New Delhi, November 25
The Delhi Cabinet today gave its nod to start the process of relocation of JJ dwellers by formation of Multipurpose Co-operative Societies. The Cabinet has also given its approval to extend the services of Kashmiri Migrant teachers up to March 31 next year.

Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit and Urban Development Minister Dr. A.K.Walia said that a slum policy has been approved by the Cabinet which will replace the scheme of allotment of alternative plots with scheme of relocation of slum dwellers in one room tenements in four storey buildings to be constructed by DSIDC.

She added that estimated cost of each tenement is Rs. 1.55 lakh and said that there are 6 lakh jhuggis on 1,078 clusters where 30 lakh people have been residing without any basic amenities.

Ms Dikshit further said that the process of relocation of slum dwellers will be started in a phased manner and approximately 935 hectares of public land is under encroachment. Out of 1,078 clusters, 700 are on DDA land, 76 on L and DO land, 65 on Railways land, 13 on Slum Department land, 23 on MCD land, 16 on Gram Sabha land and 11 on Delhi cantonment land.

While giving details of the approved policy Ms Dikshit said the share of land owning agency has been increased from Rs 29,000 to Rs 50,000, share of Government of Delhi from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 and share of beneficiary from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

As per approved policy, one room tenement consisting of single room with attached toilet and kitchen area in four-storey building in 24.5 Sq. meter area will be allotted to each JJ cluster family.

A loan of Rs 40,000 from HUDCO and a grant of Rs 40,000 will be made available to the allottees. The registrar of co-operative societies will form multi purpose societies of slum dwellers. These societies will be allotted the tenements on lease hold basis the individual beneficiary will not have any lease right.

To begin with, 16,000 families will be relocated at a cost of Rs 248 crore and each society will be allotted one acre land to relocate 200 families. The government also identified as many as 41 sites for construction of four storey tenements.

A committee under the Chairmanship of Delhi Chief Secretary has been constituted to look in to the issues relating to in-situ up-gradation of slums and possibility of involving private participation in relocation projects. The committee will have representatives of DDA and L&DO and other land owning agencies as its members. 

New Delhi, November 25
The Delhi Government today decided not to allow any more private liquor vends in the Capital, reversing its three-year-old policy.

Also, warehouses in residential and agricultural areas would not be allowed even to store alcoholic products. But the government permitted the sale of beer in the international lounge of the IGI Airport, reduced the duty on imported beer, cut the price on the smallest bottle of country liquor and allowed Canteen Stores Department (CSD) outlets to store imported liquor.

A meeting of the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Ms Sheila Dikshit also decided to stop issuing L-52 permits which allowed private liquor vends to be set up, Finance Minister A K Walia told reporters.

Under the L-52 policy, started in 2002, 95 private liquor vends had come up across the city, some in residential areas, drawing criticism from citizens groups, opposition parties and even some Congress MLAs.

The protests had forced the government to suspend issuing new permits a few months ago after which 70 applicants moved court. Though a lower court had favoured the applicants, the

Delhi High Court earlier this month upheld the right of the Government to decide its own policy.

Dr Walia admitted that “There was some resistance from residents (towards the new liquor policy)”.

Besides the 95 existing private vends, which can continue to function normally, there are 314 owned by the government selling Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and 96 exclusively for country liquor.

The Cabinet is scheduled to take up the issue of reducing the legal age of buyers of alcoholic products from 25 to 21 and allowing 24-hour bars in five-star hotels. But these were not discussed as the government would bring a new excise policy in a year. “These issues can be taken up while formulating the policy,” Dr Walia said.

Also, the sale of beer was permitted in the international lounge of the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Besides, the duty on imported beer was reduced from Rs 75 to Rs 30 and CSD stores allowed to stock imported liquor. The government also “rationalised” the price of a nip (quarter bottle) of country liquor by bringing it down by Rs 2 to Rs 13.

“Earlier, the quarter bottle cost Rs 15, half Rs 25 and full Rs 50. By rationalising the cost of the nip, we hope to discourage people from consuming spurious liquor,” Walia said.

The new measures would net an additional Rs 8 to 10 crore for the government from the sale of liquor. The annual revenue target for the excise department is Rs 925 crore. 

New Delhi, November 25
The directive of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to provide full fee waivers to girls, who are the only child of their parents, was meant to be an incentive for sending the girl child to school. However, educators have expressed apprehensions that the scheme might prove contrary to the intentions of the Board.

Schools across the country have suggested modification in the scheme that seeks free education for girls who are the only child of their parents, irrespective of their financial status.

The National Progressive Schools’ Conference has even sought the withdrawal of the directive issued by CBSE in October this year. “We are equally concerned about the education of the girl child, but schemes should be need-based. It makes no sense to give free education to girls who come from well-off families. And why single out the boys, especially those who come from weaker sections,” said Ms Usha Ram, Principal, Laxman Public School and member of the NPSC.

Claiming that the scheme will bring down the enrolment of girls in schools, Ms Sadhna Bhalla, Principal, Mira Model School, pointed out, “if schools are asked to provide free education to girls, many schools that cannot afford to do so will stop admitting girls.”

Pointing out that the scheme will add to the financial liability of parents who are already paying exorbitant sums as fees and taxes, Mr R. C. Shekhar, Principal, Gyan Bharti School, said, “even if such a scheme were to be implemented, who will bear the financial burden. Eventually, it will be other parents who will find themselves saddled with the additional burden.”

The flaws in the scheme educators’ claim are many. “If a child is extremely poor in studies, but comes from a well-off family, does it make any sense in giving her a scholarship,” questioned Mr S. S. Minhas, Principal, GHPS, Vasant Vihar.

The Board had asked schools to consider extending 50 per cent concession in fees for every girl student, who is one of two daughters and are also the only two children in a family. 

New Delhi, November 25
Producers of Bollywood blockbuster ‘Mangal Pandey: The Rising’ would arrange a special screening of the film on Sunday for Justice A K Sikri of Delhi High Court who is hearing a petition filed by the martyr’s ‘descendants’ who accused the film-makers of portraying him in a poor light. During arguments on the petition, senior counsel for the petitioners M N Krishnamani and producer Bobby Bedi’s counsel Pravin Anand suggested that the court should watch the movie to appreciate the arguments of the parties properly.

Agreeing to it, Justice Sikri fixed Sunday for viewing the Aamir Khan starrer which will also be open to the scribes covering the Delhi High Court. The viewing will be arranged by the producer of the film.

The court fixed November 29 for further hearing. Meanwhile, in a written submission in the court, Bobby Bedi claimed that the film was not disparaging to Mangal Pandey from any angle and rather it glorified his courage and sacrifice and portrayed him as a hero in every sense. He, however, said the film was a work of fiction (not a documentary or a biography) and certain characters and incidents had been fictionalised and dramatised. He also questioned the petitioners’ claim to be descendents of Mangal Pandey. Raghunath Pandey, Vice Principal of a Kendriya Vidyalaya here and his son Omkar Nath Pandey – descendants of the martyr’s brother Lalit Pandey – had filed the suit seeking an unconditional apology from all those involved in the making of the film for allegedly showing Mangal Pandey as an alcoholic involved in a relationship with a prostitute.

The petitioners have sought notional damages of Re 1 from the defendants for allegedly “defaming and disreputing Mangal Pandey and the entire Pandey family and their succeeding generations by falsely claiming that the film’s story was based on actual events”. The court had earlier issued notices to the film’s joint producers Bobby Bedi and Deepa Sahi, director Ketan Mehta, story writer Farooq Dhondy, distributor Yash Chopra, Aamir Khan and actress Rani Mukherjee in the matter.

New Delhi, November 25
The Delhi High Court today directed Municipal Corporation of Delhi to take action against the Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer responsible for Green Park area on allegations that they connived with encroachers in the area.

A Division Bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma passed the order on an application filed by Green Park Residents’ Welfare Association.

Association’s counsel showed certain photographs which made the court angry.

The court sought an action taken report in this regard from the MCD within 15 days. Observing that these officials were taking salary from the public exchequer and they cannot abdicate their duties in this manner.
Earlier, the court had on October 21 directed the MCD Commissioner to take appropriate action against a Licensing Inspector who backed out from the instruction given to the civic body’s lawyer in court during hearing of the case.

Earlier, the Bench had directed the MCD and city police to remove all squatters - licensed or unlicensed - from Green Park Extension area of South Delhi. The court said only PCOs and taxi stands could be allowed to operate on footpaths and not others.

New Delhi, November 25
The Delhi Lt. Governor Mr B.L. Joshi today said that if sincere efforts are made in the infrastructure sector, the goal of the growth of economy at the rate of approximately 8 per cent growth per year can be reached and sustained.

Stating this at the first National Conclave of Engineers-in-Chief of PWDs organized by PWD of Government of Delhi here today, Mr Joshi said the Engineers-in-Chief at the helm of the affairs of the infrastructure sector are required to play a highly important role in the realization of our vision of India as a developed country by 2020.

He said that in order to possess world-class competence and caliber along with a high level of professionalism; our work force in the infrastructure sector needs to practice Total Quality Management and highest professional standards.

Mr Joshi said there is a lot to learn from the good practices of project management from around the world and even from our own country’s best-managed projects like Delhi Metro. He also exhorted the engineers to contribute their mite in support to nation’s economy and in improving the quality of life of the people.

The Lt. Governor asked the engineers to encourage environment-friendly construction and use of construction material such as fly ash.

D.G. (W), CPWD, Mr B. Majumdar, Pr. Secretary, PWD, GNCTD, Ms. P.M. Singh and Engineer-in-Chief, PWD, Delhi Mr R. Subramanian were present on the occasion.

New Delhi, November 25
As if the ongoing trade fair in Pragati Maidan and the slew of constructions for laying tracks for the Metro were not enough, people are now stranded for hours owing to the rush of wedding processions.

With Wednesday through Saturday being auspicious dates for weddings, there are a whopping 10,000 plus weddings scheduled per day. It also means that traffic woes in the city can only be expected to worsen. Banquets, hotels, local marriage halls and parks are all booked.

Even as florists, caterers and decorators have been rushing to meet deadlines the commuters are busy studying road maps to work out the best way to get home without getting stranded. “There are few auspicious dates in November and most people want to get their weddings solemnised during these dates. My diary is full and I have more than two weddings everyday for the next few days,” said a priest at Laxmi Narayan Temple. Though the exact number is difficult to ascertain, it is being pointed out that a large number of couples will tie the knot during this auspicious phase, which has spelt more work for the traffic police as well. A large number of personnel have been deputed to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and prevent untoward incidents. And despite a blanket ban by the Delhi High Court against marriages at farmhouses, weddings are on in these lavish environs. Many families claimed that owing to the great marriage rush they were forced to opt for farmhouses, as there were no community halls available.

The ones who have made the last minute decision to tie the knot are anxious to get a place to solemnise the vows.

However, even those who made the reservations early are worried about the smooth execution of the plan.

“The booking was made well in advance, but we hope that the execution on the D-Day is without any glitches. The caterers and the decorators are up to their ears in work and just hope that in trying to serve too many families they do not end up in a muddle,” pointed out Rakesh Gupta, a resident of Pitampura, whose sister is getting married. On the other hand, wedding planners are busy arranging honeymoon packages for the newlyweds and hoping to make the best of this wedding season. Rajesh, who works for a wedding band, said, “it is not everyday that we get to play for a wedding, and with so many offers we will definitely get the price we quote.”

Noida, November 25
Illegal colonies have reportedly come up in Sectors 86 and 87 here, which means most of the land of the Noida Authority in these two sectors is already under illegal possession.

Almost one lakh sq metres land in Naya Gaon and Illabas has been in illegal possession for the past three months. An outside coloniser and local people have reportedly joined hands to usurp public land.

The Noida Authority is understood to have sent a proposal for 159 hectares of land for acquisition under Section 4 to the district administration. In the meantime, an illegal colony was reported to have been developed on 100 bighas of land ie one lakh sq metres, which has virtually covered most of the area of Sectors 86 and 87.

According to the Noida Authority officials, who do not want to be quoted, the Authority has no power to stop the encroachment of land, which it has not yet bought from the farmers. The district administration should protect every inch of public land from encroachment till it is handed over to the Noida Authority under Section 4. The actual position, the Noida officials say, is that till November 10, 2005, a file pertaining to developing illegal colonies on Khasra Nos 139 and 155 in Yakubpur and Illabas was lying with the Land Acquisition Department and on November 24 this file had suddenly reached the Civil Construction Division-II. Nobody seems to know with whom this file was pending for 14 long days.

Noida had many years ago sent a proposal for acquiring 111 hectares land in Barola village where plots of illegal colonies are being sold in a nefarious way. After 18 long years, this proposal has been now received back from the administration for modification when only 55 hectares land is left as per this proposal.

In Aganpur village, a market is being developed on a 5000 sq mt area under Khasra No 433. Here some outsiders are involved. Similarly, in Govardhanpur village land under Khasra No 194 has been illegally occupied. The situation is so bad that there is no land for the construction of a girls inter college in the village.

Gurgaon, November 25
Prominent social scientists, mediapersons and academicians today stressed on the empowerment of Dalits in national interest and also urged the media to play a pro-active role in this effort.

A Rajya Sabha MP and former secretary to the Government of India, Dr R. K. Nayak, addressing a seminar on the theme, ‘Empowerment of Dalits: Role of Media’, organised by the International Media Institute based here and headed by the former chief of Delhi-based Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dr J. S. Yadav, emphasised the need to understand, articulate and project the problems and perceptions of Dalits and other weaker sections of Indian society.

The mainstream media was not interested in espousing the cause of the weak.

The media voiced the feelings of the strong. As such, there was need for Dalit media, newspaper and TV channels to give expression to Dalits, he added.

Dr Yadav said the media had great power in creating awareness and changing the mindset of people in favour of empowering the weaker sections and facilitating the process of equality and social justice.

Former Editor of PTI Bhasa, Ved Pratap Vaidik, who chaired one of the sessions, emphasised the role of journalists in taking a stand against social evils of the caste system.

Dr Vivek Kumar of JNU made a presentation highlighting that little progress had been made, notwithstanding the promises, in 57 years of independence. According to him, Scheduled Castes accounted for more than 16 per cent of the total population of the country as per the 1991 census. Historically, Dalits had been the poorest people in India who were structurally subjected to various kinds of social discrimination and economic deprivation.

It was also a fact that the cumulative deprivation suffered by the Dalits had the tacit support of the Hindu social order that took refuge in its sacred texts to justify the seclusion of one-fourth of Indian population, he added.

Dr Kumar alleged there had been inherent bias against the Dalits on the part of the media in news and views presented in newspapers and agencies.

Several others speakers also spoke in the same vein. 

Noida, November 25
An officer of the Noida Authority lost his 20-year-old son to dengue, the third death from dengue. Last month, dengue had claimed the life of a Noida officer.

The condition of the young patient, who was rushed to Kailash Hospital at 11 am on November 23, had worsened sharply. He breathed his last late last night. He had been kept on life support system for the last 24 hours. This is the third death from dengue in GB Nagar district.

Rony, son of Mr S. C. Gupta, a deputy manager in Noida Authority’s Institutional Department, was admitted to Kailash Hospital but within four hours his condition became 
critical as he went into a coma.

In spite of all efforts, Rony breathed his last at 8 pm yesterday.

According to the Kailash Hospital Chairman, Dr Mahesh Sharma, the condition of the patient was quite worrying even at the time of admission as his platelet count was 12,000 only. Dengue had been confirmed in the IGG test and the IGM was negative. Blood was oozing from all over his body. Earlier, two dengue patients had died in the city a few days ago – K. K. Sharma, a Noida Authority employee, and New Ashok Nagar resident Ankit, 11, had both died of dengue. Besides, samples of 20 other dengue patients had been sent for examination to the NICD, New Delhi, but the reports are awaited. 

Noida, November 25
A Blueline bus was gutted in a fire at Kalindi Kunj road yesterday but all 50-odd passengers had a miraculous escape. The fire is said to have originated in the engine of the bus (DL-1 PB 5845) plying between Greater Noida and Badarpur. Some diesel had spilled over, which got ignited due to some sparks. The bus, full of passengers, was going from Noida to Badarpur.

The engine of the bus caught fire near the police post at Okhla Barrage. As the fire spread in no time, panicked passengers jumped out from the rear door, windows etc. The CNG cylinder in the bus was immediately removed by the staff. It took fire engines and the police half an hour to put out the fire. – OC

Faridabad, November 25
The district administration may well be patting its back for avoiding a more serious outcome of the violence and the clash that took place as a result of the death of a student caused by rash and negligent driving by a Haryana Roadways bus driver at Ballabgarh town yesterday.

The incident, which caused a huge loss and damage to the property, points to malfunctioning at the official level also. While the authorities have announced no action will be taken against the mob which indulged in violence, the question of pinning responsibility for the violence and the damage could put the officials in a fix. At least two Haryana Roadways buses had been burnt down and over a dozen others got damaged in the violence. Besides, the property of the bus stand was also damaged.

The action of the administration regarding yesterday’s incident is seen as a very cautious and defensive approach which had been primarily taken in the background of the police and factory workers’ clash at Gurgaon a few months ago, feel local political observers. But some persons here also question the decision and announcement of the authorities here not to book any of the persons involved in yesterday’s violence or take legal action against all those who took the law into their hands.

On condition of anonymity, a local resident said it was a wrong decision, though the officials might be extra cautious to avoid any further clash among the students and police. He said not taking action gave a clear and loud message to all those who were ready to take recourse to such action on any demand. Quoting the example of the residents of the Housing Board colonies here, he said thousands of people who were likely to be affected by the move of the government to close down illegal shops and commercial establishments in the residential areas could also take to violence. He queried whether the administration would deal with them also in the same manner.

Social activist K. L. Gera said the violence by the students was mainly the result of the careless attitude and approach of the officials towards the pending demands of the students, who had raised issues including non-stoppage of the Roadways buses at the halts located near the college or the callous attitude of bus staff towards the pass holders. He said such an incident required speedy action by the authorities and asked who would be now held responsible for the damage caused to government property. Several anti-social elements could have taken the benefit of police inaction.

Noida, November 25
The attendance in government offices here has been badly affected due to a week-long strike by the state government employees.

It has obviously affected the working of the offices and increased the inconvenience of people, especially farmers, who have to visit government offices for various purposes.

The striking employees are on a dharna. Their colleagues have put padlocks on various district offices like CDO, ADO, district panchayats, the revenue department, entertainment department, panchayat departments, rural development and civil supplies offices etc. Certain employees were seen picketing at the gates of various government offices, dissuading and turning away those colleagues who wanted to attend office.

The main demand of employees is the merger of DA with basic pay and payment of arrears from 2004. An employees’ union leader said if the government did not stop its ‘dual and discriminatory policy’, the stir could spill over on to the roads.

During this week, most of the staff have remained away from their offices while the common man has been facing a lot of inconvenience, especially villagers, who have to come from distant places.

New Delhi, November 25
The ‘Martyrdom Day’ (Shaheedi Purab) of Guru Tegh Bahadur was observed today and kirtans were arranged in all the Gurdwaras. Thousands of devotees paid their respect in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj and Sis Ganj Sahib.

The Secretary of All India Citizen Committee, Pramod Arya, asked the people to follow the path of harmony and love as preached by Guru Tegh Bahadur. The President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Sewadar Committee (Ladies Wing) Bibi Ravinder Kaur, ridiculed the practice of Sikh youths trimming their hair and beard and consuming alcohol. The President, Shiromani Gurdwara Sewadar Committee, Jathedar Raja Singh Sethi, welcomed the proposal of sending a Jatha with Palki from Bangla Sahib to Pakistan. 

New Delhi, November 25
Delhi Police have arrested two persons for allegedly betting over the cricket match between England and Pakistan on November 24. The accused have been identified as Vikas and Vipin.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police nabbed the duo from a Shalimar Bagh residence from where the accused were allegedly operating the satta racket. Police claimed to have seized television sets, mobile phones, pens and notebooks carrying entries of satta.
– TNS 

New Delhi, November 25
‘Disabilitytheatre’, a production house dedicated to promoting integrated art and culture for people with disabilities, will be celebrating a week-long cultural festival to commemorate the “World Disability Day” on December 3 in the Capital.

The event will feature world-class theatre productions, paintings and an international film festival by and on differently-abled artists and actors. The producer of ‘disabilitytheatre.com’, Ajay Sharma, said, “We are pleased to create this professional platform to showcase the holistic mega therapeutic dance-theatre projects of this magnitude by differently-abled people.” 
– TNS