New Delhi, October 2
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated a training programme on waste management for rag pickers at Gandhi Darshan in the Capital today. It is for the first time that such training programme has been organised in the Capital.

The department of environment and forests in association with three NGOs Indian Environment Society, Harit Recyclers Association and Chintan had organised the training programme. The training programme would benefit around 3.5 lakh rag pickers.

Dikshit said that the government had planned a programme called ‘involvement of weaker sections of the society in improvement of environment’. She instructed the department of environment to monitor the benefits of the training programme.

They would be imparted training on safe methods of rag picking apart from waste disposal. She distributed apron and shoes among rag pickers.

She said that her government would release funds to facilitate distribution of kit that would include apron, gloves, shoes and face mask for rag pickers.

Dikshit said that it was a matter of pride that such training was being imparted on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It would help in safeguarding the health of rag pickers, she added.

State industry minister Mangat Ram Singhal stressed on the need to provide a place to rag pickers for keeping the waste collected by them, which would be away from their Jhuggis. 

New Delhi, October 2
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that spirit of patriotism can be imbibed in the youth by honouring the martyrs and freedom fighters.

Speaking at a function organised to observe the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi by the All India Youth Welfare Society in association with All India Freedom Fighters Organisation and All India Freedom Fighters’

Successors Organisation, he called upon the people to work hard to realise the dreams of freedom fighters.

Hooda said during the days of partition,

when Meos of village Ghasera of Mewat district

were leaving the country, Mahatma Gandhi accompanied by

Yaseen Khan and Ch. Ranbir Singh, went to their villages

and encouraged them against taking the step.

The Chief Minister said that although the country had madesignificant progress in various spheres, yet the dreams of the freedom fighters had not fully been realised.

He said youth of Haryana had always remained in the forefront of freedom struggle.

The Chief Minister said Haryana Government had enhanced the pension of freedom fighters from Rs.1400 to Rs 5125.

President of All India Freedom Fighters’Association and the lone surviving member of the Constituent Assembly, Ch. Ranbir Singh exhorted the youth to work together to remove hunger and poverty from the country. He said that Mahatma Gandhi never wanted the partition of the country.

He said that Father of the Nation gave the message of non-violent struggle which helped the country attain freedom. 

NEW DELHI, October 2
Ananya Dance Festival ,an annual feature at the picturesque Purana Qila ,will feature a US –based group this year .The group from Maryland, USA,will make its debut in the five-day classical dance festival starting October 11.

Presented by Seher in association with the ministry of tourism and culture, Delhi government and Delhi tourism, Ananya will focus on choreography.

Sanjeev Bhargava, artistic director, Ananya Dance Festival says, “The festival, now in its sixth year, has grown from strength to strength generating huge interest amongst the cultural enthusiasts and the diplomtic community residing in India. We are delighted that Anuradha Nehru’s Kuchipudi troupe from the United States is participating in our festival”.

He added as there have been a lot of requests in the past for an interaction with the choreographers and the performers of Ananya, a two-day interactive session has also been scheduled for October 13 and 14 at India International Centre.

One of the participating choreographers is veteran Prof. C.V. Chandreshekhar whose Chennai-based group Nrityashree will present “Kreeda-The Play” at the festival.

It is an attempt to communicate with the young and to make them understand the values of tradition through the language of dance, says Bhargava. The technique of bharatanatyam with its richness of nritya and abhinaya is judiciously employed making it easily accessible to the audience.

The choreography deliberately avoids lyrics but uses musical phrases and mnemonics for a universal appeal. Whirling skirts, jumping horse, gulli-danda, skipping, juggling balls, flying kites and chess are some of the games presented through ‘Kreeda’.

Kreeda is making its debut in Delhi at the Ananya festival, and it is also for the first time a dance ensemble from the US has been invited to share the festival’s stage with some of the best dance troupes in India.

Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Anuradha Nehru, artistic director of her school and dance company, Kuchipudi Kalanidhi and Kalanidhi Dance ,respectively, will present “Navrasa”. Striving for new and effective ways to communicate the beauty of kuchipudi to diverse audiences through new, vibrant and creative choreography is what gives Anuradha endless joys.

Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, another veteran master would also be choreographing an Odissi dance performance. He is the founder of the Orissa Dance Academy and Konark Natya Mandap, Bhubaneshwar . Their presentation during the Ananya Dance Festival will begin with “Mangalacharan, “offering praise to the Lord for his blessings with flowers and concluding it with Bhumi Pranam”, followed by Dhaye Subarna Barna which is, “a praise of Goddess Durga”.

Among the other participants this year are the Thiruvananthapuram-based Samudra group, an improvisational dance troupe known for its flexible, graceful, vigorous, and innovative movements. Directed by Madhu Gopinath and Vakkom Sajeev, the leading figures in the field of contemporary Indian dance theatre, they are engaged in exploring, experimenting and synthesizing various traditional and modern focus of art.

Geetanjali Lal, daughter of renowned musician Rajnikant Desai, would be rendering a kathak performance. She has been recently appointed as chief of the Repertory Company of the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. 

New Delhi, October 2
Indian born astronaut, Sunita Williams, on Tuesday paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat. On this solemn occasion, Williams told the press, “I respect Gandhiji, he stood for entire humanity and is eternally relevant.”

Williams was accompanied by her father, Deepak Pandya, and other family members. She arrived at Rajghat in the morning and sat through the entire rendition of hymns from various sacred texts on the occasion of the Mahatma’s 138th birth anniversary.

Also present on the occasion was President Pratibha Patil, who paid rich tributes to the messiah of non-violence. An inter-religious prayer meeting marked the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation at Rajghat, the samadhi of Gandhi, where leaders, children, youth and women paid their respects.

The UN has declared the day the International Non-Violence Day. Besides Patil, vice-president Hamid Ansari, PM Manmohan Singh, home minister Shivraj Patil, defence minister A K Antony, former Prime Minister I K Gujral, minister of state for PMO Prithviraj Chavan and Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit paid floral tributes at Rajghat.

New Delhi, October 2
The BJP national president, Raj Nath Singh today accused the central government of buckling down before foreign pressure and going ahead with the Sethusamudram project. He also flayed the government for turning a blind eye towards the opinions of renowned oceanographers, environmentalists, hydrologists and marine biologists.

“The maritime zone of India will become unsafe. A large number of marine creatures will be killed. But the central government is not concerned about these losses,” he added.

He was speaking at a dharna organised at Chheh Tooti in Karol Bagh here today. He also warned the UPA government of dire consequences if Ram Setu is demolished.

Making a scathing attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, he said that Karunanidhi was acting against Lord Rama and the central government seemed to be standing on his side. 

New Delhi, October 2
The narcotics branch of Delhi Police has succeeded in infiltrating inside the web of drug dealers in the national Capital. Raids were conducted in several parts of Delhi to nab the traffickers involved in the smuggling of heroin from UP.

In the first case, information was developed about one Raisuddin being involved in heroin trade. It was also known that he would come to supply a consignment in the Khanpur area on September 29. Police team reached the spot and laid a trap there. Raisuddin arrived at the spot with the contraband. He was arrested and on his search, 255 gram heroin was recovered.

On September 30, another information was received about one Mohd. Kadir, who allegedly used to supply heroin in the East district area. Sources were deployed in the area and it was revealed that Kadir would come to deliver heroin to an unknown person near the Karkardooma court. A trap was laid and the alleged accused was detained at around 4.55 am. On his search, 1.5 kg of heroin was recovered. Further investigation is in process.

In yet another case, sources developed information about a woman, Khairum Nisha, who was allegedly supplying heroin in the North West district.

It was further revealed that the alleged accused would meet some unknown person near the bus stand on Wazirabad Road. A team was dispatched to nab the woman. She was spotted at 9 am yesterday. About 200 gram heroin was recovered from her possession. 

New Delhi, October 2
The South district police has solved a horrific incident of rape of one six-year-old child. One Dinesh, 25, a resident of Okhala has been arrested in this regard.

A complaint was registered in the case in the police station Okhala on the intervening night of August 21-22.

The child could not provide any clues about the incident. Pictures were collected of people who had been previously involved in such crimes. The residents of the area were asked about people who had been roaming in the area. In the process, the police zeroed in on Dinesh, who was seen in the locality that night. The alleged accused has earlier been booked under the Arms Act. The child also identified Dinesh in the picture available with the police.

A team was constituted and hunt was launched to nab the alleged accused. Sources were deployed and information was developed about Dinesh, who was again roaming around the same area. Dinesh was arrested and identified by the public.

New Delhi, October 2
As a result of the protest by the Delhi University students over the recent IP molestation case, 500 women constables will be deployed on campus. The assurance was given by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit after a delegation of students met her on Wednesday.

The women constables would be an addition to the already existing police security.

The Chief Minister also said that an IAS level officer would henceforth coordinate the security apparatus of the university. Three university students had met Dikshit last week with a petition regarding the safety on campus.

The streets leading to girls’ hostels would also be lighted properly. These demands have been raised by the student organisations from time to time. However, the IP incident has just put pressure on the administrative machinery to act fast.

Meanwhile, the Coalition for Safe Campus has decided to take some initiatives on its own. A mobile exhibition condemning the cases of sexual harassment will be put in different parts of the university from November 1.

New Delhi, October 2
A polish national, Rafael Dominic, incarcerated for allegedly raping a British woman in February, died due to organ failure at Tihar Jail after brief hospitalisation. Dominic died on Sunday due to kidney failure at the DDU Hospital, said Tihar officials. An AIDS patient, Dominic complained of weakness about a week back following which he was being treated at the jail hospital 

Later, he was shifted to the DDU Hospital on September 24, where he died. Lodged in Tihar Jail since February 12, Dominic was arrested on February 8 this year for allegedly raping a British woman at her room in a Paharganj hotel the previous night. In India since January, Dominic and the 28-year-old Briton reportedly became friends while living in closeby hotels in Paharganj. On the February 7 evening, both went to a pub for a ‘drink’ after which instead of going to his hotel, Dominic ‘stayed’ at her room and allegedly raped her.—