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World Environment Day, 2020 just got more greener

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Dateline Dehradun: Despite the havoc that COVID-19 has wrecked, several “green” initiatives planned for World Environment Day 2020 are set to leave a positive mark. On World Environment Day,  United States-based reforestation non-profit One Tree Planted, in association with social enterprise Sustainable Green Initiative (SGI), will start its planting drive across India. A total of 500,000 fruit trees will be planted in several parts of India this monsoon season.

Planting fruit trees in homesteads and farmland of marginal farmers in five villages of Tehri district in Saklana range in Uttarakhand; fifteen villages of Palwal, Haryana; ten villages in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh; three villages GPs in Puri district of Odisha; one village in the Khopoli region in Maharashtra, and five locations across Delhi-NCR.

Cyclone Amphan, which ripped through West Bengal, left devastation in its wake. It also uprooted scores of mighty trees all over Kolkata. Sustainable Green Initiative has pledged to replant 1,000 of the 5,000 big trees that fell. Eight feet tall saplings of trees such as Neem, Arjun, Karanj, Bakul will be planted in the presence of senior officials from the Kolkata Municipality and prominent members of the civil society.

Sustainable Green Initiative will also kick-off its mangrove and fruit trees planting campaign for 15,000 fruit trees and 200,000 mangroves in the Balli islands of the Sundarbans, under the watchful eye of the Tiger Man of India – Anil Mistry.

In the coming two years, these trees will sequester 2500 tonnes of carbon, and will provide fruits and fodder leaves to the villagers. Depending on the geography, the tree saplings will include Guava, Lemon, Pomegranate, Gooseberry, Jackfruit and Mango.

“These are tough times but we need to keep working towards a better, cleaner, safer future,” said Matt Hill, Founder, One Tree Planted, adding how there was a direct connection between our physical and mental health, and greenery.

Raj Mohan, Founder, Sustainable Green Initiative, said, “We will help maintain these trees for a period of one year to ensure maximum survival rate and encourage the villagers to adopt organic fertilisers and pesticides for the same.”

Sankhya Art Foundation: Bringing art closer to home

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Tania Saili
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Dateline Dehradun: Sankhya Art Foundation in association with Varanasi Theatre Group and Soham Himalayan Museum, Mussoorie organized its debut ‘live-digital solo play,’ entitled, ‘Corona aur Kal Dosh.’

The under twenty-minute performance was an adaptation of a play ‘Corona aur Kal Dosh‘ penned by Nilay Upadhyay aka Ganga Yatri, a renowned writer, poet, philosopher and thinker. Talented theatre artist Mukesh Tiwari played the protagonist in the play based on the relevance of the five elements in our lives.

Going ‘Live’ from Saddat in Gazipur, where Actor Mukesh Tiwari is during lockdown, he tells us, “I am enacting the role of the chief spokesperson of Mother Nature where I warn humanity that I i.e. Nature has started a fight against them.”

Garnering over fifteen hundred views in their first-online gig, the message is pertinent to the present pandemic that we all are facing. It highlights how earth and lives on it have been cursed due to basic elements being polluted, by us humans.

Organically created with basic aesthetics and simple props such as fire torches, the solo-artist plays with voice modulation and body language. The audiences appreciated the set-up some even comparing it to Bharat Ek Khoj.

‘Sankhya Art Foundation’ is the brainchild of two young men, Arun Dabral and Hari Darshan, both committed towards the encouragement and preservation of classical traditional Indian art. This was their first online event supported by Sameer Shukla and Sumit Srivastava.

Arun says, “Our foremost aim is to establish a “Gurukul” in Tehri Garhwal run with indigenous ethics and values. This venture will work with the aim of educating, promoting and preserving our ancestral art- legacy.”

The finale on the 5th-6th June will bring to the forefront artists from all genres scattered throughout the globe tied together by the works of Poet Kabir, and promises to wow its growing fans.

Watch out for this space:

https://www.facebook.com/sankhyaartfoundation/videos/677850969679109/?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=MlGm52Ufb58vxczM&d=n&vh=e

IIT Roorkee announces completion plan of Spring Semester 2019-20

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Dateline Roorkee: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has announced it’s semester completion plan. For smooth and timely completion of the 2019-20 Spring Semester, the institute has reworked the plan which is now available at http://acad.iitr.ac.in/notification/SCP_2019-20.pdf.

The new plan is a one-time special provision given the unprecedented circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will override several existing clauses.

According to the plan, the performance of the students in Spring Semester 2019- 2020 would not be counted for academic performance-based termination of programs, slow pace programs, and towards any other such clauses.

The institute has introduced a system to convert a pass letter grade to a Satisfactory (S) grade without grade point, if a student requests for the same. The weightage ranges of various evaluation components have been revised. Further, students also have the option to appear in a re-exam to improve their grades.

Online evaluation modes have been introduced for MTech and PhD Thesis and BTech Projects. Students who wish to do more work in their thesis are allowed to get their evaluations deferred.

Similarly, for MTech (I year) and PhD Course work seminar, the students who are not prepared and require more time may request for deferred evaluation, which will be conducted within the first 4 weeks of the next semester.

During the lockdown period, IIT Roorkee continued the semester using online teaching methods. The completion of the semester will be carried out by grading the students while taking into account their performance up to midterm examination and the assessment carried out during online teaching.

Changing Traditions: IMA, Passing Out Parade

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Tania Saili
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Dateline Dehradun: The global pandemic is playing spoilsport as the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun gears up for its 146th Regular Course Spring Term, Passing out Parade on the 13th of June 2020. For this is the first time that parents and guardians will not witness their loved ones march against the spectacular backdrop of the Chetwode building of this stellar institution.

As some four hundred Gentlemen Cadets (other than Foreign Cadets from friendly countries) will take that historic last step or antim pagh into the uniformed fraternity and go forward in charting a path of glory. Notably absent shall be their family and guardians, who used to take pictures of their wards and capture this singular moment forever. This time around, they shall be missed.

In a Press Release the IMA says: “In view of prevailing COVID-19 instructions, the parents and dear ones of the Gentlemen cadets shall not be able to participate in Passing Out Parade events as is the tradition.”

The virulent virus has changed things. Since its very inception, the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun has always put its best foot forward in keeping alive its glorious tradition of turning boys into men with proud parents and guardians witnessing the Pass Out Parade. But this is all set to change now.

But IMA hopes that the print and visual media will do their task by stepping in to fill the yawning gap, adding: “It is therefore extremely important that these events are extensively covered in real time for the nation to witness continues professionalism and commitment of the Indian Army despite prevailing crisis. It will also allow parents, kith and kid of the Gentlemen Cadets to get a true feel of the pride and emotional high in witnessing their heroes don ranks of the Indian Army.”

Munsyari gets its own ‘Bird Tourism based Growth Center’

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Tania Saili
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Satyr Tragopan: Courtesy: Brijesh Dharmshaktu, Munsyari

Dateline Pithoragarh: Two months into lockdown, with least human interference, ‘Nature’ seems to be revealing many a secret. On the 25th of May, Brijesh Dharmshaktu, Chairman Munsyari, EDC took a picture of the elusive Satyr Tragopan – a bird that is usually seen at much higher altitudes.

Considered a sign of good luck, just a day later, the State Government has approved a ‘Bird Tourism based Growth Center’ that will come up soon in Munsyari, Pithoragarh.

The idea behind the Center, “to establish a one-stop Facility Center of the State Government to create trained professional guides in the field of bird tourism and allied nature based activities,” said DFO Pithoragarh Vinay Bhargav. Adding to this, Brijesh Dharmshaktu, Chairman Munsyari, EDC tells us: “As Munsyari emerges as one of our favourite destinations, especially for high altitude Himalaya Bird watching, tourists have often felt that there is a need for recognized guides with them to assist in nature based recreational and allied activities.”

Some 550 kms from the State Capital of Dehradun, Munsyari in Kumaon region, has rich flora and fauna including Spotted Laughing Thrush, Fire Tailed Sunbird, Alpine Chough, Hill Partridge, Bearded Vulture, Koklass and the snow partridge if one were to name a few. Seven pre-identified local birding trails, from five hundred meters to five kilometers long will be revived for bird watching under this scheme.

Another unique USP of the area is the fact that within a four-kilometer radius of the proposed center, bird watchers will be able to spot all the ten species of pheasants abounding in these environs.

Armed with binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, field guides and tool kits, local youth after getting their vocational training and capacity building programs, that will take tourists down trails explaining to them their rich green cover and its avian treasures in the next few months.

With the present pandemic resulting in mass reverse migration, schemes like these have the potential of giving alternative employment to those who need it the most. What could be better if they found work while staying in the comfort and security of their own homes.

Research for identifying antivirals to tackle COVID-19:IIT Roorkee

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Dateline Roorkee: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee will conduct research on the identification of antivirals to treat SARS-CoV2. This development comes after a proposal led by Prof. Pravindra Kumar has been given a go-ahead by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). The study will identify small molecule inhibitors to target key viral replication enzymes- RNA dependent RNA polymerase (nsp12), viral proteases (Mpro and PL2pro, ) and the Methyltransferase or MTase (nsp14). These enzymes are virus specific that are encoded with genetic material (RNA) of the viral pathogens. Virus specific protease catalyzes the cleavage of specific peptide bonds in viral polyproteins. The study will be funded under the intensification of Research in High Priority areas (IRHPA) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

“The objective of the study is to identify antiviral molecules to combat COVID-19. It will expedite the process of identification of drugs through an in-silico approach that is based on computer-aided simulation of their molecular structures. I would like to thank the Science and Engineering Research Board for reposing faith in us” said Prof. Pravindra Kumar, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee.

The groundwork of the research has already been prepared by the completion of in silico work based on high throughput virtual screening approach to assess the binding affinity of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs targeting Mpro-a viral protease.

The study will leverage a computer-based high throughput virtual screening approach to identify antiviral molecules from various compound libraries that will be validated for antiviral potential. It will be conducted in collaboration with Prof. Shailly Tomar, Dept of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee, and Dr. Gaurav Sharma from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar who will aid in assessment of the antiviral efficacy of the identified molecule to treat SARS-CoV2.

“This approach can be path breaking in the identification of antiviral molecules to fight COVID-19” said Prof. Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee.

Mussoorie’s first Covid-19 patient returns home

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Tania Saili
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Dateline Mussoorie: Amidst the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Uttarakhand, Mussoorie’s first Covid-19 patient returned home on Tuesday night, after being tested negative for the second time round for the virus, under the ICMR guidelines.

The 36-year-old woman and her young son were tested positive after returning home from Delhi via Saharanpur around the 14th of May.

A team of medical staff dropped the lady and her son off at Landour around 7:30 on Tuesday night. Bringing a big sigh of relief not only for her family, but the hill-station as well. A source from the area, said that the woman and her son got a hero’s welcome as they made their way home, in tears.

Corona first knocked on the hill station’s door on the 14th of May. Taking cognizance, the local administration took quick action post which the woman along with her immediate family were moved to Doon Hospital for hospital quarantine, and the area barricaded, fumigated and sanitized, and those who in contact with the lady were put in institutional quarantine.

Sharing more good news, Ashutosh Sati, EO, Mussoorie Municipal Co-operation said, “Since March 23rd, 437 people have been under home quarantine in Mussoorie out of which, around 150 still remain in home quarantine. Twenty four people who were in institutional quarantine have either been tested negative or completed their mandatory 14 days quarantine and returned home.”

Test, trace, isolate and quarantine mantra has been the leitmotif of Mussoorie administration who is leaving no stones unturned to ensure its ‘Better to be safe than Sorry!’

Most Men Come Home Strangers

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Tania Saili
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Dateline Uttarkashi: At age 78, frail, and incoherent, Surat Singh Chauhan stares out of a window opening up to the hills of home. He is presently cooling his heels in the primary-school-turned-quarantine-centre, at Jestwari.

There was a time when this strapping young lad of eighteen left behind a wife with two children. He has come back in the wake of the Covid-19, sixty years later.

Unkempt, bundled up and lost in thought, he rarely talks or makes eye contact as if guilty of his past, trying to find a cure for the sickness of the soul.

A stranger amidst his own

In the beginning, his family of three searched all over for him: they even lodged a ‘missing’ report as often they would get news of his whereabouts in Himanchal Pradesh. All around they found that all roads leading to him led to a dead-end.

Abandoned, yet determined to move on, his young bride Bugna Devi toiled day and night to make ends meet. Forgotten but not forgiven, the family reconciled to fate. They continued to eke out a living with a semblance of a normal life in the village of Jestwari.

But the virulent virus was to change all that.

As migrants from all over India headed home, Tehsildar, Virendra Singh Rawat at Chinyalisaur got a call from his counter part in Solan, Himanchal Pradesh, of a elderly man mumbling something about Dharshu, village Jestwari.

As luck would have it, Virendra Singh got in touch with Jestwari village headman Ajaypal Chauhan asking for Surat Singh Chauhan. Much to everyone’s surprise Surat Singh Chauhan turned out to be Ajaypal’s long lost grandfather whom they had given up for good.

On the 16th of May, Surat Singh made his journey back home. Since then he has been in the mandatory fourteen-day quarantine. His wife Bugna Devi refuses to have anything to do with him, and for obvious reasons. But the grandchildren are more forgiving and wish to make up for lost times.

End of this week, Surat Singh Chauhan will walk the final four hundred meters to reach the home and hearth, he had so unwittingly abandoned sixty years ago.

Hotel Industry stares at a bleak future, seeks relief from State Government

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The famous tibetan market all wrapped up

Dateline Mussoorie: “Due to  COVID19 crisis the Hotel Industry does not see much hope in revival or even survival in the immediate and distant future,” says President of the Uttarakhand Hotel Association, Sandeep Sahni, adding,  “without the Government having to handhold the industry for a period of 6-12 months with various relief measures, revival is quite difficult during this Pandemic.”

Words of concern by people associated with hotel business are making headlines world over. They are all looking for some respite from their respective governments, in the hope that they can stay afloat through the pandemic.

“With close to 3500 registered hotels and guest houses in Uttarakhand. The tourism industry contributes 30% to the hill-state’s GDP while generating direct employment for about 1.2- 1.5 lakhs. Virtually 1/4th of the hill-state depends on tourists, a direct hit to this would spell disaster in the form of establishments closing and unemployment figures sky rocketing,” Sandeep Sahni reiterates.

The Uttarakhand Hotel Association is seeking relief measures, hoping that the State Government will come to their rescue, before its too late:

  1. Stimulus by way of Zero/ Interest Free Loans to cover the existing borrowing liabilities of the establishment: The government  needs to provide Zero Interest stimulus with moratorium of 12 months for tenure of 3-5 years to cover existing borrowing liabilities for the establishments. The Government can even look at providing a subsidy by making amends in the current Tourism/ Industrial Policy for Uttarakhand.
  2. Working Capital to cover salary expenses for the establishments: If Hotels survive so will the employees and their employers.
  3. Extension of validity of all State/Municipal Licenses and NOC for Establishments and waiver of charges for a period of 12 months, w.e.f. 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021, considering that the current Financial Year will be a zero year for business, taking in account the very seasonal nature of business in the hill state.                                      As stated below:
  • Increase validity of FSSAI licence – 12 months
  • Increase Validity of Excise and Bar license for 12 months, without any additional fee for the current Financial Year. In case already renewed and paid the amount to be adjusted in the subsequent year.
  • Increase Validity of existing Hotel Licence by 1 year without any additional fee.
  • Increase in Scheme to register for Consent to Operate by UEPPCB by 6 months, with extension of mandatory requirement for STP and Consent by 12 month. For establishments with Valid Consent To Operate by UEPPCB in the previous Financial Year 2019-20, the validity of the existing consent may be automatically extended by 12 months without any additional charges.
  • House Tax and Sewage tax may not be charged for 6 months – April 2020 to September 2020. Thereafter the deferment of charges for the next 6 months may be allowed.
  • No Minimum charges for water tax and Electricity, the same to be taxed on actual consumption basis.
  1. Relaxed guidelines/ protocols for establishment with ease of opening & running once the govt allows to open. The Govt should not set any pre-condition which cannot be met by the hotelier when he opens his establishment. Protocols and punitive measures for quarantine should be eased and not harsh and detrimental to the industry at large.

5. It is important to note that without any tourism, those associated with it like, transporters, coolies, shop keepers, boatmen, etc are struggling for their livelihood .

6.  FHRAI has said 70 % of the industry will collapse in the next few weeks, we are again pleading to the governments to please help this industry from dying.

On the 13th of May, 2020, in a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, tourism activities and hotel restaurant operators were granted concessions in ‘fix demand charge of electricity,‘ but with an uncertain future staring back at them, hoteliers seeks more relief.

There’s no road, like the road home

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Tania Saili
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Dateline Pauri: 35 men. 28 days. What the government couldn’t do, just twenty kilometers from Yamkeshwar block, these valiants have accomplished for all to see.

“In the once upon a time days, our area was known for its agricultural produce. But due to plain and simple apathy all around, nothing came together. But these brave folks were bent on changing the status quo, as Block Development Member Sudesh Bhatt of village Boonga put its.

Post lockdown when the youth from this area came home, Sudesh Bhatt an ex -serviceman and an International Mountaineer infused this energy into the youth of these villages.

United for a noble cause

Aged between 18-70, the motley of men put in twelve hours of shramdaan or voluntary contribution come hell or high water, to complete a three-kilometer stretch of dirt road making it useable for two wheelers. And no shoddy job this either! The road has retaining walls on both sides, removing obstacles, clearing shrubs and bushes, the young volunteers carried heavy rocks placing them carefully guided by their elders.

This stretch now benefits half a dozen villages in the block. Tehsil is now almost fifty kilometers shorter. The next phase is to work on a connecting bridge between Boonga and Beerkaatal twin villages. The team also hopes to make the road wide enough for four wheelers to come their doorstep,  within a month or so.

Making the most of the lockdown and the youthful energy that has come home to roost! Here is a story from our home in the hills, that deserves to be told, and retold.

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