New Delhi, February 23
Thousands of primary teachers from across the country are all set to picket outside Parliament on February 26 and 27. They are planning a mass rally which starts from Ram Lila Maidan and ends with picketing outside Parliament on both these days.

Teachers are planning to hold this massive demonstration to register their protest before Parliament on ‘unjust provisions’ of the Right to Education Bill, 2006. More than 55,000 teachers are expected to take part in this rally. The rally is being organised by the All India Primary Teachers Federation or the AIPTF.

Sources within the AIPTF inform certain provisions of the Model Right to Education Bill, 2006, are against teachers and the administration of education. They allege if the Bill is passed it will lead to a total collapse of the administration of education throughout the country.

The teachers are upset with the model Bill’s provisions relating to the constitution of school management committees for every school with vast powers having far-reaching implications. This committee, the SMC, will be empowered with authority to disburse salary to teachers, take disciplinary action against them and also make appointments. The AIPTF feels the SMCs will be easily corrupted and this may lead to a collapse of the school system.

The AIPTF is also opposing provisions of the Bill relating to school-based cadre of the draft Right to Education Bill, 2005-06. This provision states that once a teacher is appointed in a school, she cannot be transferred on any ground. This may adversely affect women teachers who have husbands in a transferable job. They can also lose their promotion prospects due to this factor. This will subject women teachers to unnecessary hardships.

Teachers are demanding stopping the recruitment of para teachers and bringing the already appointed para teachers into the mainstream with regular training. They also want the implementation of the Chattopadhyaya Committee regulations by the Sixth Pay Commission, withdrawal of the pension scheme and allocation of 10 per cent GDP to education. Alongside, a reworking of the model Bill for Education, 2006. 

New Delhi, February 23
Elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be held on April 5. The notification for election would be made 27 days before the date of election, Mr S. P. Marwah announced today.

The forthcoming civic poll will see the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the first time.

The contest will be for 272 wards with the number of constituencies of the civic body having doubled from the earlier 134 as a result of a recently concluded delimitation exercise.

While the notification for the poll would be made on March 10, the last date for filing nominations would be March 17, Mr Marwah said.

He said scrutiny of the nominations would be done on March 19 and the last date for withdrawing nominations was March 22.

The election process was slated to be completed by April 9.

The election code of conduct would be enforced from today till one and a half months and no transfer, inauguration of any project or any appeasement work could be made from today. Posters, banners and hoardings had been banned in this election.

Politicians were also waiting for the court’s decision on the writ petition filed by Congress councillor Ramesh Datta in connection with the reservation of seats in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. He appealed for rejecting the reservation of seats made by the state Election Commission. Mr Datta contested the last election from Minto Road ward. His segment this time had been declared as reserved for women. “This has been done willingly to damage my political career”, he said.

On the other hand, Independent councillor from Okhla segment Asif Mohammad Khan has filed a petition against the raise in the number of seats in the MCD from 134 seats to 272.

Ghaziabad, February 23
Key Nithari accused Moninder Singh Pandher and Surender Koli were presented in the special CBI court here amid tight security yesterday.

The court extended their remand by eight days. Now, the accused will be brought to the CBI court on March 2. Strict security arrangements have been made by the Ghaziabad police this time. The court premises look as if they have been converted into a cantonment.

The CBI had presented the accused in the court by 10 am. It took the court only five minutes in pronouncing its orders. The CBI has, thus, obtained a remand for 64 days for the accused out of the maximum 90 days allowed.

In view of Holi, a request for extending the remand for eight days was made by the CBI.

It was feared if the remand ended during Holi holidays, it could lead to some technical difficulties.

Strict security was maintained upto 10. 15 am in the court complex so that ordinary litigants were not put to any inconvenience. In view of the security lapse and beating of Moninder and Surender on the court premises last time, senior police officers were seen along with SOs of many police stations with their respective constabulary. Security was relaxed after 10.30 am when CBI sleuths escorted the accused out of the court complex.

New Delhi, February 23
Indian women, known for their strength, affection and tolerance, would be ruling the country in the 21st century, professed Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The strength of Indian women lay in the fact that they did what they said. She was addressing a function at SPM College at Punjabi Bagh in West Delhi. She said the time had come now to acknowledge the work of women by quantifying the output in terms of monetary compensation. Such financial quantification would help in ascertaining the status of women in society.

Ms Dikshit stressed on the fact that more than 75 per cent of work was done by women but it went unrecognised and unacknowledged as most of it was in the unorganised category.

Detailing the role of women in the family and society and their contribution to productive activities, the government acknowledged it and was doing everything possible to help women secure an equal and respectable status in society.

The contribution of women in public life had a long history and it was unfortunate they had to fight for equal status even today.

Stressing that gender related inequality was prevalent even more in rural areas, she said the situation could improve only if women were to become independent decision-makers. The solution to this, she said, lay in women getting educated so that they could claim their rights instead of just accepting what was given to them.

The Chief Minister called on women to come forward and gain economic and social status through empowerment. Such empowered women could then create awareness and be role models to other women.

She further said it was time now for the women to unite and prove that they were not weak and meek. If they were united, nobody would be able to stop them from emancipation. Prominent among those present on the occasion were the Chief Whip of the Delhi Assembly, Mr Ramakant Goswami, Mr Rajesh Dabas of the governing body and Dr Surjeet K. Jolly, Principal of SPM College.

New Delhi, February 23
In a unique step to promote adventure sports among physically and mentally challenged children in the country, the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) is inviting applications from children with disabilities as well as from organisations looking after them for adventure camps and rock climbing training.

The training, especially designed to impart basic climbing skills to children with disabilities in the age group of 8 to 18 years, will involve conducting three types of camps—a two-day introductory rock climbing training at Indian Mountaineering Foundation campus in New Delhi, a ten-day Adventure/Mountaineering Training Programme for physically challenged children (age 8 to 18 years) at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, and a 15-day Adventure/Mountaineering Training Programme for visually impaired children at the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sport, Manali..

IMF feels that this step is aimed at creating an inclusive society where physically challenged and normal children share the outdoor activities particularly field and adventure in the most natural surroundings.

It will also help strengthening the children with disabilities not only physically but mentally which will help them overcome challenges of day-to day life.

IMF plans to undertake these camps in March/June 2007. The training will be free of charge, the board and lodging of the selected participants and their escorts/guides will be taken care of by the Foundation as well.

“Adventure sports like mountaineering improves physical ability and concentration. It also makes people mentally strong with a sense of security. It is a fact that given right opportunities, physically challenged people achieve seemingly impossible goals. Through these programmes, IMF wants these children to realise their true physical and mental strength so that they set themselves higher goals later on in their lives,” says Major HPS Ahluwalia, President, Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

Ghaziabad, February 23
An accused, who had enticed and abducted a girl, was being escorted to Delhi by an assistant sub-inspector and a constable of the Delhi police when he jumped off the running train and escaped. As the train slowed down near the Sahibabad station, the man, who had managed to get his handcuffs unlocked, jumped from the train last night.

The railway police have registered a case of carelessness against the Delhi police cops, ASI Satya Narayan Prasad and Constable Narinjan from the Prasad Nagar police station, New Delhi. Both the cops were arrested by the railway police. They were later released against personal surety.

According to GRP in-charge Avinash Pandey, Ghanishyam, a resident of Madhuban, had enticed a young girl who had later eloped with him from the Prasad Nagar police station area. On a complaint made by the father of the girl, a case for abduction had been registered. The two policemen had been sent along with the father of the girl to nab the accused and get the girl back from Madhuban.

The police team had taken both the accused and the girl into custody. They were being brought back to Delhi on the Samparak Kranti train after a three-day transit remand had been obtained from a court in New Mohan Nagar. Ghanishyam had got his handcuffs unlocked on the pretext of going to the toilet.

As the train slowed down, he suddenly jumped off from the train and escaped. When the train reached Sahibabad, the policemen informed the GRP.

Even after a lot of efforts, the accused could not be nabbed. The GRP then registered a case of carelessness against the Delhi policemen who were arrested. Later, Mr Pandey said they were released on personal sureties.

Faridabad, February 23
As the work related to registration and land revenue record has been an important job for the district authorities and a cause of inconvenience to both the rural and urban population due to the shortage of staff, the officials here have started a scheme to provide such services at the doorstep through special camps.

A camp was held at Chhainsa village of Ballabhgarh subdivision where over 150 cases of mutation were registered, in a single day today. The authorities have announced to hold another such camp on February 28 to deal with similar issues of about 20 villages. There are over 350 villages in the district.

Speaking after inaugurating the programme, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Brijendra Singh, asked the residents to avail themselves of such facilities without hesitation.

He said it was the duty of the officials concerned to help the people and provide the service they deserved.

He said the people should contact the Patwari (land revenue official) concerned and complete various formalities before submitting the application.

The authorities concerned were bound to complete the work within 30 days. The people should avoid putting up the disputed matter in such a camp, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner, however, announced that a fresh survey for preparing the list of the ‘Below the Poverty Line’ (BPL) in the district, would be started soon.

It may be recalled that the authorities had recently prepared the list of over 40,000 such families eligible for the Yellow ration cards.

According to him, the residents should not make frequent visits of the district offices regarding the arms licenses as, he said, the process takes time and all the eligible persons would be informed accordingly through the post.

The ten Patwar circles that were covered in the today’s camp included Chhainsa, Mohna, Jawaan, Panhera Khurd, Dayalpur, Atali, Korali, Shahjahanpur, Mandhavali and Manjhavali villages, covering a total of about 50 villages of the subdivision.

Noida, February 23
A Tata-407 carrying a band went out of control after hitting a divider. Fourteen of the band party were injured. Three of them are critical. The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals.

In another accident, a bus carrying a marriage party was involved in an accident with a tractor in which four members of the marriage party were injured seriously in Sector 57 here.

The Nagin band party of Delhi was going to Greater Noida in a Tata-407 when it was involved in an accident near Pari Chowk. The vehicle turned turtle after the impact and slided down the road for some distance. Among those injured were Nageshwar, Shabir, Ajay, Ayub, Feroz, Ramesh Chand, Narseem, Majir, Khurshid and Vijinder. The Sector 39 police were informed. The injured were rushed to Prayag and Bhardwaj Hospitals. Shabir, Nageshwar and Ajay were in a critical position due to excessive bleeding.

New Delhi, February 23
A two-day seminar on “Stop Violence from Womb to Tomb” organised by the Centre for Social Research (CSR) with support from the National Commission for Women concluded here yesterday.

While discussing the action plan, Mr Shankar Sen, senior member, Institute of Social Sciences, asserted women should come forward to lodge complaints. They should be aware of the rights that protect them against violence. “Gender sensitisation of the police and other bodies dealing with cases of violence is also crucial,” he added.—OC

New Delhi, February 23
A court here today sentenced a 22 year-old-man to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years for possessing a huge amount of ganja.

After hearing the arguments of the prosecution and his defence, Additional Sessions Judge Neeraj Kumar Gupta held Mohammad Zaahirup guilty of possessing ganja and also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on him.

Acting on a tip-off, narcotics sleuths laid a trap on February 6, 2006, and nabbed Zaahirul in Central Delhi while he was engaged in selling and distributing ganja.

Zaahirul had 29 kg of ganja in his possession, the prosecution said. He was convicted under Section 20 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

The prosecution relied largely on a deposition statement by Assistant Sub-Inspector Satya Pal and two constables who were eyewitnesses in the case. It produced eight witnesses to prove its case.

“Trafficking or possessing drugs is a menace in society and the very possession of it destroys the fabric of the entire society as a whole. Keeping in view the charges levelled against him, I found the prosecution has been able to prove its case against accused Mohammad Zaahirul beyond all reasonable doubt,” the judge said. 

New Delhi, February 23
A two-day national workshop on biological and chemical disaster management was organised here. The workshop was organised by the National Disaster Management Authority and addressed various aspects of biological and chemical disasters.