Nainital, August 1
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has started its ground work for the 2012 Vidhan Sabha polls in the state with a Kumaon convention held here today. The convention was attended by all senior leaders of the party from Uttarakhand and was addressed by minister in the Mayawati government Ram Achal Rajbhar.

Emphasis was laid on strengthening the organisation of the party right up to the polling booth level and workers were told to convince the electorate that the BSP was the only party which was practicing inclusive politics and giving due representation to people from all religions and castes.

Rajbhar pointed, “It is a malicious campaign launched by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the BSP is only the party of Dalits. It can be seen by anybody that the Mayawati government has a sizeable number of Brahmins and Kshatriyas as ministers. Even in the recent Legislative Council elections, 22 of the 32 winning BSP candidates were from upper castes only”.

He was critical of the BJP and the Congress for practising the politics of dividing people on the lines of religion and caste.

“The people have elected them to power right from Independence till now. But have they removed poverty from the lives of the upper castes, what to talk of the backward sections of society? The BJP kept harping on the tone of Ram Mandir, but did it do anything to construct the temple when it was in power for six years at the Centre”.

The two parties were also attacked for a series of communal riots witnessed by the country since Independence and for their failure to rein in inflation that had made survival difficult for a common man.

Rajbhar made scathing attack on the Congress government in Maharashtra for pursuing an agenda against those migrating to the state from other parts of the country. He contended that the BSP was the only inclusive force in the country and its popularity was on the rise while the vote share of the Congress and the BJP was on the decline across the country.

The Congress was also termed as anti-Dalit for failing to fill the backlog against vacancies meant to be filled by reserved candidates.

Talking about Uttarakhand, he said the people had tried both the Congress and the BJP over the past 10 years.

“Both parties have let down people by failing to bring about an improvement in the law and order situation, providing employment and development. It is time that people now give a chance to us,” he said.

When asked if the promises being made by the BSP were similar to those the other parties had promised in various elections, he said, “We deliver on what we promise in a transparent manner. People can try us and if we fail to deliver they always have the right to vote us out”.

On being pointed that the party had fared third after making similar claims last time also, he said, “Our vote share is rising and even in the last Assembly elections we had lost about eight seats by slender margins. This time we will have a far better performance”.

The BSP has already established itself as a strong force in the districts of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar.

In the 2007 Assembly elections, the BSP had won six out of nine Assembly seats in Haridwar district. It’s leaders claim that the BSP is an ideal political force that can fill the void available in the form of a non-Congress and non-BJP voter base in the state.

The party has two sitting legislators from Udham Singh Nagar.

Haridwar, August 1
Women agitators from hilly districts of the state today protested here lending the agitation by Prof GD Aggarwal at Matra Sadan a major boost. Women from Gangotri, Uttarkashi, Gopeshwar, Pala Bhaneri, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal and various regions, particularly falling on the Ganga river wherein hydroelectric projects were part of the agitation.

Under the aegis of the Ganga Aahwan in support of the Matra Sadan agitation against hydro projects, the women agitators tried to generate awareness regarding these power projects saying the these projects were causing damage to the environment and natural water resources as well.

“Our natural water resources have dried up, besides the changes in temperature, constant landslides and changes in animals’ behaviour can be seen. In the name of employment, local people are given low-grade work. While companies and contractors are raking in money, we the original in inhabitants suffer by moving from our ancestral homes,” said Geeta Devi, an activist.

At Matra Sadan, the agitation was against Pala Maneri, Lohari Nagpala and other such projects carried out on hilly terrains on the Ganga. Professor Aggarwal said this time his agitation would not stop until these hydro projects were scrapped fully.

Lending support to the agitation today, former legislator from Pauri Garhwal Mohan Singh Rawat Gaonvasi sat on the agitation spot in support of Professor Aggarwal and Matra Sadan activists.

“Such hydro-electric projects which are carried out commercially without taking care of the environment, sooner or later will have a drastic impact, particularly on nearby regions wherein they are being built,” said Mohan Singh.

The agitation was continued for the second week by saints of Matra Sadan with local people coming in full support.

Noted environmentalist MC Mehta, Swami Shivanand and several other environmental saviours and lovers sat on the agitation today.

Haridwar, August 1
With the Panchak tenure, which is assumed to be having a negative effect during the Kanwar season getting over late night, a sudden surge in the number of Kanwariyas, as was expected from today onwards, came out true as the city brimmed with Kanwariyas from all over.

A Kanwar yatra procession in Haridwar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Kanwariyas from far-off places such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have left the city after fetching the holy Ganga water as they had to tread the longer distance. But now, with the Panchak having religious significance getting over in the Kanwar season, from today onwards Kanwariyas from Haryana, Punjab and Delhi moved towards the Kumbh city not in thousands, but in millions.

Such was the downpour of Kanwariyas, after the downpour of continuous rains, that the city got logged by Kanwariyas. National highways and city inner roads were jammed with Kanwariyas. As per estimation, the number of Kanwariyas today neared a million mark which suggests that in the coming days this yatra will break all sorts of previous Kanwar records.

Mela police personnel had a tough time in controlling the proceedings as not only they had to manage the Kanwariyas, but also decongest the vehicular traffic that put the city life almost to a halt.

Though the Kanwar stretch is being used, with the number of Kanwariyas thronging the city it seems the mela police will be diverting the routes leading to Haridwar as well as blocking traffic on national highways in the coming days.

According to mela officials, a new traffic plan will be imposed soon as the Kanwariya rush will only increase in the coming days. Already the city traffic is facing the heat, besides with the commencement of Dak Kanwar, wherein vehicles will be used by Kanwariyas, there is bound to be traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, the mela police has urged Kanwariyas to follow the police guidelines viz treading on Kanwar patri, no usage of alcohol-drugs, precautions while taking bath, maintaining cleanliness in the city as well as being cordial with locals and traders.

“Till this time we have seen well-behaved Kanwariyas having only religious faith in their minds and we too are providing them with good services. But we don’t know if the same will continue in the coming days when the rush in Kanwariyas number from nearby neighbouring states will get higher,” said Rohit Kumar, a food eatery owner at Old Ranipur.

Nainital, August 1
The extension of the Ranikhet Express to Jaipur from August 1 has provided respite to a large number of railway passengers from the region. The train has been extended to the Pink City on a trial basis for now and depending on its success, Jaipur might become its permanent destination.

Now, it departs from Kathgodam at 8.40 pm and reach Jaipur at 10.15 am. On the same day it leaves Jaipur at 4.05 pm and reach Kathgodam at 5.20 am.

The train was earlier going only up to Delhi.

There has been a long-pending demand of people to have a direct train from Kathgodam to Mumbai and other metros.

The starting of a train to Jaipur has provided some respite to people with the trading community being particularly happy as it will facilitate expansion of their business.

Pithoragarh, August 1
With the latest seizure of 2,500 gm of yarsa gumba by a Special Operation Group of the Pithoragarh police at Tatapani near Jauljibi on the Indo-Nepal border today evening, the Pithoragarh police has recovered a total of 7 kg of yarsa gumba during the past 15 days. “This quantity of yarsa gumba costs nearly Rs 5 crore in the Indian market and Rs 30 crore in the international market,” said NA Baharare, SP, Pithoragarh.

“Two youths were arrested under the 26 Forest Act near Jauljibi when our jawans recovered 2,500 gm of yarsa gumba which they were carrying to Dharchula from Munsiyari to be sent to Nepal,” said the SP adding that the arrested youths did not seem owner of the recovered yarsa gumba, but seemed to be only porters employed by smugglers.

Dehradun, August 1
St Joseph’s alumnus in association with the DSI Foundation took up the cleaning and maintenance drive of scruffy memorials for martyrs of Uttarakhand here today.

Activists initiated the programme early in the morning from the Shaheed Maj Vivek Gupta Chowk near Balliwala. The volunteers cleaned up the shrine and a new coat of paint was put on it. They have also removed the posters and pamphlets from the shrine of Shaheed Kapil Thapa Dwar.

Col BRS Gupta, father of martyr Major Vivek Gupta expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the activists. “The authorities have forgotten to take care of such memorials after constructing them. Nobody from the cantonment board, Municipal Corporation or society have turned up to initiate with cleaning of these places. I appreciate the activity set off by the DSI Foundation and will love to contribute in the service too from my end,” said Colonel Gupta on the occasion.

While talking to The Tribune, Rajeev Sachar said all memorials of martyrs in Dehradun would be decorated with murals and paintings of Uttrakhand’s traditional art so that people didn’t deface these with posters, slogans and advertisements.

He also said starting an online museum for the martyrs of Uttarakhand since 1947 to cater to the inquisitiveness and render information about the heroes to net-savvy people.

However, the foundation has decided to clean up the mess on the memorials of the deceased heroes in Garhi on August 8.

Also present at the event were Brig RS Rawat (retd), Rajeev Sachar, Sitanshu Mulasi, Rajeev Pahuja, Himanshu Joshi, Kanwal Arora, Deepanjli Shahi, Isha Rawat, Shweta Thapa, Namit Sinha, Ishita Joshi, Manya Joshi, Amol Pahuja and Commander (IN) HS Rawat.

Dehradun, August 1
To mark the World Breastfeeding Week, a city-based voluntary organisation, Mamta, under its adolescent health and development project with the support of TPAK-JICA, Japan, organised a programme here today.

The World Breastfeeding Week is being observed all over the world from August 1-7 to sensitise community about the importance of breastfeeding. The theme of this year’s breastfeeding week is “10 steps to successful breastfeeding-The Baby-friendly Way”

The sanstha had planned a weeklong programme that would be held at villages of Vikas Nagar. More than 270 women and girls from 20 villages of Vikas Nagar gathered at the Gandhi Park to participate in the sensitisation meeting and rally.

Chief Functionary JM Singh and Chief Coordinator Beena Walia of Mamta addressed the gathering and told the participants about the importance of breastfeeding through posters, songs and slogans etc. JM Singh also shared steps with people for promoting breastfeeding.

A rally was taken out from the Gandhi Park to the Ghanta Ghar, Rajpur Road, Ashley Hall etc to create awareness among the masses about the importance of breastfeeding.

Dehradun, August 1
Smart Emotional Excellence conducted an introductory workshop for emotional healing of people. Renowned speaker and author Mahesh Sharma and therapist in energy psychology Arun Nayar held the workshop on Emotional Freedom Techniques here today.

While talking to The Tribune, Sharma asserted, “This energy healing workshop is conducted to discover the methods of reducing as well as eliminating stress and anxiety from one’s life. We in our one-day extensive workshop help people in controlling phobias and fears while lessening physical pain and grief. The crux of this entire project or the course of the emotional freedom is to enhance the personal performance of an individual while increasing their inner confidence as well”.

“During the workshop we will try highlight the positivism in and around the body through practical sessions using short-cut procedures and additional tapping points. Common application and personal peace programme will surely make a person visualise the refinement in their inner self. After successful sessions of programme in four other cities, thousands of people in India have learnt this programme effectively. We hope that maximum people will attend this workshop and make utmost out of it,” he added.

The registration was done toady on the spot on the nominal charge of Rs 500. The next session would be conducted on August 8 at Hotel Classic International.

Dehradun, August 1
For the first time mobile health vans being run on the public-private partnership (PPP) have collected user charges of Rs 41.52 lakh for the period of April 2009-June 2010.

The state Health Department’s hospital-on-wheels project, that had initially encountered operational problems, is now on the track and so far a total of 2,07,965 OPDs and 8,272 anti-natal cases (ANCs) have been attended in the 13 districts of the state.

The mobile hospitals equipped with X-ray, ultrasound machines, ECG and semi-auto analyser facilities costing Rs 1 crore are being run on PPP mode in all 13 districts of the state.

Earlier, the two private agencies running the 13 mobile hospitals on PPP mode are facing problems in hiring women doctors and radiologists, a perennial problem in the state. Even if the demand for manpower was being met from outside, the agencies found it difficult to retain the staff.

But the gamble of paying the staff substantial amount seemed to be working in favour of the scheme and once the state medical colleges begin churning doctors and nurses the paucity of manpower too would be solved.

“According to the memorandum of understanding reached between the state government and the private agencies all the 13 ambulances should have 10 staff members comprising of a lady doctor, physician, radiologist, laboratory technician, staff nurse, pharmacist project coordinator, helper and a driver to be appointed by the private agencies,” said Dr Asha Singh, Joint Director, Public Private Cell, DG, Health and Family Welfare.

The Health Department has struck an agreement with private partners for a period of five years. In Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts, Rajbhara Medicare has been entrusted with the task of running the mobile hospitals, while in the remaining 11 districts Jain Video on wheels (New Delhi) is in charge.

Dehradun, August 1
The National Skin Clinic and Laser Centre, Dehradun, is taking a step ahead in curing the disease of leukoderma through the Stem Cell Transplantation and Melanocyte therapy. Dr Pradeep Kumar Sethi, hair transplant surgeon, announced here today.

“Uttarakhand will witness a revolutionary change in surgical management of stable vitiligo through melanocyte transplant. The advantage over the conventional surgery will be shocking as extremely large areas can be treated in a single sitting,” said renowned melanocyte surgeo Dr Swapnil Saha from Mumbai.

While addressing the media, Dr Sethi informed that this kind of treatment was new for patients in Uttarakhand, as stem cell transplantation has not been done at any other centre except AIIMS. The duration of the treatment is just three months, while it cost around Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 according to the skin area affected by leukoderma.