.

The enterprise was founded in 2005 as a self-sufficient private endeavour that was owned and managed by women from rural areas of Almora in the Kumaon Himalayas.

At present, there are about 300 women working at the Panchachuli factory while another 1,000 are under its umbrella. The organisation is now moving towards empowering another 1,000 women in the remote and economically backward regions in the Himalayas by assisting in the formation of cooperatives.

Dehradun, June 7
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has embarked upon studies in genetic diversity of red jungle fowl in the country. The study that comes as the second phase of the WII project entitled “Conservation of red jungle fowl in India” is being done with the aspects of domestication, purity and also the level of impurity vis-à-vis the red jungle fowl. There have been reports of a decline in its population due to shrinkages in its distribution range in many parts of the country.

The institute had two years back successfully conducted a survey to assess the red jungle fowl’s distribution across the country. The survey had revealed that the fowl’s current distribution was found in as many as 21 range states with its presence being reported in as many as 205 out of 270 districts. Interestingly, its presence was also reported from 170 protected areas, including 31 national parks and 159 wildlife sanctuaries.

As a sigh of relief, the current distribution was found to be more or less similar to historical distribution barring for some gaps where it is discontinuous due to challenges in areas in the form of cities, changed landscapes and unsuitable habitats like wetland, high altitude areas and fragmented forest patches. Significantly, poaching continues to be another major challenge in conservation of the red jungle fowl that is also extensively poached for meat.

Now, after completing the first phase of the project, WII’s scientists are now all set for the next phase, which involves genetic studies linked to identifying pure red jungle fowl population in the country. There have been fears that its population may be genetically contaminated leading to an inference that there may be no pure red jungle fowl population in the wild.

“We are in the process of creating genetic maps for wild red jungle fowl population in this crucial second phase which may lead to possible patenting of strains,” disclosed Dr S Sathyakumar, a scientist of the WII and also principal investigator of the project.

Most important species to the mankind due to its economic and cultural significance, the red jungle fowl (gallus gallus) that owes its origin to Motichoor in Haridwar is believed to be the ancestor of all domestic chickens in the world. The present day multi-billion dollar poultry industry is based on the wild red jungle fowl and may have to depend on it in the future as well.

Poultry epidemics, like repeated occurrences of bird flu virus in India and other parts of South East Asia in the recent past, could spell doom to the poultry industry and the one of the main fall back options for the mankind would eventually be the wild red jungle fowl.

Dehradun, June 7
The ban on mining in Dehradun by the Uttarakhand High Court has given a big jolt to the revenue of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and its proposals to do mining in other states have not borne any fruit as yet. The GMVN, which lost revenue of crores of rupees with mining coming to a halt, is at present limited to mining in 537 hectares in Haridwar.

It was two months ago, Anil Nautiyal, Chairperson of the GMVN, had announced the nigam’s plan to take to other sectors to compensate the loss and start mining in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pauri and Tehri. To augment the nigam’s revenue and employment to the local unemployed youth, mining in Rudraprayag was proposed on the banks of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers in Uttarkashi, the Bhagirathi river in Pauri and the Alaknanda and Nayar rivers in Kotdwar and on the banks of the Dhauli Ganga, Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers in Chamoli district.

Officer handling mining CS Negi said the nigam had sent all proposals and today they got nodfor Pauri.

Insiders though express their doubt about these projects seeing the light of the day. They blame the NGO for hampering such projects. Purushottam Puri, president of the Employees Union, said after the ban was imposed the quantity of sand, stones, gravel and other materials had excessively collected in the rivers posing danger to the localities in the vicinity. “Mafia people are now unduly benefiting from this situation and are indulging in secret mining from riverbeds. It is only the GMVN which has lost out on the battle,” he said.

Dehradun being the biggest mining centre with 1,599 hectares involved in mining in the entire Uttarakhand. The area such as Kalsi, Asan Barrage, Badamawal, Sela Kui, Rajpura, Prem Nagar, Nala Pani, ISBT, Banjara Wala, Rispana, Doiwala, Rani Pokhri have now become susceptible to illegal mining activities. Puri feared for the lives of 40 mine workers who had been employed only for the security of these mining places. Mafia people threaten them.

General Manger, GMVN, UK Kabadwal too did not see any hope in this sector and expressed his doubt that the way nigam lost business of wood and liquor, it would lose mining as well in the near future, which did not bode well for the struggling nigam.

(Concludes)

Dehradun, June 7
“Quality education is within the reach of the common man with Gurukul Vidyapeeth and higher education will no longer be a dream for the middle class families. A premier technical and professional educational group of the Chandigarh region has introduced Budget Engineering College of the country for the brilliant students who could not pursue their studies in professional institutes due to money constrain,” said Deshraj Thakral, executive director of Gurukul Vidyapeeth.

While addressing mediapersons at a press conference, Thakral said, “The concept of Budget Engineering College is like turning a new leaf in the technical education scenario in the country. It’s been developed by CA Manmohan Kumar Garg, Chairman of Gurukul Vidyapeeth, to facilitate the students of the middle class in providing quality education under the mission “Education for All” with no capitation, donation or ragging in any campus of the college. The college is a tailor-made solution to every student under self-financing scheme.”

He also informed that under the self-financing scheme, the students would have to pay the course fees according to their capacity while rest would be arranged as funds by the institute, which could be refunded by the students when they are recruited after the completion of the course. Another alternative to repay is by sponsoring any other student’s education in instalments.

Thakral also announced 10 per cent seats reservation for the students of special categories on the pattern of the All-India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi, for women category, economically weak students, disabled candidates, sportspersons, wards of the defence personnel and freedom fighters.

Dehradun, June 7
The Uttarakhand government plan to promote health tourism in the state will finally take off with Emami Ltd of Kolkata bagging the bid for the first Ayush gram to be set up at Bhawali near Nainital.

Categorised as a high-end facility with provisions of a budget hotel as well, the facility is expected to shore up the image of the state that failed to replicate the Kerala model of popularising ayurvedic treatments along with tourism.

Promising to provide complete ayurvedic treatment wherein herbs too will be locally grown, generating income for farmers, Emami Ltd, along with the India Heritage Research consortium, will now equip the facility with a hospital, panchkarma unit, herbal garden, amenities for patients and a drug-manufacturing unit etc.

The selected developer will set up the Ayush gram on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis and maintain the same for a specified period. At the end of this period, it will hand back the facility to the Directorate of Ayurvedic and Unani Services.

“A land measuring 10 acres at the Bhawali sanatorium will be leased by the Uttarakhand government for the concession period and the selected party will have to build a hospital and wellness centre (100 beds minimum) and a residential complex for staff, drug-manufacturing unit and pharmacy, ayurvedic museum, tourist facility hotel, independent cottages, yoga centre and a herbal garden,” said Dr Pooja Bhardwaj, Director, Ayurved and Unani Services.

After failing to make a headway with the concept of establishing Ayush grams in each district for the past two years, once again the government has taken the public-private partnership (PP) route.

Earlier, the government had almost planned to hand over the project exclusively to Rishikesh-based Parmarth Niketan, but the proposal was rejected by the State Finance Department. Similarly, in 2008, expression of interest for Ayush grams was cancelled simply because the plan was against the state procurement policy.

Initially, the government had planned to build Ayush grams on its own, but the project could not materialise due to unavailability of land and financial and human resources. The land continues to be a problem, as the government’s plan envisages setting up of Ayush grams in all remaining 12 districts.

According to officials of the Ayurvedic and Unani Directorate, the private partner will have to set aside 15 per cent beds to be run at government rates. The private partner will have to shell a lump sum of Rs 2.50 crore during the signing of an MoU and continue to have a revenue-sharing mechanism even after the Ayush gram gets going.

Dehradun, June 7
The Deputy Commandant’s parade was held by gentlemen cadets (GCs) of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) here today.

The GCs marched elegantly while singing the IMA song. Major-Gen GS Bal, SM, VSM, Deputy Commandant and chief instructor of the IMA reviewed the parade. The parade marched on the tunes of “Sare jahan ae achchha Hindustan hamara...”.

Major-General Bal was also instructor at this academy in 1986. He congratulated the young GCs for choosing this noble profession and asked them to keep updated and ready for all types of challenges.

He also emphasised on the current challenges and the role of the Indian Army in nation building. The Army was the pillar of strength on which the democratic norms partially rested. The Army had done exemplary service in aid to civil during internal strife and natural calamities.

On the successful completion of pre-commission training, a total of 648 GCs will pass out from the IMA on January 12. This includes 23 GCs from friendly foreign neighbouring countries. 

Dehradun, June 7
The Tanush Cricket Academy (TCA) got the better of Amba XI by seven wickets during the Uttarakhand Challenger Cup underway on the OFD Ground here today.

Winning the toss first, Amba XI opted to bat first. It set a target of 146 runs. The batsmen of Amba XI started off well but couldn’t convert their individual scores to big numbers.

Sonu (22), Saurabh (15), Aman (15) and Rajat (15) were the main scorers for the side. While Preetam of the Tanush Cricket Academy scalped four wickets to emerge as the best bowler.

In reply, the TCA achieved the target at the loss of three wickets. Opening batsman Tanush (28) and the first down batsman Himanshu (33) were the principal scorers for the winning side. Pandey of the Amba team achieved two successes.

Haridwar, June 7
Students of Shiv Dale School in Jagjeetpur are participating at the cricket coaching camp at the Bhagwan Das Khurana Cricket Academy.

The students are being trained batting, bowling, fielding and also strategies to outwit the opponents in this technical era where every move of a player is being watched and identified by the rival teams.

Earlier this week, noted cricket coach and curator Radhe Shyam, along with local and school coaches, imparted coaching to 
the students.

Major stress is given on the mental aspect to prepare players for the hard and grinding professional demands of this game which is the most popular in the country.

Anil Khurana of the academy said varied talent was being found among the probable and hopefully in coming years academy would be able to produce prodigies that would represent district, state and the national team at all levels and formats.

School founder Swami Sharadpuri said a special diet chart had been prepared for the students to make their body fit.

Budding players are also being informed of the value of basic education citing 
examples of spin wizard Anil Kumble, pace express Javagal Srinath both of them having engineering degrees and 
players like Murali Vijay having MBA degrees who maintained right balance between cricket and studies. 

Pitthoragarh, June 7
In a sequel to celebrate the current year as International Bio-Diversity year, the Uttarakhand Bio-Diversity Board yesterday held a seminar in Munsiyari town close to Panchachuli Himalaya and stressed the need to preserve Himalayan bio-diversity.

“In order to preserve bio-diversity in the state the board intendeds to form 7,226 bio-diversity management committees at village level in the state,” said Dr BS Barfal chairmen of state bio-diversity board.

Chairman of the State Information Commission RS Tolia who inaugurated the seminar said, “If we talk of preserving the ecology, the beginning should be from preserving bio-diversity especially of the Himalayan region which were once a leader in bio-diversity. The flora and fauna of the Himalayan region is in crisis as the bio-diversity of the region is depleting,” said Dr Tolia.

Dr Barfal said Uttarakhand would have bio-diversity management committees not only in villages, but also at the district panchayat and municipality levels.