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Nod to doubling fees in IITs
Centre looking to make teaching ‘attractive’
Govt steps in to save Gaumukh
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3,400 km road to be built along China border
India to play host to foreign navies
MPs demand recognition of Kuka movement
Opposition’s unification move
Indo-Pak Talks
TN gets Rs 10 cr for AIDS control
Witnesses ‘punished’ even before GCM begins
Guv opts for voluntary power cut at Raj Bhawan
Political realities call for N-deal finalisation: Saran
Women’s Bill
Manipur govt firm on move to arm villagers
Health ministry proposes amendment
Maoists shoot SI, injure 4 jawans
IIT officers demand hike in pay
Chandigarh team robbed in Hardwar
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Nod to doubling fees in IITs
New Delhi, May 7 The matter of IIT fee hike was under the observation of the CNR Rao Committee, which said the raise in fee structure was necessary to cope with the rising cost of education and to maintain quality of education. The Ministry of Human Resource Development today approved the recommendation of the CNR Rao Committee. The committee recommended a raise in the fee structure for B.Tech and M.Tech courses at the IITs from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 a year. The ministry has also kept the view that fee hike in premiere institutions is necessary to facilitate better functioning and finer quality of education. Even with the
IIMs, the ministry’s major concern has been the accommodation of students who come from poor sections of society. Though the IIMs are sticking to the fee-hike stand, with the management saying that it has taken ample measures to see that the interests of students from humble backgrounds are protected, the ministry is yet to back the decision. At the
IITs, however, the new fee structure would be applicable from the new academic session, said ministry sources. With today’s approval, fee structure will change at all seven
IITs, including Kharagpur, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Kanpur, Guwahati and
Roorkee.
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Centre looking to make teaching ‘attractive’
New Delhi, May 7 Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on the issue of dearth of teachers in central universities, minister of state for human resource development D. Purandeswari said the government had also enhanced the age of superannuation of teachers from 62 to 65 years, allowing the institutions to reemploy teachers after superannuation till the age of 70 years. The reply comes two days after The Tribune had reported how 20 per cent of the sanctioned teaching posts in central universities were lying vacant, much to the detriment of plans to implement 27 per cent OBC quota from this session. The government said in its reply yesterday that the Chadha Committee (constituted for the review of teachers’ pay scales) would submit its report by September this year. “With a view to enabling the central higher educational institutions to meet the existing shortfall of quality teachers and go ahead with their expansion plans on account of implementation of 27 per cent quota for OBCs, the government is taking many steps,” Purandwswari emphasised. Though the government has allowed the enhancement of retirement age for teachers, the measure has not gone down well with the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, which expressed strong reservation on the issue, saying it would block employment opportunities at entry level. The committee had earlier also said this step should only be adopted temporarily. The committee, in its report, further expressed curiosity over the fact that whereas several NET qualified and doctorate holders were available in India (as per government records), suitable candidates for teaching posts were not available. As of now, out of 8,723 sanctioned teaching posts in the 24 central institutions in India, 20 per cent -- 1,707 -- are vacant. In several cases, the government had to re-advertise posts after it failed to get suitable candidates. However, as per the government’s own records, there were 12,187 UGC-NET qualified people in 2006, 13,833 in 2005 and 7,242 in 2004. Likewise, 17,898 doctorates were awarded in 2006, 17,853 in 2005 and 15,328 in 2004. In view of these figures, the committee noted: “Considering the large number of NET qualified and doctorate candidates, it is surprising that suitable candidates were not available for teaching jobs. If it is so, it indicates serious malaise of sub-standard quality of education where we have the numbers but not the quality.”
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Govt steps in to save Gaumukh
Dehra Dun, May 7 From this pilgrim season, only 150 persons will be allowed to go to the Gaumukh glacier and that too with the permission of the Uttarkhand chief wildlife warden. The government has also imposed a fee of Rs 50 per day for the first two days for Indian visitors and Rs 350 for foreign visitors. If they stay for more than two days in the area, Indians will have to pay at the rate of Rs.25 per day, while foreigners will have to pay Rs 175 per day. The state government has also completely prohibited any movement within 500-m radius of the Gaumukh glacier. Any body violating, these orders will be liable to be prosecuted under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, having provision of imprisonment up to three years and a fine of Rs 25,000. With disturbing reports about rapid shrinking of Gangotri glacier over the years and presence of ever increasing number of humans in the area, the government had been contemplating measures to control the human presence in the highly ecologically sensitive region. Already environmentalists in the past years were pressing the authorities to restrict the number of persons going towards the Gaumukh glacier. It was a tough decision for the BJP government, since any restriction imposed on going towards the Gaumukh was considered sensitive due to the religious sentiments of the Hindus. However, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj. Gen. B.C. Khanduri (retd) decided to take a stand and imposed restrictions this year. The state administration, scientists and environmentalists were worried following rapid shrinking of the glaciers and presence of a large number of people particularly ‘kanwarias’ travelling in their vehicles up to Gaumukh to carry water of Ganga during the Hindu calendar month of ‘sawan’ as an offering for Shiv temples back home. More than 20,000 ‘kanwarias’ visited the core zone of Gangotri glacier to collect water from the Ganga in the year 2007, while a total of 20,586 of them visited the place during 2006. Perturbed by a large number of pilgrims, who were involved in running ‘Langar’ (community kitchens) and leaving behind all kinds of garbage, last year, Forest Department officials did not allowed them to run it. While, the ‘kanwarias’ throng the place only during ‘sawan’, a large number of tourists move up to Gaumukh during summers. Meanwhile, hundreds of pilgrims thronged the shrines of Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri on the occasion of opening of the portals of these Hindu temples on the occasion of ‘Akshaya Tritya’ today. The doors of Badrinath shrine will be opened on May 9. These four Hindu shrines nestled in Garhwal Himalayas remain closed during winter months.
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Nargis: A man-made disaster
New Delhi, May 7 Nargis, CSE Director Sunita Narian says, is a sign of things to come in the future. She is clear that “victims of these cyclones are climate change victims and their plight should remind the rich world that it is doing too little to contain its greenhouse gas emissions”. She admits that one can never pinpoint one disaster as the result of climate change but adds that there is enough scientific evidence that climate change will lead to intensification of tropical cyclones. And that climate change is urgent, real and happening and large parts of the subcontinent will be worst impacted. “This is the challenge of climate science. While we will never be able to make absolute predictions or direct correlations between events that we see around us and the warming that is now inevitable, there is enough evidence to make connections. We know rainfall in our world will become more variable, devastating for people dependent on rain-fed agriculture. And now, we can see the intensification of tropical cyclones, another prediction of climate science,” Sunita adds. The 2007 report of the IPCC had observed that cyclones would increase in their intensity as a result of global warming. “There is observational evidence of an increase of intense tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic since about 1970, correlated with increases of tropical sea surface temperatures,” the IPCC had said. “Based on a range of models, it is likely that future tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) will become more intense, with larger peak wind speeds and more heavy precipitation associated with ongoing increases of tropical sea surface
temperatures,” it added. Environmentalists say climate change is related to economic growth and wealth creation. The bulk of emissions are related to burning of fossil fuels, for the energy that drives the world. It is no wonder then that the rich industrialised world, responsible for the bulk of the emissions in the atmosphere, has found it difficult to cut emissions. But these emissions and lifestyles are now spelling doom for countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh, and big polluters of the world, like the US, cannot escape their responsibility. The question that the world needs to answer now is how to make these countries pay for victims of climate change, Sunita says. The only way it can be done is by make them reduce their emissions drastically, 30 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050. “There is no comparison between the emissions of countries like India or even China and rich big emitters of the world. This is the natural debt of nations, and they must pay up, says Mario D’Souza, a climate change researcher.
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3,400 km road to be built along China border
New Delhi, May 7 The BRO that works under the ministry of defence announced the move at a press conference here this afternoon. A total of 61 roads are to be built along the China border to facilitate better movement of troops, machines and equipment, said the director-general of the BRO, Lieut-Gen A.K. Nanda. These roads will be running along strategic mountain passes in the Himalayas. India shares its border with China in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Out of the new roads planned by the BRO, 27 of these will be in Arunachal Pradesh. It is in this state that India is giving a major thrust by making 12 new helipads and roads. Such is the focus that defence minister A.K. Antony on his recent visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh had announced that the north-east was the topmost priority. Meanwhile, the BRO chief said today that the work had started on all roads across the Himalayas. At least nine of these roads had been completed and another eight would be completed during this financial year. Replying to a question on the continuation of the BRO in the strife-torn Afghanistan, the DG said a small stretch of work was remaining and after that the BRO would return. There was no plan to build more roads. The BRO is building about 220 km of roads and around 300 men are working there under adverse conditions. At least four of them have been killed by militants. Replying to another question on the Rohtang tunnel and its proposed construction, Lieut-Gen Nanda said tenders had been invited and a scrutiny of the tenders was on. It is hoped that by June the work would be allocated. It would take five years to complete after the allocation of work. Work on the 8.8 km of approach roads on both sides of the tunnel had started. The tunnel would connect Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh with Keylong and beyond in Ladakh. Once complete, this would be an alternate route that would provide all weather connectivity. The Rohtang Pass is closed for more than seven months in a year due to snow in the winters.
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India to play host to foreign navies
Mumbai, May 7 According to naval sources here, once the expansion of INS Kadamba naval base at Karwar is completed in five years’ time, it will have a capacity to host 45 warships including simultaneous dry docking facilities for three aircraft carriers. The new airfield, which is a part of INS Kadamba will have a capacity to handle 50 fighter aircraft, including the F16s and the F18 Super Hornet fighters. The United States is already pushing for a comprehensive defence agreement with India to follow on the heels of the Indo-US nuclear agreement. But even before such an agreement is signed, the defence co-operation between the two nations has been strengthened significantly, say sources. Both Indian and the US navies have already begun joint patrolling in international waters. Keeping the sea lanes open from pirates and terrorists on the South China seas is already a stated objective of both navies. Plans for the Defence Policy Group comprising service officials from both India and the USA, according to sources, is charting a deeper engagement between them. Once the defence co-operation agreement between India and the US/NATO comes through, Karwar and the adjoining coastal area of Goa stretching all the way to Sindhudurg in Maharashtra will be opened up to host defence personnel looking for rest and recreation, the sources said. Goa, which is likely to become the centrepiece of the R&R effort, is already sprucing up its infrastructure, which will seamlessly merge with its larger effort to increase tourism. The state is working on building an expressway connecting Sindhudurg to Karwar passing through Goa. Also on the drawing board is an expressway linking Sawantwadi bordering Goa to Panvel on the outskirts of Mumbai, which will allow a road trip from Mumbai to Karwar in about eight to 10 hours. Goa is also increasing the number of casinos gradually to cater to the tourist trade. From the five floating casinos that are to open by this year-end, the number will go up several times in the next few years. There is also a proposal to permit casinos on land so that some of the state’s beachfront properties can be opened up to this industry. Even Maharashtra does not want to be left behind. Land on the virgin beaches of Sindhudurg bordering Goa is being acquired by some of the bigger hotel chains in the country. A few like the small Kamat Group of Hotels have already opened several beachside properties to woo the tourist trade. Tax breaks for tourism-related projects are also on the anvil.
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MPs demand recognition of Kuka movement
New Delhi, May 7 The letter is in reaction to the reply of the ministry of home affairs in the Rajya Sabha on April 16. The home affairs had said that the Kuka movement is not recognised as one of the struggles of the freedom movement. Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal has already signed the letter. Among others who have signed it are SAD MPs Sukhbir Singh Badal, S.S. Dhindsa, Rattan Singh Ajnala, Raj Mohinder Singh Majthia, Naresh Gujral. BJP MP Avinash Rai Khanna and Congress MP DP Sabharwal are also among the signatories. From Haryana, INLD-backed Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh has also signed the same. The Namdhari Darbar, based at Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana, has sent a senior member of the sect to Delhi to get the signatures of all MPs. The Namdharis, a powerful sect in Punjab, holds considerable sway in the vote-politics in the state. The sect runs educational institutions and also a hockey academy. The Kuka movement was ruthlessly suppressed through a brutal blowing up of around 70 rebels by cannon fire at Malerkotla in what was seen as a major signal of anti-British rebellion. In the letter it has been pointed out that how the government had itself recognised the Kuka movement in the past and the reply of the ministry of home affairs was not in line with that. In 1972, the government of India published a book to mark the centenary of the exile of the Satguru Ram Singh. In 2005, the home ministry admitted to the National Commission of Minorities that the Kuka movement was a part of the freedom struggle. The ministry of information and broadcasting has already released a documentary film and a book on Satguru Ram Singh and the Kuka movement and the contribution to the freedom movement. To mark the 150 years of the freedom struggle, the Kuka movement had figured on the mobile exhibition run on a train across the country. And lastly the Lok Sabha has already decided to install a portrait of Satguru Ram Singh on the Parliament complex, says the letter.
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Opposition’s unification move
Guwahati, May 7 In a prompt reaction to the opposition parties’ unity move, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday said, “The Congress need not worry about the unification efforts by the AGP and other regional parties. The Congress had defeated the AGP in the past, when it was an undivided House. The same AGP that had ousted former Chief Minister and its president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for his misdeeds during his second tenure as the Chief Minister of Assam, was now trying to woo Mahanta back in to its fold. It has exposed that the AGP is not a party of principles and ideology, but a platform of opportunists,” Gogoi said in a statement. Gogoi had earlier said the proposed unification of regional parties would be nothing but only old wine in a new bottle and people of Assam would not accept it. Meanwhile, the stage ‘in principle’ is set for re-unification of Assam’s main opposition party, the regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and its breakaway faction, the Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive) led by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The AGP-initiated the move to reunite all like-minded regional forces especially the AGP (P) led by Mahanta to put up a combined force against the ruling Congress, which is in power in the state for the second consecutive term. “We have in principle agreed for the unification of regional forces to fight the Congress in the state in the meeting with the AGP’s committee on unification. Now modalities for the formation of the unified regional force have to be worked through proper consultation,” AGP (P) leader, Mahanta said after the meeting. The AGP general secretary Dilip Kumar Saikia who said, “The ball has been set on roll for the unification of regional parties after Monday’s meeting with the AGP (P) and two other regional groups - the Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) and the Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad (PLP). The modalities for the unification will be worked out at a later date.” The AGP braved the warning issued by the influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) against taking Mahanta, ‘a traitor’ in stride in its efforts for the unification of regional forces. The AASU has held its former leader and the founder president of the AGP responsible for failing to implement the Assam Accord clauses, while he was the Chief Minister of the state for two terms. The students’ body continues to spit fire against Mahanta for ‘extra-judicial or secret killings’ of kin of ULFA members in Assam during his second tenure as the Chief Minister. However, it was not clear yet whether it would be re-unification or merger of all these regional parties or formation of a combined regional force as all groups involved have refrained from making any comment on it. However, a clear picture has to emerge fast as the proposed new formation will have to take shape before the next round of general election.
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Indo-Pak Talks
New Delhi, May 7 They, however, said no decision on Jammu and Kashmir should be taken without the consent of its people, and separatists should also be involved in peace talks. The group favoured unconditional talks with dissidents on the lines of talks earlier held with Naga rebels and Lal Denga in Mizoram. These resolutions were adopted today, at the end of the 10th three-day intra-Kashmir conference organised on the outskirts of the capital by Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR). The strongest recommendation from the group was the constitution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the issue of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. The Commission, said the delegates, should be for the entire Jammu and Kashmir (PoK included) and should address grievances, in an open atmosphere of acceptance. The group also recommended that Delhi and Islamabad should facilitate and support the people of Jammu and Kashmir to meet for substantive discussion amongst themselves to begin the process of resolution and arrive at a consensus eventually for the future of J&K. Representing the Indian side at the meeting was PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference’s Shaheen, MP from Baramulla and JKLF’s Yasin Malik among others. PoK was represented by Inayatullah Shimali, president of Gilgit and Balwaristan region’s national alliance and Arif Shahid, general secretary, All Parties National Alliance, PoK, among others. Amir Fida Paracha, former MP from Pakistan attended the meeting as representative of Pakistan People’s Party President Asif Zardari. He said his party fully supported the peace process. Sushobha Barve, executive secretary of CDR today told The Tribune that the group agreed there was a general sense of unhappiness in Jammu and Kashmir over the delay in Indo-Pak dialogue. “The peace process must not be allowed to slow down as that would give elbow room to negative forces and dash the hopes of Kashmiris.” On the need of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the group was unanimous, considering 20-year-old cases of human rights violation across the LoC are pending for resolution. The group suggested a look at the South African model of the Commission; it was equally vocal about the need to implement CBMs in the right earnest. “Cross LoC travel must be simplified and more bus services should be operationalised. These services have brought people together,” said Arif Shahid from Rawalkot. The group also voiced the expectation of Valley’s people who want all old routes to be restored. “People are hoping the Mughal road would be opened to facilitate trade through Shopian. They are also waiting for more bus services, as promised by the Prime Minister of India,” Barve said. Mehbooba Mufti fully backed the recommendation. She asked for the opening of all old routes from Kashmir to China and Central Asia. “We should have the position we had prior to 1947. Kashmir is the gateway to Central and South Asia; its prominence must be restored,” she said. The group will submit its recommendations to the government for consideration before foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan meet in Islamabad on May 20, followed by the meeting between foreign ministers of the two countries.
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TN gets Rs 10 cr for AIDS control
Chennai, May 7 The state will now set up district AIDS prevention and control units, headed by district collectors, to focus aggressively on prevention. Tamil Nadu, where the first AIDS case in India was detected in 1986, topped the list of high prevalence states in the 1990s. However, the last few years has seen this prevalence coming down to less than one percent. According to National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) joint director Damodar Bachani, “The emphasis in the NACP phase three of the programme will be on prevention.” He said that prevention and care strategies will be taken up at the district level across the country and NACP is now looking at the HIV/AIDS profile district by district. Bachani said, “Tamil Nadu is the first state where districtwise profile of HIV/AIDS prevalence, sentinel surveillance, care and prevention strategies and their successes have been systematically mapped.” Under the NACP, all Indian districts have been categorised according to HIV prevalence into A, B and C class districts. He said, “As many as 190 districts in the country are in A category. We know that these districts need urgent attention. The idea of getting the district collectors more actively involved in HIV/AIDS control is decentralisation.” Of Tamil Nadu's 31 districts, 22 are A category districts, five are in B category and four in C category. According to Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) director Supriya Sahu, “Collectors need to look at how the HIV/AIDS epidemic can be brought down in the A category districts.” The high-risk spots for HIV infection are “subepidemic regions of Namakkal, Madurai, Tiruchirapally, Salem and Krishnagiri”. In these five districts prevalence is 0.7 per cent. Some of the major AIDS control initiatives taken by the state government was setting up 760 testing centres and more than 30 care hospitals. Experts said two million people had come for voluntary HIV testing in 2007 in Tamil Nadu. A health official said, “Tamil Nadu has also targeted blood banks completely stopping blood taking from professional donors. Ninety per cent of the blood from blood banks in this state will soon be from voluntary donors.” This move is expected to reduce HIV infection risks further.
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Witnesses ‘punished’ even before GCM begins
Chandigarh, May 7 In a petition filed before the Delhi High Court, Col Suhel Singh has claimed that the General Officer Commanding 1 Armoured Division, Patiala, Maj Gen G.S. Malhi, has initiated action against 14 witnesses who had deposed in his favour during initial investigations. The action against the witnesses for giving “false evidence” has been initiated even before the trial of the officer has commenced. The convening authority’s actions implied that he stood convicted even before he has been tried by a court. The matter had come up before a division Bench, comprising justice Sanjay K Kaul and justice M.C. Garg, yesterday. Taking a serious view of the matter, the court has fixed May 13 as the next date of hearing. The petitioner has sought that the venues and jurisdiction of the trial be shifted to some other command. A subaltern in the same regiment, Lt Vineet Benal, had alleged that the commandant had hit him in the face with his fist during a navigation exercise. The petition has claimed that out of the 17 witnesses who deposed in the court of inquiry, 14 had maintained that the commandant had not even touched the junior officer. The other three witnesses included the lieutenant’s father and two other officers who were not even present at the site. Five of the witnesses concerned have been issued show-cause notices as to why administrative action should not be taken against them. Others have been attached for disciplinary action, implying that they could face a court martial. The counsel for the petitioner, Maj K Ramesh (retd) has contended that punishing witnesses even before the prime accused is convicted is not only legally untenable but also amounts to creating a fear psychosis and is prejudicial to the interests of justice. The petitioner has also contended that another grave injustice in the process is the composition of the GCM, where two of the members report directly to the presiding officer, Brig Harbinder Singh Gill.
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Guv opts for voluntary power cut at Raj Bhawan
Kolkata, May 7 Gandhi said it was his small attempt of sharing the great ordeal and sufferings with the people of the state, who had been experiencing power cut almost every day. He felt he had no right to enjoy the uninterrupted power supply at Raj Bhawan, when a large section of people in the city and elsewhere were not getting power even for emergency requirements. Incidentally, Raj Bhawan, the Fort Williams, Writers Buildings, Reserve Bank Buildings etc, among others, are allotted uninterrupted power supply even during a power crisis. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhatacharjee, power minister Mrinal Banerjee, former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and many other dignitaries are also given uninterrupted power supply at their respective residences. In a statement issued last night from the Raj Bhawan, it was stated that from today, there would be “voluntary power cut for two hours every day from 1-30 pm to 2.30 pm and 7 pm. to 8 pm till further order was issued”. Several ministers and other officials, who are residing in their respective flats next to the Raj Bhawan also had to do without power for that period, though many of them did not like it. Some of the ministers took the Governor’s decision as a mere gimmick. But the Chief Minister and the left front chairman Biman Bose, however, did not make any comment. The state power minister Mrinal Banerjee said the Governor’s decision would not ease out the power crisis in the state. On the contrary, it would give a wrong signal to the industrialists and others, who were planning to invest in Bengal. CITU general secretary Shyamal Chakraborty critcised the Governor of taking such an odd decision, when the power crisis was prevailing almost every where in the country.
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Political realities call for N-deal finalisation: Saran
New Delhi, May 7 Saran asserted that the government remains committed to the India US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. “This is a joint enterprise between India and the United States. We have to work together to make it a practical reality. It is not like we are going this far and leaving it unfinished,” he said while interacting with members of the Indian Women’s Press Corps here. Asked about the fate of the deal if it fails to go through during the tenure of the Bush admninistration, the former foreign secretary replied, “The sooner we have the deal the better it is. As the process continues, the world is not standing still. The level of political uncertainty will increase. So it is in our best interest to get it through as soon as possible.”
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Women’s Bill
New Delhi, May 7 “Our strategy includes everything,” senior party leader Devendra Prasad Yadav said at a press conference when asked whether the RJD would go to the extent of withdrawing support to the UPA on the issue. He said the RJD would move amendments to the Bill and even press for division if the party’s demand for quota within quota for Dalits, minorities and SC/ST women was not incorporated. The RJD’s rigid stand might hamper the efforts of the UPA to ensure the passage of the Bill.
— PTI
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Manipur govt firm on move to arm villagers
Guwahati, May 7 In the first phase total 500 villagers are being recruited in two different areas as special police officers (SPOs). The state government has constituted a selection committee comprising senior police officers to recruit SPOs from among willing villagers. The recruitment drive has been launched in Heirok in Thoubal district and at Lilong Chajing in Imphal West district. Three hundred villagers will be armed in Heirok and 200 in Lilong Chajing. According to Manipur police chief Y Joykumar, who is directly involved in the selection of the SPOs, the process to arm villagers has been made under the provision of the Indian Police Act. The SPOs are expected to help the police in conducting search operations against insurgents, but not to fight rebels
directly.
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Health ministry proposes amendment
New Delhi, May 7 By this amendment, it is proposed to permit use of some more food additives in cheese, processed cheese, processed cheese spread, yoghurt, ice-cream, kulfi, dried ice-cream mix, frozen desserts, milk ice, milk lollies, ice candy and chhana/paneer, to revise the their standards. The microbiological parameters are also proposed for milk and milk products at manufacturing level. A time period for sixty days has been given for sending objections and suggestions. The notification is available on the website of the ministry of health and family welfare
www.mohfw.nic.in/pfa.htm .
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Army conducts disaster relief exercise
Chandigarh, May 7 The aim of the exercise was to practice evacuation of civilian population from the disaster affected areas in the mountains. Dhruv and Chetak helicopters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Army’s aviation wing participated in the exercise along with troops from the Army’s Special Forces and other units stationed in Shimla. The Special Forces troops were airlifted to the exercise area by the IAF’s Dhruv helicopters in the morning. Thereafter, Army Aviation Corps helicopters practiced casualty evacuation drills in conjunction with the Special Forces and regular troops. The exercise was conducted in conjunction with civil administration and personnel from the home guards and fire services department. The organisational strength of the Army formations and units were in full display during the exercise. The Army plans to conduct more such exercises in the future to fine-tune its disaster management process. Major calamities that have struck the Indian subcontinent during the last decade, have underscored the need to adopt a multi-dimensional, multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to disaster management. Within the ambit of this approach, the armed forces constitute a significant and potent entity available with the central and state governments for disaster response and relief. The armed forces, by virtue of their organisational strength, motivation, discipline and operational preparedness, have always risen to the occasion, earning the appreciation of the environment for its singular contribution. Over the years, the scope of Army’s role in disaster management has enlarged gradually. It is invariably the first responder in disaster situations. The Disaster Management Act of 2005 has ensured that the Army’s role in disaster response remain focused on critical issues, with optimal utilisation of dedicated resources.
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Maoists shoot SI, injure 4 jawans
Hazaribag, May 7 The police said SP Praveen Kumar rushed to the site with reinforcement and sealed the area, adding that the encounter was still on as the ultras were surrounded by the CRPF and Jharkhand armed police personnel. The incident occurred when the Ranchi-bound van from Giridih district reached the spot. The ultras hiding inside the jungle, along the National Highway 100, opened fire on them, killing the sub-inspector (wireless supervisor) of Giridih on the spot. In another incident, Maoist guerrillas set afire and blasted the houses of two brothers on the suspicion of being police informers in naxalite-hit Gaya district of Bihar. Nearly 200 heavily armed naxalites swooped on Devania village last night looking for Raghubir and Ranbir Yadav, the police said today. Not not finding them at home, the naxalites herded out their family members and set on fire their ancestral thatched house and blasted with dynamites the adjacent double-storeyed building owned by them, DSP Balram Chaudhary said. In yet another terror attack, Naxalites shot dead a former head of Madhuban Ghat panchayat in Bihar's East Champaran district, Nand Lal Sah, and critically injured his father and brother at their village late last night. An armed squad of CPI (Maoist) activists, comprising about 30 guerrillas, raided the village, shot dead Sah and wounded his father and brother. — Agencies
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IIT officers demand hike in pay
Roorkee, May 7 In the recently concluded meeting here at the IIT, various representatives of the federation from all IITs across the country deliberated over promotion avenues, pay scales, grade pay, improving the working conditions and general welfare of its members. “Consequent to deliberations, a consolidated document was evolved by the federation for presentation before the pay committee, constituted by the HRD ministry,” revealed IIT, Roorkee, chief public relations officer, Madhurjee. The meeting was chaired by the chairperson of the All IITs Group A Officers Federation, B.L. Yadav, while the Director, IIT, Roorkee, Prof S.C. Saxena, inaugurated the meet. "The meeting aimed at putting forward the legitimate needs and expectations of the officers before the authorities and simultaneously try to keep the unrest and frustration among these staff restrained,” Madhurjee added.
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Chandigarh team robbed in Hardwar
Hardwar, May 7 The Hardwar police has registered a case against the accused. A group of six persons of Chandigarh-based Master Creations Group claimed that the person calling himself a producer looted equipment worth Rs 20 lakh from them. The group of six documentary professionals headed by Kuldeep Singh Bhatti informed the police that they had reached the town on Tuesday morning in a Tavera vehicle and stayed at Hotel Basera in the main market, where the incident occurred. "The accused Harry Gill who introduced himself as resident of Phagwara and at present staying in United Kingdom contacted Master Creations at Chandigarh, a month back," Bhatti informed police and added, "Gill told us that he wanted to make a documentary on the Ganges at Hardwar for Discovery Channel and required men and equipment for it." On the fateful morning of Tuesday, when the group reached the hotel, Harry Gill was already there. "He welcomed the group and served them soft drinks allegedly mixed with drugs and all the six members of the group went unconscious," the police said. "When we woke up in the afternoon, our two cameras and other equipment were not there in the room. We called up the accused on his mobile but it was switched off," they alleged. The PRO Hardwar police, Ashok Kumar Arora, said a case under Sections 328 and 379 of the IPC had been registered.
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