Smt Suman Lata Bhadola Sad Demise

A prayer meeting in memory of Smt Suman Lata Bhadola will be held on June 23, 2006 at Garhwal Bhawan in New Delhi at 11:00 AM.

First Woman leader to be arrested for Uttarakhand movement and former Chair of UP Social Welfare Board Smt Suman Lata Bhadola passed away after prolonged illness on Monday, June 12th. She was 62 year old.

Expressing condolences Chief Minister of Uttaranchal Narayan Dutt Tiwari said that Smt Suman Lata Bhadola was one of the most active leaders of Uttarakhand Movement and termed her demise as an irreparable loss to the Uttaranchal community. Mr Tiwari described her as a valiant fighter and a renowned national woman leader who devoted her entire life for the social cause and development of hilly areas.

Bharatiya Janta Party National President Mr. Raj Nath Singh also expressed deep shock and sorrow over the untimely death of Smt. Suman Lata Bhadola. He described her as a top political activist and front line Uttaranchal Formation movement leader.

In a condolence message sent to her eldest son and state minister in Uttaranchal Mr Dhirendra Pratap, Mr. Rajnath Singh described her services as ‘unforgettable forever’ and said that with her death, the country has lost a prominent political and social worker who had left a remarkable history in the Uttaranchal formation struggle.

Brief Profile of Smt Suman Lata Bhadola:

• Director:
  Garhwal Mandal Vikas Ltd
  UP Co-operative Development Board
  Garhwal Block Development Corporation (First Honour to any female in Uttarakhand)
  District Co-operative Federation
  
• Chair:
  Social Welfare Board Uttar Pradesh
  
• Vice Chair:
  Uttar Pradesh Khadi Gram Udhyog
  
• President:
  Rashtriya Mahila Sansathan
  
• Member:
  District Board Pauri Garhwal
  Central Hindi Advisory Committee
  Ministry Of Petroleum
  Telephone Advisory Community
  National Women Council, under the chairmanship of then Prime Minister Sh. Morarji Desai.
  Former Janata Party President Pauri Garhwal

She was the first woman leader arrested on 8th December 1978 for Uttarakhand movement and was sent to Tihar Jail. She was also the founder General Secretary of Uttarakhand Rajya Parishad.

She twice contested Lansdowne Constituency Assembly election (1974, 1985). She also contested Delhi Metropolitan Council election from Laxmi Bai Nagar constituency in New Delhi in 1987.

Her ashes were immersed at Har Ki Pauri in Hardwar on June 15th. A large number of Uttarakhand activists from all parties were present in Hardwar to pay their homage.

FE (2006.6.20): Uttaranchal will not allow GM crops, says CM

ASHOK B SHARMA, Financial Express
Tuesday, June 20, 2006

NEW DELHI, JUNE 19: Chief minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari has assured the leaders of Bharatiya Kissan Union (BKU) that he will not allow cultivation of any transgenic crop, with a view to protecting the image of the state as producers of organic food. The recently developed transgenic food crop, Bt Brinjal has hit a stumbling block before undergoing field trials in the hill state of Uttaranchal.

Mr Tiwari had earlier declared that Uttaranchal would be the producer of organic produces. Taking advantage of the chief minister’s declaration, BKU held its annual convention in Haridwar and passed a resolution calling for a ban on cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops. BKU represents farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

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BS (2006.6.20): Firms must follow labour laws: Uttaranchal minister

Business Standard / Dehra Dun June 20, 2006

“If there is a complaint (from Industry), we will take action.” Uttaranchal Labour Minister Hira Singh Bist said this at an interactive session between government representatives and the Indian Industry Association (IIA), Uttaranchal, today.

Bist urged Industry to come forward in creating a friendly labour atmosphere and setting up units in the state and benefit from tax holiday schemes. He, however, said they must comply with labour and safety laws and regulations.

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PD (2006.6.18): Moneylenders Attack Kisan Sabha Activists

People's Democracy, Vol. XXX No. 25
June 18, 2006

MONEYLENDERS turned land mafias resorted to yet another attack on Kisan Sabha leaders and activists, including large number of women in Shakti Farm under Sitarganj block in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. This attack on June 2, 2006 was made in total collusion with the local police. This is the second such attack in the last 45 days. The earlier attack had been reported in these columns (May 14, 2006 issue of PD)

For the last two years, a struggle is being waged under the leadership of AIKS against the moneylenders who had usurped the land of poor peasants. Since then moneylenders and their henchmen are harassing and terrorising the Kisan Sabha leaders, activities and also those who are the victims of their greed. The latest attack came on the day when a massive protest demonstration was planned at the office of the district magistrate at Rudrapur as part of the ongoing struggle. This was to be addressed by CPI(M) MP and Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, CITU secretary Dipankar Mukherjee and other leaders and was to be followed by a meeting with the district administration on the same issue. Naturally, there was a good campaign for mobilisation in and around Shakti Farm for that meeting since the last week of May.

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DTE (2006.6.15): Almora's dying waterbodies

Almora sees springs vanish, river die

Bidisha kumar / CSE

Almora in Uttranchal is facing an acute water crisis, which has been exacerbated by rapid, unplanned urban growth and the mismanagement of vital natural resources that has led to the drying up of natural sources of water. This summer, the Kosi river, one of the major sources of drinking water, may dry up, causing a crisis. What’s worse is that while Almora and neighbouring villages are reeling, local hotels and resorts offer spring water in abundance to patrons by buying the land on which springs are located. This makes the crisis worse for local people.

Founded in 1563, Almora traditionally depended upon its naulas and dharas (seepages and natural springs). The area has shallow aquifers that feed its springs. But over the last 150 years the number of springs has declined from 360 to 60. Those that remain are rapidly becoming seasonal with low flows.

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NDTV (2006.6.5): Farmers turn to organic farming

Monday, June 5, 2006 (Dehradun):

Dubbed the slow food movement, organic farming is the concept behind the Go Green mantra these days.

It is food that's grown with only natural resources like manure, vermicompost and the likes, instead of chemicals and pesticides that are generally used on crops.

So far, organic products haven't had too many takers but a few like author Chandrakant Rathi won't have it any other way.

"Spinach used to taste real bad. My doctor advised me to have lots of it for my health. But the spinach from the market tasted and smelled bad. I switched to organic and realised it's healthier and safer to have," said Rathi.

Probably, that is encouraging small farmers in places like Dehradun to join the slow food movement.

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PTI (2006.6.2): Women panchayat leaders vow to fight corruption

The New Kerala Times often carries PTI articles on Uttaranchal. Check with them for some of the latest news.

Kotdwar (Uttaranchal): Over 300 elected women representatives of local panchayats today pledged to fight corruption in the state and threatened to launch a mass campaign against bureaucrats and politicians creating obstacles in development projects.

Speaking at the concluding session of a two-day open forum held under the aegis of Dehradun-based NGO Pragati, the women leaders also vowed not to allow land in Uttaranchal to be "squandered away to outsiders".

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DTE (2006.5.31): Sans eco-logic, Uttaranchal's drought declaration

he Uttaranchal government has declared 56 of the state's 78 tehsil s drought-hit. A Union government team recently noted that more than 50 per cent of the rabi crop in Nainital district has been affected. The state government has responded with an aid package of Rs 33 crore. But experts doubt if the situation warrants this measure. Poor performance of agriculture has more to do with the collapse of water-harvesting techniques, they say.

"This year Uttaranchal received barely 3 cm of winter rainfall; it usually receives 13 cm. But drought-like conditions exist only in the uplands," says Raghubir Chand, professor of geography, Kumaon University, Nainital.

"The drought declaration is not based on scientific assessment of agriculture in the uplands and in the valleys," he adds.

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