Solan, September 7
With the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare finally giving its nod to the Kasauli-based Central Research Institute (CRI) to start manufacture of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine using the tissue culture technique, it will help achieve self-sufficiency as it was being imported presently from China.

The decision was made at a recent meeting held in Delhi which was attended by the institute director. This was considered a crucial development as the CRI was the lone institute manufacturing the vaccine in the public sector in the country. It was, however, forced to suspend its production in November 2007 after its lab was not found confirming to the WHO’s Good Manufacturing Practices norms.

According to officials, “Since the old technique using mice brain had become redundant, the sole viable option of manufacturing JE vaccine was using tissue culture.”

The process would, however, take almost three years as the entire process of clinical trial would have to be followed. Initially, smaller batches would be manufactured before large-scale production is initiated.

It was the high price cost which had forced the government to import this vaccine from China.

A single vial of JE vaccine using the mice brain technique comprising five doses was priced at Rs 277 while the Chinese vaccine was priced at Rs 9.50 per dose. This had led to import of this vaccine to meet the domestic requirements by the ministry.

Though the efficacy of the Chinese vaccine was not tested in the country, its import was preferred due to cheaper cost, opined scientists.

The high price difference had made it difficult for the CRI to sell its pending stock of nearly 2,33,750 doses which were in the final stage of manufacturing with an additional 6.6 lakh doses being in the bulk stage as the government preferred the cheaper Chinese option.

Though the process to manufacture vero cell-based JE vaccine had been initiated in mid 2007 after an announcement by the deputy director-general, health services, who had visited the institute on the occasion of its 101st raising day, the process had to be halted in November 2007 when the institute’s manufacturing licence was suspended.

The JE vaccination programme is generally carried out on campaign-basis when the disease strikes and, presently, there was no universal immunisation programme for it.

Shimla, September 7
Members of various trade unions, employees’ associations and workers’ union today protested through the town against the failure of the UPA regime to protect the rights and interest of workers, especially in view of the unprecedented price rise.

Members of various trade unions and workers’ bodies assembled at the Panchayat Bhawan near the bus stand and marched towards the sabzi mandi. However, they did not disrupt traffic or any other essential services in response to the call given for a nationwide strike by the trade unions.

The representatives of various trade unions demanded that the government must take effective steps to check price rise, which had made it difficult for the common man to make ends meet.

They also demanded that there should be complete ban on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Defence sector and efforts be made for creating more employment opportunities.

The Northern Zone Insurance Employees’ Association observed strike and a rally outside the office. The association lashed out at the government for privatising profit-making public sector undertakings and increasing FDI in insurance and banking sectors.

HAMIRPUR: The joint coordination committee of trade unions and various employees’ organisation observed a strike here to participate in the nationwide call of trade unions to oppose economic policies of the Central government.

While trade unions struck work in their organisations, insurance employees and staff of many banks also observed strike, paralysing work in the State Bank of Patiala, UCO and PNB etc. Employees of the BSNL also participated in the strike.

Later, activists of CITU, AITUC, anganwari workers and members of various employees’ association marched from the Bhota Chowk to the Gandhi Chowk raising slogans against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Central government.

They also held a rally at the Ghandi Chowk which was addressed by CITU general secretary Kashmir Singh, AITUC leader Mukesh Kumar and other leaders.

Mandi: The CITU, INTUC, AITUC trade unions, central public sector banks, including LIC employees’ union and anganwari workers’ union staged a protest rally against privatisation of public sectors undertakings (PSUs).

Addressing the rally in front of the DC office today, the trade unions’ and bank employees’ union leaders said the Central and state governments were promoting the interests of the private companies and vested interest in the west and privatising the PSUs. 

Shimla, September 7
Technical consultant of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and director, Geological Survey of India (GSI), will personally examine sinking portion of the historic Ridge to suggest means and ways to find a permanent solution to the problem.

The technical consultant of the ADB, who was here today, held talks with officials of the Tourism Department and AN Sharma, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation (MC).

“The consultant will visit the Ridge tomorrow to inspect the site so that a permanent solution can be found to the sinking area along the Gaiety Theatre on the Ridge,” said Sharma.

Director of the GSI from Chandigarh will also personally inspect the sinking zone on the request of the MC. “Though the geological wing of the State Industries Department has undertaken a detailed study in the past, to have a second opinion, we decided to take opinion of the GSI also,” said Sharma.

The MC has already moved a proposal seeking a total of Rs 19 crore from the ADB for undertaking various works, including restoration of the Town Hall building housing the MC office, stabilisation work of the Ridge, beautification of the entire Mall and Heritage Zone. “A sum of Rs 4 crore will be given for undertaking the stabilisation work to save the Ridge from sinking further,” he said.

Even though the ADB has agreed in principle to provide money to the Tourism Department, including the amount for MC works, the final approved if still awaited.

The MC officials today stressed the need for expediting the grant of money to the MC as the Ridge had developed huge cracks and had sunk by almost two metres during the last one week on account of heavy rains.

The MC is keen that short-term measures are adopted immediately without any further delay as further deterioration could pose a damage to the Gaiety Theatre also.

Shimla, September 7
With senior party leadership stressing on better coordination between the organisation and the government, the BJP will be holding more training camps for its workers, right to the mandal-level, so that information about the welfare schemes and projects initiated by the party can be taken to the common man.

The party is stressing upon improved and frequent interaction between leaders who are in the government and those who are holding posts in the organisation so that there is a better coordination, especially with an eye on the panchayat elections in December. They are also keen that party leaders have cordial relations with the media with whose help achievements of the government can be publicised.

With in charge of BJP affairs in Himachal, Kalraj Mishra, who is also national BJP vice-president, stressing on strengthening the organisation by holding training camps for the party workers right from top to the mandal-level, there will be three phases of these camps.

The entire rank and file of the state BJP, right from Chief Minister PK Dhumal, Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Shanta Kumar and and state BJP chief Khimi Ram are attending the three-day training camp for state officer-bearers and executive members being held at the temple city of Naina Devi in Bilaspur district.

Various sessions were addressed by senior leaders in the past two days. Mishra will be addressing one of the sessions on the concluding day tomorrow.

While the camp for the state-level leadership is on at Naina Devi, all four parliamentary constituencies and district headquarters will be covered between September 13 and 16 during the second phase. The party is keen to hold camps at the mandal-level before December.

It was recently that the party started “Mandal Milan” programme where party workers from a particular assembly segment meet the Chief Minister to have direct interaction with him. This way they get an opportunity to bring to his notice problems of their area.

Besides this, the Chief Minister, his cabinet members and senior party functionaries meet over dinner every month at the residence of one of his ministers for better coordination.

Dharamsala, September 7
The district administration has identified about 5 hectares of land in Khaniara village, near Dharamsala, for construction of Akshardham temple.

According to sources, a proposal has been sent by the district administration to the state government to give the said land on lease to the Akshardham society for a period of 99 years.

Local MLA and Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor has been lobbying for bringing the Akshardham temple in the Dharamsala area. He is of the view that the temple will promote religious tourism in the area. In the recent past, saints from the Akshardham society visited Dharamsala to survey the site.

The Akshardham temple society was seeking a large chunk of land in or around Dharamsala for establishment of the temple. However, the district administration managed to identify just 5 hectares of government land for the project. The land would be too meagre as compared to other projects of the Akshardham society.

However, officials said they would have to accommodate with just 5 hectares of government land for the project.

The site selected for the project was near the Aghanjan Mahadev temple, also located in Khaniara. A section of local villagers, opposing the location of the Akshardham temple, alleged that the government took the land of the Shiva temple under the Land Ceiling Act. However, now the land was being transferred to another temple trust.

They also alleged that construction of the Akshardham temple in the area would decrease the importance of their local temple.

Certain Congress leaders had also raised objections to the Akshardham temple project. They alleged that on one hand the government maintained that it did not had any land in Dharamsala for the central university, while on the other hand they were giving land for the temple project.

However, now that the temple society has decided to curtail its land limit to just 5 hectares, it is likely to silence the critics. Kangra district already has vast potential for religious tourism. It has many places of religious importance, including Jawalamukhi temple, Chamunda temple and Baglamukhi temple.

Shimla, September 7
Respite from incessant rain and festival season in Maharashtra has brought some cheers to growers with apple market beginning to look up at last. Prices of best quality fruit of superior varieties have increased by 20 to 25 per cent over the past two days.

The rates of superior varieties like royal delicious, which ranged between Rs 550 and Rs 700 per box over the past almost one month, are now fetching upto Rs 900 per box. Average rates of relatively inferior varieties like red golden have also increased from Rs 350 to Rs 500 per box.

The increase is attributed to weakening of the monsoon in the northern region as a result of which more fruit is being lifted from markets. Besides, the festival season in Maharasthra, one of the biggest consumers of apple in the country, has also pushed up the demand.

However, the growers were facing a new problem in Delhi market due to steps taken by the local administration to regulate traffic. In all, only 400 trucks from Shimla and Kullu were being allowed entry everyday and only those vehicles which entered the national capital before midnight were issued passes. Rest of the vehicles were made to wait for the next day at the border. The delay caused in reaching the market led to ripening of fruit, which, in turn, fetched lower prices.

Not only that, the additional day or two the trucks had to wait in Delhi, added to the shortage of vehicles. So far, 2.24 crore boxes have been exported out from the state and in all, 49,218 trucks have left the state to various markets. In comparison, only 1.26 crore boxes were sent out in 2007 when the state recorded the highest ever production till date.

Growers want the government to take up the matter with the Delhi administration to allow all trucks to enter the market without restriction as apple was a perishable commodity and the crop was already delayed.

Shortage of trucks is hampering the transportation of apple procured under the market intervention scheme (MIS). Out of the over 22,000 tonnes of fruit procured till date, only about 14,000 tonnes had been lifted and the remaining over 8,000 tonnes is awaiting transportation at collection centres for which 850 trucks are required.

Dharamsala, September 7
Landslide caused due to incessant rains has blocked the Dharamsala-Naddi road and washed away the stretch of road just a few hundred metres from Dal lake.

Since the entire stretch of road has been washed away it may take days for the Public Works Department to restore traffic. The damage to road is likely to affect tourist inflow to Naddi village. Though there is an alternative road to Naddi from McLeodganj, it is quiet narrow to sustain the traffic. The disruption of traffic will also affect bus service to Naddi and its surrounding villages.

The rains have also caused extensive damage to roads leading to McLeodganj, Bhagsunag and Dharamkot tourist spots. It also caused damage to other civil infrastructure in the area. The water pipes in the said areas have been damaged and people have been complaining of muddy tap water.

The Public Health Department had pegged its losses in McLeodganj and its surrounding areas at Rs 60 lakh.

According to sources, though the rains in the entire region have been very heavy this year, the poor quality of work in construction of roads has also contributed to huge losses to infrastructure in the area.

Mandi, September 7
Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh today launched a multi-pronged attack against the Dhumal government and accused him of promoting his own “agenda”, blatantly misusing police and official machineries to decimate his rival Congress men in the state.

He warned certain officials acting on his behalf that if the Congress came in power, it would set up a special tribunal and make them answerable.

Here on a three-day-long trip to monitor the progress of central government schemes like MNREGA, watershed projects and National Rural Health Mission, Virbhadra said the Dhumal government had failed to start new projects under NABARD and the World Bank and instead stalled development works in the state.

He alleged that Dhumal, DGP DS Manhas and Vijay Singh Mankotia conspired in the release of the CD against him during the Hamirpur by-election.

Talking about the state-level BJP training camp at Naina Devi, the Union Minister said Dhumal was giving tips to BJP workers on how to hide failure.

He said more than 850 schools were being closed by the government while private universities with doubtful credentials had mushroomed along the Shimla-Kalka highway.

Virbhadra also flagged off an ambulance donated to the Mandi Red Cross Society.

Shimla, September 7
Resentment prevails among employees recruited on contract basis in various departments due to inconsistent policy and different norms for regularisation.

The main grouse of these employees is that they are overburdened with work, underpaid and denied benefits like dearness allowance, earned leave, medical leave, medical reimbursement, maternity leave and other such facilities. On the other hand, regular staff that gets all these benefits does much less work as compared to them.

Veterinary officers appointed on contract basis rue that the government is discriminating against them, even though it is bound to treat them on a par with their medical counterparts. They are not being paid non-practising allowance and the minimum period of service for regularisation is more than medicos. On the other hand, contract medical officers are unhappy that the government has decided to appoint doctors on regular basis without regularising the 400 doctors recruited on contract basis. This will lead to functional problems as contract doctors recruited earlier will become junior to regular doctors to be appointed shortly.

Further, the regularisation policy treats professionals on a par with daily-wage workers.

Relaxation in policy is being given selectively, creating a divide among the contract staff. For instance, one category of contract employees is enjoying 24 days casual leave in a year, while other have to contend with just 12 days casual leave. It is violation of the State Leave Rules, 1972, which allow only 12 days casual leave to an employee. However, the contract staff has gained from implementation of recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission and the provision for 3 per cent annual increment, though some departments are in a fix over the time of increment.

There is a need for the government to frame a comprehensive policy for contract employees taking into account the professional merit of various categories and the time period required for obtaining minimum prescribed qualification for a post.

Dharamsala, September 7
The decision of the government to withdraw lending facilities of the Himachal Pradesh Financial Corporation (HPFC) has disappointed industrialists of the state.

In a press release issued here today, CS Kapoor, general secretary, Una Industrial Association, said the government had taken a decision in 2008 to stop lending activities of the HPFC. However, now, the government had decided to implement the decision.

According to sources, the government is planning to restrict activities of the corporation to recover loans.

The HPFC was established by the state government in 1987 under provisions of the State Financial Corporation Act, 1961.

The basic objective of the organisation was to provide term loans for small and medium industry. Since its establishment, the corporation has extended loans worth Rs 700 crore to about 5,000 entrepreneurs in the state. Out of it, 80 per cent assistance has been given to small-scale industries.

The entrepreneurs, assisted by the corporation, have created assets worth Rs 1,000 crore that are providing direct employment to about 45,000 persons.

The industrialists have also written to Chief Minister PK Dhumal to restore lending facilities of the HPFC.

However, the sources said the government had decided to withdraw the lending activities of the HPFC due to high ratio of non-performing assets (NPA). 

Shimla, September 7
The Tourism Department has got a book published on “The Churches and Christian Cemeteries of Himachal Pradesh” listing various cemeteries where thousands of British and Europeans have been laid to rest.

Stating this here today, Arun Kumar, director, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said the main objective was to attract international visitors to visit the state. He said the book would be made available during the Commonwealth Games at New Delhi, besides in British and many other embassies.

He said the department was hopeful that the document would invoke desire among foreigners to visit the churches and cemeteries in the state where their forefathers had been laid to rest before Independence. This document will also be available in all tourist information centres within and outside the state, he added.

He said the book also had details of churches, cemeteries and memorials at Nahan, Kasauli, Kangra, Palampur, McLeodganj, Dalhousie and Chamba. Then there was a memorial to Penelope Chetwode at Khanag, near Ani, at Outer Seraj of Kullu district. Penelope was the daughter of Field Marshal Baron Chedwode who had served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army (1930-35). She remained in love with Himachal hills till her death in 1986 on a trek between Shimla and Kullu over the Jalori Pass.

Hamirpur, September 7
The mortal remains of Ram Singh Thakur, senior member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and former president of the Itihas Sankalan Samiti, were consigned to flames at his native Jhandwin village in Hamirpur district today, with full honours.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his Cabinet colleagues - BJP national vice-president Shanta Kumar, state in charge of party affairs Kalraj Mishra and former RSS chief KC Sudarshan attended the funeral.

Thakur, who was ailing for some time and was admitted in a hospital at Ludhiana, breathed his last on Monday evening.

Dhumal, Shanta and Kalraj cut short the day’s proceedings at the ongoing Chintan Shivir at Naina Devi and travelled to Jhandwin to pay tributes to Thakur.

State RSS chief Col Rup Singh (retd), general secretary Chet Ram, organiser Balbir Thakur and Education Minister ID Dhiman were also present at the funeral.

Dhumal said the void created by the demise of Ram Singh Thakur could never be filled.