New Delhi, February 16
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today focussed on the reduction of petrol and diesel rates made by the Central Government.

Inaugurating a “Garden Festival”, organised by the Delhi Tourism Department at Garden of Five Senses, the Chief Minister said that the Union Government reduced the rates of petrol and diesel to control the price throughout the country. The rate of onion has also gone up but the Delhi government has opened its outlets at various places to provide onion at a control rate, she said

The festival’s main attraction is that each year there is a theme-based garden planned. The theme this year is “Topiary in Garden Designing”, the art of training and clipping shrubs into ornamented figures. This is an ancient art of India. The Garden Festival makes an attempt to revive this forgotten skill.

About 15,000 plants have been displayed at the garden. There are potted plants, foliage, cut flowers, medicinal plants, hanging baskets, garden equipment, accessories, sale of fresh plants and everything related to the greens.

In the garden section, competition was held in 23 classes consisting of 293 sections besides competition in theme gardens, Dahlia varieties, display section, tray gardens, class and nursery stalls.

Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) won this year’s first prize in the theme “Topiary in Garden Designing”.

The 20th Garden Tourism Festival has a special display by Horticulture department and various corporate houses. There is participation from NDMC, MCD, CPWD, DJB, All India Kitchen Garden Association, Delhi Dahlia Society, Noida and Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority.

The festival has cultural programme on all the days, magic shows, on-the-spot painting competition. The first day of the festival had a fashion show “Colours of Spring” in the evening. The models were attired in the colours of spring flowers. The show was choreographed by Kaushik Ghosh.

The second day of the 20th Garden Tourism Festival will have an on-the-spot painting competion, Bhojpuri songs by Hindi Academy, magic show and Punjabi musical evening by Punjabi Academy.

During the festival, a free shuttle service for visitors will be provided from M.B. Road to the venue and back. The ticket is priced at Rs 15 and the school students in uniform will be allowed free entry.

New Delhi, February 16
From making seating arrangements on the ground floor to setting up six dedicated centres for blind students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made special provisions this year to help physically challenged students during their board examinations.

“This year, a total of 2,132 physically challenged students are appearing for Class 10 and 12 examinations. After discussing the problems they face, we have made a number of arrangements for them,” said CBSE chairperson Mr Ashok Ganguly.

“For the first time, six examination centres have been set up purely for the blind candidates. Besides, we have asked all schools to allow physically challenged students to sit on the ground floor,” he said.

Of the 2,132 physically challenged students, 1,307 are appearing for Class 10 board examinations and 825 students for Class 12 examinations.

So far, blind students get alternative questions in lieu of questions having visual inputs in English Communicative and Social Science in Class 10. In the Class 12 examinations, they can avail this benefit for history, geography and economics.

“Like previous years, this year too they would get one hour more to complete their examinations. Separate question papers in enlarged print for Mathematics and Science and Technology in Class 10 are also provided to blind students,” Mr Ganguly said.

In 2007, a total of 705.152 candidates from 7,658 schools will appear for the Class 10 examinations both in India and abroad - an increase of 8.11 per cent over last year.

Similarly, 502,688 students from 4,789 schools would take the Class 12 examinations both in India and abroad.

This is an increase of 9.59 per cent from 2006.

New Delhi, February 16
An art gallery meant exclusively for physically and mentally challenged children is to be set up in the Capital.

Only the work of ‘children with special needs’ based in India or abroad would be displayed in the gallery.

“The aim is to create a platform for children suffering from intellectual disability, multiple disability and autism to showcase their talent and interact with normal people,” said Dr Shyama Chona of ‘Tamanna,’ the NGO behind the project. Eminent artist Mannu Gupta is likely to design the gallery.

According to Ms Rashmi Wahi, Principal, Nai Disha Vocational Training Center for Special Children, seven inmates at the facility would contribute their work to the gallery. This would include collage paintings and pictures using macaroni.

“Unless we expose these children to outside world, they won’t progress. We have to bombard them with different ideas. We first teach them finger painting, thumb painting and than focus on pattern making. Gradually an artistic taste builds up,” said Ms Wahi.

Ms Chona’s school uses a software program designed to work with a speech synthesizer to improve the productivity level of visually-impaired students. By streamlining keyboard functions, automatic commands and eliminating repetition, the programme helps the blind user to grasp things faster.

Gurgaon, February 16
Women working in night shifts in BPOs, ITEs and other segments of service industry may breathe easy now about the arrangements of their safety and security.

The Labour Department has recommended amendment in the rules of Shop Act allowing conditional allowance to the units to employ females in night shifts. So far the allowance and the conditions were not institutionalised in the rule book.

The Labour Commissioner of Haryana, Mr K.K.Khandewal, considered to have involved his department for systematising labour-related rules and administrative measures in the context of expansion of industry and labour force, is said to have already initiated moves with regard to the welfare of females working in night shifts. Mr Khandewal, who was here, did confirm about the move and said that the safety measures on the part of employers have been made mandatory for proving sanction to employ females in night shifts.

A number of BPOs and ITEs as well as other segments in service industry are increasing in Gurgaon and other parts of National Capital Region. It is in this context that Gurgaon and its neighbouring areas in Haryana have come in focus with regard to the safety of working women.

The conditions for fulfilment of the safety measures for employing females include sanitisation of the work place, recorded entries and exits of person at the gates, the details of private security agencies and their personnel at the units are to be registered with the police, foolproof security measures with regard to vehicles transporting females to and fro their residences.

The department would have the final authority to annul the sanction in mitigating circumstances arising out of failure of the units to implement the enabling security conditions.

Well-placed sources say that the department had to give statutory backing to employment of females in night shift on account of wide-ranging view in the industry and pressure from the public. Also, experts opine that the progressive march of economy, in which the Information Technology Related Services and BPOs are in the vanguard, must be allowed to free flow after making full security provisions for females.

New Delhi, February 16
A Delhi court hearing the complaint of financial irregularities against AIIMS director P P Venugopal, suggested the complainant to get the case transferred to some other court for speedier disposal.

Metropolitan Magistrate Chandrashekhar said in his order that he was unable to dispose of the case faster as he has only one stenographer and work was piling up.

The court was to pass an order on the complainant’s application seeking registration of FIR against Venugopal.

In his complaint, one Abdul Mabood, claiming to be a social activist, had accused Venugopal and AIIMS officials Mayank Sharma and Arti Viz of committing criminal breach of trust by diverting the institute’s funds to extra-institutional accounts and making purchases of consumables without following set procedures.

The complainant had further alleged that a large amount of money was lying deposited in illegal accounts maintained by the accused in violation of the AIIMS Act.

New Delhi, February 16
In its pre-budget memorandum submitted to Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has demanded formation of a ministry of internal trade for systematic and organized growth of non-corporate sector in the country.

The CAIT has also demanded from the Government to declare India a ‘free trade zone’ by removing all sorts of road permits and other trade barriers in inter-state trade.

General secretary of the CAIT Praveen Khandelwal today said that the CAIT had demanded that rationalization and simplification of tax system was the need of the hour, and therefore the Finance Minister should also declare a clear road map for enforcement of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

It is noteworthy that in his last budget speech, Mr Chidambaram had declared enforcement of the GST in India from fiscal year 2010.

The CAIT further demanded abolition of Central Sales Tax while phasing out the same to 2 per cent from April 2007.

During 1981 when price index was 100, the audit limit of books accounts was fixed at Rs 40 lakh but since in the current year the price index has risen up to 6.25, the audit limit should be kept at Rs 2.5 crore. The cash transaction should also be raised from Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000.

The CAIT also said that currently the traders having a turnover of Rs 10 lakh need not keep any books of accounts. With steep rise in price index, the said limit should also be hiked to Rs 60 lakh.

Mr Khandelwal further said that in its memorandum, the CAIT had strongly advocated formation of a trade commission to chalk out a long term ‘ National Trade Policy’ for domestic trade of India, which will be beneficial to traders to design their business and its future growth in a planned manner.

The internal trade of the country is governed by manifold acts, byelaws, rules and regulations framed by the Central and State Governments and as well as by local bodies.

Many such acts are outdated and in most of the cases voluntary compliance is rendered impracticable. Therefore, the Government should constitute a ‘Trade Laws Review Commission’ for an overall review of all such Acts.

New Delhi, February 16
A book titled ‘South Asian Cooperation and the Role of the Punjabs’ authored by Tridivesh Singh Maini was released at India International Center recently. Speaking on the occasion, the author observed that very little work had been done on the two Punjabs since the 70s.

“Despite the fact that a lot has been done towards bringing about a rapprochement between the two Kashmirs, the two Punjabs have not come in for any attention of this sort,” he said.

“The two Punjabs have so much in common; there are emotional, cultural and economic connections between the two Punjabs and despite neglect and hatred, the basic fondness between people of the two states refuses to die,” he added.

The author said that although Pakistan’s political establishment and top brass was dominated by Punjabis, it did not play the ‘Punjab card’ to help build peace.

“The two Punjabs are currently losing out on a better political-cultural-economic relationship that could go far in improving Indo-Pak ties,” Mr Maini said.

“My idea all along has been to give a realistic and holistic picture of the two Punjabs so that policy makers realize that potential,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shekhar Gupta, editor-in-chief of the ‘Indian Express’ expressed surprise at the fact that no one had used or highlighted the Punjab connection.

“There is a movement right now to bring the two Punjabs closer. The two Punjabs have always had a strange relationship; there is intense friendship as well as intense enmity. A new trust has however been built over the last 3-4 years which could lead to a big love affair, like say, a Pakistani coach for the Indian cricket team,” he said.

New Delhi, February 16
The Centenary Final Ceremony of Sh Madhav Rao Sadashiv Rao Golvalkar (Sh Guruji) will be held at Delhi Jal Board Maidan near Sant Nirankari Samagam Sthal, Dr Hedgewar Road (Outer Ring Road), Burari, here on Sunday.

This was announced by BJP Delhi Pradesh President Dr Harsh Vardhan who also stressed on the need to follow the ideals of Sh Guruji and appealed to people to participate in the ceremony.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that Sh Guruji provided guidance to the whole nation as the second Sarsanghachalak of RSS from 1942 to 1973. “He not only propagated the thoughts of this organisation but also guided many organisations like Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Jansangh and Vidya Bharti,” he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that during his 33 years tenure in the RSS, Sh Guruji went around the whole country twice. During this tour, he stayed in the homes of ordinary workers and inspired hundred of RSS workers to serve the motherland and society in general.

Some of his prominent teachings are: ‘If you have to applaud anyone then applaud your nation, the God, the motherland not any individual; one should not discriminate between persons in the work of service whether he is Christian or a Muslim or belong to any other community; every language of India is our national language, Hindi is our national contact language and one should do work which for the good of the country and one should not indulge in any work which is likely to harm our country; Swadeshi is a part of this conduct, we should strictly use swadeshi goods only’.

The Vice President of India Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat will be the Chief Guest at the function and the founder of Haridwar-based Bharat Mata Mandir, Swami Satyamitrananda Giriji Maharaj will preside over the function.

The Sarsanghachalaka of RSS Mr. K.S.Sudarshan, Junapeethadhishwar Awadheshananda Giri, Dr Pranav Pandya head of Shanti Kunj Haridwar and Sadhvi Ritambhara, founder of Vatsalya Gram, Vrindavan are expected to make public speeches on the occasion. 

New Delhi, February 16
The Capital got enveloped in a thin fog this morning even as the minimum temperature crossed the 10 degree Celsius mark.

The moisture in the air also led to a drizzle in some parts of the Capital, leading to a fall in temperature.

The fog, however, did not deter devotees from paying obeisance to Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri.

The Met office said that the minimum temperature in the Capital was 11.5 degrees Celsius, a degree above normal.

The weather office has forecast a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of thunderstorms during the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature was 22.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal, yesterday.—TNS

Bulandshahr, February 16
Anuj Sharma, a young man in Kurli village under Gulawatti police station in Bulandshahr, has been handed down death sentence by the Fast Track Court- 16 of additional sessions and district judge along with a fine of Rs 15,000 for having raped a three and a half year old girl, Tannu. She was later strangled and her body buried in the fields by the accused.

According to prosecution, the minor girl, daughter of Devinder Singh, was playing outside her house in the evening of February 18, 2006, when she was enticed by the accused who took her to some fields at the back of Devinder Singh’s house and raped her. Subsequently, he strangled the girl and buried her body in the fields.

Though the family along with their neighbours had looked for their daughter the whole night, they could not find her. Next morning when villagers questioned the youth, he confessed to having killed the child. The villagers had later dug out the girl’s body from the field.

On February 19, 2006, Devinder Singh filed a case in Gulawati police station against Anuj Sharma accusing him of having raped his daughter.

The judge of the Fast Track Court-16, Ashok Kumar Singh, after hearing the prosecution and the statements of the witnesses, pronounced a death sentence along with a fine of Rs 15,000 on the accused, holding him guilty of the rape and murder.

New Delhi, February 16
It is not uncommon for BSES Enforcement team members to face resistance while conducting raids. However, this time BSES Enforcement team was attacked even when they were accompanied by Delhi Police personnel on an anti-power theft raid in South Delhi’s Kapashera area on Wednesday.

This deplorable incident took place when a joint Delhi Police and BSES Enforcement team after receiving specific information, had gone to inspect Pawan Service Station in South Delhi’s crowded Kapashera area.

“During the course of the inspection, the joint raiding team was attacked and mobbed by Jay Prakash (alias Maddi), Manoj and Suresh, who had gathered in the area. After allegedly using abusive language, they attacked the members of the team. As a result, two members of the BSES Enforcement team sustained head injuries. The mob also damaged the company vehicles,” said a BSES official.

On being alerted, senior BSES and police officials rushed to the spot and prevented the situation from getting worse. Subsequently, an FIR No 56/07 was registered related to obstructing public servant in discharge of their duties, causing hurt, wrongful restraint, assault, criminal intimidation etc at the Kapashera Police Station.

Based on the above FIR and investigations, the police arrested two of the three accused. The third miscreant is absconding. The two were then produced before the court and sentenced to Tihar Jail for 14 days.

According to a BSES spokesperson, “There is over 40 per cent power theft in the Kapashera area.”

Noida, February 16
The District Magistrate, Gautam Nagar, has recommended to the Election Commission that five district level officers be suspended for dereliction in making voters’ photo identity cards and voters’ lists for the coming assembly elections.

All these officers are accused of having absented themselves from a meeting called by the district magistrate, Ajay Chauhan, two days ago. They had also failed to submit a report in this connection.

The district magistrate had called a meeting to review the position of the voters’ photo identity cards, voters’ lists and other arrangements in connection with the coming elections along with the representatives of the Residents Welfare Associations of Noida town.

The officers R S Chandel, Assistant Director, Factories; SS Chaudhry, Executive Engineer, UP Power Corporation; Chander Shekhar, BDO Dadri; Ms Shushma Sharma, District Inspector of Schools; and Mohd Ansari, Asstt Education Officer, Dankore, had to submit their reports regarding the position of the voter ID cards in this meeting. But all these officers had chosen to absent themselves from the meeting.

SDM Dadri, Himanshu Gautam has recommended the suspension of all these officers to the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, an FIR is also being filed against all of them under the Representation of People Act, it is learnt.

New Delhi, February 16
The South district police claims to have nabbed a couple, Mohd Umar (30) and his wife Salma (26), for looting passengers at Sarai Kale Khan ISBT after drugging them with Ativan (Lorazepalm) tablets. This followed a tip-off by one Rehman Khan who, while waiting at platform number three of the bus terminal for a Jaipur-bound bus, was approached by the couple who tried to befriend them by offering him a cold drink.

Sensing trouble, he immediately informed the police, which recovered a sizeable amount of the sedative from the couple.—OC

New Delhi, February 16
A Delhi court has discharged a youth in a case of kidnapping a girl after she deposed that she had gone with him on her own will.

Additional Sessions Judge S N Gupta discharged Wahid after the girl in her statement before the court said that she loved him and was living with him in the Mongolpuri area here.

Faridabad, February 16
The ongoing policy of privatisation and outsourcing in the power supply department has made the two main employee unions of the state join hands in order to put up a strong opposition and get their demands accepted.

A 10-member Joint Action Committee (JAC) has been formed which is authorized to plan statewide agitation on the issue. The JAC has protested over the abrupt transfer of about 15 employees of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam here and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the order.

Disclosing this, Mr Subhash Lamba, a member of the JAC and the district president of the All Haryana Power Corporations Worker Union (AHPCWU), claimed that the state government and the authorities concerned had been ignoring the justifiable demands of the employees and carrying on with the policy of privatisation in the department though it had been proved recently that such a move had failed in either bringing efficiency in the work or providing any relief to the consumer. Despite the assurances by the top brass in the government, there has been no positive result so far.

He said the adamant attitude of the government in this regard had made the AHPCWU and the HSEB Workers’ Union join hands to oppose the matter unitedly.

He said the JAC had decided to ‘gherao’ the Managing Director (MD) of the power corporation.

He said while the demonstrations of the AHPCWU had been put on hold, the JAC-led meetings would be held at the Circle level from February 19 onwards.

It includes demonstration in Ambala, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Yamunanagar, Narnaul, Kurukshetra, Bhiwani, Karnal, Sirsa, Rohtak, Hisar, Sonepat and Panipat.

He said a major demonstration would be held outside the office of the Managing Director of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) at Hisar on March 16. The pending demands of the staff include filling up of about 35,000 posts in the department, shutting down the ‘outsourced’ Customer Care Centres (CCC), withdrawal of the orders for the targets set for the employees and reimplementation of the ex gratia job scheme.

Meanwhile, a memorandum has been submitted to the Chief Engineer of the DHBVN regarding the logic behind the transfer of the 15 employees here. 

New Delhi, February 16
The joint family is on its way out in the Capital with an increasing number of people residing separately from their aged parents, according to a survey conducted by Delhi government.

As per the report, 40 per cent of married sons live separately from their parents either in the same building or elsewhere.

In 29 per cent of the cases, the children resided at places other than with their parents.

Another 29 per cent lived outside Delhi, the report said.

The survey revealed that about 5.5 per cent of the total population in Delhi was in the age group of 60 years and above.

Out of the 8.30 lakh elderly in Delhi, about three per cent (24,935) were living alone, 14.45 per cent (1.02 lakh) with their spouse, 52 per cent (4.31 lakh) with spouse and children, 27.6 per cent (2.29 lakh) were living without spouse but with children and 2.87 per cent (23,850) with other relations.

Around 55 per cent of the 8.30 lakh elderly were fully dependent on others for economic support. 

Gurgaon, February 16
The Haryana government will spend a sum of Rs 4,000 crore for infrastructure development in Gurgaon in the next five years during the implementation of new Master Plan of the city.

This was stated here today by the Chief Secretary of the state, Mr Prem Prashant.

In response to a question, he said that in a recent meeting of Haryana government and World Bank functionaries, the latter has assured the government of financial help in projects relating to the augmentation of water supply, urban development, road networks in Haryana to the tune of Rs 2,900 crore.

The departments concerned have started preparing projects with regard to them, he added.