The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Drive to put brakes on ‘killer’ buses Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 18 To put a brake on the speed of “killer” city buses, the police called a meeting of city bus unions and the RTO here today. SSP GS Martoliya said the speed of these buses would be fixed and checked from time to time. “The issues, including stopping buses at non-assigned stops and rash driving, would also be discussed,” Martoliya added. The buses have earned a bad name due to their involvement in several accidents, some of which have also claimed lives of commuters and creating ruckus on the roads. They are also notorious for being driven rashly and speeding with counterparts to reach scheduled stops on time and getting more and more passengers. Another major problem faced by commuters which also leads to accidents and traffic jams is stopping of buses by drivers anywhere on the roads and not at the bus stops to carry passengers. Lack of bus stops and unmaintained bus stops in the city have also attributed to the problem. The attention towards these buses was drawn once again of late when a student was killed and another injured after a city bus hit their scooter on the Rajpur Road. Several drives and meetings have been done earlier to solve the problems, but they have hit the roadblock. However, the authorities claim to be dealing it sternly this time. One-way roads to control traffic chaos To improve the traffic conditions in the city, Dehradun SSP GS Martoliya has planned to convert more roads into one-way ones. Martoliya said initially Doon Chowk, Karzan Road and some portions of Dharampur would be made one-way on a trial basis next week. And if the plan was set right, the police would make more one-way roads. The SSP added that the police would also make the Clock Tower parking free. “There will be no parking on the roads at the Clock Tower and the parking for two-wheelers will only be allowed at the assigned parking lot near Kumar Sweets Shop,” the SSP added. The police would also not allow rehriwala and kiosks on the roads. Besides, the SSP ordered that from today onwards no ice-cream parlour would remain open after 10 pm at the Paltan Bazar.
	Nullify illegal appointments, says Nigam vice-chief Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 18 Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) vice-president Raghunath Singh Negi held one more media interaction today in a quick succession to bring out the anomalies displayed in the appointment of seven senior-level positions almost a month ago by the former Managing Director of the nigam to favour a few. He indicated to move the state government to take strong action against the errant and in declaring these appointments null and void by setting up an inquiry. Negi showed documentary proofs with regard to his allegations. These positions are of Chief Audit Officer, Deputy General Manager (Operational Tourism), Manager (Agriculture and Horticulture Marketing Produce), Deputy General Manager, Tourism (Administration), Chief Manager/Regional Manager, Accounts Officer and Manager (Operational Ropeway). Negi said former MD BVRC Purushottam deliberately published incomplete notification for the vacancies in newspapers which was otherwise available on the nigam website in full form. The purpose was to conceal the desirability of high-level qualifications which the candidates did not conform to for these positions, he added. Besides, he also accused Purushottam of overlooking the important conditions of obtaining character certificates and permanent address in the same cases. The other glaring irregularity which Negi pointed out was well-conceived and meant to project these positions as “contractual” which otherwise were regular in nature. The purpose, he said, was to discourage public to apply for it in large scale. As the appointments were made, the process began to regularise these people, he informed and gave examples where in a couple of appointments, letters too were released to the candidates saying that they would be regularised if they yielded good results. It was well in time the scam was busted, otherwise these people would have been regularised by now, Negi pointed out. In two cases, the written tests, too, were not taken, he said. Experience of long years of the well-qualified staff of the nigam was blatantly ignored, while finalising these appointments and to make the matter worse, 20 senior employees of the nigam were made to retire under the Voluntary Retirement Services (VRS), threatening them that if they did not do so, the nigam would fire them under the Compulsory Retirement Scheme, Negi said.
	Chokrata Road Issue MDDA Secy turns down shopkeepers’ demand Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 18 A group of 28 shopkeepers, out of total 143 who own freehold land on the Chokrata Road met the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) Secretary in regard to the widening of the Chakrata Road. The group demanded priority in the allocation of shops and double the space to what they had at present in lieu of exercise of acquiring of their shops. The Secretary nodded to their demand of seeking priority, but denied of giving double the space. The group expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of the MDDA vice-chairman. Virender Rawat, a shopkeeper, said the other shopkeepers who had government land had been promised to be provided freehold land on the Rajpur Road, whereas the group which already had the freehold land, demanded priority in everything be it allotment of land or facilities or double the space. “We were denied money in exchange of our land. Transparency in the deal was sought with the demand of all possible facilities such as parking, etc”. Parmindar Mata, another shopkeeper, said they also asked for the market rate than the circle rate for those who had two-storey houses on the road. Mata said their suggestion to reduce the proposed width from 80 ft to 60 ft of the road to save the interest of small shopkeepers was turned down by the Secretary. The shopkeepers also demanded that the MDDA weigh all expenses of dismantling and repairing the remaining parts of their shops on the Chakroata Road. Shashi Kant Goyal, president of shopkeepers of Nazrool land, also expressed solidarity with the concerns of these 28 shopkeepers who he said deserved an upper hand for possessing freehold land.
	Workshop deliberates direction of Dalit movement in state Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 18 Despite the historical background in Uttarakhand, the society has not been able to provide balm to the hurt psyche of Dalits, who carry a cauldron of hurt emotions and missed opportunities. Viewing through the prism of history and the prevailing social conditions, academicians and social activists tried to address the Dalit angst and even deliberated on the direction that the Dalit movement should take in Uttarakhand at a workshop held today. It was organised by the Samta Andolan in association with the Uttarakhand Mahila Samakhya, National Confederation of Dalit Organisation NACDOR. Providing a historical perspective, historian Padam Shree Dr Shekhar Pathak said during the British rule most of the Dalits experienced a semblance of liberation. They were given political educational and social acceptance. "The Dalit movement in Uttarakhand began with an effort to uplift the artisan community and ran parallel with reform movements underway in other communities. Two main Dalit leaders Jainender Bharti from Pauri and Kushi Ram from Nainital even went abroad and while dealing with the Dalit question, they were lent support by the upper caste who jointly raised their voice against oppression and rights for the Dalits, " said Dr Pathak. He said a few years back, support was even extended to Jainender Bharti, who decided to defy the dictates of the upper caste riding on a horseback for his wedding in Kafalta (1980 stir), it took him several days to reach his destination but he managed to fire the imagination of the Dalits who were not allowed by the upper caste to mount the horse for their weddings, a sole prerogative of the upper caste those days. "After 19-20 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes was announced in 1950, it ushered in jobs for them but due to lack of awareness the posts continue to lie vacant," said Dr Pathak. Suresh Bhai of the Nadi Bachao Andolan said the Dalit issue should also aim at removing disparities and the word Dalit should not be used for dividing people, let us not divide people any more and create fissures, he said. He also castigated the district administration for showing laxity in arresting the priest from Hanol believed to have beaten up a local Dalit who had come to pay obeisance. "It is travesty of justice that till this day on one pretext or the other the temple priest has managed to avoid arrest, the authorities have told us that he is busy with some rituals and cannot be arrested," said Suresh Bhai. He also lashed out at government for failing to come in the aid of landslide affected Dalit families of Bhatwari villages and also demanded an enquiry into the sale of fake caste certificates. However, Dalit writer and author 'Joothan' OP Valmiki said Dalit is the voice of protest and has given an identity to a group of oppressed people and he is quite comfortable with the identity and asserted that untouchability continues to be practiced in Uttarakhand. Exhorting the Dalits to fight for social and political rights, he said they should shape their own destiny and lead their own movements. A Dalit has to fight the stigma of caste as soon as he is born and it continues till he dies," Valmiki lamented. He said time and time again there have been efforts to bring Dalits into the Hindu fold, they are forced to accept the Hindu practices and adopt Sanskrit. No wonder there is so much resentment and hatred. This hatred does not allow us to live in peace," he added. Shamsher Bisht a social activist with Uttarakhand Lok Vahini said the Dalits issues has to be perceived taking a broader view and Dalit issues historically have all along been little different mainly revolving around Jal, Jungle and Jamin. He asserted that in the Kafalta (Almora district) episode members from all communities participated, "No movement can be successful without the full participation of communities. In South Africa though former President Nelson Mandela let the movement against apartheid, the contribution of non-whites was equal. Let us not malign our history for petty gains," he asserted.
	Haridwar to display info in Sanskrit Sandeep Rawat Tribune News Service Haridwar, August 18 Haridwar will soon get to see signboards, display boards and information plates in Sanskrit language. This will be quite in sync with the official second language status given to Sanskrit by Uttarakhand which is the only one among the 29 states in the country. At first, this will be applicable in Haridwar and Rishikesh, and after that will slowly be introduced in other cities. Sanskrit, which is considered the mother of all languages, is one of the 22 scheduled languages of the country and the official language of the state and continues to be widely used as a ceremonial language in Hindu religious rituals in the forms of hymns and mantras, but this step will make it more popular in daily chores of life. After Hindi, the national language of the country, Sanskrit will be the second language in which information will be displayed, while English will be the third language. This step has been taken for promoting the language in day-to-day life as well as depict the rich traditional culture of our country. Add to this, in coming time, information announcements regarding train timings, bus station announcements of lost and found, Ganga Sabha announcements too will be heard in Sanskrit language which will be quite a unique one for all as till date either Hindi or English was being used nationwide, while respective states uses their state languages. Apprising about this step, OSD to Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank CS Upadhyay said the state government was trying to popularise Sanskrit language and would be linked with employment and a government notification had been issued in this regard. A monitoring committee has been formed regarding this matter, to be presided by District Magistrate Haridwar, which will be giving its report from time to time to ensure the development and enhancement of Sanskrit is made in the state. The District Magistrate Office and the Uttarakhand Sanskrit Academy will be the first to use the language in its signboards and notice boards. With Garhwali and Kumaoni languages not yet declared as official state languages, Hindi and English are used, but now state’s second official language Sanskrit will be easily visible and audible in the coming days giving a distinct identity to the hilly state worldwide.
	Woman files complaint against father, step-brother Alleges she has been sold repeatedly for past 12 years for Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh Tribune News Service Dehradun, August 18 Bachna Sharma, a resident of Chakrota, alleged that she had been sold by her father and step-brother at different places for the past 12 years for Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh every time. She added that she was now running a shop at Lakhamandal but her father was pestering her and trying to grab the land she had bought for the shop. Victim today lodged a complaint to the Dehradun SSP who further sent the matter to Vikas Nagar ASP Ajay Joshi to inquire. The woman in her complaint alleged that she had been sold from the age of 22 to 35 years in different places, including Haridwar, Dehradun and Muzzffarnagar several times by her step-brother Baburam and father Datta Ram Sharma. According to her complaint, she was first sold to a Chennai resident for Rs 3 lakh and she stayed with him for six years and gave birth to two children with him. She was later sold at different places by her father and step-brother. She said she was warned of dire consequences if she informed the police. She further alleged that during this period she managed to flee from one of the persons’ house, whom she was sold, with her children. And later opened a shop at Lakhamandal in Chakrota and started running it with the help of a servant. But her father and step-brother came there and beat her and her servant. They also tried to grasp the land owned by her. This forced her to come to the police. “Till today, due to shame of society and fear of father I didn’t come to the police. But now I don’t want my fear to take toll on my children’s lives and that is why I have approached the police,” she told mediapersons. The Vikas Nagar ASP said, “The matter needs to be probed and he has called her to his office to investigate the matter further”. Minor alleges rape A minor girl of Karanpur was allegedly raped by a youth of the same locality several times. The boy also allegedly threatened her of dire consequences. The police today arrested accused Shahnabaz. According to the police, the girl had earlier said she would marry with the boy, but the trouble arose for the latter when the girl backtracked from her statement and alleged that she had been raped. A case under Sections 376, 363 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at the Dalanwala police station.
	CII for industrial development Tribune News Service Haldwani, August 18 The industry in Uttarakhand has called for maintaining the growth momentum in the state and hill development. It has suggested creation of a world-class infrastructure, focus on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), along with the development of sectors, other than the traditional manufacturing. The suggestions were spelt out by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) during an interaction with Industries Minister Bansidhar Bhagat at Rudrapur last week. The minister said the industry had placed Uttarakhand on the national industrial map. Responding to the suggestion of a comprehensive review of the States Industrial Policy to keep pace with the changing times, he invited suggestions from the industry. He assured that the state government was committed to facilitate the industry in the state and its issues would be addressed on priority. Bhagat also released the CII’s assessment report on the single window system (SWS). The report lays out a roadmap for the development of an information technology (IT) enabled system in the state. Additional Director (Industries) SC Nautiyal said the first decade of the state, since its inception, had been the decade of the industrial development. “With the industry having achieved a certain level of maturity in the state, it is necessary to develop other sectors for maintaining the growth momentum,” he asserted. Former CII Chairman Rakesh Oberai said the state had witnessed impressive growth since inception and industry had played a key role. Presenting the key recommendations of the CII Industrial Vision 2020, Oberai called for maintaining the growth momentum in the state. Elaborating the industrial development in the Kumaon region, Chairman of CII (Kumaon Zone) PK Chobe reiterated the importance of the developing infrastructure in the region. He highlighted the need for improving connectivity and amenities like schools and healthcare.