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Every life counts: Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana

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Dateline Dehradun: “People from small villages or towns actually see big dreams!” was Jagesh Devi’s leitmotif. She like other women folk from the hills had dreams not for herself. She dreamt big for her children and their bright future.

These womenfolk from the hills of Uttarakhand including Jagesh would wake up at the  crack of dawn and work late into the evening. They would toil in the fields, home and hearth to turn those dreams into a possible reality. Jagesh and Devraj, her husband worked earnestly on days, weeks, months and years with their head held high, through hardships but a sense of duty and a smile on their lips. Until destiny changed all that.

On the 18th of August 2020 Jagesh Devi was rushed to AIIMS, Rishikesh when she passed out at home. On examination, the doctors confirmed that she had suffered a brain haemorrhage. This sudden turn of events, left the family bereft and stressed for money required for the treatment of this magnitude.

Timely intervention of the doctors at AIIMS informed them about the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana” a.k.a Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana.” An answer to their prayers.

Fortunately the family found Jagesh’s name on the beneficiary list which made her eligible for free and cashless treatment. Since then a hale and hearty Jagesh has returned to her village in Ambapur, pursuing her dreams of making a better tomorrow for her children.

While good health is primary to a country’s sustained economic and social development. Ensuring easy access to quality healthcare is also a responsibility of every government. This is where Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana comes in. It is an initiative of the Government of India in the direction of Universal Health Coverage, which has come as a blessing to many homes in Uttarakhand.

The Power of Videos

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Dateline Dehradun: On the occasion of International Mountain Day i.e. today, the 11th of December eight short films on different aspects of SECURE Himalaya project have been launched online.

Shot by youth belonging to high altitude, remote villages the compiled films are a product of the video-documentation under the 4-month SECURE Himalaya Youth Video Fellowship programme in the state.

This is being seen as an earnest attempt by SECURE to build a cadre of future spokespersons for conservation and sustainable livelihood, in the hill-state.

In Uttarakhand, the project is being implemented in three landscapes that range from 3000 to 6000 meter – Gangotri National Park and Govind Wildlife Sanctuary/National Park in Uttarkashi District and Darmabyans in Pithoragarh District.

Post the launch, the fellows will participate in community screening of the films while also creating a platform to engage in discussions about key issues of the region.

The purpose of Youth Video Fellowship is to take the learning from Green Hub – Youth Fellowship & Video for Change (A Dusty Foot and Northeast network Initiative) and adapt it for Uttarakhand.

Film details:

1) Biodiversity of Darma Valley – by Jayendra Singh, Philam Village, Pithoragarh District.

2) Biodiversity of Govind Wildlife Sanctuary –by Manveer Singh, Pujeli, Mori Block, Uttarkashi District

3) Biodiversity of Govind National Park –by Randev Chauhan, Gangaar, Mori Block, Uttarkashi District

4) Sanskriti – Govind National Park by Randev Chauhan Gangaar, Mori Block, Uttarkashi District

5) Tootti Dor by Jayendra Singh, Philam Village, Pithoragarh District

6) Chaudas Patti ki Jeevan Shaily by Kavindra Singh Kutiyal, Kuti, Byans Valley Pithoragarh District

7) Vastukala – Govind Vanyajeev by Devraj, Doni, Mori Block, Uttarkashi District

8) Gangotri Landscape in Winters, this particular project focuses on conserving Snow Leopard and its habitat.

These eight documentaries, a few bilingual and some in Hindi are all under ten minutes and can be watched on social platforms such as FaceBook and YouTube.

Catch a glimpse of what’s in store:

https://fb.watch/2iLtkNg6wI/

Devesh Negi: Pencil, Paper and Portrait

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Dateline Rishikesh: Talent is inborn! Siblings Mukesh and Devesh Negi, born and raised in Rishikesh are proof. Today, twenty year-old Devesh Negi, a self-taught artist like his older brother is following close on his older brother Mukesh’s heel, carving a niche for himself.

A school pass out, Devesh started sketching and doodling when he was in class 7. His classmates who encouraged him, loved his cartoon characters and soon Devesh got hooked to the magic of putting pencil to paper.

Adding colour

I draw everyday and everyday I learn something new. It is a slow process based on experience with basics, skill and hard work,” he tells me. Today, guided by his older brother, an accomplished artist and taking help from Instagram and YouTube, Devesh is constantly learning new techniques, forms and styles, working on his finesse. “With every mistake, I learn something new,” he adds.

 

His canvass varies from sneakers to musical instruments such as guitars to ukulele to automobiles to paper. There is no stopping this talented artist 
who soon wants to start doing wall murals as well.

For Devesh there is no compromise when it comes to the tools he uses. He uses regular Faber Castle shading pencils, Steadler Graphite pencils and 150gsm acid free paper for making sketches. 
Within a span of four to five days he completes regular size portraits though larger one’s can take close to ten days or more.

Mukesh the older brother takes immense pride in the way his younger brother is pursuing his passion, “though Devesh has a long way to go, I’m very satisfied by how his sketches are turning out. This art is a lifetime learning process. There are two things that go into making that ‘perfect picture’ art and craftsmanship, I think he is a talented craftsmanship but has to work on his execution of art.”

Recycled benches and tiles laid out in Mussoorie

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Dateline Mussoorie: As a part of Hilldaari initiative, over a dozen recycled plastic benches and 430 sq. ft of pavement has been laid with recycled tiles in Mussoorie with consent from not only the City Board but the Forest Department and the Cantonment Board.

The aim of placing recycled furniture at public places is to inspire people to look at waste as a resource and adopt waste-conscious behaviour for a hopeful and sustainable future,” updated Arvind Shukla, Hilldaari Head.

Designed and manufactured by Shayna Ecounified India Pvt Ltd, Paras Saluja its Founder & spokesperson applauding Hilldaari efforts to implement source segregation says, ‘these interventions are solving a crucial roadblock in the recycling industry and will go a long way in leading the battle against plastic littering.’  

Weighing seventy kilograms each, the fifteen benches are made from approximately 1,05,000 multi-layered plastic packets (MLP). Placed at various tourist spots across the hill station from Picture Palace to Lal Tibba, Bala Hissar to Mussoorie Lake, these benches are winning accolades.

Along with this, approximately three hundred milk pouches (Low-density Polythene) were recycled into making one tile alone. To date, the project has utilised some eighteen hundred odd tiles for laying a 430 sq. ft pavement on the Mall, thus diverting around 21,25,000 pieces of discarded plastic waste from the landfills to create functional products such as these benches and tiles.

For the past two years and counting, Hilldaari has been working in Mussoorie to develop inclusive, resilient and contextualised model for solid and plastic waste management. With its latest intervention, the project intends to serve a dual purpose: Add beauty and meaning to public spaces while instilling a sense of hope for a more sustainable future.

For Children of a Lesser God: Uttarakhand’s eco-bridge

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Dateline Nainital: On your normal day, the Kaladhungi-Nainital highway, falling within the Ramnagar forest division is crawling with traffic. Next time you are there, do take time to notice a unique wildlife passage in the shape of a 90-foot (27 meter) over-head bridge made from locally procured materials like bamboo, jute and grass.

Built over a hairpin bend, the ‘Eco-bridge’ has come up to offer hope of a safer passage to smaller animals like turtles, snakes, squirrels, monkeys, monitor lizards, porcupines, ant-eaters that abound in the area’s Sal forest floor that hunches around the forever busy highway.

This wildlife crossing has been put up to prevent smaller animals that are often impossible to see from being run over by vehicle drivers on their way up to or coming down from Nainital. Within weeks of being put up, the bridge has already become a selfie point for tourists and travellers.

The man behind this unique mission, DFO Chander Shekhar Joshi tells Newspost, ‘It took us ten days to put the Eco-bridge together. We are now working on creating a micro climate around the bridge and make it seem as natural as possible with creepers and plants blending in with the passage” adding, “Two camera traps on either side of the bridge have been fixed to monitor animal movement.’

Of course it is way too early in the day to say how well this effort will work or the fruit it will bear, but forest officials are hoping that this novel eco-bridge will, to some extent, create an awareness amongst those who drive along the busy Kaladhungi-Nainital highway. They hope that the areas dense flora and fauna that presently lies neglected will attract the attention of new admirers. And if successful, the Eco-bridge will be replicated all over the hill state and will go a long way to protect the lesser-known assets of the place.

Mussoorie Mountain Festival 2020, 7-9th December

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Dateline Mussoorie: As the Winterline spreads its magic across the horizon, the hill-station of Mussoorie gears up to host a virtual online edition of the three-day Mussoorie Mountain Festival, 2020, from the Hanifl Centre.

A galaxy of eminent writers, poets, historians, mountaineers, conservationists, explorers, musicians and photographers from India and abroad will virtually converge from the 7th-9th of December, celebrating the diversity of the Himalaya.

Stephen Alter, the Founding Director of the festival tells us, “Because the festival is a virtual event we have kept all of the presentations relatively short, from a maximum of ten minutes to some that are only one minute long.  We hope this will keep the festival fast paced and engaging for our audience.”

The Tetseo Sisters of Nagaland and Cadenza Collective from Nepal, will perform songs recorded especially for the Mussoorie Mountain Festival 2020, making it an unforgettable experience.

Steve further adds, “Anyone who watches the Mussoorie Mountain Festival 2020 should expect an exciting variety of experiences from musical performances to talks by eminent mountaineers and conservationists.  Our program includes everything from insightful presentations on the bats of Uttarakhand to the Living Goddess of Kathmandu.”

Down the years, the Mussoorie Writer’s Mountain Festival has become an ode to the Himalaya that encompasses all aspects of mountain culture, natural history and art. The Mussoorie Mountain festival has made its mark both on the national as well as the international literary circuit.

“खाकी में इंसान”: Ashok Kumar is Uttarakhand’s new DGP

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Dateline Dehradun: Ashok Kumar, batch of 1989, takes over as Uttarakhand’s Director General of Police. Born and brought up in Kurana, a small village in District Panipat in Haryana, Ashok Kumar received his primary education from the local government school and went on to do B. Tech (1986) and M.Tech (1988) from IIT, New Delhi.

Ashok Kumar joined the Indian Police Service in 1989 and served various assignments in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He was instrumental in eliminating terrorism from the tarai region of Kumaon. Ashok Kumar’s last posting was that of Additional Director General of Police Crime, Law & Order. He also held IG Garhwal and IG Kumaon portfolio and contributed towards the field and humanitarian policing in all districts. He also worked as Chief of Intelligence and Security Uttarakhand and Director Vigilance Uttarakhand.

On deputation, Kumar also served with the CRPF and IG BSF where he faced Naxalites and managed the crucial Punjab frontier of the Indo-Pakistan border.

He received the UN Medal for serving in strife-torn Kosovo in the year 2001. He was awarded the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious services in 2006. He was also awarded President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service on Republic Day, 2013. He has been awarded the prestigious “Outstanding Contribution to National Development” award by IIT Delhi Alumni. He has been a Senate member of IIT Delhi for 3 years.

During his tenure, Kumar penned the book ‘Human in Khaki’ (खाकी में इंसान), which has been translated into Bengali, Gujarati & Marathi. The Book has been awarded ‘Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant’ Award by Bureau of Police Research and Development, MHA.

He has also authored three more books entitled “Challenges to Internal Security of India”, “Cracking Civil Services: The Open Secret” and “Ethics for Civil Services”.

Ashok Kumar has been instrumental in the creation of new updated infrastructure and modernization of the Uttarakhand Police as DIG HQ Dehradun from 2004 to 2007.

IIT Roorkee commemorates its 173rd Foundation Day online

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Dateline Roorkee: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee commemorated its  Foundation Day on 25th November through an online mode. Shri RS Pawar, Chairman, NIIT was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

The programme started with the kulgeet i.e. institute song of IIT Roorkee and a welcome address by Prof. BR Gurjar, Dean of Resources and Alumni Affairs (DORA). For the year 2020, three alumni have been conferred with the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award, whereas seven alumni were the recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director IIT Roorkee stated that on this day in 1847, the prospectus of the ‘Civil Engineering College at Roorkee’ was notified with the approval of James Thomason, the Lt. Governor of North-Western Provinces. This was also the day on which we became University of Roorkee in 1948.

Padma Bhushan Shri R. S. Pawar, Chief Guest&Chairman, NIIT, said “I extend my heartiest wishes to the entire IITR fraternity on the 173rd Foundation Day and congratulate distinguished alumnus awardees. This is the century of mind and IIT Roorkee’s faculty, students and alumni can play an important role to make significant contributions in it.”

Shri BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman BoG, IIT Roorkee said “ All of us are proud of the institute’s 173 years of a glorious heritage. We owe this to the amazing contributions of our students, faculty, administrators, and policymakers. Our teachers and researchers exhibit an unwavering commitment to their professions and devotion to academics. On this occasion, let us remember them and offer our gratitude.”

Distinguished Young Alumnus Awards

Ms. Aarti Gill (2008 – B.Tech. – Electronics & Communication Engineering)
Mr. Rahul Sharma (2012 – B.Tech. – Electrical Engineering)
Mr. Sachin Gupta (2012 – B.Tech. – Computer Science Engineering)

Distinguished Alumnus Awards

Prof. S. C. Handa (1966 – M.E. – Civil Engineering)
Mr. Raja Ram Singh Yadav (1975 – B.E. – Mechanical Engineering)
Mr. Naveen Jain (1979 – B.E. – Industrial Engineering)
Mr. Prakash Kumar Singh (1979 – B.E. – Metallurgical Engineering)
Prof. Ajay K. Agrawal (1980 – B.E. – Mechanical Engineering)
Prof. Pankaj Agarwal (1982 – B.E. – Electronics & Communication Engineering)
Mr. R. Mukundan (1988 – B.E. – Electrical Engineering)

The event concluded with the vote of thanks by Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Deputy Director, IIT Roorkee.

Bonding over art and craft

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Dateline Mussoorie: In their early twenties, Mussoorie-bred siblings Kanika and Shripty Butola have been running successful social media handles showcasing handcrafted-recycled items and sketches that have won them accolades from friends and family.

Post-graduate in English, the older one Kanika Butola found her passion in clay work, tissue, recycling discarded bottles and even fry-pans. Kanika tells us, “We started handing out handmade crafts as gifts to family and friends on their birthdays and other occasions.” Encouraged by those around them, the sisters put on their thinking cap and showcased their home based art & craft creations on Facebook, Instagram and more recently on their YouTube channel ‘Kreative Kraft,’ with a sizeable number of repeat customers.

The younger one Shripty Butola is pursuing her final year M.Sc. During the lockdown Shripty found her true calling and embarked on a journey of charcoal/pencil sketching. A self-taught artist, Shripty has mastered the art of making stunning portraits of dogs, elephants and tigers. All she needs in a span of four to six hours a day at the most and a sight that inspires the artist in her. “I took a short course this summer to polish my basic sketching skills. Whenever I want to unwind, relax and take a break from my studies, I sketch,” she says.

From nature to landscape to human portraits, the young lady picks up paper, charcoal and pencils blending the two, making images that one is truly proud of. “As of now, I have no plans of taking up drawing or sketching as a profession,” adding, “I want to dedicate my time to my studies,” Shripty says without any qualms.

Though books are their priority for now, we can only hope that the Butola sisters continue to find time to create new items and charm us with their artistic skills.

Links:

https://m.facebook.com/Kreative-Kraft-316228698905355/?ref=bookmarks

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS8alJvFcBUC9NO9EZ8QIeQ

https://instagram.com/kreative.kraft?igshid=hbh7qdoeqzxe

Valley of Words 2020 goes virtual from 20-22nd November

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Dateline Dehradun: Queenly Mussoorie is set to play the hostess to yet another edition of the Valley of Words. The three-day literary extravaganza from the 20th–22nd of November 2020 is a one-of-its-kind International Literature and Arts festival that turns four this year.

Courtesy: Sunil Silwal

The Valley of Words a.k.a VoW as it is popularly known, has gained popularity over the years as it celebrates creative expression across all genres. Honorary Curator of the event, Sanjeev Chopra, IAS explains: “In its 4th edition, the Festival will be held in a hybrid mode with both onsite and online sessions. For the past three years and counting, Valley of Words is a celebration of life, literature and all art forms. It is a very intense immersion in the world of books, philosophy and contemporary India, that is the purpose of the festival!

Despite the pandemic, VoW 2020 has gone phygital bringing together over a hundred writers, publishers, research scholars, critics, poets, artists, photographers, policy makers and academicians, philatelists from across the globe, virtually. This great line-up will share scintillating conversations with their listeners through a continuous relay of online sessions over a period of three days with a few ‘live-sessions’ thrown in as well.

Multiple sessions on Military History and Strategy, which focus on India’s borders, defence politics, international relations and artificial intelligence, the effect of COVID on society’s health and economy, World of Publishing, Wildlife, Poetry sessions, virtual book launches along with exhibitions will be a prime component of the multi-lingual and multi-genre festival.

His Holiness Dalai Lama in his blessings to the VoW festival wrote in saying, “It is good to see that in your past programs you have focused on different aspect of the Indian life and culture. I am sure, that this year, too, you will promote awareness of the rich cultural heritage of India.