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BJP gears up for panchayat poll
Tandem Flying |
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World AIDS Day
A Red Ribbon light show held on the eve of World AIDS Day at the Tanda
Community Care Centre on Tuesday. Photo: Kamaljeet
Kangra Rally
Stigma haunts orphaned kids
Hearing in CD case adjourned
to Dec 16
Inscription of Ashadha Dev faces neglect
Escaped undertrial arrested
Term of state Bar council extended
Freedom fighter dead
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BJP gears up for panchayat poll
Shimla, November 30 Realising the significance of the panchayat polls, which will be a reflection on the three-year performance of the BJP regime, Chief Minister PK Dhumal addressed a meeting of women leaders from all over the state here today. The state party leadership realises that the party can get benefit for taking pro-women measures only if the message reaches women voters right up to grassroots level. Several BJP Mahila Morcha leaders today sought a clarification from party leaders whether they could contest from general category seats that are not reserved for them. Some even indicated that despite 50 per cent reservation, they would contest from their seats even if they are in general category. However, the party has still not taken a clear cut stand on it and it is expected that the issue will be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting of the state executive of the Panchayati Raj Election Cell of the BJP. The party can not stop women leaders from contesting from general seats, but if a stand is taken, there could be several rebels. The fact that it will be for the first time that nagar panchayat and nagar parishad polls are being held on party symbols is making both the Congress and the BJP jittery. Till now it was only elections to 25 wards of the Shimla Municipal Corporation that were contested on symbol basis. Elections will be held in 25 Municipal Councils, 23 nagar panchayats and 3,191 panchayats on December 28, 30 and January 1. Elections are not being held in two blocks in the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti. “The BJP is all geared up for the panchayat and local body polls and we will chalk out our strategy at tomorrow’s meeting so that we can unitedly contest the polls and highlight the good performance of the BJP regime on all fronts,” said HN Kashyap, state convener of the election cell for Panchayati Raj and Local Bodies. The BJP is likely to decide on the broad criteria to be adopted for selecting candidates so that there are minimum possible rebel candidates. The ruling party is also likely assign responsibilities to ministers, legislators and senior party functionaries to ensure that the party comes out with flying colours as the Assembly polls will be held in the state two years later. |
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Panel asks govt to frame policy
It is when there are two persons on a paraglider Rakesh Lohumi/TNS
Shimla, November 30 It has also expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the four-day event and termed it a success in achieving the objective of promoting the sport. It, however, maintained that for an event to be organised on such a large scale, planning must start at least a year ahead and nodal centre with a web page be activated 10 months in advance. Further, the scheduled dates and categories of competition be finalised at least six months before the event and a qualified pilot be made in charge. There should be a group insurance of all participants. In another recommendation, the panel said members of the technical committee should not compete as their primary responsibility was to incorporate their expertise and experience in organising the event. This year a member of the committee participated in the event. Director General of Aero Club of India (ACI) Sanjay Thapar said introduction of a novice category would go a long way in promoting the sport, but asserted that proper norms be put in place for tandem flying that accounts for most mishaps. More so, because it also involved safety of another persons. The equipment and skill of pilots had to certified. Director (Sports) JR Katwal said the government would frame proper regulations for tandem flying in consultation with the the ACI and also ensure that the event was planned well in advance. His department came into picture late this year, but still managed to hold a successful event. Next year, the competition would be held between October 15-25 and preparations would start from February. This year, 141 pilots participated and about dozen free flyers also had fun.
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Light show held to spread awareness
Dhara Katoch Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, November 30 HIV/AIDS expert Dr Kuldeep Sharma said, “The theme of World AIDS Day Campaign this year is ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’.” He said easy availability and access to quality confidential services of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support without stigma and discrimination, and respect for human rights of marginalised communities was the key to halt the HIV epidemic. Kangra District AIDS Control programme officer Dr Rajesh Sood said the HIV was no more a medical issue. “Rather, it impacts all sectors of development, and leads to poverty. Hence, the Himachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society has embarked on an aim-based project to build the capacity of front line grassroot functionaries like anganwari workers and self-help groups (SHGs) in the districts. In return, these will raise awareness on Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) services, promote non-judgmental attitude and support the People Living with HIV in income generation activities,” he added. With the opening of the Community Care Centre at Tanda, a first of its kind in the state, the scenario has changed from hopelessness to a new hope. The project has been funded by the Government of India- National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and executed by Gunjan Organisation of Community Development, through the HP state AIDS Control Society. Representatives from PRI, positive networks, staff and students also exchanged views on the issue. They appealed to society to join the statewide campaign from December 1 to 25.A candlelight march was also held on the occasion to engage attention of all sections of society on the issue.
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Cong trying to put up united face
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, November 30 Congress MLA and former minister GS Bali, who is coordinating the event, said besides general secretary of the AICC Mohsina Kidwai, all senior leaders of the state would participate in the rally. He said HPCC president Kaul Singh, CLP leader in Himachal Vidhan Sabha Vidya Stokes and Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh had confirmed their participation in the rally. Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma has his programme in Indora on December 2 and will try to participate in the rally, however, his programme is not confirmed, Bali added. It is after a long time that the Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes group leaders will share a stage in the state. Even during Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s recent visit to Tanda medical college, the Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes groups remained alienated from each other. While the Virbhadra group welcomed the Union Minister at Gaggal airport, the other group shared dais with him at the Tanda medical college. The Virbhadra Singh group has been maintaining a stoic silence after Kaul Singh was re-appointed as HPCC president despite their stiff opposition. The internal bickering between both groups has, however, not pacified. The Congress is now heading for local bodies’ poll in the state which will be a litmus test for Kaul Singh who is now likely to lead the party into next Assembly elections also. The state-level rally being organised on December 3 can be termed as initiation of the Congress campaign for local body polls. The Congress leaders are likely to target the present state government on corruption charges and certain allegedly shady land deals. However, it remains to be seen if they can come up with something concrete against the present government. The corruption issue might not click for the Congress leaders as the UPA government is already feeling heat on the issue in the 2G spectrum scam. The rally will also set out agenda of the Congress for the forthcoming winter session of the Himachal Assembly starting from December 6.
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Stigma haunts orphaned kids
Mandi, November 30 Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country that has taken first step towards providing financial assistance to such children. A sum Rs 200-800 per child between 0-18 years of age has been assigned. Not only this, the state AIDS Control Society and district AIDS control officers do not have full data on the numbers of HIV/AIDS children in the state. Some of the children fend for themselves as the state and districts AIDS control societies have no mechanism to monitor HIV/AIDS patients and their children. “Many do not come to ICTC centres due to social stigma and ostracism from fellow villagers,” said a patient. State programme officer Sulakshna Puri admitted that their data was confined to reported cases from 49 ICTC centres in the state. “We have 159 AIDS orphans and 267 HIV positive children. Out of these 108 children are getting ART treatment,” she said, adding “NACA provides free ART treatment and councillors at each ICTC centre. As such there is no specific programme for the HIV/AIDS orphans in the country.” On the number of HIV/AIDS patients in the state, Puri said: “Over 4,829 cases out of which 3,274 patients are alive, 1,145 are getting free ART treatment while 40 per cent are getting free pre-ART treatments in different centres,” she said.
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Preity brand ambassador for state tourism
Shimla, November 30 This was revealed by Chief Minister PK Dhumal after receiving official confirmation about the actress agreeing to the Tourism Department’s offer of becoming their brand ambassador. It was director (tourism) Arun Sharma, who met Preity in Mumbai recently to seek her consent for the offer. Dhumal said various tourism promotion and environment protection initiatives had been discussed with the Bollywood actor and she had assured her full support to all such efforts of the state government. The Chief Minister said the state had been blessed with immense natural wealth which could be harnessed for tourism promotion activities. “Though the infrastructure built so far does not match the requirements of the high-end tourists, efforts are being made to provide world class services,” he said. He said bids had been invited from renowned names in the hospitality sector to invest in five and seven star tourist resorts in the state to cater to the needs of the high-end tourists. Dhumal said the state government had already signed agreement with three companies for the launch of heli-taxi services so that unexplored areas could be made accessible. He said with Preity agreeing to become the brand ambassador of Himachal Tourism, it was expected that tourism would get a major boost and the state would emerge as a preferred destination both for domestic as well as international visitors.
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Hearing in CD case adjourned
to Dec 16
Shimla, November 30 The case was listed before Special Judge BL Soni for the presence of Virbhadra Singh but during the hearing of the case the counsel for the Union Steel Minister stated that due to Parliament Session Virbhadra was unable to appear before the court today. After considering this prayer the court adjourned the matter for December 16. Earlier, the court had issued notices to both of them on the challan filed by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. The case had been filed by the Vigilance Bureau on August 3, 2009, in connection with an audio CD released by former Congress minister Vijai Singh Mankotia, allegedly having recorded conversation of Virbhadra, his wife and some other officers in the late 80s and early 90s.The Himachal Pradesh High Court on September 30 had dismissed the
petition filed by Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh seeking transfer of the CD case registered against them by the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to
the CBI. |
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Inscription of Ashadha Dev faces neglect
Chamba, November 30 Since this area is now booming with certain construction activities with the coming up of hydropower projects on the banks of the Ravi, the inscribed stones are facing serious threat to its existence. Not long ago, the state government has also given instructions for its safe transportation to the Bhuri Singh Museum, but all in vain. The noted historian and scholar of the region, Kamal Prasad Sharma, has laid great significance for the preservation of this inscribed stone of exceptional importance which are examined by a number of foreign scholars. This important inscription was once one of the constituents of the shrine architecture, which might have faced heavy damages due to certain calamities like floods or cloudbursts. Luckily, the column bearing the inscription is still intact but lying neglected in the nullah below Gum village.
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Escaped undertrial arrested
Kangra, November 30 The Kangra District Additional Police chief, Sanjeev Gandhi, said Vinay Kumar, a resident of Ganganagar in Rajasthan, had given a slip to the four police personnel at Dr Rajinder Prasad Government Medical College at Tanda on the night of November 8. Vinay was produced before the Kangra court and was remanded to the police custody. Vinay was allegedly involved in cheating people by posing as a contractor of communication
towers. |
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Term of state Bar council extended
Shimla, November 30 He said on a request made by the present Bar council the term had been extended by six months. Election to the new Bar council would be held in the May or June, 2011. Decision on this behalf would be taken in the forthcoming meeting of the Bar council scheduled for December 26 at Shimla. |
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Freedom fighter dead
Bilaspur, November 30 |
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A light show in the shape of a 12-foot-long Red Ribbon was organised at the Community Care Centre at Tanda today, on the eve of World AIDS Day. On the occasion, local people, health staff, students and a team of the Gunjan Organisation for Community Development participated in the candlelight vigil as a mark of solidarity for rights of the People Living with HIV.
