 |
|
|
Haryana officials no more ‘yesmen’ now
Lid off call girl racket in five-star hotels
Neighbour held for rape of minor
Tax on bullion may be lowered
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Walled city residents make tracks for India Gate lawns
Credible accreditation system ‘must’
for making India healthcare destination
Cineplexes sound the death-knell for old cinema halls
Successor passed order on land, says suspended SDM
Master of acoustic wave devices visits AIT
Greentech awards on industrial safety
Make college admission process simple: Mukhi
Prayer meeting of Senior Citizens at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj
Tarun-Mitra Parishad office-bearers
|
|
Haryana officials no more ‘yesmen’ now
Faridabad, July 3 This was claimed by the Finance Minister of the State, Mr Birender Singh, while speaking at a function at Sector- 24 here yesterday. This was his first visit to the district after becoming a cabinet member of the Hooda Government. In his address after inauguration of the ‘Help Centre’ of the Department of the Central Excise and Customs on the premises of the Faridabad Small Industries Association (FSIA), Mr Singh took a dig at the previous state government. He said the present government had restored the authority of the officials eroded in the past few years. Claiming that the working in the previous government had become difficult for the bureaucracy, he said the officials had been feeling demoralised earlier. Asking the officials to be more responsive, Mr Birender Singh said that the Hooda Government had already clarified its approach and policies and it was the duty of the officers to put in their best. Admitting that Faridabad which had about two lakh industrial workers and employees and a population of about 10 lakh dependent on the industry, he said there was need to improve the overall environment and basic infrastructure. Stating that while no ‘goonda’ or mafia culture would be allowed to grow, he said the government would see that areas like Faridabad get more financial assistance from various sources, including under the ‘National Urban Renewal Mission’ (NURM), a scheme launched by the Union government under. The state could get an assistance of about Rs 1,029 crore under the scheme. However, the authorities will have to fulfill certain conditions which include development of basic infrastructure, he said. Expressing concern over the growth rate in the agriculture sector in the state, he said it had been reduced to poor one per cent. Earlier, addressing the industrialists at Sector- 24 here, the Finance Minister claimed that there would be no negative effect of the waiving off of the pending power bills of the farmers to the tune of Rs 1600 crore. Haryana’s annual tax collection of Rs 4,600 crore was more than that of its neighboring state of Punjab, he claimed.
|
|
Lid off call girl racket in five-star hotels
New Delhi, July 3 The pimp who has been identified as one Rajesh Yadav, used to lure the girls by advertising in leading English national dailies under the garb of massage parlour Marya and Kavyanjali. Acting on a secret information, the sleuths sent a decoy customer and struck a deal for Rs 20,000 near a popular five-star hotel. After the deal was struck, the sleuths nabbed the three girls along with the pimp. During interrogation, the Uzbekh national told the sleuths that she has been residing in Delhi on a tourist visa, which expires in December 2005. She also said that about 20-40 per cent of her earnings from the flesh trade would go to the kingpin. In another case, with the arrest of three call girls and a pimp, the Crime Branch sleuths claimed to have unearthed a prostitution racket being run in a beauty parlour. The sleuths said that the accused identified as one Karim, alias Guddu, used to advertise in popular Hindi newspapers for luring girls. The sleuths said that the accused earned Rs 75,000 per month from the flesh trade and the girls who were nabbed are in the age group of 19-23.
|
|
Neighbour held for rape of minor
Faridabad, July 3 He raped the girl when she came out of her house to dispose of some waste in Gurdwara Colony of Saran area last night at about
10 pm. It is learnt that the accused pulled her inside his house, covered her mouth and then committed the crime. However, the residents of the area nearby nabbed him when she raised the alarm. He was handed over to the police. A case under Section 376 has been booked after the medical examination of the victim. In another incident, a person identified as Ramesh Chander, working as Air Traffic Controller at Delhi Airport was killed and his father injured seriously, when their car heading towards Agra, collided with a truck near
Palwal town on Saturday morning. It is stated that the accident took place when the truck going ahead of the car stopped suddenly, making the car dash into the rear of the truck. The victim died on the spot.
|
|
Tax on bullion may be lowered
New Delhi, July 3 While the sales tax rate in Rajasthan and Gujarat is much lower at .25 per cent, bullion is taxed at one per cent in Delhi. Delhi Finance Minister A K Walia said that the government has taken up the matter with the chairman of the Empowered Committee on VAT, Ashim Dasgupta, and even discussed the issue with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram. “We have conveyed our concerns to the VAT committee chairman and the Finance Minister about bullion trade shifting from the Capital to the non-VAT states,” he said. Mr Walia said Delhi would take up the issue at the meeting of the Empowered Committee of state finance ministers on VAT, expected to be held in the middle of this month to discuss issues arisen after three months of implementation of the new tax regime in 21 states. “The committee should check any discrepancies that take place due to the implementation of VAT. We will urge it to take some concrete decision in the matter,” he said. If a solution is not found at the meeting of the VAT committee, the Delhi Government would be forced to reduce the tax on bullion on its own. Bullion traders complain that since the implementation of VAT, the Capital has lost 70-80 per cent of the trade in gold and silver to other states.
|
|
Walled city residents make tracks for India Gate lawns
New Delhi, July 3 Many residents of the area claimed that it was a dual enjoyment for them. First the ride in the Metro and then a picnic at the sprawling lawns glistening green under the monsoon rains. Clad in their Sunday best, men, women and children said that it had become so easy to come to India Gate now. Just pay Rs 7 and get into the Metro at Chawri Bazar. Within minutes you are there. “No more pushing your way into the crowded DTC buses or paying through your nose to the autorickshaw wallahs,” gushed a resident of the walled city. The stretch from Kashmere Gate to Central Secretariat was inaugurated yesterday. Since then, it has having a record run of passengers. Metro officials said that today being Sunday, the novelty of the experience had contributed to crowds. Things were likely to stabilise during the week.
|
|
Credible accreditation system ‘must’
for making India healthcare destination
New Delhi, July 3 Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, inaugurated the one-day convention. Organized
by the Indian Confederation for Healthcare Accreditation, the
convention was supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
and World Health Organization. “Various studies and reports have, in
the past, emphasized the necessity of such a system. Even healthcare
insurance cannot gain momentum without accreditation. The creation of
standardized benchmarks addresses a long-felt need in the Indian
healthcare industry, which currently has widely varying standards,”
said Dr Akhil Sangal, CEO of the Indian Confederation for Healthcare
Accreditation. Primarily, accreditation is the process of
evaluating and recognizing excellence of healthcare delivery for
hospitals, integrated service delivery networks and other such systems
as well as professional activities. It is a voluntary process of
development and education through consultation, participation, ‘professionalisation’
and independent peer review. Unlike certification, accreditation
stresses on continuously improving by continually updating, improving
and constantly benchmarking with the passable and attainable. While
on the one hand, India’s healthcare professionals and facilities are
comparable to those available in the west, on the other, it lacks
credibility, which can be built only through accreditation. Once that
is in place, India will surely become a favored medical destination
among foreigners and NRIs, feel experts. The convention aimed to create a mechanism to develop a continuously improving, self-regulating, patient-centered healthcare delivery system, in line with worldwide accreditation practices in various national systems of major countries. “The
Indian healthcare industry has reached a stage where such a system of
accreditation is vital. The creation of benchmarks through peer-review
by professionals is far more credible than externally imposed
standards. A credible and transparent accreditation process is of
assistance to all stakeholders, including providers, receivers and
users, payers and funding agencies, and educators and regulators,”
Dr Sangal said. According to Dr Rajan Madhok, Medical Director,
South Manchester Primary Care Trust & Withington Community
Hospital, Manchester, the UK, “Ensuring good quality health care is
not an option, it is an absolute must. India needs a comprehensive
system for achieving excellence in health care. Different countries
are at different stages in their quest.”
|
|
Cineplexes sound the death-knell for old cinema halls
Faridabad, July 3 Faridabad, the biggest urban centre in the state may be behind its neighboring city of Gurgaon in the upcoming mall culture, but the public here have changed their habits due to the launch of modern
cineplexes, said Sharad, a resident of Sector-9 here. He added though the tickets of these cineplexes have been a bit high for a middle class family, the complexes provide a pleasant option to those who hate going to the old halls. He said now he and his family have been regular to the
cineplexes, where cinema watching has been a completely different experience. It may be recalled that two multiplexes or malls have already been functioning here with about five
cineplexes, having the capacity of about 200 each. At least eight other multiplexes are under construction and each would be having around three
cineplexes. According to Saurabh Duggal, a resident of Sector– 16 A here, opening of new multiplexes with ultramodern cineplex is a welcome development as the residents would have a choice. Moreover, it signalled an end to the era of traditional halls, where the customer had no facility worth its name. He claimed that people from respected families have stopped going to these halls as the hall owners have failed to change and provide facilities despite the threat posed by the ‘mall culture’. Families, especially girls feel safe in the
cineplexes, besides they are air-conditioned, a big difference between the old and new halls, he said. However, social activist and Municipal
Corporator, Mr Hawa Singh Rathi believes that the wave of multiplex and cineplexes has sounded the death-knell for the old cinema halls.
|
|
|
Successor passed order on land, says suspended SDM
New Delhi, July 3 After the order, the plot which had been covered with trees and rocks was cleared, and Lal suspended subsequently. However, he has claimed that he had been transferred to the Employment Directorate as Employment Officer on July 27, 2004, a few days before the controversial order was passed. “It was my successor who gave permission to the owners of the land Amir Chand Singhla and Manoj Kataria to level the land. The permission was given on August 6, 2004, and three months’ time was given to carry out the work,” Lal, a DANICS official said. Member of Parliament and senior advocate R K Anand has also approached Delhi Lt-Governor B L Joshi in this regard and requested that the suspension order of Lal be revoked.
|
|
Master of acoustic wave devices visits AIT
New Delhi, July 3 He has co-authored over 50 publications for which he was awarded the R. A. Ross Medal by the Engineering Institute of Technology. During his visit, Professor Smith interacted closely with the students and faculty members of the AIT and exchanged ideas on engineering education and opportunities for higher studies and exposure to the work culture in Canada. He has now taken initiative to give impetus to academic links with AIT which facilitates transfer of brilliant Indian students from AIT to McMaster University for the coveted Canadian degree in BS programme in computer and electrical engineering. McMaster’s Engineering programme are ranked among the top in North America. The Ansal Institute of Technology in just five years has become a leader in providing international collaborative education that facilitates award of scholarships to Indian students by the overseas universities.
|
|
Greentech awards on industrial safety
New Delhi, July 3 Among the other top organisations that received the Greentech Safety Award in different sectors were: ONGC for Petroleum; ITC for manufacturing; NTPC bagged the award in the gas power sector; Jindal Stainless for
Metallergy; Ballarpur Industries Limited for Paper sector; BPCL for petroleum marketing; and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. for Engineering, The awards were given by the Greentech Foundation, an NGO along with the annual conference and exhibition on `Health safety and environment’.
|
|
|
Artscape
New Delhi, July 3 What added to the charm of the evening was that the show was being held at the recently inaugurated Poorva Sanskrit Kendra, a cultural centre constructed by the Delhi Government for the benefit of the residents of sprawling East Delhi as part of its Greeshmkaleen Bal Mahotsav. The performance, which enthralled the audience, was the result of month-long efforts during the summer workshop at the Creativity School for Slum Children at the Okhla slums. Over 450 slum children, between the ages of four and 17, were taught, painting, dancing, vocal and instrumental music, sculpture, arts and crafts during the workshop. The unique experimental workshop was conducted at the initiative of Acharaya Ranjeet, the creative director of the school who has been actively involved in persuading artists, maestros and other involved in creative fields to lobby for introducing creativity as a subject in the mainstream education system. Incidentally, the school is preparing a model which would be presented before the government subsequently. Acharaya Ranjeet firmly believes that adoption of such a model would help “making education child interest driven at the very primary level”. It would also help in making education a more meaningful and enjoyable activity. That the workshop was a success could be gauged from the enthusiasm and expertise of the performers, many of whom had perhaps seen the stage for the very first time in their lives. So impressed was Ms Mohini Mathur, an eminent theatre personality of the Capital, who was specially invited to grace the occasion that she commented, “You don’t have to evaluate these children on technical points for the dancing. I am personally most impressed by the confidence that these five-year-olds have displayed in their first stage expedition.” Creativity School for Slum Children functions out of an MCD Slum Department allotted Basti Vikas Kendra at Indira Vihar Kalyan Camp in Okhla which has a population of more than 50,000 mostly consisting of migrant labourers.
Talent hunt show
The city last week also witnessed the grand finale of a talent hunt show jointly organised by Sur Aradhana, a local social cultural organisation and Sanoni, an insurance company of the Capital. Some of the well-known names in the film entertainment industry like Bali Brahm Bhatt, Punjabi pop singer, Ashok Masti, dancer Deepa Chari and singers Poonam Talwar and Neha were among the judges for the two categories of competition—singing and dancing. What was interesting was the fact that the talent hunt was open to all and there was no entry fee. A fun evening which had Mr Ram Das Apte and Rani Sahiba Pratibha Singh as special guests. Sanjeev Gar, the CEO of Sanoni later assured all help to the winners to make it big in the entertainment field.
Adventures of Don Quixote
The exhibition of graphic panels, music and film excerpts relating to the adventures of the famous Don Quixote and his sidekick, Sancho Panza is drawing considerable crowds at the India International Centre here. The exhibition is on till July 6 and it narrates through the most memorable milestones of the duo from the famous book about them.
Pankaj Mohan’s oeuvre on show
From July 2 to 12, Drishti here is showcasing the paintings of artist Pankaj Mohan Aggarwal. Aggarwal’ paintings reflect his vision which he claims he encounters when he is in deep meditation. The visions, which have both form and colour, are then translated onto canvas.
Abstracts of Madhuri P Badhuri
The Nitanjali Art Gallery is also presenting the abstracts of Madhuri P Badhuri, Kishore Roy and Sachindranath Jha. The exhibition is open to the public till July 31.
|
|
|
Make college admission process simple: Mukhi
New Delhi, July 3 The students with 80 per cent of marks are running from pillar to post to seek admission in the colleges, but of no avail. Prof Mukhi said that the students have to fill some 20-25 applications for getting admission in colleges despite obtaining 80 per cent. Alleging that the present situation is because of lack of wrong policies adopted by the government and Delhi University, Prof Mukhi demanded the government to simplify the process of admission.
|
|
|
Prayer meeting of Senior Citizens at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj
New Delhi, July 3 S Baldev Singh (Rani Bagh), sr vice-president Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Managing Committee, S Bhajan Singh Walia, S Avtar Singh Kalkaji, S Harjinder Khanneja, S Mahinder Singh Bhullar, Shamsher Singh Sandhu, Manmohan Singh Mohain (all members, Delhi Gurudwara Committee) were present on the occasion. They encouraged the new organisation and offered complete cooperation.—TNS
|
|
Tarun-Mitra Parishad office-bearers
New Delhi, July 3 Mr Ajay Jain, Mr Alok Jain, Mr Anand Jain, Mr Arvind Gupta, Mr Mahesh Jain, Mr Partap Jain, Mr Rakesh Jain, Mr Subhash Jain and Mr Vineet Sharma were elected members of the executive committee in the meeting. Mr Subhash Jain, election officer, administered the oath to all to serve the needy.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
