Spreading green message on bicycle
Dehradun, October 2
A bicycle ride for health and greenery was held from Dehradun to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh, a distance of 50 km, by Sams Cycling Club on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti today. More than 100 persons participated in the ride.

Dehradun, October 2
A majority of the projects meant to provide suitable accommodation and means of livelihood to slum dwellers in the city under the Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) programme of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission started in 2007 are unlikely to be completed by the end of the term of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) in March next year. Some of the projects which are 70-80 per cent complete may get ready.

The corporation has not even prepared a foolproof list of the slum dwellers who are to be rehabilitated under this project. Project in-charge Ramesh Chauhan said: “The DMC is to provide a list of the slum dwellers who are to be rehabilitated in the new flats constructed under the BSUP programme. But the way the list has been prepared, it is going to create a lot of ruckus and controversy at the time of the allotment.”

He said the list encompassed only the names of the slum dwellers without any photo or identity or residence proof of the person concerned. “The slum dwellers keep changing their residence. At the time of allocation of flats, those who are registered may get shifted elsewhere or many other claimants of the same name may appear. The authorities must be careful about these important aspects,” he said.

He suggested those who were to be relocated should be enrolled for Unique Identification Number. “Proper thumb impressions and biometric details should be taken so that chaos does not happen." He said the beneficiaries would have to pay Rs 300 for 15 years to

Dehradun Municipal Corporation as rental amount.

To counter a possible plan of slum dwellers to sell such property for making a quick buck and encroach upon government land somewhere else, Chauhan said the beneficiaries would be made to sign an agreement with the DMC whereby they would give an undertaking of neither indulging in encroachment over any other property in town, or selling the given accommodation to them.

Urban Community Development Network, a body, would provide them skills in livelihood near their accommodation, which would include activities as selected by a majority of them. In many of the leprosy centres, where rooms are being renovated under the project, a training-cum-community centre was being provided to give training in self-sustained skills such as candle or chalk making, cane furniture, spices etc.

Besides other glaring problems, the DMC has not been able to resolve the legal wrangle in Khala Basti slum colony, where residents have moved the district court, accusing the DMC of encroaching upon their land to build this project. Here 80 houses for slum people are to be built at a cost of Rs 372.83 lakh. The first instalment of Rs 80 lakh has been released.

The slum dwellers in Ram Nagar Slum Colony and Brahmpuri Phase II are opposing the projects and creating obstacles. They are demanding ownership rights over the land they are occupying at present instead of living in two-room, kitchen and washroom flats as constructed under the project. The DMC officials have taken no pains in assuaging their concerns either. They, too, would create problems during the process of relocation.

The other projects are Brahmpuri Phase I, Kath Bangla Slum Colony, Kusht Ashram, Bhagat Singh Colony project, Shanti Kusht Ashram and Chakshah Slum Colony. 

Dehradun, October 2
Rich tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on the occasion of their birth anniversaries today.

Governor Aziz Qureshi paid tributes to Gandhiji and Lal Bahadur Shastri at a programme held at Raj Bhavan and expressed deep regard for the duo. He said the path shown by them had become even more relevant in the present era. “They had dreamt of a country free of poverty, illiteracy and inequality. We must now resolve to take our country to that stage,” said the Governor. Artistes from Bhatkhande Sangeet Mahavidyalaya sang Gandhiji’s favourite bhajans like “Vaishnav jan tai taine kahiye” and “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”. The staff of Raj Bhavan was also present.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri at a function held at his residence today. He said the state government was committed to realise Gandhiji’s dream of ‘Ghar Ghar Suraj’. He urged people to follow the principles of these great men.

Bahuguna said Gandhiji had revealed to the entire world the strength of non-violence. He said former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had always kept his principles and moral values on top in his political career. His personality and works would always be an inspiration for all.

A function was also held on the Secretariat premises to remember Gandhiji and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain offered tributes to both leaders. He said the philosophy, principles and policies of Mahatma Gandhi were still very relevant. He said Lal Bahadur Shashtri had laid emphasis on self-reliance in agriculture.

Remembering Gandhiji, Congress general secretary Vijay Saraswat said the country had got Independence only due to the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi. Meanwhile, Gandhi Jayanti was also celebrated in various schools of Dehradun

MUSSOORIE: Floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in various schools and organisations here on Tuesday.

Saraswati Shishu Mandir celebrated its annual day along with the birth anniversaries of both leaders. Students presented a short skit based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi and highlighted the message of peace and non-violence given by him. MLA Mussoorie Ganesh Joshi, who was the chief guest, gave away citations and awards to students. Meanwhile, tributes were paid to both leaders at Congress Bhavan near Jhoola Ghar here. President of Mussoorie unit of the Congress Bhagwan Singh Dhanai, Congress Sewa Dal president Sunil Panwar and senior Mahila Congress leader Bharosi Rawat were present.

Meanwhile, special prayers were organised at Oak Grove and Santan Dharm Inter-College to mark the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

HARIDWAR: People from all walks of life paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 144th birth anniversary here on Tuesday. Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was also remembered on his 108th birth anniversary.

A special prayer meeting was held at the city office of the Congress at Subash Ghat, where chief of the state unit of the party O P Chauhan and chief of the women farmers' cell Poonam Bhagat shed light on the contributions of the two great leaders.

Poonam Bhagat said idealistic and visionary politicians like Lal Bahadur Shastri were hard to find these days.

Meanwhile, a special function was also organised by the state unit of the Sewa Dal at a hotel. Speakers talked about the ideals and significance of Gandhiji’s philosophy on the occasion.

Haridwar, October 2
Yog guru Ramdev today called upon his followers to boycott foreign products, particularly clothes, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary today. He started a nationwide movement for swadeshi goods at Libberhadi village in Haridwar district by burning foreign brand clothes. He termed it as a ‘Holi of foreign items’. He also taught yoga to the followers present on the occasion and gave a sermon. Mahatma Gandhi led the historic Swadeshi movement in 1905 against the British.

Ramdev said India today was again on the verge of subjugation by foreign countries as the Congress-led UPA government had granted entry to foreign firms into the Indian market through the foreign direct investment (FDI).

He compared the FDI with the corruption issue and said while corruption was destroying society from within the former would destroy our sovereignty by making us captives of foreign countries once again.

Ramdev criticized Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and said history would not forgive Manmohan if he gave in to pressure from foreign multinational companies by allowing the FDI on Indian soil.

He added in 1991 Manmohan as Union Finance Minister had revived the dwindling economic condition of the country, but now he was handing the economic sovereignty of the country into the foreign hands.

Ramdev’s close associate Acharya Balakrishan also criticised the Central government for its alleged failure to secure the interests of the common people while facilitating foreign companies and nations.

He said their activists burnt foreign items at 676 districts across the country where centres of the Bharat Swabhiman Trust exist. They also vowed to use Indian products and boycott foreign goods and brands.

Mussoorie, October 2
The Queen of Hills had a very special place in the heart of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. This is evident from the fact that on his arrival here in October 1929, he was so enchanted by the pristine beauty of the town that he said it was like coming to heaven.

Remembering Gandhiji on the occasion, Gopal Bhardwaj, a local historian, said Gandhiji had come on a two-day visit to Mussoorie in 1929 to promote khadi. He raised Rs 800 for starting khadi co-operatives around the country. He was also presented with a silver stick by Congress workers. Gandhiji, however, auctioned the stick and collected Rs 150 which were later donated for starting the Khadi Cooperative Society.

Bhardwaj further said Gandhiji revisited the town in 1946 and stayed at Birla House near Happy Valley for about 10 days. He used to come on a hand-pulled rickshaw till Picture Palace from where he used to walk every evening to Silverton Grounds for special prayers.

The historian further stated that Gandhiji, speaking about the town in his autobiography, had written that on reaching Mussoorie, one felt like heaven and at peace.

Dehradun, October 2
Social organisation of youngsters Making A Difference (MAD) planted saplings in collaboration with Olympus High School on Rajpur Road. Abhinav Bahuguna, secretary, MAD, said: "As the monsoon is coming to an end, we thought to conduct this plantation drive to replenish the green belt on Rajpur Road area." He said planting trees had always been on the agenda of their organisation. "The fast depleting greenery of Rajpur Road had been a cause of concern for many nature-loving citizens of the city but a cause of action only for these passionate teenagers," he beamed.

Clad with spades, plants and the spirit to bring in change, the youngsters expressed their views, saying that these plants might sow the seeds of awakening among the city goers about the receding greenbelt in and around the city.

They expressed their gratitude to Kunal Malla, owner of Olympus High School, for inspiring the students of his school to participate in the event.

In fact, he also permitted the volunteers to plant saplings on vacant land owned by him on Rajpur Road as well. Unplanned plantation is more of a vice than a virtue because plants not protected are destined for an early death, said Anurag Chauhan, founder of the organisation.

The volunteers can contact MAD at 7895353617 or mail at makingadifferenceindoon@gmail.com.

Dehradun, October 2
In the 5th Rohitash Singh Memorial Inter School Boys' Super 8 Cricket Tournament, four matches were played today at The Heritage School, Dehradun. In the first match, The Heritage School won the match against Seven Oaks by 5 wickets. Similarly, in the second match, St. Thomas College won by 6 wickets against St Joseph's Academy. 

In the third match, Bala Hisar Academy won the match by 31 runs against Kasiga School. The fourth match took place between Constancia School and The Aryan School.

It ended in a narrow win with Constancia School winning the match by 2 runs.

Meanwhile, GRD Academy and Asian School won their respective matches here yesterday.

In the first match, the GRD Academy defeated St Jude’s School by eight wickets. St Jude’s School scored 44 runs while the GRD Academy scored 46 for the loss of two wickets to win the match.

In the second match, Asian School defeated the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy by eight runs. Asian School scored 67 runs while the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy was bowled out for 59 runs.

Dehradun, October 2
The District Sub-Junior Basketball Championship for boys and girls will be held from October 3 to 7 at Welham Boys’ School and Welham Girls’ School.

A total of 31 teams in both boys and girls sections have confirmed their participation for the championship.

During the District Sub-Junior Championship, the Dehradun Basketball Association (DBA) will conduct the District Basketball Referees Examination. 

Dehradun, October 2
In the Lala Nemi Dass Memorial Football League being played here, Gorkha Rangers defeated Doon Challenge 3-0.

Viraj, Sumit and Jitu scored goals for Gorkha Rangers. In the second match, Sundarwala Boys defeated Balaji Boys 2-1. Gaurav Sharma and Subham Bisht scored goals for Sundarwala whereas Arohi scored the sole goal for Balaji.

Now after the conclusion of initial matches, 12 teams have entered the super league stage, the next phase of the Lala Nemi Dass Memorial Football League. Thakur Boys, Akranta and Adhoiwala have entered the next phase from Group A. Further, Nehru Gram, Doon Valley and Sundarwala have succeeded to enter the next phase from Group B. From Group C, Doon Star, Shivalik and Chandramani and from Group D Doon Challenge, Doon United and Gorkha Ranger have entered the next phase.