Dehradun, February 18
Once again the administrative machinery of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) is heading towards stalemate over the cancellation of 10 high-level appointments, which were made last year. The Managers/Supervisors Association and the Joint Employees Front of the GMVN yesterday spurned the offer of Managing Director B Santhiyal, who asked for 15 more days to decide on the matter.

Both employees’ bodies have told Santhiyal to take action on their demands by February 19 or they would stage a four-day dharna from 21 February, and thereafter an indefinite strike.

The fury of employees has much to do with the dilly-dallying tactics of the management of the GMVN on this matter. Tired of these tactics the employees now are in no mood to give in to the time-buying formula of the management once again. President of the Managers/Supervisors Association BD Petwal said: “We gave our memorandum in this regard to the management as well as the state government on December 14 after going on a strike two months ago. Principal Secretary, Tourism, Rakesh Sharma held meetings with us on January 3 and 4 and assured us that the appointments will be cancelled in the board meeting by January 31 while requesting us to carry on with our work in view of the SAF Winter Games. But, we see that he has stabbed us in the back by doing nothing.”

Petwal also indicated towards the inquiry report prepared by the Commissioner of Garhwal on the issue of irregularities in these appointments, saying that they smell a rat over the efforts being made to keep it under wraps. But, he derived satisfaction in the statement of Rakesh Sharma, in which he told them of disclosing the contents of the report in the board meeting and cancelling the appointments, which in a way cleared the air about the contents of the report as well.

But, the delay in deciding on the issue is what frustrating the employees and seniors as well.

Vice-President, GMVN, Raghunath Singh Negi also stated that the Commissioner’s report, which had been sent to the Principal Secretary more than a month ago, should have been made public or put on the table in the board meeting.

The issue of these appointments had been hanging fire since July last year, owing to which, then MD BVRC Purushottam had to be transferred and new MD B Santhiyal, who has the double charge of Additional Secretary, Tourism, is hardly seen on the premises of the GMVN.

Political parties too were seen cashing in on the issue. Leaders of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal went on a 48-hour hunger strike on February 1 and arraigned Rakesh Sharma for the committing irregularities in making these appointments. They have demanded for his removal.

Those people who occupy these controversial 10 positions too have been on tenterhooks. Babita Badola, who covered the distance between the posts of a receptionist and Regional Manager, talks of knocking at the door of the High Court if attempts were made to nullify their appointments. The managers, deputed all over 91 Tourist Rest Houses of the GMVN across Uttarakhand, are equally determined and are angry over the ignorance of their long experience and qualifications while making appointments to these positions. They allege people much lesser in these aspects were selected through nefarious means, something for which they had been providing strong evidence as well.

Dehradun, February 18
Acting upon the final inquiry report, the administration today terminated the services of Chairman of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat Madhu Chauhan. The post will only be filled after the government conducts fresh elections within a period of six months. The elections to the post of Chairman were held in 2008.

After charges of misappropriation of funds were levelled against her by Neeru Devi, member of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat, who also stood her for the post of Chairman, the administration was forced to set up an inquiry first (preliminary inquiry) under the District Magistrate and the final inquiry headed by Garhwal Commissioner Ajay Singh Nabyal. The final inquiry found the most of the charges levelled against her to be true.

Confirming her suspension orders, Upper Mukhya Adhikari (AMA) of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat BS Negi said the orders were passed after Nabyal submitted his final report of the inquiry, concurring with the preliminary report.

These charges include gross financial irregularities by diverting a majority of the funds to the Vikas Nagar area from the political constituency of her husband.

On the other hand, when contacted, Madhu said legal options were still open before her and she would take the final decision after going through the copy of 
the order.

However, alleging foul play, the Vice-Chairman of Zila Panchayat has said the termination orders smack of conspiracy and the Chairman has been targeted because she did not toe the government line. “The Chairman does not belong to the BJP party and did not toe the official line and has therefore been targeted,” said Shiv Prasad Deoli, Vice-Chairman of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat.

Significantly, this is the second time that the Chairman of the Zila Panchayat has been suspended on grounds of financial impropriety. In 1999 Ram Sharan Nautiyal, Chairman of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat, was suspended.

Elsewhere in the Zila Panchayat of Pithoragarh, a no-confidence motion paved the way for the dismissal of its Chairman Ranjana Devi.

Dehradun, February 18
On the basis of their performance, Station House Officers (SHOs) of the district were given report cards by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganesh Singh Martolia in a monthly crime meeting yesterday.

The police stations, on the basis of crime rate and its disposal, have also been divided into A, B and C categories. Police stations like Dalanwala and Kotwali which have high rate of crime fall under category A.

Nehru Colony, Raipur and Rajpur police stations come under B category. The lowest in crime, including Kalsi and Mussoorie, fall under category C.

Ajay Joshi, Superintendent of Police (City), told The Tribune on the basis of the number of crime incidents, disposal of complaints received by SHOs, non-bailable warrants issued, number of arrests made and recovery of stolen things, the percentage of every SHO would be calculated. They would be later awarded accordingly.

Sources said this yardstick had been adopted by the district police to crack a whip on those who had been sitting at the helm due to their good connections and were not working.

Dehradun/Mussoorie,February 18
Vishal Bhardwaj’s latest film, “ 7 Khoon Maaf”, released today to mixed reactions. While residents of Mussoorie, including writer Ruskin Bond, on whose short story “ Susannah’s seven husbands” the film is based on, could not watch the movie because the hill station does not have even a single cinema hall left, in Dehradoon viewers were more enthusiastic.

Ruskin Bond is a fabulous writer. I first read the story before watching the movie. I liked it very much.— Bhawna, Yoga teacher

It was nice to see Bond acting. Though it was a very small role, he looked very nice.”— Madhu Singla, housewife

The response to Guzarish was unpredictable. I am keeping my fingers crossed.— Deepak Naglia

Although this was the only film to be released today, hall owners are keeping their fingers crossed. They hope the World Cup cricket , with India playing their first match on Saturday, would not keep the audience away.

Those who did watch the first show also came out with extreme reactions. While there were those who were disappointed and felt that it had failed to ‘entertain’, there were others who gushed about the ‘superbly directed and acted’ film. While women seemed partial to the plot and the writer, there was near unanimity on Priyanka Chopra stealing the thunder. She seemed to have carried the film on her shoulders.

Priyanka deserves a national award.— Rahul Singh Rawat

The film is not for the masses.— Prem Sobti

It’s not very entertaining.— AR Siddique

At Mussoorie, Ruskin Bond will be signing the first copies of the short story, novella and the screenplay on Saturday, when the lot is expected to arrive at The Book Store, informed Sunil Arora. While Gopal Bhardwaj recalled that while Mussoorie had the distinction of having the first cinema hall in the North, even before Delhi, and though there were as many as seven cinema halls at one time, it has not even one now.

Bond, when contacted, said he would possibly watch the film on a DVD player at home. He is yet to see the film and venturing out to Dehradun and back , when it is so cold, is something he would like to avoid.

Haridwar, February 17
Having several similarities, be it religion, culture, food or language, ties between India and Mauritius are set to get a boost with the Indian diaspora in Mauritius starting efforts to bring the people of the two nations even closer through Bhojpuri Yatra. The Indian Diaspora and World Bhojpuri Centre, which has been set up in Mauritius, is constantly working on varied modes to bring people of Indian origin in this island nation of the African Continent and those in India on one platform.

In one such move, the centre is chalking out the first Bhojpuri Yatra, acknowledging that the Bhojpuri language is widely spoken in north-central and eastern India and a large number of Indian diaspora speak the same language in Mauritius.

Informing The Tribune about this aspect, Jagdish Gobhurdhun, president of this centre, said the mission was to bring the diaspora of Indian origin in Mauritius closer to the land of their ancestors.

The centre came into existence in May, 2006, and was renamed as the Indian Diaspora and World Bhojpuri Centre in November last year.

Jagdish is in the city as part of a delegation of the Bhojpuri Yatra, which started on January 6 and will culminate by the end of this month.

“Over the years, the use of Bhojpuri language, which is quite widely spoken, is being neglected. But our efforts to encourage the use of the language bore fruit in Mauritius. We can do it in India, where this language originated. This yatra is an effort in this regard and the response is quite overwhelming in the Indian region where Bhojpuri is spoken,” said Gobhurdhun.

Notably, the Prime Minister of Mauritius had approved in a Cabinet meeting a Bhojpuri-Speaking Union Bill, which has made Bhojpuri an optional language in primary schools of Mauritius. It is compulsory to learn either one Indian language or Chinese or Arabic as an oriental language in primary schools in Mauritius owing to the multi-ethnic society of the island nation. The Sanskrit Speaking Union Bill has also been approved by the Mauritius Government, which highlights the immense importance of Indian languages in this nation.

Gobhurdhun said Haridwar, besides the holy Ganga, is rich in every sphere. In Mauritius too they have a specific ghat, named Apravasi Ghat, which is listed as the world site heritage.

Bhojpuri film and television actors have lent their support to this yatra, terming the regional language as rich and sonorous. Shweta Tiwari, television actress and winner of the Big Boss-IV reality show, while talking to The Tribune, conveyed her good wishes to this Mauritius delegation.

Shewta, who has done a number of Bhojpuri movies and is also planning to produce a series of regional films, said people of North India should feel proud in speaking this language, which was widely spoken in the Hindi heartland. She felt proud to be doing both Bhojpuri and Hindi cinema, she added.

Dehradun: Having completed her 28 golden years of life in teaching the students of Children’s Academy, Dehradun, veteran teacher Veena Sharma still feels young at heart as she lives her everyday with young children.

“I have lived the major part of my life with children. Apart from educating the children, the involvement with my students helps me to learn a lot from them in return. I live with them, I laugh with them and sometimes we discuss such personal things with each other that cannot be shared with others. It has become mission of my life,” said Veena Sharma, who is looking forward to work with some NGO or free schools that educates the underprivileged ones after her retirement.

She is actively coordinating the examination exercises within the premises of the institute, while assertively directing the timetable of every assistant teacher in the school. She is the lady of poise and dedication, whose diligent efforts have nurtured many of her pupils that are presently well settled in life. She has received awards for completing 25 years of service in the school and endowing 100 per cent results in Class XII board examination.

“My all students are very well settled in their life. Some of them are in civil services, while some of them are into business and trade. Many of the students are working with leading IT companies and placed overseas. The satisfaction that I get with each successful passing out batch is achievement of my life,” answered Sharma, when asked about her accomplishments in the teaching career.

Sharma, who belongs to the family of educationists, has completed her Masters in Economics from HNB Garhwal University, while pursued her Graduation in Arts from Phagwara, Punjab. Her son, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law and many other relatives are in the same profession of moulding the careers of the children.

On witnessing the sea change in the present day teaching methods, Sharma says, “In view of the changes in academic syllabus, the teaching methods in the present scenario have also got updated. Earlier, we used to lay emphasis on mugging up the lessons thoroughly, but today bookish knowledge is considered incomplete without the practical comprehensions and appropriate data.”

“We’ve now adapted to the methods of practical training, smart classes, usage of teaching equipments, educational tours and frequent interactive sessions. In my subject, particularly, students are taught about the Indian politics as well as world politics through the audio-visual method and dummy sessions of the assembly, where the students enact and conjure the agendas,” said Veena.

On being asked about why she chose teaching as her career and what are the advantages of being a teacher, Veena said, “I believe that the teaching profession has more of advantages than in any other field. Time factor and respect are what comes in handy with this profession. A teacher has fixed hours of service and can avail all the gazetted holidays. A teacher can equivalently devote her time to her students as well as to the family, while can teach her own children as per 
the requirement.”

However amid the preparations of ensuing board examinations, Sharma gave effective last minute tips to the students. “Thorough revision of the chapters, practicing the unsolved papers, time management and writing according to the marks allotted to the questions,” said Sharma.

Dehradun, February 18
The members of the Bhumihin Sangarsh Samiti have once again vowed to continue their fight to get land (patte) at the Escort Farm in Kashipur and threatened that if the IIM building was inaugurated at the Escort Farm, then they would not hesitate in laying their lives down at the venue.

These activists have been staging dharna in front of the SDM Court at Kashipur for the past three months. They were stopped near the Gandhi Park on February 13 and were stopped again on the way to the CM’s house on February 15.

They also sat in front of the Vidhan Sabha for 24 hours in protest next day and now, they have decided to gherao the Vidhan Sabha during the session. — TNS

Dehradun, February 18
Any information gains the value only if it reaches the common man and the officials should understand it. This was stated by Prabhat Dabral, Uttarakhand Chief Information Commissioner, while addressing a seminar at the Vikas Bhawan here today.

All the information officers participated in the seminar.Among those present at the seminar were District Panchayat Officer MM Khan, District Education Officer Geeta Nautiyal, Uttarakhand Saving Director in charge Pratap Ram. — TNS

Dehradun, February 18
Uttarakhand Police moved into the final of the Kamptee All-India Gold Cup Football Tournament being played at Kamptee, Indore, MP, after defeating South Eastern Central Railway Headquarters (Vilaspur) in a tiebreaker on Friday. Uttarakhand Police will clash with J&K Bank in the final on Saturday.

Both teams were goalless at the end of the allotted time. Uttarakhand Police kept things in control in the tiebreaker to make it to the last two stage of the tournament. The team is participating in the Kamptee All-India Gold Cup for the first time and they impressed the football fans with their skills and team spirit.

The dream run of the Uttarakhand Police football team continues. The cops have won three tournaments in succession and by reaching the final of the Kamptee All-India Gold Cup they have proved that they are in their fine form. The cops began by winning the title of the All-India Football Championship in Mao (UP), followed by the title win at the All-India Mohan Kumar Mangalam Football Tournament (Udaipur) and in the All-India Football Championship in Faridabad.

The Kamptee All-India Gold Cup, which is organised by the United Football Welfare Association, kicked off at the Military Ground in Kamptee on February 6. A total of 20 teams participated in this edition of the championship.

Dehradun, February 18
With the help of a brilliant century by Shanky, Doiwala Cricket Club defeated Doon Champs Cricket Club by 147 runs in a match of the Dehradun District Cricket League played at the OFD grounds here today.

Doiwala Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored mammoth 245 runs (all out) in the allotted 30 overs. Shanky scored a brilliant 110 runs off 87 balls while Bhanu scored 54 runs off 33 balls. Shanky scored 14 hits to the fence and one over it. Lokesh took three wickets for 38 runs for Doon Champs Cricket Club.

In reply, Doon Champs Cricket Club were bundled out for 98 runs in 21.3 overs. Arif was the highest scorer with 52 runs off 47 balls. Amarjit took three wickets for 12 runs for the Doiwala team.

In the second match, the ‘B’ team of Petroleum University defeated Survey of India by 100 runs. The Petroleum team won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 188 runs all out in 34.2 overs. Vineet was the top scorer with 39 runs. Jagjeet and Pushkar took three wickets each.

In reply, the Survey of India team was bundled out for 88 runs. Akhil was the top scorer with 24 runs. Sachin and Kartik took three wickets each for Petroleum B.