Vocational training for widows
SOLAN, May 3 — Ms Mridula Sinha, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board, said here yesterday that the board would shortly introduce vocational courses for widows, especially those whose husbands fell to terrorist in Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar and Punjab.

Political infection hits hospital
KANGRA: The local Sub-Divisional Hospital here is in a shambles. The hospital was made 50 bedded from a civil dispensary on December 3, 1985. It was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh.

Ex-minister seeks poll in Sept
KULU, May 3 — The Economy of the middle Himalayas, including the areas in Himachal Pradesh, has already been hit by the prevailing drought-like conditions.

DYFI to observe 'protest day'
SHIMLA, May 3 — The state committee of the Democratic Youth Federation of India has decided to observe May 12 as a "protest day" to highlight rising unemployment and spiralling prices.

First state-level ‘bijli adalat’
SHIMLA, May 3 — The Minister of State for Power and Technical Education Mr Ravinder Singh Ravi, has stressed the need for the prevention of power theft.

Rs 161-cr scheme for development
CHAMBA, May 3 — The Centre has approved a scheme of over Rs 161-crore, called the integrated development of small and medium towns, for Himachal Pradesh.

• Mutual faith, not guns, needed: Dutt
• When invigilators cheat
• ‘Ram bhakt’ challaned
• Writer dead

Transfer under HVC pressure?
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 3 — Does the unceremonious transfers of two top-level Additional Director General of Police, Mr I.N.S. Sandhu, and Mr P.J.S. Kumar, from their posts have something to do with the Vigilance and Enforcement Departments reluctance to register cases against the former Chief Minister and leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Mr Virbhadra Singh?

Both officers, who were heading the Vigilance and the Enforcement Department respectively, were recently stripped of their charge and appointed to insignificant posts.

Mr V.K. Malik, who is junior to these officers by one batch, has now been given charge of both these sensitive departments in which all out efforts were reportedly made by the government to register cases against Mr Virbhadra Singh on the basis of the "charge sheet" prepared by his political opponent and HVC leader, Mr Sukh Ram.

The police department is alive with rumours that Mr Sandhu and Mr Kumar had been shifted after their political bosses took umbrage to their suggestion that legal problems could be encountered if FIRs were blindly registered against the former Chief Minister. Mr Sandhu has been shifted to the Prisons Department, while Mr Kumar goes as Managing Director of H.P. Minorities Finance and Development Corporation.

Senior police officers say that the posts have virtually become a case of musical chairs eversince the "charge sheet" of Mr Sukh Ram was referred to them.

Mr Malik too was earlier removed from the Vigilance Department, reportedly on the same issue but, has now been brought back to head both organisations.

It is alleged that all these transfers are being done under pressure from Mr Sukh Ram, whose one point agenda is to implicate Mr Virbhadra Singh in one case or the other.

A high-level meeting was held some time ago in which then Chief Secretary, Secretary (Law), Secretary (Home), the ADGP (Enforcement) and some legal experts discussed the issue. However, the Enforcement Department adopted a cautious approach to avoid contempt proceedings by blindly accepting orders of its political bosses. It was reportedly pointed out that certain courts had already adjudicated some of these complaints.

Allegations pertaining to alleged undue favours to a Katha factory were referred to the Enforcement Department. However, no case has been registered so far.

The HVC had prepared a 40 point "charge sheet" against Mr Virbhadra Singh. Papers pertaining to 11 of these have been taken by the CBI to Delhi.

Dhumal flayed for twisting quote

SHIMLA (TNS): Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal on Monday denied that he made any derogatory and offensive remarks against former Prime Ministers, a former Chief Minister and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose while addressing a public meeting at Darlaghat.

He said the reports appearing in a section of the Press in this regard were misconstrued and misinterpreted. He said he knew dignity of the high office of the Prime Minister and the persons who held it and there was no question of making any derogatory remarks against them. He said he had great regard for Mr Deve Gowda and Mr I.K. Gujral and Mr Virbhadra Singh.

He clarified that he referred to these leaders in the context that the previous Virbhadra Singh government failed to get any central Assistance when Mr Gujral and Mr Gowda were Prime Ministers.

The focus of whatever he said at Darlaghat was on development and he had solicited the cooperation of the people for it. In this context, he had referred to the slogan of Netaji "Tum mujhe khoon do mein tumhe azadi doonga", and sought the cooperation of people by saying "Tum mujhe sahyog do, vishwas do, mein tumhe-vikas doonga."

Vocational training for widows

SOLAN, May 3 — Ms Mridula Sinha, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board, said here yesterday that the board would shortly introduce vocational courses for widows, especially those whose husbands fell to terrorist in Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar and Punjab.

Ms Sinha, who addressed a press conference said that a task force to study the vocational needs of tribal and other backward women for the purpose of introducing suitable vocational courses had been constituted to focus on the poverty ridden tribal belts of North Eastern states.

In order to give a new lease of life to the fast vanishing folk arts, handicrafts, songs and dance forms, specially evolved courses would this year be introduced in rural areas. Training would also be provided in producing cassettes and writing media reports on traditional folk items. Help would be sought from the National School of Drama and various regional cultural centres for curricula and faculty.

It was also felt that the changing social scenario, characterised by a large number of broken homes necessitated setting up of pre marital counselling centres in the universities of the country. The Board held seminars on the subject in the Jamia Milia, Delhi and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay, recently. The proposed Centres would be organised along the lines recommended by these seminars.

Ms Sinha said that a decision had also been taken to house creches and old age homes under one roof in future. The measure would help overcome the sense of alienation felt by these two important sections of society.

Doordarshan had approved a board produced serial titled 'Sewa' aimed at creating awareness about the NGO movement.

Political infection hits hospital
From Ashok Raina

KANGRA: The local Sub-Divisional Hospital here is in a shambles.

The hospital was made 50 bedded from a civil dispensary on December 3, 1985. It was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh. For more than a decade only four doctors, including one senior medical officer, continued to run the show. It was in 1995 that four posts of the medical officers were created for the hospital. Posts of safai karamcharis have not been created so far.

The hospital being centrally located caters to the locals living in the radius of 20 km and also copes with the rush of pilgrims to the Brajeshwari temple. Most accident cases from the Kangra-Hoshiarpur highway and the Pathankot-Mandi highway rush to the hospital. The hospital lacks facilities and staff to face the rush of patients.

Last year 1,77,062 patients visited OPD against 1,69,897 in 1997 and 1,67,543 in 1996. The number of the indoor patients has come down because of lack of facilities. About 10,398 patients were admitted to the hospital last year against 11,321 in 1997 and 15,601 in 1996. Most of the indoor patients are referred to other hospitals and last year 288 patients were referred to the Zonal Hospital.

The hospital has no ambulance service thus the critically ill patients can't be shifted to other hospitals.

According to a survey, 25 per cent patients who visit the OPD go unattended because of heavy rush.

The hospital has five medical officers, one senior medical officer and a dental surgeon. One of the five doctors remains off duty every day because of night and wait duty. According to the SMO, Dr Ashok Sharma, the only gynaecologist has applied for premature retirement and has gone on leave. One orthropaedic was recently transferred, his replacement is yet to join. Against the strength of eight safai karamcharis, eight class IV and four pharmacists, the hospital has two posts of safai karamcharis, two of class IV. The Health Department has deputed one safai karamchari and four class IV employees while their salaries are drawn against other posts.

The hospital has no ultrasound equipment and blood transfusion facilities.

The Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, laid the foundation stone of a civil ward in the hospital premises on June 27,1998 but the construction of the ward is yet to start.

The state Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar, represents the Kangra Assembly constituency. He is considered a strong supporter of Mr Shanta Kumar. He has been demanding that the hospital should be made hundred bedded.

The Chief Minister during his recent visit to the town categorically refused to upgrade the hospital till the civil ward was not completed.

Public Works Department and hospital sources claim that after constructing the civil ward it would not be possible to raise the building for the hundred-bedded hospital.

Virbhadra Singh's daughter dead
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 3 — Ms Anuradha Kumari, daughter of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, died here today after a protracted illness.

The end came early this morning for Ms Anuradha Kumari (39), whose condition had deteriorated in the past few days.

A large number of people from all walks of life attended her cremation in the afternoon.

The Governor, Ms V.S. Rama Devi, placed a wreath and offered her condolences to Mr Virbhadra Singh and other members of the bereaved family.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, who is in Delhi, expressed grief on the telephone to Mr Virbhadra Singh. A wreath was placed on his behalf by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ram Subhag Singh.

The Education Minister, Mr Karan Singh, the Chief Secretary, Mr A.K. Goswami and the Director-General of Police, Mr T.R. Mahajan, were among those who reached Mr Virbhadra Singh's residence to offer their condolences.

Ex-minister seeks poll in Sept
From Our Correspondent

KULU, May 3 — The Economy of the middle Himalayas, including the areas in Himachal Pradesh, has already been hit by the prevailing drought-like conditions. The general election should be delayed and held in September to avoid further economic loss to the people of this region. This was stated by Mr Raj Krishan Gaur, former Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister and Vice-President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, at a press conference held here yesterday.

Mr Gaur said rabi crop and fruit crop had already been damaged and now the tourist season, which could bring some relief to the people of the state and Kulu and Manali, in particular would be hit by the elections if held in summer.

The Congress leader condemned the present BJP-HVC government led by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal for getting itself involved in overruling the existing Panchayati Raj Act.

He said that the panchayat vigilance committees had been nominated by the government whereas these should have been elected by the respective gram sabhas.

DYFI to observe 'protest day'
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 3 — The state committee of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has decided to observe May 12 as a "protest day" to highlight rising unemployment and spiralling prices.

The federation will organise dharnas at all district headquarters and hold rallies. While the number of registered unemployed had touched the eight-lakh mark, there were about six lakh unregistered jobless in the state.

This was about 40 per cent of the state's total work force, the federation pointed out.

The federation also urged the government to formulate a policy to solve the problem of unemployment. It also demanded allowance for the jobless.

First state-level ‘bijli adalat’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 3 — The Minister of State for Power and Technical Education Mr Ravinder Singh Ravi, has stressed the need for the prevention of power theft.

He was delivering the inaugural address at the first state-level "Bijli adalat" held here today, Mr Ravi maintained that consumer satisfaction, speedy disposal of grievances, proper system of payment of bills, besides shortening the time gap and improving the existing pattern of services should be accorded top priority.

The Chief Secretary, Mr A.K. Goswami, said a target of electrifying 500 hamlets every year had been fixed and efforts were being made in this direction.

When invigilators cheat

BILASPUR, May 3 — A number of local candidates who sat for the written test for selection of engineering assistants of AIR and "Doordarshan" at Arya Kanya Senior Secondary School, Lower Bazar, Shimla yesterday alleged that invigilators deputed to prevent copying were instead seen going to select candidates and helping them fill in the correct answers.

They said that the invigilators did not stop even when some of the examinees objected and demanded that they observe their duty rather than violated it.

The shocked candidates said here today that the test was a farce and urged the Information and Broadcasting Minister to order an inquiry into the incident.

Writer dead
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR (HP), May 3 — A well-known writer, Shayam Lal "Pansari", died at Diara sector here in town last evening. He was 52. He had been ailing for some time and was rushed to a zonal hospital here yesterday where his condition deteriorated.

He was cremated here today. His funeral was largely attended.

He wrote a number of books on history of the hill states.

‘Ram bhakt’ challaned
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, May 3 — A traffic police ASI and a constable who were imposing a 'tax' of Rs 50 on each truck at Berry yesterday were dismayed when Kashmir Singh, a truck driver, refused and even told the policemen that they were indulging in illegal activities and his truck owner, Lehar Singh, an ex-serviceman, had instructed him not to pay bribes.

He even told the surprised cops that as it was early morning and they should sing Ram bhajans and remember God instead of standing on the road demanding bribes.

This infuriated the policemen. The more so as it encouraged other vehicle owners to also refuse to pay. So the policemen challaned the truck saying it did not have a "gutka" or lights and had a pressure horn. When eyewitnesses insisted that the truck had "gutka" or lights and no pressure horn, the ASI said the challan was still correct as the driver had "misbehaved" with the police by refusing to give them Rs 50.

Mutual faith, not guns, needed: Dutt
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 3 — Actor-turned-politician Sunil Dutt today stressed the need for breaking down barriers of hatred and mistrust so that expenditure on defence could be cut and the money spent on developmental activities.

The former member of Parliament reached here along with members of his expedition named "Hands Across Borders". Youth leaders from five SAARC nations — Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka — are participating in the expedition jointly organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan along with Yuva Shakti, an NGO.

He said the mission of the expedition was to stress that guns across the borders would not do but mutual trust and faith could bear fruit.

He said more serious problems like poverty illiteracy and unemployment needed to be addressed. No country can progress in isolation and it is only through peaceful co-existence that each one of these nations can bring about development, Mr Sunil Dutt said. The entire purpose of having constituted the SAARC would be defeated in the absence of mutual understanding between heads of nations, he added.

Rs 161-cr scheme for development
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, May 3 — The Centre has approved a scheme of over Rs 161-crore, called the integrated development of small and medium towns, for Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing of news conference here today, Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, Minister of State for Urban Development, said the scheme would provide infrastructural facilities to the towns of Himachal Pradesh. It would also help in providing clean environment and beautification of the hill towns in the state.

The minister said a Rs 7-crore Norway Government-aided development project had been sanctioned for Shimla.

He said about 33 bighas of land had been selected at Haripur-Sarol, near here for the construction of a colony by the HP Housing Board. The state government had issued notices under Sections 6 and 7 of the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring this piece of land.