Cyrus Mistry

Cyrus Mistry

Cyrus Mistry: Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, a 44 year old business tycoon, has been appointed the Chairman of the Board of Tata Sons (Tata Group) with effect from December 28^th 2012, after the retirement of Ratan Tata. Mistry will be the sixth Chairman of Tata group and the second not named Tata after Sir Nowroji Saklatvala to to hold this prestigious position. Apart from the Tata Group, he also serves as a Director on the Board of several other companies, including Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Forbes Gokak, Afcons Infrastructure and United Motors (India). Born on 4^th July 1968, Cyrus is the youngest son of Irish construction magnate Pallonji Mistry.

Mistry attained his education at the Cathedral & John Connon School in Mumbai. He graduated from the Imperial College, London with a BE in civil engineering and holds a Master of Science in management from the world-renowned London Business School. He is also the fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Cyrus Mistry is the youngest son of Pallonji Mistry, an Irish-Parsi construction tycoon. Mistry's grandfather first bought shares in Tata Sons in the 1930s, a stake that currently stands at 18.5 percent, which is in the hands of Mistry's father, the largest single shareholder in a firm mostly controlled by trusts. Mistry is married to Rohiqa Chagla, the daughter of lawyer Iqbal Chagla. Together, Mistry and his wife have two sons.

Taking a look at his bright career, Cyrus has been managing director of Shapoorji Pallonji & Company, which is part of the Rs 15,000-crore Shapoorji Pallonji Group (SP Group). He got the chance to join Tata Sons' board a year after his father retired as director in 2005 and has been serving in the capacity of a director of Tata Sons since September 1, 2006. He served as a Director of Tata Power Co. Ltd until September 18, 2006.

In 2012, Mistry was appointed as the chairman of the Board of Tata Sons. He also serves as Director of various companies including Forvol International Services Ltd, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Ltd, Cyrus Investments Ltd and a chain of other companies. He is also a founding member of the Construction Federation of India. He is a trustee of the Breach Candy Hospital Trust, Mumbai and is also on the board of Imperial College India Foundation.

Becoming the Chairman of Tata Group, world-renowned for its business amalgamated with ethical values, at a mere age of 44 years replacing Rattan Tata (75 years), who is actually the real Rattan (Jewel) of Indian corporate class, is a great achievement in itself. Cyrus thus deserves to be our Youth icon of the week. J

Capt. Saurabh Kalia

Capt. Saurabh Kalia

Capt. Saurabh Kalia: Captain Saurabh Singh was an officer of the Indian Army who died during the Kargil War after being held as a prisoner of war by the Pakistani security forces. He along with five other soldiers of his patrolling team was captured alive and kept in captivity where they were badly tortured and their bodies mutilated.

Saurabh was born on 30^th June 1976 at Amritsarto Mrs. Vijay and Dr. N.K. Kalia. His schooling took place in the KendriyaVidyalaya, Holta Camp Palampur followed by B.Sc. (Med.) from H. P. Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh in 1997. He excelled at school, securing first Division and winning scholarships throughout his academic career.

He was selected in the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun in August 1997 through Combined Defense Services and was commissioned on December 12th, 1998.

On May 15, 1999 Saurabh Kalia along with five other soldiers had gone for a routine patrol of the Bajrang Post in the Kaksar sector in the rugged, treeless Ladakh Mountains. After a continuous cross fire with Pakistan armed forces from across the LoC, he and his troops ran out of ammunition. They were finally encircled by a platoon of Pakistan rangers and captured alive before any Indian reinforcement could reach for their help. No trace of this entire patrol was left meanwhile Radio Skardu of Pakistan announced that Lt. Saurabh Kalia had been captured by the Pakistani troops.

Captain Kalia and his men were in captivity for over twenty-two (May 15, 1999 – June 7, 1999) days and subjected to torture as evident from their bodies handed over by Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999. The postmortem revealed that the Pakistan army had tortured them prisoners by burning their bodies with cigarettes, piercing ear-drums with hot rods, puncturing eyes before removing them, breaking most of the teeth and bones, fracturing the skull, cutting the lips, chipping of nose, chopping off limbs and private organs of these soldiers besides inflicting all sorts of physical and mental tortures and finally shooting them dead, as evidenced by the bullet wound to the temple. The postmortem report also confirmed that injuries were inflicted ante-mortem (before death).

A youthful soldier of just 23 years sacrificed his life for the safety of his motherland. It is evident form the forms of torture that Pakistani army was willing to get the information of strategic importance from these soldiers but the love for their motherland and sincerity towards profession prevented these patriots from revealing anything. Saying that I love India is a prerogative of everyone but the one who proved this fact deserves to be called a nation hero and of course our Youth icon of this week. Bharat mata ki Jai. J

Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat: Chetan Bhagat is a famous Indian author, columnist, and speaker. Born on 22^nd April 1974, Bhagat is the author of five bestselling novels, Five Point Someone (2004), One Night @ the Call Center (2005), The 3 Mistakes of My Life (2008), 2 States (2009) &Revolution 2020: Love, Corruption, Ambition(2011). All five books have remained bestsellers since their release and two have even inspired Bollywood films (including the hit film 3 Idiots).

In 2008, The New York Times mentioned Chetan Bhagat to be "the biggest selling English language novelist in India's history".
An alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Bhagat is seen more as a youth icon than as an author. Time magazine named him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Chetan was born, brought-up and attained his schooling for Delhi. After attending the Army Public School, New Delhi,he studied Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi followed by MBA from the Indian Institute of Management.

Bhagat met his wife, Anusha at IIM Ahmedabad. They married in 1999. Later, they moved to Hong Kong and worked there for 11 years before coming back to India. Now based in Mumbai, Chetan is focusing on his writing career. Bhagat and Anusha are the parents of twin sons, Shyam and Ishaan. Chetan’s bestseller creation, 2 States: The Story of My Marriageis inspired from his real-life love story.

Chetan deserves to be the youth icon of India as he is the most-read author of the country with entire focus on youth instincts. Novels are the best friend of youth. So, the person who writes the bestsellers is automatically the one they admire as an icon. J

Pranav Mistry

Pranav Mistry

Pranav Mistry: Pranav Mistry, the inventor of revolutionary Six Sense technology is a well-known name amongst the youth of India. In fact, every engineering graduate of India looks up to him as an icon. The magical Techno-Freak from India has gained a worldwide admiration with his astounding works in the fields of technology. Frankly speaking, Pranav's thinking starts a thousand kilometers ahead of the point where the normal human imagination ends. His latest gadget and a bouquet of numerous exciting and surprising inventions have taken him to sky heights.

Born on 17^thDecember 1982 in Gujarat, India, Pranav is presently pursuing his Ph. D from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (World’s best engineering institute). Before joining MIT, Pranav worked as a UX Researcher with Microsoft. Pranav holds a Master's degree in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT and Master of Design from Industrial Design Center, IIT Bombay. He has completed Bachelors’ degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Mistry is best known for his work on SixthSense. Among some of his other work, Pranav has invented Mouseless – an invisible computer mouse; SPARSH – a novel way to copy-paste data between digital devices; Quickies – intelligent sticky notes that can be searched, located and can send reminders and messages; Blinkbot- a gaze and blink controlled robot; a pen that can draw in 3D; and a public map that can act as Google of physical world.

Pranav's research on SixthSense was awarded the 2009 Invention Award by Popular Science. He was also named to the MIT Technology Review TR35 as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35. In 2010, he was named to Creativity Magazine's Creativity 50. Mistry holds a position among the top ten best inventors alive in the world.

Technology is a boon if mastered upon and a bane if enslaved by. By mastering the technology, Pranav has proved his worth and hence deserves to be the Youth icon in the real sense.J

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal: Arvind was born on 16^th June, 1968, in district Hisar of Haryana. He completed his mechanical engineering studies in the year 1989 from IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal. After graduation he joined Tata Steel and worked there till 1992, when he cracked civil services examination. He got selected for Indian Revenues Services and joined as a Joint Commissioner at Income tax office in New Delhi. But he took leave from the office in the year 2000 and started a NGO named Parivartan. In February, 2006 he formally resigned from the job and started working actively in various social causes.

Parivartan is one of his prominent moves to work towards a corruption free nation. It is run by few volunteers who had indeed helped several people in overcoming their problems while standing hard against corruption. Parivartan has done extensive work in the fields of public distribution system and education. It is still active in bringing out the maximum benefits from RTI.

Arvind Kejriwal had worked extensively for implementation of Central Right to Information Act. He had followed the right to information act, Delhi. In the year 2006, he was awarded with Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership. He invested all the prize money in his NGO for various social causes.

Another movement which has gained him fame and brought in lime light is the recent struggle for implementation of Lok Pal Bill in its true form. Being an active member of drafting committee and a strong follower of Anna Hazare, he has carved his own niche.

During his life time, he had met Mother Teresa and was highly impressed by her selfless service attitude. During that period he had actively served people in Kaalighat in West Bengal and followed the way shown by Mother Teresa.

His main motto is to create a corruption free society. He received overwhelming response on the national as well as global front. He sees corruption as a symptom and not as the main problem. He also integrates it with prevailing poverty in the country. Lack of basic amenities and shortage of resources give rise to corruption.

To tackle this problem he believes in granting more governing power in hands of people. He emphasizes on decentralization of the power and distributing it to the smaller factors of governance. Empowering panchayats and gram sabhas is his next plan of action.

Arvind Kejriwal is a striking example of emerging youth power of the nation. By playing an active role in core committee of Anna Hazare and leading masses from front, he has emerged as a youth icon. He has recently been appointed as the founder chairperson of the newly floated anti-corruption political party: Aam Aadmi Party.

He lives in National Capital region near Delhi with his wife Sunita and two kids. He has made a team of capable and enthusiastic persons from various walks of life and together they are working for the betterment of the country's future. Arvind Kejriwal has a clear vision and an effective plan to execute it. Being a youth icon he realizes his responsibility and has a long way to go. Hope youth supports him and we achieve a corruption free India.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (born 24 April 1973) is an Indian cricketer widely considered to be the greatest batsman of all time, after Don Bradman. In 2002, just 12 years into his career, Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, behind Donald Bradman, and the second greatest one-day-international (ODI) batsman of all time, behind Viv Richards. Tendulkar was a part of the 2011 Cricket World Cup winning Indian team in the later part of his career, his first such win in six World Cup appearances for India. He was also the recipient of Player of the Tournament award of ICC World Cup, 2003 held in South Africa.

He won the 2010 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards. He has been recommended for the receipt of the Bharat Ratna award, in fact it has been speculated that the criteria for the award of the Bharat Ratna was changed to allow him receive the award. He is also a member of RajyaSabha of Parliament of India. Tendulkar passed 30,000 runs in international cricket on 20 November 2009. After a two-month break he is likely to return to test arena with the series against New Zealand commencing in late August 2012.

Tendulkar has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award, India's second highest civilian award, and the Rajiv Gandhi KhelRatna award, India's highest sporting honour. Tendulkar became the first sportsperson and the first person without an aviation background to be awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force. He has received honorary doctorates from University of Mysore and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Sachin holds 12th rank in ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen as of August 2012. On 1 August 2012, Sachin Tendulkar was nominated for the ICC People's Choice award for the third time.

Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the membership in the Order of Australia (AM) in Mumbai on Tuesday (November 6). Simon Crean, minister in the Australian cabinet, presented the award to Tendulkar. Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister, was on an official visit to New Delhi in October and had announced Tendulkar's name as the latest recipient of the award.

(Courtesy/Source: www.wikipedia.com)

BJP all set for Mission Repeat

Vishal Sharma, Hamirpur Correspondent

            CM Prof. Prem Kumal Dhumal said that even the congress high command knows that BJP will win the forthcoming elections. This is the reason why the congress has refrained from declaring the chief ministerial candidate before the elections. The BJP is receiving positive vibes from the residents of the state. The best party is that each day a new scam of UPA government is coming to light making the people aware of the misdeeds of congress.

He said these words while addressing the multitude of people and media personnel after filing his nomination papers in Hamirpur. Answering a question pertaining to the existence of third front, Prof. Dhumal said that the people have never supported and will never support the third front. Past is an example that the third front has never have been successful in the past.

Responding to questions about the last election fo Virbhadra Singh, he said that it has been an all-time strategy of Virbhadra Singh to make such comments during elections to attain political mileage. His old age and health does not permit him to work actively anymore. He should take volunteer retirement from active politics now. Huge multitude of people was present at Hamirpur when he filed his nomination.

Who will win the capital?

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

With assembly polls less than a month away, the speculations have already started as to who will next MLA from Shimla? Each individual has his or her own views in this regard. Bharatiya Janta Party stole the scene by declaring the sitting MLA from Shimla (Urban) Mr. Suresh Bhardwaj, as its candidate from the constituency in the first list of candidates released by it. The Congress was somewhat lost in the blame-game and infighting, so couldn’t choose the candidate at the earliest.

Former Mayor, Mr. Harish Janartha has been declared as its candidate by the Congress party. Sensing the public resentment against the congress and the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also fielded Deputy Mayor Shimla, Mr. Tikender Panwar as its candidate. The fight on Shimla seat has always been 3 sided for the past many years.

In the 2007 assembly polls, BJP candidate Mr. Suresh Bhardwaj remained victorious followed by CPI (M) candidate Mr. Sanjay Chauhan, whereas Congress candidate Mr. Harbhajan Singh Bhajji remained at third position. The speculations are on as to who will win the capital this time. Some locals are well-satisfied with the development worked undertaken by the present government; whereas others say that Mission Repeat will be impossible to be materialized as BJP will have to face anti-incumbency as well.

Virbhadra will be CM for 6th time: Vidya Stokes

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            Once considered to be the two opposite poles of Himachal congress, Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes have exhibited a great sense of unity just prior to the state polls. Addressing a congress working committee meeting at Rajeev Bhawan, Leader of Opposition, Mrs. Vidya Stokes said that the congress party will remain victorious in the forthcoming assembly polls under the leadership of Virbhadra Singh and that the PCC President will definitely hold the position of state chief minister for the 6^th time.

Making a sarcastic remark, PCC president said that it would really be interesting to see that who remains victorious with a greater margin, he or Mrs. Stokes. The meeting was held in the congress state headquarters to welcome NSUI ex-president Mr. Atul Sharma back into the party fold. Virbhadra Singh said that he was ready to welcome any person back into the party provided the person was willing to uproot the present BJP regime.

Mrs. Stokes even praised Virbhadra’s son, Vikramaditya for his dedication and hard-work. She said that it could be her last term as an active politician and wished the party would write new records of success and glory with young and enthusiastic members.

Ticket condenters raise voice against denial of ticket

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            With the denial of tickets to various ticket contenders, the so called ‘party loyalists’ have started saying goodbye to their respective parties. More than two dozen prominent people have left their respective parties and joined hands with other parties. Rohru MLA Khushi Ram Balnatah has left the BJP and joined Himachal Lokhit Party. He is expected to be fielded from Kasumpti constituency on HLP ticket.

Rampur Bushahar BJP leader Brij Lal has left the BJP and joined congress alongwith his followers on denial of party ticket. Ex- MLA from Kinnaur, Chet Ram has also left the BJP and is expected to contest either independent or on HLP ticket. Ex-MLA from Karsog, Joginder Pal has also said goodbye to BJP on denial of ticket.

The atmosphere is not congenial in the congress party fold too. Kasumpti block congress president resigned in resentment against the congress ticket allotment to Mr. Anirudh Singh ignoring the candidature of Mrs. Pratibha Singh. The Kasumpti block congress has decided to field Jyoti Sen as the independent candidate to oppose the ticket allotment to Anirudh Singh, who according to them is an outsider. The candidate from Paonta is also facing opposition from the supporters of Kirnesh Jung. Party workers from Sulah, Arki, Baijnath & Dharamshala are also opposing the ticket allotment in their respective segments.

Some interesting facts about elections in HP

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

With Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls round the corner, here we present some interesting electoral facts about the hill state.

·        Himachal Pradesh has a total of 45.15 lac voters, half of them being below 40 years of age.

·        HP state legislative assembly has 68 seats.

·        State’s highest polling station is situated in Charaf Batori in Chamba district which is at a height of 16,000 feet above sea level.

·        Sulah Assembly constituency has the maximum numbers of voters i.e. 87,091 in contrast with Lahaul & Spiti which has minimum number i.e. 22,077.

·        In previous 2007 assembly polls, highest voting percentage of 83.18% was recorded in Nalagarh Assembly constituency in contrast with the lowest voting percentage of 61.90 recorded in Solan Assembly segment.

·        Country’s first polling station for the first general election in Free India was set up at Kalpa in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

·        Mr. Shyam Saran Negi, aged 95 years, is the oldest and the first voter of Independent India. He lives in Kalpa, Kinnaur.

Relatives, friends to fight against each-other

            Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            These elections would really be very interesting as the elections have brought about rivalry and a sense of competition in many families in the state. Some examples are:

·         From Banjar Assembly seat, elder brother Mr. Maheshwar Singh is contesting on Himachal Lokhit Party ticket whereas younger brother Mr. Karan Singh is contesting against his elder brother on a congress ticket.

·         Newly formed Dalhousie constituency will see two erstwhile best friends, Mrs. Renu Chadha on BJP ticket and Mrs. Asha Kumari on congress ticket. Though this segment was known as Banikhet in the previous elections, the candidates remain the same.

·         From Jogindernagar seat, Revenue & PWD Minister Thakur Gulab Singh is contesting on BJP ticket whereas his nephew Surinder Pal Singh will contest against him on the congress ticket. Surinder Pal Singh had defeated Thakur Gulab Singh in the 2003 elections, whereas Thakur Gulab Singh remained successful in winning the seat in 2007 elections.

·         A unique coincidence has occurred on the Una (Sadar) assembly seat. The coincidence is that in both the cases, the winner and the looser will be Satpal. BJP has filed the sitting MLA and its state president Satpal Singh Satti as its candidate whereas Congress has given its ticket to Satpal Singh Raizada. People can be heard gossiping in local languages, “Jo Marji Jitti Jaye, Jitna Taan Satpal Hi Hai”.

HLP gets telephone as its election symbol

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            Newly formed political outfit in the state, Himachal Lokhit Party has been allotted Telephone as its election symbol for the forthcoming assembly elections. In the 1998, Himachal Vikas Congress, under the leadership of Pandit Sukh Ram, remained the government makers with 5 seats in the assembly. Both the BJP and the Congress won 31 seats each in the 68 seat HP legislative assembly. The Himachal Vikas Congress joined hands with the BJP and formed the government. The important point is that during those times, telephone was the election symbol the Himachal Vikas Congress.

With Maheshwar Singh led HLP having been allotted telephone as its election symbol, speculations have begun that the HLP will play a king-maker in the coming assembly elections like 1998. The party workers have accelerated the election campaigning after the allotment of the party symbol. As per party sources, the election canvassing material like banners, posters and pamphlets are ready, only the party symbol is to be printed.

It would now be interesting to see that whether the telephone is able to establish a communication channel between the party candidates and the voters leading them to the assembly or the lines remain dead ensuring loss.

Congress questions land purchase by Prashant Bhushan in the state

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            The opposition congress has demanded an enquiry into the land allotment to Indian against Corruption activist Prashan Bhushan in the state. Congress party has alleged that the BJP government in the state has allotted tea-gardens in Palampur to Prashan Bhushan by keeping the Constitutional provisions and Administrative formalities at stake.

Ex-cabinet minister and senior congress leader Harsh Mahajan said, “We want an independent probe into the land allotment made to Prashan Bhushan in the year 2010”. Mahajan asked the Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan to clarify his motive behind buying land in the state.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the land in the state is limited and no outsider can purchase land in the state without appropriate permission from the authorities. Mahajan asked, “The state government should clarify the stance as to why it was necessary for it to allot land to Bhushan under special provisions?” A senior government official told that land was allotted top Prashan run Kumud Bhushan Educational Society on 2^nd February 2010 to establish an educational institution on 4.68 acres of land.

CM Dhumal dares Virbhadra for debate on development statistics

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            The CM of HP Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal has dared PCC Chief Virbhadra Singh to have a public debate with him on the developmental statistics of the state. He said that neither does the congress have faith on its own self nor on the residents of the state. He said that the Virbhadra’s allegations on the wrong functioning of state’s bureaucracy and officials were baseless. The state officials were unbiased and dedicated while discharging their duties.

CM Dhumal said that Virbhadra is not able to digest the development works undertaken by the BJP government in its 4 ½ year tenure. He said that the government had started a moment to prevent the degradation of environment by providing ration in eco-friendly bags, but the congress was so uneasy with this public welfare move that it got the distribution of the bags banned by requesting the election commission.

He said that the distribution of eco-friendly bags was banned by the election commission in view of model code of conduct whereas the hoardings with the photos of Dr. Manmohan Singh & Mrs. Sonia Gandhi had been put up on the sides of various roads in the state. He said that they would soon complain to the election commission in this regard.

Amitabh Awasthi apponited new Director Tourism

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            Addressing the complaints raised by PCC President, Virbhadra Singh, the state government has relieved Shimla Deputy Commissioner Mr. Arun Sharma of his addistion responsibility of Director, Tourism. Mr. Amitabh Awasthi has been appointed as the new Director, Tourism. Mr. Amandeep Garg has been appointed as new DC Kullu replacing Mr. R. N. Batta. Virbhadra Singh has raised various allegations against the state government of appointing its favorite officers on prominent posts.

State Chief Secretary, Mr. Sudripta Roy has prepared a detailed reply to these allegations. This reply has been forwarded to Chief Election Commission of India through State Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Narinder Chauhan.

Virbhadra Singh had alleged that Arun Sharma had been appointed Director Tourism owning to his loyality towards CM Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal. State Chief Secretary has replied saying that though Mr. Arun Sharma had previously worked as the Chief Personal Secretary to CM Dhumal for many years, but he had held the position of Joint Secretary in CM office for 14 months during Virbhadra regime as well.

State chief secretary said that it will impossible for them to shift the deputy commissioners of various districts owing to the baseless unauthentic allegations of any political leader. PCC president has also alleged that Chamba DC Sunil Chaudhary has been given good posting. Replying to this allegation Chief Secretary said that he had no scale to measure and decide as to which posting was good and which was bad.

What did Virbhadra get for Himachal, asks Prof. Dhumal

CM Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that during the election campaign in the state, Virbhadra Singh will have to answer what he brought for the state during his tenure as the Union Minster of Steel and then Union Minister of Medium & Small Scale Entreprises. Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Prof. Dhumal said that instead of helping the state, Virbhadra and Union Minister of Commerce, Anand Sharma tried to insert hurdle in the allotment of various projects to the state. The Hydro engineering college in Bilaspur was not allowed to be sanctioned for the state because Anand Sharma and Virbhadra Singh didn’t allow this to happen.

He said that if these two Union Ministers would have insisted, the central government wouldn’t have reduced the duration of special package for the state. He expressed shock on the fact that Virbhadra Singh is publicizing the Atal Uniform Scheme to be centre funded scheme whereas the scheme has been totally funded by the state government.

He said that if Atal Uniform Scheme is centre-funded then other congress ruled states like Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra have not got this scheme implemented? He said that the Union Government has always shown biased behaviour towards Himachal Pradesh. The central government has shown no concern for the Bhanupali- Barmana- Manali- Kelong- Leh railway line which is of strategic importance from the defense & security point of view. The people of Himachal will give a strong reply to the congress for its anti-public policies.

Municipal Corporation Shimla exchequer empty

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            The empty exchequer of Municipal Corporation Shimla has left the MC officials in a dilemma. The officials are unable to decide that how they would be able to initiate development works in the city with zero balance in the corporation treasury. As per the information received from the corporation treasury, there is not even a single paisa in the corporation exchequer. The funds are totally nil.

The corporation is helpless to fulfill even the daily expenses due to deficiency of funds. The salary of the employees has been paid with difficulty whereas there is still no provision as to how the pensions of retired employees will be paid. There is a liability to the tune of Rs. 16 lacs which the corporation has to pay in the form of pensions.

The series of emergency meetings has already been started to device methods for creating funds immediately. The treasury officer has submitted his report about zero balance in the treasury to the higher authorities.

The main cause of zero balance in the treasury is relaxation in tax collection norms. As a result of amendment in the Corporation Act, the corporation is neither able to collect tax using old technique, nor is it able to devise a new technique for the same. Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said that he has not received any such report as of now, but would definitely take requisite measures if such a problem comes to his notice.

Himachal set to undergo green revolution

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

With the government of Himachal Pradesh signing a memorandum with the government of India and the World Bank for a loan of $ 100 Million, the state is ready to experience an incoming green revolution. A number of developmental schemes like watershed management, industries and tourism would benefit leading to the overall development of the state. The memorandum was signed by Mr. Sudripta Roy, Chief Secretary, Govt. of HP, Government of India represented by Joint Secretary for Economic Affairs, Mr. Prabodh Saxena, whereas the World Bank was represented by Mr. Rolland Lommey, World Bank Governance Advisor for India.

Mr. Lommey said that the World Bank is extending this loan to the govt. of HP with an aim to help the state make its ecology sustainable to the effects of industrialisation, reduce the ill effects modernisation and make new policies for exploiting natural resources.

He said the funds would also help the localites make proper utilisation of water flow, use of appropriate techniques industrial manufacturing and help them promote ecology sustaining tourism.

The state government has also launched community run program to control and maintain local water resources and water tables. According to this program, the local people will make their own plans and will get them implimented with government funding.

This huge amount of loan to the state is expected to boost the public welfare policies in their best forms.

Himachal ranked 4th in Finance Management

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            “Himachal Pradesh has been ranked 4^th best state in Finance Management by the Reserve Bank of India.” The words were said by CM, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal while addressing a press conference here in Shimla immediately after the Election Commission announced the dates of assembly polls. He said that Virbhadra Singh is trying to mislead the people by providing false and unauthentic data ignoring the loopholes in his own government from 2003-2007.

Prof. Dhumal said that Himachal Pradesh had the allocated budget of Rs. 10,300 crore for 2003-2007 five year plan, but Virbhadra Singh government could spend only Rs. 8493.90 crore. He said when congress came to power in the state in 2003, the plan size was reduced from Rs. 1840 crore to Rs. 1335 crore.

“The 20-point program was checked in yearly basis during the present BJP regime. It is a moment of proud for the state that we continued to remain on first position for three consecutive years for the implementation of 20-point program. Whatever promises were made to the people in the BJP election manifesto, the government has fulfilled more than them. BJP has won all by-elections in the past in all set to materialize Mission Repeat in the state.” He said.

Gutka, Tobacco products banned in Himachal

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

In an interaction with the mediapersons on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti in Shimla, Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said “Ban on the consumption of gutka and other chewable tobacco products will come into effect all over the state from today onwards. Any shopkeeper found sellings such products would be liable to be booked under legal provisions for the strict implementation of the ban.”

Following the decision, Himachal joins the club of Haryana, Punjab and other Indian states which have already banned the manufacturing and sale of gutka and other chewable tobacco products. He said the decision has been taken in public welfare and he expects the citizens of the state would help the government  in enforcing the ban effectively.

He said that the ban on polythene bags was successful because of the immense support received from common man in this regard. He said that the polythene ban was so successful that his Haryana counterpart, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda asked him the secret behind the success of the ban. He told Mr. Hooda to make the residents of Haryana understand the hazardous effects of polythene on the environment and thus motivate them to sun polythene usage.

Election Commission declares dates for HP Assembly polls

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            The voting for Himachal Pradesh assembly polls will take place on 4^th November 2012 whereas the counting of the votes will take place on 20^th December 2012. With addressing a press conference at Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner of India, Mr. V. S. Sampath made this announcement. The model code of conduct has come into effect in Himachal from 3^rd October 2012 onwards. The present Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha completes its tenure on 10^th January 2013.

He said that the notification in regard to the elections will be released on 10^th October 2012 where the last date for filling the nominations will be 17^th November 2012. The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on 18^th October whereas the last date of withdrawing nominations will be 20^th October 2012. Voting for all the 68 assembly constituencies will take place on 4^th November whereas the counting of votes will be done on 20^th December 2012. The new state government is expected to be formed by 24^th December 2012.

Talking about some facts, Himachal Pradesh has a total of 45.16 Lac voters whereas; the polls will be conducted on 7252 polling booths.

In the present Vidhan Sabha, out of total 68 assembly seats, the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party has 41 seats, Indian National Congress has 23 seats while 4 seats are wrested by the Independent MLAs.