Shimla, July 5
Primarily aimed at environmental rehabilitation of degraded hills, the World Bank-funded Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project is ushering in an organic revolution in several parts of the state.

Introduced in micro-watersheds as part of the livelihood enhancement programme, a subsidiary activity, vermi-composting, is proving a boon for poor farmers. In areas like Kullu, apple and vegetable growers no longer need to procure organic manure from neighbouring states. In fact, local farmers are selling vermi-compost to supplement their meagre income from small landholdings.

Over the past four years, vermi-compost units have been set up in almost all the 6,000-odd villages falling under the 600 gram panchayats covered under the Rs 337-crore project. In all, 7,189 units have been set up under the project and on an average each unit produces two tonnes of organic manure.

Unlike normal pits dug on the ground, the project authorities opted for concrete structures to ensure quality of manure, though each such unit cost between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000. However, the expenditure has been worthwhile and in the current year about 10,000 tonnes of vermi-compost is likely to be produced and it is likely to go up to 15,000 tonnes next year. It is sold locally at Rs 5 per kg and some farmers, who have set up there own units, are earning up to Rs 10,000 annually, says Chief Project Director RK Kapoor.

The intervention has popularised organic farming in the project area, which will help improve environmental sustainability in the long run. The quality of manure has been got analysed by the farm university and farmers have been supplied bags on which the detail of the nutrients present has been printed. The focus is now on ensuring certification of the manure, he says.

The maximum 836 units are in Kullu, which produced 16,720 quintals of manure worth Rs 83, 60,000. Earlier, local apple growers used to procure 30 to 40 truckloads of organic manure from the neighbouring states every season. Economic gains by selling vermi-compost apart, the switchover to organic farming will gradually improve the quality of soil, reduce environmental pollution caused by chemical fertilisers and increase productivity. When all the units achieve full-capacity production, organic manure worth Rs 7.5 crore will be produced annually.

Dharamsala, July 5
The Dalai Lama, the “god king” of Tibet, will turn 76 tomorrow. The year is significant in the Tibetan history as the Dalai Lama has given up his political and administrative authority over the Tibetan government-in-exile. The decision marks the symbolic end of the temporal authority that the “god kings’ (Dalai Lamas) have been enjoying over Tibet for the past more than 500 years.

The present 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, lost his kingdom after he had to move into exile in India in 1959. Though China has remained in control over Tibet for the past more than 50 years, the influence of the Dalai Lama over the Tibetan people, who consider him as the reincarnation of Buddha, is still intact.

For the past 50 years, the Dalai Lama has been the pivot of the Tibetan struggle. In fact, the Tibetan struggle is identified with the Dalai Lama, the monk in the red robe as he is known across the world.

His consistent visits across the world helped project the Tibetan struggle at the international level and brought in the much-wanted financial aid for about two lakh Tibetan refugees settled in India.

He was able to resurrect many institutes and monasteries symbolising the old civilisation of Tibet in India.

However, the decision of the Dalai Lama to give up his political and administrative authority over the Tibetan government-in-exile in March this year on the Tibetan uprising day has left the Tibetan struggle at the crossroads.

The first repercussion of the decision was that the Tibetan government-in-exile had to give up its name. As per a resolution passed by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in May this year, the Tibetan government-in-exile will now be known as the Organisation for the Tibetan People.

The Tibetan government-in-exile was earlier functioning on behalf of the Dalai Lama, who was recognised by the international community. However, none of the countries, including the host country India, recognises the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Since now most of the powers of the Dalai Lama will be vested in the newly elected Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, the change of name was a legal necessity.

The role of the Dalai Lama in papers is now limited to being the spiritual head of the Tibetans. Sources here said the Dalai Lama decided to shift his “authority over elected representatives of the Tibetan community-in-exile during his lifetime due to alleged moves by China to influence the reincarnation process of the Dalai Lama institution”.

The Dalai Lama, in a statement issued recently, aired his fears over the matter by stating that China would have no role in deciding his heir. Dalai Lama even stated that he might choose his heir during his lifetime.

Meanwhile, the Tibetans living in exile at Dharamsala will organise a ceremony at their main temple in McLeodganj tomorrow morning to mark the 76th birthday of the Dalai Lama. He will, however, be leaving for a trip to the USA tomorrow.

Shimla, July 5
In one of the rare incidents of religious intolerance in the state capital, the pastor of the local Bethel Satsang Sabha has sought police protection, fearing a threat to his life from some anti-social elements who have accused him of indulging in conversion.

The incident, which took place on July 1 when about 50 persons allegedly terrorised and threatened to kill pastor Amar Bhatia for preaching his religion, has left the local Christian community not only frightened, but hurt as it has always lived in complete peace and harmony in the town which remained the summer capital of the British and has some of the finest public schools run by the missionaries.

Even though an FIR has been registered by the Boileauganj police against unidentified persons, the local Christian community has decided to bring the matter to the notice of the Governor and the Chief Minister. The local Christians, including pastors and heads of institutions, met here yesterday to condemn the incident.

“We are a minority living under the law of the land where everyone has the right to follow and propagate their religion, but our silence must not be considered our weakness,” said a hurt Arun Wilson from the Christ Church.

Narrating the incident, pastor Bhatia said five persons, who were later joined by around 50 others, terrorised and threatened him with dire consequences if he organised the Sunday worship. “I have been in the service of the Lord for the past 14 years holding a prayer service at the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), Masonic Hall and the Young Women Christian Association, but have not caused harm to anyone,” he said.

Even after the intimidating incident took place at the house of Rajender Gill in Nabha on July 1 at about 6 pm, some other people tried to scare him as they reached his house at about 11 pm and three vehicles, one bearing a red beacon, kept hovering around his house till 3 am. “I fear for my life as they threatened that they would kill me, so I want that the police should take action against the miscreants,” he said. 

Solan, July 5
Taking note of the non-utilisation of land within two years despite procuring permission from the government, District Collector C Palrasu has confiscated 2.14 bighas of land in five cases in various revenue villages in Solan district in the proceedings initiated in his court under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act - 1972.

These non-agriculturist respondents had purchased land with the permission of the state government for residential purposes, but they failed to utilise the land for this purpose within the stipulated period of two years.

No application for extension of permission was filed before the government and there was no response to the notices served on them by the department.

The District Collector then ordered confiscation of their land. All cases pertain to Kasauli tehsil.

The five respondents whose land has been confiscated are Mahinder Singh, Ashish Kumar, Adan Dass, Mandira Malik and Vinayak Rao who had been granted permission to buy 10 biswas, 13 biswas, 10 biswas, 0.8 biswas and 13 biswas of land, respectively. These cases pertain to Chabal and Khadoli villages in Kasauli tehsil.

Since there are clear instructions from the government to detect violations in cases pertaining to Section 118 and initiate action against the defaulters, the officials concerned are monitoring such cases on a regular basis.

Moreover, with the opposition Congress having made violations pertaining to Section 118 a key issue in the district as the maximum number of outsiders have bought land here, the officials concerned are now keeping track of the violators to bring them to book.

Shimla, July 5
Talking tough on the issue pertaining to the recruitment of lecturers in the Dental College, Shimla, the HP High Court has stated that there is no consistent policy in the matter of recruitment. The court observed, “Though we don’t want to make any general passing observation, but the interest of the institution has suffered to the greatest extent and the Dental College has now lost its glory and status of initial times.”

Announcing the judgment in an open court, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Sanjay Karol observed, “The emerging picture is certainly disturbing, if not shocking”.

The court, after perusal of the records, observed that the failure of the government in taking timely steps for filling the posts of lecturer in the Dental College had maligned the image of the college.

The order came on a petition challenging the action of the state government whereby it has cancelled the selection process for posts of lecturer in oral surgery in the Dental College.

The Himachal Public Service Commission had issued an advertisement for filling eight posts in the Dental College, Shimla. However, the process was later withdrawn by the state government.

The petitioner said though the government had filled some posts of lecturer in the college by way of promotion, but no post in the department of oral surgery was filled.

The issue before the court was with respect to the filling of posts from among in-service candidates. The record revealed that one post of in-service candidate was available. The court has directed the state government to fill this post in accordance with the rules. The court directed that the post be filled in accordance with the selection process initiated earlier.

Rajpura, July 5
A 19-year-old first-year BTech student of Surya World Institute near Rajpura was killed this morning after a scuffle between two groups in the college hostel. The students were reportedly fighting over “missing” mattresses.

According to police officials, some hostel inmates from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar entered into a fight after levelling allegations and counter-allegations over the missing mattresses.

They fought with bricks, sticks and iron material last night. The fight continued till this morning.

Manmohan Sharma, SP, who reached the spot, said the mattresses of some students from Himachal Pradesh went missing last night and they suspected that somebody from Bihar might have stolen it. One of the students from Bihar overheard the Himachal boys accusing Biharis of stealing mattresses. Both parties got infuriated and entered into heated arguments.

He said the deceased had been identified as 19-year-old Himanshu of Jogindernagar in Himachal Pradesh. The SP said the college authorities did not inform the police last night when the students were fighting with each other.

The security in charge of the hostel, Jarnail Singh, said there were around 100 students in the hostel and they often used to fight with each other over petty issues, but were always pacified by the college authorities or securitymen.

“Last night, too, both the parties were pacified after the scuffle and the injured were given first aid and one of them was sent to a hospital,” said the security in charge.

Parveen Ahluwalia, a lecturer in the college, said the parents of an injured boy arrived this morning and were shown the spot. While the boys were showing broken windowpanes and pieces of bricks and sticks near the hostel premises, one of the boys from the opposite party threw a brick from one of the five floors of the hostel. The brick hit Himanshu on the head who was taken to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he was declared dead.

The injured have been identified as Aquib of Jammu and Kashmir and Nikhil of Himachal Pradesh.

The police said the injured were admitted to the hospital at around 3 am but the college authorities did not bother to inform it.

Some boys have been rounded up by the police in this regard and they are being questioned over last night’s incident.

The police was yet to lodge an FIR in this regard as the statements of the parents, boys and the college authorities were being recorded at the time of the filing of this report.

Shimla, July 5
Girls have once again outnumbered boys in the BA-III (pass course) examinations, the results of which were declared by Himachal Pradesh University as they bagged all but one of the top 10 positions in the merit list.

The pass percentage in the examinations held in March is 82.13 per cent as out of a total of 22,505 who appeared in the examination, 18,483 have been declared pass.

Natasha Thakur of Government College, Sanjauli, has topped the exam with a score of 850 out of a total of 1,000. Anjali of Government College, Jogindernagar, stood second with 836 and Indu Bala of Degree College, Dhaneta, bagged the third position with 814.

Miti Sapehia of Government College, Dhaliara, stood fourth with 799, followed by Deepa Thakur of Government College, Solan, with 798 and Sunmeet Thakur of St Bede’s College at the sixth position with 797. Abhishek Chauhan of Government College, Sanjauli, and Pooja shared the seventh position with 797.

Sapna of DAV College, Kangra, stood eighth with 794, followed by Godavari of Government College, Ghumarwin, with 793. Madhu Bala of Government College, Daulatpur, was placed at the 10th position with 787.

Dharamsala, July 5
Government Degree College, Dharamsala, has been running coaching classes for its students to give them an extra edge over others in competitive exams. The college has been providing coaching for competitive exams like banking and PMT. It recently added the Combined Defence Services (CDS) in its coaching.

“The coaching has been kept free of cost for SC, ST and OBC students and we are charging nominal fees from others. The response has been good,” said Satish Chand Sharma, Principal of the college.

As many as 270 students availed coaching for banking exam and 200 students turned up for PMT coaching classes, the Principal said.

The classes are being run on the college campus after the regular classes. Our regular college faculty takes these classes, but we also invite experts,” said Sharma.

To help students in facing competitive exams, group discussions, counsellings and interviews with confidence, the college has come up with another idea of opening a communicative language lab with a cost of Rs 3 lakh.

“It will be an English language lab that will help students in understanding the communicative English better with the help of a software,” said Sharma.

Dharamsala, July 5
Kishan Kapoor, Minister for Industries, Labour and Employment, Himachal, was awarded the Manav Sewa Puraskar by the Institute of Economic Studies (IES) at the India International Centre in Delhi on June 29.

The minister, who arrived at Dharamsala today after receiving the award, was accorded a warm welcome by his supporters and local non-government organisations.

He has been awarded for his untiring social service towards the downtrodden.

Kapoor is the first politician from the state to be given the award by the IES, an organisation founded by eminent economists and industrialists of the country. 

Shimla, July 5
The public distribution system (PDS) is providing a much-needed relief to people from the impact of soaring prices by supplying subsidised ration to 1,117,804 above poverty line (APL) families, in addition to extremely poor families.

While the 3,16,900 below poverty line (BPL) families are being provided 20 kg wheat at Rs 5.25 per kg and 15 kg rice at Rs 6.85 every month, 1,97,100 poorest of the poor families are being given 20 kg wheat at Rs 2 per kg and 15 kg rice at Rs 3 per kg under the Antyodaya Anna Yojna and to ensure food security to the old, destitute persons and more than 65 years of age are being given 10 kg rice free of cost. The APL card-holders are entitled to 18 kg wheat and 9 kg rice at Rs 8.5 per kg and Rs 10 per kg, respectively.

During 2010-11, 23,689 inspections were carried out and 12 cases registered, 1,777 persons given written warning, one person was arrested and 1,026 persons handed out punishment under departmental action. An amount of Rs 4,86,128 was taken as security and goods worth Rs 13,53,947 were confiscated.

Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the State Civil Supplies Corporation is supplying ration through a network of 4,567 fair price shops, out of which 3,016 are in the cooperative sector. In all 1,631,804 families are being covered under the TPDS.

The government has also implemented a special subsidised scheme under which all ration card holders are supplied 1 kg gram for Rs 20, 1 kg urad dal for Rs 35, channa dal for Rs 25 and 1 kg mustard oil for Rs 45 and 1 kg of iodised salt.