Ashwani Sharma

All stories by Ashwani Sharma

Himachal's hills come alive with labourers from Nepal

Himachal's hills come alive with labourers from Nepal

Rediff.com23 May 2020

Nepali labourers are not only the backbone of the state's apple economy but also part of the highly grounded manpower in the orchards, setting an example for other states struggling with the migrant labour question, reports Ashwani Sharma.

With lockdown easing, monkeys are back to trouble Shimla

With lockdown easing, monkeys are back to trouble Shimla

Rediff.com15 May 2020

Having developed a taste for what humans eat, the monkeys are wreaking havoc in Shimla, reports Ashwani Sharma.

As natives return, Himachal's coronavirus woes may just begin

As natives return, Himachal's coronavirus woes may just begin

Rediff.com7 May 2020

More than 1.20 lakh Himachalis have already returned home in less than a week's time. There is a list of 21,000 others approved for return, and at least two lakh more are still awaiting official nod for their return. Will this influx see a spike in coronavirus numbers? That is the administration's main worry, reports Ashwani Sharma.

How Himachal contained Covid-19 and earned Modi's praise

How Himachal contained Covid-19 and earned Modi's praise

Rediff.com5 May 2020

Behind the state's success in containing coronavirus positive cases is one novel initiative -- Active Case Finding or ACF, which even Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed for the bigger states to follow. The ACF campaign began in April with 16,000 basic health personnel, ASHA, anganwadi workers and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM) out on foot trekking to most mountain valleys, snow-bound districts and remote passes of the state, reports Ashwani Sharma.

Post-coronavirus, Himachal Pradesh stares at tourism whitewash

Post-coronavirus, Himachal Pradesh stares at tourism whitewash

Rediff.com21 Apr 2020

Its economy dependent on tourist arrivals, the hill state is looking at a summer of discontent. Not that the rest of the year promises to be any different. Ashwani Sharma reports from Shimla.

24 arrested for branding woman a witch, assaulting her

24 arrested for branding woman a witch, assaulting her

Rediff.com13 Nov 2019

Outrage in Himachal Pradesh over widow of ex-Army man being dragged out and assaulted in public after being accused of practising witchcraft.

Himachal's valleys becoming dens of drug abuse

Himachal's valleys becoming dens of drug abuse

Rediff.com4 Oct 2019

What has really alarmed the police, and also the families of young drug abusers, is the entry of "chitta" -- a highly refined white powdery semi-synthetic substance (mainly heroine) -- into the drug scene and has spread like wildfire among the state's youth. Ashwani Sharma reports.