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Honour killing case surfaces in Dausa
Victims expose gaps in public health system
Unlawful Activities Ordinance akin to POTA
Railways to provide toiletries to Rajdhani passengers
New foreign trade policy has ignored dairy sector: IDA
Centre flooded with proposals for |
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‘Mansarovar’ to be opening film at IFFI
Forever young, Dev Anand turns 81
Redefine burglary, SC tells insurance firms
Atheists register highest growth
Cell phone towers potential health hazard: PIL
Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar awards for 10
Relief brought misery to most Kargil widows
Schools to remain closed
for President’s visit
CPM Govt to move HC today
Prohibitory orders around Coke plant
Maoists blow up Indo-Nepal bridge
Uttaranchal moots IAS
officer’s sack
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Honour killing case surfaces in Dausa
Jaipur, September 26 The alleged murder happened at Shahadpur village on the night of September 22 and the body was hastily cremated by the family the next morning. The police registered an FIR under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC against 13 persons at the Mahua police station on September 25. ‘’We will launch an agitation against the Vasundhara Raje government. This is for the first time a girl has been murdered for family honour in Rajasthan and the administration and the police are shamelessly covering up the whole episode,’’ alleged Kavita Srivastava of the People’s Union For Civil Liberties. Ms Srivastava, who was part of a nine-member women’s delegation that visited Shahadpur and other villages in Bharatpur and Karauli districts on September 25-26, alleged that by all indications the 15-year-old girl was killed on the decision of caste panchayat with participation from nearby villages. The girl, Neelam Gujjar, had eloped with Rajesh Bairwa while her brother Mahipal Singh Gujjar (14) had eloped with Vaijanti (17) in July. They were found in Mumbai on August 28 after Neelam’s grandfather Padam Singh filed a missing report with police. While the girls were returned to their parents, the boys were sent to juvenile home. Kavita told reporters today that at least six Bairwa families had migrated out of the village due to threats from the dominant caste members. When the team visited the village, they found that there was hardly any mourning over the death, that the men in the girl’s family were trying to cover it up, saying that she died of animal bite, and that extended family meetings had been organised before the death. Even top police officials were kept in the dark and local police registered an FIR only under pressure from women’s organisations. The Women’s organisations have demanded immediate arrest of all the accused, action against the area SHO, and CO and other officials who tried to cover up the episode, besides a special cell in the Women’s Commission to deal with such issues concerning the younger generation. Office bearers of the PUCL, the National Federation of Indian Women, Vishakha: Women’s Education and Resource Group, Vividha: Women’s Documentation and Resource Centre, Women’s Rehabilitation Group, the Rajasthan University Women’s Association, the National Muslim Women’s Welfare Society, the Women’s Cell, the All-India State Employees Federation, the All-India Progressive Women’s Association, the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti and the All-India Democratic Women’s Association were present at the press conference today.
— UNI |
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Victims expose gaps in public health system
Lucknow, September 26 Dhanbeera’s was one of the many cases that came up at the third one-day regional public hearing on the right to health care organised by the National Human Rights Commission along with the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan today. Twentyfour cases from seven states — UP, Uttaranchal, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir — were presented at the public tribunal. Case after case brought out the serious gaps in the public health system, denying the right to health and, at times, even life to the poor and marginalised. The youngest testimony came of three-year-old Zayed Khan from Meerut, who went to the government district hospital with a minor cut. The doctor returned him after administering a painkiller. The wound turned septic and a private doctor saved the boy with great difficultly and at a huge cost that the father managed after taking a loan. The boy with a bandaged leg appeared before the panel. The non-availability of anti-snake venom at the CHC, Nadaun, in Hamirpur district of Himachal, resulted in the death of a schoolchild. Twenty-seven such cases of snakebite have been registered in Hamirpur district between April and August this year. Most of the cases had to sell all their worldly belongings and even run into debts to pay the amounts demanded by the government hospital staff in the name of providing health services. Another point that was common to almost all cases was the absence of records of their treatment at the government hospitals or community and primary health centres. Neither were they officially registered nor any prescription slips made or diagnosis written. Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, an NHRC member, said detailed recommendations would be sent to the state governments for implementation. Recommendations for compensation in cases where the negligence of government doctors and staff had caused extreme hardship to individuals would also be asked for. Five such hearings scheduled in different regions of the country would culminate into a national public hearing at New Delhi in December to decide the future course of action. |
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Unlawful Activities Ordinance akin to POTA
New Delhi, September 26 Admissibility of evidence collected through interception of telephone or oral communication, extending support to terrorist organisations, forefeiture of property suspected to be used for promotion of
terrorism and harbouring a person involved in such activites are among the provisions in the UAPAO which are akin to POTA, legal experts feel. The President had promulgated the UAPAO on Monday and a notification to this effect was published by the Union Law Ministry on Friday. Any activity promoting enmity in society on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth and language are made punishable offence under the amended UAPAO by inserting the provisions of Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code in it. Under Section 153-A, organisation of any exercise, drill, movement, or any such other activity intended to train people for using criminal force or violence is also punishable and its incorporation in the ordinance, will give more teeth to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Possession of bomb, dynamite, explosive substance or any other lethal weapon or substance capable of mass destruction or biological or chemical substance or warfare has been made a punishable offence under the amended law, where the maximum punishment has been prescribed as life imprisonment. For any terrorist act that results in the death of people, capital punishment, as provided under POTA, has been retained in the UAPAO. According to the legal experts, the definition of terrorism, as was provided under POTA, has been retained without much changes in the ordinance. Under Section 39 of the UAPAO, extending support to a terrorist organisation, to further the activities of any such organisation, professing its cause, arranging meetings or assisting any such organisation, has been made punishable, with a maximum sentence of 10 years. Raising funds for terrorist activities, receiving money for such causes, inviting other persons to provide logistic and monetary support for acts of terror, will attract rigorous imprisonment of 14 years under the amended law. Giving power to law enforcement agencies to intercept telephonic conversation of terrorists, the Act says that “the evidence collected through the interception of wire, electronic or oral communication under the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act, or the Information Technology Act, or any other law for the time being in force, shall be admissible as evidence against the accused in court during trial.” The law enforcing agencies have been empowered to forfeit properties or proceeds of terrorism whether held by a terrorist organisation, any individual involved in its activities or kept in the
possession of any other person. To provide safeguards against misuse of the law by security agencies and the police, the Central and state governments have been empowered to constitute one or more review committees to look into cases registered under the Act. The Act continues to recognise 31 outfits as “terrorist organisations”, which were banned under POTA. These include the Babbar Khalsa International, the Khalistan Commando Force, the Khalistan Zindabad Force, the International Sikh Youth Federation, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen, the Harkat-Ul-Ansar, the Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen, eight militant organisations in the North-East, four Sri Lankan Tamil militant organisations, including the LTTE, the Students Islamic Movement of India and several other outfits. |
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Railways to provide toiletries to Rajdhani passengers
New Delhi, September 26 The only thing lacking in this otherwise welcome commitment is the uncertainty about the availability of different brands of toothpastes, soaps and shampoos. The Railways carry 15 million passengers everyday, including 15,000 passengers on Rajdhani Express alone, and can ill-afford to overlook the brand factor. Minister of State for Tourism (Independent charge) Renuka Chaudhary and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav have joined hands to provide passengers indispensable items like toothbrushes, toothpastes, the time tested ‘datun’, soaps and shampoo sachets besides some over the counter drugs like disprin, crocin and brufen. The grand announcement was made by the two ministers at a function held at the New Delhi Railway Station on the eve of the World Tourism Day. The Railway Minister’s spontaneity put ‘datun’ on the list for those who prefer to begin their morning with the ‘neem’ stick. Hailing the announcement, some passengers said the service would be meaningful if they could pick brands of their choice as was done in the case of newspapers distributed aboard Shatabdi Express and Rajdhani Express trains. Neither the officers of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation nor those in the Northern Railway were sure if the passengers would be offered a range of brands to take care of their brand loyalty. The Additional General Manager, Northern Railway, Mr V.K. Kaul told TNS that the Railway is extending a service, not promoting brands by running a grocery. He said the scheme would be implemented by various zones according to the policy decision of the Railway Board. Sources in Northern Railway said the toiletries were provided complimentary to the passengers aboard the Mumbai Rajdhani on Sunday along with a copy of ‘Incredible India’, a publication of the Tourism Ministry. The magazine will be given to passengers aboard the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani free of cost. The Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, Mr Pankaj Malviya said the Railway Board would take a decision on the variety of brands after assessing the initial response of the passengers aboard the Mumbai Rajdhani. The sources indicated that the Railway would explore the option of running a tuck shop to offer passengers a wide range of products. |
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Now get ‘neem datun’ in trains
New Delhi, September 26 It would be part of toiletries on board all important trains, including the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express, the minister announced today. Neem datuns, mainly used by rural passengers, would be on sale in trains, he said. Incredible India, a magazine published by the Ministry of Tourism, would also be supplied free of cost to upper-class passengers. As part of steps taken by the Railways for promoting tourism, a special train, ‘Village on Rails’, interconnecting rural areas of historic importance and pilgrimage centres would be started shortly, he said after releasing booklets, posters and a copy of Incredible India and a CD on tourists destinations. Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Choudhary appreciated the steps taken by the Railways for development of tourism in the country. The Railways, she said, had made key contribution towards promoting tourism. Even today, the number of tourists travelling by trains was much more than those using other means of transport, she added.
— UNI |
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New foreign trade policy has ignored dairy sector: IDA
New Delhi, September 26 The Indian Dairy Association (IDA) has called upon the government to provide incentives to the labour-intensive dairy sector on the pattern of the food processing industry under the new foreign trade policy. While appreciating the incentives provided to the agricultural sector under “Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana”, the IDA has lamented that government has ignored the dairy sector, which is providing employment to millions of people, especially the weaker sections among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Under the new policy, the exporters can freely import goods worth 5 per cent of the freight-on-board value of their exports and transfer this right if they do not want to use it. Besides, the agri-export zones have been permitted duty-free import of capital goods and simpler import of restricted inputs. Industry experts claim that if these incentives were extended to the dairy sector, it would have boosted dairy exports of Amul and from milk surplus states like Punjab, Haryana and Western UP. Total dairy exports from India are likely to cross Rs 200 crore this year after the firming up of the milk prices in the world market. In a letter written to Mr Kamal Nath, Mr Animesh Banerjee, president of the IDA, said, “We started with dairy exports beginning with 2000-3000 MT per year, which have jumped to 30,000 MT per year. With the present trend of higher international dairy prices, there is every possibility of a greater scope of Indian dairy products exports.” He pointed out that whenever the job-generating potential of different sectors has been assessed, the dairy sector has always been reckoned as a priority sector. “It is not only the largest job-generating sector, but also provides round-the-year employment-cum-safety net to the weaker sections of society.” |
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Centre flooded with proposals for biotech parks
New Delhi, September 26 The other states, which have also sent their proposals, include Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal and
Kerala. The likely budgetary requirements will depend upon the nature of activities proposed by each state and also actual requirements. The department has also approached the Planning Commission to relax the initial restriction of funding only two biotechnology parks and increase the budgetary allocation from Rs 30 crore to Rs 70 crore during the Tenth Plan period. An expert committee was constituted by the department in 2003-04 to look into various projects and suggesting modalities for supporting them. The government approved proposals from Utter Pradesh for the establishment of biotechnology park at Lucknow and from Andhra Pradesh for setting up biotechnology incubator at the Andhra Pradesh Biotech Park in the Genome Valley, Hyderabad. However, as per the approved EFC and the Planning Commission directive, only two biotechnology parks could be supported that had been established at Lucknow and Hyderabad. During 2003-04, their main establishment costs were met. The budget for the current financial year, 2004-05, is only for operational costs and the total Tenth Plan provision is only Rs 30 crore. Therefore, in view of increased number of requests from various state governments, a special request has been made to the Planning Commission and a revised EFC prepared for increased allocation during the remaining three years of the Tenth Plan and also for the approval for supporting more parks. Providing infrastructure facilities for the promotion of biotechnology is an ongoing process of the Union Government. In its recent report, the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee has also urged the department to approach the Planning Commission for enhancing the allocation for biotechnology parks in strategic areas in the country. It has recommended that the department provide need-based inputs for facilitating implementation of proposals for different kind of facilities like biotechnology incubators, and downstream processing, pilot plant and tissue culture facilities, among others, at the biotechnology parks created by the states. |
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Taj Mahotsav begins today
Lucknow, September 26 The inaugural ceremony will be marked by a santoor recital by Shiv Kumar Sharma and ghazal recital by Hariharan. The programmes will be organised at Mehtab Bagh across the Yamuna river in the background of the Taj, official sources here said today. A host of cultural events would also be held on the famous Red Fort premises at Agra. The celebrations would be inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V. Rajeswar and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav would also be present. Fatehpur Sikri, once a capital during the Mughal period, has been given more importance in the cultural programmes this year, the sources said. A large number of tourists from across the country as well as abroad are likely to visit Agra to witness the celebrations. A major attraction of the festival would be a fortnight-long “nauratna series” at Fatehpur
Sikri, a programme based on folk and classical arts in which nine artistes from across the country would participate. Instrumental, classical and sufi music, mushaira and other programmes would be organised here in November. In November, a “Paigame Mohabbat” series would be organised in which Indian and Pakistani singers would recite ghazals and quwwalis at the tombs of Salim Chishti and
Akbar. Later, a week-long drama festival would be held. Ten famous painters of the country would exhibit their works based on the Taj at the start of the new year which would be followed by a domestic and international film festival based on the theme of Taj. Films made on the Taj in the country would be screened during the festival besides an exhibition of still and digital photographs on the monument. A fashion show presenting chicken work of awadh and jardosi artifacts would also be organised during the festival. A host of essay and debate
competitions for children would also grace the occasion which would end with a week-long food festival, the sources said.
— PTI |
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‘Mansarovar’ to be opening film at IFFI
Mumbai, September 26 Incidentally, the film has also been selected for the London Film Festival to be held next month. ‘Manasarovar’, an Indian English film and winner of the prestigious Aravindan Puraskaram and Gollapudi Srinivas Award,is a “love story that ends before it begins”, Kurien revealed. “Mansarovar was my third script. The first two took the whole of 2002 to write. ‘Mansarovar’ took only a few months in early 2003. This story is inspired from people I know. There is an element of reality to the fiction (or vice versa)”, he said adding that the 90-minute film, traces the story of the male protagonist, Ravi Roy, who meets a girl during his short visit to Pune and falls in love with her. “She, however, rejects his eccentric advances. A few years later, she meets his brother and is informed that Ravi has disappeared. The girl’s past through the letters they wrote to each other comes to mind, making her realise that her predicament was one of no choices”, he adds. The theme song of the film, “Falling Through the Clouds” is composed and rendered by Irish group RANDOM. This is the first time an Indian feature film has used Irish musicians and music, Kurien informed. “‘Manasarovar’ refers to the lake
Manasarovar. The title ‘Manasarovar’ stands for truth and the eternal yearning for answers and clarity in one’s life. The film ends when
Malathy, one of the main protagonists of the film, reaches Manasarovar,” he added. Shot extensively in
Maharashtra, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, Manasarovar takes you across the rugged landscapes of the Deccan plateau, greenery of Kerala and the serenity of Dharamsala.
— PTI |
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Forever young, Dev Anand turns 81
Mumbai, September 26 For actor Devdutt Pishorimal Anand, popularly known as Dev Anand, who completed 81 today, the day is as special as any other day. “Every day is special to me”, he said today. Ask him about his driving force and pat comes the reply, “I belong to the people. I am constantly thinking, innovating and conceiving new ideas”, he said. “It is my creative instincts that keep me going”, the actor said. Commenting on Marathi film ‘Shwaas’ being India’s entry at the Oscars, he said, “It is irrespective whether a film is in Hindi or Marathi. A good film is a good film, irrespective of the language. The language transcends the medium of films”, he said. On his own projects, he said currently, he is busy with a film, ‘Mr Prime Minister’. “It is a film that makes a contemporary political statement”, he said. And how does he plan to spend his birthday with his family, “Oh every day with the family is special. Every day is a special day and why not”, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner asks in his usual unfazed style. A son of a well-to-do advocate, Dev Anand, born in Gurdaspur in Punjab, came to Mumbai to join his elder brother Chetan Anand. Starting off as an employee in the military censor’s office, reading soldiers’ letters to their families, he went on to take up his first assignment with Prabhat’s ‘Hum Ek Hain.’ He later, with his friend Guru Dutt, went on to spin success stories. The actor tasted success through the film “Baazi” and “Jaal”. His roles as a lover-boy in “Munimjee”, “Paying Guest” and his depiction of characters with negative shades in “Pocketmaar” and “Dushman” also earned him accolades. His iconoclastic role in “Guide” made him the hero of a classic film. His films like “Hum Dono” also carved a niche for him.
— PTI |
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Redefine burglary, SC tells insurance firms
New Delhi, September 26 Discovering this fallacy, the Supreme Court has advised all insurance companies to amend the definition of “burglary and housebreaking” to give it a meaning closer to realities of life. The common man by taking a policy against burglary and housebreaking “understands that he has taken a policy against theft” and hardly realises whether the incident of theft should precede violence or force, a Bench comprising Justice S.N. Variava and Mr Justice A.K. Mathur said in a judgement pronounced on Friday. “Therefore, a policy should be a meaningful policy so that a common man can understand what is the meaning of burglary in common parlance,” it said. “We hope that the insurance companies will amend their policies so as to make them more meaningful to the public at large. It should have a meaning which a common man can easily understand rather than become more technical so as to defeat the cause of the public at large,” Mr Justice Mathur, writing for the Bench, said. Messers Harchand Rai Chandan Lal of Delhi had taken a policy from United Insurance Company Limited for a sum of Rs 7 lakh against burglary and or housebreaking with effect from September 22, 1991. On July 2, 1992, one of the partners of the firm discovered theft from the godown and lodged an FIR and claimed compensation under the policy. The insurance companies rejected the claim saying that the incident was not covered under the policy as the theft was not preceded by violence or force. The District Consumer Forum, the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and the National Consumer Redressal Commission held in favour of the Policy holder and asked the insurance company to pay compensation. The company challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court. After going into the definition of “burglary and housebreaking” as contained in the policy, the court said “in absence of violence of force, the insurer cannot claim indemnity against the insurance company.” “It is true that in common parlance the term ‘burglary’ would mean theft...” the Bench said but added that “if the element of force or violence is not present then the insurer cannot claim compensation against theft from the insurance company.” However, noting that all three forums had awarded
compensation to the policy holder and the amount has been paid, the Bench, while allowing the appeal of the insurance company, said “we would not like to disturb the payment which has already been made”.
— PTI |
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Atheists register highest growth
New Delhi, September 26 In fact, as per the Census 2001, the growth in population of non-believers (those who have not quoted their religion) has registered the highest growth rate among all religions. As against the growth rate of Hindus (20 per cent), Muslims (29.3 per cent) and Christians (22.1 per cent), the atheists have grown by 76.3 per cent during 1991-2001 period. Interestingly, it is not only the Communist-ruled states like West Bengal or Kerala, where the population of non-believers have increased, but states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh ruled by the BJP, which have registered substantial number of atheists. Even in Northern states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, a small minority of people both in rural and urban areas seems to have been disenchanted by religions. The Census of India may found the number of non-believers negligible, but the fact is that while the community of Parsis is on decline, but the number of people who do not find themselves fit in the religious club, is rising. In Punjab, for instance, the number of non-believers is 4,468, out of about 2.43 crore total population. What may surprise the demographic experts and the religious bodies like the SGPC is the fact that even in rural Punjab, about 2,846 persons told the enumerators that they did not believe in any religion at all. As per the Census report, the total number of atheists in India have increased to 7.27 lakh, which include 3.83 lakh males and 3.44 lakh females out of about total 102 crore population, registering a growth of 76.3 per cent. It is pertinent to note that the number of atheists had declined by 65.7 per cent during 1961-71 census, but after that registered a growth of 67.1 per cent during 1971-81, and alarming growth of 573.5 per cent during 1981-91 period. The states, which have registered highest number of non-believers, include Karnataka (1,20,247), Andhra Pradesh (94,934), Maharashtra (97,713), West Bengal (54,895), Gujarat (33,578) and Uttar Pradesh (69,440). Meanwhile, small states like Haryana (2314), Delhi (2016), Himachal Pradesh (432) and Jammu and Kashmir (1256) have also found a small minority of people who have not stated their religion. Interestingly, a small city like Chandigarh, which has a population of around nine lakh has 126 non-believers while Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a population of just 3.56 lakh has 851 non-believers. The demographic experts claim that the population of atheists is much higher in the country. Due to lack of training of enumerators, “ the persons who do not believe in religion at all, would be registered under any religion, since at number of times, the enumerators will not bother to ask the person about his religion. By asking the name of the head of the family only, he would simply fill in the column of religion”. “Sometimes, data is just filled by sitting at the village sarpanch house or by extrapolating the previous Census figures.” |
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Cell phone towers potential health hazard: PIL
New Delhi, September 26 The PIL in the Delhi High Court sought directions to stop or regulate the erection of mobile phone towers in residential areas, in and around schools and other places of high human concentration saying they emitted radiation that was seriously affecting public health. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice B.C. Patel and Justice
B.D. Ahmed, however, declined to entertain the petition on the ground that the petitioner had not done enough research on the issue. The petition, filed by advocate A.K. Biswas, quoted various recent scientific studies and researches in developed countries that said Radio Frequency Radiations could cause diseases like cancer, sleep disorder, affect memory and immune system, impair nervous system, harm eyes and damage DNA, besides increase infertility. Such 24-hour pollution caused biological damage, especially among children and the old who had low immunity levels, it added. Erecting mobile phone masts and towers was an extension of industry and such commercial activity should not be allowed in residential areas, it said further. Besides violating the building by-laws, such towers also put extra load on the structures they stood on, which in most cases were not designed to take such extra load, it added. Mobile towers not only spoil the aesthetics of the buildings they were constructed on, but also were a threat to nearby buildings and passer-bys, the petition claimed. It alleged that civic and police agencies had failed to check the nuisance.
— UNI |
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Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar awards for 10
New Delhi, September 26 Announcing the names of the awardees at the foundation day function of the CSIR, Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Director-General of the CSIR, said these scientists had excelled in their respective fields of science and technology. Those who have been nominated for the Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar award are Dr Gopal Chandra Kunde, Dr Ramesh V. Sonti, Dr Vinod K. Singh, Dr Siva Umpathi, Dr Subhasish Choudhary, Dr Vinayak Ranade, Dr Arup Bose, Dr Sujata Ramdorai, Dr Chetan Chitnis and Dr Madan Rao. Dr Mashelkar also announced the recepients of the CSIR young scientist award. The award went to six young scientists — Dr Debasis Das, Dr Umesh Chandra Kulshrestra, Dr Vibhuranajan Nayak, Dr Kalarikal Janardan Sriram and Divi Harnath. The CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award 2004 was awarded to Midas Communication Technologies Pvt Limited for design, development and commercialisation of corDECT WLL ( Wireless in Local Loop) access system and optima, a fibre-in-local-loop access system. Giving away the awards, Minister of State for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal called upon the scientists to accelerate research and development works in the field of science and technology for the required competitive edge. Assuring government’s active cooperation for attracting private players in research and development sector, he called upon the industries to strive for ensuring optimum use of the higher techonology. “Indian science and technology should move towards more public-private partnership and focus on sectors like textile, agro-industry and automobile which have potential for export and employment generation,” said Mr Sibal. In the new paradigm of “four-way access” for technology development involving laboratories, academia, entrepreneurs and state, the role of the government was to provide regulatory framework and environment for launch of products by the industry, he said. Mr Sibal said, “I have been assigned the responsibility for coming out with a framework for free access to primary education. The report will be ready in six months.” He said for quality education, universities must be freed of control. The CSIR has earned a brandname and has a capability to award degrees.Steps will be taken in the near future in this direction, he added. |
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Relief brought misery to most Kargil widows
Jaipur, September 26 Each war widow on an average received a relief package ranging between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 18 lakh from various sources, including the Union Defence Ministry, the state government and other philanthropic organisations. These hefty sums tempted the in-laws so much that most of the widows were forced to marry the younger brothers of the martyrs to ensure that the relief received did not pass on to any other family. In certain cases, the widows who had to wed their ‘devars’ 10 to 15 years younger to them. Some of them had not even attained adolescence. With the lapse of time, these remarriages of the war-widows have resulted into great family feuds. In a number of cases, either the fathers-in-law forced them to transfer the money in the names of their new spouses or in the name of some other member of the family, depriving them of economic independence. State Soldiers Welfare department sources confided to The Tribune that many such married widows had deserted their new husbands and gone to their parental houses with their children. Those who stuck to the new wedlock under compulsive circumstances were often tortured by their in-laws and other relatives to part with their money. In a particular case, a war widow was pressured by her in-laws to transfer Rs 18 lakh in the name of her new husband. When she refused to oblige, she was turned out. |
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Schools to remain closed
for President’s visit
Dehra Dun, September 26 The Chief Officer, Traffic, Mr Grish Chand Dhani said President Kalam would arrive at 9.15 am and the security on his route would be boosted with the deployment of more army jawans. All routes to be taken by the President’s entourage would be closed for the general public. The Dehra Dun District Magistrate, Mr Manisha Pawar has directed all schools, private and government, which are on the President’s route to remain closed. Soon after his arrival here the President will visit the Forest Research Institute. According to the police spokesman, Mr B. D. Sharma the Masoorie and Hardwar traffic would be diverted to other routes.
— UNI |
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CPM Govt to move HC today
Kolkata, September 26 CITU and some other trade union organisations have decided to defy the order and continue to hold meetings and rallies at the brigade grounds, according to CITU President Shyamal Chakraborty. The state Congress (I) has, however, requested Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to direct the Fort Williams authorities not to take any hasty step in executing the court’s order
delivered in response to a petition by the Army authorities. |
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Prohibitory orders around Coke plant
Jaipur, September 26 Official sources said the prohibitory orders were clamped in Kaladera, 38 km from here in Chomu tehsil of the district, where the protestors had planned a picketing of the plant from September 28. The Jan Sanghash Samiti, which is leading the protest.
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Maoists blow up Indo-Nepal bridge
Dehradun, September 26 The bridge falling in Pithoragarh district provided connectivity from Gabaryang on the Indian side to Changru in Nepal. After being burnt on the Nepalese side, the bridge now hangs in the air, leaving the commuters with an option of a 70 km trek. The incident took place just after security officials from the border states of Uttaranchal,
Himachal Pradesh and UP met to devise ways to check Maoist violence. With the bridge having been blown up, the connectivity to Changru, a major trade mandi, has collapsed. |
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Uttaranchal moots IAS
officer’s sack
Dehradun, September 26 This is the first time for the Uttaranchal Government to initiate stringent action against a bureaucrat. Mr Lamba, who was the District Magistrate of Pauri when the scam occurred, was placed under suspension after reports of irregularities in the recruitment of patwaris unfolded. The officer, who is now Additional Secretary (Home), was reinstated following a Central Administration Tribunal (CAT) order. Earlier, his promotion had been put on hold in view of the charges levelled against him. The government has also initiated action against a PCS officer, Kunwar Raj Kumar for his involvement in the same scam that occurred two years ago. Besides registering adverse remarks in his career dossier, the officer’s annual salary raise stands cancelled for this year as a part of the proceedings against him. Mr Raj Kumar is holding the office of Additional Secretary Disaster Management. |
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