Marketing board Donates Rs 1 crore

Shimla: The HP State Agriculture Marketing Board contributes Rs1 crore towards the HP Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Chairman of the board Dr Ram Lal Markanda presented the cheque to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday. Chairman of the Chureshwar Seva Samiti BM Nanta contributed Rs5.51 lakh towards the fund. TNS

Ban entry of fanatics in state: Satti

UNA: Former BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti on Monday said the entry of religious preachers of a community in Himachal from other states should be banned. Satti said Himachal had returned to a zero growth rate of corona infection, but the situation has become dangerous after the infected members of Tablighi Jamaat mingled with the local population when the rest of the country was under a lockdown. Satti said Himachal is a peaceful state where people from all religions live in harmony. Efforts by some people, having fanatic and disruptive mindset, to disturb peace would not be tolerated at any cost. OC

400 students held up at Tibetan school

Palampur: More than 400 students are stranded at Tibetan Children Village (TCV) at Gopalpur, 10 km from here. Kisan, director of TCV, said in the wake of the Covid outbreak, the school administration had been following all guidelines issued by the government such as social distancing, avoiding mass gathering and group classes. Even in the hostel and mess, social distancing was strictly followed. Students come one by one to the mess to have their food and maintain specific distance. Besides, the regular medical checkup of all students was being done by the school administration. After the lockdown was lifted, the students would be allowed to go to their homes after seeking necessary permission from the DC, Kangra. OC

Rs50,000 donated by two industrialists

Hamirpur: Two industrialists of the district donated Rs 50,000 to the DC Relief Fund on Monday. Two cheques for Rs 25,000 each were given to Deputy Commissioner Harikesh Meena by Dr Ashok Thakur of Maheshwar Stone Crusher, Nadaun, and Vijay Chopra of Jagdamba Stone Crusher, Masyana. They said the donation was given to help the poor and the needy. Harikesh Meena appreciated their gesture. OC

MLA donates Rs35 lakh from LAD fund

Hamirpur: Sukvinder Singh Sukhu, former president of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee and MLA from Nadaun Constituency, donated Rs 35 lakh for establishing a Covid testing laboratory at Dr Radhakrishanan Medical College and Hospital here on Sunday. He said the fund was donated from the MLA area development fund so that people could get better medical facilities. Unfortunatelt the medical college is still without vital facilities despite having sufficient funds provided by the UPA. OC

CM pays tribute to BJP founders

Shimla: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday paid tributes to Syama Prasad Mukherjee and Deen Dayal Upadhayay at Oak Over on the occasion of the 40th foundation day of the BJP. It was on this day in 1980 that the BJP was formed. Agriculture Minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda, Chairman, HP State Agricultural Marketing Board, Baldev Bhandari, Chairman, APMC, Naresh Sharma, Political Adviser to Chief Minister Trilok Jamwal and OSD to Chief Minister Shishu Dharma also paid tributes to them. TNS

Guv discusses e-learning options with VCs

shimla: Governor Bandaru Dattatreya held a video-conference with eight Vice-Chancellors of government and private universities and discussed online learning modules and the use of information technology in the dissemination of awareness messages in the wake of Covid outbreak. The VCs briefed the Governor on various initiatives taken by them. The Governor asked them to formulate an outline for the students’ learning process so that the curriculum could be completed. He said the UGC had also prepared several online study websites. Using this option, students can study at home. OC

Bali donates 3,000 masks, 2,000 gloves

Kangra: Former Transport Minister GS Bali has donated 3,000 masks, 2,000 gloves, 250 bottles of sanitisers and other required material to the Nagrota Bagwan sub-divisional authorities for distribution to the needy. Bali had represented the Nagrota Bagwan Assembly constituency a few times. The items were handed over to the authorities by block Congress president Chaudhary Man Singh, urban Congress president Krishna Kanungo, Subhash Kumar, Madan Chaudhary and Satish Bhardwaj. Bali said more goods would be sent to Nagrota Bagwan, whenever needed. OC

Helplines for essential medicines

Shimla: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has said citizens requiring any particular medicine available in other parts of the state or even outside the state could register their request on helpline numbers 0177-2626076 and 0177-2626077 or toll-free number 1070. He said the government would ensure the availability of essential medicines to citizens facing difficulty in getting these in the wake of the lockdown. Efforts would also be made to make the medicines available at the nearest chemist shops. The Chief Minister said a person could procure the medicines from a chemist store by showing a medical prescription or coordinate for home delivery. The state drug controller and drug inspectors would ensure the supply of essential medicines to the citizens. He added volunteers and NGOs could also provide services to the needy. TNS