Dehradun, May 27
Owing to the strong windstorm followed by showers that lashed the state capital on Wednesday and Thursday evening, the lives of the residents of the capital city came to a standstill.

The storm uprooted trees in various areas, snapped power lines and there was a dearth of water supply. At many places, sewage entered the houses due to digging of roads by the Municipal Corporation. They build small drains but forget that the rainy season is around and can cause trouble to the people. Even the small drain that was being constructed at the Lans Down chowk broke due to the heavy rains. Officials affirmed that they would hot mix it only after the rainy season. Sources claimed that the material used for the construction of the drains was of a very poor quality and no one was there to check it.

Other than this, roads had caved in in various areas, causing chaos among the passersby. Roads had been dug by the Jal Nigam Department at Mohini Road, Bank Colony, Balbir Road, Circular Road, Inder Road, Neimi Road, Curzon Road, Income Tax Road, Inder Nagar and many more and mud was put on them. The road fissures bring filthy water.

Not only this, hoardings that were displayed on the roof tops in various areas created a problem as they broke and fell down, though no injury took place. Despite this, the administration as well as the Municipal Corporation are sitting quite and keep on repeating that the work is in progress.

When asked about the bad condition of roads, Dehradun District Magistrate Sachin Kurve said the settling of the roads took time. “To construct a new road, lots of water is required to settle the soil and we just can’t afford the tankers to put water, thus we need to wait for at least one rainy season for its settlement. Roads can be constructed only next year.”

While talking to The Tribune, Mayor Vinod Chamoli stated that he was trying that the work got over before the monsoon season. “I got busy with the coming meeting of the executive committee of the mayors. I will hold a meeting with all departments in the next week to solve the issue,” he said, adding that they would begin the drive to remove hoardings soon.

Residents of the city had to face a tough time following rain that lashed the city this morning. The city plunged into darkness as electricity got tripped at many places. In low-lying areas, water entered some of the houses creating problems for house owners. Water supply was also disrupted. 

Dehradun, May 27
In the wake of a lukewarm response to its directive of setting aside 25 per cent seats in private schools for the underprivileged children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Education Department has extended the date for admission to private schools till June 26.

In Dehradun, 581 schools have to make provisions for the underprivileged children. To ensure that the provisions of the Act are met, the department had convened a meeting with the school authorities instructing them to speed up the process. “The school authorities are demanding that the amount set aside by the department be released immediately. However, some of the schools are maintaining that they did not receive a communiqué in this regard from the department. To satisfy them, District Education Officers have dispatched letters, though this was not required as we had already given advertisements in local newspapers in January this year,” said Sowjanya, State Project Director, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.

The department will bear fee, the cost of textbooks, uniforms and mid-day meal of children admitted to these schools. The department has set aside Rs 400 per student as the cost of uniform and also fixed per child fee budget.

Once the issue of the number of students admitted to Class I in private schools is done with, the department will also have to decide about the manner in which mid-day meals will be prepared.

Dehradun, May 27
Uttarakhand just does not have enough government doctors to attend to the growing sick population and no amount of incentives, advertisements by the Public Service Commission and walk-in interviews have helped in overcoming the shortage.

Hamstrung as it is by an acute shortage of doctors, 10 years after the creation of the state, the few existing medical facilities in Pauri and Uttarakashi districts continue to be underserved by the medical staff. In all 1,185 posts are lying vacant against the total 2,202 sanctioned posts of senior medical officers and medical officers falling in different grades.

In 2010, the health authorities had advertised for 296 posts of both medical officers (non-specialist cadre) and specialist cadre, out of which 254 candidates were selected (109 male and 62 female doctors) (non-specialist cadre) and 83 specialist cadre. Out of which only 73 candidates showed interest in joining the service.

Besides the government has started organising walk-in interviews to catch young doctors, but most of the selected candidates are not willing to go to the hills.

“The problem in the hills is still acute because the candidates are not keen to go to the hills. We are taking all steps to fill the vacant posts by organising regular walk-in interviews and we have appointed 117 doctors on contract, nine dental surgeons and four super specialists in 2011. Besides, 141 ayurvedic doctors have been appointed in government health facilities because allopathic doctors were reluctant to join,” said Dr Asha Mathur, Director- General, Family Health and Welfare.

Against 185 sanctioned posts of senior medical officers (specialist cadre), 141 posts are vacant and only 44 posts of senior medical officers have been filled.

In the senior medical officer category (non-specialist ), against the 205 sanctioned posts, 193 are lying vacant.

While against the requirement of of 316 medical officers grade1 (specialist cadre), 162 medical officers are working and there is a shortage of 154 doctors.

In the dental cadre, against the 90 sanctioned posts, 38 are working and there is a shortage of 52 doctors.

Significantly, the Provincial Medical Health and Services (PMHS- a government doctors’ body) has been quite vocal in raising the demand for improving the working conditions of doctors by considering monetary and other options “The government needs to train future doctors and nurses from districts that are facing problems, making service in villages compulsory for three years and then proceed towards enhancing the skills of the paramedical staff or else the problem will linger on,” said Dr DP Joshi, Secretary, PMHS.

Dehradun May 27
The meritorious students of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) were conferred degrees and presented with diploma certificates during its 23rd convocation in Dehradun here today.

The convocation was organised on the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya where a total of 918 students of bachelors and masters courses were conferred degrees by the chief guest, Prof SK Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University. Accompanying him was the IGNOU Regional Director, Dr Anil Kumar Dimri, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, and members of the board of management.

While addressing the gathering, Professor Singh congratulated the students on completion of courses and encouraged them to work hard so as to achieve success in life.

“For working students or those who are living in far-flung areas, such courses have proved to be beneficial. Besides the awareness, IGNOU has created employment opportunities for the youth while assuring them of good careers and future ahead,” he added.

“Compared to data of previous years, there had been a decent growth in the number of students, for which the credit goes to the teachers and educational facilities being provided at the IGNOU regional centre,” asserted the Regional Director, IGNOU, while presenting the progress report at the convocation. 

Dehradun, May 27
A two-day provincial academic conference of the Rashtriya Shikshak Mahasangh, Uttarakhand, began here today. Teachers from across the state are participating in the conference.

Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was the chief guest on the occasion. While state Education Minister Govind Singh Bisht was the guest of honour, Ganesh Joshi, MLA, was a special guest.

Addressing the conference, the CM said teachers had the responsibility of guiding the younger generation. “The state government is committed to the welfare of teachers and Uttarakhand will never lag behind in so far as extending facilities to teachers as compared to other states is concerned,” he said. He also directed the Education Minister to consider demands put forth by teachers.

He also congratulated teachers of primary, junior high school, inter-school and degree colleges for taking the heritage of Uttarakhand ahead. He also encouraged them to infuse enthusiasm, confidence and true knowledge in the younger generation.

Dehradun, May 27
The fourtysixth death anniversary of the first Prime Minister of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru, was observed here today.

At a programme held at the local Congress Bhawan, former minister Manti Prasad Naithani described Nehru as the “architect of modern India”. He said the role of Nehru in agriculture and industrial development was unparalleled.

Another group of Congress workers garlanded the bust of Nehru at Rajpur road. Led by senior Congress leader Ramkumar Walia, the Congress men later also visited the Nehru Jail here. A party worker said Jawaharalal Nehru was always concerned towards removing the plight of the poor and the deprived sections.

Treasurer of the Uttarakhand Women’s Congress Meena Rawat said Nehru gave a new direction to development in the state. He said Nehru devoted his entire life for the betterment of the country.

Dehradun, May 27
The Air India and ACA Bengal teams won their respective matches in the All-India Uttarakhand Gold Cup Cricket Tournament played here today.

In the first match, Air India defeated Jharkhand Cricket Association by five wickets. Air India won the toss and elected to field first. The Jharkhand team scored 194 runs for five wickets in 25 overs. Ramiz Nemet was the top scorer who missed a century by four runs. He scored 96 runs before being run out. SP Gautam scored 39 runs while Subraoto Ghosh scored 34 runs.

In reply, Air India surpassed the Jharkhand team total in 23.5 overs. They scored 198 runs for five wickets winning the match. Opener Rohit Prakash scored 70 runs while Chandan Madan scored a useful 51 not out. Shahbaz Nadeem took two wickets for 28 runs.

In another match, ACA Bengal defeated BSNL, New Delhi, by five wickets. The BSNL team that won the toss elected to bat first. They scored 105 runs all out in 19.4 overs. BS Tomar was the top scorer with 28 runs. For the Bengal team, Indian player Piyush Chawla took four wickets for 16 runs while Bhalabh took three for 19 runs. In reply, ACA Bengal scored the required runs in 18.5 overs losing five wickets. Mahesh Rawat remained unbeaten on 28 runs while Piyush Chawla scored 10 runs not out to steer their team to victory. Rohit Mehra took three wickets for 20 runs for the BSNL team. 

Dehradun, May 27
The Rural Health and Training Centre of Shri Guru Ram Rai Medical College and Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital has started a 24-hour medical service at Mothrowala for the poor and the needy.

Mahant Devinder Das of Guru Ram Rai Mission said that the poor and the needy could register at the OPD for Rs 2 and get an opinion from the best doctors. He said the services that were being provided at the Rural Health and Training Centre include free medicines, dental surgery, eye examination, mother and child services, family planning, specialist referral services etc.

Besides these regular services, the mission also organises free health camps for communities in rural areas and also carries out health check-ups for schoolchildren in these areas. “These camps are held once every month for the convenience of the rural population for whom accessing quality health care continues to be a problem,” said Mahant Devinder Das. He said in the coming days, the mission would set up such centres in the remote areas of Uttarakhand. 

Nainital, May 27
The 9th Governor’s Cup Golf Tournament got under way at the sprawling Raj Bhawan golf course here on Friday morning with Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva teeing off. Also present was the Union Minister for Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is himself an avid golfer.

Alva said golf was becoming popular by the day and the organising of such an event in Nainital would go a long way in promoting tourism also.

She asserted that the natural beauty of Nainital and the holding of such a tournament added to the tourist attractions of the place.

Talking of promoting golf as a sport she said that training programmes were being organised for children. A tournament for children was proposed to be held in October and November.

As many as 178 golfers are participating in the event that is expected to be quite competitive. The players have been divided into two groups owing to the ground constraint.

There are separate categories for veterans above 60 years of age, ladies and children below the age of 18 years and for adults above the age of 18. The prizes will be given on Sunday.

The purpose of conducting the tournament that has become an annual feature is to generate awareness about this excellent golfing facility to enable its access to golfers from around the world. Another aim is to develop Uttarakhand as a golfing destination.