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Shimla gets geo-informatics centre; to boost e-governance
Anganwari workers hold demonstration
Training complex opened at forest institute
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BJP committee to look into reasons for Nalagarh defeat
Parwanoo Asst Commissioner may get executive powers
‘Poll Code Violation’ in Renuka
State Cong chief injured in mishap
BJP to file FIR against election observer
Embezzlement in co-op society cost BJP dear
Woman commits suicide
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Shimla gets geo-informatics centre; to boost e-governance
Shimla, December 5 Set up with technical assistance from the Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG), Gujarat, the centre will not only provide a multipurpose data base, which can be accessed by user agencies according to their needs, but will also enable various departments to offer a host of citizen-centric services. “The system has been developed taking into account the ground realities of the hill state by integrating the geographical information system (GIS), the global positioning system (GPS), the management information system (MIS), remote sensing, satellite imageries, mobile phones and allied technologies. As various departments deal with spatially distributed data and populace, map-based e-governance is the most effective technology solution for capturing, storing, collating, integrating, analysing, displaying and visualising data about the earth,” explained TP Singh, Director, BISAG, during a presentation on the project. The integration of the “SMS gateway” will facilitate the delivery of various public services through mobile phones. For instance, consumers can be informed through an SMS about the exact date on which ration will be available, sparing them repeated visits to fair price shops. Similarly, controlling officers can ascertain the presence of teachers and students in a school on any given day and time. It will be possible to ascertain whether a forest officer actually visited a forest area as provision has been made for uploading of photograph from the field using the GPS-enabled mobile phone. The geo-informatics technology will be of immense help in planning, right down to the village level as all data about any place can be accessed at the click of the mouse. Projects, including construction of dams, can be planned sitting before the computer as it will be possible to know the extent of submergence for a structure of a particular height using three-dimensional simulation. The government has selected 14 departments for the purpose in the first phase of which nine have been covered and the target is to extend the system to 15 departments by March 31 next year. Policy framework needed: Dhumal
Chief Minister PK Dhumal has underlined the need for developing a policy framework for making use of mobile phone-based geo-informatics applications to boost e-governance. Inaugurating the Aryabhatta Geo-Informatics and Space Application Centre (AGiSAC) here today, he said mobile phones could be used with great efficiency for updating information and also dissemination of information among the target groups with the availability of advanced softwares. However, a policy framework was required to facilitate the use of the mobile devices on a large scale for the purpose. He said the centre would cater to studies relating to the change in climate and formulation of polices to mitigate the impact of the same in a scientific manner and to take benefit of geo-informatics application in decentralised planning and decision making. The objective of the AGiSAC was to facilitate decentralised planning for the state, monitor and evaluate government schemes and programmes, develop integrated natural resources data management system, provide services and consultancy based on specific user needs. Different departments needed to understand the utility of geo-informatics and adopt the same for decision making. The government was implementing a sustainable development policy so that environment was also protected while carrying developmental activities. Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu detailed the initiatives taken towards digitisation of revenue records to deliver online services. Additional Chief Secretary, Gujarat, Ravi Saxena, appreciated the initiatives of the state government in creation of a robust information technology system. He said that AGiSAC would be the service provider and help various departments in providing web-based services using geo-informatics tools. How it will help
* Consumers can be informed through an SMS about the exact date on which ration will be available, sparing them repeated visits to fair price shops *
Controlling officers can ascertain the presence of teachers and students in a school on any given day and time *
It will be possible to ascertain whether a forest officer actually visited a forest area as provision has been made for uploading of photograph from the field using the GPS-enabled mobile phone *
The geo-informatics
technology will be of immense help in planning |
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Anganwari workers hold demonstration
Shimla, December 5
The workers, who had turned up in large numbers from every nook and corner of the state, marched towards the Secretariat and blocked traffic for almost three hours, as they sat on the road raising anti-government slogans. They threatened that in case the government did not accede to their demands, they would be compelled to intensify their agitation. “The government is assigning us all sorts of duties under various schemes but when it comes to our salary and perks, we are being paid a pittance,” said Indira Thakur of the State Anganwari Workers Union. Even after serving for 25 years in child development schemes, anganwari workers did not get any pension or other service benefits. She demanded that the anganwari workers and helpers should get Rs 1,500 and Rs 700, respectively, as was the case in Haryana and Uttarakhand. “According to the directives of the Centre, a welfare fund must be created in which the government, too, must make its contribution. She said anganwari workers must be granted the status of government employees and accordingly all service benefits must be given to them. She said during the four-year BJP rule, the remuneration of anganwari workers had not been enhanced even once, which had compelled them to resort to such action. Several leaders, including state president of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), Jagat Ram, addressed the rally. He also warned that in case the government did not accept the demands of the anganwari workers, they would intensify their agitation all over the state.
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Training complex opened at forest institute
Shimla, December 5 He said the complex would be equipped with a modern audio-visual system, computers, LCD projector and other related modern gadgets for the convenience of researchers. He said the council had been undertaking holistic development of forestry research through need-based planning, promoting, conducting and coordinating research, education and extension, covering all aspects of forestry in India. The emerging issues in the sector, including global concerns such as climate change, conservation of biological diversity, combating desertification and sustainable management and development of resources were also being addressed. He stated that the HFRI has been conducting training programmes for dissemination of technologies developed in the field of forestry to various end users in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Bahuguna also visited Chail forests, which were infected by the dreaded root-rot fungus, phytophthora cinnamomii, a few years ago. He also visited the field research station of the HFRI at Shillaru.
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BJP committee to look into reasons for Nalagarh defeat
Shimla, December 5 The defeat of BJP candidate Gurnam Kaur, seeking sympathy votes in the name of her husband, HN Saini, in Nalagarh has also started a blame game within the party. The rival factions headed by Dhumal and Shanta are trying to fix the responsibility for the defeat on each other obliquely. “We will soon constitute a high-level committee to look into the reasons for the defeat in Nalagarh which was our stronghold,” said state BJP chief Khimi Ram. He added that the team comprising senior leaders would submit its report within a month so that the party could improve on its shortcomings before the Assembly elections, due next year. He said the Chief Minister, at his own level, was also trying to ascertain as to what went wrong when an impression had been created that there was a major sympathy wave in favour of Gurnam Kaur. State BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt, too, admitted that it was probably the overconfidence among the BJP cadres which proved costly in the long run. “The propaganda by party workers that there was a major sympathy wave in favour of Gurnam Kaur resulted in the party’s defeat,” he admitted. While the Shanta camp is attributing a low-pitched campaign in sharp contrast to the aggressive electioneering in Renuka as one of the reasons for the defeat of Saini’s widow, Dhumal loyalists are quick to point out that Shanta Kumar, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP national vice-president, had himself campaigned in the segment represented by one his most trusted lieutenants, Saini. The Dhumal loyalists say that the campaign was being looked after by Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta and two of Shanta’s loyalists, Kishan Kapoor and Ramsh Dhawala, both ministers, in Nalagarh and the Chief Minister also campaigned extensively. They also point to the fact that Shanta Kumar did not spare even a day for Renuka and concentrated only on Nalagarh, which could also be viewed as a discriminatory approach towards the Renuka segment. However, with local BJP leaders in Nalagarh pointing fingers and accusing an IAS officer, JS Rana, brother of Congress candidate Lakhwinder Rana and who is close to the Chief Minister, of pressuring voters and seeking help of industrialists to help the Congress, the defeat could once again lead to bickering within the party.
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Parwanoo Asst Commissioner may get executive powers
Solan, December 5 The move will, besides facilitating the industry by providing an executive magistrate at their doorstep, reduce the hassle of going to Solan for completing various works. The district administration had sent a proposal in this regard to the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) after a request was made by the local industry. Since the AC was already operating at Parwanoo, the proposal has recommended grant of executive powers to him to deal with routine matters like disputes included payment of wages and revenue matters by designating him as the appellate authority for the same. The district administration, however, while ruling out the need to open another SDM office at Parwanoo has termed it as “unviable”. The proposal has recommended that the AC office could be upgraded as a Grade C SDM office with some executive powers under Section 133 of the CrPC, relief cases, revenue appeals and collector sub-division among others. The move will facilitate the industry, which had been demanding the opening of a SDM office at Parwanoo. Since little financial implication will be involved as only limited staff would be created after upgrading the AC Office, the district administration has recommended the case to the FC (Revenue). Since the Parwanoo industrial area was among the oldest in the state, there has been a long-pending demand of proving need-based facilities to investors by opening a SDM office here. The proposal, if accepted, will help the industry in various ways. |
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‘Poll Code Violation’ in Renuka Tribune News Service
Shimla, December 5 Addressing a press conference here, he said Chief Minister PK Dhumal had made the byelection a prestige issue and had deployed six ministers and 17 MLAs who operated at the polling booth level. Money, liquor and state machinery were used freely and there was videographic evidence of all this but the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police, who were under “pressure”, did not take any action. Despite all the evidence provided by Congress workers, no FIR was registered. The Congress would consult legal experts to chalk out the course of action post-election so that the those who made a mockery of the code of conduct were brought to book. If required, an election petition would be filed to seek quashing of the election won by “foul means”. The actions of the BJP apart, he would also constitute a fact-finding committee to ascertain if there were any lapses on the part of the party’s management of the elections and the reasons for the unexpected debacle. He said similar tactics were tried by the BJP in Nalagarh too, but those involved in the campaign took all precautions to defeat the nefarious designs of the BJP. Local workers were asked to stay back in their villages and keep a strict vigil on the activities of BJP leaders and they also organised “nakas” to pre-empt plans to distribute liquor and money among the electorate. The voters of Nalagarh were fed up with the “corruption” by the BJP, land scams and opening of private educational institutions and they resisted all efforts to purchase their votes. The countdown for BJP’s ouster from power had begun and the Nalagarh result was a precursor. The party would lose all seats in Solan district which had been the worse victim of corruption and shady land deals.
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State Cong chief injured in mishap Shimla, December 5 He was reportedly driving the vehicle himself when the mishap took place near Totu on the outskirts of the town. He was returning to his home in the Vidhan Sabha complex. Doctors attending on him said he had received injuries on the head and face. However, his condition was stable. The doctors were closely monitoring him and all tests, including CT scan, were being done to ascertain the extent of the injuries.
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BJP to file FIR against election observer
Shimla, December 5 State BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said today that the party was getting cases legally examined so that action could be taken against the wrong move of the observer of entering the BJP office. “It is for the first time in the political history of the country that an observer entered the party office under pressure of Congress workers and seized money that had been kept for poll expenditure,” said Dutt. He said legal experts were examining the matter and at the same time a case of trespassing would be registered against the observer soon. “We have already sent complaints against the action of the observer to the Election Commission of India, the Chief Electoral Officer and the District Returning Officer and we are keen on pursuing the matter further,” he said. Dutt also lashed out at the Congress for terming the BJP victory in Renuka as misuse of power by wooing voters with money and liquor. “The Congress should be more graceful in accepting the defeat,” he said.
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Embezzlement in co-op society cost BJP dear
Solan, December 5 This was evident from the fact that the Opposition Congress focused its campaign on these two issues in order to win the favour of voters. Since the former MLA HN Saini had raised a banner of revolt against the state government for having ignored the constituency on the developmental front, the Congress used this issue to its hilt. Though conversely in its campaign BJP nominee Gurnam Kaur had been professing that Saini had brought about a revolution in the Changer area by boring scores of tubewells, the Congress was quick enough to credit them to their account. The Congress even cited the assertions made by Saini in his last Vidhan Sabha session about lack of development before the electorate, thus managing to prove that Nalagarh had remained ignored during the BJP regime. Political observers opined that the multi-crore Rajpura Co-operative Society embezzlement, which incidentally falls in the home turf of Gurnam Kaur, where as many as 2,500 members were affected due to misappropriation of funds, had also emerged as a crucial poll issue in the Changer area. Since the society had failed to return the maturity amount of fixed deposits of these members the people were agitated over the issue. Though a case had also been registered in this regard, adverse public opinion was generated among the public thus contributing to the party’s defeat. Party sources said the potholed Nalagarh-Swarghat road also was a cause of animosity among the people. Since these issues touched the common man in Nalagarh, the discontented masses chose to give Congress nominee Lakhwinder Rana a chance.
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Woman commits suicide
Kangra, December 5 The woman was allegedly tortured for dowry, the police said. The SPDO said a case was registered against her husband, mother-in-law Subhashna Devi and father-in-law Karam Chand.— OC |
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Shimla, December 5
