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State has complied with SC order on police reforms: CM
65 candidates to contest MC poll in Mussoorie
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BJP fields Muslim woman
Sword of uncertainty hangs over neuro-surgeon's job
Prices of medicines reduced at hospital’s Jan Aushadhi store
PAC to guard strong rooms containing EVMs
TECHMA-2013 begins tomorrow
DM divides schools among nodal officers
Sunderlal Bahuguna hospitalised
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State has complied with SC order on police reforms: CM
Dehradun, April 15 Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said this while participating in the Conference of Chief Ministers on the 5th Report on ‘Public Order’ of the 2nd Administrative Reform Commission Recommendations at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi today. Bahuguna, in his address to the conference, said, “We are considering the setting up of a board of investigation, the office of Chief Prosecutor at the state level and the offices of district attorneys under his subordination and control in districts having relatively a large number of session trial cases,” he said. The Chief Minister requested Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who inaugurated the conference, to provide assistance on a 90:10 sharing basis to the states for ushering in such novel reforms. He said a demand of Rs 21 crore for the regular police and Rs 23 crore for the revenue police for strengthening and modernization purposes have been forwarded to the MHA for 2013-14, keeping in view the prevailing internal security scenario and the sensitivity of the state. Bahuguna suggested that the Central government may consider 100 per cent Central funding for the modernisation of the state police, on a par with the Northeast states. “This will enable further upgrade of the police infrastructure in terms of manpower, training and modern equipment,” he added. He said in order to keep a close watch on the activities of terrorists and anti-national outfits, seven special anti-terrorist cells had been constituted in the intelligence branch. “The state Special Branch has also been strengthened on the Nepal border by creating 10 additional units along with six units of the local intelligence branch,” he added. The Chief Minister said the state was also considering setting up an economic offences wing under the police set up with a view to easing its burden with regard to investigation. Such a wing would enlist the services of specialists on deputation from different departments like forest, excise, food and civil supplies, sales tax, transport and power. He added the separation of crime investigation from other police functions was more practical for large urban centres. “The Supreme Court had directed that this arrangement may first be introduced in urban areas having a population of 10 lakh or more. Though there is no town in our state which meets this yardstick, we are considering restructuring of the existing system on the suggested pattern and propose to introduce the arrangement in select police stations in the state.” Bahuguna said a provision for providing free medical aid inclusive of reconstructive surgery to all victims of acid attacks was being made. “A scheme to provide assistance to victims of other crimes is on the verge of finalisation. We shall spare no effort to ensure that the victims are treated with dignity and are kept updated about the progress of their cases. Suitable training interventions for sensitising police personnel shall soon be put in place for the purpose,” he said. Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain, Principal Secretary (Home) Om Prakash and DGP Satyavrat Bansal were present at the conference. |
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65 candidates to contest MC poll in Mussoorie
Mussoorie, April 15 A total of 68 candidates had filed their nominations while 2 candidates were rejected during scrutiny and 2 candidates withdrew their nominations today. After the terse warning of expelling the rebels, issued by the senior party leaders, one BJP presidential candidate Anil Godiyal has withdrawn his nominations, much to the relief of the party here. However, refusal of another BJP candidate Anita Saxena to withdraw her nominations despite the warning has put the party in a tight spot for the post of president. On the other hand, the Congress rebel candidate for the post of MC president Megh Singh Kandari categorically refused to withdraw his nominations and said that the decision to stand in the election was taken in consultation with the supporters and there was no question of sitting in favour of the Congress candidate in these elections. Arvind Goyal, the candidate from ward number 6, also withdrew his nominations on the occasion. With only one member withdrawing his name, cut-throat competition is being witnessed for the various wards, making it difficult for every contestant in Mussoorie. The maximum number of candidates (11) is contesting from ward No 7, while 9 candidates are contesting in ward no 6, eight in ward no 8, 7 in ward no 5, 6 candidates in ward number 4 and 2 and four candidates in 1,3,11 and 10 will try to emerge winners in these elections. Speaking of the major parties, Congress has not filed any candidate from ward number 10, while BJP too has not named any candidate from the party for wards no 2 and 4. Santosh Arya from ward number 2, Nand Lal from ward number 8 and Kedar Singh Chauhan, the sitting ward members from present council, are contesting the elections as Independent. The local unit Congress women’s wing president Geeta Kumain is also contesting elections as an Independent candidate from ward no 7, after she was refused the party ticket. Rajwant Rawat, another nominated ward member from the present council, is also in the fray from ward number 10. Around 21,667 voters of which 12,403 are male and 9264 are female will be deciding the fate of the 65 candidates in fray during the MC elections being held here. The lowest number of voters (408 female and 408 male) are in ward number number 10. The maximum numbers of voters are in Kacheri ward number 7 with around 1170 female voters out of 2700 in total. In Kulri ward number 6 the number of male voters is more in comparison to female voters. According to the returning officer, considering the elections out of 24 booths in 11 wards, 14 centres have been created for sensitive and most sensitive booths .Seven booths each have been identified under 5 centres as sensitive while 9 booths have been identified as most sensitive in 4 centres.He said adequate police force will be posted to avoid any untoward incident on the election day in the town. |
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BJP fields Muslim woman
Dehradun, April 15 The BJP has so far not given any ticket to Muslim candidates from the city and Parveen’s nomination has surprised several observers. “The party was looking for a candidate who would not only win votes but would also take up the challenges of encouraging women to take to politics,” said Teerath Singh Rawat, BJP Uttarakhand chief. Ruksana said that her focus would be on solving the burning problems of the area, which included proper cleaning of sewerages, functioning of PDS and distribution of ration cards. “I have started going from house to house to woo the voters and the response has been good,” said Ruksana Parveen. While the focus of the two major political parties BJP and Congress in Dehradun city would be on wooing Muslim voters, both the national parties have been cautious in the distribution of ticket, with focus on the winning candidate. |
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Kumaon region under festive spell
Pithoragarh, April 15 A sizable Punjabi population in the Tarai region celebrated Baisakhi on April 13th. More than 30 thousand pilgrims from different part of northern India visited the hilltop temple of Purnagiri Devi at Tanakpur subdivision, Champawat district. “The arrangement of water, sanitation and light in the mela are satisfactory. Our team which visited the area during the night found no shortage of facilities in the Purnagiri mela,” said Srdhar Babu Addhakhi, District Magistrate, Champawat. Two more cultural festivals were celebrated during this week. Syalde Bikhauti at Dwarahat region in Almora district and Thal Mela at Ramganga in Pithoragarh district. “Dozens of folk singers in groups singing local folk of Bair, Bhagnola, Chachri and Jhora enthralled the audience during Bikhauti festival on Sunday. The main ritual of the Bikhauti festival will be solemnised today when the representatives of a selected clan will fulfil the tradition of reaching up to a dividing sign installed at one place,” said Charu Chndra Tiwari, social worker from Dwarahat. On third day of the festival at Thal town of Pithoragarh, singers of Bhagnola, a folk style of communication between two singers, gathered from different corners of the region. “We have been performing in this festival since 1950 and communicating with our counterparts from the district through Bhagnola songs,” said Roop Ram of Talla Bhaiskot village, who along with 10 other folk singers participated in the festival. |
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Martyr firemen paid tributes
Haridwar, April 15 SP, City, Kiran Lal Shah said Fire Safety Week is organised throughout the world from April 14 to 20 every year. Elaborating on the even, the SP said it was in sync with Fire Service Week observed nationwide under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Fire Service Week is observed in the memory of 336 persons who lost their lives and thousand others who were injured in a devastating fire that erupted at the Victoria Harbour Dock at the Bombay Port on April 14, 1944,” said Shah. The Fire Department personnel also flagged off a fire awareness rally “which will spread awareness about fire safety among common people via demonstrations, pamphlet distribution and verbally”. Chief Fire Officer Madhusudan said technological advancements had made their users more prone to fire incidents. He cited different types of chemicals, plastic, celluar phones, electronic equipment, electricity goods that had been found to be cause of a majority of fire incidents. A special fire safety drive would also be held at the Industrial Estate at SIDCUL-Roshanabad where more than 125 industrial firms are based. “Everyone needs to be cautious as prevention is the best remedy when it comes to fire. Small precautions come handy and many big fire accidents can be averted by small preventive measures,” said Madhusudan. At Roorkee, SP, Rural, Ajay Singh paid floral tributes to the martyr firemen at the Kotwali station. Ajay Singh along with Fire Security Officer Braj Lal also flagged off an awareness rally held by fire personnel. The SP said people were showing interest and enquiring about the fire week “which bodes well for all as people’s cooperation is imperative if we have to minimise fire-related accidents”. |
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Sword of uncertainty hangs over neuro-surgeon's job
Dehradun, April 15 Months after he joined the hospital, the doctor continues to be in great demand among patients but so far as the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare is concerned, he remains unwanted. On paper, the neuro surgeon has been appointed against the sanctioned post of a surgeon, which is far below his qualification. So for all intent and purpose, the post of a neuro surgeon does not exist in Doon Hospital and has to be created through a government order. Dr Tiwari is the only
neuro-surgeon and has to take everything in his stride. So after attending to his patients, whenever he is free the doctor takes up his case with the officials in the state Secretariat and the Directorate General of Medical, Health and Family Welfare. "With great difficulty, we had managed to get the services of the
neuro-surgeon and we were assured that the matter will be sorted within a few days, but it has taken so long," said Dr BC
Pathak, former Principal Superintendent, Doon Hospital. Feeling the pinch after Pankaj
Arora, a superspecialist (neuro), left the hospital, the hospital authorities managed to rope in Dr Divye
Tiwari, a government doctor, with a promise that a post would be created according to his qualification in the coming days. "There is a great deal of uncertainty. I am conducting specialised operations that only a
neuro-surgeon can perform, yet the post of a neuro-surgeon has not been created. I do not know how long will it take. My entire career is ahead of me, I do not know if the matter will be resolved at all," said Dr
Tiwari. |
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Prices of medicines reduced at hospital’s Jan Aushadhi store
Dehradun, April 15 Since the taking over of the running of the government's low-cost medicine shop or Jan Aushadhi store by the Doon Hospital management committee in February 2012, there has been a considerable improvement in the sales of the medicines. “The inventory of medicines has been increased and after the store started posting profits, we decided to reduce the margin of profit from 40 per cent to 20 per cent from the store,” said RS Aswal, Principal Superintendent, Doon Hospital. When the Jan Aushadi store came up in 2009, it was decided to sell generic medicines supplied by five government companies comprising Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd, Indian Drug and Pharmaceutical Ltd (IDPL), Rajasthan Antibiotic Ltd, Bengal Chemical and Pvt Ltd and Karnataka Chemicals. But as these companies had limited inventory, the response towards the Jan Aushadhi store remained lukewarm. Even some of the doctors at Doon Hospital insisted on branded drugs, which was also reflected in the sales of the medicines. Then began the reinvention in 2012, with the hospital management committee taking over the running of the store and also allowing the store to stock medicines of other private companies that were also manufacturing the generic medicines. “This considerably improved the inventory of the store. The availability of Equirab vaccine that is being sold at Rs 360, against the MRP of Rs 433 has brought considerable relief to the people. The hospital is in the service of the people, that is why after the store began to show profit, we decided to further slash the profit margin from 40 per cent to 20 per cent,” said PC Semwal, chief pharmacist, Doon Hospital. |
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PAC to guard strong rooms containing EVMs
Pithoragarh, April 15 “We have started keeping an eye on people with a criminal background before the election in Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar and Almora districts are held,” said the DIG. He added the police had prepared a list of sensitive and highly sensitive polling booths in all 11 urban civic bodies in the four districts. “A DSP-rank officer will be deputed on security duty at every urban civic body in the Pithoragarh range. A patrolling team will also be deputed there during the election process and thereafter till the counting takes place,” he added. “We have enough police force in the range to conduct the present municipal election and need not requisition additional force,” said the DIG. |
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TECHMA-2013 begins tomorrow
Mussoorie, April 15 It will be inaugurated by DRDO chief, Dr VK Saraswat. The Director, ITM, Dr SB Singh, said the conference was part of various programmes being organised by the institute on the completion of its 50 years of service to the nation. He said such conferences would be organised once in every two years to keep pace with rapid changes in the field of research, technologies and its management. Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, has also been invited to grace the occasion as guest of honour. ITM officers will present technical papers on the occasion. The ITM, an establishment of DRDO, was set up in 1962 to train scientists (all level) of the DRDO, service officers and employees of other defence establishments. |
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DM divides schools among nodal officers
Dehradun, April 15 These issues are pertaining to increase in school fees, annual charges, insistence of schools concerned to purchase books and uniform etc from specific shops, deposition of three months' school fee for giving transfer certificates, failing children in the class I and VIII and physical and mental harassment of children. He said parents of school going children were aggrieved with the management of these schools. Various organisations were also against them. He said after getting the report, he would talk to the members of parent associations. Thereafter, he would talk to the management of these schools and ensure solution of all the problems brought before him. The City Education Officer said he got 60 complaints against schools by the parents which were more connected with failing the children below class VIII and not issuing transfer certificates.
— TNS |
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Sunderlal Bahuguna hospitalised
Dehradun, April 15 Though his condition is improving, he has lost a lot of weight which is a cause for concern and he will have to be kept in the hospital under observation of doctors for some more time, they said. Bahuguna, who was not keeping well for past sometimes, is probably suffering from pneumonia, according to doctors. |
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