Now, village products with brand Corbett
Nainital, June 29
A novel attempt is being made to market the products prepared by residents of villages located on the periphery of the Jim Corbett National Park. Activists of the social sector of the area have hit upon the idea to brand these products under the name of Jim Corbett and try to cash in on its popularity across the country as well as the globe.

Weed stevia ovata causing threat to agriculture, forest produce of U’khand
Dehradun, June 29
Another exotic weed stevia ovata is causing threat to agriculture and forest produce of Uttarakhand.

Soon, regular health checkups in schools
Dehradun, June 29
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has sanctioned the Chirayu School Swasthya Yojana aimed at conducting health check-up and treatment of children under School Health Programme. Health check-up for the timely diagnosis of diseases and identification of physical deformities among children and accordingly treating them in time has been the basic aim of the scheme.

Pitthoragarh, June 29
Following the Meteorological Department forecast about an above-average monsoon this year, the Disaster Mitigation Department in Pitthoragarh district has started work to identify vulnerable and likely vulnerable spots in landslide-prone areas of the district. “We are not only identifying the localities on last year’s landslide experience, but also on the geological level this year before the rains start,” says Manju Pandey, specialist of Disaster Management Programme in Pitthoragarh district.

“So far we have identified more than 200 villages in the district which are vulnerable to landslides as these are situated in sensitive zones,” said Manju.

According to the Disaster Mitigation Project underway in the district, out of the 200 villages identified as sensitive from the landslide point of view, a maximum number of 71 are situated in Munsiyari subdivision of the district where a massive landslide occurred in La-Jhekla village last year. More than 40 persons were buried in the landslide. “Besides these sensitive localities in Munsiyari subdivision, 37 localities have been identified in Dharchula subdivision and 41 in Didihat subdivision of Pitthoragarh district. All three subdivisions consist of more than 80 per cent landslide-prone area of the district,” she said.

But, despite the on-paper preparations of the disaster mitigation centre, people affected by last year’s landslides have taken to roads demanding relief for the victims. “In Barakot block of Champawat district a cloud burst on June 28 last year washed away more than 46 hectares inhabited by more than 1,036 families, but the government has done nothing for the victims since then,” said Nirmala Gahtori, a local leader in Barakot block who held a protest before the district administration office in Champawat district today.

Not only in Champawat district, but the most landslide-prone the Baram valley of Munsiyari subdivision of the district is also feeling panic as the monsoon nears. “The 10 families that became victims of landslides in this valley in 2000 and 2007 are still living in temporary tin sheds,” said Kushal Singh Bisht, a villager of the Baram valley. “Even today the villages which are situated under big rocks on 70 degree angle are scared whenever clouds hover,” said Kushal Singh Bisht who demanded that all highly sensitive localities in the Baram valley should permanently be shifted. “Otherwise every year they are destined to be buried under debris,” said Bisht.

According to the Disaster Mitigation Centre, even the communication facility has not fully been provided to these villages to call up the tehsil administration at the time of a disaster. According to local villagers, there is no mobile tower in the valley and the headquarters of Munsiyari tehsil is situated at a distance at 50 km from there. “When 17 villagers died at Malla Sain village of the Baram valley in 2007, the Chief Minister visited the spot. But, after he left, nobody took care of the victims,” said BS Parihar, a villager from Malla Sain village.

Nainital, June 29
A novel attempt is being made to market the products prepared by residents of villages located on the periphery of the Jim Corbett National Park. Activists of the social sector of the area have hit upon the idea to brand these products under the name of Jim Corbett and try to cash in on its popularity across the country as well as the globe.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Anil Joshi of the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) said: “It is a well-known fact that the Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations. The visiting tourists also prefer to take back with them some kind of a souvenir from the park. Keeping this in mind we thought that why not promote the local products in the name of Corbett”.

Dr Joshi disclosed that the products could be anything ranging from processed food items like jams and sauces to other products. Like furniture made from the obnoxious weed lantana.

HESCO’s effort at making furniture from lantana has turned out to be a success in areas around Dehradun. The furniture made from the weed is comparatively cheaper than that of cane and is equally, if not more, durable. It helps in giving a trendy look to the houses and through this initiative HESCO has managed to provide livelihood to many people.

Talking about the new proposed initiative, Dr Joshi said initially the plan was to take up the initiative in 12 or 14 villages on the periphery of the park and if it proves to be a successful venture, it would be extended to the other villages in the corridor.

Dr Joshi, who had been in the area for the past few days having a dialogue with the community in these villages, claims the dialogue has been successful with the villagers ready to making this venture a success.

He said the Forest Department too wanted that people living on the fringe of the park should get an opportunity to livelihood through whatever they could obtain legally from the forest. “With the area being declared a national park, a lot many forest rights of the people were impinged upon by the Forest Department. Their dependence on forest for their livelihood also suffered a setback. But, the emphasis now is to make the best of whatever is available at hand,” said Dr Joshi.

Dehradun, June 29
Another exotic weed stevia ovata is causing threat to agriculture and forest produce of Uttarakhand.

Stevia ovata is the latest weed to be added to the list of weeds, after lantana, miokania, parthenium and chromolaena, that have proved problematic in the Uttarakhand state. This Mexican variety of weed is fast spreading into the forests of the Uttarakhand, specially the Queen of Hills Mussoorie and its adjoining hills. First spotted in 2006 by Mussoorie division forest officials, the weed is into a much larger area now.

Sources reveal that the new exotic weed in Uttarakhand’s Himalayan region is exhibiting a prolific growth in the region and disperses fast with the wind. Mussoorie and its adjoining hill areas have the most suitable weather on this account as the wind blows here all round the year.

According to former botanist of the FRI HB Naithani, stevia ovata is spreading thick and fast in the Uttarakhand region and is likely to suppress the native flora in the region as this weed by its very nature spreads fast.

Interestingly, while the focus has been on the eradication of lantana and parthenium, no efforts have been undertaken for the eradication of stevia ovata.

There are fears that stevia ovata may soon turn into a big headache for the forest-predominant state. Lantana has already suppressed the growth of several varieties of native plant species in the past decades and state Forest Department’s repeated attempts to eradicate the weed permanently have never succeeded completely.

Forest Department officials and employees have repeatedly tried to uproot lantana manually, but failed as it grew again. Stevia ovata could be another challenge in waiting.

Record confirms that stevia ovata was first sown in Shimla in the early 20th century.

Subsequently, it came to Dehradun at Chandbagh.

Dehradun, June 29
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has sanctioned the Chirayu School Swasthya Yojana aimed at conducting health check-up and treatment of children under School Health Programme. Health check-up for the timely diagnosis of diseases and identification of physical deformities among children and accordingly treating them in time has been the basic aim of the scheme.

In addition to it, an awareness programme for teachers and guardians will also be run, so as to enable them to become cautious towards the health of children and also to ensure that the diseases are treated timely. A block-wise target up to July 15 this year has been fixed for the effective implementation of the programme.

An official spokesperson said here today that the drive of health check-up and treatment of children, under the School Health Programme, would be run in junior high schools under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). A team of doctors, para-doctors and community mobilisers would be formed for the purpose in every district. Officers from the Education Department would also be included in the team. A co-ordinator on contract basis would be appointed for ensuring co-ordination at divisional-level. The Chief Medical Officer and the Additional District Education Officer would work as nodal officers for the hirayu Yojana.

The team formed under this scheme would visit the primary schools at least 24 days a month. This team would conduct health check-up of at least 150 children in hilly areas and 200 children in plain areas every month. Co-operation from the School Management Committee and the Village Education Committee would also be obtained for the purpose. The sole responsibility for the conduct of health check-ups would be of the Head Master of the school concerned.

The official spokesperson further informed that health cards would also be issued under the scheme. Health Education Cards for the students of Class I to V under “Education for All” programme have been published. Cards for the students of Class VI to VIII would be got published under the NRHM, he added. 

Haridwar, June 29
Keeping with its tradition of imparting socio-cultural education in addition to the regular syllabus, Dev Sanskriti University has arranged internship for its postgraduate students along with a mission to disseminate Indian values across the nation.

Apart from doing respective education field internships, these students will be spreading the ancient Indian values, culture and tradition in different states. They have been trained specifically by university teachers to make them messengers of humanity besides imparting them expertise in respective field of education.

A total of 202 postgraduate students today left for 11 states as per their internship programme. These students have been divided into 57 teams. The Chancellor of the university, Dr Pranav Pandya, along with Shail Jiji, met students before their departure. He emphasised on cultivating constructive leadership qualities while toiling hard like soldiers.

Addressing the students, Dr Pandya said: “The need of the hour is to have a constructive vision and have leadership qualities so that one can motivate and shape the masses in making the world a better place to live.”

He explained four fundamentals to the students: Refinement of talent, development of capabilities, belief in oneself and having the feelings of love and dedication towards everyone.

Shail Jiji termed students as soldiers of an army who are going on a mission. She urged the students to be an ideal example for society. Their behaviour and deeds will go a long way in saving the Indian tradition and disseminating the moral education being taught at the university, she added.

The students will also be enrolling members to the Divine India Youth Foundation (DIYA) and other youth organisations being operated by the university and ShantiKunj.

Speaking to The Tribune, Joint Director, Extension and Placement Cell, Ram Mahesh Mishra said the training programme comprised postgraduate, postgraduate (diploma) and certificate courses. The students would cover 11 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Dehradun, June 29
Manish Maithani has probably become the highest paid sports person of the state after signing a two-year contract with the Mohun Bagan Club, which fetched him a whopping Rs 55 lakh.

He signed the contract this month. His one-year contract with the Mohun Bagan Club was to expire in May this year in which he got Rs 7 lakh, while the two-year contract he signed now fetches him Rs 55 lakh.

This was a crucial goal by Maithani against East Bengal in emphatic 5-3 win of the Mohun Bagan in October last year followed by his selection in the Indian national team for the South-Asian Federation (SAF) Games that earned him the renewal of his contract with the club.

“I thing my goal against the East Bengal Club and earning national cap were the main aspects of being reposed faith by the Mohun Bagan Club once again. It was a literal switch from Rs seven lakh package to Rs 55 lakh,” said Maithani who is in Dehradun these days.

“Four clubs, Churchill Brothers, Pune FC, Salgaonkar and Mohun Bagan, had gave me an offer to join them but I chose Mohun Bagan. I have my understanding and previous association with the club that is why preferred it. No doubt, other clubs were offering me more package but I know Kolkata is the Mecca of football in India and don’t want to leave the place. I have a fan following there and even the local media covers football keenly,” the 25-year-old footballer quips.

Maithani is presently aiming at donning the cap of the India main team. “The national team is divided into two squads one is called under-23 and the other is the main team of India. I have played from the u-23 team that won the SAF games this year. But now I only aim to play from the India main team,” he added.

He termed the shutting down of the Mahindra United football Club as a big loss.

“Shutting down of such a big club is a very huge loss for players as well as for football. Involvement of big corporate in the sports is very important,” feels the ace footballer of Uttarakhand.

He said he got a lot of exposure in the I-League where playing with foreigners made him learn many things.

“The foreigners are very professional and I learnt this trait from them. There participation in the league besides setting standards of improvement also increases the package of Indian footballers,” Maithani shares his experience.

Lastly, on the football scenario in Dehradun, he feels, “There is no dearth of talent at grassroots level in Uttarakhand, but at higher level things are not so good.”

He suggested time-to-time football tournaments should be organised. The players should be given more and more chances to play at the all-India level championships for getting exposure.”

Dehradun, June 29
Doon Challenger with the help of Shekhar defeat the Roshni Club in a narrow 1-0 win at the ongoing Lala Nemi Dass Dehradun Football League underway on Pavilion Ground here today.

Shekhar struck the solitary goal of the match as early as in the fifth minute. Rival Roshni Club though proved good competitor for the Doon Challenger, failed to score a goal.

Challengers made some good goal attempts in the second half but earn a goal. Meanwhile, BC Milan and DMK are scheduled to play for the tomorrow’s league match.

Dehradun, June 29
The players of Uttarakhand and Maharasthra shone on the inaugural day of the 5th Senior and 3rd Junior and Sub-Junior National Kickboxing Championship commenced at the GRD Academy, Rajpur.

The championship is being organised by the Uttarakhand Three-Style Martial Art Association with Sardar Raja Singh, chairman of GRD, sponsoring the event.

Vandana of Uttarakhand (UK) bagged the gold medal and Anjali of the same state got the silver medal in the 40 kg category. Jyoti of Delhi stood first and Rupa (UK) got the second place in the 44 kg category.

Pratiksha of Maharastra emerged as winner in the 32 kg category and Aradhna (UK) was right behind her at the second place. In the senior category, Tranum (Delhi) got the first place and Sonali (Maharastra) second in the 45kg event.

Dehradun, June 29
Eleven Star and the Willis Youth Club registered identical 2-0 in their respective league matches here today during the District Football League at the Police Lines.

Rohit (31st) and Himanshu (41st) scored a goal each in the win of Willis Youth Club over Little Star. The latter couldn’t score even a single goal during the match.

In another match, Amit Dimri struck two back-to-back goals to help Eleven Star trounce Indra Club 2-0. Dimri netted two goals in the 21st and 22nd minutes of the game.

The Sports Hostel and the Bajrang Club will play the first match tomorrow while Yankies team will meet Pachwadoon Club in the second match of the day.

Dehradun, June 29
Zone-4 (B) defeated Zone-5 by 2-0 on the second day of the Grassroots Sport Foundation’s Promotional Football Tournament held on the Pavilion Ground here today.

Siddarth (25th) and Ravi (50th) of Zone-4 (B) team scored wonderful goal each to take their side to a comfotable position towards the victory.

There was no retaliation from rival Zone-5 throughout the match.

Suraj Thapa of Zone-5 was shown yellow card in the 15th minute of the game which was a blow to the team’s confidence.

For tomorrow, Zone-2 (B) and Zone-11 will meet for the first match of the and Zone-9 will face Zone-6 in another match later in the day.

The aim of the tournament is to promote the game at the grassroots level and bring out the talent hidden in the rural areas of the state.