Dehradun, December 6
To end corruption in pension disbursement, where even dead beneficiaries’ and politicians’ kin are known to have polished off the entitlements meant for the poor and the infirm, the Social Welfare Department now plans to computerise pension disbursement in the state.

Coming as it is 11 years after the creation of the state, when even neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have made the pension data online, the government’s belated efforts are expected to weed out fake pensioners. The initiative is expected to benefit senior citizens, widows and handicapped persons.

“The Social Welfare Department along, with the National Informatics Center (NIC), is already creating a data base of beneficiaries. We have verified the names of beneficiaries hailing from six districts of the state. The verification has been done in the districts of Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Almora, Champawat and Tehri,” said Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, S.Raju.

By making data of beneficiaries online, the department hopes to weed out the fake beneficiaries and also ensure regular verification. There area a total of 4.5 lakh pensioners in the state - 3.5 lakh old-age ones and around 75,000 widows. The Social Welfare Department disburses pensions once in three months.

However, the government’s efforts to disburse pensions solely through the banks may not materialise due to the poor coverage of banks in remote ares of Uttarakhand. Some months back the government had tried to disburse pensions through the banks in Dehradun district but it was met with opposition as most of the beneficiaries did want to go through the process of opening up of bank accounts that they found too tedious.

“Though the issuance of pension cheques through banks could further make the disbursement of pension foolproof, the coverage of banks is still poor in the remote areas of the state. So we would disburse the pension through banks, post offices and money orders,” said Principal Secretary Social Welfare S. Raju. 

Dehradun, December 6
The 10th day of the Islamic month of Moharram observed to remember the killing of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, at Karbala, 1400 years ago, went off peacefully in the city today. The police was deployed heavily as the day also coincided with the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

Little girls and women dressed in black sang tearfully, remembering the sacrifices of Imam Hussain in a procession, which was headed by people carrying black flags. A horse symbolising the one owned by Imam Hussain was also a part of the procession. The day is also known as “Yaum-e-Ashura,” day of enlightenment, in the Islamic calender.

Many young boys bled themselves with heavy beating with blades and chains and swords to mourn the day. The procession began at Imambada on East Canal road and passed through the customary route of Survey Chowk, Tibeti Market, Darshan Lal Chowk, Tehsil Chowk and finally culminated at Imambada, Naya Nagar, on Gandhi Road.

The procession was organised by Anjuman Moinul Mominin.

People of the Muslim community will continue the mourning till the 40th day from today onwards and shun participation in any ceremony. They do not make any new purchases. Women, too, dress up simple without ornaments.

Haridwar: In remembrance of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and 72 other martyrs who laid their lives in the battle of Karbala, Moharram processions were carried out in Jawalapur town of Haridwar.

Decorated “tazias” accompanied by the mournful processions were major attractions.

The procession concluded with the burying of tazias.

The procession, which carried out till late in the evening, commenced from Mohalla Maidaniyan, Kaithwada, Teliyan, Kotarwan, Kassaban and Fakeero vali gali.

Thousand of people from the nearby regions thronged these areas from where the procession was carried out, lining up on both sides of the roads and rooftops of the adjacent buildings.

Holding flags and dressed in black outfits, the participants cried as they beat up their chests in the ceremonial “maatam” mourning. In households, religious offerings (majalis) were carried out, with reading of holy Kuran and prayers at mosques were performed. The Muslims also did charity works on the day, which has specific significance in the Islamic calendar.“This is a day of mourning for our community people and by tazia procession we show our grievance, pain and try to feel the pain felt by the martyrs of Karbala,” said Tanveer Ali, a Jwalapur resident. 

Dehradun, December 6
Two of the suspects who shot at Usha Verma, a woman in her mid-forties in a property-related case at Gobindgarh last month, were arrested here today. Usha was was shot at outside her home while she was driving her car on November 11.

The special operations group (SOG) of the Dehradun police from Khatauli, Uttar Pardesh, arrested Mausam Sharma and Sonu Upadhyaya for their alleged involvement in the shooting incident.

Sanjay Chaudhary, a son of the owner of a paramedical educational institute, who lives next door to Usha’s house, has also been arrested for allegedly hiring both the suspects to shoot her.

Sanjay wanted to buy half a bigha from Usha to expand his paramedical college. After he could not settle the matter with her with pleadings and threats, he hired Mausam, student of his own paramedical college, who has criminal background, to sort out the matter. Fortunately, Usha, who lives with her father, was shot in the shoulder and recuperated after a long treatment.

The section 201 under which Sanjay has been booked for blocking the information and destroying evidence showed that the police is trying to protect this high-profile accused. Mausam has alleged that when Usha declined Sanjay’s offer of Rs 55 lakh for the half a bigha, for which she had demanded Rs 1 crore, Sanjay offered him Rs 5 lakh to sort out the matter whichever way he wanted.

Though Mausam has said he shot at the woman only to injure her, the police has booked him for attempt to murder.

In July, Mausam reached her house with a revolver and asked her to forsake her claim on the land. Earlier, a case against Mausam was registered at the Doiwala police station for shooting SP Singh, director of Sardar Bhagwan Singh Institute of Bio-medical Sciences, Balawala, in 2007. Singh is Sanjay’s business rival.

Dehradun, December 6
His paintings depict the bitter-sweet reality of life in the Uttarakhand hills. A disciple of the late Hridaya Narayan Mishra, an eminent painter, Mukesh Pahari’s paintings were on display today at the Laxmi Devi Junior High School.

Using the medium of water colours and oil, Mukesh has beautifully juxtaposed the harsh life led by the women folk with the never-say-die attitude of the hill folk that is often reflected in their dances and culture. “You will find the tools used to cut twigs such as ‘kudali’ and ‘kandi’ in the hands of women. I have used these tools as symbols of empowerment and oppression,” said Pahari. Along with distress of the women folk, the other dominant theme that can be found in his paintings is that of migration. In all 14 paintings were on display.

“Migration is good, if people come back to their villagers but I have noticed people who leave the villages do not come back. They adopt different cultures and tradition,” said Pahari who hails from Rudraprayag.

He learnt art from DAV PG College and spent several years under the apprenticeship of painter Hridyanarayan Mishra. A practitioner of modern art, Pahari says contemporary art in small towns is yet to make its presence felt.

This is his fourth exhibition in the city and in January next year, he would be putting up another exhibition at the Raj Bhavan.

Along with teaching art at Luxmi Devi School, Pahari is attached with Doon Immortal Publication as Art Director.

Pahari has already found patrons who have appreciated his art and at least 10 paintings were picked up by the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust. 

Mussoorie, December 6
Bal Vikas Board vice-chairperson Neelam Sehgal attacking sitting Congress MLA Jot Singh Gunsola alleged that he was misusing the MLA local area development (LAD) fund by spending it on the construction of the same road thrice with an intention to benefit his near and dear ones.

Neelam Sehgal, speaking to mediapersons on her visit to the town, today alleged that Gunsola had misused the fund by recommending the construction of the same road near the Hathipaon area three times with an objective to benefit the near and dear ones.

She said the Election Commission should take punitive action against the sitting Congress MLA from Mussoorie. This is the first time such allegations have been levelled against Gunsola, who has served the constituency for continuous two terms.

Neelam Sehgal highlighting her achievements during her tenure as vice-chairperson of the Bal Vikas Board, said several health camps to address the problem of malnutrition among the poor were held in 2008 where nutritious supplements and milk powder were distributed free of cost.

She also said other achievement was safeguarding interests of the children through proper implementation of child rights in all government departments of the state.

When questioned on the highhandedness by English medium schools in forcing the parents to dole out money apart from fee in the pretext of educational tours, fete etc, she said no school had the right to force parents to send their wards for the educational tour and if such act was being committed in the town, she would enquire about the matter and write a strong letter to department concerned. 

Dehradun, December 6
Shah Cricket Academy beat New Indian Star Club by 122 runs in the Twenty20 Beehive Challengers Cricket Tournament played on the Matawala Bagh ground here today.

After winning the toss, Shah Cricket Academy elected to bat first.

The opening pair of Pritam and Dhananjay recorded the highest opening partnership of the tournament. Pritamscored 130 that included 6 sixes and 14 boundaries while Dhananjay scored 48 runs as their team scored a total of 178 runs. Nishant was the only bowler to claim a single wicket.

In reply, New Indian Star Club failed to put a decent fight and were all out at a total of 77 runs losing the match by 122 runs.

Manish took five wickets while Vipul claimed four wickets for the winners.

Dehradun, December 6
The activists of the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) and the students of Welham Girls’ School are constructing a cowshed at Dokwala village in the Shuklapur area of Dehradun.

The five-day construction programme is being held in collaboration with the villagers with HESCO providing guidance to them about various construction techniques. The organisation has been working with Welham Girls’ School towards conducting welfare programmes in rural areas for the past many years. Such programmes include construction of cowsheds, lavatories and sanitation programmes.

The students were also provided with know-how about various models of rural development kept at HESCO Vigyan Gram at Shuklapur. Addressing the students, the HESCO founder president, Dr Anil Prakash Joshi, stressed active participation of Dehradun schools in such community welfare programmes. He said livelihood opportunities could be created for villagers by putting locally available resources to use.Environmentalist Sundarlal Bahuguna, who was also present on the occasion, said the students must work for the development of the rural areas of the country. He said such programmes brought the public school students closer to rural life.

Dehradun, December 6
The Mool Niwasi Samaj Party took out a rally today from Budha Park to the office the of Dehradun District Magistrate along with residents of slum colonies to submit a memorandum regarding the housing arrangement for the slum dwellers.

President of the party Johri Lal Suman slammed the Dehradun MunicipalCorporation for carrying out an anti-encroachment campaign in Brahmawala Khala a few days ago with prejudice where it left the house with the BJP flag fluttering over it, leaving the other 44 houses in the slum untouched. He said, “All the residents in the area have voter cards but no ration cards. They want to have a decent living, shelter, education and health facilities, which both Congress and BJP did not provide.”He said some of the leaders from both the parties were allegedly involved in extracting big sum from the slum dwellers in exchange of giving land in the area to built their houses.

“The state government, led by Chief Minister ND Tiwari, had announced a scheme to build housing colony for slum dwellers under a project of Rs 700 out of which Rs 326 was returned in 2006. The Municipal Corporation too had been sleeping through this matter only to wake up at the time of elections. Had they been sincere, the houses for the people would have been readied by now,” he said. 

Dehradun, December 6
ONGC defeated IndianOil Corporation Limited (IOCL) in the 31st Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) Tennis Tournament being hosted by ONGC here today.

ONGC mens’ team defeated IOCL 2-0 to list the title here today. Earlier in the semi-finals, IOCL defeated Oil India Limited (OIL) ( A) 2-0 and ONGC beat OIL ( B) 2-0 to enter the finals.In the veteran category, semi-finals, ONGC beat BPCL 2-1 and IOCL beat OIL 2-1 to enter the finals.

In the preliminary rounds, P Mohila (GAIL) beat S. Pegu (OIL) 8-5, D. Bora ( OIL) beat N. Chandra Sekhar (BPCL) 8-0, SV Abhishek (IOCL) beat to P Jain (GAIL) 8-0, A Dutta (OIL) beat to P Pancholi (GAIL) 8-1, P. Banghru (OIL) beat to RK Ranjan (EIL) 8-2, CS Mohanty (OIL) beat to M.Saikia (OIL) 8-4, Hakim Ali (OIL) beat ML Kute ( BPCL) 8-3 and Mantu Kumar ( GAIL) beat R.K.Singh (EIL) 8-6. — TNS

Dehradun, December 6
A delegation of Clement Town Cantonment Board (Dehradun) led by vice-chairman Bhupinder Singh Kandari yesterday submitted a memorandum to Secretary to the Chief Minister Surender Singh Rawat, demanding implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) programmes in the civil area of the cantonment board.

Kandari said that the Clement Town area with a population of 30,000 has been bereft of development as the programmes under the JNNURM and ADB were not being implemented in the civil area falling under the cantonment board.

“After the Peyjal Nigam had given an undertaking for constructing a tubewell in the area, land was provided but to this day the tubewell has not been constructed,” he said.

He urged the Secretary to pass order to the Peyjal Nigam for expediting the construction of the tubewell.

Kandari told the Secretary that the Union Urban Development Department would be contributing 50 per cent on the project for which sanction order was already passed on April 10 last year.

The tubewell would be able to provide drinking water to the civil areas of Turner Road, society area and Morowala.

Dehradun, December 6
Milan Azad, music teacher at Raphael Home here, who has cut his first video album, “Manjuli”, has come a long way. Mayor Vinod Chamoli today released the album and appreciated the whole package, saying that it represents the culture of the state in good light.

The eight songs of the album are a mélange of various genres, be it fast-paced numbers to suit the taste of youngsters, folk songs for elders and teasing ones ideal for marriage ceremonies. The video in the album showcases the scintillating beauty of locales such as Auli, Gopeshwar, Chamoli, Pauri and Mussoorie.

Inspiration to move ahead in the music world came to Azad when he got a thundering applause at the competitions held by the Garhwal Sabha from time to time. He said he was egged on to attempt a music video album by many in the audience at a music programme held at Survey Hall on November 15. “I always write songs myself which are immensely liked by the audience. It encouraged me to pen the lyrics of all the eight songs in the album as well”. The title, “Manjuli”, a feminine name, reminded him of a beautiful hill girl, he said. Azad also has one music album, “Hema Mayali”, to his credit.

He has appealed to the state government to financially support new singers.

Poonam Mamgai, who is also the producer of the album, and Meena Rana have sung duets in the album. Kishan Mahipal, who has been conferred the award for Best Director by the Uttarakhand Film Association, has made the videos of the album.