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Indo-Pak mission calls for greater peace efforts
Inter-state gang of carjackers smashed
NCERT meet on teacher education curriculum
Tsunami victims to get technical and engineering aid
NSUI to help tsunami victims
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Sonia Vihar plant trial run
begins
Road linking Faridabad to Gurgaon in a mire of neglect
CSA lecture on meditation and spiritual growth
Stanford School to hold executive forums
This pain is heartbreaking!
Dense fog disrupts air, rail, road traffic
L-G stresses total quality management
Procession to mark anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh
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Indo-Pak mission calls for greater peace efforts
New Delhi, January 3 The delegates settled in the US and the UK arrived here on a goodwill mission after visiting Pakistan. They claim that even the Pakistani army, hitherto opposed to a peace process, has changed its stance. “We met the Governor of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) who is also a general in the army, and he told us that there is a need for a peace process,” said a delegate. He added, “While they are not ready to give up the Kashmir issue, there is a need being felt for discussing other issues like poverty and under-development in the South Asian region.” Another delegate recalled, “Both countries have to realise that they cannot wait forever till the core issue (that of Kashmir) is settled…but the core issue will not be forgotten.” Claiming to have taken the initiative for the “first-ever joint goodwill mission”, the delegation, however, refused to clarify their stand on the issue of nuclear arms. “We have no consensus on the issue as we are focussing on issues like people-to-people contact and relaxation of visa regulations…but we have taken up the issue with the decision-makers of Pakistan and will do so in India as well,” said John
Prabhudoss, an NRI. Stressing the need for building better relations between the countries, a Pakistani American Nilofer Ahsan said, “When there is tension here, its strain is reflected there. When there was tension owing to Gujarat riots, there was tension on the streets of Chicago. We want more peace here to have peace there.” Claiming to feel ‘helpless’ when conditions deteriorate in South Asia, the delegation, through its own example tried to emphasise the possibility of peaceful cooperation and mutual respect. “We have differences, but that does not keep us from remaining good neighbours,” said Prabhudoss. The delegates who are also raising money for the tsunami victims will meet Kashmiri migrants in Jammu and a team will also go to Kolkata. Their initiative of brokering peace, they claim, has been made easier by the fact that they, “belong to the subcontinent and yet have the edge of being able to bring up the issue at international levels”. The goodwill delegation, comprising journalists, concerned citizens, academics and peace activists will exchange ideas with their counterparts here. The delegation has also requested for a memorial for the Partition victims at the Wagah Border.
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Inter-state gang of carjackers smashed
New Delhi, January 3 They were arrested from near Air Force Senior Secondary School in Delhi Cantonment after the encounter. The suspects fired three rounds on the police party. The policemen also fired three rounds and overpowered them. The suspects were identified as Raj Kumar Thapa, alias Raju Nepali, Rajbir Singh Jat, Tejpal Singh Rajput, Vipin Kumar Rajput, alias Vikki. Three country-made pistols, six cartridges, a stolen Wagon–R, Maruti 800 and two Hero Honda motorcycles, laptop computer, etc were recovered from their possession. They were involved in more than 30 incidents, police said. The South-West district police were investigating the case of a car theft during which the police team got a tip-off about Raj Kumar Thapa, alias Raju Nepali. The police raided his house, but he had disappeared. A tip-off was received again that the suspects would assemble near Air Force School in Delhi Cantonment to commit some crime. Policemen in plain clothes were deployed near the school. As soon as the culprits reached the spot, the policemen tried to inquire about their identity, the suspects then fired at them. The policemen opened a retaliatory fire and overpowered them. During interrogation, the suspects admitted that they were involved in a number of cases in Delhi as well as Gurgaon. During last week of December, Nepali along with three others robbed a Wagon-R. In November, they robbed a Maruti 800 from Sector 8, Gurgaon. In December-end, they stole a Hero Honda Passion motorcycle from the parking lot of G.E. Hospital, Gurgaon. They are still being interrogated, the police said.
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NCERT meet on teacher education curriculum
New Delhi, January 3
The framework largely covers the societal context, cultural context, economic context, cultural pedagogy, teacher education at pre-primary, elementary, secondary and higher secondary stages, special educational needs of learners, in-service education of teachers and managing teacher education system. It was pointed out that the teacher education needs to respond constantly and comprehensively to the challenges like the use of information and technology, evolving a culture-specific pedagogy, ensuring greater professionalism among teachers, redesign the pre-service and in-service teacher education to maintain continuity on the issue of para-teachers, regular and comprehensive evaluation, reducing curriculum load, construction of knowledge by child, implementation of Sarva Shisha programme, specialised teacher education programme. In this first meeting, the National Focus Group will discuss to develop broad outline and modalities to bring out a position paper on the renewal of teacher education curriculum. A two-day meeting of the National Focus Group on Peace Education has also begun. Addressing the meeting, Rev. Valson Thampu, the Chairman of the Focus Group, noted that the over-crowded nature of school curriculum needs to be addressed to create sufficient space for peace education to the desired extent. Given the crucial role that teachers play in the overall formation of students, it is necessary to emphasise education for peace in teacher education programmes as well.
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Tsunami victims to get technical and engineering aid
New Delhi, January 3
They were also coordinating with the state governments and the local administration.
The chairman of safety and quality forum of the Institution of Engineers (India), Mr Pradeep Chaturvedi, said that efforts were being made to mobilise expert opinions on national building code to make buildings safe. He said engineers, architects and town planners were involved in developing the proposals for the revision of the code. The code provides a sound basis for structures in Delhi to withstand earthquake of the level predicted for this region. Mr Chaturvedi said that although the national building code recommends certain standards and practices, it was for the municipal authorities to ensure their adoption and enforcement. “It needs sufficient technically trained manpower to handle the load of work for all the buildings in its jurisdiction,” he added. It was necessary to support development of the disaster risk index which will enable planners to measure and compare the relative levels of physical exposure to hazards, vulnerability and the risk. Since crucial data is required to develop multi-hazard models, the Institution of Engineers (India) with its large experienced membership can really provide that support, he added.
Apar India students’ gesture In the wake of the tsunami disaster that has wreaked havoc all around, the students of Apar India Institute of Management and Technology, Sector-8, Rohini, Delhi, have donated all the money collected for the New Year celebrations to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Addressing the gathering, Mr Raj Kumar Jain, Director—Apar India, eminent social activist and educationist, sympathised with the tsunami victims and stressed the values of shiksha, sanskar and seva that the institute is trying to imbibe in the students.. The students at the behest of the Director donated the entire amount of Rs 10,000 collected for the New Year Programme, to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Encouraged by the students’ gesture of ‘seva’ towards their country, former Lieutenant Rita Gangwani, Wg. Com. S K Sharma donated Rs 1,000 each. Sq. Leader J P Singh donated whatever money he had in his wallet when Deputy Director Ms Gayatri Subramaniam urged the gathering to observe two minutes of silence to pay homage to those who have lost their lives. Ansal Institute of Technology, Gurgaon, has also come forward to support relief efforts for the tsunami-hit areas in the southern states of the country. Ansal Institute of Technology has also decided to do its bit for the victims. The staff and faculty members have decided to contribute a one-day salary for the victims. According to Prof M P Singh, Director, AIT, the amount collected will go to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. He said thousands of people have perished and the toll is growing by the day. Thousands are reported missing and lakhs have lost their homes. It is our moral duty to participate in this mammoth nationwide campaign to help the victims.
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NSUI to help tsunami victims
New Delhi, January 3 “We have been receiving calls from the students who are willing to participate in the rehabilitation work in the devastated areas. Encouraged by the response, we are going to send a team of volunteers to the areas to help in the relief work,” said spokesperson Kuntal Krishna. He added, “Each team comprising 10 members will stay for a week and when they are ready to return, the next team will already be on the way. We have also appealed to all the student unions’ to join us in the effort.” Apart from writing to universities and students’ bodies across the country, the NSUI has made an appeal to everybody to donate Re 1. “We are asking everybody to contribute Re 1 each. Our volunteers are going from door to door asking people to contribute as many rupees as the number of people in the house,” said Krishna. He added, “Students in universities have been generous. Each one is contributing something. We have also asked our one lakh plus active members to donate money.” The NSUI’s relief team is also organising clothes and other relief material. “Our national president, Ashok Tanwar who is now in Chennai, has briefed us on the nature of help required to aid these victims and we are keen to begin the relief work by the end of this week,” the NSUI spokesperson said.
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Helpline for tsunami victims
New Delhi, January 3 The victims or their families and friends can approach the authority directly for legal advice to the victims on matters pertaining to the survival, safety and fundamental rights. The authority is a central authority under the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 chaired by the Chief Justice of India.
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MCD closes overflowing aid collection centres
New Delhi, January 3 Just four days after 12 collection centres were set up in various parts of the city, they temporarily closed down yesterday after all Delhi Government storehouses were overflowing with relief material, Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said here today. The relief material was to be handed over to the Union Home Ministry for transportation to the affected states, but much more kept piling up than what could be passed on to the Ministry. The MCD had set up the centres on December 29 under the supervision of Zonal Deputy Commissioners and appealed the people to donate various items of tents, clothing, food, medicines and other miscellaneous things to be sent to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondichery and Andaman and Nocibar. The MCD had already contributed Rs 4 crore towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
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Samiti donates Rs 51,000 to tsunami-hit victims
Faridabad, January 3 Meanwhile, the samiti at a function organised at Sector-10 here on Sunday distributed quilts and blankets among the poor. According to the secretary of the Samiti, as many as 131 persons, residing in jhuggis and slum areas, were benefited by the move. A public library and dispensary had been started by the samiti, which had been open to everyone. Social activists and members of the Samiti, including Arun Bajaj, Pravin Garg, Gautam Chaudhary, Hawa Singh
Rathee, M. K. Bansal, Neeta Agagrwal, Neera Goel, Satish Mittal, Lovenish Garg, Draupdi
Khaitan, Surender Bansal, Kalpana Aggarwal and O. P Sharma, advocate, were among those present.
Winners meet Shahid Kapoor
New
Delhi:
At a star-studded gathering to mark the release of the multi-starrer Dil Maange More, lucky winners of the ‘Clinic All Clear Total Dil Maange More Kamaal Ke Baal’ Contest from across India met Shahid Kapoor and the star cast. Among the winners were Ashwin Mehta, Gaurav Chawla, and Vishal Gupta from New Delhi.
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Sonia Vihar plant trial run
begins
New Delhi, January 3 The 140 million gallons per day capacity plant is crucial in solving the national Capital’s water problems, “We have started the flushing operation and it will take about 75 days before the water flows to Delhi homes,” a Delhi Jal Board spokesperson said. The plant will mainly serve South Delhi, which faces acute water shortage in summers. The water first reached Muradnagar in UP and from there it was brought to Delhi through a 30-km conduit. The contract to design and build the Rs 700 crore plant and operate it for 10 years has been given to Ondeo Degremont, a subsidiary of the water giant Suez Lyonnaise for Rs 200 crore, a move which had evoked strong protests from those opposing privatisation of water. The water to the plant will be supplied from the Tehri dam project in Uttaranchal. The much-awaited decision of the UP Government to clear release of water was taken on December 23. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been facing a lot of criticism over the delay in the operation of the plant. Delhi is already getting 100 mgd from the Upper Ganga canal in Uttar Pradesh for the Bhagirathi treatment plant.
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Road linking Faridabad to Gurgaon in a mire of neglect
Faridabad, January 3 The authorities concerned have been carrying out the work for the last several months, but a stretch of only a few kilometres have been covered, but that too, lacked continuity. The steepest and the most dangerous part of the road is still in the same condition, as it is used to be last year, as neither the road, which takes a sharp 40 degree turn, has been widened nor repaired, though labourers could be seen crushing the rocks manually to get the material for the passage to be constructed there. A few weeks ago, the road had a huge traffic jam due to an accident and there were several hundreds of vehicles, including cars and trucks, were stranded for hours. “Such jams have become common in the recent months, as heavy vehicles are not allowed to pass from Delhi during daytime. And they use this passage to move to north of the national Capital and often cause the congestion,” says a resident, who frequently travels on this road. The congestion gave way to jams at the culverts, which are still to be broadened, as only a single vehicle could pass from such spots at one time. The culverts at many places are in a state of half repair and these are lying unattended for the last several weeks, he adds. It is stated that if this remains the pace of the work, the project may take another year or so to complete. But what has amazed the travellers is the quality of the work as the newly laid road has started withering at many spots and it is believed that the road would be requiring “The condition of the road is very poor at many places as the speed rarely go above the speed of 20 to 30 km per hour, if one wants to avoid any damage to the vehicle,” said a businessman, who traverses the stretch daily. He claimed that there were several sharp turns and the officials concerned have not even cut down the branches of the bushes and vegetation, which blocks the view of the road ahead. Perhaps the bad condition of the road and the risk of crime during night time makes many people take the Mehrauli road via Delhi, to reach Faridabad or Gurgaon.
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CSA lecture on meditation and spiritual growth
New Delhi, January 3
Some of the personal benefits of regular mediation practice that have been widely reported are: Stress Reduction, Strengthening of Body’s Immune System, Slowing of Biological Aging Process, Mental Peace and Rational Thinking, Improved Powers of Concentration, An Optimistic Outlook to Life and Living, More Satisfying Spiritual Growth. Roy Eugene Davis is a great Kriya Yogi of our times and a direct disciple of Pramahansa Yoganandaji. He is the founder-director of Centre for Spiritual Awareness with world headquarters in the low mountain region of north-east Georgia. He has been teaching spiritual techniques all across the world, especially in USA, Europe, Japan. He has a strong and established following in India and has been initiating his devotees who have a deep insight into meditation techniques with strong penetration into the Kriya Yoga tradition. Roy Davis has also authored many spiritual and self-development books published by Motilal Banarsidas Publishes. Some of them are ‘A Master Guide to Meditation and Spiritual Growth’, ‘The Book of Life’, ‘Living in God’, ‘The Path of Light’, ‘Life Surrendered in God’, ‘The Eternal Way’ and ‘Spiritual Basis of Real Prosperity’. R. P. Jain of MLBD says that besides publishing books on spiritual and religious subjects, MLBD imparts in-depth spiritual knowledge for enabling people to achieve something solid at a time when frivolous spirituality is mushrooming. Davis is planning to set up a branch of CSA in India, Mr Jain said.
Man shot dead
Gh
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Stanford School to hold executive forums
New Delhi, January 3 Distinguished guests, including corporate executives and alumni of Stanford University and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, have been invited to hear two of the Business School’s most prominent faculty members lecture on their award-winning research on management topics. Robert Burgelman, the Edmund W. Littlefield Professor of Management and director of the Stanford Executive Program, is an expert on corporate entrepreneurship, strategic business exit and the role of strategy in firm evolution. His lecture is titled ‘Strategy is Destiny: A Perspective on Strategic Leadership’. V. ‘Seenu Srinivasan’, the Adams distinguished Professor of Management and director of the Strategic Marketing Management Executive Program, is an internationally known specialist in marketing and one of the few professionals, who has revolutionised academic and applied thinking in this area. His lecture will focus on ‘Brand Equity: Measuring, Analysing, and Predicting’. “The forums will offer wonderful learning and networking opportunities to both Stanford graduates and non-graduates alike,” said Daniel N Rudolph, senior associate dean for operations and chief operating officer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, who will preface the faculty lectures with an overview of the School.
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This pain is heartbreaking!
New Delhi, January 3 Dr Aggrawal said that during the early hours of the day, both blood pressure and pulse are high, platelets thicker and vessels contract, resulting in precipitation of heart attack. This is more common in those having high-pressure jobs and those who smoke. He said angina, paralysis and sudden cardiac arrest peak during winter. Brain hemorrhage is also common owing to the sudden increase in blood pressure, which is why blood pressure should be lower than 120/80 at any given time. Dr Aggarwal said people should abstain from smoking and should not have tea during the first three hours of getting up. Chest pain often occurs between four and five in the morning and that a doctor should be informed immediately, he cautioned.
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Dense fog disrupts air, rail, road traffic
New Delhi, January 3 Poor visibility caused the cancellation and delay of many flights and rail services. The Runway Visibility Range at 9.30 was 900 metres. Within 10 minutes, it decreased to just 75 metres last night. Poor visibility conditions continued this morning. Train services continued to be severely affected by the fog, with many trains getting cancelled due to fog and several trains running late, a Railway spokesman said. Surface transport was severely affected in the Capital with motorists finding it difficult to negotiate roads.
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L-G stresses total quality management
New Delhi, January 3 In his address, Mr Joshi said that opening up of the economy and removal of borders have several dimensions in terms of technology, individual taste and public policy. The process will open up a buyers’ market where consumer is the king. He said that the spirit of global competition suffers unless total quality management is put into practice in right earnest.
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Procession to mark anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh
New Delhi, January 3 The procession will start from Gurdwara Rakab Ganj at about 10 am and proceed to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The route of the procession is Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, Pandit Pant Marg, GPO New Delhi, Ashoka Road, Patel Chowk, Parliament Street, Regal Building, Connaught Circus, Madras Hotel, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Gole Market, Bhai Veer Singh Road, GPO New Delhi, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The procession will continue till late in the evening. Motorists and others are advised to avoid the route of procession and follow the
diversions.—TNS
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