CM announces development projects for Garsain
Says agricultural land in village areas must not be left barren
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
Chief Minister Harish Rawat, while inaugurating the Horticulture and Tourism Development Fair at Garsain today, announced a series of projects.

He linked the fairs of all districts with tourism and announced Rs 25 lakh for them under the revolving fund. He discussed the possibility of developing the belt from Garsain to Bharadisen. He gave several suggestions to develop Garsain as a hill area model of development.

Inaugurating the fair, the Chief Minister said the agricultural land in village areas must not be left barren and asked the farmers to plant fruit bearing trees and utilise fertile lands.

He said if a farmer was unable to raise any crop in his barren land, he must raise fodder. The government has taken a decision to give Rs 300 per plant after three years as a bonus for this. On the occasion of the State’s Formation Day on November 9, women above the age of 60 years would be given free lunch through anganwadis. The DMs would identify villages to initiate this programme. The farmers above the age of 60 years would be provided pension.

He asked the villages to concentrate on dairy farming, fishery, fruit and flower production. The government has taken on the responsibility to market these products. Pregnant women would be provided with iodine salt and Mandua, he stated.

The CM also assured appointment of teachers in vacant posts by the end of the financial year in order to ensure quality education. He said better services would be given to schools providing better education. He promised to appoint doctors in local hospitals. He said, in case, hospitals did not have adequate manpower; alternate arrangements would be made by training paramedical staff.

He announced development programmes for Garsain. Widening of motor routes, approval of six classrooms for the Girls’ Inter College, an ITI Building, Rajeev Gandhi Navodaya School building, ANM centre in Kandari Khod, police station in Garsain, Vidhan Sabha building in Garsain, MLAs’ residence, a Secretariat building and Nagar Panchayat status for Tharali.

Several schools, women and youth groups held a cultural programme on the occasion. Present on the occasion were Deputy Speaker AP Maikhuri, zila panchayat president Munni Shah, block president Sumit Bisht, freedom fighter Padam Singh, former block president Surendra Kumar Singh, Janki Rawat, Chamoli DM SA Murugeshan, Sunil Kumar Meena, CDO Sanjay Kumar, District Development Officer Mohammed Aslam, CMO Dr Ajeet Gairola and other officials.

Major announcements

*n Appointment of teachers by the end of financial year.

* Widening of motor routes, approval of six classrooms for the Girls’ Inter College, an ITI Building, Rajeev Gandhi Navodaya School building, ANM centre in Kandari Khod, police station in Garsain, Vidhan Sabha building in Garsain, MLAs’ residence, a Secretariat building and nagar panchayat status for Tharali.

U’khand committed to improving health services: Minister
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
Health Minister SS Negi said the state government was committed to improving medical and health services in the state.

He said a couple of plans were in the pipeline to overcome the shortage of medical officers and para-medical staff in the state.

After flagging-off a fleet of five life-saving ambulances under the “Kushiyon-Ki-Sawari (KKS)” scheme in a function held here today, Negi said various beneficiary schemes were introduced by the state Medical, Health and Family Welfare Department to provide immediate medical facilities to villagers.

He said the state government laid special focus to improve medical and healthcare facilities, especially in the fringe and higher parts of the state.

Negi said life-saving ambulances would be extremely beneficial to drop mothers along with their newborn babies back home.

Expressing his views, Director General, Medical, Health and Family Welfare, Dr GS Joshi said more than 1.5 lakh patients were benefitted with the launch of KKS service since March 30, 2013.

He said KKS scheme would prove extremely beneficial for increasing institutional deliveries in government district hospitals and health centres across the state.

Speaking on the occasion, GVKEMRI-108 state head Manish Tinkoo said a fleet of GVKEMRI-108 life-saving ambulances had proved their worth by providing immediate medical and healthcare facilities to victims in emergencies.

MLAs Sunderlal Mandrawal and Bheemlal Arya, Dr Prem Lal, Neelkanth Jugran, Dr Reemant Gupta, Priyanka Dhyani, Sudhir Bijjalwan, Shialendra Singh, and Sushil Thapliyal and others were present on the occasion.

Garbage management in a mess in Doon
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
The unplanned garbage management is taking a toll on the state capital which is reeling under the ghastly sight of scattered garbage in every nook and corner.

What added to the plight of the city, once known as “green heaven”, are the missing dustbins once placed by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation.

The dustbins that facilitated the garbage collection at one place to maintain cleanliness have been mysteriously removed at the behest of some politicians of bureaucrats. A few months ago, a dustbin placed on EC road was removed following the instructions from a local MLA. The same MLA later ordered the removal of dustbin from Balbir Road. The orders came after a builder who had constructed apartments on Balbir Road approached the MLA to get the dustbin removed.

Similarly, the only dustbin placed on the Canal Road was removed after a senior bureaucrat ordered its removal.

Even as officials of the DMC remained tight lipped over the removal of dustbins from various areas, sources revealed that often due to the interference of senior officials and politicians, they are forced to either remove or move the garbage bins from a particular spot.

“The placement of the garbage bins was done after a lot of planning as a number of things have to be considered before earmarking the spot. Further, the bins are placed based on the area location and the number of users in the area. Ever since the dustbins were removed from some prominent places, we are facing a lot of problems in managing the garbage. The people continue to dump the garbage on the road in the absence of bin,” said a senior official wishing anonymity.

While accepting that the bins have been moved from the original places, Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Harak Singh Rawat said they were placed at alternative spots. “There were some issues regarding the spots where the bins were placed. The bins have been placed at some other spots in the same area. We are also in the process of placing additional dustbins in the area so as to reduce the problem of garbage,” he added.

‘Institutes must impart moral education’

Dehradun, November 4
A two-day national seminar on ‘Scope of Higher Education in Uttarakhand’ was organised by Uttarakhand Open University (UOU) and Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) here today.

Prof Jeetram Negi, Parliamentary Secretary (Higher Education), Vice-Chancellor of UOU Subhash Dhulia, and Vice-Chancellor of Doon University Prof VK Jain, inaugurated the event.

Prof Jeetram Negi, Parliamentary Secretary (Higher Education), said educational institutes should impart moral value education along with academic syllabus to students. He said students should be morally high to contribute for the development of the nation.

He said the seminar would be beneficial in improving the status of higher education in the state. “A large number of students are unable to register for higher education, despite large number of colleges in the state,” said Negi. The academicians will present dissertations on various education issues in the seminar. A souvenir was also released in the seminar. — TNS

Govt schools’ teaching standards deteriorating: Educationists
Tribune News Service

New Tehri, November 3
A two-day workshop on ‘School Education: Problem and Prospects’ concluded at the municipal auditorium here today.

More than 100 educationists from around the district deliberated on the ways to improve school education in various government schools.

The speakers said despite the presence of government institutions namely State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT), State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT), Sarv Siksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RAMSA), the condition of the school education was far from satisfactory.

They said SCERT and SIEMAT were established with an objective to bring about improvement in the field of school education, support the educational planning, conduct research and evaluation studies and act as an agent of change in school education.

“However, these organisations have failed to deliver on their mission statements and the deteriorating education standard in government schools is a living example,” they said.

The speakers said teachers should focus on all round development of students and bring in leadership qualities through the medium of debate, declamation, theatre, music, creative writing and community participation so that they become responsible citizen of the country.

They said healthy literature and music should be promoted among students so that the quality of education improves in government schools.

Ravinder Singh Rana, president of the Rajkiya Sikshak Sangh, said his organisation was committed to improving the standard of school education, but the government policies were proving detrimental towards the efforts being made by them.

He said the new arrangement of guest teachers and non-availability eligibility criterion for teachers was a hindrance in the improvement of quality education among government schools.

Upendar Pandit, block education officer, Chamba, Mohan Chauhan, Lakshman Rawat, Balkishan Bhatt, Somwari Lal Saklani, BB Singh, Manvir Sajwan, Shish Pal Kandyal, Dehspal Negi, Lokendar Rawat, Buddhi Prasad Bhatt, Anita Semwal, Moanohar Chamoli, Mukesh Bhauguna, Rakesh Bahuguna, Bishen Singh Negi and Yashpal Rana were also present on the occasion.

Patanjali Yogpeeth to open school branches
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 4
Patanjali Yogpeeth will open its Acharya Kulam school branches across the country to ensure that moral-based, yoga aided education is provided to thousands of students.

This was stated by Yog Guru Ramdev here today at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, while he was heading for New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ramdev said the Acharya Kulam project would be undertaken in phases, with 500 Acharya Kulam schools to be opened in the first phase. Besides students, their parents will be trained in these schools.

“Students will be linked with modern and ancient Rishi-based style of education. Parents will be made aware of real education that life gives, so that both at school and home, Acharya Kulam students get the best of education,” said Ramdev.

He said the purpose of Acharya Kulam was to have youth with an Indian mindset, behaviour and lifestyle that is reminiscent of seers and saints.

Patanjali Yogpeeth general secretary Acharya Bala Krishan said real education comes for service of society and at Acharya Kulam, the students would be groomed both spiritually and socially. As many as 4,000 participants from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab took part in the camp.

Bharat Swabhiman Trust central in-charge Dr Jai Deep said trained people should disseminate moral values, and yoga benefits at their respective working and living places, so that a new younger generation is prepared at 500-odd Acharya Kulams.

Effect of no work, no pay rule yet to be gauged
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
With today being a holiday, the effect of the no work, no pay rule imposed by the Uttarakhand government could not be gauged. Some kind of action is expected to emerge tomorrow when the offices open and the three-day timeframe ends.

In view of the High Court order, the state government had imposed the no-work, no-pay regulation yesterday and given three days for the striking employees to return to work after which, ESMA is expected to be enforced.

At the same time, adopting a placatory stance, a sub-committee of ministers comprising Finance Minister Indira Hriyadesh and Medical Education Minister Harak Singh Rawat continued to hold parleys with representatives of the Collectorate Ministerial Federation Association. Their recommendations are expected to be tabled during the forthcoming Cabinet meeting.

The government’s problems have compounded as the striking Amins too are expected to latch on to a similar treatment in case the government accepts demands of the collectorate staff.

Ruckus over death at private hospital
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
Family members and relatives of a 32-year-old who met with a fatal accident near Nimbuwala on Monday night, created a ruckus at the Multi-Speciality Hospital on Canal Road, claiming he had not been given proper treatment.

The relatives of the deceased, Yum Bahadur, argued that the hospital’s doctors refused to admit him in the hospital on Monday night and declared him dead before properly checking him. They said Yum Bahadur was alive when he was rushed to the hospital and doctors should have treated him.

The hospital management was of the view that Yum Bahadur was brought dead and the doctors did attend him. The family members of the deceased however blame them for negligence. Cantt police reached the spot and tried to placate the situation.

Cantt police station in-charge VS Jetha said, “Yum Bahadur was working with a contractor and met with an accident near Nimbuwala after he lost control over his scooter at night. The locals spotted him and took him to the hospital.” Heated arguments were exchanged between the hospital management and mediapersons after the latter reached the hospital to know about the case and the hospital’s versions on the claims made by the family members of the deceased.

Yoga teachers seek appointment in govt schools

Dehradun, November 4
A large number of trained yoga teachers started an indefinite strike here today. They demanded appointments of yoga teachers in the government schools.

They threatened to launch a massive protest rally. The demonstrators said if the government failed to fulfill their demand, they would gherao the Chief Minister’s residence.

“In one of the cabinet meetings, the government had given a nod for the appointment of 10,000 teachers including B Ed, TET and yoga. However, till date nothing has been done so far causing a widespread resentment among the professionally qualified unemployed youth. It is time that the government should take decision regarding the same,” demanded the protesters. — TNS

NRI Bhargava has been working in state since 2009
He pledged Rs 500 crore for transforming Uttarakhand
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
NRI billionaire Manoj Bhargava, who hit the headlines after he pledged Rs 500 crore for transforming Uttarakhand, has been silently working in the state since 2009 in the field of education and health care.

Though not hailing from Uttarakhand, he is inspired by Bhola Maharaj and Mangala Ma, spiritual teachers from the state. Bhargava’s The Hans Foundation has set up Shri Hans Eye Hospital in Haridwar and Shri Hans Karuna Hospital at Satpauli in Kotdwar, which will become operational this year. Its 26 mobile health clinics have been providing medical services in the remote villages of the state.

Closer home, at Purkal village in Dehradun, around 300 schoolchildren hailing from poor families are benefiting from the support provided by the foundation to the Purkal Development Society. Every day, they attend a school free of cost.

The co-founder of the Hans Foundation, Shweta Rawat, who is daughter of Bhola Maharaj, said, “Bhargava is one of the few Indians to have signed the ‘The Giving Pledge’ and major donor plans to scale up the philanthropy work in Uttarakhand in the next six years in the area of health care, disability and livelihood in some of the poorest villages of the state,” she said.

Earlier, the foundation had donated Rs 100 crore for the disaster relief work.

The NRI billionaire

Manoj Bhargava, though not hailing from Uttarakhand, is inspired by Bhola Maharaj and Mangala Ma, spiritual teachers from the state. Bhargava’s The Hans Foundation has set up Shri Hans Eye Hospital in Haridwar and Shri Hans Karuna Hospital at Satpauli in Kotdwar, which will become operational this year.

Little hope for BJP in RS election
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
The state BJP has little options to change the political arithmetic for the Rajya Sabha seat for which polls will be held on November 20.

Almost demoralised, the BJP has not even begun considering suitable candidates for the seat so that a final consensus could emerge around a single candidate.

The state party president Teerath Singh Rawat has been predicting the breaking away of the PDF from the Congress over the last few months, but has so far found little time to discuss the name of the candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat. “We will declare the candidate’s name at an opportune time. Let the Congress come up with its candidate. There is internal rumbling in the Congress about breaking ties with the PDF. Right now, I am in Almora and participating in a training camp. We may discuss the issue at the camp,” said Rawat.

Senior party office-bearers say the party is adopting a wait-and-watch policy. It may declare the candidate only after the Congress finalises its candidate. “In case the Congress decides to field a candidate from outside, the party may have a slim chance of indirectly starting the outside versus inside debate and even exhorting the PDF not to support such a candidate in the interest of the state. In the past, both the parties have fielded candidates from outside,” said a senior BJP leader.

RS polling on Nov 20

Dehradun, November 4
The Chief Electoral Office yesterday issued notification for the elections to the lone Rajya Sabha seat to be held on November 20.

The polling will take place on November 20 from 9 am to 4 pm while counting at 5pm after which the results would be announced on the same day. — TNS

Dispose of cases related to assets fast: Bhatt
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt has urged Chief Minister Harish Rawat to speedily dispose of the matters related to the distribution of assets and dues with the Uttar Pradesh Government.

In a letter written to the Chief Minister, Bhatt has urged the Chief Minister to hold a meeting with the officials concerned of both states so that the matter could be sorted out immediately.

Bhatt said the assets under the possession of Uttar Pradesh were not being taken care of.

Strict action if pubic issues ignored: DM
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 4
District Magistrate D Senthyl Pendiyan has warned government officials of stern action, including suspension, if complaints of a lackadaisical attitude or delay on their part in solving public problems are reported.

Pendiyan said this while holding a janta darbar at the Collectorate office at Roshanabad here today. Twentyfive complaints regarding non-cooperation by government officials had been filed.

He added, “If complaints of people are not registered, listened to and resolved in a stipulated time, the officials concerned will be held responsible. Strict action will be taken if complaints are not looked into properly or resolved and complainants face problems.”

He directed the District Social Welfare Officer to ensure direct deposit of scholarship money in the bank accounts of the beneficiary students. He said records of private colleges be randomly checked to ensure disclosure of anomales in the student scholarship scheme.

Doon prisoners on a mission to save sparrows
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
In a major initiative towards sparrow conservation, inmates of Dehradun prisons have started preparing low cost wooden nests that are proving to be an instant hit with children.

Dehradun prisons took up the task of preparing wooden house sparrow nest boxes a few years back. They prepared wooden nest boxes which proved to be a big hit due to its low cost.

A jail inmate gets Rs 35 per day as wage, which reduces the cost of wooden nest boxes and is sold at Rs 110 per box. In the first three days of Saras fair, presently underway at Parade Ground, district prisons counter has already sold over 100 nest boxes.

Bhagat Singh Rawat, counter in charge at the fair, said schools purchased wooden nest boxes.

He said they were getting advance bookings for the nest boxes. Commissioner Rajeev Sharma said it was commendable that the society had become sensitised towards the conservation of house sparrows. 

NGO volunteers clean drains
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 4
Members of the Sarva Bhavantu Sukhina, an NGO, carrying brooms cleaned the area from Library Chowk to Happy Valley in Mussoorie today.

President of organisation Amit Bhatt, who is inspired by the Swacch Bharat campaign launched on the call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said this was the fourth stage of their cleanliness campaign in Mussoorie under which drains were cleaned and polythene bags removed from Mall Road. He added the next phase would be conducted in the Barlowganj area.

Lalit Mohan Kala, Amit Bhatt, Pankaj, Girish Nautiyal, Ashish Joshi, Gaurav Chamoli, Anita Saxena, Ashish Gwadi, Rahul, Vinit, and Deepak took part in the cleanliness drive.

Helipads to come up at 12 places in state
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 4
Twelve places, six each in Kumaon and Garhwal regions, have been selected and a list of these has been sent to the government for construction of helipads under the emergency assistance project, Dr SD Tiwari, an environmental scientist related with the project, said at Nainital today.

He added the government had planned 60 helipads at various places to facilitate emergency landing and general transportation for the public, which lives on tough terrains that were without vehicle transport. “Of the proposed 60 helipads to be constructed in the coming three years, 19 are to be constructed first, while 41 helipads have been proposed in the second phase of the project being initiated by Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority,” said Dr Tiwari, who, along with Dr Aparna, another expert for the project, visited such places in Nainital today.

The helipads damaged by the disaster in 2013 will also be repaired under the scheme. According to Dr Tiwari, over 27 places have been identified till date in the state to construct helipads. As many as 12 of these places have finally been selected for the construction. “We have taken special care of environment matters in the places before getting the final approval to construct the helipads,” he said.

Youths flagellate themselves, remember sacrifice
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 4
In remembrance of Imman Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed and 72 other martyrs who laid down their lives in the battle of Karbala in Iraq, Moharram processions were carried out in the evening in Jwalapur, Haridwar, here this evening.

Muslim youths were seen flagellating themselves as part of the mourning as they remembered the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his supporters.

Dozens of decorated ‘tazias’ accompanied the mournful procession. These were a major attraction, as even minors had made their own innovative small tazias.

The procession concluded with the burying of tazias. It commenced from Kuan ki Mandi, Mohalla Maidaniyan, Kaithwada, Kotarwan, Kassaban and other parts of suburban Jwalapur — a Muslim-dominated area.

People from nearby regions also thronged these areas, from where the procession was taken out, lining up on both sides of the roads and rooftops of adjacent buildings.

Holding flags and dressed in black outfits, the participants cried as they beat up their chests in the ceremonial ‘maatam’ mourning, with the procession concluding with burying of the tazias.

In households, religious offerings (majalis) were carried out, with reading of the Koran while there were prayers in mosques.

The Muslims did works of charity on the day.

“This is a day of mourning for members of our community. By way of tazia procession, we show our grievance, pain and try to feel the pain felt by the martyrs of Karbala,” said Tanveer Ali, a Jwalapur resident.

In the wake of riot-inciting incidents in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh in recent months, an alert was issued in Haridwar district, with respective Circle Officers and Station House Officers directed to undertake patrolling in their areas. Additional police personnel were deployed for the festival.

Moharram observed amid tight security
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
A large number of Muslims held processions to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain on the occasion of Moharram here today.

Muharram is a day of bereavement, when Muslims give to charity, observe fasts and pray in remembrance of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, who was martyred some 1,330 years ago at Karbala in Iraq.

The day is also known as “Yaum-e-Ashura,” day of enlightenment, on the 10th day of Moharram, the first month in the Islamic calender.

The procession started from Imambada on the east Canal Road and passed through the customary route of Survey Chowk, Tibetan Market, Darshan Lal Chowk, Tehsil Chowk and finally culminated at Imambada, Naya Nagar, on Gandhi Road.

The security remained tight around the whole procession till it reached its destination at Gandhi Road. Little girls and women dressed in black sang tearfully, remembering the sacrifices of Imam Hussain in a procession, which was headed by people carrying black flags. Many young boys bled themselves with heavy beating with blades and chains and swords to mourn the day. The procession was organised by Anjuman Moinul Mominin.

Those who were part of the procession included Maulana Ali Hasnain, Janba Kalbe, Haaider Zaidi, Hussain Naqvi, Manzur Hussain, Sardar Aalam, Arshad Zaidi, Ali Abbas along with others.

Nagar kirtan ahead of Gurpurab
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
Clad in saffron clothes, the Punj Pyaras led the Nagar Kirtan, ahead of the Gurpurab, through the lanes of the state capital here today.

Organised by Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, the procession carried the holy Guru Granth Sahib, placed in a beautifully decorated palanquin. Attended by a large number of devotees, the procession started from Gurdwara Patel Nagar and passed through Patel Nagar, Saharanpur Chowk, Prince Chowk, Drone Hotel Road, Darshan Lal Chowk, Clock Tower and Race Course.

Prasad was distributed to the participants and bystanders as the procession passed through the city. Those who were part of the procession included Rajender Singh Rajan, Dilip Singh, Phulla Singh, Gurdeep Singh Sahota, Gulzar Singh, Amarjeet Singh Chabra, Jaspal Singh, Gurvinder Singh and several others.

Doon cricketer in Bengal team
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
A local cricket player, Abhimanyu, has been selected to play cricket for Bengal team. He has been playing cricket since the age of six years.

Abhimanyu from Abhimanyu Cricket Academy Private Limited is selected to represent Bengal team for Vijay Hazare tournament.

He was selected for the Indian team for under-19 world cup camp in 2013. He has also shown his batting prowess in other tournaments.

Abhimanyu is being imparted training by HP Ranji coach Rajdeep Kalsi. 

13 foreign teams for ringball competition
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 4
Uttarakhand will host first international ringball competition in January next year. The Ringball Federation of India and the Ringball Association of Uttarakhand have already begun preparations at two places in Kumaon region.

Kaushal Kishore, vice-president of the Ringball Federation of India, said the five-day competition would be organised at Rudrapur and Haldwani in January simultaneously. The senior Indian team had already been selected in Rudrapur last April while the junior team will be selected after trials in December.

“Out of 13 countries taking part in this competition, South Africa, Namibia, Losoto, Sri Lanka, Fiji and Nepal have already given their approval to take part in the competition,” said Kishore.

Adventure Challenge Cup commences at Raiwala
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 4
The prestigious South Western Command Adventure Challenge Cup 2014-15 commenced today at Raiwala, 12 km from Haridwar city.

The three-day mega adventure event is being organised by South Western Command at the Army Aqua Nodal Centre. The Challenge Cup features mountain cycling in Garhwal Himalayas, hill running and white water rafting events.

Mountain cycling will be a 12-km event that will test riding, endurance and courage skills of the participants as it will pass through one of the toughest hill routes in North India.

The hill running event will be conducted on an 11-km distance and white water rafting, on a 16-km stretch. As many as 90 qualified Army personnel participants, including 9 officers, are taking part in the cup.

Inaugurating the Adventure Challenge Cup, Col Vijay Hooda, Commanding Officer, 6 Sikh Light Infantry, said sports do not necessarily build a character but they surely reveal it.

Col Hooda added that the role of sports and engaging in adventure activities is a vital element of the training regime in the Army as it shapes boys into men and cadets into officers.

“Apart from being a byword for physical endurance, sports have become a platform for bringing laurels to the regiment, command, armed forces and the nation. Be it Olympics, Asiad, Commonwealth, Afro-Asian Games, SAF or National Games, many Army sportspersons are major winners in the Indian contingent,” the Colonel cited.

District cricket league from Nov 20
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
The 63rd district cricket league is scheduled to start from November 20.

Only the registered cricket teams will be allowed to participate in the tournament.

Kumar Thapa, secretary, District Cricket Association, said registered clubs and institutions could register their names for the tournament at Hindustan Sports, Chakrata Road from November 6.

He said a registration number would be allotted to the participating teams for the tournament.

Only the registered teams for the tournament would be allowed to participate in the forthcoming cricket tournaments that would be organised by the District Cricket League.

Doon Strikers, Doon Tigers register win
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 4
Doon Strikers and Doon Tigers won their respective matches in the ongoing Nazar Khan Memorial 3rd Youth Cup Cricket Tournament played at the Rangers College Ground here today.

In the first match, Doon Strikers beat National Club by 39 runs. Batting first, Doon Strikers scored 221 runs, losing all their wickets in the process. Batting next, the National Club team were all out for 182 runs, thereby ensuring a 39-run win for Doon Strikers. Kapil scored 61 runs for Doon Strikers.

In the second match, Doon Tigers defeated Asian School by 62 runs. Batting first, Doon Tigers scored 204 runs. Batting next, Asian School were all out for 142 runs, thus ensuring for the Doon Tigers a 62-run win.

T-20 cricket tourney begins today
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 4
The Sports Directorate of Uttarakhand will organise a state-level Under-17 T-20 cricket competition at the sports stadium in Pithoragarh district from November 5 to 9, said Ajay Rawat, secretary of the Pithoragarh Cricket Association, here today.

Rawat added 14 teams from across the state, including from Sports College, would take part in this junior cricket competition. Three matches would be played every day. “Each team will get travel and daily allowances according to the norms. The winner and runner-up teams will be given attractive prizes,” he said.

Jagat Singh Khati, chairperson of the Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad, would inaugurate the competition.