Govt to approach SC on stalled power projects
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
The state government has decided to seek legal remedy by approaching the Supreme Court for restarting stalled power projects. Notably, on the recommendations of a committee constituted by the Supreme Court, a ban has been imposed on certain power projects.

The decision in this regard was taken at a Cabinet meeting held yesterday.

To fight the legal battle, the government will take the services of a team of lawyers, which will represent the case on behalf of the government.

“There is no such ban in Himachal Pradesh. That state is not only fulfilling its own requirements but also selling surplus power every year,” said Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, while talking to mediapersons.

The issues of giving relief to those whose vehicles were damaged in the mid-June disaster last year and a hike in the compensation amount being given to Palki owners were also taken up at the meeting.

“People whose vehicles remained stalled in the debris for a period of six months will be given a relief of Rs 25,000 and drivers and conductors will be given Rs 5,000 each. A relief of Rs 50,000 will be given to vehicle owners and Rs 10,000 each to drivers and conductors, who could not operate their vehicles for more than six months,” said Subhash Kumar.

Further, the government has hiked ex gratia payment for Palki owners from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

The government will also seek claim from the Border Road Organisation for its failure to carry out repair works on certain stretches of roads.

The state was forced to take the services of the Public Works Department.

Eyeing the Someshwar and Doiwala byelections, the government has announced 75 per cent subsidy for paddy farmers of Chinyalisaur and Someshwar blocks in Almora. To give relief to sugar mill owners, the government has decided to pay three per cent fee charged by cane committees.

The other decisions taken by the Cabinet include the bifurcation of SC and ST commissions.

The relief amount to acid attack victims has also been hiked from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Special packages will be given to those keen on open educational institutions in the hill districts. Separate funds will be allocated for the conservation of culture, food habits, language etc of special areas comprising Chakrata, Joshimath, Munsiyari and Dharchula.

The Cabinet also decided to cancel the previous government order with regard to the promotion of ayurvedic and homoeopathy doctors.

Now, they will be eligible for three promotions after a gap of 10, 18 and 24 years.

Other Cabinet decisions Ex-gratia for Palki owners hiked from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 Paddy farmers of Chinyalisaur, Someshwar blocks to be given 75% subsidy Relief amount to acid attack victims increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh Those keen on opening educational institutions in hill districts will be offered special packages

Byelections to Someshwar, Doiwala Assembly seats
BJP may field Rekha Arya, TS Rawat
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
Buoyed with the stupendous success achieved in the just concluded Lok Sabha poll, the Uttarakhand BJP is now focusing on the Doiwala and Someshwar Assembly seats, where byelections are to be held in the coming days.

Among a host of names doing the rounds, senior BJP leader and national secretary Trivender Singh Rawat from Doiwala and Rekha Arya from Someshwar have emerged as top contenders for these seats.

A defeat in the 2012 Assembly elections from Raipur Assembly segment had cut short the political career of Trivender Singh Rawat, who had been elected from the Doiwala Assembly segment on the BJP ticket for two successive terms in the past.

The 2012 Assembly elections were held after the constituencies were recast according to the new delimitation plan. It led to a change in the geographical contours of the Doiwala Assembly segment that was bifurcated, forcing Rawat to switch to Raipur Assembly segment. But the switch did not yield rich dividends, for Rawat found himself losing the Assembly elections by a narrow margin. Since then his political fortunes were on the wane. Though he was made the national general secretary of the party last year, his interest continues to be in state politics.

With ample support from senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and his knowledge of the area, Trivender Singh Rawat is being seen as an ideal candidate. “The BJP will pull out all stops to keep the Doiwala Assembly seat in its kitty. It would be smooth sailing for the BJP in case Rawat is nominated,” said a senior BJP leader.

In fact with the stock of former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari on the rise, especially after his victory margin from the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency, it is likely the BJP top brass may zero in on candidates who have his blessings.

Along with Trivender Singh Rawat, Rekha Arya too belongs to Koshiyari camp and may just as well bag the party ticket from Someshwar. “Koshiyari was keen for the party ticket for Arya from the Almora parliamentary seat in the Lok Saha elections. She may get it this time,” said the BJP leader. 

Cong: TS Rawat’s ‘challenge’ statement to CM childish
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
The state spokesman of Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee Dhirendra Pratap has described the statement of BJP national secretary Trivendra Singh Rawat as ''childish'' in which he challenged Chief Minister Harish Rawat to contest Assembly byelections from Doiwala segment.

In a press statement issued by Pratap, he said that Chief Minister Harish Rawat is a national leader, and very popular among electors in the state. He said that Rawat will comfortably win the elections.

After rebuffing corruption allegation in the natural disaster funds made by BJP leaders against Congress-led state government, Pratap said that allegations are politically motivated in order to dent the image of the state government ahead of bye-polls.

Pratap also criticised BJP leaders who are opposing extension date for the identification of statehood activists. He said that the state government is committed to identify statehood activists, and would take effective steps to address their grievances once the work of identification is completed in the coming days.

Ministerial staff on two-day strike
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
Ministerial staff under the banner of the Uttaranchal Federation of Ministerial Services Association proceeded on a two-day strike here today in support of their long-pending demands.

work at rest: Ministerial employees protest at Parade Ground in Dehradun; men sit outside the regional transport office due to employees’ strike in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the protesters demanded the immediate revision of pay scale and grade pay of the ministerial staff.

Association general secretary Sunil Dutt Kothari said the pay scale and allowances of various cadres had recently been revised. However, the ministerial employees were yet to get these benefits. "Class IV employees are drawing the salary similar to the ministerial staff, which has caused resentment among the staff members. It seems the state government is hell-bent upon degrading the status of the ministerial cadre by taking such steps," he said.

Demanding immediate action, Kothari said: "If our demands were not met at the earliest, we will go on an indefinite strike."

Road widening efforts futile due to encroachments
Tribune News service

Mussoorie, May 23
The mushrooming of encroachers at the bandstand near Gandhi Chowk is proving the whole exercise of widening and beautifying the area futile even after spending several crores on the project in Mussoorie.

The state government had assigned the task to Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) for the beautification and widening of the area by shifting the bandstand even further with an objective to remove traffic congestion and providing a place for tourists from where they could view Doon valley with ease.

However, the area has become a safe haven for encroachers and the vehicle owners who park at the site with impunity due to the apathy of the municipal council and local administration.

The encroachers are having a field day despite the presence of the police who are also unable to act against such street vendors here.

The municipal council officials who are entitled to remove the encroachments from the town, it seems, have ignored the problem despite several reminders, said the residents.

When contacted SDM, Mussoorie, Ramji Saran Sharma, said that the whole area was beautified and widened recently. Any encroachment would not be tolerated at any cost. He also said that the MC was the agency to remove the encroachers from the area and he had directed the concerned officials to remove any encroachments form the band stand and Gandhi Chowk in the larger interest of the town.

CM to NDMA: Funds given to BRO but roads, bridges not completed
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat met National Disaster Management Authority's member K Salim in Dehradun today.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat encourse of deliberations disclosed that the state government had already provided Rs 52 crore to the Border Roads Organisation under Varunvat hill treatment programme in Uttarkashi district but the latter had failed to complete construction of even one of three proposed bridges. The 9 km road that was handed over to BRO for construction too has not been constructed. Rawat said that he had also brought this matter to the knowledge of Union Defence Ministry.

The Chief Minister also disclosed that under flood protection programme, state Irrigation Department had been asked to take urgent measures. He apprised that a large number of big boulders have come into Ganga river which need to be removed immediately. He said assistance was being taken from technical institutes for scientific removal of these boulders.

He apprised that speedy reconstruction of Char Dham roads damaged during rain disaster was being done.

K Salim on his part stressed on strengthening of disaster management mechanism in the state. He apprised that neighbouring Himachal had come up with better guidelines to curb landslides in hills. He further suggested that there should be better flood control systems in Uttarkashi. He said that there should be a better management plan for Char Dham Yatra so that the national highways are better managed. He suggested appointment of specialists in disaster management department for earthquakes, landslide and flood control.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar and Additional Secretary of Disaster Management Bhaskar Anand were other important state government officials present on the occasion.

Ganesh Joshi lays foundation stone of Sarona-Karligad road
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, May 23
MLA Ganesh Joshi today laid the foundation stone of a 5-km Sarona-Karligad road. The project had been pending with the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MEA) for the past several years.

Ganesh Joshi speaking on the occasion said villagers of the area had been demanding the road connectivity to their villages for the past several years. However, due to various reasons, no public representative made an effort to resolve the matter.

The MLA said he, along with villagers, took up the matter with the MEA and managed to get sanction for the project. The road expected to be completed in six months would serve more than 5,000 residents of the region.

The villagers thanked the MLA for his efforts and said with the construction of this road the distance to Sahastradhara block would reduce by 30 km.

The construction work has been entrusted to the PWD and Rs 75 lakh has been sanctioned for the same.

Ganesh Joshi also said the construction of Chamroli-Sarona road would be undertaken in the next phase.

Later, he inspected the progress of the road being constructed from Bhatta village to Sheetla Mata Mandir and directed the PWD officials to speed up the construction work.

He also directed the PWD officials to find solution for the drain which becomes a menace during heavy rains at Barlowganj in Mussoorie.

PWD assistant engineer SS Petwal, BJP leaders Sunder Singh Kotal, Sunder Singh Payal, Anita Jwadi, Harnam Singh, BJP Mussoorie unit president Roop Singh Kathait,vice president Mohan Petwal and others were also present on the occasion.

Lawyers told to finish pending cases
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
BS Sinsinwar, chairman of Bar Council of India, has urged lawyers to finish pending cases at the earliest in the court. He said that better infrastructure and advance communication system would help them to solve pending cases.

Addressing lawyers in a function held here today, chairman of Bar Council of India BS Sinsinwar said that the office bearers of lawyers' association should make plans to increase the number of working days in order to complete pending cases in courts.

He said that completing pending cases would be also proved useful for judiciary system in India.

Sinsinwar assured the gathering that every possible step would be taken by the council to address grievances of lawyers in the country.

He said that beneficiary schemes would be launched for the welfare of lawyers in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, chairman of Bar Association of Dehradun, Rajeev Sharma Bantu, demanded to quash eligibility test which is meant for lawyers before they start doing practice in the court.

He said that the government should also make provision to give stipend to newly registered lawyers and lawyers having less than two years of experience.

He demanded that health insurance scheme worth Rs 5 lakh should be also started for lawyers in the country. Bantu said that the association was committed to improve infrastructure with an aim to facilitate smooth functioning of court procedures in the state.

Parties, unions protest police action against DYFI chief
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 23
Activists of the Nagar Vyapar Mandal , CITU, local unit of the Congress, the UKD, the All India Lawyers Union, the Uttarakhand Bar Council and the Anjuman Sewa Samiti staged a demonstration in Almora town today against the local administration and police for allegedly victimising Yusuf Tiwari, president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, in connection with the pasting of election boycott posters by Maoists during the parliamentary elections.

The demonstrators, who later submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister through SDM Rinku Bisht, alleged that the police not only misbehaved with Tiwari's family members but also made him sit at the police station for several hours. ?Such a behaviour with the state president of a democratic organisation would not be tolerated. "We will launch an agitation if action is not taken against those who misbehaved with Yusuf Tiwari and his family members,"? said Sushil Tiwari, district president of the DYFI.

Bank employees’ union holds protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
The members of the Uttaranchal Bank Employees’ Union staged a protest in support of their pending demands here today. The agitators threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands were not met by the government in the coming days.

The agitators gathered at the zonal office of Canara Bank and shouted anti-government slogans in order to register their protest.

Addressing the gathering, the general secretary of the Uttaranchal Bank Employees Union, Jagmohan Mehndiratta, said the PJ committee was formed by the Reserve Bank of India on January 20, 2014, to review the performance of government banks and the committee gave anti-banking recommendations.

The agitators condemned recommendations which were privatisation of banks, to constitute a new banking investment company after merging all the banks, removal of government appointed Reserve Bank of India directors and to increase the voting rights of the shareholders from 10 per cent to 26 per cent.

The agitators demanded to quash PJ committee recommendations at the earliest and to take effective steps to recover crores of rupees from industrialists.

VK Joshi, Anil Jain, BP Sundriyal, Lalit Badooni, Inder Singh, BD Nautiyal, Rajesh Singhal and Rajan Pundir were also present.

Villagers protest attacks by outsiders for Yarsa Gumba
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 23
Residents of Balthi and Rapti villages in Munsiyari subdivision of Pithoragarh district held a demonstration in front of the office of Sub-Divisional Magistrate at Munsiyari today demanding protection while they collect Yarsa Gumba from their respective van panchayat areas. Several incidents of scuffles between villagers and outsiders have taken place at the 12,000-feet high Panchachuli and Chipla Kedar meadows in the Darma and Johar valleys of the district in the past few days.

“Groups of village youths are fighting with outsiders who want to establish their monopoly over particular areas of the meadows where Yarsa Gumba is found in large quantities. We have the rights for collection of Yarsa Gumba from our van panchayat and outsiders have trespassed on our lands,” said protesting villagers.

According to residents of Balthi village, some residents of Gaila village in the Johar valley had fired into the air to threaten residents of Rapti, Balthi, Bata Umdada and Nirtoli villages who had also reached the meadows to extract the miracle herb. “Some anti-social elements and poachers of wild animals masquerading as Yarsa Gumba collectors had reached the meadows and were threatening villagers to assert their monopoly over the area so that they could poach upon rare Himalayan animals, besides extracting the drug,” alleged Kavindra Devli, a BJP leader in Munsiyari who organised the protest.

“We have demanded protection for the villagers while they collect Yarsa Gumba from their van panchayat areas for which the state government gave them the rights in 2002 and they have been paying royalty for their collections,” said Devli.

JS Pal, a revenue officer in Munsiyari subdivision, said as these groups were always fighting with each other for monopoly over extraction of the drug, the administration had called them for talks on Saturday. “We have also decided to send a team of revenue officials to take stock of the situation at the meadows,” he said.

In a similar incident two days ago, some outsiders reportedly forced over 50 youths of Ghati Bagar village in the Darma valley of Dharchula subdivision to leave the Charchi meadow in Panchachuli where they had gone to collect Yarsa Gumba. “Villagers have now reached their homes and are planning a demonstration in front of the SDM demand ing protection from criminals during collection of Yarsa Gumba.

Himalaya Darshan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
To promote tourism in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has given the go ahead to a programme called Himalaya Darshan under which tourists will be shown the beauty of the state through a helicopter ride.

Surendra Kumar, in charge, media management, said Uttarakhand was famous world over for its natural and scenic beauty. To enhance this image, the Chief Minister had taken a decision to organise a Himalaya Darshan programme through helicopters from October.

The Tourism Department had been tasked with implementing the programme effectively on the national and international levels.

Cambridge school celebrates annual prize distribution
Tribune News service

Dehradun, May 23
The Indian Cambridge School celebrated its 24th annual prize distribution day here today. David Hilton, Principal of Hilton’s School was the chief guest on the occasion. Dr S Farooq, Patron of the school, was the guest of honour.

The tiny-tots welcomed the chief guest and the guest of honour and presented them with bouquets. Thereafter, theschool prayer was said by Ashwarya Singh, head girl. Principal Albert Temple read out the annual report for the academic year 2013-2014, in which he lauded the progress of the school.

He highlighted new developments in the school including, the inauguration of the modern new boys hostel, introduction of computer smart classes and the new refurbished computer lab. He also praised the excellent 100 per cent ICSE and ISC results and congratulated the students.

David Hilton also expressed his gratitude for being invited to attend the function as a chief guest. He appreciated the standards of the school and lauded the role of the principal and the teachers.

Dr S Farooq congratulated the students and the school for the ICSE and ISC results.

He asked parents to be patient with their children, so that they take interest in their studies and become a better human being.

Academic and sports awards were also presented to the achievers. Sahibjeet Singh was awarded with the best prefect (boys) award and Neha Rathore was awarded with the best prefect (girls) award. The best student award was given to Harshita Rajput and the all round student award was given to Mona Kanojia.

The Cock House Trophy was won by Teresa House.

Achievers Sahibjeet Singh was awarded with the best prefect (boys) award and Neha Rathore was awarded with the best prefect (girls) award The best student award was given to Harshita Rajput and the all round student award was given to Mona Kanojia The Cock House Trophy was won by Teresa House

B.Ed mahasangh holds protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
The BEd (TET) Prashikshit Mahasangh staged a demonstration in front of the Secretariat here today demanding the recruitment of primary teachers in government schools against the vacant posts. State president of the mahasangh Baldev Bhandari blamed senior officials in the state Education Department for the delay in the recruitment process.

Amit Kashyap, Satpal, Gajendra, Puja and Shailendra were prominent among the protesters.

Lucent school waives 40 pc fee for class X toppers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
Lucent International School has waived 40 per cent fee for the students who excelled in class X board examinations and the players who won the District Martial Arts Championship recently.

The school management organised a function to honour the students. School chairman Bhupesh Kumar said the students of the school excelled in every sphere, including sports and studies.

The school has achieved 100 per cent success in class X board examinations, while three students have been placed in the list of district toppers.

To motivate other students, we have decided to reduce 40 per cent of the fee amount for the students who excel either in sports or academics.

Ehssan Sidiqqui, Sanjay Bela, Indu Srivastav, Tanvi Arora, Sangeeta Berthwal and Bhaumik Devender were also present.

Doon AAP unit dissolved
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
The district committee of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dehradun, headed by Sanjay Bhatt, district convenor, was dissolved till further notice. The committee comprising 27 members was dissolved till further election takes place in the coming days.

After conforming that the committee has been dissolved, the state convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, Harish Chandra Arya, said the new committee comprising seven members will be formed to constitute new office bearers of the district committees of all the 13 districts of the state.

He said the Dehradun district committee was dissolved due to anti-party activities, which was denting the image of the party in the state. He said the activists having clean image would be enrolled in the new committee in order to give strength to the party.

He said the party activists will again start door-to-door campaign and will continue to work to address the grievances of the villagers in the state.

Nano medicine perfect to treat cancer, says US scientist
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
As part of its lecture series programme, Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology today organised a lecture on cancer research which was delivered by Dr Anu Puri, scientist at Centre for Cancer Research and National Institute of Health, USA.

Dr Puri said nano medicine today was most popular medicine system to treat cancer. She said India and US have already joined hands and were working closely in the sphere of nano medicine cancer research.

She said she was in favour of excellent relations between National Institute of Health, US, and Uttarakhand health authorities. She said a joint working group can be of immense benefit for both US and Uttarakhand towards furthering their cancer research programmes.

She also spoke on anti-cancer medicines referring to the types of medicines and its remedial result for cancer patients.

Ucost's Director General Vijay Kumar Dhoundiyal said present day medicines used for treatment of cancer had limitations and stressed on dedicated research on the subject. He said most of the cancer treatment medicines were very costly and beyond the reach of common man. He said nano medicine can play an important role in providing easy treatment of cancer to the patients.

Ucost's Joint Director BP Purohit, Senior Scientist DP Uniyal, Arun Kuksal and Amit Pokhriyal were present on the occasion.

Indian Academy students meet Raphael inmates

Dehradun, May 23
Students of The Indian Academy, along with their teachers, Charu Singhal and Yashika Negi, today visited Raphael, a non-profit making charitable institute for intellectually challenged children.

Illegal mining: Fine of Rs 75 lakh imposed on lease holders
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
DIG (PAC) and Chief Executive Officer, vigilance unit, headed by Sanjay Gunjiyal conducted a raid at Meethibari under Shyampur police station in Haridwar district to check illegal river bed mining activities. He gave strict instructions to officials to keep a tab on illegal mining in all river beds in Garhwal division of the state.

During the raid the team found several anomalies in the lease document of river Rawasan and seized the lease till further orders. The team also registered a case in Shyampur police station. The team also imposed penalty of Rs 75 lakh on lease holders.

The team discovered illegal mining of 90,000 cubic metres in river Rawasan worth Rs 3.5 crore from illegal lease holders. DIG Gunjiyal said that surprise checks would be continued in the near future in order to keep a tab on unauthorised lease holders in the region.

Fire engulfs trenching ground

Dehradun, May 23
For the second time in a month, the Sahastradhara based trenching ground caught fire causing lot of inconvenience to the area residents. Though the fire was brought down by the fire tenders in no time, the smoke coming out of the trenching ground has made the situation difficult for the people residing in the close vicinity.

Municipal Corporation Health Inspector Dr RK Singh said the fire tenders were sent immediately to the spot where the fire broke out.

"The fire was controlled in no time. We don't know the exact reason of fire. However, it will take some time before the smoke settles down," he added. — TNS

Karamchari sangh members protest

Dehradun, May 23
The members of the Uttaranchal Sawachkar Karamchari Sangh staged a protest at the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) campus yesterday. The agitators threatened to boycott work if their demands were not met by May 26. The agitators submitted a memorandum highlighting their demands to the Mayor of the MCD. They demanded to take immediate steps to address their grievances.

The agitators demanded from the department to regularise them and to appoint next of kin of those employees, who had died.

Madan Valmiki, Meenu Gaghat, Sonu Semwal, Karamveer and Rakesh were present during the protest. — TNS

Khatri elected PMHS chief

Dehradun, May 23
Dr NS Khatri was unanimously elected president of the Provincial Medical and Health Services (PMHS) here today. The other elected office-bearers are: Vice-presidents--Dr Vandana Tripathi (woman) and Dr Anand Shukla; secretary--Dr Piyush Tripathi; treasurer--Dr Pratap Singh Rawat; and joint secretary--Dr Archana Verma.

Though the elections were slated for June 7, as no nominations were received even on the last day today, chief electoral officer Dr BC Ramola declared all candidates elected unopposed. — TNS

Stage set for U’khand gold cup cricket tourney
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the 32nd edition of the All-India Uttarakhand Gold Cup Cricket Tournament being organised by the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand from May 25.

Sixteen teams are participating in the tournament. The teams are the Food Corporation of India, North Eastern Railway, Lucknow, Jaipur XI (Rajasthan Cricket Association), Central Warehousing Corporation, New Delhi, DAD Sports Board, New Delhi, Local Development Authority, Lucknow, Indian Air Force, New Delhi, UNIDO Infrastructure Limited, ONGC, New Delhi, UPCA Kanpur, Police Sports Board, Haryana, Uttarakhand XI, Air India, New Delhi, Mumbai Cricket Association, Mumbai, BSNL, New Delhi and Dena Bank. The inaugural match will be played between the FCI and North Eastern Railways.

Association secretary PC Verma told mediapersons said the tournament would be conducted in two phases. “The first phase will have groups I and II while the second phase will have groups III and IV. The matches will be played at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Abhimanyu Cricket Academy and Rangers Ground. We have also invited BCCI empanelled scorers, technicians and umpires,” he added.

Verma said the prize money had also been increased this year. The winning team would be given Rs 1.50 lakh while the runners-up team will be given Rs 1 lakh. "The man of the match will be given a cash prize of Rs 10,000 while the man of the tournament will be given a motorcycle,” he said.

Jot Singh Ghansola, AS Mengwal, Kumar Thapa, OP Sood, Vipin and Amit Jaiswal were present at the press conference.