Most primary students can’t even read well: Report
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 17
Even after five years of primary education, a large percentage of schoolchildren have not mastered the elementary mathematical and reading skills, points out the 2011 Annual Status Education Survey report (ASER) on primary education released today at Doon University.

“The reading skill among students in standard I-IV/V has shown a constant decline at 12.4 per cent between 2007-2010. Only 58 per cent of students (surveyed) of standard V could read the text meant for class II students. The students end up without reading skill even after the completion of primary education,” said Ranjani Prasad of the ASER team.

A similar decline was witnessed in arithmetic skill and the decline was more than the reading level when children of class V were asked to do simple division. According to the survey, the decline was at 17 per cent when the data of 2010 (51.1 per cent) was compared with 2011 (at 33.3 per cent). This proportion decreases further to 31 per cent for standard V children studying in government schools.

Expressing concern at the erosion of strength in basic skill at the primary level, Prof Girijesh Pant, VC of Doon University, said, “Mathematics is our strength and focus on teachers, who could instill interest in mathematics and reading, will be ideal,” he said.

Besides the pupil teacher ratio in 83 surveyed primary schools was not according to norms laid down in the Right to Education Act (RTE).

“The schools would have to address the problem in the next five years and ensure that two teachers are entrusted with the task of teaching 60 students,” said the report.

However, the enrolment rate continues to be high in Uttarakhand, around 99 percent of students in the age group of 6-14 years go to school and the percentage of enrolled children (standard I-IV/V) in 2011 stands at 82.5 per cent which is higher than the national average (it is 70.9 per cent for standard I-IV/V. However, in Himachal Pradesh it is 90.9 per cent in 2011.

The percentage of enrolled children (standard 1-1V/V) in 2007 was 85.6 per cent, in 2009- 84.3 per cent and in 2010- 89.5 per cent. Significantly, the proportion of girls (age 11-14) not attending schools has increased from 3.4 per cent in 2006 to 4.1 per cent in 2007, to 2.7 per cent in 2008 to 3 per cent in 2009 to 4 per cent in 2010 to 1.2 per cent in 2011. The drop out rate is decreasing in schools. It is 1 per cent in 2011.

Interestingly, according to the ASER survey in 2010 (standard 1-1V) 93.6 per cent schools did not have computers, while it was 94.2 per cent in 2011.

The survey in Uttarakhand (rural) covered 346 villages, 6,966 families, 297 schools covering 13,223 children to preset the State Primary Education report. It covered all districts except Champawat in Kumaon division.

Nainital MC staff trained on PPP mode for development
Stress laid on importance of public interest
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 17
Functionaries of the Nainital Municipal Council were trained on the various aspects of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for carrying out development in their area of jurisdiction. The training in this regard was given by a Delhi-based organisation, Infrastructure Development and Finance Company (IDFC), which has been chosen by the union Urban Development Ministry to carry out training on various aspects of governance in towns and cities that are covered under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

“Although we have successfully carried out initiatives under the PPP mode, there is still a lot to be learnt so that the area that can be brought under the PPP style of functioning can be expanded,” said Mukesh Joshi, who is the Chairman of the Nainital Municipal Council. He pointed towards the success of Operation Butterfly, an initiative in solid waste management and the efforts made at sprucing up the Mall Road of the town.

Talking to The Tribune, vice-president of IDFC Nilesh Rajadhyaksha, pointed out: “The emphasis of the programme has been to make the fundamentals clear with regard to development of projects and

choosing the right private partners under the PPP mode. It has to be kept in mind that the public interest is paramount and has to be protected.”

Responding to a query regarding the PPP initiatives being taken in Uttarakhand, he pointed out that the state machinery has shown a progressive attitude towards the PPP mode and the cell constituted for the purpose has been very active. “It is nice to see even the political representatives of local bodies participating in such

workshops. Otherwise, it is only the engineering staff that attends such programmes and the impression that goes out is that the sessions are dull and technical,” said Rajadhyaksha.

With regard to the shortcomings, he pointed out that there are awareness-related issues. He said that the functionaries need to understand how projects are to be structured in the interest of the people.

When asked about the areas where PPP mode can be adopted in Nainital, it was pointed out that tourism is the prime sector for adopting this kind of approach. “It is an area where private parties would be keen to

participate. In addition to this the multiplier effects on the hospitality sector as a whole can be seen in a short while itself,” said Rajadhyaksha, while saying that a concerted effort is required in this direction.

Poll, marriages push up liquor sale in Nainital
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 17
The poll season saw Nainital district guzzling liquor to the tune of almost Rs 10 crore. With the poll machinery having successfully managed to check the illegal flow of liquor from the neighbouring states during the poll campaign, the liquor vends managed to do brisk business despite January being a month when a large part of the population in Nainital moves out to other places on account of severe cold. In addition to this, there is hardly any tourist-related activity during this month. This, too, brings down the liquor sale.

But this time around, it was the poll season and a large number of weddings taking place that added to the spurt in sales. In addition to this, the frequent snowfall kept bringing tourists to the Lake City. This has resulted in the government earning a higher amount as revenue.

In December, the district recorded liquor sales to the tune of Rs 92.52 crores as compared to Rs 91.32 crores recorded in December 2010.

This time, the election machinery had kept a strict vigil on the flow of liquor in the wake of the Assembly polls.

The employees of the Excise and Prohibition Department were kept busy to tabulate the sale of liquor on daily basis.

This was helping the election machinery analyse how much increase in the sale was being registered.

The department also kept a watch on those purchasing liquor in bulk. With the marriage season coinciding with the poll campaign, it was to be clearly demarcated whether the liquor is being purchased in bulk to serve the wedding guests or someone else.

It is a well-known fact that in the past elections, some of the candidates resorted to luring the voters with the distribution of free liquor. It has been seen in the past that liquor plays a big role even in the smallest of the elections that take place.

It was to curb this menace that the Election Commission had adopted stringent measures.

Research on wild fruits on agenda: ICFRE
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 17
Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dr VK Bahuguna has reaffirmed the council’s pledge to work for people-centric researches.

Addressing mediapersons in Dehradun today, Bahuguna referred to the importance of people-centric researches. He said the ICFRE had been working in direction of people-centric research leading to livelihood opportunities and economic upliftment of farmers and forest-dependent communities living in 1,70 000 forest fringe villages, especially belonging to the tribal and rural poor.

He said in a major shift in its policy, the council had also moved forward to give new direction to its research agenda. “In order to achieve the future goals, the focus will be on improving the productivity of natural forest and plantations through tree improvement programmes and genetic engineering”, he said.

Special programme-based research will be carried out to meet the challenge of climate change and conservation of biological diversity.

He disclosed that the research policy committee had laid down clear cut goals for the council and its scientists by adopting programme mode research with credible delivery system. Under the thrust area on “Managing forest and forest products for livelihood support and economic growth,” importance is being given to agroforestry, bamboo processing, non-timber forest resource development and its processing for value addition.

Research on wild fruits and important trees for livelihood sustainability such as seabuckthorn, chironjee, kusum, mahua and the miracle drug from ganoderma mushroom (medicinally important mushroom) will be of special focus. Bahuguna said the ganoderma mushroom was useful for more than 20 aliments such as nervous disorder, kidney disorder, HIV and cancer. The ICFRE under guidance of its scientist NSK Harsh has developed an eco-friendly cultivation protocol for ganoderma mushroom successfully.

Bahuguna laid an emphasis on importance of tree crop productivity. He said the tree crop productivity and its quality improvement had been felt for meeting the demand of industry and common man. In an effort to develop tree crops, important steps had been taken. Recently clones of casurina, shishan, eucalyptus and poplar have been developed and released by the ICFRE having high productivity which will increase the productivity in the farm forestry sector to a great extent. Sandeep Tripathi, Deputy Director General, research, was also present at the press conference.

Boulder that damaged house to be broken before rains
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 17
A big boulder that damaged a house and two jeeps on Wednesday at Himatar village will be broken before the rains as the district administration has sensed the damage it could have done had the people lived in the damaged houses.

The damage to the property and cultivable land by that rock has posed a challenge before the disaster management department of the district as the department focused on landslides only during the rains.

“This is the second such landslide in the district after Chautuldhar in Dharchula subdivision in 2009,” said RS Rana, district disaster management officer.

“A study done by a panel of geologists from Japan has studied the solid state movement of rock masses and did not deny such movement in solid state rocks in the sensitive areas of the world,” said Rana.

“We have denied tectonic activity as there is no record of even slight tremor that time. It is due to uneven weather conditions,” said Rana.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate R Rajesh Kumar said the PWD had been ordered to break the stone as it might become fatal for 15 families of Pangoligar village situated below Himatar village.

“The houses of the families of Pangoligar are situated 1 km below from the spot where the huge boulder was lying,” said the DM.

The disaster mitigation unit of the district has identified two other places where boulders are situated on the crushed material and are prone to slide any time. “The Hill at Chautaldhar on the Kailash Mansarowar route and Timtia, Hararia zone on the Pithoragarh-Munsiyari road are such places which need to be kept on continuous observation as the rocks here have been situated,” said RS Rana, geologist in charge of the district disaster management unit.

“Though, technically, we are not in a position to assess such incidents, or identify such places in advance, we can only come to a conclusion by studying old landslide zones as these show the symptoms of re-activation,” said Rana.

Now, madrasas in Haridwar teach English
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 17
Though madrasas in Haridwar are still mainly imparting religious education, some of them are now even teaching English language to students.

One such madarasa, Darul Uloom Rashidiya, on Idgah Road in Jwalapur is imparting education of English language. More than 200 children are studying in this madarasa, and they are taught English and given coaching for appearing in competitive examinations.

Maulana Mohammed Aarif, head of the Rashidiya madrasa, says Muslims are now taking education seriously and have realised the importance of knowledge of English language.

The veteran cleric adds the students are taught Urdu and Hindi. Further, the madarasa management is also focusing on providing education to girls and it has launched an awareness drive among the members of the minority community in this regard.

The efforts of the madrasa have led to a large number of girls taking up education. The girls can be seen reading English books as well as reciting hymns from Koran and “Haddith” at the madrasa. Reshma, a Class VI student, can translate English chapters into Hindi and vice versa.

Moreover, the madrasa students are also working as maulvis in local mosques. Twenty-five teachers in this madrasa are teaching about 200 students, who live there in hostels and are provided free meals and books.

This all is being done without any government aid. The madarasa accounts of last year shows expenses of more than Rs 30 lakh. It also gets donations and financial help from social organisations. The madrasa is now contemplating providing computer education to the students though lack of funds is delaying the project.

Furkan Ali, a local resident, says even during the recent Assembly elections political leaders failed to take note of the condition of the madarasas in Muslim-dominated Jwalapur.

PNB to provide services in 72 villages
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 17
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has been entrusted with the task of providing banking services in 72 villages having a population of above 2,000 in the state. Business correspondents to help the villagers open bank accounts have been deputed in 60 villages and the target has been achieved in two villages.

Usha Anatha Subramanian, Executive Director, PNB, said this while addressing a press conference in the city today. She said under the PNB Vikas scheme, the bank had adopted Dhanpau and Gevla villages for their integrated development. Similarly, the Kisan Credit Card scheme too had been launched to help the farmers buy tools, fertilisers etc., without the hassle of going to the bank.

PNB had also launched the Kalyani Credit Card scheme for working women who would be able to have a credit up to Rs 50,000. The bank was also introducing e-banking and giving new offers to the youth, including the e-lobby scheme where the clients would be given cash or cheque deposit facility, ATM, Internet etc., under one roof of a self-service kiosk. The customers could handle these tasks themselves.

Usha said the overall business of the bank in the country crossed Rs 6,00,000 crore and Rs 14,500 crore in the state two months ago. It had 190 branches and 193 ATMs Uttarakhand. She added the bank had also joined hands with Met Life Insurance.

Frame plan to promote fishery, silk production, says Almora DM
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 17
District Magistrate (DM), Almora, DS Garbyal has called for the formulation of a concrete plan for the promotion of agriculture, fishery, animal husbandry and silk production in the district.

Garbyal, at a meeting held in Almora yesterday, directed all related departments to ensure that the funds allocated to them were used in a planned manner. He said the funds meant for training and field visits to farmers should be used properly and a plan in this regard be prepared by February 28.

The District Magistrate said at the meeting that at least two persons be trained to manufacture iron ploughs in every block so that farmers were able to procure the implement easily. He told the officials of the Agriculture Department to take the help of scientists at the Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (VPKAS) in this regard. He directed the Silk Department to start a “shahtoot” nursery at Hawalbagh to promote its production in the area.

Garbyal ordered that farmers interested in fish farming be given training. He told the officials of the agriculture and horticulture departments to work in coordination.

The Chief Agricultural Officer was directed to establish a network of officials of related departments and self help groups (SHGs) so that training programmes could be initiated and events like Kisan Melas were organised.

Garbyal ordered the departments concerned to use the allocated funds properly. He took stock of the programmes being run under the Technology Mission of the Horticulture Department and directed the officials concerned to encourage and train farmers to go in for walnut farming.

He also gave orders that areas be identified for garlic production so that farmers interested in garlic cultivation could be provided with seeds. VPKAS officials offered assistance in the initiative.

Woman electrocuted
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 17
One woman was killed while three others were injured when they were electrocuted after getting in touch with a hanging wire in Bageshwar district.

The incident took place at Chucher village. The women had gone out to procure fodder for their animals.

It is learnt that they were crossing a road which was being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Villagers say that a number of poles were lying in the area on account of the ongoing work. This has led to the wires hanging precariously.

It was in one such wire that the four women of Simti Tok of Majhakhet were entangled. While Geeta Devi, 23, died on the spot, Saraswati, Kalawati and Lachima Devi are fighting for life after being electrocuted. The information regarding the incident was given to the villagers by some schoolchildren who were passing by.

Literacy awareness campaign

Dehradun, February 17
State Resource Center (AE), Uttarakhand, and Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti will launch a literacy awareness campaign as part of the Kala Jatha that would be flagged off by President of India Pratibha Devi Singh Patil.

Boy traps leopard

Nainital, February 17
Dwarahat in Almora district became an arena of excitement on account of a boy who trapped a leopard in a room.

It is learnt that seeing a pet dog inside the room, a leopard ventured inside the house of Madan Pal. At the same time, Pal’s 15-year-old son Vishal went out to took for the dog and saw the leopard entering the room. Seeing this, he bolted the room from the outside and raised an alarm. — TNS