Dehradun, August 13
The Annual Health Status (AHS) report released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has come as a mixed bag of results for Uttarakhand. While there has been considerable improvement in curbing the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), the state continues to record the lowest sex ratio among nine states in the country where the survey was undertaken.

The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), denoting the number of female live births per 1,000 male live births, was the lowest in Uttarakhand. Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand reported the lowest sex ratio along with two other districts. It was 764 girls to 1,000 boys at birth. Four more districts of Uttarakhand reported a sex ratio at birth lower than 800.

On the contrary Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand recorded the highest sex ratio of 1,220 for all ages.

The health survey for 2010-2011, was carried out in 284 districts in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Assam. This survey aims to provide feedback on the impact of the schemes under the NRHM in reduction of the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) at the district level and the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) at the regional level.

As per the survey, the Crude Birth Rate (CBR), denoting the number of live births per 1,000 population, was the lowest in Uttarakhand .

In the case of the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), denoting the number of infant deaths (less than one year of age) per 1,000 live births, Uttarakhand was at the bottom of the list with Rudraprayag district recording the lowest at 19.

However, the IMR in the rural areas is 13 points higher than in the urban areas. It was 19.3 in the rural and 16.7 in the urban areas.

The districts of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Almora recorded infant mortality less than 30. In the districts of Tehri, Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal it was more than 41.

Significantly, the National Family Health Survey-III had recorded the IMR at 42. The Uttarakhand Government plans to bring the IMR to 30 per 1,000 live births in 2012.

Again female infants experience higher mortality than males in rural as well as urban areas. The IMR for males was recorded at 42 per 1,000 live births while for females it was 44 per 1,000 births.

The Mother Mortality Rate (MMR), denoting the proportion of maternal deaths per 1 lakh live births, was the lowest in Uttarakhand.

Dehradun, August 13
Dates that are in demand, particularly by the Muslims, during the month of holy Ramzan comes in a lot of varieties ranging from Rs 80 to Rs 800. Shopkeepers have also been selling the imported dates from Saudi Arab, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Jordan.

The varieties include Glagji, Kimiya, Baba Temoor, Farhad, Rajij, Taiba, Irani, Aljajira, Alshad, Jordan Valley, Shad, Navar, Maryam and Harmoni.

Mohammad Naushad, a shopkeeper, said: “People from all over the state visit here to get the dates. Earlier, only two or three varieties were available, but for the past three years, many new varieties have been added according to customers’ choice.”

To a query on the speciality of each variety of dates, he said: “It is the taste that makes them different from each other. The dates that start from Rs 80 are bit hard and as the rate increases we find the softest dates. More than 150 customers visit my shop daily.”

Mohammad who sells the dates for one month during the Ramzan in front of the Jama Masjid further said this year the sale was less in comparison to the last year. “The Ramzan has fallen in summers this time thus people eat less of the dates but one should eat them throughout the year as they are one of the best sources of energy and good for health,” he said.

The shopkeeper said, “The prices have also gone down this year. Previously, the dates that use to cost around Rs 1,200 are now being sold at Rs 600 while that was of Rs 800 is currently available at Rs 500.”

During a survey in the market it was found that none of the other shopkeeper had such a huge variety. Sahid another seller says that he keeps only two varieties of imported dates that cost Rs 60 and Rs 80, respectively. 

Mussoorie, August 13
To create environmental awareness, women Congress workers today celebrated Rakshabandhan by tying rakhis to trees.

They gathered on the Mall road and after performing traditional rituals tied rakhis to trees near Garhwal Terrace. They also pledged to protect the trees and treat them as brothers.

Congress women workers tie rakhis to a tree on Rakshabandhan in Mussoorie on Saturday.

“As trees play an important role in our lives, we decided to express our gratitude towards the trees by tying rakhis to them,” said Geeta Kumain, president of the Mussoorie Mahila Congress. Sweets were also distributed to mark the occasion.

Environmentalists and conversationalists have hailed this decision of the women and appealed to other parties to follow the same to protect the trees.

DEHRADUN: The festival of Rakshabandhan was celebrated at Raj Bhavan here today.

The Governor tied rakhis to Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Leader of the Opposition Harak Singh Rawat. Sisters of the Prajapita Brahmkumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya also tied rakhis to the Governor.

Earlier, the Governor spent some time with the girls who came all the way from the SOS Organisation. She asked them to work hard to succeed in their lives. The girls also tied rakhis to the Governor.

On this festive occasion, the Governor tied rakhis to Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, DGP GS Pandey, Secretary to the Governor Ashok Pai, Principal Secretary PC Sharma, Secretary to the Chief Minister Umakant Panwar, Dehradun District Magistrate Sachin Kurve, SSP GS Martolia and officials of various departments of Raj Bhavan.

Meanwhile, on the occasion, the city bore a festive look with huge crowds thronging to purchase Rakhi, sweets and gifts.

Though, kite flying is primarily celebrated on Basant Panchami but here in Dehradun the tradition varies as on the day of Rakhi as people associate the festival with colourful kites. The main attraction of Rakshabandhan was kite flying that filled up the sky with colours and zeal to this festival of siblings’ revelry.

“Doonites associate kite flying with the festival of Rakhi, which is a unique celebration in itself. The smiling faces of children that visit my shop to buy kites fills my heart with contentment and joy,” said Mohmmad Yusuf, a kite seller.

HARIDWAR: The festival of Rakshabandhan was celebrated across the city today. Markets were flooded with rakhis, gifts and sweets.

During his yoga camp, women also tied rakhis to Ramdev. He urged them to support his satyagraha against corruption and black money.

At the district jail, sisters from the Prajapita Braham Kumari Ishwari Vishwavidyaalaya tied rakhis to prisoners and urged them to take a pledge to shun wrong path.

Meanwhile, owing to astrologers’ prediction, many celebrated the festival only in the noon as according to the astrologers, the auspicious occasion for tying rakhis began at 12:30 pm.

Astrologer Vipin Parashar of the Astrology Research Centre, Haridwar, said tying rakhis during “bhadra kaal” might have a negative impact on the relation of brothers and sisters.

Dehradun, August 13
“Books are my best friends that have brought me here at this position from a humble school librarian to a university librarian at the IIT, Roorkee,” said Yogender Singh, who was in Dehradun to attend Librarians Day.

He always had a passion for books. Having completed his Masters in Zoology from Meerut University, he had also taught biology at the intermediate level. He is a gold medallist in BLibSc from Aligarh Muslim University and had pursued MLibSc from Delhi University.

He has been an outstanding scholar throughout his career. “I was National Merit Scholar in 1968-72 and obtained the first position in BLibSc as a Fulbright scholar during my studies,” he added.

He served the Delhi administration in 1977-83, the Indian Ports Association of the Ministry of Shipping and Transport in 1983 before joining the Defence Research and Development Organisation in 1984 as a scientist. He later joined as University Librarian at the IIT, Roorkee.

When asked about the challenges and pressures he faced while working at India’s prestigious technical institute, he said, “There is no pressure built on me. I am supported by an efficient team of subordinates who are skilled in their jobs and also help me to perform mine.”

He was given the Best Technical University Librarian of the Year (2003) award. He had been a member of the National Steering Committee of the Indian Digital Library in Engineering Science and Technology (INDEST) in 2005-2007. He is also a member of the Springer Library Advisory Board.

His latest contribution to the profession is the state-of-the-art library building at the IIT, Roorkee. He has been actively involved in the project from conception to the completion of the building.

“This building has got all modern amenities like air- conditioning, a blend of modern as well as ancient architecture, wi-fi environment, e-resource room, OPAC corner, cyber room, server room, modern furnishing, imaging centre, discussion rooms, training room, conference room, cafeteria, round-the-clock reading room and 
many more.”

Besides his normal responsibilities, he is actively involved in other academic activities of the institute as a member of various bodies like the Senate, the executive committee of the Senate, the Institute Administrative Committee and the Group Purchase Committee. In 2001-2004 he was the coordinator of the Institute Superhighway Centre and made a notable contribution to the expansion of the IT services at the institute.

Yogender Singh says that Dehradun being an education hub has negligible public libraries. “Though there are various institutional libraries here, the state government along with the state Youth Welfare Council should look at establishing public libraries that can help the younger generation enrich itself with more and more knowledge.”

He has 20 papers and two books to his credit besides a number of bibliographic and non-bibliographic computerisation projects. He has organised three national and one international conference as well as more than 30 training workshops in this field.

Besides being an expert in library automation, networking and digital libraries, Yogender Singh is also known for his innovative methods in library management. He believes in the management principle of getting the maximum output from the least input. He tries to implement this theory in all library activities. 

Dehradun, August 13
Under the aegis of the Doon Library and Research Centre and the Central Government Library Association, the birth anniversary of Dr SR Ranganathan was celebrated as Librarians’ Day at MKP PG College here yesterday.

Librarians from various institutes participated in the event. The programme began with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by the chief guest, Dr Yogender Singh, Head Librarian, IIT (Roorkee). — TNS