State's Foundation Day
Statehood agitators’ pension raised to Rs 5,000
Vijay Bahuguna pays floral tributes to martyrs at Shaheed Smarak in Dehradun
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 9
On the 12th foundation day of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna made several announcements, including increasing of pension for the statehood agitators, institution of awards for promoting local dialects, best writing on the statehood agitation and also including important facets of the statehood movement in the state school syllabus.

Making these announcements at a function at Gorkha Military College here today, Chief Minister Bahuguna said the pension for the statehood agitators would be raised from Rs 3,000 per month to Rs 5,000 per month. Also the persons who had been missing for the last seven years during the statehood movement would now be termed dead and provided facilities to the dependents.

Besides, three cash prizes have also been constituted for chronologising the the statehood movement and fixed a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh.

To promote the local dialects, three best literary works would be awarded cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh. Three individuals or institutions would also be awarded cash prizes of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh for preserving and promoting the state’s cultural heritage, music and musical instruments.

The different facets (political and historical) of the statehood agitation would be documented and included in the school syllabus.

The old prison complex in Pauri district would be dedicated to the statehood agitators and developed as state archives and museum. The archive would house all documents, manuscripts, electronic and digital material and photographs related to the movement.

He said the state government was committed to all-round development of the state, with all areas receiving equal attention. “We are taking effective measures to realise the full potential of the state and there will be no dearth of funds for developing Gairsain,” said Bahuguna.

Further he said a sports stadium of international standard would be constructed at Dehradun with the help of the ONGC. He said the foundation stone of the same would be laid at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur, on November 15. The state was also developing 22 helipads to ease connectivity problems.

Bahuguna also felicitated Vimla Devi, Santosh Sharma, Shiv Kumar, Siyaram Sharma, Tara Singh, Kaushal Devi, Saleem Ahmed and Mohammed Aqil belonging to Rampur village in UP for their support to the statehood agitators during the statehood agitation.

As a gesture of gratitude, the state government has announced to Rs 10 lakh each to establish community centres in the vicinity of the village.

Vijay Bahuguna released a book “Uttarakhand Utkrishthata Ke Path Par” published by the Information and Public Relations Department on Friday in a function held at Gorkha Military Inter-College. He also felicitated eight elderly people from four villages adjacent to Rampur Tiraha, Mujaffarnagar, for their support to the statehood agitators on October 2, 1994, by presenting shawls to them.

Chief Minister Bahuguna said the state government was committed to developing the state according to the dreams and aspirations of the statehood agitators.

He said the state government had several achievements to its credit in just eight months. He said in the past 12 years, the state had achieved many milestones, yet a lot was needed to be done.

Earlier, the Chief Minister also paid floral tributes to the statehood martyrs at Shaheed Smarak located at the Collectorate.

Jobless youth to get perks
Tribune News Service

The Chief Minister distributes cheques to jobless youth in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, November 9
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna launched an unemployment-cum-skill development allowance by distributing cheques to 106 unemployed youths from various districts at the Secretariat on the occasion of Uttarakhand’s 12th statehood day today.

Bahuguna said the allowance should be considered as incentive and exhorted the youths to work hard for their future.

Labour and Employment Minister Harish Durgapal said the objective of the scheme was to increase the chances of employment of youths by imparting skill development training to them.

In the first year, the government hopes to cover around 7,000 unemployed youth for which the government will be burdened by a debt of Rs 60 crore annually.

“According to the rules and regulations for implementing the scheme, three categories have been created. Intermediate and qualified youths will be paid Rs 500, graduates Rs 750 and postgraduates Rs 1000 each per month,” said Chanderkanta, Additional Director, Employment.

Other norms are that the unemployed youth should be registered at the local employment exchange for four years and the upper age limit for the unemployed youth is 35 years and minimum 25 years.

Also the family income of the beneficiary family should be below Rs 1.5 lakh annually. Only one unemployed youth in the family will be the beneficiary.

State's Foundation Day
Guv takes salute at ceremonial parade
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 9
Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi today took the salute at the ceremonial police parade held at the police lines, Dehradun, this morning to mark the 12th anniversary of the state foundation day.

In his brief address, Governor Qureshi, in particularly, paid respects to womenfolk of the state, highlighting their contribution to the creation as well as the development of the state. He also offered his tributes to the all the families whose members had laid down their lives for the country. He said that the state’s police had successfully conducted the Ardh Kumbh, Maha Kumbh and several Char Dham and Kanwar Yatras since the creation of the state.

The Governor said that extra care was required to guard the borders of the state that shares international borders. He said that in the last 12 years, the state had witnessed development in economic, health, industrial and literacy sectors.

The Governor congratulated the police personnel who had been honoured with the President’s medal or honoured at the state level.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Director General of Police Satyavrat Bansal, Cabinet ministers Yashpal Arya, Dinesh Agarwal, HC Durgapal and Surendra Singh Negi were prominent participants on the occasion.

CM tells partymen to keep mission 2014 in mind

Dehradun, November 9
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today took part in the state foundation day celebrations held at state Congress headquarters in Dehradun. Addressing Congress workers, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna exhorted the workers to realise the goals of agitators. He also stressed that the state government and party organisation were two sides of the same coin and needed to work in coordination to ensure all-round development of Uttarakhand.

Bahuguna said it was the responsibility of Congress workers to take state government policies and programmes to the people. He also asserted that the state government would not ignore the committed party workers and would soon give them important responsibilities. He called upon the party workers to keep mission 2014 in mind.

Uttarakhand Congress president Yashpal Arya said Uttarakhand today was undergoing speedy development. He strongly advocated giving proper honour to the Congress workers.

Uttarakhand Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana asked the party workers to actively contribute towards taking the state to new heights of development. Congress Rajpur MLA Rajkumar recalled the sacrifices made by martyrs towards achieving the state of Uttarakhand. — TNS

UPP stages dharna
Says hill people being ignored
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 9
The Uttarakand Parivartan Party today staged a dharna at Gandhi Park, Dehradun, asserting that the very basis behind creation of Uttarakhand was still to be achieved.

Party’s chief spokesman Rajeev Kothari disclosed that the aspirations of the people of the state, particularly those residing in hills, were being completely ignored. He said Uttarakhand that does not fulfil the ambitions of backward hill areas of the state is of no use.

“Parties in power, both BJP and Congress, have only befooled the people. The fulfilment of the main demand of state agitationists that was to give permanent capital status for Gairsain was still nowhere in sight,” Kothari added.

He said Uttarakhand Parivartan Party will continue with its struggle to fight anti-Uttarakhand forces in the state whether it was in the form of BJP, Congress or Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.

Bahuguna lays foundation stone of community centre
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 9
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna dedicated Rs 71.28 crore-Nanghat Drinking Water Project to the people of Pauri yesterday. He also laid foundation stone of Rs 192.56 lakh community centre and Rs 492.56 lakh collectorate building in Pauri.

Addressing the gathering, Bahuguna said providing drinking water was the priority of his government in which the state was being assisted by the Centre. He said the fund had already been allocated for drinking water projects at Almora and Pithoragarh.

Bahuguna also inaugurated Sharadotsav Mela in Pauri organised jointly by Nagar Palika, Pauri, district administration and Culture and Tourism Department at Ramlila Maidan.

Recalling his past experiences at Sharadotsav, Bahuguna said development of hill areas and enhancement of living standards of people residing in hill areas would be a true tribute to late Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna. He said it would be his first priority to resolve problems pertaining to basic needs like education, roads, electricity and medical in hill districts.

He also approved drinking water projects for Ghurdauri and Kaljikhal and directed the officials to prepare detail project report of the same. He said the state government would provide unemployment-cum-skill development allowance to educated unemployed youths from November 9, which would benefit over 70,000 youths. He assured to release Rs 1.96 crore for the construction of Pauri bus terminus. He also sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to the Pauri Municipality for organising Sharadotsav. He also approved establishment of the National Institute of Technology at Sumadi.

The Chief Minister also extended Divali greetings to the people and urged them to rise above caste, religion and regionalism. Pauri MP Satpal Maharaj said he was making efforts for the inclusion of Garhwali and Kumaoni languages in the schedule of the Indian Constitution. He said the power project would not only provide power to the people but would also generate employment opportunities for local people.

Tourism Minister Amrita Rawat, Pauri MLA Sunderlal Mandrawal and Pauri Municipality Chairman Rajendra Prasad Tamta were present on the occasion.

SJA students excel with models
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 9
Creativity and ingenuity of students of St. Joseph’s Academy (SJA) was at its best at a two-day biology exhibition that concluded today. A multitude of specimens, models, charts and slides were displayed in a stupendous manner.

The main attractions of the exhibition were a ‘medical corner’, a ‘landscape corner’, an ‘experiment corner’ and a ‘quiz corner’. Dr S Sharma and Dr Veena Nayak were kind enough to remain in the ‘medical corner’ for a free dental check up of the students. The ‘landscape corner’ represented a miniature yet it was vibrant with biodiversity. The ‘experiment corner’ displayed the processes of osmosis through a potato osmoscope, germination in seeds as well as a series of microscope displaying various stages in all divisions. The ‘quiz corner’ was the major highlight of the students from various schools eager to prove their mettle in the field of biology.

Various household spices and condiments were displayed in the ‘kitchen corner’, and the ‘horticulture area’ showcased an array of blooming flowers.

The guests of honour for the occasion were Dr Sanjeev Kukreti, a nuero physician from the CMI, Dr S Sharma and Dr Veena Nayak from Sharma Dental Care, Ortho and Trauma Centre.

Dr Kukreti highlighted the relevance of such exhibitions and applauded the workforce of the SJA for such innovative ventures. He also apprised the students of the intricacies of the nervous system. Dr Sharma cautioned the students against quacks. Dr Nayak advised the students about proper oral care.

The work undertaken by the students under the guidance of the Biology Department was appreciated by all. Dr Sabharwal and the students thanked principal Brother AJ George for his unflinching support and motivation in making the event successful. Vice-principal Brother Dennis and the coordinators were present on the occasion.

Doon Intl School wins biz quiz trophy
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 9
The Doon International School won the state-level Biz Quiz trophy here today. The quiz was organised by Doon Business School, while Asian School and Summer Valley School were first and second runners-up. The Doon International School won prize of Rs 20,000 and the runners-up won Rs 10,000 and Rs 6,000.

The function began with SK Aggarwal, founder, Doon Business School, lighting up a lamp. While addressing a gathering, chairman of Doon Business School Mohit Agarwal said, “Competition is crucial for students to enhance their skills. Biz-Quiz will play a vital role in building their quest for knowledge,” said Agarwal.

In all, 250 students from 26 renowned schools of Uttarakhand participated in the quiz.

Navjyoti Singh Negi was the quiz master for the Biz Quiz. He was assisted by Lalit Kumar, Dr G N Pandey, Pushker Saxena, Pooja Malhotra, Shivani G Joshi and Pushpa Kataria.