WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU DeMon, MAKE DeMonade
Under the central government’s Lucky Grahak Yojana (lucky consumer scheme) initiated to encourage digital transactions, Bharat Singh, a native of Dehradun, who works in a garment shop in the city, has won a prize of Rs 25 lakh. The prime minister will honour the winners in Nagpur on Friday. Bharat Singh got the third prize through a lucky draw. During the period of demonetisation, Bharat had conducted all his financial transactions through RuPay card, including smaller ones like fuelling up the bike. Singh, who belongs to a humble family, now plans to open his own garment shop with the prize money and feels that the scheme has changed his life.
KEDARNATH YATRA PREPARATIONS IN FULL SWING
Preparations for upcoming Kedarnath yatra are in full swing. Uttarakhand administration has been tussling with icy mountains to facilitate Kedarnath yatra this time, carving out massive pieces of snow to make the way for pilgrims. The pilgrimage will commence from May 3.
This year, excessive snow fall had blocked the path to Kedarnath. 10 to 15 feet of snow will have to be removed to ensure an easy walk to the shrine. The task has been allocated to NIM(Nehru Institute of Mountaineering). At present, the whole area is blanketed with snow. Kedarnath Yatra is one of the most sacred and revered yatras of the state. Every years, lakhs of pilgrims from across the country visit Kedarnath for darshan. Apart from its religious significance, the yatra is considered adventurous and risky because of the tough terrain and hostile climate.
ALMORA WOMEN ON WARPATH
The women from Almora have adopted a guerilla strategy against illicit liquor vendors and smugglers. Small squads of women have been raiding hide-outs of liquor vendors and mafias, confiscating illegal liquor smuggled to various parts of the state. In a recent incident in Seraghat area of Almora district, a handful of women intercepted two men who were transporting hooch on mules. Ten bags of liquor were seized and handed over to the police. Soon after this incident, they raided a nearby house and seized over 300 cartoons of liquor.
Consumption of alcohol is a major problem in Uttarakhand. In the past also, women of this hill state have conducted many agitations to deal with this malady.
BJP STATE EXECUTIVE TO DECIDE FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION
After winning a thumping majority in assembly polls, the BJP will hold its state executive meeting in Nainital to chalk out a road map for the functioning of the party and the government in coming months. The meeting is scheduled from April 21 and will continue for next two days. Many important leaders like national president Amit Shah, state in-charge Shyam Jaju and national general secretary Shiv Prakash will participate in the meeting to shape up the future course of action.
Though party won a handsome majority in polls, it faced many unpleasant experiences. BJP state president Ajay Bhatt was defeated; defections and a strong internal revolt turned out to be the cherry on the pie.
Senior leaders from Delhi will address and resolve these problems. The meeting is also important as the municipal corporation polls are due next year. Many political appointments need to be cleared in these corporations. More than 200 office bearers are likely to take part in it.
