Dehradun, July 5
The state Cabinet today passed a rehabilitation policy that is expected to come handy while rehabilitating people hit by natural calamities.

For the first time, norms have been defined for the purpose of the rehabilitation of villages and earmarking unsafe houses by the district authorities along with compensation that will be released to the affected families.

“A sub-committee’s report on the policy has been approved by the Cabinet today. Now, the shifting of 233 villages will be undertaken according to the norms defined in the policy,” said Chief Secretary Subash Kumar while addressing a press conference here.

He said the owner of the house that would be declared unsafe by the competent authority would be eligible to receive 250 sq m of land and Rs 3 lakh as a grant for the construction of the house. The assistance would be provided by the Uttarakhand and Central Governments from the National Calamity Fund.

“In the case of the rehabilitation of an entire village, inhabitants will receive agricultural land according to the prevailing circle rate. In the case of barren land, an assistance to the tune of Rs 15,000 will be granted for reclaiming the land. Besides, a sum of Rs 10,000 will be given as the disturbance allowance. The affected artisans will also get Rs 25,000 each as a compensation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also extended the tenure of cooperatives from three years to four years. It also decided to continue giving concessions to IT industries till the period the GST (Goods and Service Tax) regime does not become a reality. “The IT industries were given certain concessions provided they employed the local youth. The term ended in 2010, but we have decided to continue with the concessions,” said the Chief Secretary.

In another important decision, VAT on sugar has been reduced to to zero per cent, on textiles to 1 per cent, on packed namkeen to 4 per cent and chemical ‘mehandi’ to 4.5 per cent.

It also decided to increase the upper age limit by 10 years for ayurvedic doctors employed under Ayush.

Haridwar, July 5
While on the one hand, the government is pressing for the implementation of the Right to Education Act, on the other, it has failed to provide even basic amenities to government-run and aided schools.

With schools reopening last week, students at many schools are being forced to study in the open in the scorching heat and sometimes rain. At Government Primary School No 5 at suburban Jwalapur, students are being taught in the open as the walls of the classrooms are in a state of dilapidation. Roofs have also collapsed several times, thus posing a threat to the lives of both teachers and students.

Sources said even after a number of complaints to the Education Department, nothing had been done so far. During the summer and rainy seasons, students have to take shelter either under trees or in the congested Principal room. A total of 180 students study at this school.

Ruing the apathy of the government, teachers maintained that the results of the school were also poor as it was impossible for them to give attention to each student in the open. District Education Officer Anil Kumar Bhoj said he was not aware of the problem. However, as the issue had been brought to his notice, he would take stock of the situation and take action accordingly, he added. He further said roofs of the school would also be repaired at the earliest. Parents of students studying in this school said they had taken up this issue with the Education Department, local political representatives and even written to the Director of the department, but to no avail. “Our children are being forced to study in the open in the scorching heat in the summers and during the rains. Just giving free books and uniforms doesn’t mean that students are being given quality education. If the situation continued, we will have to shift our children to other private schools,”said Naeem Mansoori, Hussain Ali, Furkan Ali and Saira.

Dehradun, July 5
With more than 12 deaths occurring during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, the Health Department is contemplating compulsory submission of health certificates from participants who are frail, from the next year.

While 3,000 pilgrims had got stuck in floods in the state last year, the administration had to contend with deaths due to cardiac arrest this year. The deaths have occurred despite the authorities establishing temporary medical centres at different points. As of now, a medical fitness certificate from an MBBS doctor, along with other documents, has to be submitted only for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

“Though the proposal is still in its infancy, we think it will be a good idea to ensure that pilgrims bring in fitness certificates, especially those above the age of 60 years and already undergoing heart treatment," said the DG (Health), Dr Asha Mathur.

According to reports, during the ongoing yatra to the Yamnotri shrine situated at the height of 10,000 ft, 15 deaths have been reported and most of the pilgrims were either aged or already undergoing treatment.

“While we issued a roster for doctors and medical staff and also posted them at district hospitals and health centres along the Char Dham Yatra route, such measures are not sufficient,” added Mathur.

On the route to the Himalayan shrine of Badrinath, nine deaths have occurred.

Dr KC Pant, a senior physician, said those undertaking journey through the mountainous routes should make halts. “Our main advice to the pilgrims, especially the aged ones, is to climb slowly and take frequent breaks in between. If the pilgrims experience chest pain or breathing difficulties, they should immediately rush to a doctor,” said Dr Anurag Rawat, DM cardiologist, Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Jolly Grant.

Nainital, July 5
Even after four decades of its existence, the lone indigenous industry of the Lake City involving the manufacture of ornamental candles continues to go strong. Hence a visit to Nainital without purchasing candles is considered to be incomplete.

One of the shop owners says, “Nainital was initially famous only for Naini Lake. But the popularity of candles has overtaken that. The business started out with eight-10 designs. Today, there are close to 1,800 candle designs in the market.”

The designs are numerous and innovative. One can find candles representing figures of Ganesh from Hindu mythology and Lord Buddha. There are candles shaped like fruits, beer mugs, ice creams and more. A new range of cylindrical candles with shimmering material pasted on the body has also come up. Old-time favorites include aromatic candles in a wide range of fragrances, gel candles and one of the primary designs which have a single purple flower pasted on the surface.

Priyag Pandey, the owner of a candle shop on the Mall, says, “Tourists always prefer to take candles as souvenirs. We try to keep its prices affordable. We have candles costing as low as Rs 5 to as high as Rs 500. They are a popular gift item among local residents too.”

Mohan Singh Tuleram, a student who also handles a candle stall along the lakeside, says: “The business is flourishing and there is always rush at my shop.”

A tremendous growth in the tourism sector of the town has witnessed a major boost in the business. Malti Tiwari, who has been running a gift shop on the Mall road for several years, says: “Candles now sell all year round. Tourists are present in May, June, October and also in the winter months. An upsurge in demand during Divali gives a big boost to our business.”

Several NGOs in the area have held training sessions in the art of candle making for single and widowed women, making them economically independent. Independent candle manufacturers in Nainital also hire employees and undertake their training themselves.

However the hike on fuel prices has shown an impact on this industry also. Sunil Vermani, who has been manufacturing and marketing his own candles since 1970 says, “The cost of raw materials that we use is escalating. Paraffin wax is sold in the open market for Rs 115 per kg. There is no government control over these prices. But despite these odds, we have managed to keep our business alive.”

Pithoragarh, July 5
Hoping to cash in on the “failure” of the Congress government at the Centre on the issue of price rise, BJP general secretary and Uttarakhand in charge of the party Thawar Chand Gahlot said here today that the BJP was set to return to power with two-third majority in 2012 elections in the state as the people were angry with the Congress at the Centre.

The recent hike in petroleum products by the Congress government had further reduced its chances of coming to power in the state, said Gahlot, who was addressing the media after a marathon meeting with party officials at the district level.

According to the BJP party in charge in the state, the tickets to the candidates will be determined by the party high command, but the issues will be based on the rising prices and the difficulty to the common man in managing fuel for his kitchen, said Gahlot.

“Besides this uncontrolled price rise, the BJP will also present a comparison before the electorate about the development works done during the previous Congress government tenure and that of the BJP government”, said he. The party in charge has reached the district after visiting party units in US Nagar and Champawat districts.

In Champawat district, BJP workers took out a procession led by Gahlot, protesting the recent price rise in fuel items.

“We are going to organise protest rallies in all five Lok Sabha contituencies in the state which will begin from Haridwar on July 8”, said Gahlot. — OC

Mussoorie, July 5
More than 7,000 Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers from Uttarakhand will gherao “Sansad” on August 9 in protest against the rising corruption and collapse of institutional democracy in the country. This was said by BJYM district president Amit Dabral at a press meet held here today.

Amit Dabral said more than 1,000 workers from Pachwa Doon would attend a rally in protest symbolically coinciding with the commencement of the Quit India movement by Mahatma Gandhi against the British Empire on August 9. He further said the BJYM had decided to launch a nationwide campaign to expose the Centre and the protest rally would begin from Ramlila Maidaan and head towards Parliament in which BJYM workers from Mussoorie would also join in large numbers.

“The BJYM will also organise a district-level meeting at Chakrata on August 8 and at Vikas Nagar on August 19 to galvanise the youth and expose the inaction and insensitivity of the UPA government over the plethora of corruption cases that have surfaced in recent past,” said Amit Dabral.

The call of “Chalo Delhi” is given by BJYM national head Anurag Thakur in which the youth from all parts of the country will converge on the national Capital on August 9 to exhibit their anger and anguish at the corrupt governance in the country. — OC

Dehradun, July 5
The DGP has asked the police not to call a complainant or accused to police station or chowki for questioning and recording their statements. 

DGP Jyoti Swaroop Pandey has instead stressed on going to the spot or to their houses for the purpose. He also asked the police to use the mode of communications like cellphones for questioning. The matter was yesterday raised by people and the media with the DGP in the aftermath of the allegation against the Dhara police of trying to rape a woman in the chwoki during questioning. — TNS

Dehradun, July 5
President of one faction of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) Trivender Singh Panwar has decided to hold a protest in all districts of the state on July 19 against illegal encroachment of revenue land by a senior IAS officer in Sankri.

The party will also hold the annual convention on July 24 for two days at Rudrapur to discuss the strategy to further strengthen the party in wake of the coming assembly election.

Speaking at a press conference in the city today, Panwar sharpened his attacks against the land mafia and said, “We have constituted a committee of our selected members who will keep an eye on such cases. We will begin this fight by taking up a high-profile case of land encroachment by Pilot Baba in Uttarkashi and put pressure on the state government to get it free from his clutches. We will continue to fight against such cases.”

He also gave a strong indication of raising a third front as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP in the coming assembly election. He said, “I have begun searching like-minded parties and organisations to emerge as a third alternative. In couple of months, the result will be out.”

Panwar made it clear that this time around, they wanted to be in the leading position. “People are tired of both Congress and BJP. This time, they want change and we too will seek their mandate for our party which led the struggle and formed this state,” he added.

He once again pulled up the state government for not making the knowledge of dialects compulsory for category III posts.

Haridwar, July 5
With the advent of monsoon and just a week left for the Kanwar Yatra to begin, Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister for Urban Development Madan Kaushik chaired a high-level meeting of the officials concerned today.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Subash Kumar, SSP of Haridwar Kewal Khurana, SP (City) Kiran Lal Shaw and other officials.

Taking cognisance of the landslide at the Mata Mansa Devi shrine, Kaushik directed the officials concerned to look into the matter and submit a detailed report to him. He also asked them to ensure that there was minimum impact on the shrine as well as lakhs of pilgrims due to the landslide.

In view of the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, when millions of kanwariyas coming from different parts of the country to take a dip in the Ganga and fetch water of the holy river, Kaushik directed the officials to ensure a smooth pilgrimage of the kanwariyas, as in just a fortnight almost 90-95 lakh kanwariyas will be coming to Haridwar.

Pithoragarh, July 5
Despite spending crores of rupees on the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the district, more than 2,500 students from government schools move out to join private institutions every year.

KK Vaishniaya, project officer of the SSA in the district, said during the 2008-09 session, a total of 36,484 students had enrolled themselves in 1,900 primary schools in the district. However, the number reduced to 33,645 in 2009-10 and 30,889 in the current session.

Vaishnaiya, while inaugurating the annual 10-day training session for primary and secondary school teachers, said at present, 3,651 primary and secondary teachers were serving in 1,490 schools of the district .

“We will spend Rs 1.65 crore on this training that is being provided to teachers to acquaint them with the simpler ways of teaching,” he added.

“We are making all efforts to save primary education in the district by imparting training to teachers in how to make tough topics easy for students from the rural background,” said Vaishnaiya.

Haridwar, July 5
A 525-MW unit of Tata-Maithon Power Limited, which has been developed by the city-based public sector undertaking Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), was successfully commissioned today. With the commissioning of the unit, BHEL has added another feather in its cap.

Build through in-house design modifications, this is the first unit of the 525-MW rating developed by BHEL.

The 2x525 MW Maithon Right Bank Thermal Power Plant is a joint venture between Tata Power and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) in a public-private partnership in the area of power generation.

Maithon Power Project is a mega power plant of 1050-MW capacity. It is a green field coal-based power project located at Maithon in Jharkhand.

Nainital, July 5
The Almora administration has started tabulating the status of the assistance it has given to the victims of various rain-related disasters that hit the district last September. Almora had been the worst-hit district in the region accounting for the loss of several lives and large-scale infrastructure.

According to the District Magistrate, DS Garbyal, the Tehsildars have been asked to submit interim reports of all the tehsils. Garbyal has said the information about Almora Tehsil has been furnished by Pankaj Upadhyay.

Upadhyay has said in his report that 10 persons had died in Devli village and members of their families were instantly provided economic assistance. Assistance was also provided to those 10 families whose houses had been completely destroyed in the same village. People who had moved out of their houses for the fear of natural disaster have been identified and alternative arrangements have been made for them. Interestingly, none of the families is interested in taking the tents being offered by the administration. Upadhyay has further said a proposal has been sent to the state administration for the transfer of forestland to the administration so that six families affected by the incessant rain last year could be relocated.

A similar proposal has been sent regarding the relocation of 14 families of Sirad village whose houses were not fit for residing from geological point of view. These families have arranged for their stay themselves and no one wants to take the tents offered by the administration.

A proposal for the relocation of 28 families of Balta village on forestland has also been sent to the state administration. These families are at present residing in tin structures made available by NGOs and no one wants to live in the tents.

As many as 13 persons had died in this village on account of a cloudburst and instant economic relief had been provided to their families. In Bajaithi village, 38 families are to be relocated on forestland.