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Staff crunch delays ICU launch
Another leopard found dead
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Thousands take dip in Ganga on Mauni Amawasya
Remote villages to get solar lights
Planning Commission to use USAC data
Minister calls for water conservation in Almora
Mussoorie Open Kite Competition from Feb 8
Cricketer dies, no matches held
Sunny club, Aryan in title clash
MGNREGA: Second social audit brings to fore discrepancies
Town Hall to get a makeover soon
2nd phase of Census in U’khand from Feb 9
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Staff crunch delays ICU launch
Dehradun, February 2 Experts said that the authorities failed to realise that the requirement of the ICU is altogether different from a general hospital. “The role of staff nurses is important at all ICUs as they are the real care providers and man the ICU all 24 hours. The ratio should be of five nurses per bed at ICUs,” said Dr BC Pathak, CMS of Doon Hospital. Against the sanctioned four staff nurses, only one has been sent to the ICU. Three posts are lying vacant. Three General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) have also been posted. The sanctioned strength is: four ward boys, four Class IV cleaners, one nurse, four GDMOs, one sister-in charge and one anaesthetist. The mortality rate among patients visiting the ICU is high as most of them are terminally ill and cannot survive beyond 24 hours of them being admitted. “Nurses have to constantly monitor the vitals statistics of the patients on the ventilator,” said Dr KC Pant, Senior Physician, Doon Hospital. The recent attaching of anaesthetists to different hospitals in the state is also expected to affect the functioning of the ICU that requires heavy presence of staff. The six-bed ICU unit has four ventilators which have been put up at a special ward near the emergency ward. Two beds are already operational
there.
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Another leopard found dead
Pitthoragarh, February 2 “The leopard, that was nearly four years old and almost 2 m long, was found dead at the village. The villagers informed the Forest Department about it. The forest officials took away the body and after its postmortem got it buried,” said Shivraj Chand, SDO at DFO office in Bageshwar. “It is the second such incident
in the district. A year ago, a leopard was found dead at Doya village of Bageshwar subdivision. Both the leopards have died of pneumonia,” SK Dumka, a veterinary surgeon in
Bageshwar.
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Judges are mere dummies in musical shows: Kumar Sanu
Dehradun, February 2 This singing sensation of yesteryear has still not lost his aura as was obvious from the response of listeners who swayed to the beats of his songs. Having returned from judging a talent show, the star who cherishes nature took a detour to Dehradun and found it “fantastic” and its people “simple and loving”. Sanu, who won the award of the Best Male Playback Singer for movies like “Saajan” (1991), “Deewana” (1992), “Baazigar” (1993), and “1947- A Love Story” (1994) for four years in a row, has almost faded from the scene. “I am no longer interested in singing songs like ‘Munni badnam hui’ or ‘Sheela ki jawani’. When I get songs of the genre of the ’90s, I will definitely sing. However, I am still singing in a few movies, which are ‘This Weekend’, ‘Touch’, ‘Zindagi Ho Tum’ and ‘Yeh Sunday Kyun Aata’,” he said. His earlier stint as a judge on musical shows on TV channels has left a bitter taste in his mouth which is why he has decided not to accept any such offer in future. He said, “I am not interested in judging musical shows any more, as they are wholly manipulated by TV channels and it is people
who decide the results. Therefore, the judges are mere dummies who have nothing much to do on
these shows”. Talking about his upcoming projects, he said, “I have started production of two TV serials, ‘Ek Abhinetri’ and ‘Ek Aur Love Story’, the plots of which revolve around family and college life, respectively. I’m sure, our audience will certainly relate to them. Besides that, I am
also doing an untitled musical album comprising romantic songs. In a way, my
hands are completely full as of now”.
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Thousands take dip in Ganga on Mauni Amawasya
Haridwar, February 2 Rituals were offered on the ghats, with pitradaan and donations to the poor and needy done after the bath and prayers at temples. More than 50,000 devotees had taken a dip in various ghats around the city till late afternoon as per the administrative assessment. In view of the terror threat and ongoing panchayat elections, the district administration had made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the peaceful completion of the festive bath. Though a majority of the administrative officials have been put in election-related works, yet in view of the importance of Mauni Amawasya bath, City Magistrate R Shreedhar Babu was relieved for today from the election work to monitor the holy bath proceedings. All major temples, particularly the Shiva temples and the Narayani Shila, were visited by devotees. At the 22nd annual function at Nirala Ashram, Vardayini Siddhpeeth Nageshwar Maha Dev seat founder Sant Nirala Swami (Lehari Baba) gave a religious sermon. Lehari Baba said on this day by taking a bath in the rivers and performing yagna, hawan and prayers to Lord Shiva, the devotee gets his wishes fulfilled. “Taking a dip in the holy Ganga and donating to the needy has immense benefit for the doer,” he said. Asha Bharati, founder of the ashram, said the Shiv Shakti Maha Yagna was being performed for over the past 41 days and thanked the saints community and people for its smooth conduct. Ved Thukral, director, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, remembered Swami Krishnanand Keshaw ji Maharaj and hoped that the prayers offered to Lord Shiva by devotees would be beneficial to the whole world. Present on the occasion were Mahant Shyam Sunder Das Shashtri, Ravi Dev Shastri, Swami Pranavanand, Swami Raghunath Swaroop, Swami Panch Devanand, Kulwantrai Rakesh Kumar, Syamlal and a large number of devotees.
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Remote villages to get solar lights
Dehradun, February 2 Chief Project Officer, UREDA, AK Tyagi said: “As many as 670 Gram Nyay Panchayats have been selected as modal villages under the Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana. Solar lights have been approved for these villages as well. Under this plan, 13,003 solar lights would be provided to them at a cost of Rs 33 crore. The state government will be benefited by the 90 per cent subsidy given by the Government of India. The tender process has started and by December this year, the project will be implemented. We are already working on this project at a good pace”. Tyagi said solar power came under decentralised and off-grid applications. In far-flung areas, where grid penetration is neither feasible nor cost effective, solar power is completely cost effective. The other important factor is to solve the problem of finances with the government support. Till now, the market-based and micro-plans have failed to bear the desired results despite the financial incentives and promotional schemes of the government. Under the Remote Village Electrification Programme, 90 per cent subsidy will be provided by the Government of India. The villages, which have the grid connection, will be taken up under the market mode and facilitated affordable loans from banks. Under another scheme, the Jawaharlal Lal Nehru National Solar Mission (JLNNSM) project, the solar power is also being promoted for power, heating and cooling purposes. Schools, colleges and other institutions are being made aware of the use of solar power in various purposes. Tyagi said: “This entire bracket has been enlisted under personal use under which the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies has been booked for 100 KW. This project has already begun. Similarly, Bharat Electronics Limited too would be equipped with 25-KW solar power plant in Kotdwar. The project has got the sanction from the state government. Kumaon Engineering College at Dwarhat, Almora, will get a 100-KW solar power plant. The offices of Chief Development Officer, which are situated in all the 13 districts too will get solar power of 100 KW”.
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Planning Commission to use USAC data
Dehradun, February 2 While appreciating the efforts of USAC, he said: “USAC is a state nodal agency, which has been entrusted the task of preparing the data base of natural resources through the satellite technology. Each government department must make good use of it for their future plans”. Vice-President of the Khadi and Gramodyog Board Prem Badakoti highlighted the achievements of USAC. He said the correct data played a very important role in fixing the basics of potent policies and the state government should not depend on the outside agencies for the data while USAC was doing a good job in giving accurate scientific data in the state. Sachidanand Bharti, member of the State Planning Commission, emphasised that by giving USAC the task to prepare the data base for the Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana, health schemes, agriculture, education, land-use, water resource management, etc, a beginning had been made in the right direction. Director, USAC, MM Kimothi gave a presentation on the activities, achievements and future strategies of USAC. He termed the task of counting heads during the Maha Kumbh through the satellite technology a huge accomplishment of their centre. Telling more about the projects of the centre, he said: “The agreement between USAC and the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan Department on school mapping for middle education has been exemplary. The digital mapping is also being used for the Atal Adarsh Gram plans and for the betterment of 108 Emergency services in the state. Agreements with Technical University and Pant Nagar Agriculture University for many projects are on the anvil.” Kimothi rued that the preference given to the outside agencies while overriding the government setup of USAC was unfortunate. Later in the day, a resource atlas was released by Dhyani. An exhibition was also organised by USAC. The other prominent persons who graced the occasion were members of the State Planning Commission Devi Dutt Dani and Rajesh Naithani, Secretary, State Science and Technology, Rajiv Chander, Assistant Secretary Vinod Sharma, Principal Secretary, State Planning Commission, Alok Jain, Adviser to the State Planning Commission Virender Uniyal and Senior Scientist Devender Sharma.
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Low-key response to Karmapa episode in Doon
Dehradun, February 2 “The religious heads are either in Bodh Gaya (Bihar) or in Nepal to participate in religious ceremonies, but most of us have been hurt with the way the media has reported the matter. He is a revered spiritual figure and the media should not be judgmental,” Sonam Topgyal, Secretary, Sakya Centre, said. Besides, there are a few followers of Kagyu school to which the Karmapa belongs and experts claim that this may be one of the reasons for a low-key response to the Dharamsala developments here. The monasteries are dedicated to Nyingma, Gelugpa and Sakya schools, and there is only one monastery dedicated to one of the Kagyu schools (later schools) at Deykling in the Sahastradhara area. The Drukchen and the Drukpa Kagyu were based in Ladakh and in Darjeeling respectively. The Sakya Tridzin and Sakya orders were established in Rajpur, Dehra Dun. The Nyingmapas, always a decentralised order, were based in Darjeeling, the Kathmandu valley, Dehra Dun and in South India. “We revere the Karmapa and do not see the development as straining of ties between the exiled Tibetans and India, but definitely personally to paint the Karmapa as a Chinese agent is disturbing,” said Gyaltsen, a Tibetan welfare officer. However, the young Tibetans are restive and feel a stronger response should have come from the members of the Tibetan community, especially when he is being painted as a Chinese agent. “Our spiritual head’s guru passed away recently in Nepal and his funeral will take place on February 5,” said Yeshi Tharchin, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, an NGO.
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Nothing illegal in Raiwala land deal: Tibetan Homes Foundation
Mussoorie, February 2 Local intelligence agencies have become active after media reports said a Tibetan organisation from Mussoorie had purchased a large tract of land near Raiwala, Rishikesh. According to sources, intelligence officials were on their toes to determine the owner of the land at Raiwala. It was found that the land belonged to the Tibetan Homes Foundation (THF), Mussoorie, which is planning to open another school due to the increase in the number of the students here. G Rinchen, assistant general secretary, THF, said 11 hectares had been purchased through a property dealer at Rishikesh to open a branch of the Tibetan Homes School. He categorically stated that the
Rs 18 crore project had been funded by SOS International through legal fund transfers. Rinchen said the Tibetan Homes Foundation was a registered non-profit charitable institution dedicated to taking care of orphans, destitute Tibetan refugee children, needy and elderly Tibetans. The foundation is dependent on donations and a major part of the funding is done by SOS International. A few German organisations also assist the students in their education. The THF also has about a 1,000 individual sponsors. Rinchen informed the press that they had sought permission from the state government for the purchase of the land that was provided after a year. “The necessary permissions, including land use change, were taken and only then the work was started,” added Rinchen. Supporting the Karmapa, he said the Tibetan community had complete faith in the Karmapa. The 17th Karmapa had visited Mussoorie eight years ago for three days and met students at the Tibetan Homes School.
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Minister calls for water conservation in Almora
Nainital, February 2 Incidentally, Almora was the worst-affected district in last year’s rain-related disaster that had struck the region and most of the problems being raised by the people are related to water supplies that also happens to be Pant’s portfolio. In a meet at Lambgarah on Sunday, Pant appealed to the people to come forward for water conservation and participate in awareness drives for the purpose in their respective areas. He told the officials of the
Jal Sansthan, Jal Nigam, Irrigation and Minor Irrigation Departments that laxity with regards to
addressing the public concerns would not be tolerated. Several parts of the district
have witnessed agitations in the past over the failure of the government
to rebuild and rectify the water schemes devastated in the rain-related disaster. The residents of the area have been facing massive problems on account of shortage of water for their daily use. At the same time, he has asked officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure that the Lambgarah and Shehrfatak road remains in a good shape, as it is being used to a large extent by the residents as the Khairna-Almora road. Pant asked officials of the Horticulture Department to promote
horticulture in the area, which has immense potential of becoming a major fruit-producing hub of
the region.
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Mussoorie Open Kite Competition from Feb 8
Mussoorie, February 2 According to MSA spokesperson SS Kharkai, kite fighting is an age-old tradition that is being followed till today and continues to adhere to the changes in time and styles. The combatants with the objective to cut the opponent's control line and set the kite loose using a special type of control line for fighting, made of an abrasive material known as 'manjha', will try for the podium finish. Kharkai further said the competition was being organised to preserve the traditional sport of the country.
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All-India hat trick by U’khand cops
Dehradun, February 2 The state police in a hard-fought final edged past the strong team of Union Bank, Mumbai, 5-4 in the tiebreaker. In this prestigious tournament in which 16 teams took part, the state team was given direct entry into the quarterfinals. Earlier, the cops had bagged the All-India Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda Memorial Football Tournament title at Faridabad, Haryana, from January 10 to 16. They had also won the All-India Dr Wasim Ahmed Memorial Football Tournament that was held from December 2 to 20 at Mau Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Coach Rajiv Sharma gave the credit of the success to the secretary of the Sports Control Board of Uttarakhand Police IG Alok Sharma and the cleansing process that the side had gone through. “We had several undisciplined players in the team earlier and there was a lot of politics going on. We chucked out those players and worked hard with the rest of the players,” Rajiv added. This is the first time that the team has won these titles. “We have never won any of these tournaments ever and this time, we won three all-India-level football tournaments,” said the coach who has been working with the players for the past few years now. Meanwhile, the elated team members are geared up for the forthcoming All-India Kampty Gold Cup to be held in Nagpur from February 10 to 20. “Many good teams are taking part in the competition and it will be a tough tourney. But we are hopeful of tasting another final win,” the coach said.
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19 Garhwal Rifle win opener
Dehradun, February 2 Pankaj Chetri, official of the organising committee, informed that the tournament is being played on knock-out basis. In the inaugural match, 19 Garhwal Rifle defeated Vijay Cantt 2-0. Suraj scored the first goal in the seventh minute. The first half ended at 1-0. In the first minute of the second half, Lait (36th) netted another goal for the winning team. Tomorrow, Indra Club will face Garhwal Boys at 3 pm.
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Cricketer dies, no matches held
Dehradun, February 2 Yesterday, the second match between Doon XI and Rao Academy was not played due to the sad news. Navneet was on ventilator at that time, Shah added. No official match was played at the 60th District Cricket League at the Survey of India stadium, Hathibarkala, here today. As the teams had arrived at the stadium, the organisers held a practice match.
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Sunny club, Aryan in title clash
Mussoorie, February 2 In reply, Happy XI could muster only 119 runs in 18 overs. Abhishek scored 32 runs while Kaustab made 23 runs, but they could not prevent the loss. The star of the match was Jagdish of Sunny Sports Club who took six wickets. Pankaj took three wickets. In the second semifinal, Library Sports Club made 161 runs in 19 overs. Rocky (55 runs), Pramod (29) and Sagar (14) were the main contributors. Nadeem took three wickets. Karan, Naresh and Pradeep took two wickets each for Aryan. In reply, Aryans achieved the target in 18.2 overs. Pradeep with 29 runs and Karan with 26 runs guided the team into the final. The final will be played tomorrow at 11 am. The tournament has been organised by Sunny Sports Club, Mussoorie.
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MGNREGA: Second social audit brings to fore discrepancies
Nainital, February 2 Talking to The Tribune, Basanti Pathak, who heads the local chapter of the Mahila Samakhya, which was instrumental in mobilising women against the discrepancies in the implementation of the MGNREGA, said: “The social audit has been done again and discrepancies with regards to making of job cards, payments and quality of works have come to the fore”. A large contingent of women from the remote Ramgarh, Dhari and Okhalkanda areas of the district had recently met District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli and apprised him of the malpractices in the implementation of the flagship programme of the Central Government. They had demanded his intervention in the matter. Bagauli had constituted a two-member committee to probe the matter. The revelations made by the women pointed at corruption, mismanagement and tardy implementation at all steps. Residents of Nathuakhan village had told the media that it was after a great struggle that the women were able to get their job cards made free of cost and open bank accounts at zero balance. They had charged that there had been instances of women being paid wages lesser than what has been mentioned in the Act. It was pointed out that in certain cases payments under the MGNREGA had been made to shopkeepers and that too for 174 days while a person could not be given work for more than 100 days. The women, drawn from across the region, had alleged that on several occasions they were at the receiving end of the administration apathy for seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and were being threatened by Gram Pradhans. Pathak had pointed out that there was a lot of fudging in the papers related to the scheme in terms of muster rolls, details of the payments, etc. In several instances payments had been made on paper but had never reached the beneficiaries. She had charged that the mandatory social audit was also turning out to be a sham.
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Town Hall to get a makeover soon
Dehradun, February 2 The DMC is planning to modify the hall in the next six months. The outer structure of the hall will be the same, but the interiors will be renovated. It will be upgraded and made more spacious with high-tech facilities like air-conditioning, improved entrance, better sitting arrangement, proper lighting and a new stage. Talking to The Tribune, Ravi Pandey, Executive Engineer, MC, said that they had invited tenders for the renovation of the hall. They had received three entries out of which one was disqualified and the other two were asked to give a presentation on the technical aspect. “The two companies - New Age Exotics from Delhi and AG Exotics from Gurgaon - yesterday made their presentation in front of the Mayor. We have sent a note to the Chief Executive Engineer for his nod,” he said. “We will be opening the financial bid in a day or two and whosoever has quoted the lowest amount will get the Rs 1.5 crore project.” Expressing happiness over the renovation of the Town Hall, Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli said, “The hall is located in the centre of the city and lots of people organise functions here despite its poor condition.” According to sources, many seats in the hall are torn and most fans are in a non-working condition.
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2nd phase of Census in U’khand from Feb 9
Dehradun, February 2 This was disclosed by Director, Census in Uttarakhand, Snehlata Agarwal through a Press Information Bureau statement here yesterday. She said from March 1 to 5, those left out and newcomers would be enumerated. According to Agarwal, during the first exercise, data was collected in connection with the amenities available to families. This would help in assessing lack of houses and other amenities in human habitations. Now in the second phase, nearly 22,000 personnel were being deployed as enumerators and 4,000 others as supervisors. They would enumerate more than 1 crore population of about 20,34,400 households residing in 16,792 villages and 74 statutory towns. Census is conducted after every 10 years. The first census in the country was conducted from 1867 to 1872 as it was held at different time in different states. Since 1881 it is held every 10 years and, thus, the present one is the 15th census. After Independence this is the 7th one. The Census work in high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir has already been conducted from September 11 to 30 last.
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