|
|
|
|
|
Schools may get time to comply with RTE norms
DIG Sinha monitors readiness for poll, Char Dham Yatra
Computerised selection of Haj pilgrims begins
|
|
|
|
choked garbage disposal system
Cabinet to discuss Centre’s decision on Gaumukh-Uttarkashi stretch
Prayer held for Delhi rape victim’s recovery
Protest against rising cases of rape
Women Cong demands death penalty for rapists
CM pays tributes to Veer Chandra Garhwali
Work on Jamrani Dam may begin soon
Provide info on RTE compliance by May 7: Setia
Govt shielding criminals, alleges Negi
An NGO committed to tackling human trafficking
Two arrested for wild owl smuggling
Movement for people’s right on natural water begins today
|
|
Schools may get time to comply with RTE norms
Dehradun, April 22 ''We are in a situation where schools that do not fulfil RTE norms would automatically be termed illegal. We are thinking of giving them a time limit once again after which the schools would be encouraged to make self disclosures whether they had sought fresh recognition,'' said PS Jangpangi, Director General, School Education, Uttarakhand. He said that in the interest of the students the schools would be given a certain time period in which to conform to the RTE norms. Recently, a survey by the National Council of Education and Research Training (NCERT) had pointed out that around 381 primary schools in the state were functioning without recognition. Further, around 13 states had requested for extensions on the RTE deadline on account of untrained teachers and Uttarakhand ,too, has been unable to address the shortage of teachers. So far the Central Government has not extended the deadline of March 31 for all states in the country to ensure their schools are RTE compliant. ''While we are planning to give a minimum time frame for the schools to comply by the guidelines, private schools that lack minimum area would be forced to close down,'' said Jangpangi. The implementation of the RTE in the state has been less than satisfactory. Two years after the Right to Education, 36 per cent of sanctioned teachers posts lie vacant and most of the upper primary schools failed to attain the RTE teacher-pupil norm. While on the one hand the Department of School Education is grappling with the poor teacher-pupil ratio in government primary schools, the department is also faced with the task of reining in the private schools so that they do not violate norms of RTE by hiking fee, undertaking admission tests and ensure admission under 25 per cent quota. ''We do not want to exert pressure on any schools, because the private schools have been fulfilling the vacuum created by the poor teaching standard in government schools, but they too would have to comply by the norms,'' said
Jangpangi. |
||
|
DIG Sinha monitors readiness for poll, Char Dham Yatra
Dehradun, April 22 Sinha gave directions regarding the civic polls, which included patrolling and monitoring of sensitive and highly sensitive polling booths. He also asked them to keep vigil on criminal gangs and antisocial elements, who could trigger communal strife in the area. If needed, he said, they must take preventive action against them. He said the police force must be informed about the crime related to election and also the directions of Election Commission. He directed the force to take effective action those supplying liquor, drugs etc and using more vehicles than the permissible limit during elections. While commenting on the onset of the pilgrim season, he said: “Seeing the increasing number of devotees visiting Gangotri and Yamunotri last year, the number will further rise this year. Not only this, the tourist season will also pick up with the onset of the summer season. It is important for the police to set up disaster relief camps on all the roads prone to landslides/natural calamity. There must be sufficient number of police personal and safety gadgets along with first aid box in these disaster relief camps.” Stressing on the need to develop more sensitivity towards the cases pertaining to women, he said the police must quickly register FIRs in cases related to crime against women. They should keep in touch with victims. He also directed them to maintain close coordination between Women’s Voluntary Bureau, Women’s Helpline and police stations. He also directed them to register all the cases of missing children and girls under the section of kidnapping by lodging FIRs. He asked them to take action in such cases and take these to their logical end. |
||
|
Computerised selection of Haj pilgrims begins
Dehradun, April 22 The programme was organised by Uttarakhand state Haj committee for selecting people who would undertake Haj in 2013. The Governor said the computerised process was transparent and efficient. He wished the selected people all the best and said that they should exhibit good conduct during the pilgrimage.He said efforts would be made to increase the quota of Haj yatris and also to provide them more and better facilities. A total of 3731 people from the state had applied, out of which 1061 would be going on Haj. Present on the occasion were Haj committee chairman Rao Sher Mohammad, Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Qasmi , Secretary (Minority Welfare), MH Khan, and Director (Minority Welfare), HC Semwal. |
||
|
choked garbage disposal system
Dehradun, April 22 MAD, a teenagers' association, had decided to prepare a thorough report on the city’s garbage disposal system and enumerated a series of possible reforms. This report was handed over to the then Chief Minister BC Khanduri in December 2011. Khanduri had referred the report to the corporation requesting it to act on the findings. Seeing no action forthcoming, MAD members met Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in January this year and submitted the report again, which was forwarded to the corporation. It was then that
MAD members decided to write to corporation officials directly. On April 4, Abhijay Negi from MAD wrote to the Mukhya Nagar Adhikari and requested him to act on the report. He also reminded him that this was the second time that the report has been sent to him. It was then that the Nagar Nigam invited MAD members to a meeting on April 23. |
||
|
Cabinet to discuss Centre’s decision on Gaumukh-Uttarkashi stretch
Dehradun, April 22 The Chief Minister stated this while having an informal conversation with mediapersons at the Secretariat today. Bahuguna said the state government would present its case to the Centre on the issue keeping in mind development works in Uttarkashi, which is a border area. He added development works should not be stopped and all steps should be taken to protect the environment. He said the government would convey to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests information about the works being carried out on roads, bridges and for flood control in the area. On the other hand, the people of the region are up in arms against the Union government notification declaring the 5-km stretch of Bhagirathi river from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi as an eco-sensitive zone and banning any kind of construction activity on the banks of the river. Vijaypal Singh Sajwan, Congress legislator from Uttarakashi, said the notification was totally unacceptable and the people of the area, particularly those living in 80 villages affected by it, would start an agitation soon. |
||
|
Prayer held for Delhi rape victim’s recovery
Rishikesh, April 22 People from different walks of life got together to pray for Gudiya, who was raped in Delhi last week. At Parmarth Niketan, Swami Chidanand Saraswati Muniji Maharaj, with local people and foreign tourists lighted candles, praying to the holy Ganga for speedy recovery of the minor. Swami Chidanand called for introduction of moral science and morality based education in today’s time as the youth had gone astray. “This is a heinous crime which has shocked the whole country. We need to change the mindset of such anti-social elements at an early age. Morality-based education and stringent laws must be implemented to stop such incidents,” said Chidanand Muni. A silent rendition of mantras was also done by devotees on the occasion. Two dozen Thailand Buddhist monks also organised a prayer on the Ganga ghat for the good health of the minor child. |
||
|
Protest against rising cases of rape
Dehradun, April 22 They urged the public to change their attitude towards fairer sex. The members also presented a memorandum addressed to the President of India demanding action against the culprits of violence against women. |
||
|
Women Cong demands death penalty for rapists
Dehradun, April 22 In charge of the Uttarakhand Women Congress Shashi Sharma and state unit secretary Sarojini told mediapersons that the rape of five-year-old girl in Delhi was a deplorable incident. Shashi said the country was in a state of shock. “The rapists should be hanged to death. It was important to create a sense of fear among anti-social elements so that they were deterred from committing such heinous crimes,” she added.
Sarojini said society too would have to be awakened. “Parents have to give good values to their children,” she added. She, however, supported the Central government saying it was in no way responsible for the incident. Sarojini admitted that the security of the women was certainly an important issue, which their party would keep raising. |
||
|
CM pays tributes to Veer Chandra Garhwali
Dehradun, April 22 In his message on the eve of the anniversary of Peshawar Kand, he said this was an important episode in the history of the freedom struggle. He said long imprisonment could not dampen the spirit of this valiant soldier who was honoured by Mahatma Gandhi and given the title of Garhwali. He said the contribution of the heroes of Peshawar Kand in the freedom movement was unforgettable and momentous.
|
||
|
Work on Jamrani Dam may begin soon
Pithoragarh, April 22 Another hurdle was overcome when the state government sent the dam proposal for forest clearance to the Central government, said DC Singh, Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, Haldwani. The dam is important as it is considered to be a long-term solution to the drinking water problem of growing Haldwani town. DC Singh said with the Central Water Commission approving the design of the dam and forest clearance for the proposal under consideration of the Centre, the department could handle other issues itself. “The department has already identified land at Kashipur to rehabilitate residents of five villages which have come in the sink area of the project. Besides, we have also identified five hectares near Harish Tal in the Okhal Kanda block of the district to shift the Baba Hera khan Ashram there,” he said.
|
||
|
Provide info on RTE compliance by May 7: Setia
Dehradun, April 22 Perturbed by the callous approach of the school education authorities that have been ignoring letters of the commission, Chairperson of the State Commission for Child Rights Ajay Setia said the panel was forced to extend the deadline for providing information regarding the RTE compliance from January 15, 2013, to May 7, 2013. “The State Project Director School Education had asked for extension till March 18, 2013, but that date too has elapsed. Now we have again issued directives to the officials to provide information by May 7,” said Setia. He said a proforma had been sent in which information regarding recognition under Article 18, the lowest class being run in schools, number of seats in the lowest class, number of seats in schools under 25 per cent quota and a total number of seats filled under this provision by April 30 this year had to be provided by May 7. Further Setia said the panel had also issued 21-point directives for the implementation of the RTE in schools mentioning about the necessity under the RTE Act to seek afresh registration according to new RTE norms before March 31 last year. |
||
|
Govt shielding criminals, alleges Negi
Dehradun, April 22 Negi alleged that the government had utterly failed to check crime in the state. He said the government had been trying to withdraw criminal cases pending against a person who had been involved in 14 criminal cases and had been declared a proclaimed offender. He alleged that the state government had ignored the orders of the Supreme Court, the High Court and lower courts regarding the said person. He also presented documents regarding the criminal cases pending against the person concerned. |
||
|
An NGO committed to tackling human trafficking
Dehradun, April 22 While indicating Uttarakhand, he said: “The cases related to forced child labour or long working hours with minimum wages, or girls trafficked to other states via Uttarakhand, come under HT.” He further added: “HT is a low risk and money spinning business. The traffickers pay bribes to people from the NGO, police, politicians etc. Their chain starts from the village where they get children or women, and then hire good lawyers to defend them in courts. Since the acquittal rate is very high , we need to be equally organised to fight this crime.” Thanks to the voices of activists and NGOs, laws have strengthened a lot in this regard. He said, “At the time when Nithari case regarding rape and murder of children happened, such cases were meted out low priority at Ministry of Child and Women Development. But in 2007 the Centre awakened after the incident, whereby law-enforcement agencies report directly to Home Department on such cases. In 2009, anti-law traffic cell and units were also formed in each state.” Showing sensitivity about the rehabilitation of HT victims, he said two years ago Ministry of Home Affairs sent letters to states regarding amendment in Cr.PC regulations of 2009 in matters of compensation to the victims. The amount thus fixed is Rs 5 lakh for rape victim and Rs 3 lakh for trafficking. The police has all the power to punish the perpetrators, facilitate compensation to the victims and track down the parents of the missing girls/children. He was of the view that only if the police understood anti -HT Act well, they could really punish the accused. The quantum of punishment, which under Child Labour Act or Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, was minimal, has beenexpanded to 7-10 years imprisonment to maximum life sentence by making it non-bailable under Section 370, IPC. “If the police wants, it can build a strong case against the accused by slapping against him JJ Act, Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act , 370 and 376 (IPC),'' he added. He said the police should be highly sensitive while dealing with minor HT victims. He suggested company of good counsellors with the victim at every stage of the trial. This would help in taking full details from the victims, thus strengthening the case against the accused. His NGO was instrumental in rescuing a minor maid servant, native of Jharkhand, from the second floor of a building in Delhi. Her employer, a doctor couple, locked her up, leaving some food and water and flew to Bangkok. The girl, sickened due to hunger and dehydration, was seen crying for help in the balcony. She was rescued by the NGO after 10 days of being locked up. Ravikant said the defending lawyer tried to mitigate the gravity of the case by bringing it under the purview of Child Labour Act. When he drew attention to the fact that the couple had no business to take custody of a minor child, the case was tried under Anti-HT Act. He also shared another hair-raising case. A couple of years ago, he with the help of the police tracked down two students of DPS, Delhi, from the community of Badiya Nut at Alwar, Rajasthan. Besides these two, 12 other girls of good schools of Delhi were also rescued. The community, known for prostitution as a means of livelihood, was injecting dose of drugs in girls every day. The girls, who were 10-12 years old, looked 19-20 with bodies of mature girls in three to four months. The community used to sell these girls to their clients in Dubai. Not only are children being trafficked for sex and labour, women too are being trafficked for forced marriages, prostitution at brothels or through Internet or in the garb of ads published for friendship, massage or beauty
parlour. |
||
|
Two arrested for wild owl smuggling
Pithoragarh, April 22 “An injured owl was found in the same area two months ago. After that the department became alert in the area,” said a
forest officer. “The arrested youths, who are labourers, had been lured by smugglers into delivering the owl at some place in the area,” said KS Khati, range officer of Didihat. According to the Forest Department, the Himalayan wild owls are in big demand in big cities as some industrialists also keep these as pet to please Goddess Laxmi. “This variety from the Himalayan region fetched a high price for the smugglers as the neo-rich prefer these,” said the forest officer. |
||
|
Movement for people’s right on natural water begins today
Pithoragarh, April 22 “We will emphasis on the rights of the people on natural water during the movement beginning Tuesday. We will appeal to the people not to obey the orders of the government which deprive them of their traditional rights on natural water,” said Bisht. He said while every second state in the country had rejected leasing of surface and underground water to multinational companies like Coca-Cola, the Uttarakhand government was hell bent upon selling this resource to the companies. “On the other hand, when we demanded permission to generate 1 MW electricity from these natural sources by forming a people’s guild, the government rejected our proposal,” he added.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Classified | E-mail | |
Dehradun, April 22
A special prayer on Ganga ghat was organised here for the well-being and timely recovery of 5-year minor girl ‘Gudiya’.
People from different walks of life got together to pray for Gudiya, who was raped in Delhi last week.
At Parmarth Niketan, Swami Chidanand Saraswati Muniji Maharaj, with local people and foreign tourists lighted candles, praying to the holy Ganga for speedy recovery of the minor.
Dehradun, April 22
