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Bribe Allegation by Swami Ramdev
Girl child empowerment schemes floundering in Uttarakhand
Mountain development board meeting gets under way
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Elephants continue to ravage crops
Oppn seeks CM’s resignation
Dengue: Indiscreet use of platelets hits blood supply
Tips given to improve lot of women in agrarian sector
Delayed MC Board Meeting
Students participate in a workshop on audio-visual medium at Minerva Institute in Dehradun on Sunday.
Blood donation camp held
32 more andolankaris identified in Pitthoragarh
UKD burns Cong effigy
Install weight machines at anganwadis, says DM
Students display a martial dance at the annual day function of Doon Blossom School in Dehradun on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
Old man charred to death
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Bribe Allegation by Swami Ramdev Sandeep Rawat Tribune News Service
Haridwar, November 21 What was more significant was that the meeting between the two stalwarts took place behind closed doors with none of them giving a hint of what was discussed between them. The meeting taking place in the backdrop of the controversy of Swami Ramdev’s allegation over a BJP state Cabinet minister of asking Rs 2 crore as bribe and also taking in its stride a former BJP Chief Minister with whom Koshiyari never had good relations, has created shivers in the state BJP government as well as in political circles. Though both Parliamentarians claim that the meeting at the state guest house at Damkoti in Mayapur was just a coincidence with both leaders exchanging pleasantries, inside party sources, both in the Congress and the BJP, hinted that post-Ramdev’s allegations, the duo had met in view of their political advantage arising out of the current situation. Harish Rawat urged the yoga guru not to get involved in mudslinging and refrain from giving political bites. He further advised him to better concentrate on his social works in which he was an idol. With just over a year left for the state Assembly elections, the meeting of the Congress and BJP veterans is sure to give a headache to Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. Nishank is at loggerheads with former CM Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, while Harish Rawat is a strong contender for the CM’s post from the Congress side and has dented the BJP stronghold in the Haridwar parliamentary constituency by winning it with a record margin. Ex-CM also calls on Diwakar Bhatt
After creating ripples with his closed-door meeting with Harish Rawat, former Chief Minister BS Koshiyari then left for Tarun Himalaya, the home of controversy-ridden state Cabinet Minister for Revenue and Food Supplies Diwakar Bhatt. As soon as the cavalcade of Bhatt reached Bhatt’s residence, a huge rush of mediapersons gathered in view of some political development in the Ramdev’s bribe allegation controversy. But Koshiyari refused to talk to the mediapersons, while Bhatt said the former CM had paid a visit to just enquire about his health which had not been stable for the past few weeks. When enquired if Koshiyari had advised him on what to do in view of the allegations of the yoga guru, Bhatt just said the visit was to enquire about his health status. Though later speaking on the controversy, a firebrand Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leader, known for his boldness, said the allegations made by Swami Ramdev might be a part of a conspiracy to defame him and he would give an appropriate answer when the right time came. Diwakar Bhatt will also hold a media brief to clear his stance in this matter at the state interim capital Dehradun. Further he said one should refrain from stating publicly without evidence and facts and termed it as a political gimmick to gain political mileage as the yoga guru was trying to put up the Bharat Swabhiman Trust on the national canvas. |
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Girl child empowerment schemes floundering in Uttarakhand
Dehradun, November 21 The department officials said the scheme had encountered hurdles in urban areas, as norms laid down for becoming beneficiaries were too tedious and cumbersome. In order to claim benefits of the scheme, the beneficiaries had to present permanent residency certificates procured from the District Magistrate’s office and BPL cards, which was impossible for families who had migrated from other areas and were residing in slums. Under the scheme, a girl child born on or after January 1, 2009, to BPL parents will receive Rs 5,000 as fixed deposit, to be utilised on the condition that the girl completes 18 years of age and also clears class X. Besides, the birth of the girl has to be institutionalised, reported by an aganwadi worker, and is also vaccinated. The money can be used for the girl’s higher studies or some other purpose. In it’s old avatar, the scheme was launched in ’97 as the Balika Simridhi Yojana. For the Nanda Devi Kanya Yojana, an allocation of Rs 10,06,500 lakh has been made for 2,013 girl beneficiaries for the period 2010-2011. While in 2009-2010, the total beneficiaries were 1,768 and an allocation of Rs 87,55,000 lakh was made. While the Kanya Dhan Yojana, under the Social Welfare Department, also continues to flounder for lack of beneficiaries. The yojana was launched to encourage education of the girl child by the government. Under this scheme, a sum of Rs 20,000 is given to each girl who passes intermediate examination and hails from BPL families in rural and urban areas. In 2008-2009, beneficiaries from the SC/ST communities could avail the scheme, while beneficiaries from general categories could not be accommodated, due to lack of finances. Though an allocation of Rs 13 crore was made in the Supplementary Budget, the department is yet to fix a target for the number of beneficiaries. |
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Mountain development board meeting gets under way
Mussoorie, November 21 The 21st meeting of the member-support group of the ICIMOD also began, besides the governors’ meeting. Chief guest on the occasion BMS
Rathore, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, and its state Chief Secretary Subash Kumar welcomed the participants and said India would play an active role and provide support for the trans-boundary development of its member countries under
the ICIMOD. Rathore said the ICIMOD had launched the ambitious programme taking all issues at the landscape level called the Kailash Sacred Landscape with the support of the
UNF. Apart from this, three landscapes had been identified demonstrating the leadership role ICIMOD was playing in the region. He also said he was pleased to announce that the Convention of Biological Biodiversity would be held in India (COB
12). Rathore said India was committed towards climate change and the National Mission on Himalayan System and the National Mission on Green India launched by the government in July were significant in addressing the livelihood concerns along with the environment in the country. He also announced that India was also working on supporting the ICIMOD
Support Foundation. State Chief Secretary Subash Kumar, members of ICIMOD and the
member countries had gathered to create a strategy needed for mountain development. Director General Andreas Schild from the ICIMOD thanked the state government for hosting the meeting in
Uttarakhand. He was of the view that despite giving critical importance to the well being of humanity, mountains received little attention in the international development agenda and global climate change had brought about other dimensions of mountains to the attention of the scientists and a growing number of citizens
and politicians. Deputy Director Madhav Karki said the greater Himalayan region, known as the Water Tower of Asia, directly sustained more than 150 m people, but river basins of the nine rivers originating in the region counted more than 1.3 bn inhabitants, and up to 3 bn people directly and indirectly depended on the food
and energy produced through the use of Himalayan rivers. The Himalayas are also considered as a ‘third pole’, as here lies the greatest concentration of snow and ice outside the two poles. However, this storehouse of fresh
water has been degrading over the years due to global warming and climate change. In the meeting, the members will deliberate on such issues in detail and find some concrete plans and act decisively. He also said trans-boundary disaster risk management should become an important regional and international political agenda and such issues would figure prominently in the next few days in the meeting. Senior bureaucrats from the state and forest officials were present in
the meeting. International Water Resources Management (IWRM) has already been accepted by scientists and policymakers to manage trans-boundary water. As the national governments of the greater Himalayan region, which possess nine major river basins, make preparations to implement the
IWRM, it is necessary to consider cross-border cooperation for adaptation to the events occurring in the catchments that lie across the borders. For example, glacier lake outburst floods in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China could affect hydropower projects in Nepal and India. And last, but not least, international communities, including development agencies, research
organisations, policymakers, and private and public sectors need to be informed of advance regional and international cooperation possibilities to address the implications of climate change
on glaciers and water resources in the Himalayan range. ICIMOD, an organisation exclusively created to study all aspects affecting environment and development of the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region, has prepared and published some 500 technical publications and, taken together, makes a critical contribution towards establishing a knowledge bank on integrated mountain development. In an era where the effects of global climate change impacts everyone, the ICIMOD has endeavoured to bring the special plight of mountain people and its fragile environment to the attention of the world. |
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Elephants continue to ravage crops
Haridwar, November 21 Elephants in groups intrude villages where crops of sugarcane are ripening, but due to jumbos’ ravaging act, farmers fear suffering huge losses as almost on a regular basis jumbos are time and again ravaging their agricultural crops. Last evening villagers saw half a dozen elephants ravaging their crops at Bishanpur Kundi and when villagers gathered to shoo them away, the elephants tried to get near their huts. In fear the villagers ran away from their huts to safer places and later with sticks and drums they chased away the jumbos. Villagers alleged that despite informing forest officials umpteenth times, of the regular intrusion of jumbos, no heed had been paid to their complaints. Thus, their crops were being destroyed in large quantity. Villager Vikas Kumar said they were living in double fear, one, was the threat posed by jumbos to their lives, and the other was to their main source of earning, that is, their agricultural crops. Under the aegis of the local organisation, Uttarakhand Vikas Manch, the perturbed farmers have decided to complain to the higher authorities of the apathy of the forest employees.
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Oppn seeks CM’s resignation
Dehradun, November 21 Addressing mediapersons, Rawat said after the allegations by Swami Ramdev regarding the demand of a bribe of Rs 2 crore by a Uttarakhand minister, it was proved beyond doubt that the present BJP government was neck deep in corruption. “The earlier two cases of allotment of hydro-electric projects and land to Citurgia Company at Rishikesh had exposed the BJP government. In the allotment of hydro-electric projects, the state government had to cancel the allotment following the case in the High Court. This has clearly indicated that the state government was wrong and had to cancel allotments,” he said. Rawat further alleged that it was intriguing that the senior BJP leadership had given a clean chit to the Chief Minister despite several cases of corruption. It also indicated that the Central BJP leaders were also hand in glove with the state Chief Minister, he alleged. He appealed to the yoga guru to come out with the name of the minister who allegedly asked for Rs 2 crore bribe from him. “Swami Ramdev is a revered figure in the country and Uttarakhand, and he should come out with the name of the minister concerned as well as the Chief Minister to whom he had complained against the minister. If Swami Ramdev does not divulge the name, his own credibility will be at stake,” claimed Rawat. He also announced to launch a “Pradesh Bachao Campaign” against the alleged misdeeds of the state BJP government. “We will be starting a massive campaign at the block level to expose the alleged corruption of the BJP government, by the Congress in which all party MLAs, MPs and party organisations will be actively involved,” he announced. Rawat said at a time when the state was suffering from lack of any relief and rehabilitation of victims of the natural disaster that had struck the state in the monsoon, the BJP leadership in the state was fighting each other for power. Dinesh Agagrwal, Congress legislator, alleged that there was no coordination between various ministers.
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Dengue: Indiscreet use of platelets hits blood supply
Dehradun, November 21 “The indiscreet use of platelets has impacted the supply of blood, which is always in short supply. Several private hospitals had requisitioned blood, when they should not have, creating a pseudo demand. The panic- like situation in the city could have been avoided by discerning clinicians. These are foreign proteins, infections can be transmitted and patients are always at risk. Only if there is evidence of bleeding and platelets count dips below 20,000, should a patient suffering from dengue be administered blood,” said Dr Alok
Ahuja, a pathologist. However, the demand for platelets was over 200 units in the past three months. Doctors were recommending transfusion even if the platelets count was one lakh or 50,000. Medical experts point out that things went out of control, as in such a situation economics begin to play a key role. “Discerning clinicians did not admit patients with high fever, instead asked them to take rest,” said Dr KC Pant, senior physician. Classic dengue fever lasts about six to seven days with a smaller peak of fever at the end. Clinically, the platelet count drops until the patient’s temperature becomes normal. Platelet is a component of blood, which prevents bleeding and helps in formation of clots. Normal platelets count in human body is between 1.5 lakh and 4
lakh. In dengue patients, it drops to between 50,000 to one lakh. “A unit of platelet is made from five units of blood and its shelf life is only five days,” said Dr SK
Nautiyal, senior pathologist. Some patients develop milder symptoms, which can be misdiagnosed as flu or viral infection. Patients with dengue can only pass on the infection through mosquitoes. “The symptoms may be confusing as it sets in with high fever, throbbing headache and muscular and joint pain,” said Dr KC Pant. |
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Tips given to improve lot of women in agrarian sector
Nainital, November 21 According to the Chairperson of the Women Work and Health Initiative, organiser of the event, Prof Vibhuti Patel, “The recommendations will be presented to the Planning Commission, various ministries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other groups for taking action”. Coming out with a strong critique of the macro-economic policy that ignores the fallout of the process of feminisation of agriculture, it has been stated that the women need to be the core of the thought process that goes into policy formulation. The participants also felt that the interests of women have to be secured in the era of commercialisation of agriculture and those involved in subsistence agriculture need to be given more subsidies and resources. They also called for the introduction of user-friendly technology for women who are burdened by the livestock farming. In this context the co-operatives need to be promoted, it was felt. On the issue of water supplies and utilisation, the participants were unanimous in demanding that women must have more say in determining the water policy of the state. It was also recommended that separate toilet blocks with proper water supply must be built for women in villages. In addition to this, there should be effective programmes for solid waste management and recycling of waste. Professor Patel pointed that India needed to have women “haats” on the lines of the markets held in Africa so that they could have a say in determining the market price of their produce. It was suggested that proper use of the media, particularly community radios and television, be made in empowering and making women aware of several issues related to them. There was also a call for introduction of gender budgeting and the starting of bottom up budget process. The participants further called for joint ownership of assets in rural households.
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Oppn councillors to move court
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, November 21 “It has been almost a year that the board meeting has not been held in the corporation. According to rules, the board needs to hold at least six meetings in a year,” Verma said. He further affirmed that as many as 45 councillors had approached the Mayor three months back to declare the date of the meeting, but he had failed to do so. Verma said the meeting was being delayed every time as members were afraid that they had no reply to the questions they were asked. “In the last meeting, the board had passed various agendas, including the renovation of the Town Hall, Gandhi Park, dispensary and re-construction of the MC building which also would include an eating-joint, but had failed to fulfil any of them. Everything remains in the files,” he affirmed. Verma said, “The members know we are going to ask them about the same. This is violation of the court and also an insult to the councillors”. Talking to The Tribune, Mayor Vinod Chamoli said, “I have asked the MNA to fix the date for the meeting and it will be announced soon”.
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Students get training in voice-over
Dehradun November 21 Pradeep Kumar Jain inaugurated the workshop. He said the main objective of the workshop was to acquaint students with acting and voice-over skills. The guests shared their experiences with the students. Jasbir Singh, a cameraman from Mumbai, educated students about the intricacies of camera handling. Students also experimented with these techniques. On this occasion, many experts and media personalities gave students valuable tips for career growth. Chief Executive Officer of the institute Vaibhav Goyal said acting and voice had a big role in animation. In the coming month, the institute will continue to hold similar workshops to ensure students can benefit from them in making their place in the field of animation and advertising, he added.
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Blood donation camp held
Dehradun November 21 Inaugurating the camp, Chairman SP Singh also donated one unit of blood. Students of the institute Shikha Kamboj donated for the eighth time.
Shailja, Kriti Singh, Bhupender Parihar, Gaurav Bansal, Harsh Vardhan and Saurabh gave blood for the third time. The donors were given appreciation certificates. Speaking on the occasion, MD of Himalayan Drugs Company Dr Farooq Ahmad congratulated the donors and called it the biggest act of benevolence. President of the Rotary Club VK Sharma said blood donation was very important in view of increasing incidents of accidents in the state every day. Chairman of the institute SP Singh gave credit to student of his college Rajiv Naithani for establishing a blood bank on the premises. |
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32 more andolankaris identified in Pitthoragarh
Pitthoragarh, November 21 At a meeting held here yesterday, Pitthoragarh District Magistrate (DM) Narayan Singh Negi said the state agitators who applied before February 28, 2009, are being scrutinised. “Out of total 300 applications received by the identification committee at the district level, the scrutiny of 150 applications has been completed and about the rest the concerning information is being gathered,” said the DM.
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UKD burns Cong effigy
Dehradun November 21 Members of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) burnt an effigy of the Congress near the Ghanta Ghar in Dehradun today on the alleged remark made by a Youth Congress leader of Haridwar, while pointing finger at UKD leader and state Cabinet minister Diwakar Bhatt, for being the minister who had asked Baba Ramdev for a bribe. President of UKD city unit Bahadur Singh Rawat said the Congress was feeling insecure due to UKD’s soaring popularity. General secretary Shish Pal Singh, vice-president Narender Singh Rawat, city vice-president Virender Singh, Latafat Hussain and Pushpa Gursain also participated.
— TNS |
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Install weight machines at anganwadis, says DM
Dehradun, November 21 He expressed displeasure over the health checkup of schoolchildren, while reviewing the progress of the National Rural Health Mission in the district
here yesterday. The DM further told them to organise medical and health check-up camps at block levels and asked them to ensure the presence of all students in those camps. He also directed the officials to maintain records of mobile phone numbers of those parents whose children were being vaccinated. The record of renewal of ultrasound checkup centres was also reviewed during the meeting. Chief Medical Officer RK Pant, Chief Medical Superintendent of Women Hospital DS Rawat, Deputy CMO YS Tolia, district programme coordinator Laxman Singh Rawat and advocate Bharat Singh Negi attended the meeting. |
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Students take part in contests
Dehradun, November 21 The programme began with various competitions held between children of junior branches followed by colourful drills like joke drill, teddy bear drill, football drill etc. Other than this, the school also organised toffee race, bend, hop and run race, burst-the-balloon race and sack relay race. A senior school sports meet began with a march past by the students. The attraction of the show were the streamer, bamboo and saree drills. Children also performed yoga and calisthenics, other than the dance on pop songs. |
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Old man charred to death
Nainital, November 21 Kunwar was asleep when the fire broke out late Friday night. Although villagers tried to douse the fire, it took them more than five hours to extinguish it. By that time the old man was completely charred to death.
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