Cold storage brings better prices to Uttarkashi apple growers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14
For a group of apple growers in Uttarkashi district it was a red letter day today as they received premium money from Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain.

Jain distributed cheques for Rs 1,000 to Rs 13,000 to 20 apple growers earned through a social-business model. A total of 840 such farmers would receive the cheques for selling their apples to a joint venture company, FFT Himalayan Fresh Produce Private Limited, which has built the first cold chain in Uttarakhand.

This is the first time that the apple growers in Uttarakhand are virtually making nearly the double profit from the cultivation of apples. The apple from Harsil, Taknor, Tyuni, Parola and Naugaon is now being sold in cities like Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur and Lucknow.

Jain also flagged-off the first four vans of the off-season apples from the controlled atmosphere (CA) store at Naugaon to the market, a vital link of a social-business model where profits are given back to the farmers.

“The apple of Uttarkashi is being liked by the people in big cities. We are thankful to the people for appreciating our apples. We are also thinking of implementing this social-business model in other areas like the processed food of local foodgrains. We are also planning to sell juice of C-grade apples in the future,” said LP Semwal, Director of FFT Himalayan Fresh Fruit Produce Pvt Ltd.

This business model became a reality after the Stichting Het Groene Woutd (SHGW), a family foundation of Netherlands, and Shri Jagdamba Samiti (SJS) engaged small and marginal farmers in the apple value addition business chain. This resulted in creating more employment, income, technical skill and local capacity for the apple growing farmers of Tyuni, Purola, Naugaon, Harshil and Taknor of Uttarakhand.

The inclusive business model through the cold chain for apple has been developed by a tripartite partnership of the SJS, farmers’ trusts and the SHGW in Uttrakhand. After getting a financial assistance of Rs 15 crore from the SHGW a few years ago, the SJS launched the apple project to eliminate well-organised intermediaries who controlled the entire process from credit supply for farm inputs, transportation to the marketing of the produce. In this business model, the farmer organisations become equal business partners with the private sector parties and a social investor. This social investor is willing to invest in setting up of agro-businesses, which can create sufficient value addition to the farmers’ produces in order to become healthy, self-sustaining joint companies of participating farmers. The farmer organisations themselves become shareholders in these companies, alongside the social investor.

For long-term storage, a controlled atmosphere storage facility with a capacity of 1,000 MT has been set up at Naugaon to store apples for off-season sales so that farmers will get a good value for their apples.

The other value addition process of cold chain development i.e. purchase of refrigerated trucks for transportation of apples started in September 2011 when four collection point joint venture companies supplied 430 MT of grade A apples from August 2011 to October 2011 for a trail run through four refrigerated vans and FFT Himalayan Fresh produce Pvt Ltd. They sold the apples from February to April 2012 on relatively good prices in the market. The storage company has the principle of profit utilisation to repay the investment capital, capitalise the company and pay additional premium to the participating farmers through collection point trusts.

During the apple season of 2011, 880 participating farmers got prices of Rs 40 to Rs 55 per kg from the collection point companies. A total of 430 MT of apples were procured and these apples were sold to the storage company at the rate of Rs 55 to Rs 65 per kg. FFT Himalayan Fresh Fruit sold these apples between February and April 2012 in the markets of Varanasi, Delhi, Dehradun and Jaipur at the rate of Rs 75 to Rs 85 per kg. A net profit of Rs 7 lakh (Rs 1.80 per kg) was earned in this regard by the company. The collection centres also earned a net profit of Rs 5 lakh (Rs 1 per kg).

Out of Rs 1, the collection point joint venture distributed a premium of Rs 0.25 per kg in cash on August 15, 2012, with a shareholding of Rs 0.25 per kg. The remaining Rs 0.50 went to the collection point company for capitalisation through a decision of the Board of Directors.

The board also decided that of the total profit of Rs 7 lakh earned by the FFT Himalayan, a premium of Rs 0.50 per kg would be given to the farmers. Besides, a shareholding of Rs 1 per kg would also be given to the 880 participating farmers. The farmers will get Rs 2 per kg as added price as additional payment for their apples, besides other benefits like immediate cash payments, training support, saving of time and risk in selling apples to the middlemen. 

 Chief Secy flags off refrigerated van for apples
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14
Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain flagged off Naugaon Refrigrated Van for apple growers from Naugaon in Uttarakshi district today. Jain also inspected the cold storage and juice machine. He gave away premium to farmers on the occasion.

Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain flags off a refrigerated van for apple growers at Naugaon in Uttarkashi on Thursday.

Addressing farmers, industrialists and farmer groups, Jain said it was a progressive initiative that would ensure appropriate price of produce to farmers. The farmers would also receive part of profit and ownership stake. Jain, narrating the example of FFT Fresh Produce Private Limited run by Jagdamba Samiti, said it could be a successful venture in the state.

He said the initiative would prevent a clash between entrepreneurs and farmers. The profits of farmers would keep adding. He said similar capital fund should be made at the state level with experts and professionals with foolproof standards.

Chief worker LP Semwal said the integrated trade model was a tripartite participation which was being developed through the Jagdamba Samiti, the Kishan Trust and the Stichting Het Groene Woutd (SHGW), a family foundation of Netherlands with equal stakes of farmer organisation and social investors. “The plan is also to implement the model in food processing,” he said.

Also present on the occasion were District Magistrate Uttarkashi Rajesh Kumar, Company Director Amar Singh Kafola and former Palika Chairman Sakalchand Rawat.

 ABVP criticises protest by Kashmiri youths
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14
The ABVP has slammed the Kashmiri boys for allegedly protesting at Clock Tower mouthing anti-national rhetoric. The parishad has also demanded their expulsion from their colleges.

Members of the ABVP today protested in front of the DM's office on the issue. They were of the opinion that the Kashmiri boys protested over the hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru and said things that were pro-Pakstani and anti-nationalist, hence the state government must act stringently and swiftly against them. They also demanded to apprehend those who absconded at the time of the protest. They said the district administration and police released them without implicating them under the provision of indulging in anti-national activities.

The members also demanded that the state government should also find out if people of the Kashmiri origin living in the state were indulging in terrorist activities.

(See also P4)

 Lohaghat residents demand artificial lake on Lohawati
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 14
Lohaghat residents have resumed their demand for an artificial lake on the Lohawati river. The residents said the lake would not only solve the problem of drinking water in the town but also attract the tourists to the town.

According to the residents, despite completion of all formalities for the lake, which was proposed at the Kolidhek village, 1 km from Lohaghat town, the work for the lake could not start, as sanctioning of further budget for the lake was stopped. “The lake that was proposed by former Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Mahendra Singh Mahra and also approved by former Chief Minister BC Khanduri could not get financial sanction beyond Rs 2.67 crore despite the estimate made in the DPR which was was Rs 17.36 crore,” said Vijay Singh Mahra, a local resident and representative of Rajya Sabha.

Engineers of the Irrigation Department assigned this work said the amount sanctioned was not enough for the complete construction of the lake. That’s why this was returned to the government after spending Rs 38 lakh in some initial works. “After we returned the remaining amount of Rs 2.29 crore, no fresh finance was received by the department,” said Umesh Kumar, an assistant engineer with the department.

The department has completed the initial work of drilling, geological survey, water permutation test and load bearing test by this amount.

Local MLA Puran Singh Fartiyal has said he had raised the demand of an artificial lake for Lohaghat town twice in the state Assembly. “The lake will be lifeline for the town, as it would not only generate water sources in the nearby localities but also could be used for drinking water purposed and could create employment by promoting fisheries in it,” said the local MLA.

 Left flays arrest of Kashmiri youths
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14
Leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI), the CPM, the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UPP) and the Krantikari Lok Adhikar Sangthan have condemned the highhandedness of the police with Kashmiri youths in the city.

In a joint statement, they said some organisations were misrepresenting the protest of these youths at the Clock Tower as anti-national.

The leaders have appealed to these organisations to avoid spoiling the communal harmony in the state. The leaders included Samar Bhandari of the CPI, Vijay Rawat of the CPM, Rajiv Kothari of the UPP.

Meanwhile, newly appointed president of the Uttarakhand BJP has demanded that an inquiry should be conducted and action taken against Kashmiri students who sided with anti-national elements and terrorists.

 Shiv Sena burns effigy of western culture
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14
As part of its protest against Valentine Day, the Shiv Sena today burnt the effigy of western culture in Dehradun. Led by Shiv Sena, Dehradun Youth Wing president Ashish Singhal, Shiv Sena workers gathered at the Clock Tower during morning hours where they burnt the effigy of western culture.

The speakers alleged that western forces wanted to annihilate Indian culture by introducing Valentine Day like events. They said the Shiv Sena remained committed to working to protection of Indian culture and ethos.

Virendra Rawat, Satendra Yadav, Tarun Ahuja and Rohit Sood were prominent among the protesters. 

 Foodgrains not given to poor; 3.7 lakh families hit 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14
President of the Jan Sangharsh Morcha Raghunath Singh Negi has alleged that the Food Supply Department did not distribute 545,776 quintals of foodgrain meant for poor people. The Central government had released the foodgrain quota in January for the period up to June last year.

He added this way 3.7 lakh BPL ration card holders could not avail of foodgrain. He also accused the officials concerned of not informing the public about the increase in quota of foodgrain for the poor people from time to time through the media so that they could themselves demand their share of foodgrain. But since the officials did not do so and the people also did not ask for the increased quota, foodgrain worth Rs 81 crore was usurped by the mafia.

Negi said the BPL families continued to get only 35 kg of foodgrain. He got this information on an application made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

He said Almora district topped the list where maximum 69,510 quintals of foodgrain was not distributed among the poor, followed by Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Pauri Garhwal, Chamoli, Champawat, Uttarkashi, Haridwar, Bagheshwar and Rudraprayag. 

 Camp for disabled at Dehradun
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14
At a camp for disabled persons organised by the Latika Roy Foundation at the Doon Hospital yesterday, 70 disability certificates, 50 bus passes and 40 rail passes were issued to the beneficiaries.

Those present at the stalls and information desks were A Ram from Social Welfare Department, Mangli from Raphael, Sushil Kumar Kaushik and Varsha from NGO Sancharika, SS Negi and GD Singh from Uttaranchal Gramin Bank, Akanksha and Nidhi from Make a Difference (MAD). Doon Hospital's panel of doctors for assessment and issuance of disability certificates included JS Bisht, Nautiyal, Vohra, Swati Sharma and Pratibha Sharma.

The camp was supported by Social Welfare Department, Uttaranchal Gramin Bank (UGB), Raphael (NGO) and others. 

 Drive against malnutrition soon, says Union minister 
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 14
Union Minister of state for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath has said that the Government of India will soon launch a massive campaign against malnutrition in the country. Due to this problem, the country was lagging behind in the international human development index.

Addressing newsmen at Nainital after taking part in a meeting of Hindi advisory committee of her ministry, Tirath said that the campaign will be on the tune of Quit India Movement of the 40s, as the government wanted the problem of malnutrition to be erased from the country. “We are taking help from other likewise ministries and including 14 lakh anganwari centres spread in the country in this war against malnutrition,” said the Union Minister.

The minister said that the government was of the opinion that society must lend a helping hand to the authorities to check domestic violence and dowry system. “Until every layer of society comes forward to abolish these evils of domestic violence and dowry, the government alone cannot eradicate these legislation,” said the minister.

Tirath said that the Delhi gang-rape, which rocked the sensibility of the country, has resulted in promulgation of an ordinance to protect women against violence. “The ordinance will be given shape of a law in Parliament's incoming session after detailed deliberations,” said the Minister.

She also appealed to the common citizen of the country to come forward to use Hindi in all government deliberations as the spirit of the nation gets expressed in it's own language.

“We have decided to promote the use of Hindi in our Ministry functioning by starting nationwide competitions on writing Hindi essays at the school level on the topic of women's and children's empowerment,” added the Minister.

 ‘Need to channelise energy of youth’
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 14
It is important to channelise the talent of the Indian youth in order to make the country a developed nation. This was stated by L Tilothama Devi, vice-chairperson, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan while talking to The Tribune at the state guest house in Damkoti on Tuesday.

Tilothama, who is on a visit to inspect various programmes run for youths in the state, expressed confidence that through programmes initiated by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, youths would indulge in positive activities.

She cited the impact of various village-level programmes on social malpractices. He also cited anti-drug projects and skill-based training programmes run by the organisation throughout the country.

“Youths are flexible and their energy should be channelised. We work in a planned manner, as we know that youth needs attention, employment and skill to fulfil their dreams,” added Tilothama, who hails from Manipur. Citing open social environment given to girls in North East, Tilothama said girls there were more indulged in studies, sports and cultural activities, while in Northern India, social constraints became a hindrance in bringing girls to participate in such activities.

She said it was important to generate awareness among people, particularly in rural segments. Social mindset needed a change or incidents like Delhi gangrape would keep happening, she stated.

Tilothama said she was planning special programmes for girls in the hill districts so that they also get skill-based training by the sangathan.

 Training programme on disaster management ends
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, February 14
A two-day workshop on ways to mitigate disaster risks and training programme for capacity building at local community level organised under the aegis of the Save Mussoorie, Seeds India and Christian aid concluded in Mussoorie yesterday.

More than 12 participants through mock drills were sensitized towards the ways to ensure safety during any disaster at the local community level.

A group session with an objective of understanding day-to-day risks and its impact during the time of emergencies was also organised for the participants.

The resource person from the Seeds India Azdani Rehman apprised the participants of the hazards, vulnerabilities and risks while working in the disaster zone and ways to cope with them.

The concept of school, structural safety and its components were also discussed in details.

Azdani Rehman said disaster was a natural or human induced event which disrupts life and people living in the area of which some were predictable in advance, some are annual or seasonal and some are sudden and unpredictable. He further said the community was generally found incapable to deal with the situation, therefore, such workshops were necessary at local levels.

He also said the training is also being provided to the participants through such workshops so that they are disaster ready at local level.

The president of the Save Mussoorie Sunil Panwar said they had gained immense knowledge on how to react and save lives during any resort of risks such as fire, earthquake etc.

Former Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola and Landour cantt board vice-president CP Baloni also commended the efforts of the organiser and said the preparedness towards any disaster or risk would go a long way in reducing injuries or death in future.

Samuel Chandra, Gurbaksh Sahni, Neeraj Aggrawal, Javed Khan, Ashok Kumar, Pushpa Padyar, Pinki, Parwinder Rawat and others were present on the occasion. 

 Two sent to jail for rape, murder in Kumaon
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 14
Trial courts in the Kumaon region have awarded rigorous punishment ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment in one case of rape and another case of rape and murder.

The District and Sessions Judge, Pithoragarh, yesterday awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment to an accused for raping a mentally challenged girl. He also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the accused. The youth molested the mentally challenged girl when she was alone at her home at Moonakot village in the district on December 13, 2011,” said Ganga Singh Bafila, district government counsellor in Pithoragarh district.

In another similar incident, the District and Sessions Judge, Udham Singh Nagar, awarded life imprisonment to an accused for raping a minor and later killing her at Bazpur town of the district on May 23 last year.

The accused took the 10-year-old-girl to an area near the river, sexually exploited her and later killed her, said Nandan Singh Dhami, district government counsellor in Udham Singh Nagar district. 

 Two students killed in mishap
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 14
Two students were killed when their school bus met with an accident at Laksar today. The bus belonged to JP Memorial Public School, Maharajpur village. There were 12 students on board when the mishap took place. The others students also sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.

The bus driver fled the spot. Local residents and parents have demanded his immediate arrest. The Subdivisional Magistrate, Roorkee, also visited the accident site.

Joint Magistrate Sonika has expressed shock over the accident and has directed the transport authorities to look into the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, a major fire broke out in a locality at Pathanpura in Roorkee this evening. Firefighters, with the help of the police and volunteers, were trying to douse the fire when the report was last filed.

Governor mourns deaths

Dehradun: Governor Aziz Qureshi has expressed grief over the death of two students in an accident in Haridwar today. He prayed for the peace of the departed souls and strength for their families.