Police crackdown on abandoned vehicles 
Gaurav Talwar
Tribune News service

Dehradun, August 26
Dehradun police have launched a crackdown against abandoned or unclaimed cars and two- wheelers parked inside the parking lots in the city for last many months or even years. Such vehicles are in rotten condition and occupy unnecessary space in the basement parking lots.

As of now, the city traffic police have seized 12 vehicles, including 11 four-wheelers and one two-wheeler, from just two parking spaces located in the heart of the city, as unclaimed vehicles. “We were getting constant complaints regarding such abandoned vehicles occupying parking spaces and we have seized 11 four- wheelers from MDDA parking of Clock Tower and one abandoned two-wheeler from one commercial complex parking in Rajpur Road,” Superintendent of Police (SP), Traffic, Pradeep Rai, told The Tribune.

The police also checked parking lots of Pacific Mall, ISBT, Crossroad Mall, railway station and other commercial complexes in the city to find out whether such vehicles are also parked there. “We carried a thorough checking in all major parking lots in the city but we did not find more such vehicles,” added, SP, Traffic.

Meanwhile, the police are making efforts to reach out to the owners of these vehicles with the help of Regional Transport Office (RTO) although only two persons have come forward to claim their ownership on abandoned vehicles as of yet. Interestingly, the persons who have contacted the police to make claim on the vehicles have told police that they do not have parking space, which is why they used to park their vehicles in the public parking lots for months. But police officials are not willing to accept their side of the story and full investigation is being done before the vehicles are handed over to their owners.

Notably, the problem is more prominent in MDDA parking spaces located at Clock Tower and Dispensary Road, where one can find a number of such abandoned vehicles parked in dilapidated condition. Most importantly, both Clock Tower and Dispensary Road parking lots cater to the whole city, which has been reeling under acute parking shortage, and these abandoned vehicles eat up space for other vehicles. In some cases, even the spare parts of the cars and two-wheelers are missing.

On the question of why people abandon their expensive cars in parking lots, SP, Traffic said: “Generally most of them might be stolen vehicles, which have been dumped by thieves after they fail to sell them.”

Anti-polythene drive hit, thanks to mayors’ conference
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
The recently held All India Council of Mayors (AICM), organised by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC), has taken a toll on the drives carried out by the local body, especially the anti-polythene drive.

While preparing for the 46th edition of the AICM, the entire machinery of the DMC got so involved with the preparations that the drive, which was launched with a lot of pomp and show, was thrown into oblivion. Sources at DMC revealed that it has been nearly a month since anybody from the DMC went for conducting the drive.

“All staff members were busy in making preparations for the conference for the past one month. As it is the DMC is under-staffed and it is during such functions that the regular work is thrown out of gear. Even the sanitation drive has been affected because of the preparations. With the senior officials busy, nobody was keeping a check on the field staff involved in sanitation work. It has been more than a fortnight since the garbage collection report was filed by the officials appointed for the same,” said a source.

When contacted Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Harak Singh Rawat said that for the past few days the anti-polythene drive had taken a back seat due to preparations being made for the AICM. “However, we would be restarting the raids and challans from Wednesday onwards,” he added. 

MP Tarun Vijay donates ambulance
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
Rajya Sabha MP from Uttarakhand, Tarun Vijay, today donated a Sumo ambulance to the Doon Hospital from the MPLAD fund. Speaking on the occasion, the MP said the ambulance would boost the hospital services and help the patients access the facility without going for private ambulances. 

“There is huge patient flow at the hospital and the availability of ambulances was not in sync with the requirement. So I decided to donate the ambulance for the hospital,” said Tarun Vijay.

Principal Superintendent of the Hospital Dr RS Aswal said the hospital would benefit from an extra ambulance. 

Revenue officials hold protest at secretariat
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
Irked over the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their long-pending demands, a large number of ameen gathered under the banner of Uttarakhand Rajsva Ameen Sangh staged a protest march towards secretariat, here today.

However, the protesters were stopped on the way by the police. It has been 26 days since the protesters have been sitting on dharna at the parade ground. Addressing the protesters, general secretary said they had tried to approach the state government with their problems several times, but to no avail.

“The indifferent attitude of the state government has caused widespread resentment among the protesters who feel dejected by its own state. We would be intensifying our protest and would not call off the strike until and unless somebody from the state government approaches us,” he added.

Those who were present in the demonstration included Rajender Prasad, Trilok Singh, Khazan Singh, Nagender Singh, Swatantra Kumar, Vinit Kumar, Sunil Tyagi, Prakash Pandey, Hansa Giri Goswami, Roshanlal Babu, Sabbal Singh Rawat and several others. 

ABVP announces candidates for student college union elections
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has announced the name of its candidates for the student college union elections in various post graduate colleges in Dehradun.

In a press conference held inside the ABVP office at Karanpur today, it was announced that Himanshu Kumar has been shortlisted for the post of president of DBS PG College student union. For SGRR PG College, Naval Negi has been finalised for the president post and Ajay Bhatt will contest for the university representative.

The student outfit has decided to field Sapna Chauhan for the post of president in MKP PG College while Sakhsi Bhatt will fight for the post of vice-president. Mamta Rana would be contesting for the post of general secretary. On other hand, Khajan Rana is going to contest for the post of president in PG College, Vikasnagar.

However, ABVP has still not announced the names of candidates for DAV PG College, which is the largest college of the district.

Tension between rival student groups

The situation is getting tense in the city’s DAV PG College with the annual student union elections approaching and rivalries between different student groups are coming into the open, resulting in frequent clashes.

On Tuesday, the police resorted to a mild lathi charge after two student groups in the college fought with each other over some issue. The situation got under control only after the police used power to disperse the rowdy students.

According to Anil Joshi, Dalanwala police inspector, “two student groups fought with each other after which the police used some mild force to stop them from taking law into their hands. We have booked many of them for creating a ruckus inside the college campus.”

Reportedly, the matter started when Jogendra Rawat registered a case against Ayush Thapliyal, Akshay and Rahul in the police station on Monday for threatening him. However, on Tuesday, Ayush Thapliyal registered a counter complaint against Buagwati Prasad, Naresh Rana, Jogendra Rawat, Sooraj Kohli in the Dalanwala police station. But the Dalanwala police has registered a case against the both groups for creating violence. — TNS

Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra reaches ninth halt of the journey
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
The Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra reached Nandkeshri, the ninth halt of the 280-km-long yatra. The place houses a Shiv-Parvati (nanda) temple that is the meeting point of ‘chattolis’ from Kumaon and Garhwal regions.

The yatra would proceed towards Faldiyan village on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Harish Rawat extended his wishes to the organising committee for the successful conduct of the yatra.

“The state government is taking every possible step to ensure the yatra is successful. We have instructed the agencies to ensure that the five danger spots on the yatra route were made safe for the pilgrims before August 30. All the arrangements for the stay of the pilgrims have been made at these places. This is for the first time that the state government has made such arrangements at the inhabitable places for the pilgrims. Any suggestions for improving the arrangements are welcome,” said the Chief Minister.

Elaborating further Chamoli District Magistrate said that while it was impossible to keep a tab on the exact number of pilgrims participating in the yatra, all the arrangements have been made for a large number.

“Special arrangements have been made for Garoli Patal, Vedni, Pathar Nachaniya, Shila Samudra and Chandaniyaghat. Around 600 tents have been placed for overnight stay of the pilgrims and big light towers have placed. Arrangements have also been made for emergency light and drinking water. Around 130 sanitation workers have been appointed for maintaining the hygiene of the area,” he added.

To cater to any medical emergency, basic first aid, oxygen cylinders and paramedical staff have been provided at the camps. Special arrangements for food have also been made at these camps by social workers and other religious groups. To deal with emergencies a helipad has been constructed at Vedni where a helicopter would be stationed at all times. The pilgrims would have to undergo a medical test at Van and Vedni before proceeding further on the pilgrimage, said the District Magistrate. 

‘Give property rights to farmers’

Dehradun, August 26
Purushottam Sharma, national secretary, All-India Kisan Mahasabha, said the state government’s decision to implement land reforms would not be beneficial until the government works efficiently to give property rights to farmers living in higher areas of the state.

He said the state government should take effective steps to disseminate abandoned and barren lands to villagers. He stressed that the state government should take effective steps to amend the Land Consolidation Act and Chakbandi in the mountainous areas of the state.

He said it was a matter of concern that the land mafias had snatched lands of villagers in the higher areas of the state. He demanded from the Congress-led state government to strictly authorise Panchayat members to look after barren or 
abandoned lands. — TNS

Five mobile thieves, shopkeeper arrested
Tribune News Service

Dehradun/Haridwar, August 26
Haridwar police have arrested five youths, who were involved in several mobile phones theft in the city in the recent past. The police have also arrested a Saharanpur based mobile shopkeeper, who used to purchase stolen mobile sets from thieves in bulk and sold them further.

On a tip-off, SIDCUL police check-post in charge Manohar Singh arrested Rizwan alias Raja, a resident of Munnu Ganj, Uttar Pradesh, late last night from Sakshi Utsav Palace.

As police personnel frisked Rizwan, a costly mobile set was found which had contact book, photos and other details related to Tinku Singh, who works at pooja eweet shop in Jwalapur.

On interrogation, Rizwan revealed that the mobile set was stolen from the sweet shop three days ago. He also revealed that five other accomplices were also involved with him in similar thefts for a past few months.

As per sub inspector Manohar Singh, the police raided a house near the sweet shop in Jwalapur. They arrested other accomplices of Rizwan namely Vipin, Vikas, Neeraj and Ankur all hailing from Uttar Pradesh.

“They used to target shops, and commercial establishments. Later, they used to sell the stolen mobile sets to Sandeep, a resident of Jasmore, district Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh,” said Manohar. SP City Dr Surjeet Singh Pawar lauded the police team, comprising of Manohar Singh, Iqbal Malik, Manish Chauhan and Ramesh Rawat. 

Make use of e-governance, DM tells officers
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
Dehradun District Magistrate Chandresh Kumar presided over a meeting of district officers here today. He asked them to make optimum use of e-governance for issuing certificates, including caste, domicile and permanent residents’ certificates.

Presiding over the meeting, the District Magistrate said all matters must be redressed within a particular time frame under the Right to Service rules.

He said every Sewa Kendra must have a notice board which should mention about the type of service, time in which it would be fulfilled and other details about it.

The District Magistratesaid a shed should be constructed outside such sewa kendras so that people do not face hardships during rains.

Additional district magistrates, District Panchayat Raj officers and other revenue officials were present on the occasion.

BJP to activate workers at grassroot level
Tribune Reporters

Pithoragarh/Dehradun, August 26
The state executive of the BJP concluded its three days meeting at Rudrapur today. It has charted out a three-month action programme to activate workers at the grass-roots and booth-level.

State general secretary Prakash Pant said the party had decided to hold district executive meets all over the state between September 5-10 and a “Booth chaloo abhiyan” between September 25 and October 2.“ We will intensify membership campaign in the month of November, before the next meeting of the party executive,” said Pant.

“The BJP has expressed concern at the deteriorating condition of the common man in the state and wants to change the situation as soon as possible,” said Pant.

According to party official, in another resolution, the party has said that Zila Panchayat chairperson should be elected through direct elections.“Every BJP worker was of the opinion that it cannot match money and muscle power of the state Congress which used it to win the zila panchcyat elections this time,” said Pant.

Meanwhile, At the end of the second day of the executive meeting of the state BJP in Rudrapur yesterday, the inept failure of the state government in tackling disaster-related situation came up for severe criticism.

A political resolution on the failure of the state government to stem infighting in the party was passed along with the resolution on disaster.

“In the coming days, we would be training guns on the Harish Rawat government’s failure to respond to rain-related disaster. Further, there has been no end to infighting in the Congress leading to confusion in the minds of people. Not a single day passes, when one or the other leader led by his followers is not campaigning in New Delhi with his set of complaints,” said Naresh Bansal, general secretary, state BJP.

The party also decided to focus on gearing up for the 2017 Assembly elections from this year itself. “Along with the booth-level programmes from September 25 to October 2, we are also planning to gherao the Vidhan Sabha in December, or when ever the Legislative Assembly is in session,” said Bansal.

In November, the party has also lined up programmes dedicated to the state of affairs prevailing in the field of education in the state. 

2 killed as car falls into river

Dehradun, August 26
Two persons were killed and three others injured after the car they were travelling in plunged into the swollen Pinder river at Nauli village in Chamoli district this afternoon. Another person travelling in the car is reported to be missing. According to the police, the car got out of control, skidded off the road while negotiating a sharp turn and fell into the river.

A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team reached the spot after getting information about the accident and started relief and rescue operations. According to SDRF officials, two bodies were recovered from the river while three injured persons were brought up and taken to hospital. However, another passenger Ayush Kohil is still missing and the SDRF team has launched a search operation to locate him. — TNS

CM accuses BJP of undermining federal structure
Says the party has scant respect for elected govt of state
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
Chief Minister Harish Rawat today accused the national leadership of the BJP of trying to undermine the federal structure of the country.

Addressing a press conference here today, Rawat said the national leadership of the BJP, which was at Rudrapur in the state a day back, has threatened mid-term elections in Uttarakhand. He said it was a matter of grave concern and only reveals that the BJP national leadership keeps a scant respect for an elected government of a state.

“The BJP’s national leadership seeking mid-term poll in Uttarakhand is condemnable and a matter of grave concern,” Rawat said, adding that while the BJP has a right to criticise, it was totally undemocratic on their part to threaten mid-term poll in the state in the near future.

He said while the Uttarakhand government was for all cooperation with the Centre, such statement was unacceptable.

The Chief Minister also announced formation of a number of committees. He announced setting up of a six-member committee to revise the National Disaster Response Force disaster relief norms. He said this six-member committee would be headed by Prayag Dutt Bhatt and have Joth Singh Bisht, KS Negi, Sanjay Saini, Mathura Dutt Joshi as its members.

Further, another committee headed by MLA Rajkumar has been set up for preparing a road map to develop slums. Another committee headed by MLA Umesh Sharma has been set up for relief and rehabilitation in the rain-affected Saklana and Maldevta areas of Tehri and Dehradun, respectively.

A committee has also been formed for relief and rehabilitation work for the rain-affected Yamkeshwar region of Garhwal.

He said another committee had also been set up for proper promotion of Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra. He said the committee would have two vice-presidents, one from Kumaon and one from Garhwal and MLAs from core areas of the yatra as its members.

The Chief Minister also took the opportunity to announce a reward of Rs 1 lakh for Kamla Devi (54), who fought with a leopard all by herself in Garhwal. He said doctors had been directed to provide the best of treatment. 

Khanduri wants Transfer Act implemented
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister-cum-Pauri MP BC Khanduri has urged Congress-led state government to implement Transfer Act in the state. He claimed that the Act would prove extremely beneficial to improve standard of education in the state.

He said that education department is facing the brunt of transfer anomaly. Khanduri said that the Act would prove extremely beneficial to keep a tab on corruption in the state education department.

He said that those teachers who had completed their tenure in remote and tough hilly terrains of the state should be transferred to the plains of the state.

Khanduri said that teachers and students’ ratio should be maintained in government colleges to impart best education to students.

State in financial mess, seeks Rs 600 cr loan from Nabard 
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
With no funds to spare for the ongoing projects, financial crisis is brewing in the state forcing the Uttarakhand Government to seek a soft loan of Rs 600 crore from the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard).

The state government was forced to stretch its hands before the bank to complete the ongoing projects on priority.

“From time to time, we have been seeking financial help from Nabard especially in the areas of strengthening infrastructure,” said Subhash Kumar, Chief Secretary.

Experts say the financial health of the state has been hit by the mid-June natural disaster and in case, the government needs are not met, it may be forced to raise a loan from the market for which it will have to seek permission from the Centre.

Recently during the Assembly session in Gairsain, the Uttarakhand government was forced to bring a supplementary budget of Rs 3,818.93 crore. Much of the supplementary budget would go towards paying of salaries and arrears of employees.

The state government has to fulfil its commitment of giving arrears to nearly 1.49 lakh state employees and 60,000 pensioners which leads to huge allocations under the non-plan expenditure.

In 2011, the Uttarakhand Government had raised Rs 150 crore through market borrowings to meet the rising non-plan expenditure and had floated a 10-year bond in 2011. A string of populous decisions with an eye on the 2012 Assembly polls had forced the government to raise loans from the market.

Uttarakhand has not been in the pink of health since its creation in November 2000. It inherited a debt of nearly Rs 3,000 crore which has now grown to Rs 30,000 crore.

To exacerbate matters, the government was facing a problem on account of rising expenditure related to salaries and other social commitments made by Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Now, a recent decision to create 16 more departments is expected to add to the woes of the government.

Hard pressed

• A financial crisis is brewing in the state forcing the government to seek a soft loan of Rs 600 crore from the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Experts say the financial health of the state has been hit due to last year’s natural disaster
• The government has to fulfil its commitment of giving arrears to nearly 1.49 lakh state employees and 60,000 pensioners, which entails huge allocations under non-plan expenditure
• Uttarakhand had inherited a debt of nearly Rs 3,000 crore from Uttar Pradesh at the time of its inception which has grown to Rs 30,000 crore.

Social welfare employees end strike
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
Protesting employees of the district social welfare office called off their strike here today after Social Welfare Officer Avtaar Singh, who had allegedly misbehaved with a staff member, was sent on leave.

It may be recalled that the district social welfare office employees had proceeded on a strike demanding the removal of Avtaar Singh for misbehaving with a staff member. They had alleged that despite a number of complaints made to senior officers of the department no action had been taken against Avtaar Singh, causing widespread resentment among the staff members.

The protesters met with the Additional District Magistrate, Pratap Shah, who decided to send the erring official on leave till the matter was resolved. It was also decided to make security arrangements for the staff members at the district social welfare office.

SS Bisht, Asharam, Ashok Rawat, Dharampal, Gambhir Rawat, SS Pundhir, Kuldeep Chauhan, Sabbal Lal and Gaggan Thapa took part in the protest. 

Rock climbing contest at ITBP
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, August 26
Inter-battalion level rock climbing competition started at the 14Th battalion headquarters, Jajardeval, today. Four Bareilly zone battalions of the ITBP, 3rd, 7th and 36th, besides 14th, are taking part in the competition.

The competition was inaugurated by Sripal, second in command at the 14th battalion, Jajardeval. Addressing the participants, the officer said that rock climbing is a base training for the force, which has been assigned to guard the Indo Tibet border.

Addressing the participants the officer said that as 80 per cent strength of ITBP has been deputed at Indo China border, the training of rock climbing has proved a boon for the force which faces Himalayan rocks during its route patrolling duties at the border almost on a daily basis. “This training of rock climbing has produced world famous climbers in the force and made the force win invincible Himalayan peaks in the past,” he said.

According to organisers, the victorious candidates will be sent to take part in inter- border completion of ITBP battalions.

Permission sought for starting MBBS at Doon, Almora hospitals
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
After failing to meet the deadline of starting MBBS classes at the proposed Doon medical college and Almora medical college, the Department of Medical College has once again applied for essentiality certificate from the Medical Council of India (MCI). “The department is ready to start the MBBS course from 2015 for which we have applied with the MCI to oversee our preparedness and then give permission for the same,” said Dr RP Bhatt, Director of Medical Education.

In Almora medical college, permission has been sought for granting a total of 100 seats and in Doon medical college a total of 150 seats. While the Almora medical college is proposed to be set up at the Almora Base Hospital, the Doon medical college will be set up at Dehra Khas. The existing Doon Hospital is being upgraded, which would act as the hospital for the college.

The Department of Medical College has failed umpteen times to fulfil the deadline in the past and now it has once again conveyed it’s readiness to the MCI, which will first undertake an inspection and then give approval. 

NSUI unit formed 
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 26
The local unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI was formed at Government Graduate College in Thatyur block in Tehri district here today.

Anuj Gupta, youth Congress president, Mussoorie, congratulated students for enrolling themselves in one of the largest student unions of the country.

He said the exercise of forming new units of the NSUI was being done on the direction of Kishore Upadhyaya, state Congress president. He added the union wing was the stepping-stone for students interested in entering politics.

Senior Congress leaders Megh Singh Kandari, Neeraj Sajwan, Virendar Thapli, Vijay Gusain and Mahipal Singh Rawat were also present on the occasion.

Students protest against merit-based admissions
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 26
Students created a ruckus, burnt around 200 copies of the admission prospectus and closed the gates of Municipal Postgraduate (MPG) College in Mussoori today as a mark of protest against the introduction of merit-based admission system in the colleges affiliated with HNB Garhwal University.

The students in large numbers gathered at the college premises, raised slogans against the college administration and cornered the principal of the college in support of their demand to remove the merit criteria from the admissions in the forthcoming academic session.

The protesting students lamented the fact that due to the introduction of merit-based system, the students from poor strata who enrol themselves from remote villages of district Tehri in the college will be deprived from pursuing their higher studies. The students also said that around 400 of them had applied for admission in the college but only 170 students were given admission, “which was really unfortunate”.

The protesting students also demanded that the government should make such provisions that no student is left behind from receiving education.

They also warned that if their demand is not met soon, the agitation will become more intense for which the government will be responsible.

However, some meritorious students who were able to get in the college were of the view that the new merit criteria will result in less politics in the college. “All non-serious students who sought admissions only to vote for their candidates in the respective student body elections will not be able to enrol in the college with the new merit-based admission criteria, thus creating a much better academic environment in the college,” said one student. Ritesh Rawat, Mohan Melwan, Sanjana Sharma and others were present on the occasion.

GRD Academy win 2-1
Tribune News service

Dehradun, August 26
Two matches were played in the ongoing 13th Om Prakash Memorial Football Tournament played at the Carmen School football ground here today. In the first match, GRD Academy defeated Jim Pioneer School 2-1. Mithilesh scored the first goal in the 18th minute while Urgen scored the second goal in the 57th minute for GRD Academy. On the other hand, Rahul scored the only goal for Jim Pioneer School in the 4th minute of the match.

In the second match of the day, St. Joseph School trounced Sangam Public School 2-0. Shrey Dobhal scored the first goal in the 10th minute while Nigmar scored the second goal in the second half of the match for St. Joseph School.

Soccer matches end in draw

Both matches played at Gorkha Military College in the ongoing 16th Colonel Shashi Memorial Inter-School Soccer Tournament ended in a draw here today. The first match between Cambrian Hall School and Maa Anadmayee Memorial School ended in a 1-1 draw with Rahul scoring the first goal at the 19th minute for Maa Anandmayee and Himanshu of Cambrian Hall striking the equalizer at the 31st minute of the match.

The second match of the day was played between the Gorkha Military School and Pestle Weed College, which ended in a goalless draw with both teams failing to score goals.

Career counselling for Tibetan students
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 26
A career counselling exhibition was held at Central School for Tibetans (CST) with an objective to provide guidance to the students so that they are able to select courses of their interest and embark on a successful path in their career ahead in Mussoorie today.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the school Principal Anita Narula in which the counselling team members explained to the students through posters about the career options available to them after completing their 10 plus 2 in sciences, arts and commerce.

The counsellors also conducted individual sessions with the students by providing them the necessary guidance about complete college admission process till they gain admission into one or more colleges that match their performance, potential and preference.

‘’We believe that this exhibition will go a long way in helping our students to stand out in the crowd,’’ said Anita Narula, principal, Central School for Tibetans.

The counsellors also advised the students to keep a track of important dates of entrance examinations or application process and take help of teachers while filling submission forms during the exhibition.

The rector of the school Nogdup Norbu also termed the exhibition as a good exercise for those who wanted to carve out successful career for themselves.

ASS Kanderi, school teacher/ counsellor was the brainchild behind the exhibition.

‘Youth’s lack of interest in Sanskrit worrisome’
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 26
Despite Sanskrit being regarded the mother of all languages and it being the second official language in Uttarakhand, lack of interest among youths towards it is a cause for concern.

Dr Prem Chand Shastri, head of the Sanskrit literature department, Gurukul Kangri University, said this at a convention organised by Sanskrit Bharati at Dev Sanskriti University here today.

Dr Prem said, “Sanskrit is an ancient language, which is the source of evolution of all languages. But today the younger generation is not much interested in learning, reading and adopting Sanskrit. This is a cause for worry.

Dr Radhe Shyam Chaturvedi, head of the Sanskrit department of Dev Sanskriti University, said Vedas were written only in Sanskrit and it had been the language of deities. Its neglect was worrying.

Vice Chancellor of Dev Sanskrit University Sharad Paradhi highlighted the need for giving the lost status to Sanskrit by teaching the younger generation social and moral values.

An exhibition on the Sanskrit literature and cultural programmes in the language were the highlights of the day. Sanskrit scholars from across the country are taking part in the convention.

Bank association protest
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 26
The All-India Bank Employees Association and the All-India Bank Officers Association members staged protest in support of their pending demands here today.

The agitators threatened to intensify their stir if the Union Government does not take effective steps to address their grievances.

The agitators protested and shouted anti-government slogans. They said the Union Government should expand banking, especially in rural areas of the state.

They said the Union Government should not merge associate banks with the State Bank of India.

The agitators lamented that around five lakh villages lacked banking facility in the country and 50 crore residents were yet to open bank accounts.

They said the Union Government should focus on expanding banking facility in the country instead of merging associate banks with the State Bank of India.

Jagmohan Mehandiratta, VK Joshi, Anil Jain, Sohan Singh, BP Sundriyal, RK Gairola, Rajesh Singhal, VK Sharma, BD Nautiyal and Inder Singh were present during the protest.