Insurance scheme for anganwadi workers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
The Uttarakhand Government has announced a group insurance scheme for anganwadi workers of the state.

The announcement came at a programme organised to honour Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna by anganwadi workers, sevika and the mini-workers association at the Dehradun Municipal Corporation auditorium today.

The Chief Minister took the opportunity to announce the setting up of a “women welfare fund”. He also assured that he would appeal to the Central Government to upgrade mini-anganwadi centres in the state.

Bahuguna said women had made a significant contribution in the formation of state. While pointing out that the economy of the rural and hilly areas was still dependent on women, he said it was the duty of the government to ensure welfare of the women, especially those living in border and hilly areas, on priority basis.

He said his government was always ready to listen to the problems of the government employees. “Strikes are no solution to any problem and only cause problems for the public”, he added.

Bahuguna said during the recent disaster, the state government went beyond the set norms to help people. The women who were widowed during the disaster were given aid according to the norms, along with Rs 25,000. He said the government had also provided fixed deposits of Rs 1 lakh each, for girls orphaned in the flash floods.

Uttarakhand Women Empowerment and Child Development Minister Amrita Rawat said the present government was very sensitive to the needs of the women, and widows in particular. Association state president Rekha Negi and general secretary Sushili Khatri conducted the programme. MLA Rajkumar was also present.

The government had recently increased the wages of the anganwadi workers by Rs 1,000. Today’s event was organised to express their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the same.

 Khanduri to be blamed for BJP's poll debacle: Fonia

Dehradun, January 12
Attacking former Chief Minister BC Khanduri, his one-time associate Kedar Singh Fonia yesterday has blamed him for promoting corruption during his tenure as the Chief Minister of the state.

In his 256-page book 'Uttaranchal Sey Uttarakhand Key Barah Varsh', released in Dehradun yeterday, Fonia, a former BJP leader and an old associate of Khanduri, lambasted the latter for patronising corruption. He said on coming to power, Khanduri took away liquor business from Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam and handed it back to the liquor mafia.

In the book, Fonia has alleged that Khanduri was responsible for BJP's poll debacle in 2012 assembly elections. "Khanduri intentionally denied tickets to eight leaders, who had the potential to win," Fonia added. He said Khanduri himself lost the polls despite being a sitting CM, evidently revealing his falling graph of popularity. — TNS

 AAP workers hold ‘Jhadhu Yatra’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers organised a ‘Jhadhu Yatra’ in Dehradun today. They gathered at Gandhi Park and from they started the march. The workers who were carrying their brooms - the symbol of the party - swept roads at a number of places. They declared that like Delhi, Uttarakhand too needed a change of guard for good governance.

Puja Bahukhundi, who led the yatra, said lack of an effective redress mechanism in the state was leading to a lot of hardships for the people of the state. She sought the implementation of the Jan Lokpal in the state to put a check on corruption.

Rajesh Pancholi, Suresh Kakkar, Sonia, Dinesh Negi and Rajesh Arya participated in the programme.

 POLITICAL DIARY
Change of guard rumour brings forth CM aspirants
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
The speculation about the possible change of guard in Uttarakhand has once again pushed the Congress-led state government headed by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna into turmoil and many aspirants have surfaced who have thrown their hats into the ring for the top job.

After the defeat of the Congress in the Assembly elections in four states in December last, there was again a talk that the Chief Minister may be changed. However, it was termed as a mere rumour. But again this week reports from the national capital suggest that the Congress high command is contemplating to change the Chief Minister, triggering a race among aspirants of the top post in the state Congress.

The main contender for the chief ministership remains Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat, who after being denied the post of Chief Minister after the 2012 Assembly poll, has been trying hard to dislodge Vijay Bahuguna. The natural disaster in June last year and the alleged mishandling of the relief and rehabilitation efforts by the state government gave an opportunity to the Bahuguna detractors to demand a change in guard ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April and May.

Interestingly, one of the senior-most ministers in the Bahuguna Cabinet Indira Hriyadesh has also thrown her hat in the ring. She claimed that she had been in the Congress politics since 1974 and being the senior-most legislator and minister deserve a chance to be the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. Other ministers Pritam Singh Panwar and Harak Singh Rawat are also reportedly in the race.

On the other hand, the Bahuguna camp has been using the People Democratic Front (PDF), a seven-member conglomerate of Independents, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) and the BSP which is supporting the state government. in its own favour. The Bahuguna camp has got a petition signed by 22 legislators, including seven PDF members, against change of the Chief Minister. To counter the challenge posed by Harish Rawat, the group has also put forward the name of Satpal Maharaj, Lok Sabha MP from Pauri Garhwal, as the possible candidate for the post of Chief Minister.

While Bahuguna’s detractors claim that a possible decision about the government leadership would be taken at the meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) scheduled to be held in New Delhi on January 17, the Bahuguna followers say there are no indications that the present Chief Minister would be changed.

Since March 2012 when Bahuguna was made the Chief Minister after the Congress narrowly managed to win the state Assembly elections, there have been a rumour every three months of his removal. This rumour has eroded the credibility of the state government as well as the Congress. Senior party leaders believe that the political uncertainty would do more harm to the Congress, which is already having its back to the wall in the run up to the crucial Lok Sabha elections in the state. They believe that a replacement other than Harish Rawat would be disastrous for the party and the state government.

Moreover, there is no clarity about who wants the Chief Minister to be changed and for what purpose. Congress leaders believe that Congress national vice-president Rahul Gandhi wants to refurbish the image of the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections but he is keeping his cards on the Uttarakhand leadership issue close to his chest.

The Congress leaders argue that the logic behind a possible change seems strange as it cannot bring votes for the party in the country and there are only five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand. A change in the government leadership would have not much effect on the outcome of the polls in the state. Moreover, there are serious allegations of corruption against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh but the Congress leadership is scared of touching him.

Amid speculation that Vijay Bahuguna may be changed, it was expected that the state Congress would at least get a new president. The present state Congress present, Yashpal Arya, had resigned from the party post last year. 

 Khanduri in 2011 let go chance to lead anti-graft front
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
Long before the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was born, pressure groups disillusioned with corruption during the regime of former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had made efforts in 2011 to launch a party on the anti-corruption plank to be led by former Chief Minister BC Khanduri. Khanduri was at that time forced to live in political isolation after his unceremonious removal from the post of Chief Minister. 

The timing was perfect as social activist Anna Hazare had launched a crusade against corruption with his Jan Lokpal movement all across the country. But Khanduri let go the opportunity and the movement remained almost subdued largely due to the absence of a leader who could charter a bold course for the state.

Despite a groundswell of support, Khanduri failed to wrest the initiative and did not walk the talk and quit the BJP that had not treated him fairly. The party had blamed him for the loss of five Lok Sabha seats and pushed him into political wilderness.

Today, when the AAP has humbled a powerful Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and replaced her in Delhi it is worth recalling the opportunity that came Uttarakhand’s way and was frittered away in the absence of a bold leader. Essentially, Uttarakhand’s loss is Delhi’s gain. Those who were in the forefront of the campaign term it as a missed opportunity.

“Most of us, who were part of the statehood agitation, were disillusioned with the prevailing political scene and had lent our weight to Khanduri. But somehow he was not ready to break away from the BJP. Maybe his years as a dedicated soldier did not allow him to take the plunge,” said PC Thapliyal, a statehood activist.

For that matter, after the initial burst of enthusiasm, the people around Khanduri became wary and soon enough the vigilant BJP decided to mollify the leader. “With eyes set on the Uttarakhand Assembly elections in 2012, the BJP had sensed an opportunity to bring back the former Army General whose clean image could still become a selling point for the party that was battling with corruption charges against Nishank,” said Thapliyal.

Though Khanduri became the face of the BJP in the 2012 state Assembly elections, he lost his own Kotdwar seat. Even the Lokayukta Bill brought by him has been rejected by the Congress-led government, which is also bringing changes in the Right to Service Act.

Enigmatic as ever and a man of few words, Khanduri critics say he lost an opportunity to alter the course of history. 

 Final list of reserved seats
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
Around 320 objections have been received against the interim list of reserved seats for the panchayat elections in Dehradun district released two days ago. The final list would be published on January 13. 

The District Panchayati Raj Officer had released the interim reservation list based on the 2011 Census.

 Madan Kaushik eyes LS ticket from Haridwar
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 12
In March 2009 when Madan Kaushik was declared the official candidate of the BJP for the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat, there was enthusiasm among party workers who celebrated the core committee decision in anticipation of an imminent victory for the party. Such was the euphoria that BJP activists used to address Madan Kaushik, sitting legislator from the BJP (city) seat, as ''MP sahib".

However, the euphoria was over soon and disappointment set in as the BJP high command rolled back its decision on Kaushik's candidature and announced Swami Yatindranand Giri as the candidate from the Haridwar parliamentary seat. Swami Yatindranand lost to Congress nominee Harish Rawat by a margin of 1.15 lakh votes.

After five years Kaushik is again vying for the party ticket to fight the Lok Sabha elections. He celebrated his 49th birthday yesterday. Hoardings carrying birthday wishes were put up at many places by party leaders.

Kaushik at his Khanna Nagar residence told The Tribune that he had been a legislator from the Haridwar (city) segment for the last 14 years and now felt that he could contribute much more by becoming a Member of Parliament from the constituency.

He, however, said it was for the party high command decide and he would abide by the decision as an honest party worker.

Kaushik, who won with a record margin of votes in all three Assembly elections held in 2000, 2007 and 2012 from Haridwar, said if the party high command and the public reposed faith in him, he would usher in development in the constituency.

The MLA cited the victory of the BJP in the five Assembly segments falling in Haridwar and said the people were perturbed at the ''ill-governance'' of the Congress both at Central and state levels. That was why BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is being seen by public as saviour of the nation.

BJP divisional president Vikas Tiwari said Kaushik had the ability to win elections and his record had been unmatched by his rival candidates.

Tiwari said from grass-root workers to seasoned party leaders, Kaushik was in touch with everyone and motivated youths to work for the party and the public, making him a strong candidate in any election.

“Last year Kaushik's protégé Manoj Garg, who was elected the city Mayor, is another proof of his political stature,” said women's wing president, Haridwar, Sanjana Sharma.

Former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank’s name doing the rounds for being the probable BJP candidate from the Haridwar seat is giving him tension.

Both Nishank and Kaushik have been keeping distance from each other for the one past year with the latter skipping all public functions where the former Chief Minister was present.

Former legislator Ambrish Kumar plays down the Kaushik stature, citing the scam during the Mahakumbh fair in Haridwar.

He said Kaushik was made the Kumbh mela in-charge but what he did with the crores of rupees was there for all to see.

“Madan Kaushik celebrated his birthday on a grand scale while the whole district is shocked over the brutal rape and murder of a schoolgirl at Pherupur. Is this the way a local legislator or party activists of the BJP should present themselves when the police should be pressured to arrest the culprits,” said Ambrish. 

 Police form SOG teams to solve Pherupur rape case
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 12
The district police have failed to arrest the culprits even a week after the heinous rape and murder of a school student at Pherupur. With the pressure mounting, SSP Rajeev Swarup has given directives to the investigating police officers to solve the case speedily.

The SSP said four teams led by Sub-Inspectors and comprising the Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel had been formed to nab the culprits.

The DNA samples of some suspects had also been taken and sent to the laboratory in Dehradun.

A special commando squad had also been sent to assist the investigating police team in the crime area, which falls under Lakshar police station. Intense vehicle checking and raids are being conducted by the SOG team in the Sultanpur area of Lakshar.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat met the family of the deceased girl today.

He said he was in touch with the police officials and hoped that the culprits would be arrested soon.

Rawat expressed his anger over the slow pace of police investigation in the case and took the latest update of the investigation from DGP BS Sidhu and SSP Swarup.

He also announced Rs 5,000 grant for each family of Pherupur village to construct lavatories.

Former legislator Ambrish Kumar, founder of the Rashtriya Krantikari Manch, a socio-political outfit, said it was a rarest crime committed in the district and the authorities concerned should ensure early arrest of the culprits as public resentment was growing day by day.

 People thank Qureshi for MC status to Shivalik Nagar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
Adesh Chauhan, MLA from Ranipur, Haridwar, yesterday led a delegation of members and office- bearers of the newly constituted Shivalik Nagar (BHEL-Haridwar) Nagar Palika to Governor Aziz Qureshi to express gratitude for his efforts in making Shivalik Nagar an urban body.

The people of the area had been struggling for a long time to have Shivalik Nagar (Subhash Nagar colony of Tehri’s displaced people) constituted as a Nagar Palika.

On 27 March, 2013, the Governor had assured the people that he would solve their problem and had asked them to give up their relay fast.

After Shivalik Nagar was given the status of a Nagar Palika, the people came to thank the Governor for resolving the matter.

 Piran Kaliyar Mela
DM directs officials to ensure proper facilities
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 12
With 745 holy Urs in the memory of Makhdoom-ul-Azam Hazrat Alauddin Ali Ahmed Kaliyari, popularly known as Sabir Kaliyari, commencing at Piran Kaliyar, thousands of devotees (jayarins) are flocking to the holy shrine from across the country.

The mela administration is also ensuring all essential facilities to the visiting devotees.

District Magistrate, Haridwar, Nidhi Pandey convened a meeting of the mela and government department officials and directed them to provide basic facilities to the devotees. She added any laxity on their part would not be tolerated.

Payjal Nigam officials were also told to inspect hand pumps and stand posts routinely to ensure round the clock water supply. For the Urs fair, 31 hand pumps and stand posts had been installed.

The District Magistrate also directed the Health Department officials to ensure all medical facilities throughout the mela and the availability of medicines at the health centres formed at the mela zone.

Power corporation officials were directed to ensure regular electricity supply to the mela venue. She also told power officials to keep generators standby in case of power shutdown while PWD and civic body officials were directed to fill potholes that had surfaced on roads leading to the Piran Kaliyar shrine.

The District Magistrate said all mela facilities would be provided till January 23, as a local religious fair where a large number of people take part is also held on January 23.

 Statehood agitators burn BJP, Cong effigy in Mussoorie
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 12
The local unit of statehood agitators, disenchanted with the anti-people policies followed by the successive BJP and Congress governments, burnt their effigy as a mark of protest in Mussoorie, yesterday.

The agitators gathered under the banner of Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Manch at Picture Palace and raised slogans against both BJP and Congress. They burnt their effigy for failing to address issues, such as identification of statehood agitators, since the inception of the new state.

Jaiprakash Uttarakhandi, a senior member of the manch, said advocate general UK Uniyal had also failed in providing relief to the statehood agitators by not contesting the cases related to the agitators effectively.

He added that the andolankari manch was seriously contemplating forming a new political front that would take on both BJP and Congress head on in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

City president of Andolankari manch Dvei Godiyal along with other members, namely Pooran Juyal, Sunil Kumar, Satish Kumar, Aslam Khan, Ujjwal Negi, Nagendar Dimri, Rajesh, Dinesh Uniyal, Salim Ahmed, Suraj Prakash, Sobhan Singh, Ramlal and others were present on the occasion.

150th birth anniversary of Vivekananda celebrated

Haridwar, January 12
On the 150th Birth Anniversary of revered philosopher Swami Vivekananda, various programmes were organised here today. A function was organised at Divya Sewa Mission where youths were urged to follow the path and ideals of Swami Vivekananda.

Former Madya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharati, attended the function. She urged students to idolise the principles of Swami Vivekananda to ensure mental, physical and spiritual development.

She said Vivekananda was a dynamic persona who had restructured Indian superiority. She said Swami Vivekananda had predicted Indian Independence quite early and lauded the efforts of the Divya Sewa Mission for working for the poor.

“Today’s youth need to imbibe the traits specified by Swami Vivekananda in Vedanta philosophy, to make sure that India emerges stronger,” said Acharya Bala Krishan, Vice-Chancellor of Patanjali Ayurvedic University. -— TNS

 Follow Vivekananda’s teachings: Sports minister
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
Navbharat Sangh, Dehradun celebrated 151st birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as Rashtriya Yuwa Diwas. Chief Guest Uttarakhand Sports Minister Dinesh Agarwal called upon the youth to follow the footsteps of Swami Vivekananda.

He said youth must understand their responsibility towards the nation and the state and the betterment of its people and must work.

Former Minister Hira Singh Bisht said the youth must come forward towards ensuring all round growth of the state.

A song and dance programme was organised to mark the occasion. Dinesh and Saumita presented a Jaunsari dance. Punam Bhandari and Anshi Ratudi gave a Kathak presentation. Kavita presented a patriotic song. Garhwali, Himachali and Kumaoni songs were also presented by the participants.

Uttarakhand State AIDS control society’s Deputy Project Officer Dr Meenakshi Baluni, Navbharat Sangh’s President Hari Bhandari and vice-president Ajay Dabral were also present on the occasion.

  'Celebrate Vivekananda’s birthday as Youth Day'

Pithoragarh, January 12
Local residents demanded celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary as State Youth Day. Vivekananda’s 151st birthday was celebrated at the Vivekananda Ashram at Mayawati and other places in Champawat district here today.

“Swami Vivekananda visited the state several times, but he permitted his ashram to be established at Mayawati, which is the second significant ashram after Belur Math in Kolkata where his Guru Ramkrishna Paramhansha lived,” said Devendra Oli, a local historian and Vivekananda's follower.

“According to the Bengali calendar, Vivekananda’s birthday falls later in the month and the main programme will be organised then,” said Swami Trilokananda, manager of the ashram.

At a function organised at Khetikhan, the local residents demanded that the state should celebrate the day as Youth Day. “This move will help youth follow the right path,” said Col Gyan Singh Dev (retd).— OC

 Ringside view
Fonia’s book narration of his dislike for Khanduri

Once close friends but now sworn foes. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri and bureaucrat-turned politician and former Cabinet minister Kedar Singh Fonia have been childhood friends but their animosity has grown manifold since the 2012 Assembly elections in the state when Khanduri dashed Fonia to get the BJP ticket from the Badrinath Assembly seat. Since then Fonia has been constantly targeting Khanduri.

In one of fiercest attacks on Khanduri in the recent times, Fonia through his book “Uttaranchal Sey Uttarakhand Key Barah Varsh” released in Dehradun has blamed the former Chief Minister for promoting corruption during his government in the state.

In his 256 pages’ book, Fonia writes that Khanduri after coming to power in Uttarakhand took away the liquor business from the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam and handed it over back to the liquor mafia. He again holds Khanduri responsible for the BJP’s loss in the Assembly elections in 2012.

“Khanduri intentionally denied ticket to eight BJP leaders, who had the potential of winning the Assembly elections in 2012, leading to the debacle,” Fonia says in his book. He adds that Khanduri himself lost the election despite being the sitting Chief Minister evidently revealing his falling graph of popularity.

Fonia has been a Cabinet minister both in Uttarakhand and erstwhile undivided Uttar Pradesh. He was expelled from the BJP and he contested the Assembly polls on the ticket of the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha.

Harak Rawat disappoints diploma engineers

The diploma engineers’ convention in Dehradun that was primarily aimed at honouring political leaders ended up with criticism of both BJP and Congress parties.

Interestingly, the Diploma Engineers Federation had invited Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat and senior Congress MLA Subodh Uniyal to chair the concluding session as special guests. But both of them failed to turn up and even were not even courteous enough to send their emissaries to the convention.

This reportedly happened due to the rumour that the Congress high command was planning to change the Chief Minister of the state and most of the Congress ministers and MLAs were thus staying in Delhi to monitor the situation.

A visibly upset diploma engineers had to finally settle for an Uttarakhand Kranti Dal leader AP Juyal to preside over the session as the last-minute arrangement.

But Juyal did not lose the opportunity to criticise both mainstream parties. He particularly targeted Congress leaders Harak Singh Rawat and Subodh Uniyal and accused them of ditching diploma engineers.

Promoted IPS officers perform pervious duties

Five senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the state were promoted to the higher ranks a fortnight ago but they are still awaiting orders of their new postings.

Reportedly, there is heartburning among the promoted officers as they are still holding the same posts, which they were holding before promotion.

Generally, an officer of the rank of DIG heads a police range but at present an IG rank officer is heading the Kumaon range, as the incumbent officer was also promoted but was not transferred. Meanwhile, a couple of officers, who were promoted to the rank of DIG, are still forced to perform the duty of SSP.

Rumours are flying thick in the police headquarters that the promoted officers might be asked to carry on with their present duties due to lack of vacant posts in the department at present.

(Contributed by SMA Kazmi, Jotirmay Thapliyal and Gaurav Talwar)

 Work at post office suffers due to regular power cuts
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 12
The postal services in Didihat town of Pithoragarh district have been affected due to regular power cuts for 7 to 8 hours. This has also damaged the lone generator at the post office.

“The depositors return without getting their work done as their accounts cannot be operated due to lack of electricity in the post office,” rued Jodh Singh Bora, a UKD leader and statehood activist from Pithoragarh.

According to Bora, electricity had eluded the town for the last one month continuously for 7 to 8 hours daily, mainly during the day, due to which computer-based work in the government offices had been suffering.

“Till five days ago, officials from the post office did their work with the help of the generator, but the generator too developed some faults and has been sent to Almora for repairs. Since then the work at the post office has come to a standstill causing great inconvenience to the people who come from faraway to get their work done,” said Bora.

The statehood activist has also demanded the government to ensure regular power supply for at least four hours per day especially during office hours.

The executive engineer at the electricity distribution circle, Pithoragarh, attributes the power cuts in Didihat to the renovation work being carried out by it at some places along the 50-km line.

He added the renovation work would be complete by January 22 and work at the post office would continue to suffer till then.

 Schoolchildren take out rally; blood camp organised
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
Schoolchildren took out an awareness rally on the second day of the Road Safety Week, organised by the Dehradun police, asking people to follow traffic rules. The rally, which was flagged off by SSP Kewal Khuranna, started from Gandhi Park with students holding placards with different messages on road safety.

On the other hand, as part of the campaign, Doon police also organised a blood donation camp where around 155 persons participated. The police have set up four stalls across the city where cops are interacting with the public and creating awareness about the traffic rules among them.

During the campaign, cops stressed upon checking underage and drunk driving along with violating traffic rules. Police also appealed to the motorists to give a priority to the pedestrians on the road. The four-wheelers and two-wheelers owners were also requested to paste radium reflector stickers on the front and rear of their vehicles to minimise the chances of accidents.

 Nurses to begin hunger strike today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 12
With the government order nowhere in sight, the staff nurses discharging one shift duties have decided to intensify their stir and launch a hunger strike from tomorrow.

The nurses have been demanding from the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare to issue a government order declaring that the nurses’ demands have been accepted, but the department has not been forthcoming.

“If the government continues to ignore our demands, we will intensify our stir from Monday and launch a hunger strike,” said Laxmi Punetha, media in charge of the Uttarakhand Nurses Association.

The agitating nurses’ morale got a boost after Ajay Bhatt, leader of opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly lent his support to their protest. “The government should concede to the genuine demands raised by these nurses and should not waste time as the common man is being hassled and is bearing the consequences,” said Ajay Bhatt.

Meanwhile, the class 4 employees attached with the medical and health services and owing allegiance to Class 4 State Employees Association registered their protest by wearing black bands to the office today.

“The Director General Health, Medical and Family Welfare assured us that our demands will be put up before the concerned officials, but for now we will continue to lodge our protest for two more days,” said Manvar Singh Negi, president of the association.

 Youth demand age limit for govt jobs raised again
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 12
Unemployed youths of Mussoorie are agitated over the decision of the state government to reduce the age limit for government jobs in the state from 40 to 35 years.

They demanded the decision to be rolled back as it was detrimental to the interests of the youth of the state.

The unemployed youths gathered under the banner of the Shikshit Parikshit Berozgar Sangh at a hotel in Mussoorie on Friday and opposed the decision of the government. They said the decision would lead to more unemployment in the state.

They urged the government to roll back its decision in the interest of the youths of the state. Sobhan Singh Chuahan, Ajay Kumar, Shailendar Bisht, Pradeep and Sangeeta Semwal were also present on the occasion.

 Traffic cops educate tourists on road safety
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 12
As part of Traffic Safety Week, the Haridwar traffic police have initiated a mass awareness drive for tourist drivers to ensure that they follow traffic rules. This would help in reducing the rising number of road accidents.

Initiating the traffic drive at Bhoomanand square-Chandi Ghat Bridge, Traffic Inspector Virendra Dabral addressed the taxi-jeep union drivers on various aspects regarding traffic rules, driving and essential papers needed for driving a commercial vehicle.

Vehicle owners were also given pamphlets to educate them on the do’s and don’ts while driving.

Circle Officer (Traffic) Jodh Ram Joshi said in the last few years Haridwar had witnessed many accidents due to flouting of traffic rules. He urged vehicle owners to ensure not to overtake from the left side, not to stop vehicles on bridges and intersections, not to drive after consuming alcohol and stop using mobile phones especially while driving.

Convener of the Jeep-Sumo Union Sanjay Chopra welcomed the initiative and urged the union members to follow the rules as specified by the traffic police personnel for a safe and accident-free journey.