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Celebrating different abilities
Denial of permission criticised
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Go by rules, HC tells
minority schools
Two doctors get 2-year jail
Court stays sentences of
striking lawyers
Lawyers seek court for petty cases
Mega Traffic Adalat to clear pending challans
Bhopal tragedy
Residents welcome pedestrians’ prosecutions
Unprepared to cope with flu
Uma Khurana records statement
First winter shower
Biomass use for power on the rise: Minister
Panchayats key to prosperity: Aiyar
COL ties up with IGNOU for disability research
70 companies showcase
beauty products
Operators asked to get van registered
Walia moots amendment in electricity Act
Man shot in Eteda
Minor killed in accident
Gang busted
Engineering entrance exam in April
Cultural fest
J.M Garg, excutive director, PNB, presents trophy to the eastern zone at the 23rd All India Inter Zone Cultural Meet, in the Capital on Sunday.
— Tribune photo
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Celebrating different abilities
New Delhi, December 3 Javed Abidi, executive director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), said that although the official numbers are quite low, in reality, there are more than 60 million disabled people living in India. “And, most of these people are young. I would say nearly 80 per cent of the people, who are disabled are children and young adults,” Abidi told IANS. And for them life is as tough as it can possibly get. For instance, wheelchair-bound Vimal Singh said that despite doing well in the written tests, he could never make it through job interviews. “Although I manage to get through the written tests, when it comes to job interviews, the employer always eyes me with suspicion, as if to question my capability to handle the job, and inevitably shows me the door,” Singh said. Activists agree that many others like Singh have had similar experiences. Abhilasha Narayan, a social activist who works with the disabled, said, “No matter how disable-friendly we claim to be, the ground reality is far from it. Even if these people want to work or travel long distances, the environment is just not disable-friendly. After so long, low-floor buses have hit the roads. We still have a long way to go.” Although the government sector has a three per cent reservation for the disabled, the private sector is yet to make a significant contribution. No wonder then that a World Bank report released about two weeks back, says that the employment rate among the physically challenged in India has dropped from 43 to 38 per cent in the past decade. Despite this scenario, there are many who strive to overcome their handicaps and succeed. But, unfortunately, they are in minority. Lakshmi Sharma, a blind schoolteacher in the Capital, told IANS, “It’s all in the mind. So what if I can’t see? My other senses are sharp enough to make up for my eyes. There are challenges, but what I always tell myself is that we are stronger than the rest. We face so many difficulties and yet have the courage to get on with life. I have been teaching in a school for the past 10 years. I know my students well and we share an excellent rapport. Often they come to drop me back home. What more can I ask for?” Sarla, who is hearing impaired and works as a laboratory assistant in one of the colleges in Delhi University, said, “My colleagues, professors, even students, are very patient with me.” “Of course, I have to work harder, concentrate more on what they are trying to say, what they want. But, at the end of the day, the hard work pays off. I go home satisfied,” said Sarla using sign language, with her colleague translating. But, not all are as fortunate as Lakshmi and Sarla. The fact remains that the disabled get little or no support from various sections of the society. But, they are not ready to give up. Abidi said, “Every year on the World Disability Day, we along with other partner organisations, who work with people suffering from different kinds of disabilities across the country gather at the India Gate. Since the rest of the year goes in organising protests, this is the day we celebrate. This year too we had a gala time at the India Gate, complete with releasing balloons, dancing and music.” Nearly 6,000 people from as far as Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra gathered in the Capital to have fun and voice their demands. “This is the 11th year that we are celebrating the World Disability Day and each year we put forth certain demands and aims and try to meet them. This year we are demanding that the ministry of social justice and empowerment should not be the only ministry looking after the needs of the disabled. There should be three per cent resource allocation for them by each ministry,” Abidi said. Another demand is that provisions be made for issuing driving licenses to deaf people. — IANS
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Denial of permission criticised
New Delhi, December 3 In a statement issued to the press, the National Centre for the Promotion of Employment for Disabled People said, ‘’Traditionally, for the last 11 years, the disabled have celebrated this day with great warmth at the India Gate, but, suddenly, the ministry of home affairs has denied us the permission.’’ They added that it would cause inconvenience to over 4,000 to 5,000 disabled people, who would turn up at the India Gate today, to celebrate the event. Alleging ‘’There is definitely more to it (the denial) than meets the eye’’, the Centre added, ‘’Our application was with the Delhi Police and the home ministry since October. If there was a genuine reason, they could have easily rejected our application and, then, we would have either called off the celebrations or looked for an alternate venue. However, they kept us waiting till November 28 and, then suddenly, send a regret letter — totally out of the blue.’’ The Centre said that they had even sent a letter to the home minister last evening but of no avail.
— UNI |
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Go by rules, HC tells
minority schools
New Delhi, December 3 On an appeal by lawyer Ashok Aggarwal of Social Jurist, a voluntary organisation, a division bench comprising Chief Justice M.K. Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna ruled that these minority schools are no different from other schools and will have to follow the Ganguly Committee’s recommendations and rules laid down by the education directorate of the state government. “The Ganguly Committee’s recommendations may have exempted minority-run schools to some extent, but the government guidelines have not drawn any distinction between schools, which means these are applicable to all,” Aggarwal said. Justice B.D. Ahmed of the High Court had on February 8 ruled that the unaided minority schools did not come under the purview of the Ganguly Committee. Dismissing a petition filed by a man whose daughter was denied admission by Montfort Senior Secondary School at Ashok Vihar because she did not fulfil the school’s criteria, Ahmed had observed the “freedom of minority-run schools remains safeguarded” and no criteria could be imposed upon them. The school’s lawyer, Romy Chacko, had said: “No one can lay down the rules that harm minority rights protected by Article 30 of the constitution.” The Ganguly Committee was appointed by the Delhi High Court and headed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman Ashok
Ganguly. — IANS |
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New Delhi, December 3 Metropolitan magistrate J P Nahar, in a rare verdict, held surgeon Omkar M Parmar, 68 and anaesthetist N Dutta, 73, guilty under Section 304-A (causing death by rash and negligent act) of the IPC. Refusing the doctors’ plea for leniency, the court said that the complainant’s parents had lost their only child due to their negligence. Holding them guilty for the death of Gaurav Batra, 13, at Sukhda Hospital in Greater Kailash in 1995, Nahar slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 each on the convicts. However, the court later granted them bail on furnishing a personal and a surety bond of Rs 15,000 each. The bail bonds are furnished and will be accepted till December 29 and the convicts will have to surrender by 10 am on the same day, if they fail to obtain bail from the appellate court, it said. Gaurav, who was advised surgery for tonsillitis, was operated, after being admitted in the hospital on June 13, 1995, the prosecution said. His parents panicked, when he did not gain consciousness even after being under observation for hours. They made several phone calls to doctors — Parmar, a resident of Saket in South Delhi and N Dutta, hailing from Faridabad in Haryana, to come and attend to their son, but they failed to do so, the prosecution alleged. — PTI
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Court stays sentences of
striking lawyers
New Delhi, December 3 Additional Sessions Judge K.S. Mohi while admitting the appeal of the lawyers stayed the sentence and fixed December 17 as next date for hearing the case. On February 11, 2005, the lawyers walked down from Tis Hazari courts complex to the Civil Lines to protest the shifting of some lawyers’ chambers and courts from Tis Hazari complex to the newly-built Rohini courts Complex in north-west Delhi. The Delhi High Court had booked the lawyers under section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (joining unlawful assembly) for holding the strike. All the 19 lawyers remained in police custody for six days and were later released on bail.—IANS |
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Lawyers seek court for petty cases
New Delhi, December 3 Cases related to dishonoured cheques have increased manyfold in the city and as many as 3,56,394 cases pertaining to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act are pending in Delhi, according to the latest annual report of the Delhi district courts. “Most of the times, courts are held up in disposing of the cases of cheque bounce. Not only this, the amount in most cases is even less than one thousand rupees. The only solution to stop this is an early settlement by means of Lok Adalats organised by the Delhi Legal Service Authority,” said Ramesh Gupta, a criminal lawyer. The act dealing with complaints of dishonoured cheques came into existence in 1995 and, ever since, a large number of people have resorted to legal action under it. “These types of cases take a lot of time to settle and, as a result, the case lingers on for years,” added Gupta. There are 70,474 cases related to bounced cheques in the Tis Hazari courts; 1,47,097 cases in the Patiala House courts; 1,01,275 cases in the Karkardooma courts and 37,548 cases in the Rohini courts. “The main reason for the increasing number of cheque-bounce cases is the emergence of more and more banks and commercial establishments. Many people, unaware of the technicalities, fall in the trap and cannot repay the loans or their cheque gets returned,” said Ashish Kulshrestha, a criminal law expert who deals with such cases. The Delhi Legal Service Authority recently held Lok Adalats in various district courts, especially to deal with such cases. “As many as 1,00,000 of such cases were solved then and the lok adalats received an enormous response. So we have decided to have such courts every year to solve the petty issues like — traffic challans and cheque bounce cases,” said Sangeeta Dhingra, secretary of the Delhi Legal Service Authority. — IANS
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Mega Traffic Adalat to clear pending challans
New Delhi, December 3 The Lok Adalat, jointly organised by the Delhi Legal Service Authority and the traffic police will be held on December 9 and 16 at the Tis Hazari, Karkordooma, Patiala House and Rohini courts. At the first Lok Adalat held on September 8 and 9, 44,852 pending challans were settled. The traffic police has also arranged an SMS facility to provide information on notices pending against a vehicle. To know the pendency of challans, mobile users can type N followed by a space and registration number of the vehicle and send it to 50100 from their mobile phones. The details are also given in the traffic police website — www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in. — PTI
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IITians decline Dow jobs
Sahil Makkar
New Delhi, December 3 “IIT students are refusing jobs offered by Dow Chemicals for its wrongdoing. They are writing to their IITs to remove its name from the recruiters’ list,” said Mira Shiva of All India Drug Action Network, an NGO. “IIT Madras and IIT Bombay had cancelled their prospective engagements with Dow. Now students from IIT Kanpur have written to their institute for the same,” Shiva told IANS here on the 23rd anniversary of Bhopal gas disaster. The disaster took place in the wee hours of December 3, 1984 in Bhopal after Union Carbide’s pesticide plant released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas, killing between 2,500 and 5,000 people. Dow Chemicals acquired Union Carbide Corp in 2001. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor who has been associated with issue for many years, said: “We need to question and regulate the kind of companies that enter the academic institutes else, before we realise, our students would be manipulated into becoming official spokespersons of these companies to suit their public gimmick.” “By refusing Dow entry into the campuses, IITians have not only prevented the company to use them to gain legitimacy in the country but also proved that justice comes before business,” Chenoy said. Eminent people in the Capital also condemned the government’s reported move to bail Dow out of its legal liabilities. “The government should not allow Dow for making foreign direct investment in the country at the cost of Indian,” said Kuldip Nayar, a noted journalist. — IANS
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Residents welcome pedestrians’ prosecutions
New Delhi, December 3 On Sunday, the Delhi Police decided to reinforce the existing law of prosecuting unruly pedestrians, who by ignoring traffic rules pose threats to themselves and others. People will be slapped with a fine of Rs 100 for crossing roads at wrong points, not sticking to footpaths, not using overbridges and subways, and standing on road at bus stands. The drive to instil discipline into pedestrians would be initially launched on Wednesday at six intersections — Sikandra Road-Tilak Marg, Barakhamba Circus-Connaught Place outer circle, Ashram Chowk-Moti Nagar crossing, Boulevard Road subway and Delhi Gate. It may be extended to all parts of the Capital in the next few days. “The step taken by the police to ensure road safety is appreciable and offending pedestrians should be dealt with stringently,” said Kanika Sharma, a housewife. “Most of the times, people in a rush to cross the intersections become victims of road accident. They put others’ lives in jeopardy too,” Sharma added. Himanhsu Malik, who drives from his residence in Dwarka to office in Saket everyday, said, “Thank god, at last the police have woken up from their slumber. Many a times, I have witnessed pedestrian’s mistake resulting in fatal accidents, but nobody listens.” “I strongly believe that until and unless pedestrians are prosecuted, things at roads will not improve. It should be a collective effort of motorists and pedestrians to secure each other’s lives on the city roads,” Malik, 30, told IANS. Ritu Shukla said, “Why are always motorists blamed for accidents? What will you do when all of a sudden someone jumps before your car in a bid to cross an intersection? People and the police also blame motorists for the accident. The step of prosecuting road offenders is welcome, but I wonder for how long the police would go on with a drive.” Madan Mohan, a senior citizen living in South Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, slammed the police’s decision, “The government has not fitted most overbridges with escalators. How can my wife and I climb hundreds of steps with weak knees? We have no other option, but to run across roads.” “There is no infrastructure. Most of the traffic signals are dysfunctional. Zebra crossing signs are missing and most of the subways are encroached by beggars and unwanted elements. How do you expect people to follow regulations, when policemen themselves are flouting rules without fear?” a police official asked.
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Unprepared to cope with flu
New Delhi, December 3 Data gathered by the UN suggests that globally there has been an improvement in human influenza virus diagnostic and surveillance capacity. But, national pandemic plans are not sufficiently operational and the coordination of pandemic planning between countries needs greater attention, it said. The long-term security of the human race requires all nations to prepare together so that when new disease outbreaks and pandemics do occur, responses will be adequate and meet the needs of all people and not just a fortunate few, the report of the UN system influenza coordinator said. Noting substantial progress in the emergency response to the disease, the report said the world should move beyond that to long-term strategies with increased bio-security in poultry. The need to expand from emergency, short-term responses to sustained medium and longer-term strategies with an increased focus on bio-security in both family and commercial poultry production systems, it said. A minister-level two-day global conference on avian and pandemic influenza being held here from tomorrow is expected to assess readiness for future health crises and discuss appropriate national, regional and international three-to-five year response to these challenges.—PTI |
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New Delhi, December 3 The teacher, Uma Khurana, through her counsel Amit Kumar Monday recorded the statement in the court of metropolitan magistrate Sanjay Jindal. The court has fixed on December 18 as the next date of hearing in the case. The petitioner has sought action against the news channel under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code. If proved, the court can award a maximum prison term of two years or fine, or both, to those found guilty. Kumar said the fact that the tapes were aired and an outdoor broadcasting van was also stationed outside the school, where the complainant taught, amounted to a conspiracy to lower her reputation in the eyes of the public. It was not possible for the channel to air the contents and telecast live from a spot without having checked the veracity of the report, she said. Earlier, at the time of filing the chargesheet, the court had questioned the prosecution on why it had not charged the officials of the channel in the case. The prosecution had then told the court that there was nothing incriminating against the officials. The TV channel in its “exposé” on August 30 had purportedly shown Khurana, a 41-year-old mathematics teacher at the Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in central Delhi, as forcing her girl students into prostitution and pornography. Following the telecast, an angry mob attacked the school, torched several vehicles parked on the road, and manhandled the teacher. She was dismissed from service by the Delhi government on September 1 and arrested the next day. However, it was discovered a week later that the operation was a hoax.—IANS
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New Delhi, December 3 The minimum temperature which was 12.6 degree Celsius yesterday, was recorded at 15.2 degree Celsius today. The maximum temperature hovered at 26.5 degree Celsius, a notch higher than yesterday. The city received .1 mm of rains since last night till early this morning. The showers, which are first drizzle of this winter, were due to the western disturbance, the Met officials said. The weather office has forecast a cloudy day with light spell of rains during day time in some parts of the Capital. The minimum temperature is likely to fall to 11 degree Celsius tomorrow, the Met office said.—PTI
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Biomass use for power on the rise: Minister
New Delhi, December 3 Biomass-based systems and devices are encouraged for meeting inter alia electricity needs under VESP, he said adding that 78 test projects had been taken up under VESP for implementation in 11 states, including 12 test projects in Orissa. The RVEP aims to provide basic facilities of lighting and electricity in those remote, unelectrified census villages and remote unelectrified hamlets of electrified census villages, where grid connectivity is either not feasible or not cost effective, through various renewable energy sources, including biomass. So far, 608 small hydro power projects, of up to 25 MW station capacity, with an aggregate capacity of 2015 MW have been set up in the country. The annual estimated generation from these projects is 4028 million units per year. A target of adding 1400 MW from small hydro power has been planned during the 11th Five Year Plan.
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Panchayats key to prosperity: Aiyar
New Delhi, December 3 “Participatory development and inclusive governance is the way to inclusive growth,” the minister said at the India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The corporate sector must create massive non-farm job opportunities with a heavy dose of investment and that greater urbanisation of rural India was required to stem the rising migration from villages to metropolitan cities, the minister said. He listed Kerala, Karnataka, Sikkim, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat as states, which have efficiently developed governance at the Panchayati Raj level, due to which they could respond to development initiatives of the Central government. Aiyar specifically spoke of the special economic zones and said that these should not be developed without the consent of local people and must come up only in less-inhabited locations. “The development of rural areas should be consciously pushed and companies should be given adequate incentives to set up industries in non-urban areas.” — IANS
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COL ties up with IGNOU for disability research
New Delhi, December 3 This announcement was made while the two addressed a two-day international workshop on disability-related research that ends on Tuesday. They added that IGNOU has a special role to play in this regard due to its highly developed information and communication technology facilities and large-scale operations which are impossible in the conventional system of education. Further, Prof V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, IGNOU, stated on this occasion that that, “this workshop will highlight the existing legal provisions for the disabled to exercise their rights to life, education, employment and other social aspects. Its objective will be to observe the state of research in higher education institutions with regard to a curriculum specially focusing on disabilities”. Also, the workshop has highlighted the existing legal provisions for the disabled to exercise their rights to life, education, employment and other social aspects. The workshop will also make provisions for enhanced research activities in the areas of disability studies for the purpose of integrating existing government schemes with their effective implementation guided by research findings.
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70 companies showcase
beauty products
Greater Noida, December 3 Many companies have showcased their beauty products and techniques in their stalls. On the first day, India Cup Open Hair and Beauty contest was also staged which was a big draw heralding that fashion and beauty industry has made its presence felt, worldwide. The universal craze to look one’s best seems to have gripped men and women of all ages, everywhere. Many companies are launching their latest products, tailored to the needs of specific classes or their fancies. Some of the 70 companies are showcasing their products in a very attractive way. The companies have special products and techniques for beautifying and conditioning hair, nails, facial creams, perfumes and brushes. Many among the visitors even tried products and techniques to judge their magical effects. Many young women and men went in for the soothing effect of body massage. Participating women in the India Cup open hair and beauty competition also took part in the catwalk to the delight of the audience. |
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Operators asked to get van registered
New Delhi, December 3 At a meeting held today with the association members, the minister said that after getting all legal formalities done, the school vans could be used in other commercial activities after dropping students at their destinations. He also said that only CNG vehicles would be allowed to transport students. Many van drivers use LPG cylinders which are banned. The association members have withdrawn their strike after having a meeting with the minister. Installing speed governor is also one of the conditions because some vans are driven by drivers who are under age. They drive rashly and often vans are caught in accidents. The minister said that so far 460 vans had been seized. But these will be released. They have been given one month’s time to complete all necessities. They can use these vehicles for other commercial uses. The association members sought six months, but the minister refused to accept their demand saying that the last time the government gave them six months’ time to complete all work but they did not follow the direction. A member of the school van association said, “We are ready to have all legal documents before bringing down our vehicles on road. But officials in transport authority do not complete our papers. They return us on one or the other pretext.” |
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Walia moots amendment in electricity Act
New Delhi, December 3 He took the decision, as the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and Ombudsman have not been able to satisfy consumers, while functioning under the licensees - Discoms in the Capital. He has stressed upon the need to have legal mandate for the Public Grievance Cell, Office of Electricity Consumer Advocates, so that the objective of consumer satisfaction could be achieved.
— TNS |
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Man shot in Eteda
Greater Noida, December 3 Four persons have been named in the FIR. It may be recalled that in November, two persons had been shot dead in reprisal by Gypsy-borne assailants. According to police, Yogindra Yadav, Satey, Chottu and Laxman from Behalolpur village under Noida’s Sector-58 police station had gone to their in-laws’ house in Eteda village under Bisarakh police station. On way, they stopped in jungle to ease themselves. Here four persons atop two bikes also stopped. As Yoginder and Laxman got down from the Safari vehicle, these bikers rained bullets on them. Both of them were hit by bullets and they slumped to the ground. Others in the Safari vehicle rushed both of them to a Noida’s Kailash hospital where doctors pronounced Laxman of Chotepur village as brought dead. Om Veer Singh, son of Vishal of Haibatpur village, has filed a murder report in Bisarakh police station naming village pradhan of Haibatpur village, Charan Singh, Sunder Singh, Bijender, and Delhi resident Hoshiar Singh as accused. Police SO Jagmohan Sharma of Bisarakh police station said that Om Veer Singh, cousin of Charan Singh had been murdered on November 21 in a dispute over a 300 mt plot of land. Yoginder was named in police station Vijay Nagar. Yoginder had been released on bail from jail six months ago. All of them executed this murder in vengeance of the murder of Om Veer Singh, son of Bali of Behalolpur, police said.
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Minor killed in accident
New Delhi, December 3 Rehana’s brother Bilal was riding her to Nizamuddin from Ghaziabad, when a private bus hit them. Rehana died on the spot and her brother sustained serious injuries. He was taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. Rehana’s body has been sent for post-mortem.
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Gang busted
New Delhi, December 3 Six persons including, one Satish was nabbed in a raid conducted in the Shalimar Bagh area. It was learnt that the gang has been involved in various bus robberies in the Gulabi Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, Moti Nagar and Ashok Vihar areas. Efforts are being made to nab other members of the gang. |
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Engineering entrance exam in April
New Delhi, December 3 The sale of the information bulletin has already begun from the designated branches of the Syndicate Branch across the nation and some institutions. Applications may also be submitted online and the last date for the sale of information bulletin is January 5. |
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Eastern Zone lifts trophy
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 3 The Eastern Zone won the overall trophy by getting 13 points. Punjab North Zone and MP Zone were runners-up . J M Garg, executive director, PNB, gave the prizes to the winners on the concluding day.
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Hundreds of physically challenged people from across India came forth to voice their thoughts and celebrate their special abilities in the national Capital on the World Disability Day today.
Punjab National Bank organised its 23rd All India Inter Zone Cultural meet from November 30 to December 2 at Pearey Lal Bhawan in New Delhi. As many as 241 artists from different zones of the bank across the country participated in the meet.
