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Trade unions’ strike hits insurance, banking services
Stir at Kol Dam site enters 8th day
Agitation at Kol Dam site enters eighth day
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Local residents, yogpeeth oppose move to cancel Ramdev’s land lease
Power projects, roads take toll on green cover
Central University to have one campus
Suspense over CM’s winter sojourn on
Over 30,000 pilgrims visit Cheshu fair
Govt to set up blood storage units at shishu kendras
Seven more SSB trainees suspected swine flu cases
Resident docs, PG students strike work at DRPGMC
IIT campus opening put off
MNREGA awareness camp held
Save Water-Save Earth Cycle Rally begins
Officials directed to study effect of noise, dust pollution
Increase retirement age: Govt staff
ESIC urges govt to attach hospital to medical college
Pension on Punjab pattern demanded
Farmers told to be careful of yellow rust
3 booked in girl abduction case
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Trade unions’ strike hits insurance, banking services
Hamirpur, February 20 Kashmir Singh Thakur, state general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said hundreds of workers affiliated to CITU struck work at many places in the district. Activists of various trade unions took out a procession in the Hamirpur bazaar carrying placards and raising slogans against the Central government. They also held a demonstration in front the Deputy Commissioner’s office, which was addressed by BMS state president Dev Raj Sharma, AC Chauhan, Pratap Rana, Joginder Kumar and Kashmir Singh among others. The speakers alleged that the economic policy of liberalisation and privatisation started by the Congress government was responsible for price rise, unemployment, corruption and retrenchment and demanded reversal of these policies. The leaders have also urged the Central government to fulfil the demands raised by the trade unions. The members of the All-India Punjab National Bank Officers Association also participated in the strike and held a demonstration in front of the bank. Dharamsala: Employees of various nationalised banks today staged a dharna and struck work in response to the nationwide strike call of their unions. Leaders of various bank unions alleged that the policies of the present Union government were responsible for inflation and unemployment in the country. The workers of various nationalised banks gathered in front of their respective branches and raised slogans against the present government. The strike hit the working of various government and private organisations. However, other public and transport services remained normal in the district. Nurpur: Following the nationwide strike call by the trade unions, the banking services of all the nationalised banks and the Life Insurance Corporation in the lower Kangra district remained suspended on the first day of the strike. Led by Uttam Chand, president of the local unit of the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association, Class III and IV employees of the local branch office of the LIC staged a protest in front of the office. The agitating employees raised slogans against the “anti-workers” and “anti-people” policies of the Union government. Mandi: Various trade unions, including CITU, BMS and AITUC, took out a protest rally in the town here today. The protesters raised anti-government slogans. Addressing the rally, leaders of the union alleged that the economic polices of the UPA government were anti-farmers and anti-people.
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Stir at Kol Dam site enters 8th day
Harnoda (Bilaspur),February 20 They stuck to their demands of a permanent job for a member of each family or Rs 25 lakh as compensation and free electricity and treatment at the NTPC dispensary, but the NPTC termed their demands as unjustified. Oustees from Harnoda, Jamthal, Kasol and Kian villages termed the agreement signed between the NTPC authorities, a few representatives and the local MLA as not acceptable till the Kol Dam General Manager announced the company commitments here in public. Oustees said they were used as cover to browbeat the management and private contractors every time there was a change in government or a new MLA was elected, but their plight remained unchanged. “A member of each family should get permanent employment in the Kol Dam or Rs 25 lakh as one-time compensation,” demanded Salig Ram and Chhota Ram of Jamthal and Tulsi Ram Gautam of Kasol. Oustees shifted to a private area outside the project road today and staged a dharna there after the administration imposed Section 144 at the project site yesterday. NPTC workers deserted the site and work could not be resumed today despite police patrol. Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Ajay Sharma, presided over the meeting with the NTPC General Manager AG Nanda, Bilaspur MLA Bambar Thakur and representatives of oustees at Barmana on February 15. The Deputy Commissioner said the NTPC had agreed to provide 18 non-executive jobs and 95 other jobs in private companies to oustees by March. He said oustees would get free treatment at the NPTC dispensary three days a week, a bus service and a school playground at Jamthal. “We had to impose Section 144 at the project site so that work was not stopped. The NPTC is a government company and has not violated any agreement,” he added. Oustees were also demanding 30 per cent jobs in the upcoming hydro-engineering college, free electricity from the project and free treatment at the NTPC dispensary on all working days. The local MLA was not present at the site, but unemployed local youths and women continued the protest at Harnoda and refused to budge till their demands were met. insiders blamed the NTPC management for letting the situation go out of hand as it ignored oustees, who were later supported by newly elected Bilaspur MLA Bambar Thakur. NTPC spokesperson Praveen Kumar said Nanda and Assistant General Manager (Human Resources) Sanjiv Puri were busy in a meeting and were trying to resolve the issue as the demands of oustees were unjustified, he added.
Oustees’ Demands
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Agitation at Kol Dam site enters eighth day
Harnoda (Bilaspur),February 20 They stuck to their demands of a permanent job for a member of each family or Rs 25 lakh as compensation and free electricity and treatment at the NTPC dispensary, but the NPTC termed their demands as unjustified. Oustees from Harnoda, Jamthal, Kasol and Kian villages termed the agreement signed between the NTPC authorities, a few representatives and the local MLA as not acceptable till the Kol Dam General Manager announced the company commitments here in public. Oustees said they were used as cover to browbeat the management and private contractors every time there was a change in government or a new MLA was elected, but their plight remained unchanged. “A member of each family should get permanent employment in the Kol Dam or Rs 25 lakh as one-time compensation,” demanded Salig Ram and Chhota Ram of Jamthal and Tulsi Ram Gautam of Kasol. Oustees shifted to a private area outside the project road today and staged a dharna there after the administration imposed Section 144 at the project site yesterday. NPTC workers deserted the site and work could not be resumed today despite police patrol. Deputy Commissioner Ajay Sharma said the NTPC had agreed to provide 18 non-executive jobs and 95 other jobs in private companies to oustees by March. He said oustees would get free treatment at the NPTC dispensary three days a week, a bus service and a school playground at Jamthal. “We had to impose Section 144 at the project site so that work was not stopped. The NPTC is a government company and has not violated any agreement,” he added. Oustees were also demanding 30 per cent jobs in the upcoming hydro-engineering college, free electricity from the project and free treatment at the NTPC dispensary on all working days.
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Local residents, yogpeeth oppose move to cancel Ramdev’s land lease
Solan, February 20 A meeting was held under the chairmanship of state yogpeeth in charge Lakshmi Chand and was attended by residents of villages under the Tundal, Banjni and Sakori panchayats and office-bearers of the yogpeeth. They said the move would affect the agrarian community which was due to receive training in trading and cultivation of herbs. They said it would have helped the local economy and farmers in particular who would find a ready market for produce. They said it would also have helped the youth learn yoga which would rid them of bad habits like drug abuse. Office-bearers of the yogpeeth decided to make preparations for the inauguration of the centre on February 27. They said the government should amend the lease agreement if there were flaws in it. Baba Ramdev was scheduled to arrive on February 26 and inaugurate it the next day. A meeting of yogpeeth office-bearers would be held with him on February 27. Reacting to the government move, convener Lalit Mohan said over the telephone from Hardwar that they had decided to set up the yogpeeth after receiving an invitation from the then state government. He said persons who had been visiting the yogpeeth at Hardwar requested them to set up another centre in Himachal Pradesh where there was immense scope to procure herbs. Expressing shock, he said they had invested about Rs 10 crore with one-third of the work having been done. He said they were constructing a hall spread over 10,500 square feet. He added that they were constructing it on a no-profit basis.
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Power projects, roads take toll on green cover
Shimla, February 20 The maximum 7,156 hectare has been provided for setting up 323 power-related infrastructure and over 6 lakh trees have been axed. A total of 4,244.89 hectare has been diverted for 210 hydroelectricity projects and 2,911.44 hectare has been given for laying transmission lines. The expansion of the road network is also causing the maximum loss to forests. Schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna and World Bank-funded road projects have led to rapid road network expansion. Large chunks of depleted forest land have been diverted for the purpose. A total of 2,018 hectare of forest land has been diverted for 736 roads. This includes 1,685 hectare for 682 roads constructed by the Public Works Department. A significant 825 hectare of forest area has been diverted for mining projects. The state has been losing well-established natural forests despite a moratorium on green felling. The green cover is far below the norm laid down for hill states in the national forest policy. According to the policy, two-thirds of the total geographical area should be under forests. Of the total geographical area of 55,673 sq km, only 14,668 sq km (26.35 per cent) is under forests. The neighbouring Uttarakhand, spread over 53,483 sq km and having a larger population, has 24,495 sq km (45.80 per cent) under green cover. Almost all other hill states are better off, with Arunachal Pradesh having 67,353 sq km or 80.43 per cent as forest cover, Mizoram 91.27 per cent, Nagaland 81.12 per cent, Meghalaya 77.23 per cent and Manipur 77.40 per cent. Open forests, with a density of between 10 per cent and 40 per cent, account for over 34 per cent of the forest area in Himachal Pradesh compared to 24 per cent in Uttarakhand. Dense forests, with over 40 per cent canopy cover, are fast degenerating into open forests. Very dense forests, with over 70 per cent density, account for only 3,224 sq km and moderately dense forests, with between 40 per cent and 70 per cent density, for 6,383 sq km.
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Central University to have one campus
Shimla, February 20 The Central Committee of the HRD Ministry had, on the recommendation of the previous government, decided to have two campuses with the non-availability of enough land in Dharamsala being cited as the main reason. The uncertainty over the issue has finally ended. The Congress had said the decision on two campuses was guided by political considerations as Dehra was a part of Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Anurag Thakur. Though construction at the two sites is yet to begin for want of forest clearance, the Congress is keen to retain the university in Dharamsala, as proposed by it in 2007 when Virbhadra Singh was the Chief Minister. “It has been decided to have one consolidated campus in Dharamsala and shift the technical university to Dehra,” an official has confirmed. So far, 67 acres have been identified near Khaniyara, for which forest clearance is awaited from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment. It has been learnt that 400 acres have been identified near Indrunag, where the consolidated campus will come up. The decision of the government can spark off a controversy. Leader of Opposition PK Dhumal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are likely to be critical of the move. They will accuse the Congress regime of acting with political vendetta. The Central University is functional in temporary accommodation at Shahpur at present. Following the formation of the BJP regime in December 2007, it was decided that the Central University would have two campuses, with humanities and arts departments in Dharamsala and science and engineering departments at Dehra.
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Suspense over CM’s winter sojourn on
Dharamsala, February 20 The sources say the winter retreat may begin around the end of the month or the first week of March before the Budget session of the Assembly. The practice had been started by Virbhadra Singh as he was often accused of bias against merged areas. He used to stay in Dharamsala for about a month in winter and tour lower areas. The Congress had got the Assembly complex constructed here for the winter session. The complex is now used for about four days a year and is termed as wasteful expenditure by some. The BJP government had conducted the swearing-in of legislators in Dharamsala. It had announced that at least one minister would be present in the Mini-Secretariat every day to redress problems. The announcement was not followed by action and ministers from Kangra district used to be present in the Mini-Secretariat off and on. PK Dhumal used to stay here for about a week and often stayed in Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur districts, comprising the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency. Insiders attribute the defeat of the BJP in Kangra district to the alleged bias of the previous government, especially Dhumal, against the district. During the stint of the BJP government, many offices were shifted from Dharamsala to Hamirpur. The Congress government has started the re-shifting of offices. The Congress held the Assembly session here in January and legislators were administered the oath. The winter sojourn of the Chief Minister is yet to materialise. The BJP has targeted the government for not holding the winter sojourn. Former minister Ravinder Singh Ravi said the Congress had not held the winter sojourn. The sources say the winter sojourn has been delayed as the new government requires time to plan some foundation-stone-laying and inauguration functions. When contacted, ministers from Kangra district said the winter sojourn would materialise before the Budget session, even if only for a short period of time.
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Over 30,000 pilgrims visit Cheshu fair
Mandi, February 20 The procession carrying idols of Padam Sambhav and religious books circumambulated the sacred Rewalsar lake and unfurled the new prayer flag to mark the fair. Devotees fed fish at a designated spot guarded by fishery and nagar panchayat guards to avoid overfeeding. The lamas also performed the Cham dance as a mark of respect to Padam Sambhav believed and worshipped by the Buddhists as the second Buddha. Hindu pilgrims also participated in the festivities. According to the Rewalsar Nagar Panchayat official estimate, more than 30,000 pilgrims from Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Dharamsala, Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim, Nepal and other parts of the country visited the fair today, stretching the civic amenities to the brink. President, Rewalsar Nagar Panchayat, Bansi Ram Thakur said the fair was going on smoothly.
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Govt to set up blood storage units at shishu kendras
Shimla, February 20 This was stated by Ali R Rizvi, Principal Secretary, Health, while reviewing the progress under various health programmes at a meeting of chief medical officials and senior health officials. He said regulatory permission was not required to set up these units, however, health institution concerned would be required to meet the requirements of space, equipment and manpower according to the guidelines of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). He said medical officers from each primary health centres (PHC) would be sent for monitoring and supervision of all the sub- centres under their PHC once a week to strengthen and improve the quality of antenatal care for which they would be given mobility charges. The benefits of the Janani Suraksha Yojna would be disbursed during the third trimester and after delivery and also in cases where the beneficiary was from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and below poverty line family, he said. Rizvi said to maximise the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) benefits to the community, possibilities of private partnership would be explored. Under the National Programme for Control of Blindness, option would be given to the beneficiary either to take spectacles from the department free of cost or seek reimbursement after purchasing it, he said. The cap on it would be revised from Rs 200 to Rs 400. The follow up of all the children screened under the School Health Programme (SHP) would be done especially for physical disabled children and 100 per cent corrective surgeries would be done under it, he said. Children identified for corrective surgeries or disability rehabilitation could take the required treatment and reimbursement in all such cases would be as per the guidelines of the government, he said. If needed, 50 per cent advance could be given on the basis of cost estimation submitted from the empanelled institutions along with identification of the intervention required, he added. He said in cases of dog bite, snake bite and natural calamity on the premises of a school, the cost of treatment on actual basis would be borne under the SHP.
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Seven more SSB trainees suspected swine flu cases
Kangra, February 20 This was stated by Medical Superintendent, DRPGMC Hospital, Tanda, Dinesh Sood today. He said the report of these tests was expected by tomorrow. The DRPGMC, Tanda, was not equipped with a swine flu testing laboratory as the Centre for Disease Control in Delhi was providing only one swine flu centre for one state. Former Health Minister Rajeev Bindal had announced that one swine flu laboratory would be set up at DRPGMC, Tanda, but nothing was done. KK Rattan, Medical Officer, SSB Centre, Sappri, said two trainees Ravinder and Ratul, who were detected as swine flu positive yesterday, had been shifted to the IGMC, Shimla, yesterday and the SSB authorities were awaiting for the medical report of the seven samples sent today. He said the seven trainees were kept in isolation. Commandant, SSB Centre, SK Sharma was not accessible for his comments. The state has so far experienced four swine flu deaths.
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Resident docs, PG students strike work at DRPGMC
Kangra, February 20 They were protesting against the assault on a doctor at the radiology department and demanding adequate security and other facilities for resident doctors and postgraduate students. Resident Doctors’ Association president Rahul Gupta said the Himachal Pradesh High Court had directed the DRPGMC authorities to hold frequent meetings with resident doctors to avoid such a situation. He said Dr Swaroop Sood was assaulted yesterday and the security guard posted at the department was absent. He said the Rogi Kalyan Samiti had become practically non-functional. He said there was no welfare activity, no mess and no common room for postgraduate students and resident doctors. He said they were performing 36-hour duty at a stretch. He said Dr Anil Chauhan, Principal, had directed the Medical Superintendent and heads of department to take steps to sort out the problems, but they had not even responded. DRPGMC Additional Director R Gautam called a meeting of the striking doctors and Medical Superintendent Dinesh Sood. Gautam said it was decided to set up a central control room with a landline telephone. He said the Ex-Servicemen League in Hamirpur, which had provided the security, was told to take appropriate action against the security guard for his absence yesterday.
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IIT campus opening put off
Mandi, February 20 The IIT authorities have postponed the inauguration indefinitely as the helicopter carrying Union Human Resource Minister MM Pallam Raju will not be able to land that day. All arrangements were brought to a nought as the ministry conveyed its inability regarding the function citing the weather forecast as the reason. The IIT spokesperson said the inauguration was postponed due to the weather prediction, adding that a fresh date was not declared so far.
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MNREGA awareness camp held
Nurpur, February 20 Presiding over the camp, Deputy Commissioner (DC) C Paulrasu said the objective of such camps was to educate gram panchayat pradhans and up-pradhans about the MNREGA scheme and solve their problems and misconceptions about it so that the target could be achieved in the next fiscal year. Panchayat-level government employees were also present at the camp. Expressing concern over the slow pace of undertaking rural development activities, Paulrasu said the government had earmarked Rs 135 crore for Kangra district for the current financial year, but only Rs 60 crore had been spent so far on it. Nurpur development block, which had spent Rs 11 crore in 2010-11, had spent only Rs 3 crore in the current fiscal year so far. He asked panchayat pradhans to maintain a proper record of MNREGA jobs and ensure transparency by photographing all works executed under this scheme. He also exhorted them to execute works in proper planning and management so that better results could be achieved. The panchayat pradhans and up-pradhans apprised the DC of various problems being faced practically while undertaking MNREGA works. ADC, Kangra, Rohan Thakur replied queries of panchayat pradhans. After hearing panchayat pradhans, the DC ordered to issue show-cause notices to a panchayat secretary and two gram rojgar sevaks of Nurpur block for their laxity in undertaking MNREGA works.
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Save Water-Save Earth Cycle Rally begins
Shimla, February 20 Organised by Jamia Millia Islamia, a premium Central university of the country, the objective of the rally is to generate awareness about the preservation of environment and provide opportunity to students to face various challenges, develop character and personality, alongwith understanding flora and fauna of different regions. The Chief Minister said the motto of the rally was not only important to the state and nation, but the entire world. He congratulated the participants for taking up such an important issue. The rally from Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh to Delhi has been organised in association with the NSS, NCC, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Department of Youth Services and Sports of Himachal Pradesh. A group of 26 students, 20 boys and six girls, and 13 staff members are participating in the rally. They will cover a distance of 452 km, passing through the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
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Officials directed to study effect of noise, dust pollution
Solan, February 20 These directions were issued during a recent meeting, held under the chairmanship of the SDM of Arki, to hear villagers’ grievances. The meeting was held following the directions of the Governor, after villagers complained that their grievances had remained unheard. The villagers had complained that noise and dust pollution was increasing everyday and causing ailments in humans and cattle. Villager Devi Chand pointed out that his house was often shaken due to vibrations generated by the use of machinery at the cement plant. People of Rouri, Suli and Khata villages have been facing immense noise pollution being near the plant. They further said the arable land and grasslands of Rouri, Khata, Baga, Nauni, Bated, Suhali, Kuhan, Pachhiwar, Sular, Salyari and Damras villages had been adversely affected due to the dust emanating from the plant and they demanded compensation for the loss of their health and crop. They were assured by officials that the issue would be taken up with the company management, and the Animal Husbandry, Health and Agriculture Departments were directed to conduct a study on the issue. The villagers also spoke about employment to outsiders and enhancing the quota of transportation work to members of the Baghal Land Losers Society. They were assured that the matter would be taken up with the Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, and company management.
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Increase retirement age: Govt staff
Chamba, February 20 Supporting the demand of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation, the employees of the region said extending the age of superannuation would bring uniformity and equivalence with the staff of the Central government. They also demanded fiscal benefits on the Punjab pattern.
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ESIC urges govt to attach hospital to medical college
Mandi, February 20 Medical college sources said the ESIC was ready to start its medical college from the academic session that would start in August-September. The Deputy Medical Commissioner asked the Health Department to allow it to inspect the hospital and attach it to the medical college till its 500-bedded super-speciality hospital is complete. “We have conveyed the request to the Heath Secretary. When we get permission, we will inspect the hospital and submit a report to the ESIC Medical Commissioner,” says Dr DS Dhiman, medical college Dean. The state has yet to give permission in writing for attaching the hospital. The medical college authorities had asked the state in September 2010 to issue an essentiality certificate. The ESIC authorities could not apply to the MCI last year as the then state government did not issue it an essentiality certificate and the Centre did not show much interest. With the change in government, both the state and the Centre have formally shown the political will to attach the hospital to the medical college. The college can start its first batch from this session as the MCI has recognised the hospital for internship. Principal Secretary for Health Ali Raza Rizvi says they will attach the hospital to the medical college as and when they get the letter from the ESIC. He has added that the initiative has to come from the ESIC and they have conveyed this decision to the ESIC authorities. The Centre last year gave its nod to the ESIC medical college at Gulbarga in Karnataka by attaching a local hospital to its medical college. The Rs 700-crore medical college project here is running two years behind schedule. It has 40 seats for the state cadre, 40 for the Central quota and 20 for ESIC beneficiaries.
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Pension on Punjab pattern demanded
Shimla, February 20 A deputation of the association met the Chief Minister here today and apprised him of the pending issues pertaining to the pensioners. They said Punjab had granted an additional pension at the rate of five per cent, 10 per cent, 15 per cent and 25 per cent after the age of 65, 70, 75 and 80 years. The state should also release this benefit, they added. It also demanded that the pensioners should be paid Rs 500 as minimum medical allowance and they should be charged for stay in government rest houses on par with the serving employees. They also drew the attention of the Chief Minister towards the long-pending medical reimbursement bills of pensioners.
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Farmers told to be careful of yellow rust
Palampur, February 20 Farmers have been advised to visit fields and observe their crop regularly for the appearance of yellow rust in the form of yellow-coloured pustules and powdery mass in stripes on leaves. They have been told to spray the crops with Tilt 25EC or Shine 25EC by making a solution of 30 ml fungicide in 30 litre of water and repeat the procedure after 15 days. For more information, farmers may contact farm officials or farm scientists in their area.
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3 booked in girl abduction case
Nurpur, February 20 According to information, 24-year-old girl Pammi was allegedly abducted by the accused on February 4 evening when she had gone out to fetch milk. They forcibly took her away in a vehicle by administering some sedative substance and kept her in an unknown place. Her family registered a missing report with the police on February 5, but no clue was found about her whereabouts. Nurpur DSP Rajinder Jaswal said on February 15 the family received a phone call from the victim who narrated the whole episode of her kidnapping, but she could not reveal the place where the accused had kept her.
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Normal work was affected in a majority of public sector banks, offices of the Life Insurance Corporation and partially the BSNL office here today as employees observed a strike on the call of various trade unions.
Oustees and the NTPC, which is executing the 800-MW Kol Dam project, are on a collision course. Oustees continued to paralyse work for the eighth consecutive day today.
Solan, February 20
