Art of Living Foundation famed Spiritual Guru Ravi Shankar to help flood-hit Uttarakhand

Haridwar, October 26

Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, globally famed for his Art of Living Foundation, and Parmarth Niketan-based Swami Chidanand Saraswati Muni have expressed their willingness to work jointly in providing rehabilitation and relief to the disaster-hit people of Uttarakhand.

Besides funding various social rehabilitation projects, they will also pitch in for alternative sources of employment generation so that tourism does not get linked with pilgrimage.

Both saints met in Rishikesh today and expressed their support to the flash flood-affected families. Both dwelled on various measures, specific areas, aspects and related issues in providing relief aid and rehabilitation im the affected districts.

Shri Ravi Shankar put forth the idea of eco tourism and green tourism in the state. He said there was a need to make local people aware about these tow aspects, which would be better alternatives for their livelihood. Swami Chidanand said there was a need to stop the talented youth from migrating to other states by providing basic and necessary employment opportunities here. In the Kedarnath valley area Swami Chidanand also wants to open a school modelled on gurukul education system so that local children could avail of education facilities there itself.

They also stressed on cleaning the Ganga, protection of cows and women empowerment. Slogan of "Himalaya bachao, beti bachao. Ganga-Gau-Gauri ki raksha karo" was also pronounced on the occasion.

Inspirational Quotes – Pictures – Motivational Thoughts

1) “Learn from the mistakes of others… you can’t live long enough to make them all yourselves!!”

2)”A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are screwed first.”

3)”Even if a snake is not poisonous, itshould pretend to be venomous.”

4)”There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.”

5)” Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions -Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”

8)”Once you start a working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.”

9)”The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.”

10)”God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

11) “A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”

12) “Never make friends with peoplewho are above or below you in status. Such”

13) “Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend.Your grown up children are your best friends.friendships will never give you any happiness.”

14) “Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend.Your grown up children are your best friends.”

15) “Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth. ~ Chankya

Kedarnath shrine to close on Nov 5

Dehradun, October 23

Kedarnath Shrine in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand will be closed for winters from November 5.

A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee held today. Utsav Doli of Shri Kedarnath will be subsequently taken to Ukhimath.

Located at a height of 3,581 metres, Kedarnath is the most important of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas. The shrine this season faced worst rain disaster at the beginning of the monsoons leading to large-scale deaths of a large number of pilgrims. Besides, scores of the pilgrims went missing. The other holy Badrinath Shrine in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand has already been closed for winters from October 18. 

Red tape hampers expansion of Doon Medical College

Dehradun, October 23
The Department of Medical Education still has to contend with the big brotherly attitude of the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare in financial matters. This has slowed down the work on Doon Medical College.

The issue pertains to the release of Rs 40 crore allocated to the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare by the BJP government in the state for the construction and expansion of Doon Medical College. The amount was deposited in the Public Ledger Account (PLA) on March, 2012.

Now, as the state government plans to start the academic session of the medical college from next year, the work has to be carried out for the first inspection by the Medical Council of India (MCI) slated for January, 2014.

The Department of Medical Education has to get ready two lecture halls, a library and improve the existing Doon Hospital by way of expansion of the existing departments in advance for the inspection. But it does not have funds to start the work.

Worse still, the utilization of additional Rs 40 crore allocated by the state government for the medical college hinges on the release of the earlier allocated Rs 40 crore from the PLA account.

“Though the state government has allocated additional Rs 40 crore for Doon Hospital, it can only be used after submitting the utilization certificate for earlier allocated Rs 40 crore, which is now lying in the PLA account of the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare,” said Ravi Nath Raman, Additional Secretary, Medical Education.

Officials in the Department of Finance said the funds for Doon Medical College were allocated to the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare, as the Department of Medical Education had not taken shape by then.

“The funds should have been transferred to the Department of Medical Education soon after it came into existence. But the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare overlooked the matter,” said a senior official.

आत्महत्याओं का शहर बन रही है सुकून की घाटी देहरादून

देहरादून - पहाड़ों में बसे देहरादून को देखकर लगता है कि वो दिन गए जब इसकी पहचान शांति और सुकून की घाटी के रूप में होती थी। 

आज देहरादून में न सिर्फ हत्या,चोरी और लूट जैसे अपराधों का ग्राफ़ लगातार बढ़ता जा रहा है बल्कि बड़ी संख्या में आत्महत्या के सनसनीखेज़ मामले सामने आ रहे हैं।

लगभग एक साल पहले देहरादून में 11वीं में पढ़नेवाले छात्र ने फ़ेसबुक पर खुदकुशी का ऐलान कर मौत को गले लगा लिया था तो लोग सकते में आ गये थे। लेकिन अब आए दिन अख़बार ऐसी सुर्खियों से भरे हुए हैं। क्या दून घाटी आत्महत्या की घाटी के रूप में कुख्यात हो रही है?

किशोर उम्र से लेकर युवा,महिलाएं और बुज़ुर्ग किसी न किसी कारण से आत्महत्या का रास्ता चुन रहे हैं।

दो-तीन पहले देहरादून में एक पुलिस कान्सटेबल ने खुद को गोली मार ली।अपने पीछे वो भरा-पूरा परिवार छोड़ गए। ठीक इसी दिन नौंवी कक्षा की एक छात्रा ने भी परीक्षा में कम नंबर आने के कारण पंखे से लटकरकर जान दे दी।

आत्महत्या के ये सभी मामले अलग-अलग हैं और उनमें कोई संबंध नहीं। लोग तो लोग विशेषज्ञ भी हैरान हैं कि आखिर देहरादून में तेज़ी से बढ़ते आत्महत्याओं के मामलों की वजह क्या है और क्या मौत को गले लगाना इतना आसान हो गया है ।

'हताशा बर्दाश्त करने की शक्ति नहीं'
मनोविज्ञानी सरस्वती सिंह का कहना है, “हमने बच्चों को न कहना नहीं सिखाया है। बहादुर बनने की बजाए वो कमज़ोर हो गए हैं। उन्हें अपना तो पता है कि उन्हें क्या चाहिए लेकिन वो दूसरों का पक्ष नहीं समझते। उनमें हताशा बर्दाश्त करने की शक्ति नहीं रही है।”

उत्तराखण्ड की राजधानी बनने के बाद न केवल देहरादून की आबादी बढ़ी है बल्कि ये शहर तेज़ी से मॉल और उपभोक्तावादी संस्कृति की गिरफ़्त में आया है।

लोगों की महत्वाकांक्षाएं बढ़ी हैं और साथ ही हताशा और निराशा भी। फ़ेसबुक जैसी सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइटें वर्चुअल दोस्तियां बढ़ा रही हैं लेकिन वास्तविक ज़िंदगियों में लोग समाज से कटे हुए हैं और किशोर पीढ़ी इसकी चपेट में सबसे ज्यादा है।

सामाजिक कारण
आईजी पुलिस, कानून और व्यवस्था, रामसिंह मीणा का कहना है, “आत्महत्या के सामाजिक कारण हैं।खास तौर पर पढ़ाई का दबाव बहुत ज्यादा है। 

कई बार दोस्तों के सर्किल में लोग कुछ ऐसा कर जाते हैं फिर पता चलने पर अपराधबोध में आत्महत्या कर लेते हैं।साथ ही नैतिक मूल्यों में कमी आई है और सहिष्णुता भी बिल्कुल ही खत्म हो गई है।”

आत्महत्या के मामलों पर मनोविज्ञानी सरस्वती सिंह का कहना है कि “आत्महत्या एक क्षणिक आवेग है। अगर वो क्षण निकल जाता है तो वो इंसान सोने की तरह से निखर कर आता है। 

बहुत अच्छा व्यक्तित्व विकसित हो सकता है। उसे अपनी गलती का अहसास हो जाए और फिर उसे समझ में आ जाए कि मैंने ऐसा क्यों करने की सोची।”

देहरादून में आत्महत्या के मामले बढ़ते जा रहे हैं लेकिन जागरूकता का अभियान छेड़ने या काउंसलिंग का कोई तरीका विकसित करने की पहल नज़र नहीं आ रही। न स्कूलों में, न घरों में संस्थानों में।