Mussoorie, February 15
Commuters from Dehradun going to Mussoorie had a harrowing time as the state roadways bus they were travelling in broke down in the middle of the road. The driver of the bus got stuck at Kolhukhet, midway to Mussoorie, when its gear box stopped working.

The passengers were left in the lurch and told by the conductor to board another bus amidst a heavy downpour, claiming that the bus had to be towed away to Dehradun.

The commuters had to board another bus, but that bus, too, broke down near the Jay Pee Residency Manor Bend. The angry commuters began cursing the Uttarakhand Roadways Department and got off the bus.

The woes of the commuters did not end there. They were once again told to board the next bus of the department, but it, too, broke down before reaching Mussoorie.

The driver of the bus (UA 07 H 2056) told The Tribune that most of the buses plying on the Mussoorie-Dehradun highway were out of order and could lead to major accidents, risking the lives of commuters and drivers. The drivers were also of the view that the test of these buses was conducted at the workshop itself in collusion with the RTO officials of Dehradun.

Ramesh, a passenger, after such an experience, said it was shameful that the government was using such buses to cater to the needs of the tourists.

Dehradun, February 15
He is a true soldier at heart who after serving the Indian Army for 24 years, now at the age of 52 years has decided to fight another battle for the cause of the physically challenged. During his service in the Army, he was appreciated for his work, but by a strange twist of fate while combating militants in Yaripura in the Kashmir valley in 1997, he suffered a leg injury which left him resorting to the use of a walking stick to perform his daily chores.

After retirement, former Havildar Yatendra Kumar Choudhary of Roorkee took a pledge that he would now fight a battle within the society to equip the physically challenged with education.

Choudhary, former soldier of Corps of Signals, has started an organisation, Prayas, at his residence in the Khanjarpur locality of Roorkee on his own expense. “It is a fact that I do provide free coaching or other vocational training to physically challenged children from class I to XII standards,” said Choudhary.

His efforts have now borne fruit as some students of the renowned Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, have come forward to help him. They joined his organisation as voluntary teachers to teach the physically challenged children. They are devoting two hours every day in the evening at his house and have taught seven students so far.

In return, Choudhary shares with the IIT students his expertise in making driftwood carvings. He recently opened a hall at his village. It has two rooms, one for worship and the other for studying to impart education and vocational training to the physically challenged children as well as normal ones.

Choudhary, who attributes his spirit for doing selfless social services other than those related to Prayas to the Army that infused a deep sense of fighting against odds in him, has donated his blood 105 times so far. In 2008, on the occasion of country’s Independence Day, he pledged to donate parts of his body after death to the nearby medical college of Jolly Grant so his organs can be used for needy persons.

“My wife Padam and son Prateek have undertaken this pledge to donate their organs to the said hospital. And Prateek (born in 1992) is the youngest body donor of the world,” claims Choudhary. We are only three members in the family and all have donated their bodies. It is also a record. After our death, the members of the family will inform the hospital and our bodies would be dispatched to the hospital without performing any cremation or rituals,” said a beaming Choudhary who is at present re-employed in a telephone exchange of the Army.

When asked from where he managed a sum of Rs 2 lakh after a small superannuation fund of services to raise the building and other facilities for the Prayas organisation, he said if a person’s intention is pious then the God always helps.

“In 2006, I was selected by Sony TV as a participant for their general knowledge quiz named ‘Deal or No Deal’ where during the show I announced that I would spend 20 per cent of the prize money on the education of the physically challenged persons and I got Rs 10 lakh as prize money from the quiz programme,” said Choudhary.

Dehradun February 15
Cashing in on the frenzy to have fairly good and glowing skin with oodles of elegance and holistic charisma has always been women’s undertaking as well as their pride, says award recipient for aromatherapy and beautician Dr Blossom Kochhar who was in town, along with her beauty and hair therapist daughter Samantha Kochhar, for a beauty related seminar.

“The fair sex members are always willing to spruce up their pulchritude, so as to look their feminine best. But the common refrain amongst the ladies is the lack of wellness expertise that can accentuate their features according to the latest trend. Therefore, we are here to introduce a new range of our beauty treatments with the goodness of natural minerals and extracts. It is the treatment under the brand name of Aroma magic by the name of Jewel facial and Jewel hair spa. The treatments consists of the real extracts of gold, silver, platinum, diamond and pearl,” said the Blossom during the introductory session of their new range of beauty treatments for face and hair in the Doon Valley.

Blossom quipped that her products were based on the wellness of her clients with the holistic approach to seek beauty from within. “The usage of natural extracts and essential oils taken from lavender, rose, eucalyptus, avocado, almonds and sandalwood penetrates deep into the skin, making it look younger and supple,” said Blossom.

On being asked about how beneficial instant beauty treatments like Botox and artificial fillers are, Blossom said, “Well, these instant treatments are made for people of the film industry and are successful for a short run. But the Blossom Kochhar’s aromatherapy and other natural beauty treatments are natural and gives best results at a long run.”.

Samantha, who has taken after her mother in the profession, said, “The beauty industry is extremely dynamic and trends change at a fast pace. We make it a point to share the ideas with the industry on a regular basis to enhance their skills and keep them updated. In my education institute at the Blossom Kocchar College of Creative arts and Design, I train my students according to the latest trends as per the demands of the clients,” smiled Samantha, who has worked with many leading actresses of Bollywood and Hollywood.

However, the celebrity stylist duo gave no confirmation on setting their training academy or salon in the Doon Valley. “We have our institutes running successfully in Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai. Currently, I am concentrating on the recently launched Mumbai-based institute. In future, we might come up with our spa and salon here for sure,” said Samantha, while demonstrating the latest trends in bridal make-up and hair styling.

Samantha strongly opines that the need to bring in difference and creativity to the bridal make-up is now the necessity of the hour. “While doing the make-up of a bride, one must always treat her as an individual and in a special manner. The makeup artists should look at accentuating the features of the bride while hiding the flaws,” signed off Samantha.

Dehradun, February 15
The issue of caste certificate is gaining significance in view of the ensuing Assembly elections. The Opposition parties are fully engaged in bringing forth the problems faced by people of the SC, ST categories or OBC in getting their caste certificates issued while blaming the state government for deliberately complicating the procedure.

The CPM has gone a step ahead in forming a special front, the Jaati Praman Patr Banao Sangharsh Morcha, to address this issue. Convener of this front Lekhraj said: “It is ludicrous to expect all the applicants seeking caste certificates to produce the land documents of pre-1950 to give a proof of their background and veracity of their claims related to their castes.

Besides, in a government order of 2004, the state government showed some flexibility by allowing caste certificates to those persons who lived in the state before 2000. But, the government led by Chief Minister BC Khanduri reversed the order again by sticking to the order related to the documents of pre-1950”.

He said the state government had been creating unnecessary upheavals in the process of the issuance of the certificates. The latest incident where the State Public Commission demanded caste certificates as old as six months from the aspirants who had applied for the posts of assistant lecturer led to enough uproar, especially when the DM/SDM refused to put up with this new burden. The government had to go on the back foot over the eligibility criterion.

Harish Virmani, president of the city Congress, too found the requirement of the documents of pre-1950 unfeasible and said: “It is impractical and unviable for everyone to produce property documents of pre-1950 to stake their claim to caste certificates. What about those poor people or landless farmers who never owned any property, where will they go to get their caste certificates prepared? The state government has no solution to these problems”.

The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) has been raising this issue vociferously. Party president Trivender Panwar said: “Since it is not possible for everyone to own land or possess old property documents, the state government should be more flexible in its approach and accept other alternative proofs such as ration card, voter card, etc, to facilitate the caste certificates”.

President of the state Samajwadi Party Vinod Barthwal too agreed with the UKD on this issue and emphasised unnecessary complication would further lead to frustration among people. He said: “The state government is against Backward Castes and is depriving people of these castes from availing the benefits of reservation by denying them the caste certificates”.

Former Additional District Magistrate (Finance) Vinod Suman said no document other than property documents could verify the claims of a person that he belonged to the SC, ST categories or OBC, as other documents such as ration cards and voter cards expire after a gap of fix period automatically.

State Cabinet minister Matbar Singh Kandari said: “The issue related to caste certificate is in the domain of the Centre and the procedure to get the same has been well decided by the Supreme Court of India by setting the cut-off date of August, 1950, for the residents of any state. The date of nomination, such as in 2006 for the Gorkha community will be admissible as per the nomination period for these tribes. Secondly, people living in one state can’t produce the documents of the properties in other states”.

Kandari stated since it was quite an important facility, which had all the scope to be tampered by vested interests, as it gives immense benefits in education and employment sector via reservation. Therefore, it was quite important to remain cautious about the guidelines set by the apex court. Any change in the parameters was only possible through amendment to the provisions by the Centre, he added.

Dehradun, February 15
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has castigated the BJP for merging its lines with the Congress by embracing former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader ND Tiwari on the occasion of the launch of the Atal Khadyann Yojana.

NCP general secretary and party spokesperson Manoj Dhyani said the BJP Government now seemed totally committed in getting patronage of the political culture of the Congress, by opposing whom it had come into power.

Dhyani said the BJP accused the Congress for indulging in anti-Uttarakhand culture and implicated it in 56 cases of corruption, for which an inquiry commission was also constituted.

He said, “ND Tiwari was the target of these charges at that time and today the BJP invites ND Tiwari and gives him space with their national president Nitin Gadkari on the same dais. That poses a serious question, as to whether the BJP has softened its stance towards Tiwari and is ready to give him clean-chit on the corruption charges. The public, too, wants to know if the BJP Government has dismissed the inquiry commission”.

He said it would prove to be a mere dream for the BJP to gain victory in the Assembly election by riding on Tiwari’s name. He also remarked that the public of the state was no longer going to be fooled by their alluring schemes at the time of approaching elections.

Dehradun, February 15
Lok Sabha MP from Pauri Garhwal and Chairman of the Permanent Standing Committee of Parliament on Defence Satpal Maharaj has called upon people to throw away the BJP Government in the state in the next Assembly polls like the people of Egypt and Tunisia threw their tyrannical regimes through peaceful protests.

Former Union Minister Satpal Maharaj, who is on a tour of the Garhwal region, along with Uttarakhand Congress President Yashpal Arya, appealed to voters to exercise their franchise against the ‘corrupt’ regime of the BJP in the state.

He said it was the turn of the people of the state to show the door to the state BJP Government. He charged that the state government had failed miserably and had allegedly been involved in various scams, including Citurgia and SAF Games.

He hoped that people would vote for a clean and transparent government that would work for providing employment to the jobless in the state. He regretted that the state government had been charging Rs 850 for a form to apply for the post of a teacher in the state. “It shows the lack of insensitivity towards unemployed youth by the state government,” he charged.

He also appealed to the people of the state to register Garhwali and Kumoani as their mother tongue in the ongoing Census in the state.

Dehradun, February 15
The Ministry of Textiles and the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council are collectively holding a 10-day handicrafts exhibition at Tera Gaon near the IT Park.

Informing about the exhibition, Sharad Sundriyal, Director of the fair, said, “Handmade garments, decorative and utility items are displayed by the artisans of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra”.

“Stalls related to entertainment, agriculture, education, environment and industries will also be displayed,” informed Sundriyal.

Pitthoragarh, February 15
After state BJP chief Bishan Singh Chufal gave an assurance to give district status to Didihat, comprising three border subdivisions of Didihat, Dharchula and Munsiyari, a similar demand for a new district has erupted in Ranikhet, Dwarahat and Bhikiyasain subdivisions of the neighbouring Almora district.

While the agitators in Ranikhet are taking out a procession, the agitators in Dwarahat and Bhikiyasein, demanding district status in the name of the Ramganga river, are sitting on a dharna that entered its 30th day today.

“The issue of district status for Ranikhet first came up in 1950, but due to rejection by the UP Revenue Council it could not gain momentum. Now, it is more justified as many new districts have come up in the Kumaon region after that,” said senior advocate in Ranikhet Promod Pandey. He said the area was known as Pali during the British era and one of the most revenue-generating paraganas of the British empire in the Kumoan region.

The Ranikhet Bar Association, which is running the movement for district status, has formed a sangharsh samiti having leaders of all the political parties, ex-soldiers’ association and traders association. The agitators are taking out processions on a daily basis since the last one month. “If Ranikhet is not announced as a district soon, our movement will take a violent turn,” said Promod.

Agitations are being run in Dwarahat and Bhikiyasen regions, too, for the creation of a new district in the name of the Ramganga river. “The agitators are on dharna in Dwarahat for the past 30 days and for the past 10 days in at Bhikiasain”.

The agitators are supported by not only local villagers, but also from college students, according to block pramukh of Chaukhutiya Meena Kandpal.

“The agitators in all the three places are demanding district status, but they differ on the name and headquarters of the district, as Ranikhet can not bear the burden of extra construction,” said New Delhi-based journalist from Dwarahat Charu Chandra Tiwari.

Dehradun, February 15
A group of 185 pilgrims from Pakistan reached Roorkee railway station by the Amritsar-Lahore Express this morning to participate in the 742nd Urs at the Peeran Kaliyar shrine of Pir Sabir Baba.

As usual, officials of the administration gave a rousing reception to the Pakistani pilgrims who have come from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Punjab and other parts of Pakistan.

The pilgrims were received under a tight security cover and were taken to the Sabri guest house on the dargah premises. The pilgrims will return on February 21.

“We are happy to here. We are grateful to the Indian and Pakistani governments for issuing visas during the auspicious days of Urs. Such occasions bring the two nations closer,” said Shaqat, a pilgrim.

“We have come here with a message of brotherhood. We pray to Baba to wipe off terrorism from the world,” said Sarwat Shaqat, the group leader.

The pilgrims expressed their satisfaction over the arrangements made by the administration as well as the warm reception extended to them on their arrival at the Roorkee railway station today.

Arshad Ali, an official of the Indian Embassy, and two officials from the Pakistan High Commission are accompanying the group.

Dehradun, February 15
ONGC scored a facile eight-wicket win over OFD today during the 60th District Cricket League under way at the Survey of India stadium, Hathibarkala. OFD won the toss and decided to bat first. The decision didn’t go down well with the team as no batsmen could even cross the 20-run mark. Vipin (19) and Sanjeev (16) top-scored for the side.

OFD set a target of 64 runs all out in 15.1 overs. Manmohan and Shahnawaz of ONGC claimed three wickets each. Rajiv took two wickets while Vinay and Sudhir Bisht pocketed a wicket each.

In reply, ONGC easily achieved the target in 9.3 overs only. Opening batsmen Shahnawaz (35) was the top scorer. Vipin and Sanjeev got a wicket each.

Tomorrow, BSNL will take on Agriculture.

Dehradun, February 15
Western Region today defeated Southern Region 3-0 in the men’s team event final of the All-India Inter-zonal Table Tennis Tournament being organised by the Airports Authority of India at the multi-purpose hall of the Parade Ground here.

In the final of the men’s team event, Vivek Mahajan beat N Ravi Kumar 3-2 (11-13, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8). Yogesh Nagaich got the better R Vetrivel 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 12-10). Vivek Mahajan and Yogesh Nagaich surpassed N Ravikumar and R Vetrivel 3-1 (11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8).

Earlier in the semifinal, Western Region beat Eastern Region. Yogesh Nagaich won against P Biswas 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-2). Vivek Mahajan thrashed M Tahid 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-4). In the doubles matches, Vivek Mahajan and Yogesh Nagaich beat P Biswas and M Tahid 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 12-10). Southern Region registered victory against Corporate Headquarters 3-0. R Vetrivel beat Rajesh Dhall 12-10, 11-7, 13-11). N Ravikumar fought hard to beat Rajeev Gulati 3-1 (8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5). N Ravikumar and R Vetrivel piped Rajesh and Rajeev Gulati 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-6).

Other results are:

Women’s team event (Ist semifinal): Western Region bt eastern region 3-0. Manini bt GB Chowdhuri 3-0 (11-5, 11-0, 12-10); Philomina bt Ruchi 3-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-2) and Manina and philomina bt GB Chowdhuri and Ruchi 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-6).

IInd semifinal: Southern Region bt Corporate Headquarters 3-0. S Meenakumari bt Ranjeeta Kaur 3-0 (11-2, 11-6, 11-2); Hemavathy R bt Hema Adhikari 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 11-7); S Meenakumari and Hemavathy R bt Ranjeeta & Hema 3-0 (11-1, 11-1, 11-3).

Men’s singles (pre-quarterfinals): Vivek Mahajan bt MK Rola 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-8); Gautam Das bt Deepak Kumar Dabas 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-7); Rajesh Dhall bt Amitava Roy 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-7); R Vetrivel bt M Rajender 3-2 (7-11, 11-3, 1-11, 11-6, 11-2); N Ravukumar bt Sachin Lamba 3-0 (11-2, 11-8, 11-2); Mangesh Pawar bt P Das 3-0 (11-2, 11-8, 11-2); Rajeev Gulati bt P Biswas 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-2); Yogesh Nagaich bt P Kumaran 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-4).

Quarterfinals: Vivek Mahajan bt Gautam Das 3-0 (11-1, 11-6, 11-6); R Vetrivel bt Rajesh Dhall 3-2 (11-3, 12-10, 4-11, 7-11, 12-10); Mangesh Pawar bt N Ravikumar 3-0 (14-12, 11-9, 12-10); Rajeev Gulati bt Yogesh Nagaich 3-1 (12-10, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9).

Semifinals:Mangesh Pawar bt Rajeev Gulati 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-8); Vivek Mahajan bt R Vetrivel 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-5)

Women’s singles: Quarterfinals: Philomina bt Uma Maheshwari 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-2); Hemawati bt Manjiri Hirlekar 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6); Manini bt S Jayanthi 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-5); S Meenakumari bt Mary 3-0 (11-4, 11-0, 11-0).

Semifinals: Manini bt S Meenakumari 3-2 (11-3, 6-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7); Philomina bt Hemawati 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-4).

Haridwar, February 15
With the successful hosting of the national-level junior badminton tournament in Haridwar, both organisers as well as participants are quite elated to be a part of this national tournament which is a first of its kind in the hilly state of Uttarakhand.

Add to this, a large number of spectators thronged the state-of-the-art sports complex, which is the finest in the whole state, in fact as per the players and coaching staff, one of the best in the northern region.

When The Tribune spoke to the players, organisers, family members, staff members accompanying the players and local people, most had words of praise, barring a few minor chinks that are bound to surface when a city, not having much sporting infrastructure, organises with limited resources a tournament of such a high magnitude.

Here are excerpts of a selected few, many of whom shared their opinions with The Tribune.

Anushkha from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, who is a top five junior national-ranked player, said the playing facility as well as the management of the tournament was on par with any other metropolitan city having multi-sporting facilities. “I am quite happy to be coming for the second time to the holy city of Haridwar, where I also played with local players who have immense talent. Sure we from bigger cities do have to face the real test from small city players owing to their determination emanating from non-sporting challenging conditions,” voiced Anushka.

Similarly, Kalyani Parikh, a mother accompanying her daughter, also hailing from Gujarat, said apart from playing, the lodging facilities were top class with minute details taken care of by the organisers. It helped her daughter get a relaxed environment as a result of which she reached the finals of the doubles event.

Buoyed by the successful hosting, organising committee chairman Dr Naresh Chaudhari said they had given the best facilities available free of cost, be it accommodation, food, transport, guidance to the players which would ensure that the All-India Badminton Association held such tournaments in Haridwar again.

But minor niggles were also seen in the tournament, like extending schedules which saw some matches go on till late night, giving players little time to prepare for the next day matches. Like Kuhoo, a New Delhi-based player, whose father Ashok Kumar, an IPS who is associated with the state badminton association, pointed out that a bit of professionalism was needed which would only enhance in the coming time. Still full marks to the city the way the tournament for the second consecutive year was held in Haridwar, she added.

Impressed by local Garhwali cuisines, Maharashtrian professional player Karishma Wadekar termed Haridwar as one of the best natural locations for sporting events, adding, “On the holy Ganga ghats, amidst hilly terrains, with temple bells ringing, this is surely a place to play, away from regular congested metro cities. I like this place both for its serenity, atmosphere as well as religious significance,” said Karishma.

Surely such national-level tournaments will give a fillip to the sporting culture in the hilly state which after the successful hosting of the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games has once again stamped its capability to make Uttarakhand a sporting state, both with its talented performing players as well as hosting sporting events of national-international class.