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Govt playing with future of students: Virbhadra
Warns detractors, says he’s no ‘aya Ram, gaya Ram’
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Legal Status to Poll Code Move ill-timed, reflects UPA’s bias: CM Shimla, February 23 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has termed the move to accord legal status to the model code of conduct for elections as ill-timed and said it reflected the partisan approach of the UPA government.
State gets tourism award
DIETs give qualification norm the go-by
Inculcate values among students, teachers told
Take action against non-performing banks, RBI urged
Preparations afoot for 7-day Nalwadi Mela
22,000 anganwari supervisors, helpers not paid salaries
Rs 22,800 cr for 12th Five-Year Plan
Burglars decamp with gold, silver jewellery
4-year-old dies in freak incident
90-year-old falls into rivulet, dies
Man killed in road accident
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Govt playing with future of students: Virbhadra
Kanaid (Mandi), February 23 Addressing a gathering of people, who gave him a rousing reception after he came in an open jeep here today, Virbhadra said the Dhumal government had made the future of students insecure as private universities, most of which were based in Solan, had no recognition from the UGC. He said during the successive Congress regimes, Himachal had achieved new heights of progress.“Dhumal has shut down over 100 schools and has not opened even a single college. However, he has opened commercial ventures in the name of private universities in the state,” he alleged. Virbhadra said development works were moving at a slow pace and the government was under a heavy debt. The government had even failed to pay allowances and pension to employees and no new avenues of employment had been opened for the state’s youth, he added. He said Himachal suffered a big loss as two steel processing units in Mandi and Paonta Sahib, with an investment of Rs 150 crore each, could not come up as the state government failed to provide land for the units. Inaugurating a multi-disciplinary training centre under the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises here, Virbhadra said it would benefit the youth of the region who could get certified training and jobs in the government and private sector and start small businesses at home. He said Godrej had already selected 20 students for jobs in the company. It would give them training in beekeeping, mobile repairs, fashion designing and other job-oriented trades. The minister said the small-scale industry was the backbone of the country and accounted for 40 per cent exports. “We provide subsidies and loans to village industries,” he added. Besides Drang MLA and state president Kaul Singh Thakur, Virbhadra was accompanied by Congress leaders Tek Chand Dogra (Nachan), Prakash Chaudhary (Balh MLA), Rangila Ram Rao (Sarkaghat), Anil Sharma (Mandi Sadar MLA), Mast Ram (Karsog), Sohan Lal and Harinder Sen (Sundarnagar), Chet Ram and Prof Vir Singh Chauhan (Seraj), Satya Parkash Thakur and Karan Singh (Kullu) and Surinder Kaku from Kangra. |
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Warns detractors, says he’s no ‘aya Ram, gaya Ram’
Mandi, February 23 At a public meeting after he dedicated a multi-disciplinary training centre under the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises at Kanaid in the Nachan segment, Virbhadra got a rousing reception not only from Congress leaders from the region, but also from people who turned out in large numbers and raised slogans in his support. Buoyed by the support he received all the way from Darlaghat, Slappar, Sundernagar, Balh and Nachan, Virbhadra appeared in a jovial mood as almost all Congress leaders, who addressed the meeting, declared him as the undisputed Congress mass leader in the state. He minced no words in warning his detractors that he was “no aya Ram, gaya Ram” as he had served the party for 50 long years and was one of the senior-most MPs in Parliament. “The Congress should not become a party of paratroopers and nominated members, and instead the office-bearers should come through the election process or a consensus as part of the party democracy,” he cautioned, pointing out that in the present set-up, even state Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur was a nominated president. He said his first priority was to win elections in the state. “The BJP is a shallow party as senior BJP leaders have deserted it and formed the HLP,” he said. Congress leaders from Mandi district, including Balh MLA Prakash Chaudhary, Tek Chand Dogra (Nachan), former Excise and Taxation Minister Rangila Ram Rao, Mast Ram (former Karsog MLA), Satya Parkash Thakur, former minister, Karan Singh, former minister and Surinder Kaku (Kangra) claimed that Virbhadra was set to become the Chief Minister for a sixth time as the BJP’s days were numbered. Mandi Sadar MLA Anil Sharma and Sohan Lal Thakur (Sundernagar), who have distanced themselves from Virbhadra, also addressed the gathering and attacked the BJP. However, Drang MLA and state Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur was conspicuous by his absence from the first big public meeting addressed by Virbhadra Singh. |
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Legal Status to Poll Code
Interacting with mediapersons here today, he said the UPA regime was happy as long as opposition parties were at the receiving end of the directives of the Election Commission of India, but when some of its own leaders faced the heat, it immediately came out with a plan to undermine its authority. He said what was most surprising was that the move had been initiated at a time when elections were under way. Even if any such step was to be considered, the government should have waited for the election process to be over. Its timing had also sent a wrong message. Moreover, the Election Commission of India was a constitutional authority and any move on it must be taken after consultation with political parties. He said of late it had become the tendency of the Centre to ignore the states and usurp their powers by taking decisions unilaterally like the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre. To a query, he said Kangra was not being ignored as alleged by the Congress, but was being given more attention as evident from the fact that there were four ministers from the district, while during the Congress regime three ministers were dropped. |
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Khimi Ram’s Induction
Shimla, February 23 Chief Minister PK Dhumal has, by inducting the outgoing state BJP chief in his ministry, sent a clear message to his detractors that he is in full command. Despite pressure from dissidents and the party high command, he stood by Khimi Ram and ensured his continuation in the post for almost two years. Further, when the high command did replace him with Satpal Singh Satti on the recommendation of a two-member committee sent by Gadkari to review the functioning of the party and the government, Dhumal demonstrated his faith in him by making him a minister. However, the step will not help in defusing the crisis and rather foment more discontent in the party. The first signs of trouble were discernible in the conspicuous absence of Suresh Bhardwaj, the local MLA and front runner for the ministerial berth. He has been following the Chief Minister like a shadow ever since his name was cleared by president Nitin Gadkari for inclusion in the ministry, but today he was nowhere to be seen. Besides Bhardwaj, Randhir Sharma and Khushi Ram Balnatah were also in the race for both the ministerial berth and the coveted post of state party president. They have reasons to be disappointed. The limited exercise has not helped in restoring the regional balance and the ministry as well as the organisational structure of the party remains lopsided. The Chief Minister, three ministers, the Deputy Speaker and a chief parliamentary secretary (CPA) are from the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency. National office-bearers JP Nadda (general secretary), Anurag Thakur (president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha) and Suresh Chandel (vice-president of the kisan morcha), new state party president and the head of the state Janata Yuva Morcha are all from the same constituency. On the other hand, the Shimla constituency has just two ministers and a CPS, while the Kangra constituency has three ministers and the Speaker and the Mandi constituency has three ministers. It is obvious that some ministers will have to be dropped for undertaking any exercise to restore the regional balance. Dhumal has not ruled out the possibility of another round of expansion, but the moot question is will such an exercise help when the Assembly poll is fast approaching? Khimi Ram gets Forest portfolio
Khimi Ram, who was administered the oath as a Cabinet Minister today, has been allocated the portfolio of Forest and Tribal Development. |
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20 classic beauties to romance the hills
Una, February 23 BS Manco, secretary of the Chandigarh Vintage and Classic Car Club, said earlier they had organised vintage car rallies from Chandigarh to Kasauli or Shimla. However, it was for the first time that such a long rally was being organised from Una to Palampur. The cars were brought today to Una from Chandigarh, from where the rally started officially. During the rally, the vintage cars would travel a distance of about 250 km till Palampur. “Already two cars have developed problems. We will try to repair these to make these fit for the hilly journey tomorrow,” he said. JS Phoolka, president of the vintage car club, said the club was formed in 1995. He was driving his colourful 1932 model, Ford Toerer, in the rally. Phoolka said the car was imported to India by the Nawab of Bareli. He sold it to an Englishman named Scot, who sold it to the rulers of the Kutlehar state of Himachal. Kutlehar state is now known as the Bangana area in Una district. Phoolka’s family procured the car from the former rulers of Kutlehar state. Bhupinder Sharma, chairman of the Dev Bhoomi Group of Institutes, who is the coordinator of the rally, said Austin Cummy, an English car model of 1925, was the oldest car participating in the vintage car rally. The car is owned by Balbir Singh. The other attraction of the vintage car rally was a 1965 model of Mercedes Benz, that was in a good condition. Manco said members of the vintage car club were passionate about their cars. However, maintaining the vintage cars was an uphill task as their spare parts had to be arranged either from junk dealers or imported from foreign countries. There were some companies in foreign countries that specially manufactured spare parts for the vintage cars, he said. Bhupinder Sharma said the rally would start tomorrow morning from Una and reach Kangra by the evening. On February 25, it would move from Kangra to its final destination in Palampur. The hilly journey till Palampur would be a real test of the old vehicles. “We will have to drive these at a slow speed so that these do not break down en route,” he said. The vintage cars attracted a large number of onlookers in Una district. |
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State gets tourism award
Shimla, February 23 This was stated by Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who received the invitation for the award ceremony from the President here today. It is the 57th award in a row during the past four years and the 24th in tourism sector alone. The Chief Minister thanked the ministry for selecting Himachal for the prestigious award and dedicated it to people of the state. The conferment of the national award was a testimony to the fact that the state had always been a choicest destination of nature lovers and tourists from across the country and abroad. |
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DIETs give qualification norm the go-by
Hamirpur, February 23 DIETs, which are functioning in all districts of the state, impart training to schoolteachers by organising refresher courses for them in different subjects from time to time. Most of the teachers working in DIETs do not have the master’s degree in education (MEd), which has been laid down as the basic qualification for getting appointed in these institutes. About 60 per cent teachers working in these institutes do not hold this degree. Teachers with just the BEd qualification are training teachers in DIETs. A large number of college lecturers, not familiar with training of schoolteachers, have been appointed in many DIETs. While two or more teachers in a given subject have been appointed in many DIETs, there are many institutes where a single teacher is working in one subject. According to an insider, “A large number of college and schoolteachers get appointed in DIETs by using political and bureaucratic clout to remain posted at the district headquarters. They avoid postings in rural and remote areas.” Since DIETs organise refresher courses for schoolteachers to update their knowledge, those imparting training in these institutes should have the requisite qualification. Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) project director Rohit Jamwal said, “We are gathering information regarding the qualification of teachers working in DIETs and will take suitable steps to ensure that the norms laid down for appointing teachers in these institutes are followed.” |
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Inculcate values among students, teachers told
Shimla, February 23 Presiding over the 24th meeting of the Himachal Pradesh University Court here today, she said the challenge before teachers was to ensure equality and prosperity in society with academic wisdom. She said the underprivileged and deprived sections should take a cue from women, who had taken a lead in fighting for their rights and emerged as torch-bearers for other sections of society. The Governor impressed upon the university authorities the need to increase domestic receipts with the help of various research projects which should be made a continuous process. She said money being provided to the university under various budgetary heads and schemes should be properly used for maximum results. She highlighted the role of the RTI and called upon officers and employees to work in line with provisions of the Act to minimise litigation. She directed the university administration to convene a meeting of the university court at least once in a year. Earlier, Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpai highlighted the main features of the Golden Jubilee Document (Vision-2020) and the plan for effecting a complete transformation in various departments. The university court unanimously elected Dr RP Luthra for Dental Council of India and Dr SS Kaushal for the Medical Council of India. The court also approved the annual account and audit reports of the university for 2006-07 and 2007-08 and the annual report of the university for 2009-10 and 2010-11. Executive Council members NS Bisht, Waryam Singh Bains, local MLA Suresh Bhardwaj, Dr Inderjeet Singh and Birma Chauhan, both court members, spoke about issues of the university and apprised the Chancellor about the financial health as well as shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff. They also advocated for making the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (UGC centre of excellence) an integral part of the university and it should not be closed for want of funds. |
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Take action against non-performing banks, RBI urged
Solan, February 23 According to the figures emerged in a review meeting of the District Coordination Committee and the Annual Credit Plan held yesterday under the chairmanship of KC Chaman, Additional District Magistrate (ADM), banks in Solan district had barely disbursed 47 per cent loans in the agriculture sector and as against the available Rs 2.84 crore, barely Rs 1.32 crore had been disbursed till now. Even in the education sector, as against the available amount of Rs 2.83 crore, barely Rs 1.10 crore had been disbursed as credit that was a bare 39 per cent of the prescribed amount. While education loans also fall in the priority sector, students have the facility of availing up to Rs 10 lakh loans for studies within the country and Rs 20 lakh for studies abroad. It was surprising to note that in the priority sector, banks had achieved a target of 61 per cent, while in the non-priority sector the target achieved was a high 74 per cent. With high rate of non-performing assets coming to the fore from the agriculture and the medium and small enterprise sectors, banks have been reluctant to extend credit facilities to these sectors that otherwise fall in the priority sector. The ADM while taking a stern view of the dismal performance of banks, has recommended to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to take penal action against those banks that had failed to achieve the target. He directed banks to disseminate information among the rural masses through quarterly gram sabha meetings as 90 per cent of the population in the district comprised the rural population. Assistant General Manager, RBI, BR Meena while addressing bankers asked them to educate people about fake short message services being communicated on mobile phones for lottery schemes so that they did not fall prey to fake financial dealings. He said the validity of cheques and bank drafts had been reduced from six months to three months and bankers should publicise these new instructions among their customers. Deputy Divisional Manager, NABARD, Urvashi Garg was among those present. |
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Preparations afoot for 7-day Nalwadi Mela
Bilaspur, February 23 This was stated by Mela Management Committee Chairman-cum-Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ritesh Chauhan while presiding over a meeting of district officers summoned for arranging the fair smoothly in time here yesterday. Chauhan said four cultural nights with preference to local artistes, two days of mela ground cultural performances of local Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals and other youth clubs and local artistes and four-day wrestling bouts, development exhibitions of government departments and others, three-day cattle fair and several sports competitions would be the highlights of the fair which attracts a large number of people daily from far and near. He said all conveners of sub committees on various subjects should come out with concrete suggestions regarding their proposals of programmes and required expenditures so that everything was arranged in time. He said Additional District Magistrate Darshan Kalia would be the convener of the Cultural Programmes Sub Committee, Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial Convener of Wrestling Bouts and Sports Sub Committee and Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry of the Cattle Fair Sub Committee. The DC said all the cattle for the fair would be given travel expenses to come and return from the fair while fodder would also be provided free by the committee. He asked the Nagar Parishad to ensure total sanitation before, during and after the fair at the Luhnu ground, dust bins at proper places and cleanliness daily and also construction of temporary lavatories at suitable distant places around the fair ground, fully equipped with water supply. He urged the departments to ensure that the arrangements were made well in time. He said police and Home Guards would be made available for 24-hour mela duty to ensure full safety and security and traffic control duties. |
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22,000 anganwari supervisors, helpers not paid salaries
Kangra, February 23 Kewal Singh Pathania, spokesman of the Congress, today said 22,000 women anganwari workers were left without salaries and the state government was supposed to pay Rs 10 crore to them. Describing it as unfortunate, Pathania accused the state government of pushing these thousands of women to the wall. Pathania said he had written a letter to Krishena Teerath, state Union Minister with independent charge Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, and Union Minister Virbhadra Singh demanding a high-level probe to find out where the Rs 10 crore sanctioned by the GOI for the salaries of these 22,000 women workers had gone. He alleged that the Central Government in letter No. F11-2011 dated July 11, 2011, had directed the state government to enhance the monthly salaries of anganwari supervisors to Rs 3,000 and helpers to Rs 1,900, but no step had been taken by the present state government. He alleged that in Haryana, anganwari workers were paid Rs 5,000, in Punjab Rs 4,500 and in Uttaranchal Rs 4500, whereas in this hill state these workers were deprived even of their meager dues. He threatened if the state government failed to redress the problem of these women workers, the Congress would be forced to move to the streets to fight for their genuine cause. |
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Rs 22,800 cr for 12th Five-Year Plan
Shimla, February 23 This was decided in a meeting of the State Planning Board held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal here today. The annual plan for 2012-13 has been fixed at Rs 3,700 crore. The Chief Minister said a target of 9.5 per cent growth rate had been envisaged for the 12th plan as compared to the 9 per cent fixed at the national level. The proposed increase was almost double compared to the last Five-Year Plan, which was increased from Rs 10,300 crore (10th plan) to Rs 13,778 crore. He said injustice had been done by the 13th Finance Commission which had not considered the liabilities on account of revision of pay scales and pension and increased the grant of the state by only 50 per cent as compared to the average of 126 per cent for all states. If the grant had been on par with other states, the state would have got Rs 10,725 crore more for the 2010-2015 period. The government had requested the Prime Minister to provide a special assistance of Rs 5,214 crore-Rs 2,500 crore as special plan assistance and Rs 2,714 crore on account of estimated committed liabilities. He added that in the next year’s plan Rs 914.64 crore had been proposed under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Rs 333 crore under the Tribal Sub-Plan. Like the previous year, the social services sector had been accorded top priority with an allocation of Rs 1,189.56 crore (32.15 per cent), followed by the transportation and communication sector (Rs 778.76 crore), the energy (Rs 581.92 crore) and agriculture and allied sectors (Rs 480.30 crore). The state had been adjudged first in the country in the implementation of the 20-Point Programme for the past consecutive two years. Emphasis had been laid on creating employment and self-employment opportunities for youth and over 25,000 persons had been provided employment in the government sector alone. Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu said for the effective implementation of schemes and welfare programmes, the Result Framework Document had been prepared in respect of various public dealing departments that would further help in yielding good results. |
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Burglars decamp with gold, silver jewellery
Bilaspur, February 23 Reports said when the burglars took away the jewellery, members of the family were fast asleep in other rooms of the houses. The theft was detected only in the morning when the family woke up. They found the almirahs and trunks etc broken open and everything scattered on the floor. The police has registered a case and is investigating the matter. Sources said some persons who had been roaming about as vendors or pheriwalas in the village for some time or even outsiders who had not got themselves identified with the police and had been working with contractors in nearby villages were suspected to be involved in this crime.
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4-year-old dies in freak incident
Hamirpur, February 23 His wife also insisted on accompanying him along with their two children, but Rajinder refused to take them along. But as soon as he left his house, his wife along with the two children tried to follow him. On reaching Bhira, one daughter felt the need to go to the toilet. The woman took her to a nearby water stream and left the other child Akarshak (4) sitting on a mound. On returning she found the child missing. The body of the child was later found floating in the water rivulet.
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90-year-old falls into rivulet, dies
Nurpur, February 23 In the second mishap, Sohan Singh, son of Purn Singh of Sukhar village, died on the spot this evening when his tractor-trolley overturned at Ondh near here. A case was lodged by the police.
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Man killed in road accident
Kangra, February
23 The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A,
IPC, against the motor cycle driver. In another accident, two persons were
injured when a motorcycle and car collided at Sujjanpur today, and Kishori Lal
(56) was referred to DRPGMCH Tanda in a serious condition. — OC
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Shimla, February 23