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Anti-tobacco drive fails to take off in state
WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
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Nanda Devi Girl Child Scheme
Injured tiger dies before ill-equipped foresters
Labourer electrocuted
Mussoorie Lake
Oak Grove School completes 123 years today
SOI register 8-wicket win
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Anti-tobacco drive fails to take off in state
Dehradun, May 31 At a high-level meeting held here today, the Health Department authorities said in the absence of the ordinance, there was no clarity on the collection of fine and how it should be imposed on defaulters. “According to the provisions of the Act, the authorities in different departments would be empowered to collect fine from defaulters, but how it has to be done can only be known to the officials concerned if the ordinance is passed by the state government,” said RK Pant, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dehradun. The Act says the head of any department or office has the authority to impose a fine of Rs 200 on anyone who is found smoking on his respective campus while the police will have the authority to challan those persons who are found smoking on the road. Whatever the amount of fine recovered by different departments, it is to be deposited in a head account, but no such account exists even after over two years of the imposition of the ban. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganesh Singh Martolia told the officials of the DG (Health) how they could open a head account where the heads of all the departments could deposit the amount collected as fine from offenders. “There is no awareness among people about the ban on smoking in public places. If awareness is created in this regard and a head account is opened, then a significant progress can be made in the process to challan the violators,” the SSP added. Though there is a ban on smoking in shopping malls, cinema halls, public/private places of work, hotels, banquet halls, discotheques, canteen, coffee houses, pubs, bars and railway stations, etc, sadly at all these places people can be seen smoking. “Vendors and shops can be seen selling cigarettes and other tobacco products outside schools, colleges and even near courts. The ban seems to be only on papers,” said a student.
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WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
Dehradun, May 31 The march was flagged off by Brig SN Yadav, DDG (NCC), Uttarakhand, from Gandhi Park, which after passing from Clock Tower and Darshan Lal Chowk culminated at Parade Ground. The ill-effects of tobacco were highlighted through street shows. NCC Cadets from various schools and colleges participated in the rally. Col BS Ahluwalia, Commanding Officer of the 29th Battalion, NCC, said the use of tobacco could cause an irreparable damage to organs like lungs and could also cause the cancer of mouth and throat.
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Nanda Devi Girl Child Scheme
Dehradun, May 31 Launched to empower the girl child, the scheme has been aimed at providing financial security to the girl child and her family. According to the provisions of the scheme, a girl child born on or after January 1, 2009, to parents living below poverty line will receive Rs 5,000 in the form of a fixed deposit, to be utilised on the condition that the girl completes 18 years of age and also clears high school. A family with two girls too can avail itself of the scheme. Besides, the birth of the girl has to be institutionalised, reported by an anganwari worker and she is vaccinated properly. The money can be used for the girl’s higher studies or some other purpose. “A strict implementation of the eligibility criterion for selection of girls under the scheme means that within 60 days, the parents have to procure a permanent resident certificate, an uphill task for the parents residing in the hills. Equally, there is a probability that the parents of those girls who are born at homes may not be able to avail themselves of the scheme. Owing to strict adherence to guidelines of the scheme, parents ensure that their girl child’s birth is registered and she is vaccinated. But, this trend is witnessed only in urban and semi-urban areas,” said Bhaskaranand, Director, Directorate of Integrated Child and Development Scheme (ICDS). In 2010-11, a total of 2,013 beneficiaries were identified after a proposal for an additional demand of Rs 5 lakh was made. The actual financial utilisation under the scheme stands at Rs 1.0565 crore during that period. In 2009-10, the number of beneficiaries identified was 1,768 and Rs 87 lakh was the actual utilisation during that period. During this period the maximum number of beneficiaries were from Almora, Pauri and Udham Singh Nagar. “We hope to achieve our targets in the hills. We signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the LIC in March this year. The LIC has been entrusted with the task of popularising the scheme as part of the MoU without claiming any additional costs,” the Director added.
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Anganwari union workers stage protest
Dehradun, May 31 The union workers divided themselves into two groups and staged a protest at the two venues. Hundreds of agitators from across the state participated in a procession and raised slogans against the state government. Uma Devi, regional general secretary of the union, said, “We are fighting for our rights and will keep struggling till the state government agrees to fulfil our demands.” The protesting anganwari workers also handed over a memorandum to the Chief Minister, supporting their pending demands, which include the implementation of the government order regarding the hike in honorarium, creation of a welfare fund for anganwari workers as directed by the Central Government, extension of gratuity benefits to the workers after their retirement, grant of the age-relaxation benefit to workers applying for the post of mukhya sewika (anganwari) and setting aside 50 per cent promotional posts of mukhya
sewika.
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Injured tiger dies before ill-equipped foresters
Dehradun, May 31 Forest guards came across an injured tiger in the Kota range of the division during the morning hours. After initial attempts to cage the eight-year-old feline alive, the officials decided to tranquilise it. The first shot of tranquiliser gun missed the targeted spot on the body of the tiger and it failed to render the beast fully unconscious. As the second shot was not available with the forest officials, the injured tiger kept roaring in pain for hours together, and finally succumbed to his injuries. The Ramnagar forest authorities said the exact reason behind the death of the tiger would be known after the post-mortem examination. Ramangar Forest Division Officer Ravindra Juyal, Corbett National Park Warden UC Tiwari and veterinary officer Bharat Singh were part of the forest team that tried to rescue to the tiger.
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Labourer electrocuted
Dehradun, May 31 Irked, people gheroed the electricity office and allegedly thrashed an official there. The protesters didn’t let the police remove the body from the wires and demanded action against electricity officials. The incident took place in the morning when the victim, Mumtaz, was taking out concrete from the tractor-trailer.
All of a sudden, high-tension wires, which were passing over his head, tugged him. He died on the spot. After seeing his body, people rushed to the spot. Later, they gheroead the electricity office and raised slogans against officials. Some of the protesters also beat up an official. When the report was last filed, the body was yet to be brought down.
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Environment Summit
Dehradun, May 31 Dr Chandola was addressing the inaugural session of the 3rd Environment Summit- 2011 in Dehradun today. The summit was jointly organised by the Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) and the
Confederation of Indian Industry(CII), the third in a series. Speaking on the theme of summit, “75 years of Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve,” Dr Chandola said convergence could be brought about through collective efforts and cooperation among all stakeholders, including industry and conservationists. Another speaker, Dr A N Purohit, former Vice-Chancellor, HNB Garhwal University, suggested the constitution of a special group, “Foresight on Mountains,” which could work on issues related to balancing the needs of development and conservation and plan ahead into the future. Making suggestions on tackling man-animal conflicts, Dr Purohit suggested action planning based on scientific studies on the carrying capacities of various reserves and parks. Highlighting the importance of natural resources in business and trade, Dr Rajendra Dobhal, Director-General, UCOST, said 60 per cent of the global trade was related to natural resources. He said the optimal use of these resources was required for growth and development and equal emphasis needed to be laid on conservation, protection and sustainability. Dr S.Farooq, Chairman, CII, Uttarakhand State Council, said adverse impacts on the environment of anthropological activities were being identified and recognised in every field today, be it forests, industry, even buildings, cities and the way of life. Concluding the inaugural session Rakesh Aggarwal, Vice-Chairman, CII, Uttarakhand State Council, said issues like the dwindling tiger population, unplanned and unsustainable urban development and wastes beyond the handling capacity of nature were now forcing us to rethink and revisit our way of life. The speakers included Dr Ajay Gairola, Member-Secretary, Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, Ranjan Mishra, Director, Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, Prof B C Chaudhary, Head, Endangered Species Management Department, Wildlife Institute of India, and Dr Harendra Singh Bargali, Deputy Director, Corbett Foundation.
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Irrigation staff threaten agitation
Dehradun, May 31 Staging a dharna at Gandhi Park, association secretary BK Sanwal said they had given an ultimatum of 10 days to the government and if it failed to fulfil their demands, they would be forced to intensify their stir. Their demands include the formulation of service rules for irrigation employees and the regularisation of the services of part-time tubewell operators. He said despite repeated assurances by the authorities, the services of these operators had not been regularised so far.
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U’khand Jan Sena spokesperson seeks protection
Dehradun, May 31 Addressing a press conference here today, Bhatt said he had earned the ire of the District Magistrate due to exposing corrupt practices in the development of Landsdowne Chowk under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). “I had pointed towards the poor quality of work undertaken for constructing a wall around the pavalion ground and for laying a road. The wall has developed cracks. The DM supervised all these works,” Bhatt added. He alleged that during the development of the Landsdowne Chowk, a large number of trees were felled, though the sanction was given for a far less number of trees. “I had sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act about the number of trees felled at Landsdowne Chowk. The information provided by the Public Works Department (PWD) stated that there were only 14 trees. While it has been testified by the Forest Department that there were a total of 54 trees surrounding the chowk,” he said. Bhatt alleged that the DM had threatened to get even with him after his RTI move. “Now, I have sought the help of the NHRC to provide me protection as I am being victimised by the DM,” Bhatt alleged.
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Mussoorie Lake
Mussoorie, May 31 Likewise, the tariff for boating, scooter car and bus parking have been increased by 20 per cent. The tariff for the
ropeway trolley has also been hiked to Rs 80 from Rs 40. According to the council president, the contractors have been told that the charges were being increased on the condition that the council would not provide any amount for maintaining the two sites. This would be
done by the contractors themselves. It was also decided that the revenue accruing to the MC would also be increased to 20 per cent. More than 60 other proposals were cleared
at the board meeting.
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Oak Grove School completes 123 years today
Mussoorie, May 31 Earlier, a railway school was established at Fairlawn Bungalow near the present school by the North Western Railway. Work on the present senior boys’ school building was started under Chief Engineer Prescott on June 1, 1888, and a batch of 28 students joined under Col AC Chapman as the Headmaster. Later, in 1890, girls’ school came up and Col AC Chapman’s wife was the Headmistress. In 1912, a junior school was started. The school saw most of its pre-Independence days under the charge of HP Watts, the longest serving Principal. The emphasis was laid on military training and cadets were trained in firearms and sports, including cricket, football, hockey, athletics, boxing etc. It was the first school in the region which had a swimming pool. The school also excelled in hockey and proudly boasts of producing players who represented the country in the Olympics, namely Eric Pinniger (1928 to 1932), Leslie Charles Hammond (1928 to 1932), Richard James Allen (1928 to 1936) and Richard John Carr (1932). Yvonne Hussein le Fort (77) from Canada, an alumna of the school, when contacted said she studied in the school from 1942-47 and loved every moment of it. She further said special tributes should be paid to James Ross (96), the oldest surviving student of the school. The present Principal of the school, Anurag Tripathi, said to maintain contact with former students, a separate alumni office will be inaugurated on the founder’s day.
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Football League
Dehradun, May 31 On the other hand, Nagar Nigam seemed a mere spectator in front of the opposite side. Nitesh of the winning team was shown the Yellow card in the 34th minute. In the second match, DMK got past BC Milan 2-0. Jayedip (second) and Govind Rana (60th) were the scorers for DMK. Some of the attempts made by Milan failed to bring fruit. Meanwhile, Upender Singh Thapali, former chairman of the Mandi Samiti, gifted shoes and football kits to the players of Gorkha Boys for their excellent performance in yesterday’s match.
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SOI register 8-wicket win
Dehradun, May 31 DST batted first after winning the toss. They scored 169 runs for nine wickets in 25 overs. Suresh (47) and Manish (36) were the principal scorers. Vimal Guleria and Devender picked three and two wickets, respectively, for SOI. Batting second, SOI achieved the target in 22.2 overs for two wickets. This could be possible due to the ton of SS Rawat (105) who played only 78 balls during his fast knock. Rakesh Negi (50*) also played an important role.
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