Students back contractual lecturers; boycott classes
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 15
Coming to the support of contractual lecturers of various government colleges in the state, who have demanded that they be put on regular service, the students of government colleges in Pithoragarh and Champawat district today boycotted classes and locked the classrooms.

“The government has so far run these colleges with the help of these 529 contractual lecturers but when the time of their regularisation arrived, they are contemplating throwing them out by hiring new 
lecturers through the state Public Service Commission,” said Bhuwan 
Saun, president of the students union of Government Postgraduate College, Pithoragarh.

The students said most of the colleges in the state were being run by these contractual lecturers who were qualified according to the University Grant Commission (UGC) norms and deserve regular service. “If the government does any injustice to them, the colleges will be locked for an indefinite period,” said the students’ union president.

Meanwhile, the students of Government Degree Colleges of Baluakot, Dharchula, Berinag and Munsiyari also boycotted classes. “Our colleges are running due to these contractual lecturers, as 40 contractual lecturers in Pithoragarh PG College, 12 in Berinag PG College and six in Munsiyari Degree College are at present doing teaching work and the degree colleges where these contractual lecturers are not appointed, teaching has suffered,” said Kailash Koranga, former leader of a student union. In Champawat district, the students locked up the colleges in Champawat and Tanakpur areas. “Despite knowing the fact that for a long time these contractual lecturers have been doing teaching work, the state government, instead of putting them on regular service, is trying to oust them in the name of commission appointments,” said Sanjay Rawat, president of the students’ union at PG College, Champawat.

The student unions have said they are writing to the Director, Higher Education, requesting him to pursue the case of these contractual lecturers. “We have requested the Director that instead of rewarding these lecturers for running the government colleges of the state for a nominal salary for so long the state government is doing injustice to them,” said Amit Arya, president of students’ union of PG College, Tanakpur, in Champawat district. 

All set for Khanduri’s rally today
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 15
To make sure the maiden mass rally to be presided over by Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, since he assumed charge as Chief Minister last month, becomes a huge success, the BJP leaders from all the front organisations are working round the clock.

Considering the loss of the BJP in the three-tier panchayat elections in the district, the district BJP unit committee, under its chief Sushil Chauhan, is focusing on the rural belt so that at least 15,000-20,000 people turn up at the rally venue.

The rally is slated to be held at Pherupur village at 11 am tomorrow after Chief Minister BC Khanduri holds a review meeting of all the departmental officers at the CCR towers at 9:30 am.

The rally assumes significance as Haridwar district has the highest number of Assembly segments, numbering 11, in the whole state and party suffered a heavy defeat in the last parliamentary elections with Congress candidate Harish Rawat winning by a record margin of 1.15 lakh votes against the BJP candidate.

Cong to oppose CM’s visit

Meanwhile, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have decided to oppose Khanduri’s visit to the town tomorrow by holding protests on the path through which his cavalcade will pass.

City Congress chief OP Chauhan said if Khanduri was really serious on the issue of corruption then he should first have a look at his party and order a probe against Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Kumbh 
mela minister in charge Madan Kaushik.

“First the BJP should look into how to deal with its corrupt ministers and then carry on with the ‘Suraaj’ rally. No change in the system nor in the people’s mindset will happen if the BJP thinks by just replacing the face of the party it will come clean about all the wrongdoings. The Congress activists will seek answers from Khanduri on the Kumbh scam tomorrow,” said veteran party leader Purushottam Sharma. 

Sonia, Rahul to address public meetings in Doon

Dehradun, October 15
Congress President and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will address public meetings in Dehradun next month. This was announced by in charge of state party affairs Birender Singh while addressing mediapersons here today.

Birender Singh said Sonia Gandhi would come to Rishikesh to lay the foundation stone of the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway line next month. Later, she would address a public meeting in Dehradun. “The date of the programme has not been finalised so far,” he said.

About Rahul Gandhi’s visit, Birender Singh said the state party would take out a four-day “Padyatra” from Roorkee to Dehradun via Haridwar to highlight corruption during the past four and half years rule of the BJP in the state. On the culmination of the yatra in Dehradun, a public meeting has been planned to be addressed by Rahul. “Over 1 lakh persons from across the state are expected to attend the rally. The dates of the yatra will be announced soon,” he added.

On the issue of corruption, he said the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand stood exposed before the people as it had to remove its Chief Minister on the charge of corruption. “We gave a memorandum to the President demanding an inquiry by the CBI into the alleged corrupt deeds of the state BJP government. If LK Advani and the BJP is serious about corruption, they should first hold a CBI inquiry into corruption by the state BJP government,” he said.

Regarding the announcement of candidates for the forthcoming state Assembly elections, he said the process of selection of the candidates from the block level had started and the state party hoped to finalise and announce the first list of candidates by next month. — TNS

Cong committed to uplift of Dalits, says Birender
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 15
Uttarakhand Congress in charge Birender Singh today claimed that there was a strong opinion building up for the party in the state. Addressing the Dalit Swabhiman Sammelan here, he reiterated the party’s commitment towards the betterment of the Dalits and minorities.

Birender Singh said if the party was voter to power, it would pursue Dalit welfare policies on a priority basis. He said the rights of the Dalits would be protected at any cost.

Accusing the state government of ignoring the Dalits, he said the government had allegedly failed to utilise the funds given to the state by the Centre for the betterment of the people belonging to the SC community.

State party assistant in charge Anis Ahmed accused the BJP of working against the Dalits and minorities. He claimed that the Dalits in the country had full faith in Congress policies and programmes and that was the reason that the deprived section of society overwhelmingly supported the party.

Leader of the Opposition Harak Singh Rawat alleged that the BJP had failed to protect the interests of the people of the state.

Senior party leader Suryakant Dhasmana, who coordinated the proceedings, recalled the Dalit welfare programmes and policies initiated by the previous Congress government in the state. The Congress Scheduled Castes Cell president, Dr Jeetram, expressed gratitude to members of the Dalit community for making the convention a success.

Party workers from the Dalit cell also attended the convention. A large number of Dalits from the hills had come with their traditional drums and instruments.

Congress MP from Tehri Vijaya Bahuguna, MLAs Mantri Prasad Naithani, Joth Singh Gunsola and Dinesh Agarwal were also present on the occasion.

Raids against LPG black marketeers
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 15
Waking up to rampant sale of LPG cylinders on the black market in the region, the authorities have launched a drive to keep a check on the malpractice.

It has been launched by the Nainital administration with the help of the Food and Civil Supplies Department. The drive began with teams of officials carrying out a series of raids in Haldwani, Bhimtal and Ramnagar towns of the district. In Haldwani, they inspected various outlets on the Rampur road, the Transport byepass road and Transport Nagar areas. Officials also raided various eating joints, provisional stores and bars. In the process, they seized 10 LPG cylinders.

In Ramnagar, raids were carried out in various resorts in the Dhikuli area. It is learnt that 15 resorts were inspected along with checking in 12 restaurants, hotels and shops. The exercise has led to the seizure of nine LPG cylinders.

In the Bhimtal area, raids were carried out in various hotels and eating joints located in the Dhanachuli, Matiyal and Dhari areas. Nearly 11 cylinders were seized from the areas.

Raids were also conducted in the Khairna, Lal Kuan and Garampani areas, where seven cylinders were seized.

Sources said the cylinder seized were meant for domestic consumption but were being used in commercial establishments. The non-availability of LPG gas for domestic purposes has become a phenomenon that is rampant throughout the year. 

Dist Magistrate orders stoppage of 6 officials’ salaries
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 15
Sending across a strong signal to officials to mend their ways and take their job seriously, District Magistrate Nidhi Mani Tripathi has ordered making adverse 
entry in the career records of six officials besides stopping the disbursement of their salaries till further orders.

These officials are: the Scheme Director of the Uttaranchal Renewable Energy Development Agency, Executive Engineers of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana and the Gramin Abhiyantran Sewa, the District Education Officer, the Divisional Forest Officer and the Mandi Samiti Officer.

They had failed to turn up at the Block Development Committee (BDC) meeting held at Ramgarh on Friday. Tripathi said the BDC was an effective medium to address the concerns of the common people and the absence of the officials from the 
meeting showed their working pattern. During the meeting, the villagers expressed resentment regarding the alleged failure of the administration to address their basic needs.

These included issues pertaining to roads, water, power, health facilities and education system. The villagers were agitated over the fact that despite having raised these issues time and again, nothing concrete had been done to address their grievances.

Tripathi has issued a warning to the officials of the departments concerned to address the concerns of the people at the earliest.

Meanwhile, officials of the Education Department have also been ordered to ensure that children are not made to sit in dilapidated buildings where they are at risk. They have been asked to make alternate arrangements for schoolchildren till the buildings are repaired. 

Cultural fest of schools gets under way
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 15
The national cultural festival of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Group of Schools is being organised at Maharishi Vidya Mandir here. As many as 173 schools are participating in it.

The school teams have been divided into four zones and there are two categories, senior and junior sections. The performances are being judged by renowned experts in the fields of art, music and theatre.

Inaugurating the festival today, Youth Welfare Council chairperson Subash Barthwal lauded the efforts of the group. Principal of the host school Bal Ram Sethi termed the festival as one of the biggest events in the region considering the number of schools and participating candidates.

The festival, which will conclude tomorrow, will see the candidates vying for positions in events like folk music, folk dance, vocal music, instrumental, religious theme-based skits and theatrical presentations. A science exhibition is also being held on the premises of the school where 100-odd exhibits prepared by schoolchildren have been put on display.

Members of the organising committee CD Sharma, Dr Tara Chand Pathak, Reena Dey, Shailesh and Shailja are coordinating the whole events.

MLA irked at slow pace of work

Mussoorie, October 15
Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, after his visit to the site of the proposed Combined Medical Hospital near Landour Bazar yesterday, expressed anger at the slow pace of project work. He lambasted the BJP government, especially the Health Department, for its negligence and apathetic attitude towards health concerns of the town. He warned that if construction work at the site of the proposed hospital did not begin soon the people of the town would be forced to take the agitation path.

Talking to the media after the inspection, Gunsola said the present BJP government had approved the combined medical hospital project two years ago. But the agency executing the project even after demolishing the old building of Civil Hospital 11 months ago have not even started construction work yet. This slow pace of work has raised doubts over the completion of the project for which 50 per cent of the amount has been released.

Gunsola said the agency was indulging in cosmetic service only by employing only four labourers to clear the site of the debris. He said this incompetent attitude of the executing agency, in this case the Uttar Pradesh Nirman Nigam, proved that the government had no control over its officials who were working according to their own whims and fancies and neglecting the serious health concerns of the town. — OC

Ramola is president of PMHS Association

Dehradun, October 15
Dr BC Ramola has been elected president and Dr DP Joshi general secretary of the Provincial Medical and Health Services (PMHS) Association.The results of the poll were announced today.

In a triangular contest Dr Ramola emerged victorious by garnering 324 votes while his nearest rivals Dr JS Pangti got 273 votes and Dr LM Upreti 79.

For the post of general secretary Dr Joshi managed to get 404 votes while his rival, Dr TK Pant, got 275.

Dr BS Jangpangi won the election to the post of vice-president (headquarters). He was pitted against Dr MS Rawat. Dr RK Singh has been elected additional general secretary (Garhwal).

Dr Bipin Chand Pant, Sanjeev Goswami, Dr NS Bisht and Dr Parul Goyal were elected unopposed to the posts of vice-president (general), additional general secretary (Kumaon), treasurer and vice-president (female). — TNS

Manhunt for killers of tigress

Nainital: Officials of the Forest Department and the Sashastra Seema Bal have launched a hunt to arrest those responsible for the killing of a tigress in the forests of the Sharda Range in the Tanakpur region. According to reports, the carcass and skin of a tigress was found from the forest area. The bones of the wild cat are missing. According to information, Forest Department personnel came across a stench near the Hajim ka Jhala area during a routine patrol.

They came across the mutilated carcass of a tigress hidden in a bush. They reported the matter to senior officials, who have launched a hunt against wildlife smugglers. — TNS

Bhadiyana village become kabaddi champions

Mussoorie, October 15
The annual sports and cultural fest that began yesterday with a traditional folk dance performance at Bhatoli village in Jaunpur block of Tehri Garhwal, 13 km from Mussoorie, saw more than 80 kabaddi teams participating in the tournament on the second day today.

In the final, the team from Bhadiyana village won defeating Bhediyan village convincingly. More than 10 volleyball matches and 20 kabaddi matches were held today. Various athletic events were also organised. The sports and cultural festival is being organised by the Bhatoli Sports and Culture Committee to promote constructive activities in the rural region and keep the youth away from vices such as liquor consumption. President of the committee Kunwar Singh Chauhan, secretary Virendar Panwar, Rajpal Singh, Kalian Singh, Jagat Chauhan, Satya Singh, Rajendar Nautiyal, Jabar Bhai and others were present. — OC

Football clinic begins
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 15
The third clinic of the Elite Football Circuit began at the Police Lines here today. Being organised by former Indian football team manager Eric Benny and former New Jersey player Yogesh Mauriya, the camp is held on weekends.

The programme began with a clinic for under 12 boys on October 1 and 2. Seventytwo boys participated in the under 12 clinic. It was followed by another clinic on October 8 and 9 for under 14 boys in which a record 107 participants took part. Ninety boys participated in the under 16 camp today. They were from areas like Bhanyawala, Doiwala, Anarwala, Thakurpur.

Coaches from Delhi are providing coaching to the local footballers free of cost. This clinic will conclude on October 22.

Speaking about the camp, Yogesh Mauriya said: “We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to the camp. Training in skills like ball control, juggling, passing, dribbling and heading was given to the participants.

Shivaji section wins RIMC athletics contest

Dehradun, October 15
Shivaji section won the annual athletics competition of the Rashtriya Indian Military College RIMC by standing first in the overall rankings. The result of the events are as follows.

100m final: 1st- Cadet Lulu, 2nd- Cadet Pratik and 3rd- Cadet Tomthin; 4X100m relay: 1st- Shivaji section, 2nd- Ranjit section, 3rd- Pratap section; 200m final: 1st- Cadet Akshat, 2nd- Cadet Sohail and 3rd- Cadet Vivek; 4X100m relay: 1st- Shivaji section, 2nd- Ranjit section and 3rd- Pratap section; javelin throw: 1st- Cadet Raushan, 2nd- Cadet Aman and 3rd- Cadet Ramkrishna; high hump: 1st- Cadet mayank, 2nd- Cadet Shivam and 3rd- Cadet Aditya; 110m hurdle: 1st- Cadet Saurabh, 2nd- Cadet Raushan and 3rd- Cadet Ravi; 400m final : 1st- Cadet Kobing, 2nd- Cadet Chandrakant and 3rd- Cadet Rahul; 3000m final: 1st- Cadet Lalit, 2nd- Cadet Abhishek and 3rd- Cadet Vijay; 100m final: 1st- Cadet Amrit, 2nd- Cadet Sonu and 3rd- Cadet Raushan; 4X400m relay: 1st- Pratap section, 2nd- Shivaji section and 3rd- Ranjit section.

The overall standings are as follows.

The Shivaji section first with 212 points, the Pratap section second with 208 points, the Ranjit section third with 171 points and the Chandragupta section fourth with 145 points.

The chief guest for the event was Major-Gen Tejwant Singh Gill, Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor, Indian Military Academy. He was very impressed with the excellent performance of the cadets.

Col Pankaj K Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC, Brig CS Thapa, Col Dilip Prasad, Lt-Col A Tiwary, Wg Cdr SK Thapliyal, LN Thakur, RC Chaturvedi and the parents of the cadets were also present.

The coordinators of the event were Birjesh Chauhan and UP Dalvi. — TNS