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Separate structure for dentists hits a roadblock
Joshi’s cycle rally covers 7 states, 2,200 km
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Workshop on improving family planning services
6.5 kg opium seized from HP smugglers
Benefits of plans must reach people: Welfare Minister Rakesh
DM pulls up officials for not spending development funds
Bus operators agree to remove tinted glasses
Tourist inflow to Pithoragarh, Champawat stagnant
Most shopkeepers support new traffic rules in Paltan Bazaar
Shiksha mitras continue to be on receiving end
‘Retirement from cricket difficult decision for Sachin’
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Separate structure for dentists hits a roadblock
Dehradun, December 24 “It took almost 12 years for the Uttarakhand government to approve a separate structure for the dentists for which they had to fight a long battle. But after giving a Cabinet nod for the creation of a separate structure for dentists, it was expected that the approval for rules and regulation would be a mere formality. But with the office of the Chief Secretary raising objections, the file has once again got stuck in red tape,” said Dr JDS Rana, Joint Director (Dental). In the absence of a separate structure and rules and regulations, government dentists could not be promoted. Most of them have been denied the second promotion in their career spanning more than 20 years. On the one hand lack of promotional avenues resulted in the stagnation of dentists having more than 20 years of service, on the other hand, the cadre also suffered due to lack of new appointments. So when the Uttarakhand Cabinet gave the nod to the creation of structure for the dentists, they heaved a sigh of relief. In an earlier instance too, citing financial constraints, the Department of Finance had shot down the Health Department proposal to constitute a dental structure requiring 152 dentists to be deputed at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and district hospitals in the state. The final approval was given for a total of "After the creation of the structure, the next step was to draft the rules and regulations so that the promotions and new appointments could take place. According to the new structure, a total of five joint directors have to be promoted," said a senior dentist. Now with the objections being raised as regards to the draft of rules and regulations, dentists will have to wait for some more time before the final hurdle is removed. Even the proposal for the creation of a separate dental wing at Doon Hospital has been abandoned for now and will be part of the proposed Doon Medical College. |
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Joshi’s cycle rally covers 7 states, 2,200 km
Dehradun, December 24 The team started it's cycle yatra from Jalpaiguri on November 20 and traversing seven states, covering 37 districts, a total of 1800 villages and holding 300 meetings en route, reached Dehradun today. Earlier also, Anil Joshi had undertaklen three long cycle yatras. Two years ago he cycled from Kanyakumari to Dehradun to highlight the plight of the farmers in the country. Eminent environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna and his wife Vimla Bahuguna were the first to greet Joshi and his team of volunteers on their arrival at Rangers College ground here. Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal, Uttarakhand Planning and Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal, Uttarakhand Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi, Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli, former Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana were the prominent politicians of the state who greeted and welcomed the cycling team. S. Farooq, a leading industrialist, was also amongst those present on the occasion. Explaining about the motive of his arduous expedition, Anil Joshi said that the main aim of the yatra was to highlight the deteriorating condition of air, water and land in the entire country, and to make the villagers and the common man aware about the impending dangers related with these. He said that all along the route, he saw pathetic condition of forests, lack of water availability even for drinking, rivers turning into stinking nullahs and land devoid of fertility due to massive use of chemical fertilisers. He said that the water table in West Bengal and Bihar has gone down drastically and people were forced to drink highly contaminated water, leading to serious diseases. Joshi said that the concept of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was a misnomer and in a country like India it was vital that governments pay heed to Gross Environmental Product (GEP) in their respective state governments since a large population of the country was dependent on water, forests and land for its survival. He said that in many areas young people had not seen a forest in their entire lives. Joshi said that a report based on the experience and findings of their cycle yatra would be made available to all the seven state governments for necessary action. Govind Singh Kunjwal, Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker, appreciating the endeavour undertaken by Anil Joshi, said that he would try his best to incorporate his ideas in the future planning of the state. Dinesh Aggarwal, Uttarakhand Planning Minister, assured that a separate cell would be made in his ministry that would deliberate with Anil Joshi and other environmentalists to chalk out further course of action. Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi also appreciated the concern expressed by Anil Parkash Joshi and assured action, at least in Uttarakhand state. Trivendra Singh Rawat, Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli, Suryakant Dhasmana and S. Farooq also welcomed the endeavour undertaken by Anil Joshi and his team.
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Workshop on improving family planning services
Dehradun, December 24 “We have not been able to target the crowded wards in district hospitals, where institutional deliveries are rising. The mother is amenable to adopting family planning methods soon after her pregnancy, and it is an opportune time to counsel the mother for the same,” said Sushma Datta, Additional Director (AD), National Programmes, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare. She was speaking at a workshop on strengthening family planning services here. She said that doctors, nurses and accredited social health activists /workers needed to break the myth pertaining to IUCD and keep track of the programme by daily reporting client follow-up cases. In Uttarakhand the focus of intra-uterine contraception is in the two districts hospitals of Dehradun and Haldwani. The programme is being carried under National Rural Health Mission. On the other hand, the CMO of Dehradun said that the programme would have to be an important component of family planning as the total fertility rate in the state is 3.2 per cent. The issue of bringing Asha workers and paying them honorarium in the range of Rs 100-Rs150 per case was also discussed after they pointed out that they were being paid for carrying out sterilisation. |
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6.5 kg opium seized from HP smugglers
Dehradun, December 24 In this case, accused from Himachal Pardesh were arrested who brought the consignment to supply it among various buyers in Selaqui. The names of the accused are Kailash, Abdul Zahir and Sanjiv Kumar, all from district Sirmour and Mehar Singh, resident of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. SSP Kewal Khurana said, "The informer gave a tip-off about the arrival of some drug peddlers alleging that they were coming from Himachal Pradesh to sell opium at Selaqui. On this information, Circle Officer, Vikasnagar, Jagdish Chand and Station Officer, Sahaspur, Suryabhushan Negi laid a trap and arrested the accused on Camp Road near Selaqui." He further added that the consignment was to be given among the students studying in various academic institutions and employees of industrial units. It was to be noted that in this particular case, the kingpin had been arrested and not the middlemen which hitherto were nabbed with a small consignment. Kailash was the group leader who would collect the opium from various sources, whereas Mehar Singh was the trade partner. Abdul would work as supplier and supplied the consignment. Sanjiv Kumar is the driver of the vehicle. Kewal Khurana said it was found that the accused used to come to give the consignment in Dehradun as well as Selaqui in the past as well but they were caught by the police for the first time. Their criminal record was being probed. According to Negi, Himachal Pradesh is emerging as the hub of the fine quality of opium. This type of drug carries very less amount of chemical substance and is found more in its pure form. The Director General of Police rewarded the team with a prize money of Rs 10,0000. |
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Benefits of plans must reach people: Welfare Minister Rakesh
Dehradun, December 24 He said basic facilities like roads, water, electricity, health and education ought to be provided in SC/ ST majority areas. He directed the officers concerned to prepare an outlay of budgets for these plans akin to the general budget. He asked them to ensure while preparing budgets that provision of 18 per cent was made for the SCs and 3 per cent for STs. He also directed them to select the villages for the plans where more than 40 per cent of SCs and STs resided. He expressed dissatisfaction over provision of Rs 800 crore in the budget as against the outlay of Rs. 1478 crore in the SCP and said that approval of Rs 1700 crore had been made. Similarly, budget for the TSP had been pegged at Rs 229 crore as against outlay of Rs 246 crore and Rs 125 crore had been already approved. He issued directives to provide 50 per cent rebate to BPL families for new gas connections and establish ITIs, polytechnics, sports hostels, and reserved 50 per cent seats for SCs and STs. |
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DM pulls up officials for not spending development funds
Dehradun, December 24 He directed the Social Welfare Officer, saying that the beneficiaries must get the benefit of the schemes such as pension to widows, handicapped, senior citizens and scholarships to poor children. Purushottam said the state government released Rs 2862.62 crore against the approved expenditure Rs 7461 crore. Out of this, the DM released Rs 2629.21 crore, against which Rs 1189.43 crore had been spent till date. He also reviewed the 20-point scheme, saying that those departments which were lagging behind in B, C and D categories must try to come forward in A category. He directed the Chief Development Officer to review the National Development Scheme from time to time. He slammed the District Education Officer for not forwarding the report under the Right to Education Act and also for not distributing uniforms to all the schools of the district by December 15. To officials of the Drinking Water Department, he instructed them to hold a camp in various localities to redress the water-related problems of the people. District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam expressed his displeasure over food distribution in Doon Hospital. He said the food was not distributed as per the given menu to patients of Doon Hospital and women's wing of the hospital. He also objected over the poor quality of the food. He directed the superintendent of the hospital to plug the loopholes on both the counts. Purushottam instructed Deputy Collector Manoj Kumar to make surprise visits to the hospitals to check on the food distributed to patients and keep updating him about that. |
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Bus operators agree to remove tinted glasses
Dehradun, December 24 Some representatives of various bus transport associations met SSP Kewal Khurana today in this regard and requested him to grant them relaxation of one month to replace the tinted glasses. President of the Dehradun Nagar Bus Transport Association GS Bhandari reasoned that there was one such shop at Rishikesh which provided this facility of removal of tinted glasses. He said all the transporters could not change their tinted glass all of a sudden. The police was seizing their vehicles every day. But SSP Kewal Khurana made it clear that he could not give prolonged period as the Supreme Court had already passed a decree against usage of tinted glasses. He referred to the tinted glass bus in Delhi in which the gruesome rape of a girl took place, which shook the entire nation. He gave them maximum 10 days wherein 200 of them would report about the removal of tinted glasses to his office. Bhandari said the local bus transporters would be able to meet the deadline as 35 per cent of the total 300 city buses had transparent windowpanes. It will be a challenge for the tourist buses to do so which usually have tinted windowpanes. |
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Tourist inflow to Pithoragarh, Champawat stagnant
Pithoragarh, December 24 In Pithoragarh, the long promised air services from the Naini-Saini airstrip could not be started this year, discouraging tourists from New Delhi and other metro cities from visiting the district. “Though the air strip has been tested by many companies by landing test flights, commercial flights could not be started so far,” said Pawan Joshi, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Pithoragarh. The Kumaon Vikas Mandal Nigam (KMVN) has started Chandak trek trails and stressed on adventure tourism by organising river rafting and paragliding camps. But these initiatives could not make any headway in the district this year. “If a systematic development plan was made for these activities, the district would have attracted more than one lakh domestic as well as foreign tourists,” said Dinesh Gururani, Manager (adventure), KMVN. In Champawat district, due to lack of infrastructure at Ritha Sahib, Shyamlatal and Abbot Mount and shortage of drinking water facilities at Purnagiri the inflow of tourists has been affected. “Though more than 33,000 domestic and foreign tourists reached the district this year, the lack of basic facilities at prime tourist places hindered the arrival of more tourists,” said SS Yadav, District Tourist officer, Champawat. “We are constructing a ropeway at the Purnagiri temple and the tourist circuit from Haripura to the Mayawati ashram. Once these facilities are created, we expect more tourist arrival in the coming years,” said Yadav. The Naini-Saini airstrip in Pithoragarh is also being expanded at a cost of Rs 64 crore for commercial flights. |
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Most shopkeepers support new traffic rules in Paltan Bazaar
Dehradun, December 24 Vice-president, Congress, Suryakant Dhasmana, who arrived on the occasion to support the cause of protesters, also seemed upset over division among the shopkeepers on this. He said that the bandh call inside the affected areas of Paltan Bazaar was given three to four days before. Despite that so many shopkeepers preferred to keep their shops open, which showed they advocated no-parking in Paltan Bazaar. Dhasmana, however, assured the affected shopkeepers that he would discuss the matter with SSP Kewal Khurana and resolve the stalemate. He said connecting roads inside the market were clogged with parked vehicles, which led to scuffles among people. Rajkumar supported the idea of two-wheelers inside Paltan Bazaar, saying that the vehicles should be allowed till the parking arrangements were provided to the consumers in the vicinity. Ironically, many shopkeepers such as Som Prakash, representative of fruit-sellers, and Deena Nath Saluja, who spoke on the occasion, reiterated their demands to allow space to the fruit vendors inside the market and the facility of extended display, which indirectly meant encroachments. They clearly meant to push the Paltan Bazaar to old times, when just a month ago, it was crammed with parked vehicles, vendors and encroachers. Manager of Bata showroom OP Thakur, who kept his shop open against the bandh call, said: “Nobody is complaining. The public which is happy to be shopping in the market, which has become spacious and open. Even most of the shopkeepers like me are relieved to see the market like this. The police is present on every nook and corner, which makes us feel safe as well. Earlier, thieves had easy escape from the crowded market. |
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Shiksha mitras continue to be on receiving end
Dehradun, December 24 Along with the increase in honorarium, the shiksha mitras have been demanding waiver in TET qualification, but with the Nainital High Court ruling against the appointment made by the government of teachers who did not posses TET qualification, the battle of shiksha mitras is far from over. “We will approach the court for waiver in TET as most of us have 10 years of teaching experience,” said Lalit Dwivedi, president of Uttarakhand Shiksha Mitra Maha Sangh.
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‘Retirement from cricket difficult decision for Sachin’
Mussoorie, December 24 Priya was speaking to mediapersons near Woodstock School. She said Sachin had contributed a lot towards the game of cricket and he was capable of doing so in the future as well. “But if he decides to retire from one day cricket, it is his personal decision and she is no one to comment on it,” she added. Priya, while speaking on the recent Delhi gang-rape incident, said she was praying for the speedy recovery of the victim. The perpetrators of the heinous crime deserved nothing less than the capital punishment. “I am also a sister and a mother of two daughters and am filled with fear after hearing about the incident,” she added. The MP also appealed to politicians to come together on the issue forgetting party lines and arrive at an agreeable solution. She said the whole nation was anguished at the incident and the outpour of emotions of the youth was evident through protests at Raj Path in Delhi. The government should address the frustration of the youth that was visible in Delhi and other parts of the country. She also appealed to the youth not to take law into their hands as the government was committed to providing justice to the victim of the gang-rape through speedy trials. Priya would be staying in Mussoorie for two more days and celebrate Christmas with her two daughters. |
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The number of tourists did not increase in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts this year as neither the existing tourist spots were provided better infrastructure nor were new circuits added to the tourist map of these districts.
In Pithoragarh, the long promised air services from the Naini-Saini airstrip could not be started this year, discouraging tourists from New Delhi and other metro cities from visiting the district.
A few shopkeepers in the stretch of Clock Tower to Kotwali police station of Paltan Bazaar kept their shops closed for two hours in the evening in response to the bandh call given by traders of Paltan Bazaar against the restrictions imposed by the city police over plying and parking of two-wheelers inside the bazaar lane.
