Mussoorie, September 28
Following the recent announcement of bringing the health services under the public private partnership mode by the state government, Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani announced that government schools could also be brought under the PPP mode in order to improve their standard.

Mantri Prasad Naithani, speaking on the sidelines of an athletics meet being organised in Mussoorie where he was chief guest, said the government had already decided to bring the health services under PPP mode and the Education Ministry was also planning to brought those government schools under the PPP mode which were in a dilapidated condition and where the quality of education was not good.

He also gave a clarification on the reduction in the budget under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RAMSA), a project initiated by the Central Government to improve education standards in the state so that the students could get quality education at their doorstep institutions. Mantri Prasad Naithani said the budget had not been reduced but only stalled for the moment due to the non-utilization of the remaining amount so far which would be released after the present amount was used completely.

He also said the directions had been given to officials to speed up the process of upgrading the government schools wherever necessary in order to utilise the budget under the RAMSA scheme.

The minister also said the executing agency had also been directed to complete all pending works of upgrading the government school buildings so that quality education could be imparted in the state.

The minister also said fulfilling people’s aspirations and developmental needs was top agenda of the government. He assured the people that all their genuine demands and development needs would be fulfilled in a phased manner.

Speaking on the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, which is an ally in the government, fielding its own candidate in the Tehri bypoll, he said it was the internal matter of the party. As far as he was concerned, he was with the government and had extended his support to Saket Bahuguna.

Mussoorie, September 28
More than 200 students from eight schools are participating in the three-day 12th Regional Athletics Meet that began at Survey Ground here today.

The event was declared open by Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani by hoisting the meet flag.

In the 5,000 m race category in the boys' section (senior division), Navraj of Ghananad Inter-College was declared winner while in the girls' section in the same division, Shobha Rana of Sanatan Dharm Inter-College emerged winner.

In the 300 m race category in the boys' section, (junior division) Praveen Singh of St Lawrence School won a gold medal. Praveen Singh, also of St Lawrence School, was declared winner in the senior boys' section.

In the discuss throw junior girls' section, Priyanka Tamta of Sanatan Dharm Inter-College was declared first, Sunita from Mussoorie second and Laxmi Thapa third. In the senior division girls' category, Karishma and Sunita of Nirmala Inter-College were declared first and second, respectively. Kavita Khanduri from Mussoorie was declared third.

In the 800 m senior division boys' section, Fazlu Rehman of Nirmala Inter-college was declared first and Navraj Sahi of Ghananand Inter-College was declared second. Pradeep Gunsola of Rama Devi Inter-College won the third position.

In the 800 m junior division for boys, Praveen Singh of St Lawrence was declared first, Pramod Raunchela of Nirmala Inter-College second and Anuj of Ghananand Inter-College were declared third. Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi, former MLA Jot Singh Gunsola and Principal, St George's College, Brother Christopher Dawes, were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, September 28
As the country is faced with increasing burden of cardiac patients, experts say women are at more risk than men and not much attention is being paid to the emerging trend.

On the eve of World Heart Day today, Dr Anurag Rawat, a cardiologist, said women were more prone to developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. “Women always ignore symptoms and are more concerned about the health of their spouses and children. We need to make them aware of their health, so that they pay attention to the symptoms,” he said.

He said the women might experience symptoms differently and it might not be with the onset of chest pain. “The warning may manifest in the form of jaw pain or backache, nausea and vomiting. These warning signals should not be ignored. In their daily rush, when they are being ideal wives and mothers, they should at least take a moment for themselves and listen to their heart. After all, the health of the entire family depends on them,” said Dr Rawat.

Experts also called for adopting a comprehensive approach to tackle cardiovascular disease pertaining to improving basic amenities in healthcare facilities. Dr Yogender Singh of Fortis Hospital, said, “The government should launch a cardiovascular control programme in rural and urban areas so that affordable treatment could be given to the people.”

Haridwar: With cardiovascular diseases becoming the world's worst killer diseases, the need of the hour is to have a preventive approach towards taking care of the heart. In India, while the people in cities are known to have cardio diseases, villagers are also prone to these.

This was stated by renowned heart specialist Dr Sanjay Shah while talking to The Tribune on the occasion of World Heart Day.

Haridwar, September 28
Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh was remembered on his 105th birth anniversary here today.

Activists of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) paid floral tributes at the statue of the martyr at Bhagat Singh Chowk.

Shedding light on Bhagat Singh's life, central secretary of the labour cell Uday Ram Semwal said he was born on this day in 1907 at Khatkar Kalan, Nawashahr.

In his early age, he got involved in revolutionary activities against the tyrant British Raj and studied European revolutionary movement and Marxist ideologies.

“Bhagat Singh used to read Bhagwad Gita, the books of Lenin and Marx, whose influence is visible in his ideology ” said Semwal.

He urged the younger generation to take inspiration from Bhagat Singh's life.

City wing chief Lalit Mamgain rued that today's generation had adopted the western culture, which was quite contrary to Bhagat Singh's vision.

Among others who paid floral tributes to the martyr were Khem Chandra Thakur, Akash Ohri, Vikki Saini and Guddu Singh.

Dehradun, September 28
The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Pauri, Mahesh Chandra, today convicted Rani Saini, wife of notorious poacher and smuggler Sansar Chand, in a 2003 case in which two leopard skins were recovered from two members of the Bawaria gang in the Satpuli region of Pauri district. The gangsters had confessed that the skins were meant to be supplied to Rani.

The CJM after hearing arguments from both sides today awarded seven years of rigorous imprisonment to Rani and the two Bawaria gang members and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each on all of them under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act.

Sansar Chand is at present lodged in a jail in Rajasthan in various cases of poaching in the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.

Pithoragarh, September 27
The UPA government is stable and will complete its full term. It has the support of all alliance partners, including the NCP, the DMK, the SP and the BSP, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat said here today. “We are also trying to bring around those who are angry with us to have their good wishes for the government,” he said.

The minister alleged that the NDA leaders were creating political instability and confusion in the country by their statements. “The UPA led by the Congress had won the 2008 parliamentary elections on its strong economic agenda, but the NDA was trying to destabilise the government so that it could not pursue that agenda of development,” said the Hardiwar MP.

Rawat defended the decision of the Central government regarding foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retain sector and said it would not only strengthen agriculture infrastructure and food processing facilities in rural areas but also end market and storage tensions of the farmers. “As India has accepted FDI in the retail sector on its own conditions, compelling foreign firms to purchase at least 33 farm produce directly from local farmers, the middlemen are worried that they will be affected in the process,” said Rawat.

He said the budget for the Twelfth Five Year Plan would be 2.50 per cent higher than the last plan. “The commission is aiming at raising the agriculture growth rate of the country to 4 per cent from 3.3 per cent at present and to spend 1 per cent of the GDP on agriculture research in the country,” he added. The Union minister expressed concern over continuing migration from villages in the hill region.

Dehradun, September 28
Garhwal Sporting here today defeated Khalanga 3-0 in a match during the Dehradun District Football league being played at Rangers’ Ground.

Suraj Thapa scored the first and second goals in the 10th and 48th minutes, respectively. Shivam scored the third goal for Garhwal Sporting.

The second match between Doon Eagle and Kukhri Club ended in a draw with both sides scoring 1 goal each. Sarfarosh scored for Doon Eagle and Anubhav scored for Kukhri Club.

Dehradun, September 28
The 5th Rohitash Singh Memorial Inter-School Boys Super 8 A Side Cricket Tournament started at The Heritage School today.

In the first match, Col Brown School won the match against Janaki Children's Academy by 23 runs.

Batting first, Col Brown School in the first innings scored a total of 40 runs at the loss of 3 wickets. Janaki Children's Academy batsmen in the first innings could only manage a score of 15 runs.

In the second innings, Col Brown School scored 26 runs, thus taking the Ist innings total to 66 runs. Janaki Children's Academy in its second innings scored just 28 runs, thereby losing the match by 40 runs.