Dehradun, June 9
During the ongoing financial year, the hospitals in Dehradun will be forced to cut corners as the first instalment of their budgetary allocation released by the government is way short of their expectations. Not only would the Doon Hospital authorities and the Deen Dayal Upadhayay Coronation Hospital authorities be hard pressed to pay their long-standing loans, but they will also have to show a great deal of imagination in making the little budget work for them.

The Doon hospitals for men and women and the Deen Dayal Upadhayay Coronation Hospital, which have been facing a dire financial crisis, recently received the first instalment of the budgetary allocation. Though late in coming, the budgetary allocation may not be able to fulfil most of their needs.

The Doon Hospital will have to first have to address the immediate needs of the contractual employees whose salaries have not been paid for a while now. The hospital had proposed a total budget of Rs 11 crore this year and as part of the first instalment, it has been allocated Rs 1.80 crore only. The hospital authorities were expecting at least Rs 3.75 crore as the first instalment.

It is believed that the hospital will not be able to pay back the loan amount that is much more than the allocated amount and will even have to put brakes on several expansion programmes that it had planned.

“We will have to manage with whatever we have got. It is government’s decision and we have to now enlist our priorities so that they are first and foremost met within the constraints of the budgetary allocation,” said Dr BC Pathak, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS), Doon Hospital.

On the other hand, the Deen Dayal Upadhayay Coronation Hospital has been allocated Rs 30 lakh as part of its first budgetary instalment whereas the authorities were expecting at least Rs 60 lakh. Amid development of new units, the hospital has been beset with additional spending and to top it there are accumulated dues to be taken care of. “Since the burn unit was set up, our spending has increased and several new things are coming up and these have to be taken care of,” said Dr AS Rawat, CMS, Deen Dayal Upadhayay Coronation Hospital.

The Doon Female Hospital authorities, too, will have to manage within the constraints of the limited first instalment of budgetary allocation. It would be hard pressed for finances once its sick neonatal care unit becomes operational any time soon.

Dehradun, June 9
Preserving the past may become all the more easier with the science branch of the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) preparing a database of building materials used in monuments and temples across the state under its upkeep.

The ASI is busy with the identification of building materials that may have been used by ancestors in erecting Baijnath and Jageshwar temples dating back to the 8th century AD.

“What attracts a layman when he visits historical and protected sites may be the artistry of craftsmen. But for archaeologists, the kind of material used for building these temples provides a treasure trove of information. It also acts as a barometer for measuring the progress that particular culture may have charted during that period,” said KS Rana, Director (science), ASI.

Built in the Shikara style, different materials used in these temples have intrigued archaeologists who are now unravelling the technique used to bind different materials. The information will also help scholars and archaeologists to undertake studies in the future. Geographical location, the availability of raw material, climatic conditions and religion were some of the factors dictating the selection of raw material.

“In Uttarakhand, more often than not the commonly used building material was wood due to its availability, even in the areas located on the high altitude. Also wood material kept the temple or buildings warm in winters and cool in summers. On the other hand, limestone was the preferred choice of masons and craftsmen who built Mughal monuments. Besides, limestone could withstand humidity,” explained the expert.

The work is expected to get over by November-December this year and then archaeologists will take up material identification of Lakha Mandal and Hanol temples situated in Chakrata (Dehradun). In all, there are 42 centrally protected monuments and the maximum number of monuments are in Almora (18).

This programme is a part of the database preparation underway in the country for monuments that fall in World Heritage list and their data bank is being prepared for the past two years. “As of now, none of the temples of Uttarakhand figure in the World Heritage list. Nevertheless in Uttarakhand, the data base is being prepared for temple sites and monuments under the care of the ASI,” said Rana.

Dehradun, June 9
Owing to the failure of the Public Information Office (PIO) of the Dehradun District Magistrate to provide appropriate information to RTI applicants within 30 days, it has been fined Rs 45,000 by the State Information Commission.

This is not for the first time that the State Information Commission has imposed a penalty on the DM’s office. Earlier, it was fined Rs 5, 000 twice when city Magistrate Jharna Kamthan was the PIO, Rs 25, 000 was fined when SDM Mohan Singh Burniya was the PIO and a penalty of Rs 10, 000 was imposed during the tenure of ADM Archana Gaharwal.

According to data, the department had received more than 3,000 applications in the past six years. It had received 15 applications in 2005, 624 in 2006, 1,026 in 2007, 1,467 in 2008, 889 in 2009 and 1,157 in 2010-11.

“People are getting aware of their rights. We entertained 94 applications in April 2011 and 203 in May,” said an official.

The official, however, said sometimes people asked questions about other districts, which was impossible for them to give.

Sources said due to a shortage of staff in the department, work got delayed. “We spend sleepless nights many times to meet the deadline due to staff shortage,” said one of the employees.

Dehradun ADM Archana Gaharwal said it was good that people were getting aware of their rights and asked questions that were beneficial for others, but they should ask only relevant questions.

Dehradun, June 9
After witnessing a splendid Commandant’s Passing-out Parade at the drill square of Indian Military Academy (IMA) today, all 30 students from Akhnoor, Jammu and Kashmir, had one thing in mind - to join the Indian Army.

The youngsters had come along with their three teachers under Operation Sadbhavna. They are on a 13-day tour as part of the programme and will also visit other parts of the country.

This was the first time they all saw the passing-out parade in their life and it was indeed a memorable moment for them.

“I don’t have words to describe how are we feeling after seeing this parade here. I want to join the Army as a lieutenant,” said Inder Kumar Sharma, one of the students, while talking to The Tribune.

Another student, Sunil Sharma, said: “After seeing the IMA parade, I too want to join the Army and want to be one among those who are parading here”. He also praised the Army for the work it had done back home. “The Army has helped us a lot at our village in the Akhnoor area. They have constructed roads and bathrooms in schools. We have also been provided with computers and other studies material by the Army,” Sunil, a student of 12th standard, said.

Sandeep Kumar and Suresh said they had a good time here. “Other than the IMA, we have visited Landsdowne, Mussoorie and Sahastradhara as part of our tour. It was a great learning experience and we look forward to joining the Army”. The students, who hail from remote villages of Akhnoor, interacted with gentlemen cadets and came to know how they could join the Army. One of the teachers accompanying the students, Abdul Majeed, said: “They all come from remote and far-flung areas and have never seen something like this. The motto of the programme is to motivate them to do well and join the Army.” The Operation Sadbhvana initiative was launched by the Army to terrorism-affected people’s heart and mind.

Dehradun, June 9
The Uttarakhand Chaturth Vargiya Rajya Karamchari Mahasangh’s indefinite strike continued today at Gandhi Park here. Class IV employees working in various government departments are demanding similar fixation of grade pay and minimum wages as given to Central Government employees. They are awaiting a government order in this regard.

A delegation of the employees had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister earlier but in vain. The protesters said they would continue their strike until their demands were met. — TNS

Dehradun, June 9
The convergence programme started by IIGNOU about three years ago at MKP PG College is paying off well. About 250 students who enrolled themselves in these vocational courses have got placed in good organisations successfully.

“These vocational courses are a part of the college’s additional qualification where a student of MKP Degree College can pursue it along with his regular degree course. The scheme has 17 subjects in graduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate courses,” said Dr Indu Singh, Principal, MKP PG College.

“We have had a very good response from this convergence scheme and it has proved a boon for our college students as well. They are also gaining extra knowledge and practical training about professional courses along with their BA, BSc and BCom,” she added.

Dr Renu Saxena, Coordinator, IGNOU Convergence Scheme, MKP PG College, said, “We are offering courses in computer application, library science and information, tourism, social work, dietetics and food services management, journalism and mass communication, nutrition and health education, rural development, international business operations, and environment.”

The admission forms, prospectus and other information about the IGNOU Convergence Scheme can be had at its office in the college campus from May 2, 2011.

Dehradun, June 9
Members of the Uttarakhand Revenue Sangrah Ameen Sangh continued to hold an indefinite strike in support of their demands at the Vidhan Sabha, here today.Suresh Semwal, president of the sangh, said, “We met officials of the administration on Tuesday also and handed over to them a memorandum. The sangh workers did not accept the letter of demands sent to them by the administration as they said it didn’t fulfil their demands.”

Their memorandum includes their demand for promoting Ameens to the post of the Naib Tehsildar and an increase in their pay scale from January 1, 2006.