Himachal Confedential

Kissa Kursi Ka

Who doesn’t need a firm footing,when it comes to running an institution like turmoil-ridden Himachal Pradesh University—where outside vice-chancellors hardly complete their terms. But,new vice-chancellor A D Vajpayee wants to break the jinx. He is reported to have decided to immediately replace the VC’s chair to ward off curse of evil eyes. The new spacious chair,which he is getting designed,will cost approximately Rs 60,000 with a tall back rest. Even the backdrop will change to suit the vastu.

No women,please

IT could either be just a coincidence or a well-thought idea to have a district administered by women officers — both deputy commissioner and superintendent of police. Even their subordinates in the civil administration and police also happen to be women. A look at Sirmaur district — one of the state’s backward districts — shows how women can make a difference. “Feedback is very good,” admits Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. But when the question came whether a woman IAS probationer,who joined the state cadre recently,should also be posted there,Dhumal smiled it off. “As of now,Sirmaur is frozen for women officers.”

Bali’s ire

When most Congress leaders choose to remain silent,former minister G S Bali takes the plunge. Last week,it was the turn of Health Minister Rajeev Bindal to be under Bali’s scanner. Bindal had come to Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College,Tanda in Kangra for a felicitation function organised to thank him for getting MBBS seats increased from 50 to 100. But it was not the felicitation function that aroused Bali’s ire but an official order asking students,nurses,doctors and para-medical staff to participate in Bindal’s function,suspending their classes and routine healthcare services at the college and hospital. The Congress MLA hurriedly called a press conference and listed out how Bindal instead of helping out the institute was in fact “playing havoc with the institution”. With the medical college coming under Bali’s constituency,it was no wonder that he did vent his anger through the media.

Number 9

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s belief in numerology is not unknown to his ministers,MLAs and government officers. His favourite number ‘9’ can’t be overlooked,whether it’s about cabinet meetings,his vehicle registration number or personal mobile .Now,during Mandal Milan,Dhumal enforces a strict rule that only 18 (sum total nine) persons can speak and at least half of them should be women,if possible.