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Cabinet nod to Rs 702-crore
projects for Sonia’s Rae Bareli
Decks cleared for new govt in Jharkhand
Income limit for ST scholarship relaxed
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60% voting in phase-I of Bengal panchayat poll
Delhi’s
shame
Presume accused is juvenile if in doubt: SC to trial courts
Ishrat Jahan’s family alleges threat, demands security
Adolescent health in focus, national policy soon
Ruling on lawmakers Bid to ‘silence’ rape victim in UP
Cut in private tour operators’ quota for Haj
Gogoi: Will implement food ordinance within 6 months
Ahead of crucial Telangana meet, rival factions camp in Capital
India likely to restore cooking gas subsidy to Bhutan
Four Maoists surrender
Atomic board nod to Kudankulam nuclear plant
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Cabinet nod to Rs 702-crore
projects for Sonia’s Rae Bareli
New Delhi, July 11 The setting up of the Indira Gandhi National University for Women at a cost of Rs 500 crore and the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University - as part of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy (IGRUA) - at an estimated cost of Rs 202 crore were approved at a meeting here of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. With the General Election up in 2014 and the Congress not having done well in the constituency in the last round of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress-led UPA government seems to be going out of the way to shower projects for the alliance chairperson’s parliamentary seat in an apparent bid to lure voters on account of development. The Union Cabinet had in January approved the upgrading of NH-232 from Tanda to Banda in Uttar Pradesh. The 289.19km project will be at an outlay of Rs 1,118.79 crore. The project will be developed as a two-lane road in two sections - Tanda to Rae Bareli and Rae Bareli to Banda. Earlier, the Union Cabinet had cleared the setting up of a Rail Coach Factory (RCF) and a wheel-manufacturing factory at Rae Bareli with the idea of generating employment in the region. Giving details of the latest projects cleared by the Union Cabinet for the UPA chairperson’s parliamentary constituency, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari said, “The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of the Indira Gandhi National University for Women in Uttar Pradesh. This will be the first university in the country established exclusively for women.” He said that the Indira Gandhi National University for Women Bill, 2013 would be introduced in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. After its passage, steps would be taken to set up the university. The cost involved is Rs 500 crore during the 12th Plan period. “This will set the pace for all-round growth and development of women in the country and supplement the efforts of the government for women’s empowerment by giving them increased access to employment-oriented basic courses and high-end research,” Tiwari said. The Cabinet also approved the proposal to introduce the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Bill, 2013 in Parliament. Under it, the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University will be established in Rae Bareli district as a Central University and as an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation with an estimated Central funding of Rs 202 crore in Phase-I (2013-14 to 2018-19). It will be set up on the land available with the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy (IGRUA), a society set up as an autonomous body under the Civil Aviation Ministry. About 26.35 acres available with IGRUA have been identified for setting up NAU in its first phase.
On development path
Earlier approvals
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Decks cleared for new govt in Jharkhand
New Delhi, July 11 The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has staked its claim to form a coalition government with the Congress. Briefing mediapersons after a Cabinet meeting here, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said: “The Cabinet today unanimously recommended revocation of President’s Rule in Jharkhand.” The Centre will now request the President to revoke the rule imposed in the state on January 18. It noted that the new alliance had the support of 43 legislators in the 82-member Assembly. On Wednesday, Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed recommended the revocation of President’s Rule to the Centre. It came a day after JMM leader Hemant Soren met him and staked claim to form the next government. The JMM with 18 MLAs had walked out from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in January, necessitating the need for imposing President’s Rule. Earlier this month, the party announced a pact with the Congress, which has 13 MLAs, and has support from parties such as five-member Rashtriya Janata Dal and seven others, including Independents, to form the government. While the term of the Assembly ends in December next year, under the arrangement, the Congress will contest 10 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state. There are reports that it will accommodate the RJD from within the quota. End to Prez rule
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Income limit for ST scholarship relaxed
New Delhi, July 11 The approval came in respect of the “Top Class Education” Scheme for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. It will be enforced from selection year 2013-14. The enhancement of the ceiling of the annual total family income from all sources will enable a larger number of ST students to avail benefits of the scheme. This will also act as a major incentive for ST students pursuing higher and technical education. The decision doesn’t entail any additional burden on the exchequer. Tribal Ministry sources said the former income limit excluded a large number of students so much so that even the allocated budget for the scheme was being left un-utilised. — TNS
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60% voting in phase-I of Bengal panchayat poll
Kolkata, July 11 The voting percentage is likely to go up as long queues at several booths could be seen even after 5 pm. The polling was largely peaceful barring some minor incidents. A Congress worker, Dipankar Ghose, was hit by an arrow shot by a tribal activist of the TMC while he was standing in the queue at Sabong. He was admitted to SSKM hospital where his condition was stated to be critical. "We are getting reports of sporadic violence and scuffles in some places, especially Sabong," state EC secretary Tapas Ray said. The police said that 11 persons were injured in a clash between Trinamool Congress and Congress workers at Sabong in West Midnapore district. The injured included a TMC gram panchayat candidate. Five of the injured were taken to the Midnapore Sadar Hospital, the police said. In another incident, Opposition leader and CPM politburo member Surya Kanta Mishra was involved in an altercation with local Trinamool Congress supporters outside a polling booth at Khadurdah gram panchayat area in West Midnapore district. Police sources said Mishra had an altercation with a group after coming out of the booth where he went to cast his vote, but he was not manhandled. He was later escorted to his car, they said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it was a good sign that elections had been held in the Jangalmahal area that had been an inaccessible area for the common people and the police for the past 34 years. (With PTI inputs)
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Delhi’s
shame
New Delhi, July 11 Rajesh Tiwari, the counsel for the juvenile accused, told The Tribune that the JJB today passed a judgment on the juvenile accused in a robbery case. “The order was not announced in the open court. The judgment will be given to the prosecution and defence counsels in sealed envelopes. If the juvenile is punished for robbery, the JJB will pass the sentence on July 25,” he said. “On the same day, the board will also pass its judgment on the juvenile accused in the gang-rape and murder case. The verdict in this case was to be passed today, but the prosecution and defence gave their arguments. Therefore, the verdict has been reserved,” said Tiwari. The juvenile and the four accused had allegedly robbed a carpenter in Delhi on the December 16 last year, the same day when they also allegedly gang-raped and murdered the 23-year-old girl. The murder charges were added in the case after the girl died at a Singapore hospital on December 29. The police had also claimed that the juvenile was the most-brutal among the accused.
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Presume accused is juvenile if in doubt: SC to trial courts
New Delhi, July 11 “It is better to err on the side of caution in the first instance rather than have the entire proceedings reopened or vitiated at a subsequent stage or a guilty person go unpunished only because he or she is found to be a juvenile on the date of occurrence of the incident,” a Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and Madan B Lokur held. While those above 18 facing criminal charges are tried by normal criminal courts and sentenced to jail if the offences are proved, cases relating to juveniles are heard by juvenile justice boards and sent to correction homes for a maximum period of three years if found guilty of committing even murder and rape under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The SC issued the order after finding that a person sentenced to seven years in a 1988 dowry death case of his wife was later found to be 13 years of age when the crime was committed. He had been convicted by a Rae Bareli trial court in August 1990 and the Allahabad High Court upheld the judgment in 2003 by dismissing his appeal. He then moved the SC and when his appeal was being heard, he raised the question of his juvenile status. Upon finding prima facie material in his favour, the SC asked the Additional Sessions Judge of Rae Bareli to conduct an inquiry. The report stated that the date of birth of the accused was August, 1974 on the basis of school record. To prevent recurrence of such mistakes, the SC directed that “whenever an accused, who physically appears to be a juvenile, is produced before a magistrate, he or she should form a prima facie opinion the juvenility of the accused and record it. “If any doubt persists, the magistrate should conduct an age inquiry as required by Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice Act to determine the juvenility or otherwise of the accused person.” The observations
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Ishrat Jahan’s family alleges threat, demands security
Mumbai, July 11 Addressing a press conference here accompanied by film maker Mahesh Bhatt, Ishrat’s mother Shamima Kauser and sister Mushrat alleged that they were frequently followed by unknown persons whenever they travelled outside Mumbra where they live. “My family and those fighting to protect us are facing threats to their lives,” Shamima said. She said the latest threat to the family was made early this morning right at her residence. “At 2.30 this morning some men kept banging our door and wanted to know whether we are safe. They claimed to be policemen but we did not open the door. After sometime they went away after whispering something to themselves,” Shamima said. Ishrat’s sister Mushrat said the family called up the Mumbra police station to find out if any police personnel were sent to their residence. “However, they told us that no policemen were sent to our house,” she added. The family, through their lawyer, has written to the Central government seeking security for themselves and others supporting them. Shamima said Rauf Lala and Mohinuddin Ismail Syed, who were backing the family, also received threats. Lala said the family was also attacked last month on the night of June 18-19 when they were driving home from the airport. He added that two armed men attacked their car and broke the rear window of the vehicle. Lala said the two assailants were caught by members of the public and taken to the Mumbra police station where a country made gun was recovered from them. He further alleged that the police did not investigate the case properly. They filed a complaint of rash driving and allowed the two to escape even though one of the two men was identified as Firoz Kalia, a shooter.
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Adolescent health in focus, national policy soon
New Delhi, July 11 The theme of this year’s World Population Day (July 11) also centres around the wellbeing of adolescent girls, with data suggesting that globally about 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth each year. Complications from pregnancy and child birth are the leading cause of death among girls in this age group, especially in developing countries such as India. Back home, Health Ministry officials admit that 45 per cent of maternal deaths are taking place in the 15-25 years age group and the number of teenage pregnancies (14 to 19 years) is a whopping four million. Teenage pregnancies make up 16 per cent of total pregnancies in India annually. Admitting that a lot of married teenage girls are delivering children, Additional Secretary, Health Ministry Anuradha Gupta, who looks after reproductive health, says, “The Government is now finalising a national strategy for adolescent health. Already, we have universalised a scheme to provide door-to-door contraction through ASHAs in villages. The results from evaluation of the scheme have been encouraging. We are also shortly recruiting peer educators to apprise adolescents about adolescent-friendly health services.” At present, India’s population is 1.2 billion and is projected to be 1.40 billion by 2026, which means India’s population will exceed China’s in 15 years, making it the most populous country in the world. With only 2.4 per cent of the world’s landmass to support 17 per cent of the world population, the need for population stabilisation can hardly be over-emphasised, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said today. A major gap in addressing the concerns of adolescents arises from lack of sex education in schools. Comprehensive sex education is still not part of the school curriculum. Gupta, when asked whether the Health Ministry was working with the HRD Ministry on the issue, said, “Sex education at schools alone is not enough. We have to focus on providing adolescent services in the community where they live. That is why we are talking of recruiting peer educators.” 4 million teen pregnancies a year
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Ruling on lawmakers
New Delhi, July 11 “We prima facie welcome this order. We have always been for a cleaner and transparent society. But one has to also look at the probabilities of other political parties raising concerns. We will study the judgment in detail,” said spokesperson Renuka Choudhary said. — TNS
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Bid to ‘silence’ rape victim in UP
Lucknow, July 11 The barbaric incident occurred under Jethwara police station area of Pratapgarh last night just when the minor girl had stepped out her house to answer the call of nature. Among the attackers was the alleged rapist’s paternal cousin Inder, who has since been arrested. Two others who were accompanying him are still absconding. The profusely bleeding rape survivor has been admitted to the Pratapgarh district hospital where she is in the critical condition. The girl’s family said they were under intense pressure from the alleged rapist’s family for withdrawing the case and arriving at a compromise. They had informed the police and had sought security which was not given, resulting in last night’s attack, charge the family. On July 24 the minor rape survivor was to appear before the trial court to make a statement under Section 164 of the Cr PC regarding her January 22 gang rape inside her house. The main accused in the incident Lovlesh is behind bars while two others are still running away from the police. Pratapgarh district magistrate Vidhya Bhusan attempted to downplay the incident by claiming that no co- relation should be drawn between last night’s incident and the rape survivor’s impending court appearance. According to him, the court appearance was still “two weeks away”. However, the DM assured to bring the guilty to book as soon as possible. SP Prapgarh L R Kumar said that the girls tongue had not been chopped off with a sharp weapon but had been injured with a blunt instrument.
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Cut in private tour operators’ quota for Haj
New Delhi, July 11 “Cancellations by the Haj Committee of India pilgrims will be transferred to the eligible Haj 2013 PTOs to the extent possible,” an MEA statement said. — TNS
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Gogoi: Will implement food ordinance within 6 months
Guwahati, July 11 Gogoi said he had already discussed with concerned officials in the state implementation of the Food Security Ordinance and claimed that Assam was in an advantageous stage to translate the ordinance into a reality with six months period as stipulated by the Centre given the availability of lists of beneficiaries under various state government welfare schemes like Annapurna, Antodaya etc. “We have the firm basis to finalise the beneficiaries under the Food Security Ordinance as the state government has been running similar schemes for the poor people in the state and the beneficiary list for those schemes are already there,” he said.
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Ahead of crucial Telangana meet, rival factions camp in Capital
New Delhi, July 11 MPs, MLAs and activists from the state streamed in and out of the Congress headquarters throughout the day to represent their cause, the most aggressive being the “United Andhra Joint Action Committee” whose members took “anti-Telangana” placards to the Congress briefing by Renuka Choudhary. “Dividing Andhra is like dividing India,” read the placards. The group had to be whisked away. While the debate continued on when the solution of the problem would happen, voices from within the Congress said any resolution must clearly outline the consequences for stakeholders and address their concerns in black and white. One demand being raised is for a white paper on Telangana to detail how the concerns around water sharing, port access and natural resource sharing would be addressed within regions of the state. Another question being raised by some Congress leaders from the state pertains to the reservations being expressed by Muslim minorities of Telangana. Scheduled Tribes there have already been agitating for a separate state Manya Seema. “If you don’t take these people on board, who will vote for you? While the pro-Telangana sentiment of self- governance deserves appreciation, there is an equal need for clarity on how that sentiment would be realised. The development of Telangana is not an issue. The issue is of the crucial sharing of major resources like river waters, mines. All this has to be delineated in a white paper,” said a party leader. Officially, the party did not attach a time line to the resolution of the issue though Congress general secretary in charge of the state Digvijay Singh told PTI in an interview today that a decision could no longer be postponed, indicating urgency on the part of the party to resolve it. While Andhra has 42 Lok Sabha seats, Telangana region has 17. In the whole debate, the status of state capital Hyderabad remains critical with no region willing to part with it. The option of declaring Hyderabad a UT is being explored, sources said. Digivijay Singh today said the government would take a decision on Telangana in consultation with all political parties because a constitutional amendment might be required to give effect to any such resolution. Tricky issue
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India likely to restore cooking gas subsidy to Bhutan
New Delhi, July 11 “We have conveyed to Bhutan that we will sit with them and hold discussions so that the issue of subsidy can be resolved…we have no intention of causing any hardship to the people of Bhutan,” official sources here said. Last week, India withdrew subsidy on cooking gas and kerosene being provided to Bhutan, creating an unprecedented crisis in the landlocked nation and bringing bilateral ties under strain. When pointed out that the people in Bhutan were facing a lot of difficulties due to India’s decision, the sources explained that the problem had arisen because India’s development assistance agreement with that country expired on June 30. Unfortunately, Bhutan’s own budget also lapsed on June 30.— TNS
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Gadchiroli, July 11 The police identified them as Manku, alias Suresh Pandu Pada (27); Sushilam, alias Kamli Nagsay Pudo (20); Rakesh, alias Komti Doge Lekami (40); and Sammi, alias Girija Papayya Wachami (30). Manku, a resident of Punnur in Etapalli tehsil of the district, joined “Militia dalam” of Maoists in December 2003. He became the “commander” of the dalam in 2008, the police said. — PTI
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Atomic board nod to Kudankulam nuclear plant Chennai, July 11 After the clearance for “first approach to criticality”, some internal formalities are due to be done at the Indo-Russian joint project and power production is likely to start in a month-and-a-half, a senior KNPP official said. — PTI
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New Delhi, July 11
A turnout of over 60 per cent was recorded at Jangalmahal and other Maoist-prone Bankura and Purulia districts in the first phase of the state panchayat poll today.
The voting percentage is likely to go up as long queues at several booths could be seen even after 5 pm. The polling was largely peaceful barring some minor incidents.
More than seven months after a 23-year-old girl was brutally gang-raped and murdered on a moving bus in Delhi, a board conducting the trial of the juvenile accused in the case today reserved its judgment for July 25. Principal Magistrate, Geetanjali
Goel, who is presiding over the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), reserved the verdict on the juvenile accused.
The relatives of Ishrat Jahan, killed by the Gujarat police in an encounter in 2004, today alleged
that they were being threatened by unknown persons and demanded that the government provide them
with security. Addressing a press conference here accompanied by film maker Mahesh Bhatt, Ishrat’s mother Shamima Kauser and sister Mushrat alleged that they were frequently followed by unknown persons.
