Morcha’s hill power test - Hills connections | ||||||
VIVEK CHHETRI TT: Darjeeling, July 9: Lack of clarity within the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on the implementation of its non-co-operation movement is causing inconvenience to the public at large. Confusion prevails over payments for new electricity connection from the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited. As part of its non-co-operation movement, the Morcha had asked people in the hills to stop paying electricity bills from May 21. The Telegraph correspondent today visited the power office in Darjeeling following complaints from the residents that the authorities were not providing new connections to the hill people. Posing as a prospective consumer, efforts were made to apply for a new electricity connection. Officials present at the office, however, said they could not sanction fresh connection as they had been “asked” not to collect money for any service, even for applications from new consumers. “About two weeks ago, a group of people claiming to be Morcha supporters came to the office and asked us not to collect any taxes. They specifically asked us not to take money for new connections as well. Given the situation, we have no alternative but to stop taking money,” said an official. Asked whether the hill people were to live without electricity, Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: “We have only asked the people to stop paying electricity bills. We had not said the electricity office should stop taking payment for new connection. Why should we hurt our own supporters; our intention is only to cripple the state government.” Tamang’s clarification is likely to help about 200 people whose applications for new connection are pending at the Darjeeling office. However, Tamang needs to co-ordinate with his fellow leaders to sort out the matter and he has promised to do so. Subba’s family threatens hunger-strike Statesman News Service, JALPAIGURI/SILIGURI, 9 JULY: The family members of the Gorkha Liberation Organisation chief and the prime accused in Mr Subash Ghisingh's assassination attempt in 2001, Mr Chattre Subba and five other co-accused inmates, have today threatened to launch a hunger strike from Monday if the state government did not initiate steps to release the inmates in the next three days. Mr Subba and the five others are currently in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital admitted after their physical condition deteriorated following a five-day hunger strike in Jalpaiguri jail. Mr Subba and the accused persons’ family members came to submit a deputation to the Jalpaiguri district magistrate today but failed to as she was not present. “Neither the DM nor any executive magistrate was present for us to submit the deputation. We will again come tomorrow to submit the deputation and if the state government does not initiate steps in the next three days to release them we would start a hunger strike at the Jalpaiguri DM's office,” said Mr Subba's wife, Mrs Monika Subba. Mrs Ratna Dewan, wife of Mr Saran Dewan, another co-accused said that her husband along with the five others was fighting for life at the NBMCH. “Today was the ninth day of their hunger strike. The condition of Mr Chattre Subba, Mr Saran Dewan, Mr Gunje Lama and Mr Kumar Chettri is quite serious,” Mrs Dewan said. The convener of the ‘Bandi Mukti Committee,’ north Bengal branch, Mr Swaraj Ghosh stated that they would convene bandhs in every block of Jalpaiguri district from 15 July if Mr Subba and the five other inmates were not released from jail. Responding to allegation of no executive magistrate present to receive Mrs Subba's memorandum, the ADM (General), Jalpaiguri Mr NG Hira said he was in his office the whole day but the DM Jalpaiguri was out of station on official work. Meanwhile, the GJMM leadership has also demanded prompt justice for Mr Chattre Subbha, accusing the state government of manipulating the trial process. The party general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri said that they wanted justice to be meted out to the jailed leader at the earliest. “We are viewing with concern how he is being made to suffer with the trial dragging on for years,” he said. Speaking on the matter, the GJMM media and publicity secretary, Mr Harka Bahadur Chettri said that the role of the state government in the case was suspected. “The state government seems uninterested in speeding up the process of justice to serve the designs of Mr Subash Ghising. There is no reason to keep on detaining Mr Subbha after Mr Ghising's deposition in the Jalpaiguri Court denying any knowledge of Mr Subbha's complicity in the assassination attempt in 2001,” he said. Illegal Constructions-Making Darjeeling Vulnerable to Landslides Taruk Sarkar (ANI), Darjeeling, July 9 The massive construction of buildings, a majority of them illegal, has led to degradation of soil texture in the Darjeeling Hills area of West Bengal and making the place vulnerable to landslides. A series of landslides hit Darjeeling and its surrounding areas in May, triggered by overnight torrents. Local builders, however, have ignored the threat of landslides or public concern. Geologists say that the construction of unauthorised buildings coupled with improper drainage systems has led to recent landslides. "For the Since last 100 years, Darjeeling is witnessing an rapid increase in population. This migration of population has led to an increase in unauthorised constructions. This coupled with the lack of a proper drainage system in the Darjeeling Hills culminated in the recent catastrophic landslides," said Subhir Sarkar, a geologist. When asked about the problem, the State Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Ashok Narayan Bhattacharya, said the state Government has asked the local civic body to take active measures against it. "We would be organising a seminar in Kalimpong to ascertain the crisis, and whatever the meteorologists say is very much justified and the municipality must look into the matter," said Bhattacharya. Situated at a height of 2,134 meters, Darjeeling is also famous for its 125-year-old railway, a UNESCO world heritage site where the century old miniature steam engine still chugs. During the late 50s of the 19th century, Darjeeling was developed as a hill station for Britishers, who wanted to escape the heat of the plains. As time passed, Darjeeling emerged as a tourists destination. TT, Alipurduar, July 9: A tusker last night lifted a garden manager on its trunk and was about to trample him when a worker hurled a burning torch at the elephant and with its attention diverted, the others pulled out the 46-year-old from under the giant’s legs. Residents of Chuapara Tea Estate in Kalchini block, 40km from here, said the elephant started pushing through the Girja labour line, bringing down houses and trees, around 9.30pm. It had entered from the adjoining Bhutri forests. By then people were shouting and running helter-skelter. Other employees of the garden, including senior assistant manager Khangar Jadak, came to enquire. A crowd started chasing the animal, when it suddenly turned around and charged. Four persons fell to the ground and the elephant lifted Jadak and threw him to the ground to the horror of the crowd. “Just as it lifted its feet to trample Jadak, a worker who had a lighted torch threw it at the elephant. The burn and the heat distracted the animal for a few seconds and our senior manager immediately snatched our assistant manager from under the feet of the tusker in a daring act,” said a witness. N. Hossein, the general manager, said he was not alone but was accompanied in the “daring act” by workers who helped him pull Jadek out. “It was a narrow escape.” By then workers had started bursting crackers and the sound drove the animal into the forest. Pankoj Roy, the adviser to the National Union of Plantation Workers in Chuapara, said Jadek was admitted to the Hasimara Air Force Hospital around two in the morning. Later in the day he was shifted to a private nursing home in Siliguri. Hossein said over the phone from the Siliguri nursing home that Jadek have been diagnosed with multiple fractures in the ribs. Firing probe S.B. Mondal, the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), West Bengal, said on Thursday that an inquiry had been ordered to find out if Nepal police had opened fire on an elephant herd on July 5. He confirmed that a Nepal-based NGO had written to the department, saying its members were witness to the firing. GJMM bandh peaceful in Kurseong Statesman News Service, KURSEONG / SILIGURI, 9 JULY: The 12-hour bandh convened in Kurseong sub-division by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha demanding immediate release of three supporters arrested in connection with a clash at Mirik on 7 July with GNLF supporters, passed off peacefully today. The bandh was almost total.
The GJMM assistant secretary Mr Binay Tamang said the Mirik incident was a conspiracy of the state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya and the north Bengal IGP Mr KL Tamta. “ Mr Bhattacharya and Mr Tamta were trying to disrupt peace in the hills,” he said. Mr Tamang informed that his party would organize a rally and public meeting at Panighatta tomorrow in protest against the incident. “The GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gurung would attend the meeting and announce the future programme of the party. The GJMM Siliguri, Kurseong and Mirik branch supporters would also attend,” he said.
Panighatta, meanwhile remains tense and GJMM activists continue picketing outside the police outpost demanding release of three party sympathizers.
The GJMM supporters said they would keep squatting outside the police station until those arrested were released. “The police indulged in double standards while arresting those allegedly involved in the clash. They were lenient towards the GNLF activists,” they said.
Panighatta based GNLF leader Mr Rajen Mukhia, however, alleged that the GJMM was indulging in vendetta against him. “Tuesday's attack on my residence is testimony to it. The terror tactics would not deflect my loyalty from the GNLF,” he said.
The police at Panighatta said, releasing the GJMM men was beyond their prerogative. “The case is now in the court and the police have nothing to do,” a police official said. Alcohol: A menace for teenagers Statesman News Service KURSEONG, 9 JULY: The growing menace of alcohol consumption and practice of immoral activities among school children in the Darjeeling hills is causing serious concern among the parents, teaching community and the society in general.
Teenagers these days are often seen binging in the parks and gardens quite openly in addition to the restaurants and hotels, indifferent to the reaction they are causing in the society.
As a proof of the point, the police in Kurseong arrested some teenaged school students from a hotel on Tuesday when they were creating nuisance in an inebriated state.
The Gorkha Jan Pustakalay-Kurseong, secretary, Mr LD Moktan admitted the degenerating trend among the youngsters and said this was very worrisome. “There is no immediate solution to the trend. It is the result of aping the West. The sartorial sense and lifestyle of today's youth is strange. The parents, social organisations and school authorities must inculcate discipline in them or the society will have to pay a price,” he said.
Mr Moktan said that they were planning to form an organisation to spread awareness among the parents, which should in turn help the youth.
Another senior citizen, Mr GB Bal said that the parents must take the responsibility to keep their children from going astray.
“Unfortunately, most parents do not keep a track of their children's activities and so the corrective measures are not coming,” he pointed out.
The trend is causing worry in the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha as well. “The teenagers these days are flouting the standard norms of the society and indulging in activities the society does not approve of.
“The GJMM women wing would soon take up the matter. It is lined up for discussion,” said Mrs Prabha Chhetri, the GJMM Kurseong core committee member.
Equally disturbed with the growing trend among the teenagers, the Kurseong SDPO, Mr Rakesh Singh, said: “The administration is doing everything in its capacity to curb alcoholism and disgraceful activities among the teenagers but the society and individuals must also play their own roles and be responsible citizens.” Sikkim University makes it easier for students Statesman News Service , GANGTOK, 9 JULY: Sikkim University would introduce the ‘back paper scheme’ for undergraduate level courses being offered through its affiliated colleges. The 89 per cent pass percentage in its announced results seems to have encouraged some leniency.
Dr MP Kharel, principal, Sikkim Government College, Tadong said: “Though it is yet to be announced officially, the result summary that reads ~ ‘failed but promoted’ is self explanatory.”
It is also learnt that the SU would give two additional chances of re-examination apart from the scheduled six semesters for undergraduate course of study. The act is seen as an alternative to the back paper system earlier practised under the NBU.
In an attempt to give another chance to students who fail to complete the six semesters within the given period, an additional seventh semester would soon be introduced by the SU. The system, termed “Zero Semester” could be availed of by those who fail to sit for end-semester exams due to unavoidable reasons.
Nine colleges in the state earlier affiliated to the North Bengal University have been brought under the SU purview since its inception in 2007. The Sikkim University is a Central institution established and funded by the government of India under an Act of Parliament. It was set up on 2 July, 2007.
According to Dr Kharel, the Sikkim colleges’ NBU connection would come to an end in 2012 after all students have cleared their courses.
Under the new exam pattern of the NBU, 87 per cent of honours students passed while the results of general course are yet to be summarised. It is also informed that two students secured first class marks while one passed with distinction in the NBU results announced so far. Dooars social activists reject Maoist tag Statesman News Service, SILIGURI, 9 JULY: Social activists in Siliguri have opposed the administration's alleged move to brand voluntary organisations working among the tea workers in the Dooars as “Maoists”.
The inspector general of police (IGP), north Bengal, Mr KL Tamta, had recently stated that the police were “keeping an eye on the organisations active in the closed tea estates in the Dooars, apprehending some possible link with the Maoists”.
A number of Siliguri-based social activists, including a few teachers of North Bengal University, today convened a Press conference at the Child Welfare Organisation in the town to voice their protest over the IGP's remark.
“The civil administration and the police ~ who have miserably failed in delivering good governance and security across the Dooars tea estates ~ are now conspiring to pass the buck onto the social organisations that are engaged in positive work there. We strongly condemn the attempt of the police to put a ‘Maoist’ tag on the social organisations,” said Mr Anirban Choudhury of NESPON.
According to him, the IGP's remark is part of a bigger conspiracy of the ruling parties to regain their lost footing in the Dooars by frightening the locals.
Among those present at the Press conference this afternoon were ~ NBU teachers Mr Ajit Roy, Mr Ranjit Pal, Mrs Shukla Pal, Mr Tamas Mazumdar and Mr Nikhiliesh Roy, APDR Siliguri secretary Mr Abhiranjan Bhaduri, Mr Arnab Bhattacharya, Mr Anirban Choudhury and activist Mr Rupak Mukherjee. They alleged that the state government was trying to create a rift between the Adivasis and communities living in the Dooars forest villages by distributing land titles selectively to the Adivasis.
“The administration is also violating the provisions of the Forests Rights Act by twisting and turning them to suit the political agenda of the ruling Left parties,” Mr Choudhury alleged. SWINE FLUE TALLY 164 New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) Six new cases of swine flu were reported Thursday in the country, including three in the national capital, taking the total number of people infected with the influenza A(H1N1) virus to 164 so far, health officials said here. According to the union health ministry, of the six new cases three are from Delhi and one each from Goa, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Those detected for the flu Thursday include a four-and-a-half year old girl and a 78-year-old woman. “About 1,040 people have been tested so far, of whom 164 have tested positive for influenza A (H1N1),” a statement issued here said. “Of the 164 positive cases, 114 have been discharged,” it said. Of the 1,040 people tested, about 320 were identified during the airport entry screening. About 3.07 million have been screened at the 22 international airports in the country so far, the officials said. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 94,512 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection cases have been reported from 135 countries till July 6. As many as 429 deaths have been reported worldwide, mostly from Mexico and the US. |
V Mohan Rao
All over the World, every year 11th of July is observed as World Population Day. This year, it is the 20th World Population Day and it will focus on women and the economic crises. The theme for the year 2009 is “Fight Poverty, Educate Girls” in order to build awareness of the importance of educating girls, including human rights, gender equality and poverty. The World Population Day seeks focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues and particularly in the context of overall development programmes and plans to find solutions for these issues.
Population Growth, A Concern For All
The term world population commonly refers to the total number of living humans on Earth at a given time. As of July7, the Earth’s population is estimated by the US Census Bureau to be over 6.8 billion. The fastest rates of world population growth were seen briefly during the 1950s then for a longer period during the 1960s and 1970s. According to projections, world population will continue to grow until around 2050. The 2008 rate of growth has almost halved since its peak of 2.2 per cent per year, which was reached in 1963. World births have levelled off at about 134 million per year, since their peak at 163 million in the late 1990s, and are expected to remain constant. However, deaths are only around 57 million per year and are expected to increase to 90 million by the year 2050. Since births outnumber deaths, the world’s population is expected to reach about 9 billion by the year 2040. In the 20th century, the world saw the biggest increase in its population in human history due to lessening of the mortality rate in many countries due to medical advance and massive increase in agricultural productivity attributed to the Green Revolution. On July 11, 1987, the world’s estimated population was five billion, enough to set alarm bells ringing at the UN Headquarters. It was decided that the issue necessitated a special campaign.
WORLD INDIA
India’s contribution is over one billion, nearly a sixth of the entire number of people on this earth. India is among the first countries to introduce family planning on the Government agenda. Despite the strong presence of the superstitions among its people, there was no opposition to the concept. India has set itself demographic goals for the year 2000 with the hope to bring down the birth rate to 21 per thousand and the death rate to nine per thousand. While the global population has increased three-fold during this century from two billion to 6 billion, the population of India has increased nearly five times from 238 million to one 1 billion in the same period. India’s current annual increase in population of 15.5 million is large enough to neutralize efforts to conserve the resource endowment and environment. India’s population is 16 per cent of the world’s population on 2.4 per cent of the globe’s land area. If the current trends continue, India may overtake China in 2045 to become the most populous country in the world.
Indian Efforts
The Indian Government has been implementing several projects since long to contain population growth on its own and also in collaboration with several external agencies. Schemes to ensure good health, quality education and reduce poverty among the people are continually in place. Of late, the Government had launched the flagship programme of the National Rural Health Mission on April 12, 2005 with a plan of action to increase public expenditure on health, reducing regional imbalances in health, pooling resources, optimization of healthy manpower, community participation and ownership.
Key to Success- Empowerment of Women
Women empowerment through education and socialupliftment is the way to achieving health among women. The women’s health should not be neglected as the whole family depends on her and timely prevention or early treatment avoids the suffering due to advanced disease when it becomes almost incurable. There are several areas in health sector where reforms are progressing ahead while there is need to move in some other directions also.
Keeping the growing concern for the unabated increase in population, the government, the people and all the stakeholders in the gigantic society building must look into the damage-control measures to correct the imbalances in the society. The key to the success in this task is — taking adequate timely steps to contain population growth and ensure healthy life because good health is above wealth. Among these, the upper most task of the present day world is educational empowerment of people, particularly girl child. It is said educating a girl child means educating the future generations. (PIB Features)
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