Himachal.ozg.in

Himalayan Glaciers Controversy

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:08:00 +0000

A huge controversy has been generated in recent days over the much quoted lines in the IPCC's 2007 report: "Glaciers in the Himalaya are receding faster than in any part of the world and, if the present rate continues, the likelihood of them disappearing by the year 2035 and perhaps sooner is very high if the Earth keeps warming at the current rate" (Working Group 2, page 493). We do need to question how a statement of such magnitude, without peer review, made its way into the IPCC report. That it was discovered, externally, more than two years later raises concerns about both the mindset and the weakness of the processes of the IPCC in checking and correcting information they collate, information that is so vital in the global debate. However, to question the credibility of the science of the global warming, supported as it is by a wealth of empirical evidence, or to question IPCC's work, as is happening in some quarters, is gross exaggeration and sometimes driven by dubious and malafide intentions.

More importantly, the ongoing debate ignores four key issues:

one, that glacial melting, happening extensively in many regions and altitudes of the Himalayas, is already impacting people's lives in the Indian Himalayan states;

two, science ignores people's own perceptions of their reality and their context;

three, the critics have not properly placed the issue in the overall context and fragility of glaciers globally; and

four, that the situation is going to unavoidably worsen, hence deepening an unfolding crisis of access to water.

Since the Earth's average warming gets amplified into much higher levels of warming in the mid-level Himalayas and at higher altitudes, the impacts there are already huge and varied. At a public hearing on 'Impacts of Climate Change on the Himalayan Region', organized by Oxfam India in late 2009, people from different Himalayan communities presented testimonies of extensive melting, receding and disappearance of small glaciers in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand based on their lived experience over the years. One professional guide who has traversed high altitudes for many years talked of the disappearance of numerous small glaciers over the last 20 years in J&K. Small glaciers, said another speaker, have disappeared from the Sarva Valley. Sigri and Chhotadhara glacier, both in Himachal, are receding rapidly. The Dhani Nara glacier, also in Himachal Pradesh, does not exist any more. Numerous presenters talked of lessening and irregular snowfall in recent years. This has obvious impacts on glacial mass and melting in the medium term. Women spoke of how water sources have dried up, already causing distress in their daily lives, impacting drinking water access and water supply for agriculture.

People's observations of their lived reality over time and of the impacts of global warming on their lives need to be given greater space and credence than is being done at the moment by formal science. This is particularly relevant in the area of glacial melting in the Himalayas given that many authorities, including the minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh, have acknowledged that Himalayan glaciers have been little studied. Why has the Himalayan glaciers issue received such inadequate attention until now? Of the thousands of glaciers in the Indian Himalayas, reliable baseline data exists for relatively few. In the absence of baseline data, it would be crucial to tap the lived experience of people who have lived in the vicinity of glaciers for decades.

Focusing on the erroneous date 2035 alone glosses over the already precarious state of glaciers worldwide, including in many parts of the Himalayas. A study by the World Glacier Monitoring Service in 2005 of 442 glaciers stated that 90% of them were receding. The much respected glaciologist Lonnie Thompson has said recently that of the 800 Himalayan glaciers being monitored, 95% are receding (Guardian, 20 January 2010). That tropical glaciers are receding worldwide are indicative of the fate of subtropical Himalayan glaciers. Ren, Jiawen, et al state: "Many glaciers on the South slope of the central Himalaya have been in retreat, and recently their retreat rate has accelerated … due to reduced precipitation and warmer temperatures" (Annals of Glaciology, vol. 43, no. 1, Sept 2006). Anil Kulkarni, et al's oft-quoted study of 466 glaciers in the Baspa, Parbati and Chenab basins indicates greater fragmentation of glaciers, and reduction in glacial area by 21% since the mid-20^thcentury (Current Science, vol. 92, no. 1, 10 Jan 2007). A study of mass balance of glaciers, of "all published Himalayan-Karakoram measurements" shows that overall "they are more negative after 1995". Though increase in mass loss rate "need not be true of every part of the region … the mass loss rate is consistent with the global average (Jeffrey Kargel, et al, 'Satellite-era Glacier Changes in High Asia', AGU conference, December 2009). Dobhal and Mehta's study of the Dokriani glacier in the Bhagirathi basin says that "The present snout … is continuously retreating, like other glaciers of the Himalaya" (Himalayan Geology, n.d.).

Glaciers have also been thinning at high altitudes. Lonnie Thompson, in an interview to Nature said: "Back in 2006, we drilled three cores in the southwestern Himalayas. At 6,050 metres, where these glaciers reach their highest elevation, we found that … the glaciers are being decapitated. Not only are they retreating up the mountain slopes, but they are thinning from the top down" (Nature Reports Climate Change, 9 July 2009).

This precarious state of glaciers is going to unavoidably worsen because of further global warming in the pipeline, since there is a 25-30 year lag between emissions and warming. As it is, the drying of water sources is being exacerbated by indiscriminate damming of rivers and creation of run-of-the-river projects in the Himalayan states, in the face of considerable resistance from people across these states. All of this is going to worsen the water crisis unfolding for the poor, particularly poor women, in the Himalayas. Any debate on the Himalayan glaciers needs to keep them at its centre.

Rather than view glaciers collectively, it would be more appropriate to view them in a disaggregated way, since impacts on specific glaciers affect specific communities and people dependent on them. Not only is there a compelling need to carry out a comprehensive study of Himalayan glaciers in cooperation with other nations who are part of this rich ecosystem, the process also needs to have the people as a vital and engaged constituent. And the resultant information needs to be in the public domain.

Melting glaciers and the more irregular rainfall patterns in recent years makes the creation of appropriate small and large water harvesting structures absolutely urgent. In which both the government and local organizations have a crucial role to play. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) can be usefully deployed towards this end, but this requires greater political will by local elites and the administration at different levels than they have displayed thus far. There is clearly an urgent need to anticipate and prepare for acute water stress in the Himalayan region and beyond.

DELHI PLATFORM / 29 January 2010

Mandi - The historic town of Himachal

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:09:00 +0000

The historic town of Mandi (800 m) is built along the banks of the river Beas (it is one of the most turbulent rivers of western Himalayas flowing through Himachal Pradesh and finally making its way to Punjab where it serves as the lifeline of farmers). Mandi has long been an important commercial centre and the sage Mandva is said to have meditated here. This one time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast developing town that still retains much of its original charm and character. Today, it is a district headquarters. Mandi is renowned for its 81 old stone temples and their enormous range of fine carving, it is often called the 'Varanasi of the Hills'. The town has remains of old palaces and notable examples of 'colonial' architecture. The temples of Bhutnath, Trilokinath, Panchvaktra and Shyamakali are among the more famous ones. The week long international Shivratri fair, Mandi is scheduled to be held from 13th -19th February, 2010 and in this fair the activities like cultural programmes in the evenings, exhibitions, sports etc. are the major attractions for the tourists as well as locals.

General information:

Area: 3950 sq. km

Population 9.01 lakh

Clothing: Cotton clothes in Summer and heavy woolen in winter.

Language: Hindi, Punjabi, English are understood and spoken by the people engaged in tourism trade.

Approach:

Rail The nearest railway station is at Joginder Nagar, Chandigarh and Kalka by broad gauge train which are connected by regular bus services.

Road: Mandi is approachable by road from Shimla, Chandigarh, Pathankot and Delhi. There are regular bus services linking it to the other towns like Manali, Palampur and Dharamshala.

Distances from Mandi - Places to visit in Km

1. Janjehli 65

2. Joginder Nagar 55

3. Prashar lake 45

4. Rewalsar 25

5. Sunder Nagar 26

Shimla – The Summer Capital of British India

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:55:00 +0000

With all its intricacies, history seems to have been the mortar for every brick and stone that has built Shimla. As the summer capital of British India for well over a century it was the seat of one of the most powerful governments in the world. From its cedar-shaded heights, one fifth of the human race was ruled and the decisions made those decades ago affect our lives to the present day.

Height: Most of the town lies between 2,100 m and 2,300 m

Languages spoken: Hindi including English, Punjabi and Pahari.

Religion: Mostly Hindu, Sikh and Christian

Tele-communications: Worldwide links by the Internet, telephone and fax, code: 0177

The town of Shimla rose in the nineteenth century when the Gurkha Wars came to an end in 1815-16 and the victorious British decided to retain certain pockets as military outposts and sanitaria. In 1822 the most rigorous of dandies and the greatest of sticklers for form Captain Charles Pratt Kennedy, Political Agent to the Hill States directed that a house be built for him at the village whose name is variously reported as Sheyamalaya Shumlah, Shimlu and Shemlah. Kennedy House led the vanguard of the hundred-odd houses that were to scatter themselves by 1841 over every level or gently inclining space. Lured by the climate and terrain scores of European invalids began moving to the station and the only stipulation of the local chief who owned the land was that no tree be cut or cattle slaughtered.

In 1864 the Viceroy, John Lawrence appointed – then spelt Simla, as the summer capital of British India. With Lawrence came the Viceroy Council, the Imperial Secretariat, representatives of the Indian princes and foreign envoys. As the town grew to become the workshop of the Empire, an awed visitor observed, every pigeonhole cradled an embryo of a war or death. Despite the fact that up to the time of Indian independence in 1947, Shimla officially remained only the summer capital, yet the Government spent more time in these hills than at the actual capital Calcutta and later New Delhi. As the bearer of the Viceregal sceptre this tiny pocket became the cynosure of British Empire. Imperial grandeur, and all the panoply and trappings of power came along for the ride. And there was a popular local saying that went, "You cannot sleep the nights in Simla for the sound of grinding axes". A social whirl of parties, gymkhanas, balls, fancy fairs and affaires du Coeur ensured that a heady mixture of scandal and intrigue constantly wafted through the town.

Quite inevitably the freedom movement had a close connection with Shimla. Ornithologist and former Civil Servant, Allan Octavian Hume created the Indian National Congress which spearheaded the struggle while living in the town. Stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and Maulana Azad regularly visited Shimla. Major events that took place in the town were the Simla Conference in 1942, the deliberations of the Cabinet on and finally the decision to partition India.

And while the British Empire may have ceased to exist, its echoes linger on in the architecture and ambience of this hill resort. The elements of nostalgia may be strong but Shimla also has a youthful vigour in its pace. Its easy accessibility and several other attractions have made it one of India's most popular hill resorts. There are many unforgettable walks, day-excursions by the dozen, a variety of convenient shopping and entertainment museums, and ice-skating in winter. Shimla is the base or the unwinding point for numerous exhilarating routes to the state interior.

Today the town is distinctive for its variety of architecture. It has one of the rare surviving urban forests, made all the more unique, for its species are temperate to alpine ones in what is otherwise a tropical zone. And then Shimla's famous Mall offers one of the longest stretches of pedestrian shopping in the world.

Within and around Shimla, the public and private sector offer an enormous range of accommodation that range from modern to heritage hotels. Like satellites placed around the centre, there are many resorts in Shimla's periphery that are full-fledged destinations in their own right. These are located at Mashobra, Naldehra, Kufri, Shilon Bagh and Chail. En route by road from Kalka there are Parwanoo, Dharampur and Kasauli.

Sightseeing

If you are fond of walking, Shimla will unfold parts that remain hidden to vehicles. Combinations by car and then on foot are possible in several areas. It is suggested that you take a direction for the day and cover the places of interest.

The area around the Institute of Advanced Study has several walks. Combine these with visit to the State Museum and expand if you will towards Kamna Devi.

Tara Devi and Sankat Mochan can be linked with a short train ride to Tara Devi station. The Himalayan Queen that leaves Shimla at 10.15 am is recommended.

Jakhoo can be combined with a stroll and shopping on the Mall and in Lakkar Bazaar. The Lower Bazaar that runs parallel to the Mall at a lower level has the flavour of a typical Indian market place. Trinkets that can be purchased here include silver jewellery. You can also walk towards Chotta Shimla and Raj Bhavan the residence of the state Governor. The recently created rooms of Himachal Darshan offer a glimpse of the various district in the state. Jakhoo has several paths that criss-cross the hill a good walk is along the old Five Benches Road near the microwaves link tower. The Bharari spur also has many walks that can be done in a few hours or carried over the day

Special Interest

Nature

Some routes offer a greater variety of Shimla trees, shrubs, wildflowers and ferns. If you are lucky some bird species can also be sighted. Some suggested places are:

The Glen, and the narrow forest trail that runs above it and loops around Summer Hill. The Bharari spur. Towards the villages of Kamina and Pabo. Trek route down from Kamina to Tattapani.

Colonial Architecture

Most of Shimla has diverse colonial forms culled from all over Europe.

English Renaissance: With a castle-like appearance is the former Viceregal Lodge which is now the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. This is surrounded by assorted cottages.

English Home Counties Marketplace: The Mall

Neo-Gothic: Gorton Castle now the office of the Accountant General and formerly the Imperial Civil Secretariat; the Secretariat of the Himachal Government at Ellerslie; and the Gaiety Theatre on the Mall

Norman- Baronial: District Courts.

Swiss- Bavarian chalets: The Chalet Day School and Cedar Lodge (Punjab Government Rest House).

Tudor: The Library on the Ridge and Barnes Court

Churches: Christ Church, St. Andrew and the deconsecrated churches of St. Andrew's (now, the Evening College) All Saints Chapel 9nearthe gates of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study).

Cemeteries: Adjoining Oakover, the residence of the Chief Minister of Himachal has the oldest one. The largest 'old-one' is below St. Edward's school and is approached via the Potato Research Station. The one at Sanjauli also dates back to colonial times and is still in use.

Others: Yarrows, various schools and college and cottages all over town.

Shopping

Handicrafts. Shawls and tweeds. Fruit juice and jams. Honey. Quality woollens. Silver jewellery. Rare books and etchings. Contemporary pahari miniature paintings. Metalware. Rugs and carpets. Handmade footwear. Wooden items like walking sticks.

Planning a Week in the Shimla

A week's time will give you a healthy sampler of Shimla. Dividing your time between the town and suburbs is suggested. You can also divide your stay between the town and the peripheral region. A good time to do the walks are the mornings. A visit to the Mall is the ideal plan for the evenings. When visiting the suburbs plan for most of the day. In season, an appropriate activity like activity – like ice-skating can be pursued. Let your hotel or an approved travel agent help you plan your itinerary – those few minutes will add a great deal to your stay.

Distances from Shimla and Places to visit Km

1. Chadwick Falls 7

2. Chindi 94

3. Craignano 18

4. Fagu 22

5. Hatkoti 109

6. Indian Institute of Advanced Study 4

7. Jakhoo Temple 2.5

8. Jubbal 90

9. Kharapathhar 85

10. Kotgarh 82

11. Mashobra 12

12. Naldehra 23

13. Narkanda 65

14. Prospect Hill 5

15. Rampur 130

16. Recong Peo 231

17. Sankat Mochan 7

18. Sarahan 171

19. State Museum 3

20. Summer Hill 7

21. Tara Devi 11

22. Tattapani 53

Dalhousie Hill Station, Himachal Pradesh

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:37:00 +0000

Dalhousie (2036 m) is a hill station full of colonial charm that holds lingering echoes of the Raj. Spread out over the five hills (Kathlog, Potreys, Tehra, Bakrota and Balun) the town is named after the 19th century British Governer General Lord Dalhousie. It was popular with the British Army personnel in 1860's. The town's varying altitude shades it with a variety of vegetation that includes stately grooves of pines, deodars, oaks and flowering rhododendrons. Rich in colonial architecture, the town preserves some beautiful churches. St. John church is the oldest one built in 1863, St. Francis was built in 1894, St. Andrew in 1903 and St. Patric in 1909.

There are also magnificent views of Chamba valley and the mighty Dhauladhar range with its awe-inspiring snow covered peaks filling an entire horizon. By road Dalhousie is about 550 km from Delhi, 52 km from Chamba via Banikhet and 43 km via Khajjiar and the nearest railhead at Pathankot is 85 km away.

Subash Baoli: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose spent a large portion of 1937 contemplating here.

Panjpulla: It means five bridges. It is a picturesque spot with water flowing under the five small bridges. A samadhi of Sardar Ajit Singh, uncle of Bhagat Singh, adds to its importance. A small fresh water spring Satdhara is close by.

Bakrota hills: Visit for a brisk walk round the hills and have a view of snow clad peaks. It is 5 km from Dalhousie.

Kalatope: It is a picnic spot and a wild life sanctury, 10 km from Dalhousie and offers a fine view of the countryside.

Bara Pathar: It is 4 km from Dalhousie enroute Kalatope. In village Ahla here, there is atemple of Bhulwani Mata.

Dainkund: It is 10 km from Dalhousie. On a clear day this tall peak (2745 m) affords a birds eye-view of the hills, verdant valleys and the Beas, Ravi and Chenab rivers threading their silvery passage down to the plains.

Distances from Dalhousie - Places to visit in KM

1. Banikhet 7 km

2. Bharmour 117 km

3. Chhatrari 95 km

4. Kalatop 10 km

5. Khajiar 23 km

6. Kynance 5 km

7. Mani Mahesh 152 km

8. Norwood Paradham 5 km

9. Panchpula 3 km

10. St. Andrews Church 1 km

11. St. Francis Church 1 km

12. St. Johns Church 2 km

13. St. Patricks Church 2 km

14. Subhash Baoli 1 km

Faith vs Wealth: Hundreds of kilo of gold in Hindu temples

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:17:00 +0000

Himachal's rich temples too poor to afford so, the Himachal Pradesh government is finding it real burdening to manage the hundreds of kilos (above 4 quintals as per official confession) of gold besides tonnes of other precious metals lying in its treasuries. Of course the treasure belongs to the gods and therefore it is certainly even more burdening to be custodian for the All Powerful. And what bright idea it is to bank on bullion reserves temple shrines across the state have – perhaps a godly stimulus for a fledgling mountain economy that is yet to fully integrate itself with the larger speculative world capital market.

But money being money, the state government is justified in feeling the heat of more than 410 kgs of gold (valued above Rs 70 crore) lying unused with it. Perhaps not a great amount to catapult the state economy into a thriving one, nevertheless a decent amount to do the cleaning job in at least the shrines to which the treasure belongs. According to a report, in 2006, Chintpurni Devi temple, the richest of all shrines in the state, alone made a collection of over Rs 20 crore cash besides more than 20 kg of gold. That is certainly lot of money considering that majority of Himachali companies, if there are any genuine ones, may not be having that kind of yearly turnover.

This would certainly make one believe the shrine might be heaven on earth, or at least a poor imitation of it with decent civic amenities. But that is certainly not the case. A visit to the place would make you realize that on reaching there you would be charged Rs 50 as parking fee and will yet be made to jostle through chaotic traffic of vehicles and humans. And that's just the beginning. The journey up the hillock can be more condescending. The story of filth and poor infrastructure being the same for all shrines in the state. The situation is particularly bad during navratras when lakhs of devotees, most of them from outside the state, flood these temples. The situation becomes so pathetic that it nearly becomes torturous to even pass through these temple towns, leave aside paying obeisance.

Though from time to time people have been questioning use of funds generated by these temples, hardly has any such audit ever been made public. The last time a hue and cry was made was after the Naina Devi tragedy but nothing great seems to be happening. The temples are collecting public money and therefore the public needs to be informed how this money is being spent. Leave aside providing world-class infrastructure, the temple managements can at least assure cleanliness, and I am sure the crores that devotees donate are enough for this job. It would have done a great service to the devotees had the government announced that the interest it expects to earn from these gold reserves would be used to keep these places clean, but that was not to be.

It is rather a great irony that in a country where half of the population still lives a poverty-stricken life, religious institutions are 'filthy rich', making them power centres. Another noteworthy fact is that most of this money comes from the not-so-privileged class that is made to believe in the supremacy of their faith. The problem is more visible in the Hindu society with the Brahaminical order making sure that the caste divide remains visible enough. Perhaps, that's the reason cleanliness in a Hindu temple stops beyond the sanctum santorum. Can we change this? Perhaps yes. Are the RSS volunteers listening?

Satyakam Bharti

Adivasi festival enthralls people in Himachal's Kinnaur valley

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:03:00 +0000

Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), 2009 Nov. 4: A five-day tribal festival in Kinnaur valley of Himachal Pradesh which concluded on Tuesday enthralled the people by providing a glimpse of the rich tradition and folk forms of the State.

"Pre-Lavi" festival was organized to offer a platform to the traditional artistes to showcase their talent. Hundreds of tribals from different parts of Kinnaur valley participated in the extravaganza to showcase their unique attire, dance, music, and food.

"We tried to promote the upcoming traditional artistes of Kinnaur by organizing cultural dance and music competitions. We also provided a platform to exhibit the Kinnauri shawls, apricot oil, wool, dry fruits and apples," said Priyanka Vasu, Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur District Administration. Vasu said they put up government stalls to provide information about the upcoming government policies.

In an attempt to add genuine touch to the festival, special stalls were erected for people to buy dry fruits, traditional dresses, wool and organic agricultural produce.

"We are farmers and we do organic farming. We have come here to exhibit and sell our local organic produce. We are trying to promote organic farming by participating in this tribal festival," said Vimal Negi, a tribal farmer and a participant in the exhibition.

The organization of the festival helps the people of Kinnaur valley to preserve their rich tradition but also earn a livelihood. This festival lasted till November 02 (Monday).

--ANI

35 killed in Himachal as bus falls into gorge

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), Nov 6 (IANS): Thirty-five people, including women and children, were killed when an overcrowded private bus skidded off the road and fell into a 100-foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district Friday morning, officials said.

The ill-fated bus was coming to Dehra from Nagrota Suriyan in the district when it fell into the gorge near the Haripur Guler bridge, some 50 km from this district headquarter town.

"Thirty-five people were killed and 26 injured in the bus accident. Sixteen passengers died on the spot," Sub-divisional Magistrate Rakesh Sharma told IANS by phone from the accident spot.

He said all the injured have been admitted to Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College at Tanda. The dead included the bus conductor.

"Most of the dead belonged to Dehra and nearby areas," Sharma said.

Eyewitnesses said the bus was overcrowded and the driver probably lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn.

State Transport Minister Mohinder Singh said the government has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

"The additional district magistrate of Kangra would conduct an inquiry and submit the report to the district administration within a month," he said.

He said the government has announced Rs.100,000 compensation to the kin of the dead and medical expenses of the injured would be borne by the government.

The accident spot is almost 250 km from state capital Shimla.

Governor Prabha Rau and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal expressed grief over the accident.

According to police records, rash driving, overloading, untrained drivers, unfit buses and poor roads have been among the factors that killed over 8,000 people in road accidents in the past 10 years in the state.

The number of accidental deaths was at an all-time high in 2007 when 979 people lost their lives in 2,955 accidents. Last year, 581 people were killed in road accidents in the state.

Himachal achieves two children per couple target

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:46:00 +0000

The small state of Himachal Pradesh has added another feather in its cap, by achieving the 'two children per couple' or total fertility rate (TFR) of two children per couple target set by the Union Government under National Population Policy, 2000.

According to the Central Health ministry, Himachal Pradesh now stands among the ten states who have achieved TFR. These include Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and three Union Territories (Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry).

What's more is that the hill state has achieved the target well before the deadline. "Although the deadline for the population control target is 2010 but we have achieved it a year ahead," said a government spokesman.

Health facilities for families in the state

According to the recently released report, more than 75 percent villages in HP have an access to a health sub center within a distance of three kms. 94.5 percent villages have access to Primary Health Center (PHC) within 10 kms with 70.8 percent among them having at least four beds.

Also, around 80 percent of the villages have sub-centers located in the government buildings and another 83.1 percent sub-centers have ANM.

With various government health programmes growing in the hill state, the quality of family planning services has also increased. The report states that almost 90 percent of the unmarried women feel that family life education, as well as the sex education, is very important.

Growing literacy and consistent efforts by the government take the credit

The factor that contributed to the adoption of a small family norm among families is the growing literacy levels among women.

The hill state's literacy percentage is much higher than the national average and the highest amongst the states after Kerala.

The report also said that 96 percent of the people were aware of the minimum marriageable age and 93.5 percent had heard of the HIV/AIDS.

For this significant achievement, the credit also goes to the efforts of the state government that ensured better health facilities and care for the people of Himachal Pradesh, provided at their door steps.

The state has laid out a network of more than 3800 health institutions for providing various health care services. To control the sex ratio and create awareness about the benefits of girl child, the government has launched a month long campaign titled 'Beti Anmol Hai'.

The top three priorities of the present government are health, education and roads. Around 250 allopathic doctors and 88 Ayurvedic doctors have already been appointed, with 87 more lined up in the queue, in the far flung areas of the State. 300 nurses have also been appointed besides filling up other medical staff posts.

Himachal raises domicile period from 15 to 20 yrs for non-Himachalis

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:22:00 +0000

Facing widespread protests against relaxing the duration of stay for non-Himachalis to qualify for obtaining bonfide domicile certificate, a necessary condition for buying land in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government today raised the bar from 15 years to 20 years.

A meeting of the state cabinet took the decision to revise the period of stay from 15 to 20 years for a non-Himachali to qualify for obtaining bonafide domicile certificate as per HP Tenancy and Land Reform Act, 1972.

The cabinet took note of the "wrong propaganda"being carried by some "vested interests" and revised the period of stay, an official release said here.

Opposition Congress had been protesting the state government's earlier decision to relax the period of stay to 15 years saying it would harm the interest of the local population.

In other major decisions, the state cabinet today decided to procure apple at the rate of Rs 5.25 per kg from August one to October 31 this year.

It decided to launch a new scheme with private participation aimed at increasing the green cover in the state by distributing about four lakh free plants to land owners for carrying plantation over their private land during the current financial year.

July 28, 2009 PTI

Himachal to ban plastic products from 15 August 2009

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:20:00 +0000

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to effect a complete ban on polythene and plastic products from August 15, an official spokesman said on Sunday. The government has already banned use of carry bags in the state. The Himachal Pradesh Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995, is also in force in the state to prevent throwing or disposing non-biodegradable material in public places.

The Act empowers all district magistrates, additional deputy commissioners, additional district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates, superintendents of police, additional superintendents of police, sub-divisional police officers, DSPs to take action under the Act.

Financial Express - ‎Jul 26, 2009‎

Himachal.ozg.in

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:57:00 +0000