Assembly session ends with Budget approval
Dehradun, March 29
After passing the state annual Budget for 2011-12 and six other Bills in the Budget session, the Uttarakhand Assembly was today adjourned sine die. The session had begun with the Governor’s Address on March 15. Four resolutions were also approved on the last day, including an appeal to the Centre to keep the initial stretch of the Bhagirathi from restrictions that pertain to an eco-sensitive zone.

Dehradun, March 29
The absconding domestic help who had allegedly poisoned and robbed an elderly couple at their Guru Teg Bahadur Road residence on February 16 was nabbed by the police, along with his accomplice, today.

The police also recovered seven stolen watches and Rs 55,000 from their possession.

As per the police, the two were arrested today from the ISBT from where they were about to leave for Delhi. However, the police, who had got tip-off of their whereabouts, on the basis of a sketch, reached there and questioned them, only to find that they were the same men.

Domestic help Shankar and his friend Anil, whom he had introduced to the victims as a driver, were to leave for Nepal from Delhi when they were apprehended. He had fled to Nepal after committing the theft last month.

He was a few days ago called up by his another friend Vikas and informed of a similar rich family that required a servant. That is why he had come to Dehradun, but when he reached here he found Vikas’s phone switched off.

Then he decided to leave for Delhi with his friend Anil and then for Nepal, but they both were caught at the bus stand, the police added.

The elderly couple was poisoned and robbed by this newly hired servant last month. The couple, in an unconscious condition, was been admitted to the ICU at CMI Hospital.

Sagar Chand Gupta is a retired executive engineer from the PWD and his wife Kanta is a homemaker. The couple has two sons, Rajnish Gupta and Manish Gupta, and both are working in Dubai.

Haridwar, March 29
Panic gripped the local BHEL colony today, as a leopard was spotted in the early morning hours. Seeing a large number of people, who gathered around the leopard, it climbed on a tree and remained there till the filing of the report late in the evening.

Despite several attempts by the Forest Department employees, animal activists and local people to bring it down the tree, it did not budge.

According to the eyewitnesses, a youth saw the leopard moving around in this residential colony, which is situated close to the Rajaji National Park.

Experts from the park and wildlife scientists reached the spot to rescue the leopard, but they failed in their attempts.

The news of leopard intrusion into the colony spread like a wildfire and people from nearby areas rushed to the spot to see the beast.

Dehradun, March 29
A group of 20 women, who have made a mark in their chosen fields, were honoured by the Mahila Samakhya, Uttarakhand.

Hema, one of these women, is an expert at repairing tyres and can easily go under a car to check its condition. Born in 1993, she works at her father’s shop in Okhalkanda Block of Nainital.

Physical abuse and torture at the hands of her husband did not prevent Deepa Padaliya from lodging a complaint against him after he, in a drunken state, hacked their son. A resident of Betalghat in Nainital, Deepa withstood all kinds of pressure to withdraw her complaint, but she stood her ground. She enrolled herself for evening classes and cleared the class VIII exam. Today she is an ASHA worker.

On the other hand, Chandra, nick-named Chanda, along with her sister Shanti, stunned the residents of Dhoriya village in Bajpur (Udham Singh Nagar) by performing the last rites of their father. “We do not have a brother, so after the death of our father both of us performed his last rites,” said Chandra.

They have been subjected to taunts and humiliations regularly because they do not have a brother. “The condition of our mother is worse, as she has borne the maximum brunt,” said Chandra.

They were honoured for fighting against age-old prejudices and stereotypes.

The other women who were honoured included Razia Beig, Chairperson of the Bar Council of Uttarakhand, Deviki Devi, who runs a goldsmith shop at Sisaikhera in Nanakmatta and Munni Devi of Pauri district.

Meanwhile, on the final day of the seminar on domestic violence, the speakers lamented the wrong portrayal of women, be it by multinational companies or the media.

Dehradun, March 29
Another male bastion has been stormed in Uttarakhand. Sandali Devi and Makani Devi are the first and only female players of the dhol damoun.

It is sheer hard work and undiluted love for the instrument that had thrust the duo into the limelight that had often been the preserve of male performers.

The twosome now ekes out a living playing the dhol damoun at religious ceremonies and festivals, but the going had not been easy when they had first stepped into the musical world.

“As audiences were used to seeing men perform, my initial performances didn’t get the appropriate response. But I laboured on bit by bit. My music has now become my life,” said Makani Devi who recently gave a stellar performance in Dehradun.

Termed as the instrument of the gods, the dhol damoun is played by traditional instrumentalists called the Aujis and members belonging to the Das community. The dhol and damoun are played together on the basis of Dhol Sagar, a ancient granth containing rhythms for each instrument.

Matching Makani’s dhol beats every step of the way is Sandali on the damoun. And the result is perfect harmony.

“One of the most important lessons that I learnt in life was to acquire a skill that would help me earn a livelihood. I watched my father play the dhol and damoun and was drawn to the instruments. I got married at the age of nine and I had no inkling that one day, I would be forced to take the role of a breadwinner after the death of my husband 12 years ago. And the damoun came to my rescue,” recalled Sandali Devi.

Her training began early. Married to a traditional dhol-damoun performer, she used to accompany her husband and had even performed with him at numerous festivals.

“When, at the end of my earlier solo performances, I would ask for an inam (remuneration), the village head would usually shake his head in displeasure, but I persisted and soon, they started paying us more. But I think that the amount that we women get is a little less than what our male colleagues receive,” said Sandali Devi.

Even while both women learnt to play the instruments from their father, they were never allowed to play the instrument in the hills. It was their perseverance and necessity that forced the duo to venture into a field that was open only to men.

“These courageous women braved criticism and ostracism and then went on to demand remuneration for their performances. In Garhwal, women are usually not encouraged to play these instruments that are not only bulky, but have to be strung around the neck,”said Geeta Gairola, state Project Director, Mahila Samakhya.

Dehradun, March 29
To offer job-oriented courses to students residing in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand at a nominal fee, the Graphic Era Educational Society has set up Graphic Era Hill University in Nainital and Dugadda block, Pauri.

The university has been set up under the ‘Ashirwad’ plan released by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to ensure quality education in every part of the state.

The university aims to provide high-level technical and management studies to the students near their hometowns. Students from financially weak backgrounds can study free of cost.

Along with the university, training centres offering job-oriented courses will also be set up at Satpuli (Pauri) and Pitthoragarh where students who have completed their junior high school can seek industrial training.

Under the pilot project of the plan, 17 youths had been given three-month training. The CM had presented training certificates to them on February 19. All of them have been recruited by leading companies.

Prof Kamal Ghanshala, secretary of the Graphic Era Educational Society, said, “The commencement of the hill university will help prevent immigration from hilly regions. The institution will help girls and boys from rural areas get technical education to pursue careers in cottage and small-scale industries near their villages. Students of management and engineering will be given a 25 per cent rebate on the course fee. Youths belonging to the state will be hired as class III and IV employees,” he said.

Dehradun, March 29
The faculty of law, ICFAI University, Dehradun, bagged the first position in Dr Paras Diwan Energy Law National Moot Court Competition organised by the College of Legal Studies, Uttarakhand Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), here yesterday.

Around 20 law universities and colleges from all over India participated in the competition and presented their views on the topic “Energy Laws”.

Amarchand Mangaldas, Luthra and Luthra, and some prominent practising advocates judged the performance and congratulated ICFAI University for winning the contest.

The winning team comprised Anuradha Prasad, Neha Sharma, Madhav and Abishek. The quartet beat National Law University, Orissa, in the semifinal and Symbiosis Law College, Pune, in the final.

Prof GP Srivastava, Vice-Chancellor, ICFAI University, and Dr B Kumar, Director, faculty of law, congratulated the participants.

Dehradun, March 29
Rahul Mani’s lone goal helped Adhoiwala beat Raipur Khadar 1-0 during the Bir Singh Thakur Memorial Tournament at OFD Ground here today.

The hard battle saw a goalless first half. In the second half, Rahul Mani of Adhoiwala scored the winner in the 44th minute.

In another match, Sunderwala got a walkover on OLF as the latter failed to reach the venue.

Tomorrow, Akranta will play against XI Star and Nehru Gram will meet Bajrang. The matches will start at 8.30 am due to India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal clash tomorrow.

Dehradun, March 29
Ajabpur Youngsters beat Rao Cricket Academy by two wickets in the 59th District Cricket League under way at the Survey of India Stadium here today.

Batting first, Rao Academy scored 179 runs in 35 overs for eight wickets. Ankit (59) topscored for the batting side. Kiran (25) and Imran (23) also contributed to the team’s tally.

Arvind Sajwan, Sonu and Haider took two wickets each for Ajabpur. Amit and Haider got one wicket each. Batting second, Ajabpur scored 182 runs in 34.3 overs.

Rohit (57) and Ashish (34) mainly scored for the batting side. Ankit of Rao Academy got two wickets. Kiran, Sanjay, Pramod and Ravipal pocketed a wicket each.

Tomorrow, Rao Academy (B) will face Doon Defence.