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Youth can help improve Indo-Pak ties: Kayani
Shimla charms Pak Sanawarians
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Anti-hail cannons test-fired successfully
Govt flayed for system failure
Dari mela continues for days against norms
Child drowned in Baddi
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Youth can help improve Indo-Pak ties: Kayani
Shimla, April 14 “The two countries have come a long way since 2002 when then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan and this was more than evident from the response of people to the World Cup cricket match at which both the Prime Ministers were present,” Kayani, who is on a week-long visit to the country along with a group of students to attend the Founder’s Day function of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, stated this while interacting with mediapersons. “In the era of globalisation, people-to-people contact is bound to change things and it is time that the two countries provide more opportunities to the youth, who have the urge, intent and capability to change the old order. I, in my own small way, started the process by leading a delegation to The Lawrence School, Lovedale (Ootacamund), in 2004 and the understanding developed as a result among the three institutions founded by Sir Henry Lawrence has paved the way for a regular exchange programme,” he said with a sense of satisfaction. Apart from exchange programmes for students and teachers of schools, colleges and universities, sports meets, cultural events and other such activities should be organised to facilitate a greater interaction among the youth who would shape the future relationship between the two countries. The pressure being built up by society was making a difference everywhere and it would work in improving the Indo-Pak ties, he added. A retired Air Commodore, Kayani, is a votary of friendly ties between the two countries and wants to see them come together and cooperate in the areas of trade and business which makes much economic sense. If Pakistan can supply onions at Rs 10 per kg, there is no need for Indians to buy them at Rs 150 per kg. It is heartening to see trucks loaded with commodities lined up on both sides of Attari, an indication of improving trade. “It will be the biggest achievement of my life if people-to-people interaction, involving youth in particular, expands and the ties between the two countries grow stronger, burying the pain of the Partition forever,” Kayani said. |
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Shimla charms Pak Sanawarians
Shimla, April 14 “Shimla is much greener, cleaner and well-kept”. This is how they summed up their impressions while comparing it to the hill station across the border. “Apart from this, we have found no difference after crossing the Attari border, the same warm people, the same language, the same culture and similar cities like Chandigarh which is much like Islamabad,” they said in one voice. “We had an impression that India is a peaceful country with friendly people, and this view has only got strengthened after spending three days in the country,” said Sikandar and Farhad, both students of Class X. “There has been less deforestation in Shimla than Murree,” observed Principal of the school Farooq H Kayani and his wife Sajida Farooq, who went around the city along with the group of students to see the heritage Barnes Court (Raj Bhawan) where the Shimla Agreement was signed, the Viceregal Lodge Complex housing the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and the famous Mall. The Gallians were excited to see the two heritage structures where the history was written. The Viceregal Lodge in particular is associated with a number of meetings and conferences leading to the partition of the country. Sajida celebrated her birthday today and it was made memorable by Chief Minister PK Dhumal who presented her a special cap. She was pleased to notice that the city had been declared “smoke-free” and said it was a good step. Praveen Vasisht, Headmaster of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, also accompanied the delegation during a meeting with the Chief Minister. Chairman of the Old Sanawarians Association Ajay Vij played host to the guests from across the border in the city. He feels that exchange programmes should not remain confined to students and teachers, but the alumni should also make such visits. |
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CM pays tributes to Ambedkar
Hamirpur, April 14 Addressing a gathering, the Chief Minister said Dr Ambedkar took over the reins at a time when society was divided into different sections and untouchability was at its peak. He made valuable contribution in bringing about social harmony. He said, “I was inspired from the life and ideology of Dr Ambedkar who had been a source of inspiration for the students and scholars from the downtrodden section”. He said, “The state government is committed to the empowerment of the downtrodden and has enhanced the budgetary provisions under the Scheduled Castes Special Component Plan from 11 per cent to 25 per cent and Rs 816 crore is being spent under the scheme during the current financial year”. He said several schemes like the Guru Ravidas Nagrik Unanayan Yojana had also been launched for the speedy development of villages having over 40 per cent SC and ST population by spending Rs 10 lakh each on two villages in every assembly segment, besides building Ambedkar Bhawan. He said, “Free uniforms, books and educational aids are being given to students from this section”. Later, he opened smart classrooms in the school. The Chief Minister also gave a clarion call to the youth of the state and asked BJYM activists to come forward and lend their support in making Himachal corruption-free, while speaking in the closing ceremony of the two-day district-level BJYM training camp at Gasota Mahadev. |
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Anti-hail cannons test-fired successfully
The problem had been sorted out and today two of the three cannons, one at Bareon Ghat and the other at Khatasu, fired after the clouds covered the sky around 2.30 pm. The high-energy shockwaves generated by a series of cannon blasts led to some precipitation rain, pre-empting any possibility of a hailstorm. He said the weather radar installed at Kharapathar, which sends the signals to the cannons for firing, was fully computerised and no human intervention was required. He said the technology had been brought to the country for the first time and minor teething troubles could be there, particularly when the device was only at the testing stage. He reassured the growers that it would be effective in dealing with hailstorms and they should not have any apprehension about the technology. |
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Govt flayed for system failure
Shimla, April 14 General secretary of the Shimla district unit of the sabha Sanjay Chauhan said crops in Kotkhai and Theog in the Shimla area and Anni in Kullu had been damaged to the extent of 80 per cent, causing huge losses to farmers. He urged the government to provide compensation to the affected farmers who were entirely dependent on cash crops for their livelihood. He said the government should immediately assess the loss and provide adequate compensation, based on the market rates, to the farmers by amending the relief manual. He also demanded a 90 per cent subsidy on anti-hail nets. |
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Dari mela continues for days against norms
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Violations
Dharamsala, April 14 He alleged that the district administration had given permission to organise the mela for just two days on April 9 and 10. However, the mela had been continuing in the village for the past six days now. In the mela, shops and kiosks had been set up along the main road in Dari. This was creating traffic problems for commuters. Loud speakers were being used, violating the noise pollution norms. The senior secondary school of the village had also been closed due to the mela as shopkeepers were using its ground leading to loss of academic days of students, he alleged. Colonel Karki also alleged that though plastic was banned in the state, plastic bags and material were being used in the mela. He said: “We have sought information under the RTI from the local administration as to how mela is being allowed for so many days. The sarpanch of the village admitted that the permission for the mela was till April 12. She, however, said on the first two days, the mela was hit by rain. So we allowed shopkeepers to extend it by another two days. The shopkeepers are winding it up today,” she said. She also justified the use of the government school ground for the mela purpose on the pretext that the mela committee shared the profits from the event with the school management. “Last year, we had given Rs 30,000 for the development of the school and this year we are giving Rs 40,000”, she said. |
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Child drowned in Baddi
Solan, April 14 His parents were engaged in the construction activity and Jitin was playing nearby when he accidentally slipped into the underground water tank. Baddi SP Gurdev Chand said a case had been registered against the contractor who had constructed an underground water tank of 5x5 feet. Initially, the child’s parents thought that he had gone somewhere to play and they looked around for him. However, on searching the site they found his body floating on the top of the tank.
— OC |
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Shimla, April 14