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Education regulatory authority to have judicial powers
Cops, NREGA join hands to tackle drug menace
Commission from apple growers
Construction waste damages ecology
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Fee security irks parents
Rajwant urged to ensure justice for lower-rung staff
Developmental
Works
Panchayat technical assistants to go on strike
Jewellery worth Rs 1 lakh stolen
1.75 lakh saplings to be planted
Three held in pellet injury case
Job fest for MBA students begins
Students from all over the state attend a mega job fest, 2010, at Shimla on Tuesday. A Tribune photo
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Education regulatory authority to have judicial powers
Shimla, August 3 The draft Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions (Regulatory Commission) Bill was considered by the state Cabinet and referred to a sub-committee which had given final shape to the proposal. The sub-committee somewhat watered down the original draft by reducing the quantum of maximum penalty the proposed commission could impose on erring institutions from Rs 5 crore to Rs 1 crore. It also decided against assigning the task of determination of fee structure to the commission but it would have the powers to regulate it. However, it decided to confer the power to conduct inspections and summon the concerned parties to ensure effective functioning of the commission. It would be virtually an interface between the state government and the central regulatory bodies to help ensure appropriate standard of teaching, examination, research, extension programme and protection of the interests of the students of private institutions. It would ensure that admissions in private institutions were based on merit achieved in the National Common Entrance Test or the State Common Entrance Test as notified by the state government and where there was no such test the merit would be determined strictly on the basis of the marks obtained in the qualifying examination. It would develop an appropriate mechanism for receipt and redressal of grievances of students and parents, and direct the private institution to put in place a proper mechanism to handle complaints within a fixed time with details of the steps taken to redress the complaint. The commission would recommend to the government whether a Letter of Intent (LoI) should be issued to establish a private university. If the LoI had been issued, the sponsoring body would submit compliance to the commission, which would be submitted to the government along with its recommendation. It would consist of a chairperson and maximum of two full time or part time members from amongst persons of eminence in the field of higher education or have remained principal secretary to the Government of Himachal Pradesh for a period of three years. The chairpersons and members would be selected by a search committee comprising the Chief Secretary (chairman), a member of the UGC and Principal Secretary (Higher Education) as member secretary. |
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Cops, NREGA join hands to tackle drug menace
Shimla, August 3 The Deputy Commissioner, and SPs of five districts, where cannabis and poppy are cultivated illegally, have been asked to undertake its destruction under NREGA after preparing individual action plan. These districts are Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Shimla and Sirmour. “Though as per satellite imagery the area under poppy might not have increased, within the existing poppy pockets, the cultivation has increased manifold and that too of very high quality hybrid varieties,” admitted a senior police officer. He said due to specific moisture and soil conditions, poppy cultivation was not possible in every area. Hence, the scope for area under it increasing was not much. Destruction of cannabis and poppy is on in most of the districts and the SPs have been directed to prepare individual action plan as per the specific conditions in their area. Opium is mostly grown in Banjar, Tirthan and Ani area of Kullu and pockets of Mandi and Chamba districts. Even as far as cannabis cultivation is concerned, it has been found that the varieties being cultivated are high-yielding hybrid varieties imported from outside the country, a proof of involvement of foreigners in the illegal trade flourishing especially in Kullu and Mandi districts. The sophisticated technique used by those into the illegal trade of narcotics in extracting resin from the pod and its processing has heightened the fear of the police that they could be used as pre-cursor chemicals for producing the drug which fetches high price in international market. “We are undertaking destruction of cannabis and poppy under NREGA jointly with other departments and the production has come down due to sustained efforts of all agencies,” said N Venugopal, DIG (CID). Though according to the government estimates the area under cannabis and opium has been fluctuating, the fact remains that various efforts have, so far, not been able to wean away people from cultivation of cannabis and poppy. The police too admits that these figures do not reflect the true picture as the problem still persists in a big way. |
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Govt not serious about issue: Cong
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 3 Addressing a press conference here today, he said if the commission was being charged despite the high court verdict, the right course was to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the authorities concerned rather than issuing statements in the media. He said even more serious problem had arisen for the apple growers with the “Ladanis”, who further supplied apples to retailers, were threatening to go on strike during peak harvesting season. The government should play the role of a mediator and make efforts to resolve issues raised by Ladanis as their strike would create serious marketing problems for growers during a bumper year, he added. He maintained that the BJP government was harping on the issue of commission to divert attention from its failure to maintain roads which were in bad shape. In fact, the growers were facing problems in transporting the fruit as truck operators were not keen to ply vehicles on damaged roads. Moreover, entry tax was being charged from incoming vehicles, he stated. In Rohru, a few buyers from outside states purchased fruit but vanished without paying an amount of Rs 40 lakh to growers. Rathore blamed the Dhumal government for the murky happening in the private nursing college at Palampur and said the withdrawal of recognition by the Indian Nursing College (INC) should be any eye-opener for those taking admission in private universities. He demanded a probe into the functioning of these institutions which had started various courses without approval from the mandatory regulatory bodies or inspection by any state or central authority to ascertain whether UGC norms were being followed or not. It was a big scam as the state, with a population of just 65 lakh, did not require so many universities, he added.
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Construction waste damages ecology
Dharamsala, August 3 A survey of the area revealed that people fill waste in cement bags. The bags are then carried in trucks on the 2-km-long road stretch between McLeodganj and Bhagsunag and dumped along the hillsides between deodar trees. Miscreants, who dump construction waste in the area, said they have been directed by contractors to dump the material there. It comprises cement and brick waste which was killing tree undergrowth in the area. Experts were of the view that construction waste had a tendency to settle down permanently and it also does not allow fresh undergrowth in the forest area to survive. It also scars the natural beauty of the area and damages the ecology. According to rules, it is the duty of the local municipal council and the district administration to stop spreading of solid waste in the area. A solid waste-dumping site has also been established in Dharamsala as per the Supreme Court directions. As per the directions, the solid waste generated out of construction of buildings should be used as filler in low-lying areas where construction is to take place. However, to make it practical a proper management is required. For this, the authorities concerned have to keep a check on ongoing constructions and solid waste being generated out of them. The people carrying out constructions should be forced to deposit waste at places marked for the purpose. The government departments like the PWD can then use the muck during the construction of roads or as filler in basements of buildings. Interestingly, inquiries from various departments revealed that despite the fact that construction waste is being deposited along the hills in large quantities, no one has been booked by the competent authorities for the offence. The authorities concerned said they had not received any complaint in the matter. It is also surprising that the authorities are waiting for complaints to act in the matter. However, generally it has been found that in case of illegal constructions also, the Town and Country Planning authorities limit themselves to issuing notice to offenders to save their skin in case of inquires. No action is taken practically to stop the practice.
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Fee security irks parents
Mandi, August 3 These parents from across the state are under heavy stress, finding it hard to manage the amount. “Instead, the government should have asked for an affidavit from each student,” they said. Counselling for the admission to the BDS course was held on July 17-18 and admissions concluded on July 30. The dental college has given seven days’ time to deposit the fee security . Harassed parents told The Tribune that they were raising education loan from banks for fee security. However, a few from poor economic background were forced to sell their land to raise money for the purpose. Meanwhile, even banks are dictating terms to the parents, demanding Rs 1 lakh “fixed deposit” to give the bank guarantee, complained parents. The government has inserted this “fee security clause” in its bid to keep all “60 seats filled in the college” as many students leave the BDS degree course midway after they make it to other medical college even after a year or two. However, the students objected to it and said it was their right to join a better medical college. “The fee security to hold them back is a denial of right to choose better college and hence the government should drop this clause in the larger interest of the students,” they demanded. Moreover, the college was applying this fee security condition from October 1. Hence, there was no logic in depositing the security money now, they alleged. Dr Ashu Bhardwaj, principal, when contacted, said the government had inserted this clause because many students left the college mid-session. However, she said they had conveyed the parents’ complaint to the government and were awaiting a reply.
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Rajwant urged to ensure justice for lower-rung staff
Shimla, August 3 Appreciating her call for improving efficiency and ensuring accountability, president of the confederation Vinod Kumar said employees were suffering due to unnecessary litigation and “administrative mismanagement” on part of the officers. Not only most of the cases of irregularities and corruption invariably had involvement of officers but also they continued to be posted in sensitive positions, while the honest were sidelined. The government was litigant in courts and it was one of the reasons for delay in dispensation of speedy justice to the public. The employees were also being harassed through unnecessary court cases and it was high time that their cases were settled through in-house mechanism rather than taking matters to courts. One of the reasons for the problems of employees posted in the field was that the staff of state secretariat, who could not be transferred, did not cooperate and rather they managed to get the field functionaries shifted here and there like a pendulum which directly affected efficiency and performance. He also urged the government to take a decision on matters like release of arrears and instalments of dearness allowance which had become due without any
further delay. |
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Developmental Works Tribune News Secretary
Shimla, August 3 He was reviewing implementation of various directives given by the government from time to time here today. “Any laxity on this account would be viewed seriously as the government has initiated various developmental programmes at grass-root level, especially through Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, so as to benefit the people,” he said. Dhumal said a time frame had been fixed for issuing various certificates, ration cards, birth and death certificates, which should be adhered to strictly. The Chief Minister said most of the problems of people should be solved during Prashashan Janta Ke Dwar in the field so that they do not have to run from pillar to post for getting their work done. He said financial and technical sanction of the work should be ensured within the fixed time schedule.
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Panchayat technical assistants to go on strike
Hamirpur, August 3 Addressing a press conference here today, state president of the union Kulbhushan Sharma and other office-bearers said, “The union had been urging the state government to regularise all panchayat technical assistants who have completed eight years of service as per the government policy, but the government has not taken any step to fulfil their this demand.” They said on March 16 their union had observed a pen-down strike to highlight their demand, which was called off on assurance from the state government to find a solution to their problems within three months, but nothing much had been done in this direction despite meeting the Chief Minister and the Panchayati Raj Minister in this regard. Expressing their resentment for not taking any step to regularise the services of panchayat technical assistants completing eight years of service, the union has now decided to go on a strike, they added. The union also demanded honourable payment to their category who have not completed eight years of service. |
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Jewellery worth Rs 1 lakh stolen
Mandi, August 3 After receiving the complaints, the police lodged FIRs in both cases under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC and Sections 458, 380, 411 and 34 of the
IPC, respectively, today. However, burglars remained unidentified in the jewellery theft case, while the three accused named by the factory owner were yet to be arrested. In the second case, Arun Kumar alleged that Munish and
Punit, both from UP, and Kanheya Lal of Chamwara in Bihar broke the lock of his factory last night and stole eight rollers and cutters. The Mandi SP said the police had lodged FIRs and was trying to nab
the accused. |
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1.75 lakh saplings to be planted
Bilaspur, August 3 State BJP spokesperson and Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma said this while inaugurating a constituency-level Van Mahotsav at Niharkhan Basla, 40 km from here, today. Randhir said a campaign was being launched to destroy and uproot dangerous weeds growing in the forests. These weeds, mostly lantana, would be uprooted from 85 hectares and saplings would be planted in its place.
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Three held in pellet injury case
Bilaspur, August 3 The police found that Narender had fired a shot from his licensed gun after his family had a scuffle with another family over a land dispute in which Vijay was injured. The police has registered a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC against Narender while investigation is still on regarding cross cases registered by the two contesting families. |
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Job fest for MBA students begins
Chandigarh, August 3 According to a press note issued here today, the fest witnessed participation from some of the leading corporates such as Bharti Airtel, Future Generali, Samarth Lifestyle and many other companies. The fest will go a long way in providing a platform to students from various streams to explore probable career opportunities in some of the best companies of the country. |
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Chandigarh, August 3
