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The day BCS junction stood still for all-woman police station inauguration

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shimla all woman police station

shimla all woman police station

SHIMLA- Today morning life in Shimla, BCS and adjoining areas to be specific, came to a standstill for public, only VVIP were on the move. It was the occasion of inauguration of the first all- woman police station (at BCS) by the honorable chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri. Virbhadra Singh.

The traffic police was ultra- active due to the VIP movement towards BCS. The IPS, HPPS, the Mayor of Shimla, Deputy Mayor, all awaited the arrival of the CM under heavy deployment of police on multiple spots on all roads leading to BCS. BCS bus stoppage was just not for the public today, hundreds of policemen were seen hurled vehicles anywhere and anyhow they could.

vvip politicians

One of the cops was seen literally pushing passengers into a bus asking them to climb-in hastily. The rain-shelter, opposite the police station, accommodated the Himachal Police Orchestra while the public were stranded on the road.

chief minister virbhadra singh

The scenario was such that the bus stoppage was transformed it a area of utter commotion and the public was found completely zapped.

Inauguration-bcs-shimla

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The whole area was looking cleaner, properly swept, and even the usual garbage heap on the routine waste disposal spot was also missing,which is otherwise an ugly sight, always stinking. The MC did not take notice even after HW had wrote regarding it many time along with some readers who had posted recent images of the condition. Take a look at the image above.

The policemen were in hyperactive state, around 8-9 of them restlessly cleared the traffic like their hands or head will be axed on possibility of any mistake. They are trying to show the best of their allegiance less towards the CM but more towards the person who holds the chair. The common crowd turned into insects crawling in the way of VVIPs, and nothing more.

bcs all woman police station

When asked from the cops at Vikasnagar as why the traffic was disabled towards BCS, they simply denied having any information regarding it. That’s a very lame excuse!

Later, the whole traffic including public transport was brought to complete halt as the CM neared the destination. Vehicles on the way towards BCS from Vikasnagar or Chota Shimla (via Broc Hurst) were asked to stop and queue up in middle of Vikasnagar and BCS until the CM is done with the ribbon cutting and the pooja.

People started taking to the road on foot (to their offices and schools) as public transport was disabled. It’ll be useless to protest against the organization of unnecessarily exaggerated ceremonious inauguration of a police station, but we wonder why the inauguration was scheduled at the busiest hours of morning when Shimlaites are gearing to reach their offices, colleges and schools.

To us, the whole thing about inauguration in the busiest hours seems completely absurd. The politicians and bureaucrats are concerned about the pomp and show, they’re obsessed to make it into the inauguration news that the newspapers would carry on the following day. For them, such inauguration and shows off ceremonies are always worth a shot to impress the public.

How the CM would ever experience what it feels to move in the traffic of Shimla during the busy hours when the traffic of whole Shimla is brought to halt to facilitate his movement? There is no respect for common man’s time, but the VVIP’s time is always given preference. In democracy, the public is the real ruler; therefore, the public should be put on the top, and then comes these representatives they elect to serve them. But, seriously, the public has no sense of it at all. They are ruled instead.

Their representatives have secured VVIP status, fleet of luxury vehicles with police sweeping the routine traffic out of their way, heavy security arrangements, and even the public transport is checked to make sure that these VVIPs don’t have to spend even a second in the traffic.

VIP culture in himachal

Why this inauguration wasn’t organized on Sunday or at the later hours of the day when the traffic dilutes? This ceremonious affair caused huge discomfort to the public. Wasn’t it necessary to keep in mind that this inauguration show off doesn’t cause inconvenience to the public? Wasn’t it necessary to keep in mind the fact that the BCS chowk is one of the busiest spots in Shimla, and therefore, the event should have been wrapped up in a simpler way?

Well, the police isn’t at fault. Who would not fear the man (the CM) who had ordered on the spot suspension of CMO on seeing the name of health minister Kaul Singh, his political rival, on the inauguration board? Take a look at the video:

The VIP and VVIP culture is one the most unwanted privilege that is entertained in the name of dignity towards Indian constitution and on the cost of public inconvenience. Will India ever see a day when the deserving common men would get invitation for inaugurations instead of these VVIPs? Nothing seems to have changed in India even in 21th century. Now the caste system is being replaced by the lines drawn on the bases economical status or on the base of any power a group holds and enjoy in the society. The gap between the group of common men and that of VIP and VVIP categories is widening. The modern India is growing more discriminatory, but this time, it’s happening in disguise of VVIP culture.

To get the read beacons back, the HP MLAs are trying to play on sentiments associated with the Indian constitution. They talk of preserving the dignity of their highly responsible position while inside the assembly they behave no better than irked monkeys growling on the opposition, they take off their clothes in the parliament, use paper spray, brandish knives etc. About what dignity they talk about then.

More than the Govt., the public need to awake and question the preferences made up for the convenience of a few groups. Our society doesn’t need show offs. It needs decent, persistent efforts to serve the public on the part of its administrators and public representatives.

Madan has studied English Literature and Journalism from HP University and lives in Shimla. He is an amateur photographer and has been writing on topics ranging from environmental, socio-economic, development programs, education, eco-tourism, eco-friendly lifestyle and to green technologies for over 9 years now. He has an inclination for all things green, wonderful and loves to live in solitude. When not writing, he can be seen wandering, trying to capture the world around him in his DSLR lens.

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HP Govt Employees to Get Higher Pay Scale on Completion of Two Years of Service: CM Jairam

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hp govt employess higher pay scale

Shimla-Himachal Pradesh Government employees working in different departments before January 3, 2022, would be given a higher scale at par with other employees on completion of two years tenure of regular service. A higher pay scale was also announced for the Junior Office Assistants (IT) on completion of two years of regular service.

Chief Minister Jairam Thakur made these announcements during the Karamchari Maha Sammelan of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation at the hotel Peterhof on Sunday.

He appreciated the role played by the employee especially frontline workers in the battle against the pandemic.

He said most of the government employees in the state have been given revised pay scales and on average, every employee has got the benefit of a 12 to 15 percent salary hike. There has also been an increase in the pension of about 1.50 lakh pensioners of the state. The financial benefits of Rs. 7801 crore have been given to state government employees and pensioners from the year 2018 to 2022. The pensioners who retired before 2016 are getting the benefit of a 15 to 20 percent increase in the pension while around 40 thousand pensioners who retired after 2016 would be benefitted soon, he said.

He said the daily wages were Rs. 210 in the year 2017 which has been increased by the present state government to Rs. 350. Similarly, 12 per cent interim relief annually has been provided to government employees and pensioners during the present government’s tenure. He said the Himachal government has provided Dearness Allowance to its employees and pensioners on the lines of Punjab and Central governments from the due date. The Punjab government has given only 5 percent interim relief to the employees while the Himachal government has provided 21 percent interim relief to its employees.

“Out of the total interim relief amount given to the employees and pensioners amounting to about Rs. 6500 crore, Rs. 3500 crore has been paid during the tenure of our government” added the Chief Minister.

He said that the state government has increased the government contribution for NPS employees from 10 percent to 14 percent benefitting more than one lakh employees. The NPS employees are being given the benefits of retirement and death gratuity at par with employees falling under the old pension scheme. The government has also increased the upper limit of death gratuity from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.

The Chief Minister said the state government has also increased the honorarium of para-workers working in various departments. The salary of outsource workers has been hiked by Rs 1,500 per month.

Non-Gazetted Employees Federation President Ashwani Thakur thanked the Chief Minister for providing various financial and other benefits to different categories of government employees.

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Most Covid Restrictions to be Lifted From March 31, Mask and Hand Hygiene to Continue

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all caovid restriction lifted in himachal pradesh

New Delhi-The Centre has issued a notification to the States informing that the provisions of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005 will not be invoked in the country after March 31. The Union Health Ministry said that the use of face masks and following hand hygiene will continue.

It implies that most of the Covid-related rules and restrictions would end.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued the notification which said that the decision was taken following the overall improvement in the situation and the preparedness of the government in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, local authorities and State police can still invoke fines and criminal cases against persons violating COVID-19 norms under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a senior government official said.

The DM Act was invoked on March 24, 2020, due to the pandemic

“Over the last seven weeks or so there has been a steep decline in the number of cases. The total caseload in the country stands at 23,913 only and the daily positivity rate has declined to 0.28%. It is also worth mentioning that with the combined efforts, a total of 181.56 Cr vaccine doses have been administered,” the notification said.

“I would like to mention that in view of the nature of the disease, we still need to remain watchful of the situation. Wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the States/UTs may consider taking prompt and proactive action at a local level, as advised by MoHFW (Health Ministry) from time to time,” the notification said.

The Indian government had issued various guidelines and measures for the first time on March 24, 2020, under the Disaster Management Act to curb the COVID-19 situation in the country, which have been modified several times thereafter.

India currently has 23,087 active COVID-19 cases and recorded 1,778 new cases and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate has also declined to 0.28%.

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HP Cabinet Decisions: Country Liquor Made Cheaper in New Excise Policy, Read All Decisions

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hp cABINET DECISIONS MARCH 20,2022

Shimla-A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet was held on March 20, 2022, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

The excise policy for the financial year 2022-23 was approved. Approval was also given for the renewal of retail excise vends in the state for the financial year 2022-23 at the renewal fees of 4% of the value of unit/vend.

The State Government said that wants to enhance the government revenue and curb the smuggling of country liquor from the neighbouring states by a reduction in its price.

The brands of Country Liquor will be cheaper as license fees have been reduced. This will help in providing good quality liquor at a cheaper rate to the consumers.

In the new excise policy, the 15% fixed quota of country liquor for manufacturers and bottlers to be supplied to the retail licensees has been abolished. According to the government, this step will give the retail licensees to lift their quota from the suppliers of their choice and further assure the supply of good quality country liquor at competitive prices. The MRP of country liquor will be cheaper by 16% of the existing price.

In this year’s policy, the Gaudhan Vikas Nidhi Fund has been enhanced by Re.1/- from the existing Rs.1.50 to Rs.2.50.

The fixed annual license fee of Bars has been rationalized by abolishing the area-specific slabs of license fee. Now throughout the State, there will be uniform license slabs based upon the room capacity in hotels.

Rates of the annual fixed license fee of Bars in the tribal areas has been reduced considerably.

Further, all the above stakeholders will have to install CCTV cameras at their establishments as it was made mandatory for them.

Wholesale vends and retail vends, the penalty provisions under the H.P. Excise Act, 2011 have been made more stringent.

An end to end online Excise Administration System would be established in Himachal Pradesh, the government said.

HP Government estimates a collection of Rs 2131 crore revenue during the year, which will be Rs. 264 crores higher than the financial year 2021-22 – growth of 14% in state excise revenues.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to amend Himachal Pradesh Disaster Relief Manual-2012 to include deaths due to biting of honey bees, hornet and wasps, accidental drowning and deaths due to accidents of vehicles (including land, water and air) under this Manual.

The Cabinet gave its approval for filling up 11 posts of ‘A’ Class Tehsildar in Revenue Department through direct recruitment on regular basis through Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.

HP State Toll Policy 2022-23

The HP Cabinet also gave its nod to HP State Toll Policy for the year 2022-23 which envisages auction cum tender for all the toll barriers in the State. During the year 2021-22, toll revenue has registered a growth of 20 percent of the previous year’s revenue.

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