Shimla, December 5
Notwithstanding the eagerness being exhibited by some jittery candidates to woo the 1.18 lakh postal ballot holders in the state in their favour, defence personnel and state government employees seem to be disinterested in the political rumblings that still continue to resonate the hill state even after the polling got over on November 4.

The fate of many candidates in the fray could well be in the hands of these 75,000 defence personnel voters and 43,000 state government employees, who being on election duty were given the right to cast their vote through post.

If the details of these postal ballots received till yesterday is any indication then both “faujis” and “babus” seem to be indifferent towards their voting rights.

Till December 4, a total of 24,008 postal ballots, including both defence personnel and state government employees, have cast their postal ballot. Even now, about 94,000 voters have yet to cast their vote. Since the postal ballot can reach till 8am on December 20, the day of counting, the percentage is likely to go up as there are still 15 days to go for the counting.

Sources said though a large chunk of the government employees cast their vote, the defence personnel did not seem to be bothered about voting.

This also raises questions whether the postal ballots actually reach them and that too on time, with the issues of wrong address and change of place of posting also being there.

In the 2007 Assembly elections, only a total of 21,283 postal ballots were cast with the highest 5,264 being in Mandi, followed by 3,472 in Mandi, 1,823 in Hamirpur, 1,645 in Una and 1,502 in Bilaspur district.

In fact, some of the senior BJP and Congress leaders contesting the elections have come under the scanner of the Election Commission (EC) for trying to influence the postal ballots, which could hold the key in some districts like Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Una.

Former Health Minister and state BJP general secretary Rajeev Bindal has even been issued a notice by the EC for his alleged attempts to woo postal voters.

It was following reports that some candidates were trying to woo postal ballot holders and others pressurising district returning officers to issue fresh postal ballots that compelled the EC to ask the Chief Electoral Officer to send a daily report to it about the postal ballot position.

The highest number of 568 postal ballots was cast in the Nurpur Assembly segment of Kangra district, followed by 542 in Ghumarwin of Bilaspur district, 529 in Banjar, Kullu, 475 in Golapur, Mandi, 436 in Hamirpur and 430 in Nadaunta of Hamirpur district.

Shimla, December 5
Ice-skating season kicked off at Asia’s oldest ice-skating rink here today. A capsule-shaped red balloon atop the Municipal Corporation building signalled the start of the season today.

The opening ceremony lasted 45 minutes as the quality of ice was not very good. “The weather has not been favourable and the ambient temperatures have been consistently high. The minimum temperature was 10.6° C, 5.7° C above the normal, today and maximum was at 20° C, which was 7°C higher.

There is no possibility of an evening session for the next few days,” rued Manpreet Samby, a member of the executive body of the Shimla Ice-Skating Rink. Morning sessions will be possible if the sky remains clear during the night, he added.

The sky remained partially overcast for most part of the day today and the clouds drifted away only towards the evening.

The season started earlier as compared to last year when it got underway on December 14. Until the late 1970s the session started around the middle of November.

However, change in micro-weather has drastically reduced the duration of the ice-skating season over the past three decades. In recent times, the earliest start to the season was witnessed in 1999 when the first session was held as early as November 20.

Shimla, December 5
A moderate spell of rain in the end of November has created suitable conditions for the early sowing of rabi in the state. The sowing got delayed last year as the dry spell continued till mid-January.

According to field reports received by the Agriculture Department sowing of wheat has been completed in almost 75 per cent of the area and the remaining area will be covered by mid-December. The remaining areas are mainly in the lower hills adjacent to the plains of Punjab and Haryana. The rain also provided the much-needed moisture to the crop in the high hill areas where sowing is carried out immediately after the monsoon.

The crop will cover over 3.56 lakh hectare and the department has set a production target of 7.25 lakh tonne for the season. The overall target of foodgrain production for the state for 2012-13 is 16.50 lakh tonne, with kharif crops contributing a major share of 9.25 lakh tonne. Besides, pulses like gram and lentils have been sown on 9,000 hectares and barley over 22,000 hectares, mainly in the high hills. The overall food grain production during 2011-12 was 15.50 lakh tonne and thus the target for the current year is up by one lakh tonne.

Director of Agriculture, JC Rana, said a few more spell up to mid-January would ensure a good crop for the fifth season in a row. The department had completely phased out the PBW 502 and PBW 343 varieties of wheat from Punjab which had become prone to the yellow rust disease. The production of the seed had also been discontinued. For the high and mid hill areas varieties developed by the state agriculture university like HPW-155, HPW-236, HPW-147, HPW-42 and HPW 211 along with VL-907 and VL 829 from Uttarakhand have been provided to farmers. In lower hill areas and areas adjacent to the plains HD 2967, WH 1080 PBW 644 and DPW 621 from the adjoining states of Haryana and Punjab had been distributed for sowing.

The target of vegetable production for the year has been fixed at 13.50 lakh tonne out of which 5.50 lakh tonne pertained to rabi season and 8 lakh tonne for the kharif season.

Sainj(Kullu), December 5
The state wildlife wing has installed a grid of trap cameras to track movement of animals and poachers inside the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP). It is for the first time that the GHNP authorities are keeping a track of wild animals through global positional system through the track cameras installed in the park. “It will get to know which animals or birds move at what altitude and how many are there,” wildlife officials said.

The move follows a visit of a team of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to the park in October. The GHNP is being tipped as the world heritage site of UNESCO.

The national park shelters the man-shy snow leopard, declared an endangered species by the IUCN since 1972 and Himalayan black and brown bears. The rare western tragopan pheasant, which figures in IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Birds and musk deer, another endangered species also thrive in the park.

Poachers camp in the GHNP’s inspection huts and target these rare animals and birds for their prized fur, feathers and meat during the winter season. The animals climb down due to the snow in higher reaches, locals reveal.

Though the GHNP authorities have been claiming that these species have increased in number in the park over the years, they have no scientific data to support their claims. No effort has been made to track the movement of wildlife and birds in park areas so far. The species are at the mercy of poachers during the winter season, feel wildlife enthusiasts.

The GHNP’s management has been citing sightings of animals and birds to support their claims. But this has little significance for IUCN experts in the absence of relevant scientific data on movement of fauna in the park.

Director, GHNP, Ajay Srivastava said, “We have installed 30 track cameras in the Jiva valley and Mazhghan Upghain in the park to keep a track of the movement of wild animals and their location as well as poachers during winter,” he said.

Shimla, December 5
The Himalayan Niti Abhiyan, a body of non-government organisations pursuing environment-related issues, has demanded a public hearing to address the concerns of stakeholders before initiating any process for declaring the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) a world heritage site.

It has asserted that the government should first implement the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and ensure that all forest and ‘nistar’ rights were duly recognised as traditional forest-dwellers, who were dependent on the area for their livelihood needs such as fodder, fuelwood and timber, will be affected.

It has pointed out that local residents have socio-cultural practices inside the GHNP with holy places like Thirth and Rakti Sar located in the core zone. It has added that yatras of local deities are performed within the protected area and as such, their socio-cultural rights must be be granted recognition first.

It has suggested that a people-managed national park be established in place of the present set-up with the power to manage, develop and regulate it vested in other forest-dwellers as per FRA provisions.

The GHNP was provided a soft loan from World Bank in 1994 for an eco-development project. It had been suggested again that World Bank and private institutions could provide funds for it. It was apprehended that there was a plan to promote tourism, which would be in the hands of big companies. This was in contradiction with the spirit of the project.

Sai Ropa (Kullu): Local NGOs have demanded protection of the rights of forest-dwellers and routes leading to pilgrimage spots inside the core zone of the GHNP.

Even as wildlife officials have termed the apprehensions as premature, the NGOs have urged the Centre to ensure that the rights are protected and considered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Led by former Banjar legislator Dilaram Shabab, the NGO Friends of Tirthan, trout farmers and the Seraj Hoteliers Association had submitted a memorandum to Dr Warboys of the IUCN in October.

They are apprehensive that their representation was not annexed with state government documents submitted to the Government of India, which submitted the proposal to UNESCO.

Himalayan Niti Abhiyan convener Guman Singh said local and Banjar NGOs had joined hands to urge the Centre to protect their traditional rights.

Shabab said wildlife officials did not invite them to the interaction with the IUCN technical expert, which exposed the intention of the state department not to include local residents as stakeholders in the management of the GHNP.

GHNP Director Ajay Srivastva termed the apprehensions of the NGOs as premature as the proposal was sent to UNESCO by the Centre. He pointed out that the technical committee expert had interacted with the NGOs.

Kangra, December 5
The Red Ribbon Club of the Dronacharya College of Education, Rait, organised a workshop to enhance self-esteem and confidence of youth. Experts said gender equality was an essential dimension for society-wide mobilisation against HIV/AIDS.

Vijay Kumar, event facilitator, said gender inequality existed because the two genders were valued differently and, thus, had unequal opportunities and life chances. Gender inequality caused and perpetuated poverty and vulnerability, Kumar said.

Nodal officer Charu Kaushal said change in social attitudes and gender stereotypes were ingrained slowly and efforts were needed towards accelerating women empowerment and gender equity.

District AIDS Programme Officer RK Sood said due to the biological susceptibility of women to infection and their relative lack of power to negotiate safe sex, such programmes aimed to change men’s behaviour were vital in reducing the spread of HIV.

He said strategies were needed to prevent HIV infection, address vulnerabilities of the marginalised and women and give them access to services. With the rise in awareness about HIV and increase in the use of condoms, women would be empowered against HIV and STD, Dr Sood added.

Development of youth could be achieved through self-awareness, promoting responsible behaviour, making them commit to the goals of “I value myself” and “I set my boundaries” and “I care about everyone”, Sood said.

He said the Red Ribbon Clubs (RRCs) in educational institutions focussed on celebrating life responsibly through approaches like instilling self-esteem, values like caring for others, setting one’s boundaries, respecting others boundaries and personality development of youth. These training programmes aimed to develop abilities for positive and responsible behaviour among youth peer educators, who led efforts to prevent HIV through by making the youth make healthy choices.

Kangra, December 5
Nursing students of the Guru Dronacharya College of Nursing, Yol Cantonment, celebrated AIDS Awakening Day yesterday. The students took out a march from Chamunda to Yol main market carrying placards. They also raised slogans to spread awareness on AIDS.

They gathered at Chamunda temple seeking the blessings from the goddess and started a padyatra. Residents of the villages appreciated the effort of the trainees of the college.

Dr Rajiv Sharma, Director of the college, and Dr RK Sood, District AIDS project officer, flagged off the march from Chamunda.

Ananya of Ajith Memorial School won the painting competition while Shivani Sharma won the debate competition.

Solan, December 5
With little check on the sale of pre-paid mobile connections issued without proper verification their misuse by nefarious elements has become a cause of concern for law-enforcing agencies.

A random assessment of crime figures from police officials revealed that such mobile connections were issued with little verification of the identity or address proof of subscribers. Though cellular companies were directed to verify the addresses of each customer within seven days, it was to no avail as distributors were under pressure to increase their customer base.

Sources in the trade say when a customer deposits identity proofs to get a SIM card, it is scanned several times and some details are changed to use those proofs for issuing several other connections. This fact can be verified if law-enforcing authorities conduct surprise raids in the offices of the distributors where equipments like computers fitted with scanners and printers can be found conveniently.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has adopted a strict stance for issuing prepaid connections. Companies have been told to verify the address proof of an individual before issuing a connection, but all norms are being given a go-by.

With cellular players only interested in enhancing their customer base, little care is being taken to abide by the instructions of the TRAI.

Police officials reveal that the problem arises when such connections are used to make phone calls and the vague addresses available with the cellular companies makes it difficult to locate the accused.

Sources say a key cellular player had now started displaying limited information on its official site to its field-level officials while hiding the address and other verification details as duplication of a single address could be detected in such situations.

Easy availability of pre-paid cellular connections had increased unsolicited calls and messages to harass women. They are also been misused for criminal activities as they are discarded soon after.

The apex court had constituted a two-member committee comprising one member each from TRAI and the Department of Telecom to suggest recommendations for strict adherence to the customer acquisition form while issuing SIM cards.

It was also observed that mobile phone companies had failed to adhere to norms, including updating the subscriber details in their database and activation of the SIM only by authorised persons. The rules also required companies to verify subscribers again when they change their tariff plans.

Shimla, December 5
The Union Minister of Agriculture has accorded administrative approval for the implementation of a Pilot Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBICS) for rabi 2012-13 season.

As per the decision, Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC) of India Limited will be the implementing agency for the scheme for tomato crop in Solan and potato crop in Kangra and Una.

Weather perils such as frost, chill, low or high mean temperature, wind, scanty or excess rainfall, which are likely to cause adverse weather incidence leading to crops loss will also be covered under the scheme. Premium rates for tomato and potato crops have been calculated using the standard premium methodology and charged at the rate of 12 per cent for both crops. As far as premium sharing and subsidy was concerned, 50 per cent of the total premium would be payable by insured cultivator and the balance by the Centre and the state by half.

Lead banks, co-operative banks, AIC of India Ltd, which are the implementing agencies, will take necessary steps to ensure the implementation of the scheme on the principle of ‘Area Approach’ in the selected notified Reference Unit Areas.

The cut-off dates for accepting the crop insurance proposal from non-loanee farmers is March 10, 2013, and for loanee farmers March 5, 2013, for the tomato crop. For the potato crop the cut off date for loanee farmers is January 5, 2013, and for non-loanee farmers it is December 31.

No insurance coverage was allowed once this date was over. The banks will ensure that the claims are released to beneficiaries within a fortnight from the date of receipt from the implementing agency.

Hamirpur, December 5
The district administration has appointed 70 micro-observers, 60 supervisors and 60 assistants for the counting of votes of the Assembly elections at Badu and Hamirpur counting stations. The counting of votes will be done conducted on December 20.

Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur, Rajender Singh Thakur said the counting of votes would begin at 8 am at all counting stations. All preparations in this regard would be completed by December 17.

The counting staff would undergo training on December 14 and 15, he added.

He said the EVMs had been kept under tight security and security arrangements were being reviewed from time to time.

Dharamsala, December 5
Tibetans-in-exile have decided to use social networking sites such as Facebook to highlight the situation in the aftermath of self immolations in Tibet. Facebook page www.solidaritywithtibet.org <http://www.solidaritywithtibet.org> and a site www.facebook. com/ SolidarityWithTibet were launched today to campaign for the rights of Tibetans-in-exile.

Sikyong (an elected leader of Tibetan people), Lobsang Sangay, issued a statement today calling on all Tibetans and their friends to make 2012 a Tibet Lobby Year. The call has been a success as we have seen resolutions favouring our cause in the parliaments and the Congress in EU, France, Italy and the United States; as well as supportive statements by parliamentarians in Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, South Africa, the USA and others, he said.

Sangay said, “We appreciate the United Nations and various governments and parliaments for their concern towards the deteriorating situation in Tibet, and welcome the recent statements of Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, and Gary Locke, the US Ambassador to China. We also thank organisations like Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, US Congressional Executive Commission on China for their reporting on Tibet.”

“Let us build on the successful lobbying efforts of 2012 by launching Solidarity with Tibet Campaign in 2013,” he said.

Sangay said over 92 Tibetans set themselves on fire to date as 75 committed self immolation in 2012, including 28 in November alone.

A new video on self-immolation, a microsite, and Facebook page are being launched today to mobilise the international community. Governments, international bodies, human rights organisations and individuals can make a difference by intensifying their efforts to raise public awareness about the situation in Tibet and urge the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet through dialogue. The self-immolators have been calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and restoration of freedom for Tibetans, Sangay said.