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CM announces free education for all girls
PM remark comes as a face-saver for Dikshit |
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Pleasant weather adds zing to I-Day celebrations in the Capital
I-Day celebrations in Capital pass off peacefully
Gallantry awards for 19 police personnel in Delhi
Six lakh power consumers start paying dues
Now, liquor bottles have poll symbols on them
JNU teachers want retirement age of 65
yrs
Former student donates $5 million to IIT Delhi
Steam baths feel good, detoxify body
Markets flooded with colourful designer rakhis
‘Unity in diversity visible only in India’
Disrespect shown to CM?
Youths on motorcycles go on chain snatching spree in Faridabad
Four truck hijackers held after encounter, truck recovered
Forged certificates racket busted, lawyer arrested
Husband, family held in dowry death case
Candidate stabbed to death
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CM announces free education for all girls
New Delhi, August 15 The universalisation of the scheme will encourage parents to send their daughters to school, Dikshit said in her Independence Day speech after unfurling the tricolour at the Chhatrasaal stadium here. Till now, the scheme was applicable only to girl students studying in classes one to six and coming from a particular income bracket. Addressing thousands of school children present in the stadium, Dikshit appealed to the denizens of the city to take a pledge to maintain unity in diversity. The Chief Minister also took the salute as battalions of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Armed Police, besides NCC cadets and school students, took part in a parade. Later, addressing the media, Dikshit dwelled upon the problems involving private power distribution companies (distcoms) in the city. She admitted that there were “genuine concerns” about faulty and fast-running metres and reports had been received about faulty billing. The issues had been taken up with Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and the distcoms, she said. Dikshit also took a swipe at the Uttar Pradesh Government for its “unwillingness” to release water for the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant at the “eleventh hour”. However, she added efforts were on with the help of the Central Government to persuade UP to release water.
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PM remark comes as a face-saver for Dikshit
New Delhi, August 15 “We need to get used to paying a reasonable price for electricity just as we do for petroleum products,” Dr Singh said while addressing the nation on the 59th Independence Day. He stressed that giving electricity free of cost to people, other than the poorest sections of society, would worsen the financial condition of electricity utilities. Pointing out that electricity was an essential ingredient of economic development, Dr Singh said that “shortage of electricity was still a major inconvenience”.
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Pleasant weather adds zing to I-Day celebrations
New Delhi, August 15 The cool weather came as a welcome relief to over 10,000 schoolchildren who had to assemble outside the 350-year-old fort since early morning. They maintained their high spirits till the end of the function when they waved red, white and saffron banners at Dr Manmohan Singh as he left the fort after addressing the nation. Incidentally, the school students invited to attend and participate in the 59th Independence Day celebrations came with their raincoats, which were used despite no rains. The children, who had to sit for hours in a formation in saffron, white and green on the ground, used their raincoats as a cushion. The instructors further used raincoats of taller children to prop up small children to make the formation uniform. This made for a visual delight for the guests on the ramparts who could see the formation in green, white and saffron. The spectators, who had to pass through a strict security check at several places, heaved a sigh of relief after they entered the lawns in front of the fort where soothing weather and songs by small children welcomed them. Unlike last year, there was no rush to find a place under the shade. The security personnel, who had to extend their overnight security checks, also maintained their cool while they questioned people or checked vehicles. Above all, the Prime Minister got a patient and attentive hearing when he addressed the nation. Many Delhiites also took advantage of the pleasant weather and went out for picnics. Most of the parks, particularly the India Gate lawns, were swarming with men, women and children by the evening. Despite the ban on kite-flying because of security considerations in the walled city area during the Prime Minister’s function at the Red Fort, the Capital’s skyline was dotted with colourful kites flown from virtually every roof top in the various residential colonies. Meanwhile, many street children encashed on patriotism by using their self-developed marketing skills to make the most of the Independence Day by selling miniatures of tri-colour at red lights. Though they could not go to places falling on the VVIP routes which were out of bounds for them, they offered tri-colour at the most competitive rates to drivers at red lights at other places. As for the real thing, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), the sole official agency authorised to make and sell the national flag, reported a significant increase in sales of national flag this year in comparison to last year. According to an official, last year before the Independence Day the number of flags sold in the capital was 1,184, earning a revenue of Rs 3.12 lakh. But this year, the sales increased to 1,517 generating Rs. 3.90 lakh, an increase by 24 per cent. Last year, the number of cotton khadi flags sold was 1,158, raking in Rs 3.8 lakh and khadi silk position was 26 units and Rs 3,900 respectively. This year total khadi cotton units sold was 1,500 for Rs 3.86 lakh while khadi silk flags sold was 17 for Rs 2,550. The spurt in demand was thanks in large part to the government decision allowing all citizens to hoist the national flag throughout the year, even at their homes. The National Flag is available in nine standard sizes, with the largest one measuring 21 ft by 14 ft, to be used atop large buildings, while the smallest one measures 6 x 4 inch, to be used as table flags. However the largest size has not been in demand for a long time as it is cumbersome to use. It also costs very high - Rs 7,850. It was last hoisted in Washington DC few years ago and has not been ordered since.. The table top flag costing Rs 100 though has a good demand but the medium size flags have the highest demand. It measures 3 ft x 2 ft and costs Rs 245 only. The flag atop the Red Fort measures 12 ft x 8 ft. With the government now allowing the people to wear the images of the tricolour, though not below the waist, the KVIC now feels encouraged to introduce its khadi wear bearing the impressions of the tricolour before the Republic Day next year.
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I-Day celebrations in Capital pass off peacefully
New Delhi, August 15 Anti-sabotage checks and search operations had been in place around vital installations, important Metro stations and sensitive areas of the Capital with close-circuit cameras and sharp-shooters scanning the skyline from rooftops and high-rise buildings, senior police officials said. “Besides the regular increased patrolling and enhanced positioning of pickets at all sensitive places, this time we placed back-up teams for quick support in case of emergency,” they said. An exclusive wireless network for all security forces involved in the I-Day arrangements had been set up to keep each agency posted on the movement of the other besides providing better coordination among them. Market places, prominent buildings and VIP houses had been specially provided with additional security cover with exit and entry points being regulated through extra police posts and barricading. This was done to prevent escape of attackers in case of an unwarranted situation. The Capital’s borders had been sealed and most of the roads leading to the Red Fort out of bounds for ordinary motorists as the Delhi Traffic Police had deployed an extra 1,000 personnel to enforce restrictions on Independence Day. The Capital’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana had been closed to commercial traffic like trucks from Sunday midnight.
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Gallantry awards for 19 police personnel in Delhi
New Delhi, August 15 Special Cell’s late Sub-Inspector Mehtab Singh and ASI Devender were named for the presidential honour. The Police Medal for Gallantry was awarded to M S Upadhye, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and Ishwar Singh ACP, EOW. ACP Rajbir Singh and 10 other officers from the Special Cell were also awarded with the Police Medal for Gallantry. These included Inspr (EX) Mohan Chand Sharma, SI (EX) Rahul Kumar, ASI (EX) Vikram, ASI (EX) Narendra, SI (EX) Arvind Kumar, SI (EX) Umesh Barthwal, SI (EX) Dharmender Kumar, SI (EX) Bhoop Singh, (EX) Pawan Kumar, ASI (EX) Rishi Pal of Special Cell and SI (EX). Besides them, Naresh Kumar, SI (EX) Ramesh Kumar, SI (EX) Harbir Singh and ASI (EX) Parmod Kumar of Crime and Railways were awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry.
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Six lakh power consumers start paying dues
Gurgaon, August 15 The government, while announcing the waiver, had linked the relief to regular payment of the current tariff dues. The consumers, especially in the farming sector, had not been paying their dues. During the last to last assembly elections, the INLD had made a poll promise to provide water and power free of cost. The farming community, in wide-ranging areas of the state, stopped paying their dues. Rather, the farmers adopted a confrontational approach with the INLD government. The arrears, in the meantime, kept on increasing. It was in this context that the present Congress government waived arrears to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore to the farmers, but linked the benefit to regular payment of the current bills. Mr Chatha, who was here to preside over the Independence Day parade, said that in order to make Haryana self-sufficient in electricity, the government had decided to increase the state’s generation by 3,000 MWTs. This includes a 1,000 MWT gas-based power plant at Faridabad. He expressed concern at the depleting underground water and made a strong case for re-charging the sub-soil water and preservation of water. In order to increase the water supply, the government had devised a project of Rs 259 crore. The project consisted of setting up a link river to draw water which would come after connecting the Bhakhra main line with the Hansi branch. The water coming from connecting the two sources was to be supplied to the Western Yamuna canal and the lift canal system vide the proposed link river project. This would be in addition to equitable distribution of the existing pool of water in the state, he added. According to him, education was among the other priority areas of the government. Vacant posts of teacher in the academic institutions would be filled soon. He said before this government took charge more than five months back there was poor law and order situation in the state. But things had improved now and the state was on the fast track of development. On the occasion, he distributed President’s awards to 17 government personnel of the district, including the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, Gurgaon, Mr Y. S. Gupta, for their exemplary work relating to 2001 Census. While nine of the personnel were awarded silver medal, the remaining five were given bronze medal. Earlier, he visited the Martyr’s Memorial at Zone Hall where he laid a wreath in memory of war heroes of
the area.
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Now, liquor bottles have poll symbols on them
Noida, August 15 Liquor is being distributed every day by a number of candidates after affixing their respective election symbols on the bottles. Mostly, the liquor is being smuggled from Delhi and Haryana. The demand, supply and consumption of liquor are going up as the poll day draws nearer. Interestingly, the standard of voters and candidates has also gone up reportedly as most of the voters now don’t settle for anything less than “English” whisky as against local brands in the last panchayat elections. With candidates being appreciative of this upswing, “English” whisky is now being poured down the parched throats of the voters. Neither the voters nor the candidates are standing on any formality. Both are frank and honest in stating what they want Even the election and administrative staff are finding the “English” whisky a little too “tempting” to dissuade voters or candidates from consuming. Quite a few more enterprising candidates have had stickers of their election symbol printed in thousands so that the message goes home. Teenagers, the youth as also the old are being kept in good humor. Certain more enterprising candidates circulate a schedule about when liquor will reach their doorstep. The liquor from Haryana and Delhi is cheaper as compared to UP. The excise department and the local police are aware of the goings-on – they seem to believe in letting people enjoy because panchayat elections come by once in five years.
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JNU teachers want retirement age of 65
yrs
New Delhi, August 15 The JNUTA, which has been raising the issue of the retirement age for university academicians wants the upper limit to be increased to 65. Citing a survey of global attitudes to ageing published in May 2005 by HSBC, an international banking group, Ghosh said, “not only will the change in retirement age affect teachers, it is quite beneficial for the country’s economy as well; if the government keeps us in service longer, their financial liability vis-à-vis pensions is decreased”. Submitting that increasing the working age would mean “a population that adds to the economy,” Ghosh said, “the longer we work the more taxes we pay and the government in turn would have to give pension for a lesser time”. Economics apart, the academic community claims that the move will also solve the problem of shortage of “experts”. “There are so many departments in universities and even the IITs that have not been able to fill the vacancies even years after advertising, because they have not found the right people. Retaining senior and experienced teachers will solve that problem”, said Ghosh. Another reason being quoted is that teachers often start their careers relatively late and hence should be given more time to serve. “A Masters degree is the minimum qualification for entry into the lowest grade, the majority of faculty members are Ph.D.-degree holders, and enter the profession after the age of 28 years,” it was pointed out. Referring to the practice of reemployment, Ghosh said, “reemployment is granted for a maximum of three additional years up to 65. This is a discretionary allowance, and hence prone to subjective selections, often leading to humiliation of colleagues at the end of a distinguished career. There are no valid reasons why this selection should not apply to the entire lot of highly qualified professionals in the university faculty, as long as they are in sound physical and mental health”.
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Former student donates $5 million to IIT Delhi
New Delhi, August 15 At the recent IIT Delhi Alumni Association meet, it was time for felicitation. While some members were honoured for their achievements, others announced largesse for their alma mater. Mr Vinod Khosla, IIT Delhi Alumnus and co-founder of SUN Microsystems, made a commitment of $5 million for setting up Amarnath Khosla and Shashi Khosla School of Information and Technology on the IIT-D Campus. Pointing out that highlighting the achievements of the alumni inspires the future generations, Mr Vivek Luther, President, IIT Delhi Alumni Association said, “It is an honour to witness the excellence that IIT-D alumni are achieving in their lives. The Distinguished Alumni awards acknowledge the intellectual excellence among the alumni and inspire the students of IIT-D.” The prestigious award, Distinguished Alumni Award, is regarded as the highest recognition from India’s premier technological institution, IIT-D. The goal of the awards is to recognise outstanding contribution of an alumnus in academics, business and entrepreneurship and profession and/or public policy and service. This year’s winners of the awards include Mr K. Venkataramanan, Member of Board & President Operations, Larsen & Toubro Ltd; Dr Krishan K Subnani President, Networking Research, Lucent Technologies, USA and Dr Raghuram G. Rajan, Economic Counselor & Director of Research, IMF INC. The IITDAA reiterated its Vision 2020 to be in the top five engineering and technology institutes in the world. The alumni were also given a glimpse of enterprise of the IITians, the Director, Prof Kothari, highlighted the three indigenously developed products—the Mangal turbine, the Blood group card and the Water Purifier rod that the institute is planning to approach the Government of India and the Armed Forces for adoption.
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Steam baths feel good, detoxify body
New Delhi, August 15 Many doctors who work with chronically-fatigued patients agree that chemical exposure is a major contributor to fatigue and low vitality. “The single greatest target organ of chemical injury is the brain,” says Dr Gurubax Singh, Consultant Neurologist with Sanjeevan Hospital. “The manifestations of
neuro-toxicity include alterations in thinking, perception, mood and
behaviour.” Steam bathing is being explored as a new method to fend off
neuro-toxicity, since it detoxifies the body by opening up the pores. This allows up to 30 per cent of bodily waste to be excreted through perspiration, which results in increased mental clarity, greater emotional stability and an overall sense of well-being. Studies suggest that immersing the body in steam is also beneficial in relieving symptoms of insomnia. A study conducted by Harvard physician Cynthia Dorsey, Ph.D., director of the Sleep Research Program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, found that 30-minute steam baths taken one and a half to two hours before bedtime improved sleep efficiency in female insomniacs by approximately 10 per cent. While the reasons for this are not altogether clear, experts believe that by elevating core body temperature, the 24-hour circadian rhythm of some test subjects may have been temporarily reset to a more harmonious relationship with the sleep-wake rhythm. Says Dr Nina
Guleria, an internationally acclaimed holistic healer, “The now oft-used term SPA actually stands for ‘solus par aqua’, which literally means health or healing through water. Good water is literally the elixir of life. Whether along the sacred shores of the Ganges, in the fabled bathhouses of Rome or at the holy spring of Zamzam in Mecca, humanity has sought for millennia the healing powers of water for spiritual, psychological and physical ablution.” Not only this, meditation combined with a hot soak “can really be very beneficial for relaxation, and relieving stress definitely reduces arthritis pain,” she says. Hot water relaxes the joints while increasing circulation to reduce muscle spasms. Studies at Harvard’s Mind/Body Medical Institute have proven that relaxation response techniques, such as meditation, hypnosis and massage, have a measurable positive effect on chronic pain management. Experts now believe that relaxation in a warm bath might have similar effects to other forms of relaxation protocols and needs to be studied in detail. The research results also revealed that given the correct choice of temperature and duration, a steam bath produces a thermal effect on the body. However, achieving the exact temperatures and conducive conditions is easier said than done. An ideal steam bath calls for high-precision equipment at its backbone. Says Rajesh
Chaddha, Head, Campari Health, who has been a pioneer in research on precision spa equipment for almost 30 years now, and has provided consultancy to some of the finest spas, including Ananda in the Himalayas, “The benefits of a steam bath critically depend on the correct temperature being set and maintained. In a steam bath, the optimum temperature lies within a narrow 43o-46oC (110o-116oF) range. These temperatures are not only experienced as the most enjoyable, they are also the most beneficial.” Says Rajesh Chaddha of
Campari, “In a steam bath, steam (or to be more scientifically correct, mist) should be permanently present. This requires an efficient steam generator, a precise control system and a steam-tight cabin to prevent steam escaping and damaging the fabric of the surrounding room.” Dr Nina Guleria concludes with a note of mild caution, “If you’re considering ‘taking the waters’ for some rest and relaxation, remember that steam bathing is not for everyone. Keeping cool is key if you have any type of heart condition, because sharp temperature increase can cause cardiac arrhythmia. Pregnant women and people with high blood pressure or diabetes should also avoid steam baths.”
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Markets flooded with colourful designer rakhis
New Delhi, August 15 With rakhis in precious metal like gold, silver and even platinum, the market is flooded with rakhis with a price tag ranging from a couple of hundred bucks to a fancy price. What’s more, these rakhis can also be made to order. Take for instance the ‘Wrist Post’, launched by Frazer and Haws, this one allows you to let unleash your creativity and pen down a few words for brother dear, which will then be engraved on a “clean sheet held on both sides with coloured leather cords”. And all this for Rs 295. For those willing to spend a little more, there are the ‘Rings of Fortune’, a range “meant to ward off the evil”. This rakhi can also be converted into a pendant, which can later be flashed as a fashion accessory. Apart from silver rakhis, customers are also being wooed with specially designed silver articles like photo frames, pen stands and piggy banks to give on the auspicious occasion. And to make sure that the brothers living afar receive the designer threads on the right day, there are service providers to ensure that as well. Websites like the AnmolRakhi.com and AFL Private Limited allow people to send their rakhis through the Internet and a toll-free number. Not to be left behind, confectioners and sweet shops too have come up with their own Raksha Bandhan specials, from specially designed chocolates to mouth-watering mithai, the choice is endless.
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‘Unity in diversity visible only in India’
“Need of the hour is that one should learn other’s language and get to know about their culture which would bring many similarities in them visible to each other and this would help in creating the harmony and real unity in diversity,” Singh said while attending a function here organised for celebrating Independence Day. Those who attended the function included Noida & Greater Noida Authority Chairman Rakesh Bahadur, Noida Authority CEO Avnish Kumar Awasthi, District Magistrate Santosh Kumar Yadav and SSP Piyush Mordia.
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Disrespect shown to CM?
Faridabad, August 15 Quite unbelievable, but it happened which was noticed by many, including the mediapersons. A senior official of the Haryana Government even forgot to mention the name of the Chief Minister in his address. He only mentioned the name of the Union Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad.
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Youths on motorcycles go on chain snatching spree
Faridabad, August 15 “I have stopped wearing a gold chain or other jewellery items when I have to move out alone or walk down a road”, claims Mrs Sangeeta Bhasin, a resident of Sector 9 here, who had been a victim of chain snatching about three weeks ago. Though a case was registered and a suspect paraded before her, the police have not been able to recover the chain, valued around Rs 12,000. The chain was snatched by a youth who came on a mobike just a few yards away from her house in broad daylight. The accused not only pulled away the chain but pushed her badly to the ground. This could have caused an injury to her if she had not resisted the attempt. She said now the sight of youths on a mobike gives rise to fear in her mind. A woman resident of Sector 8 here, who was returning to her house from Ballabhgarh town recently, was stalked by two youths on a mobike who attempted to snatch her chain and purse when she took a rickshaw from the YMCA Chowk to go home. As the woman got suspicious, she took some preventive measures. She covered her neck with her dupatta and did not let the accused take away her belongings. But what was shocking was that the youths kept stalking her. They made a loot attempt in full public view and no one came to her rescue. The youths were able to snatch the duppata of the woman in this incident. At least two more cases of chain snatching by youths on mobikes have also been reported in the past few days .In the latest incident, two youths on a motorcycle snatched the purse of a woman in front of a banquet hall in the NIT area here on Saturday night. The victim, identified as Surender Kaur, had come from Ambala to take part in a wedding here. The purse had cash and valuables worth about Rs 30,000. “The youths on mobike have become a kind of terror among the women, especially those coming alone from their work”, claimed a teacher of a school here. She added that she had stopped coming alone on a rickshaw in the afternoon as many such incidents had taken place in the recent past and there was hardly any checking by the police.
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Four truck hijackers held after encounter, truck recovered
Noida, August 15 The gang, according to the police, had looted several trucks and dumpers in Haryana, Delhi, UP, MP and Rajasthan. Their ringleader, Jafru, on whose head a Rs 32,000 reward had been declared, is still evading the police of five states. SP City Somoutre Yadav said a team had been formed to nab this gang. Last night, the police got information that members of the gang were trying to flee with a looted truck (RJ-02-G 8293) to Delhi. Barricades were erected along Sector 17 and 18 and the gangsters were asked to surrender. But they started firing at the police team. The cops overpowered the criminals without firing a single shot, the SP City said. Momin, a resident of Gurgaon, and Yusuf, Javed and Shabir of Faridabad were all nabbed by the Sector 20 police. During interrogation, they named Jafru as their leader. The Rajasthan and Haryana police
had declared a reward on his head. Jafru’s right hand man Shabir had looted this truck from Gurgaon along with his companions. The truck belongs to Alwar’s RG Minerals Pvt Ltd Co. This gang still has five vehicles of Noida for which the
SP City has formed a special team.
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Forged certificates racket busted, lawyer arrested
New Delhi, August 15 The accused has been identified as Bhanu Pratap Singh (42), a lawyer residing at Lawrence Road. Bhanu Pratap Singh used a special computer software to forge certificates of various institutions including the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Delhi University, police said. He sold hundreds of these certificates, which looked almost genuine, for Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 each.
Acting on a tip-off that someone has been selling educational certificates, a decoy customer struck a deal for Rs 6,000 for a certificate, paying Rs 3,000 as advance. The accused was nabbed when he came to deliver the certificate in his Maruti car near Dhaula Kuan area. During interrogation, he confessed that that he had been selling the certificates for over a year and earned lakhs of rupees. The certificates include CBSE Senior Secondary certificates, certificates of reputed computer training institutes and marksheets of degree certificates of Delhi University. Singh had obtained his LLB degree from Agra University and was practising as a lawyer since 1994. Investigations are on to ascertain whether his own LLB certificate was genuine, police said.
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Husband, family held in dowry death case
Ghaziabad, August 15 The body of Sanjay Saxena’s wife, 20, was found hanging from a fan on Saturday morning. When the police came and took the body into possession, it was stated to be a suicide case. The husband and his parents had all gone out to work. The parents of the deceased were called by the police. Her brother Anuj Kumar, in a written report, said his sister was being tortured by her in-laws for more dowry. They were demanding Rs 50,000 among other things for buying a three-wheeler. As this demand was not fulfilled, they had killed his sister, Anuj had alleged. He had named his brother in-law and his parents as accused in his report. The three accused were thus arrested by the police.
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Candidate stabbed to death
Ghaziabad, August 15 Sohan Singh, contesting from ward no 15, was stabbed to death at his house in Mishwapur village in the district in the wee hours yesterday, they said. The local SSP declined to term the murder as an incident related to poll. “He was stabbed to death when he was sleeping,” he said. The District Magistrate has ordered deployment of two armed police personnel each at all polling booths in a bid to prevent untoward incidents.
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Noida, August 15