 |
|
|
IAF steps up relief operations
Armed forces’ healing touch, to adopt 6 villages
International aid pours in
Industry to help quake-hit in Pak
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quake destroys home in Lucknow
Sikh bodies set up camps
Somnath for concerted action against terrorism
Al-Qaida warns of “major battles” in Kashmir
RJD, Congress in EC trouble
Falling sex ratio in India worries UN body
Paperless courts in 5 years
AMU unions’ token strike today
Navy trains South African officers
|
|
IAF steps up relief operations
New Delhi, October 12 Air Vice-Marshal S.C. Mukul, Assistant Chief of Air Ataff, told newspersons here that the IAF was carrying out the relief work on a war footing as weather in higher reaches of Tangdhar and Uri sector was fast deteriorating. He said the force had now deployed five of the six IL-76 transport aircraft to ferry tentage, blankets, warm clothing and medicines to the quake-hit areas. He said the IAF had already airlifted 470 tonnes of supplies for the quake-affected people. He said the second phase of the “Operation Imdad” had begun and food and medicines were being given to people living in the open. He said tents and blankets were bring airdropped in villages near the Line of Control still cut off by road. He said the IAF had evacuated 477 seriously injured persons and carried out 378 sorties till yesterday. Mr Mukul said though weather was hampering flying operations, directives had been given to pilots to reach out to people in stranded areas in the quake-devastated zone. He said blankets, tents, bamboos and tarpaulins had been sent to enable people to erect temporary shelters. Mr Mukul said the IAF was carrying
continuous rescue and relief operations since October 8. |
|
Armed forces’ healing touch, to adopt 6 villages
New Delhi, October 12 National Hydel Power Corporation would also adopt an equal number of villages for reconstruction. "Our main thrust is on speedy relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation...In this regard, I am pleased to announce that Army will adopt two villages, while Indian Air Force, BSF, CRPF and ITBP will adopt a village each for reconstruction," Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal told newspersons. Mr Duggal was speaking after the Inter-Ministerial meeting which reviewed the relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir. These villages would be developed as model villages and the fresh structures to be erected there would strictly adhere to the standards set for construction in such quake-prone hilly region, he said. The Home Secretary said the public sector undertaking— NHPC — which looks after power generation in the state would adopt six villages for reconstruction. Mr Duggal informed that the Ministry of Urban Affairs had already formed an experts' committee for reconstruction efforts in the quake-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The committee has the Ministry of Home Affairs' Consultant Architect, Prof Anand Swarup Arya, as a member. Tsunami-hit people last year, to help the local administration. As regarding the death toll, as per the information available from the state government, it was around 1,300 and was expected to rise to 1,500 with foot-patrol reaching hitherto unsurveyed far-flung areas. The current toll includes 1,195 civilians, he said. "As for the Defence personnel, there is a discrepancy, the toll is either 72 or 85," Mr Duggal informed. He also assured that each and every survivor in the affected areas would be provided with blankets, tents, woollen and other relief before the onset of winter. "As many as 65,000 blankets have already been sent, 90,000 will be dispatched today, and 60,000 are in the pipeline." Mr Duggal further said 2,500 regular tents had already reached the affected areas, while 1,000-2,000 would be sent every day. |
|
International aid pours in
New Delhi, October 12 The Hindu Forum of Britain, an umbrella body of 250 Hindu organisations, has appealed to all British Hindus to “lend their whole-hearted support to the aid efforts in the spirit of compassion exemplified in our tradition.” In a statement, the Forum said it would be working with the Red Cross and Sewa International to ensure that aid reaches the quake- affected areas. It has urged all Hindus to support aid efforts and ensure that essential relief supplies such as blankets, clothes, tents, medical supplies, food and water-purification tablets reach the needy. Oxfam, an international aid agency headquartered in UK, was coordinating relief operations from Delhi. The agency said it had set aside 100,000 pounds for its relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir. It had set up an office in Srinagar to facilitate a coordinated response and information-exchange among volunteers and field staff. Mr Ben Philips, South Asia Policy Coordinator, Oxfam, told TNS that they were focussing on work in Baramulla and Uri where “ thousands of homes have been flattened.” He said people in the UK were providing support to Oxfam relief work in India and Pakistan. “The response to our appeal for donations has been very strong. Tens of thousands of pounds have already been raised,” Mr Philips said. He elaborated that the two key- risks to people in Jammu and Kashmir were cold weather and unsafe drinking water. “The cold weather is an issue. They don't have shelter and have lost their clothes in the earthquake. They have quite a big risk from the weather. “The second problem is about ensuring that the drinking water is safe enough. Our water engineers are already in J and K to
ensure safe water supply. Besides, we have sent a team to J and K comprising nine experts in disaster management.” Mr Philips said. We had taken the interim measure of distributing water purification tablets. It was a race against time. As of now, we were only meeting immediate needs, he said. |
|
|
Industry to help quake-hit in Pak
New Delhi, October 12 The Indian corporate sector is looking the tragedy as an opportunity to provide help to the victims in the neighbouring country, that can prove a strong confidence building measure in the ongoing peace process and bring people of the two countries closer. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has contacted its counterpart in Pakistan, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), to work out the movement of necessary goods like tents, blankets and medicine to the affected areas in Pakistan. Talking to The Tribune, FICCI president Onkar S. Kanwar said: “During this moment of disaster, we are standing with the people of Pakistan and will provide every possible help. I have spoken to FPCCI president Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed and will soon send tents, blankets and medicines to the affected area.” Since over one lakh families had been affected in the far-flung areas in both countries, he said, the Indian corporate sector would stand shoulder to shoulder with them and offer every necessary help. Mr Mahinder Sanghi, president of ASSOCHAM, has also appealed to the members of the chamber to contribute generously to help the quake victims in India and Pakistan. The International ActionAid has launched relief programmes in Indian Kashmir, and is looking for an opportunity to send relief material to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Mr Rai Riaz, Minister Press in Pakistan High Commission, said: “We will welcome every kind of help offered on humanitarian grounds. But people should not talk here of opening the borders and permission to send forces for assisting the victims in Pakistan.” It is not a time to score political points by making such statements. Considering the difficulty of sending relief material from India to the far-flung places in Pakistan, people can make monetary contribution for relief measures, he added. People can directly deposit their monetary contribution in the “Pakistan High Commission- Earthquake Relief Fund-2005” opened with the ABM Amro Bank, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. The CPM and an Urdu newspaper from Hyderabad, he said, had deposited funds in that account. Mr Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general, Confederation of All-India Traders, said: “We have called a meeting for October 14 to appeal to our members to make a generous contribution for assisting the victims in Pakistan and India. However, the Indian Government should also set up a special cell to collect contributions from individuals and institutions for sending relief to Pakistan.” Mr R. K. Gulati, secretary-general, All-India Transporters Welfare Association, said at their meeting scheduled for October 15 they would take the issue of contribution for the earthquake victims in Pakistan and India. |
|
Quake destroys home in Lucknow
Lucknow, October 12 After “dying every minute” for the past four days, the Shuklas finally received the body of their only son on Wednesday. Mother Reshma Shukla looked blankly at the body that was once her son. Holding back her own tears, Mallika held on to her tightly whispering soothing words into her ears. It was a double tragedy for the residents of Sector 18 Indira Nagar as Mallika was not only Prateek’s fiancee — they were to be formally engaged on November 3 and marry early next year — she was also a childhood friend and next-door neighbour. Mallika’s father D.C. Mishra, posted as DIG in the PAC Headquarters, is on duty in front of his own residence. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is to arrive to pay tributes to the bereaved family. Prateek’s father Pradeep Shukla had been an old friend and now they had decided to become relatives. He says that Prateek was like a son. He had grown up next door. “He had called Mallika last on Friday night and they had chatted over the telephone late into the night”. Next morning, he was gone. “For two days, my daughter lost her voice. She wrote messages for me on chits of paper. But then yesterday his letter arrived and she is carrying out her responsibility”. “He was here last fortnight shopping for his engagement. He wanted to ensure that everything went well. He wanted to personally make all arrangements. Who knew this would happen”, laments his cousin Deep Mishra. At the entrance to the lane on which the two houses are situated is a ceremonial gate dedicated to the memory of Major Ritesh Sharma. A Kargil war hero, his house is several houses down the lane. Neighbours are still to come to terms with this blow. Hundreds of people line the lane braving the afternoon sun waiting for the Chief Minister to pay his customary visit before the body could be taken on its last journey to the crematorium. After a harrowing four-day wait for the body, family and friends suffered for another couple of hours as the Chief Minister took his own time to arrive. Announcing a Rs 5 lakh token amount from the government, Mr Yadav consoled the mother who broke into loud wails when the Chief Minister placed a wreath on the body. |
|
|
Sikh bodies set up camps
New Delhi, October 12 It said a base camp was being established in Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasanabdal, where the donations from Sikh community and Gurdwara committees from across the globe would be received and sent for further distribution. The PSGPC president Mastan Singh said America Gurdwara Committee and DSGMC had offered to send donations. Meanwhile, United Sikhs — a non-profit organisation working amongst the Sikhs across the globe — said it had deployed Ghanala earthquake relief teams in the affected areas of both India and Pakistan. The organisation, in an email, said a Ghanala earthquake-relief base camp had been set up in Uri, Kupwara district. Another base camp was being set up in Pakistan at Gurudwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, about 45 km from Rawalpindi, with the help of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC). Efforts were also being made to set up similar base camps in other affected areas of Pakistan. The earthquake, which occurred on October 8, 2005, caused unprecedented damage to life and property in northern parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. More than 40,000 are feared dead, thousands remain buried and millions have been made homeless. Quoting Kuldeep Singh Bali, president of Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Srinagar, United Sikhs said 13 Sikh families lost their homes and suffered injuries in Uri while another 150 Sikh families suffered damages in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. Victims immediately needed dry ration, langgar, blankets, tents, medical supplies, and financial help. He further said the walls of the historic Parampila Gurdwara (Pathshahi Chheween) had collapsed and the Legaima Gurduwara had been completely destroyed. Incidentally, United Sikhs was purchasing emergency supplies such as high-altitude tents and woollen blankets from wholesale markets in Lahore, Delhi, Ludhiana and Amritsar. Jang Bahadur Singh, a professional chef, was heading the Langgar (free community kitchen) camps for the affected people. Bad roads were a major obstacle in the delivery of supplies to the remote areas. United Sikhs had also sought assistance from the Punjab Government. |
|
Somnath for concerted action against terrorism
New Delhi, October 12 Speaking at a banquet, hosted in honour of the visiting British parliamentary delegation last night, the Speaker said the recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom clearly underscored the gravity of the scourge of terrorism. “To us there can be no substitute to friendship and goodwill. Alternative to peace is war or armed conflict, which every country should avoid. Happiness and prosperity of each country and of its people can be achieved by mutual cooperation and mutual respect and that will help in ushering durable peace and development”, Mr Chatterjee stressed. Reiterating India’s commitment to the Commonwealth’s fundamental ideas and principles, the Speaker said the election of Speaker of West Bengal Legislative Assembly Hasim Abdul Halim as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), would add a new dimension to India’s relations with the Commonwealth community. “The Commonwealth and the CPA provide us with an important platform to espouse and follow the true spirit of the Commonwealth based on respect for each other. In a spirit of brotherhood we can help each other to develop and pool our efforts so that those who need help can be assisted by others, not as a matter of charity but in discharge of duty to a fellow member of the Commonwealth”, Mr Chatterjee said. Welcoming the delegation, the Speaker said “Indo-British relations are further strengthened by the nearly 1.5 million people of Indian origin in the United Kingdom. India’s intellectual and academic association with the UK has further deepened the same and I have no doubt that both countries have been benefited thereby”. In response, leader of the visiting delegation, Lord Swaraj Paul, thanked the Speaker for the “unmatched” hospitality extended to them. Agreeing with the views expressed by the Lok Sabha Speaker, Lord Swaraj said “UK values its friendship with India and we look forward to working together in every possible sphere. |
|
Al-Qaida warns of “major battles” in Kashmir
New Delhi, October 12 One particular paragraph in
Al-Zawahiri’s letter should act as a bombshell for Indian security managers wherein the Al Qaida Number Two has warned of “major battles” ahead in Kashmir. “As for the battles that are going on in the far-flung regions of the Islamic world, such as Chechnya, Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Bosnia, they are just the groundwork and the vanguard for the major battles which have begun in the heart of the Islamic world.” The Pakistan Government has also not been spared as
al-Zawahiri spews venom against the role being played by Pakistani Army. While talking of this year’s summer when Al Qaida’s escalated operations in Afghanistan received a blow with the capture of Abu
al-Faraj, al-Zawahiri says: “No Arab brother was arrested because of him (Abu
al-Faraj). The brothers tried and were successful to a great degree to contain the fall of Abu
al-Faraj as much as they could. However, the real danger comes from the agent Pakistani army that is carrying out operations in the tribal areas looking for
mujahideen.” Al-Zawahiri has mentioned a four-stage roadmap for Islamist insurgents in Iraq as follows: STAGE II:
Establish an Islamic authority or emirate in Iraq and then develop it until it achieves the level of a caliphate. STAGE III:
Extend the jihad wave to the secular countries neighbouring Iraq. STAGE IV:
The eventual clash with Israel “because Israel was established only to challenge any new Islamic
entity”. Al-Zawahiri has criticised Taliban for its failure to take everyone along with it. While talking about
Al-Qaida’s plans for Iraq, he has said such mistakes would not be repeated. “We don’t want to repeat the mistakes of Taliban, who restricted participation in governance to the students and the people of Kandahar alone. They did not have any representation for the Afghan people in their ruling regime, so the result was that the Afghan people disengaged themselves from them.” |
|
|
RJD, Congress in EC trouble
Patna, October 12 The Commission has also deleted the names of 20 lakh bogus voters from the electoral rolls across the state to ensure a free and fair election. The Administration sources disclosed that the deletion also included 25,000 bogus voters from the constituency represented by Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Raghopur. Bhagalpur, Patna, East and West Champaran were other areas where the deletion of bogus voters was done in maximum numbers as the Commission reportedly found an abnormal 8 per cent increase in per centage of voters compared to 2001 census. The development concerning Raghopur has indeed embarrassed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav most as the findings lent credence to the allegations by the BJP-JD(U) combine over the existence of bogus voters who finally found their way to ballot boxes as a part of the alleged electoral malpractices with the help of a section of Administration. With regard to BPCC chief Sadanand Singh`s name appearing in the voters list in two places, Bhagalpur District Magistrate Vipin Singh said he had asked concerned officials at Kahalgoan to probe the matter and submit a report. Mr Singh is a candidate from Kahalgoan Assembly seat in Bhagalpur. It was the JD(U) candidate from Kahalgoan, Ajay Mandal,who complained to Election Commission and the district Administration after Mr Singh's name figured in the voters list at Chaudhari Tola in Kahalgoan town as well as in his native village,Dhuabe,in Kahalgoan subdivision. Mr Singh said he was not aware that his name was figuring at two places. "In my affidavit submitted at the time of filing nomination, I said if my name figured at any other place other than Chaudhari Tola, it should be deleted," Mr Singh added. |
|
Falling sex ratio in India worries UN body
New Delhi, October 12 In a report ‘Missing —Mapping the Adverse Child Sex Ratio in India’, the UNFPA pointed out that though the population of India increased by 21.34 per cent between 1991 and 2001, the child sex ratio declined shockingly during the period. In Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, the sex ratio had declined to less than 800 girls per 1000 boys. About 70 districts in 16 states and union territories have recorded a more than 50 point decline in the child sex ratio during 1991-2001. The ratio stood at a mere 770 in Kurukshetra distict of Haryana, 814 in Ahmedabad and 845 in the South West district of Delhi, even though these regions were among the most prosperous in the country. In Punjab, all districts except Nawanshahr, recorded a child sex ratio of less than 900 to 1000 boys in 1991 which worsened with none of the districts recording more than 850 girls per 1000 boys in 2001. In fact, 10 of the 17 districts recorded a drastic reduction in the child sex ration to less than 800 girls for every 1000 boys. Fatehgarh Sahib had the lowest child sex ratio with merely 754 girls to 1000 boys. In Haryana, almost all districts recorded a child sex ratio of less than 850. Districts like Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Sonepat and Rohtak were critical with less than 800 girls to 1000 boys. In Gujarat, Rajkot showed a sudden decline from 914 in 1991 to 844 in 2001. In Mahesana, the situation had become worse with the sex ratio of just 798 girls to 1000 boys. The majority of districts in Delhi recorded a sex ratio of less than 900 with the South West district recording a drastic decline to 845 in 2001 from 904 in 1991. The same declining sex ratio trend was evident in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh.
— UNI |
|
Paperless courts in 5 years
New Delhi, October 12 The scenario was visualised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Justice of India (CJI) R.C. Lahoti during the launching of Rs 854-crore scheme to link the Supreme Court, all High Courts and the lower judiciary, comprising of 12, 423 courts, to a common data base to firm up the justice delivery system here last week. The project involved creating an information gateway between courts and public agencies and government departments using advance scientific tools based on information and communication technology network for the judiciary. The Prime Minister said the government would provide every possible assistance to use the latest technology for upgrading the justice delivery system. The Chief Justice said once the action plan was fully implemented, the country could think of judges functioning in “paperless courtrooms” with the help of electronic devices and computers with a super-fast speed. The project will be implemented in five years in a phased manner. It is being executed under the supervision of a high-powered Supreme Court-appointed committee of experts, headed by Mr Justice G.C. Bharuka of the Karnataka High Court, who himself is a computer wizard. |
|
AMU unions’ token strike today
Lucknow, October 12 Secretary, AMU Staff Union, Rizwan Khan while speaking to The Tribune said all unions on the campus have come under an umbrella organisation, Action Committee for a Movement to Safeguard the Minority Character of the AMU. This committee will resort to a one-day token strike on October 13 when all unions under the banner will attend a joint general body meeting. On Friday a peace march will be taken out from the university mosque near Sir Syed Hall to the DM’s residence. |
|
Navy trains South African officers
New Delhi, October 12 Opening a new chapter in the role and responsibility of this premier submarine training establishment, basic submarine training of the South African Navy officers on the Type-209 diesel-electric patrol submarine started from January 31. The training capsule was designed for combat and technical officers for a period varying from 37 to 53 weeks. The Indian Navy has been training personnel from some 25 friendly foreign countries on a regular basis. |
| 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 | |
Video
