Palampur, October 4
Vivekananda Medical College and Research Institute being set up here by the JP Group of Industries has been hanging fire for the past several years.

The group has failed to complete the project as per its deadline of November 2010. The foundation stone of this superspeciality medical institute was laid by the then Chief Minister Shanta Kumar in 1992, with a view to providing quality medical care to the people of the state.

Earlier, a trust headed by Shanta Kumar was executing the project, but when the BJP was voted to power in 2008, Shanta Kumar joined hands with the JP group for the project’s early completion. The entire infrastructure comprising under-construction building worth Rs 25 crore and 60 acres of valuable land situated in the heart of Palampur town were handed over to the group, which promised to complete the work in two years. But even after the expiry of three years, the group has not done much except developing the surroundings.

It may be recalled that before taking over the project, the JP group got amended the constitution of the trust and inducted 13 more trustees to run the project. After the amendment, the Shanta faction came in minority in the trust as the JP group had 13 trustees out 18. Besides, the state government also ratified the transfer of the trust to JP through a Cabinet decision to avoid legal hurdles in future. All this was done to strengthen the hands of the group so that the project could be completely in the minimum possible time.

However, the JP group has already delayed the project by two years and there is no hope for its early completion. Moreover, Shanta Kumar can neither oust JP from the trust nor move the court because of the fact that he is in minority in the trust, Besides, the state Cabinet has already given its approval in favour of JP for the transfer of the entire infrastructure, including land worth Rs 600 crore.

In past three years, the JP group has shown little interest in the project as no major effort was made to complete it. The group has only developed the surroundings of the project and constructed a helipad and a VIP guesthouse.

Besides setting up of a superspecialty hospital with 500 beds (indoor), the project envisages to serve as a medical college, nursing institution, paramedical school and a yoga & naturopathy centre.

There is a provision to keep 20 per cent beds reserve for poor patients, who would also get free medical aid. It has also been committed to provide other medical facilities at most affordable rates to other patients.

The trust had received over Rs 20 crore through donations from the public, corporate houses, Dalai Lama and NRIs which has already been spent on the construction of the buildings.

Mandi, October 4
After Anna Hazare’s “India against corruption” fever that gripped the whole country, it is now the new-age salesmen who have moved in, selling their new gadgets aimed at keeping tabs on corruption. These include spy keychain video cameras and spy key pens with a price tag of Rs 1,699, available online or through personal selling.

The salesmen have been selling such gadgets with a message: “Fight corruption, not be victimised”.

From metros, these “anti-corruption gadgets” are making inroads into smaller cities and towns like Mandi, Kullu and Shimla, using social networking sites or mobile phones to reach out to the users even in villages.

But RTI activists and public administration experts caution individuals who have taken a pledge not to offer bribe for any work in government offices, saying that they should use these gadgets if they can afford. But they should be careful not to be victims as the corrupt can accuse you of blackmailing him or her.

NGO activists and those involved in social networking groups are using anti-corruption gadgets while dealing with their day-to-day dealings with government offices.

After Anna’s movement against corruption, this question hinges heavy on the people’s mind: “How should the common man confront a corrupt politician, bureaucrat, policeman, patwari or a PDS clerk?”

Prof Mamta Mokta, former chairperson, Department of Public Administration, HP University, says, “The gadgets are useful for individuals. But a long-term solution lies in empowering the common man with the tool of e-literacy and citizens charter. We can use the RTI Act, Information Technology Act and the Electronic Goods and Services Bill, which aims at making the system accountable and transparent”.

Prof Mamta, however, warns that new-age gadgets can be counterproductive as certain vested interests may use these for blackmailing. “Time has come to protect whistleblowers and punish blackmailers,” she asserts.

HP RTI Bureau president Lawan Thaur, who spearheaded the Anna Hazare movement in Mandi, says now the common man will confront the corrupt person head-on by showing him the official Anna cap, sitting on a dharna in the office or raising an alarm when somebody asks for a bribe. “The gadgets can be misused or targeted to blackmail that can land the untrained common man in hot waters. But professionals can use these as they are trained to use them,” he adds.

Anand, a salesman selling spy gadgets, claims that the demand for such gadgets is increasing in the country. “We are offering a special package gadgets for Rs 1,699,” he states.

People of the area are blaming so-called environmentalists and other organisations for the stray dog menace, on whose petition the Supreme Court of India has banned the killing of stray dogs. The government and animal lovers have not come out with any solution to the problem yet.

Dog bite victim Ram Lal said, “A few people and organisations in the name of animal love have been putting human lives in danger by opposing the killing of stray animals that are harming human beings; while the number of stray animals have been multiplying. Children, women and elderly are becoming their victims.”

People have demanded an immediate solution to the problem of stray dogs.

District Health Officer PK Katwal said, “Twelve persons are being given anti-rabies treatment at Government Health Centre, Galod, and anti-rabies injections are available at all health centres.” 

Solan, October 4
If cricket is a religion in our country, endorsing eves to play the game is a tradition well-entrenched at Pinegrove School, Dharampur. What adds to the zing is the floodlit stadium constructed amidst the lush green environs in the placid pine-whiffed hills.

The six-day 11th All-India IPSC under-19 girls tournament concluded here recently. Pinegrove managed to dethrone the nine-time champion Mayo Collge Girls School, Ajmer, to earn a representation from the IPSC at the SGFI National Games. Indian test player Karsan Ghavri awarded the Player of the Match to Shivanti Gupta of Pinegrove for her all-round brilliant display of batting, bowling and fielding.

While lauding the efforts of the school for putting in place a ground of such level, he said "After watching cricket played for the past more than 30 years, I have never ever witnessed a school-level match of such quality and intensity”.

The participants included Modern School, Delhi; Mayo College Girls School, Ajmer; Maharani Gayatri Devi School, Jaipur; Daly College, Indore; Raj Kumar College, Rajkot (Gujarat); The Lawrence School, Lovedale (TN); Scindia Girls School, Gwalior; and the host Pinegrove School. Played on a league-cum-knockout basis, the tournament saw interesting cricketing moments.

The sheer grandeur of the setting and lush green expanse of the field makes it a visual delight for players and viewers alike. A new turf wicket has been added to the venue with the help of the HP Cricket Association.

I was relaxing on a wooden bench in my tiny garden when I heard my bottlebrush tree speaking to me. Bottlebrush was in full bloom (see photo) and its red coloured flowers were competing with the greenery of the leaves. I said, “Yes bottlebrush, what do you want to say?” The bottlebrush asked, “Have you seen me along the Kalka-Shimla road?” “Yes. I have”, I replied. “And also flowering in the gardens of plant lovers?” the tree asked another question. “Yes, in quite a few gardens I have seen you blooming”.

“I am actually not a plant of India. And I was not brought to Shimla by 1902 when Col Sir Henry Collett wrote “Flora Simlensis” - a handbook of flowering plants of Shimla. I am absent from the book. I arrived here late. I am a native to the temperate regions of Australia where I have 30 more brothers and sisters (species). My name there was Callistemon and we belong to an old family of Myrtaceae. Callisto was a virginal nymph of Arteimis whom Zeus impregnated. His wife, Hera, in a fit of jealousy, turned her into a bear. Zeus placed her in the sky as the Big Bear constellation. This constellation never fell below the horizon and therefore survived without much water.

“My family, since then, does not need much water to survive. We bloom in dry conditions as well. From among the 30, we are twins, Callistemon Rigidus and Callistemon Viminalis i.e. weeping bottlebrush”.

I interrupted, “You are the weeping type here because your branches and flowers droop down”. “Yes, you are right.” I asked, “If you are Callistemon, why do people call you bottlebrush?” The tree replied, “I got this name from the shape of my flowers, which looked like long, cylindrical brushes with spiky bristles - the shape of brush that was used to clean baby-feed bottles in the past”. I added, “I am really happy that you flower twice a year - in April-May and in September-October - that adds colour to my garden”.

“Do you remember that I was a wee lasso when you brought me here? You handed me over to your wife and told her to look after me well. She knew that I needed lots of sunshine so she found this sunniest spot for me and put me amidst cow-dung manure. I managed to find enough food from that. She would give me water but did not ask whether I like the cold or not. I do not like it and would have loved to have a winter coat but she left me naked and I learned to be tough even when I was snowed over a couple of times. She used to make my stay comfortable by often softening the ground where I stood.

“In the past fifteen years, I have given many delightful blooms. You always sing ditties in my glory. I feel good. Someone has said: ‘look like Aishwarya, act like Phoolan Devi and smile like Mother Teresa’. I feel as if I am the combination of all three. You gave me haircut in August. Your wife gave me chocolates (compost) that I was craving for. In return, I am giving you pleasing flowers.

“I am nearly 12 ft tall now and dozens of hummingbirds, yellow and red, and scores of sparrows sit on my branches. These feathered friends are little gluttons but I do not mind because I have plenty of food to share. I love this sunny spot and watch the passersby gawking when I am in full plumage. If someone has not seen a bottlebrush in bloom to date, why does he not come here and check me out. I entreat you to develop Bottlebrush Boulevard or Jakranda Jamboree or Gulmohar Gait in Shimla. Scare not, we all thrive on little water”.

I knew there were lyrical words with the trees in the garden, but the World was so much with me that I could hear them so late.

The Army Training Command (ARTRAC), here, celebrated its 21st raising day early this week.

The highlight of the week-long celebrations was the world famous Army Symphony Band which gave three performances. The weather did play the spoilsport during the public show on the Ridge on October 2 which had to be cut short due to rain. However, the band enthralled the audience at the Gaiety Theatre the following day (see photo).

The band was raised in 1990 with musicians taken from all military bands and it has performed in various military tattoos and music festivals in Russia, France, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Malaysia, UK, Germany, Bhutan and Nepal. Its rich repertoire comprises a mix of Indian, western and martial music like the evergreen “colonel bogey march”, “kadam kadam badhaye ja”, “sare jahan se achha” and “besame mucho” to name a few.

The ARTRAC was set up on October 1, 1991, at Mhow to pursue the vision ‘Train the Indian Army for war and prepare it to win future conflicts’ and it moved to Shimla in March 1993. Over the past two decades, it has come a long way in the constant pursuit of challenges in the art and science of warfare.

Bilaspur, October 4
There is no other job so satisfying as to ensure special children perform their own daily activities themselves and large number of those from “Chetna” who have been enjoying this bliss for the past 13 years are fortunate and all of us should try to associate ourselves in any way in this endeavour to share this unique pleasure. This was stated by Rajya Sabha MP Bimla Kashyap while presiding over day-long annual day celebrations of the Chetna, a social organisation devoted to the cause of special children, here recently.

Kashyap was impressed by the lively and thrilling cultural performances presented by the inmates and trainees of Chetna and said it must be a proud moment for the parents of these children, who were present here in large numbers.

She urged all sections of society to come forward to associate themselves in this task of enabling these special children to enjoy all benefits of life.

The MP announced grant of one school bus for the Chetna so that its widespread activities could be performed in a better way. She said this bus would arrive here within a month.

Chetna general secretary Mallika Nadda said the Chetna had started its activities of social rehabilitation of special children in 104 gram panchayats in and around this district, but now its activities have been extended to 164 gram panchayats. A campaign has been launched to identify, register and help such children for training and development of capacities and capabilities after survey and assessment.

She said, “Several of our former trainees have now settled in life and are not only happily married, but have even normal children, entirely changing meaning of their lives now.”

She gave details of children who have excelled not only in games at state and national levels, but even at international Olympics bringing laurels to the state and country.

Chetna president Nand Prakash Vohra, Nagar Parisad president Rajni Sharma, social activist OP Garga and BJP city president Mohinder Bakshi were present on the 
occasion. 

Dharamsala, October 4
The Agriculture Department has introduced the polyhouse technique, which it believes to be beneficial for farmers in protecting crops under the extreme weather conditions.

To popularise the technique, Pt Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan Samridhi Yojna has been started under which, 80 per cent subsidy is being provided to farmers for the construction of a polyhouse and installation of the micro-irrigation system. Fifty per cent assistance is also being provided to the farmers for the augmentation of water sources.

“The remotest area of Bada Bhagal in the district has set an example by using the polyhouse technique, which has helped farmers have good yield in less area in a difficult terrain and under the extreme weather conditions,” said RS Gupta, deputy commissioner. The technique is not so popular in the lower areas of Kangra. Therefore, the department needs to make the farmers aware of it so that maximum number of people could avail its benefit, he said.

A free-of-cost soil testing service is also being provided by the department which helps farmers in scientific and economical planning for the next crop. Till August, 7,260 soil samples were collected and 5,455 samples were analysed.

Vermin-composition is another project under the Rashtriya Kirshi Vikas Yojna. Keeping in view the success of the programmes, it has been proposed to provide a financial assistance of Rs 3,500 to each farmer for the establishment of vermin compost units and an additional Rs 250 for verminculture, disclosed officials of the department.

Hundred per cent subsidy is being provided to farmers for seed treatment. Awareness camps are also being held. The department has urged the farmers not to use spurious seeds as Rs 18 lakh would be used to protect crops from seed-borne diseases.

Nurpur, October 4
Dharam Chand of Kalyara village in Kangra district was in trouble after his retirement from the Indian Army because his meagre pension was inadequate for the sustenance of his family. Besides, the traditional way of farming was also not fetching him good returns.

He was then motivated by his friend serving in the Department of Information and Public Relations to avail the benefit of Deen Dyal Upadhaya Growers’ Samridhi Yozna (DDUGSY). With the cooperation of Agriculture Department officials, he applied for the setting up of a polyhouse in his fields. In May last year, he set up a polyhouse on 252 m land at a cost of Rs 2,16,250 out of which his share was just Rs 44,000 while the rest of the amount he got in the shape of subsidy under the scheme. He also installed a drip irrigation system in the polyhouse.

Dharam Chand says in the very first year of the setting up of the polyhouse, he successfully grew vegetables like tomato, French beans, capsicum, onion and cauliflower. During the current rainy season, he cultivated coriander which fetched him promising returns. He says he has earned Rs 10,000 by just growing coriander.

He claims that he has never used chemical fertilisers, but only used vermipost (kenchuya fertiliser) for growing vegetables. “The polyhouse has not only strengthened my family’s financial condition but also made me self-reliant and a progressive vegetable grower of the area. Fresh organic vegetables are in huge demand and there is no problem of marketing the produce in Kangra district. The unemployed youth should not run after white-collar jobs, but instead adopt farming by setting up polyhouses,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, inquiries reveal that so far 1,159 polyhouses have been set up while another 168 are coming up in the district. The state government has aimed to cover 2,35,400 hectares and sanctioned 1,826 polyhouses for the district. The beneficiaries are getting 80 to 90 per cent subsidy for the purpose.

Chamba, October 4
The topography of Chamba district dotted with wooded hills, lush green valleys, rivers, high-altitude lakes and sanctuaries and its people of varied traditions and culture, presents a wide scope for the operation and promotion of tourism in the region.

This was stated by Deputy Commissioner Sharabh Negi while inaugurating a photographic exhibition of mountaineer and photographer Rajesh Charak at the local Bhuri Singh Museum under the aegis of the Department of Language and Culture on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri on Sunday.

The exhibition of the mountaineer and photographer is a rare collection of photographs which he has clicked en route his trekking itineraries in the hilly terrains of Himachal Pradesh. The DC felt his photographs would go a long way in attracting tourists to visit these places. — OC