India is a democratic, stable country: Dalai Lama

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said India is a “democratic country, very stable, very good”;

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama returned to his exile home Dharamshala on Monday after a month-long sojourn at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. He was received by Sikyong Penpa Tsering and deputy speaker of Tibetan parliament-in-exile Dolma Tsering Teykhang. “India is a democratic country, very stable, very good,” he said upon arrival at Kangra airport.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama returned to his exile home Dharamshala on Monday after a month-long sojourn at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. (HT file photo)

Ayush minister directs to strengthen panchkarma centres in HP

Earnest efforts should be made to strengthen the panchkarma centres in order to make them ‘Centres of Excellence’, HP industries and Ayush minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said on Monday. He directed the department to explore possibilities of starting panchkarma in the hotels of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation having good occupancy.

HP deputy CM seeks early release of funds for Phina Singh irrigation project

Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday sought the release of ₹350 crore for the Phina Singh Medium Irrigation Project in Kangra district, an official statement said. Agnihotri met central water commission chairman Kushvinder Vohra and held discussions about strengthening the irrigation sector in the state besides urging for liberal assistance for it.

The Centre for Advancing Tobacco Control in Himachal (CATCH), Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda, on Monday organised a training programme for the panchayat pradhans of Kangra block under ‘Tobacco Free Himachal’ campaign. Experts led by chairman of Community Medicine Department, RPGMC, Dr Sunil Kumar Raina delivered talks and gave presentations ill-effects of tobacco use and guidelines for a tobacco-free village.

Kangra hospital starts telemedicine services

Fortis Hospital in Kangra has launched telemedicine services, becoming the first private hospital in Himachal to do so. Through telemedicine services with WhatsApp video call provision, patients will be able to consult specialists and seek prescription and medical advice. Consultation service will be available from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Hospital medical superintendent Dr SS Parmar said they will charge normal fee for telemedicine services.

IIT Mandi inks pact for AI research & development

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, signed a memorandum of understanding with Headquarters Maintenance Command (HQ MC), Nagpur, to collaborate on research and development in the domain of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Dean (sponsored research and industrial consultancy) Tulika Srivastava said, “One of the main motto of IIT Mandi is to foster R&D in engineering and technology development.”