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RTP flyover thrown open to traffic
India’s call-centre staff need to speak better English: Hunt
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Power crisis hits industrial units hard
Reconciliation of marital discords at all-time low
SPIC MACAY Fest at Miranda
BSES plan for students
MCD plays key role in
making Delhi green: Mehra
Design programme launched
Another chilly day
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RTP flyover thrown open to traffic
Gurgaon, January 23 Although it is a toll road, commuters will not have to pay the toll for a few days till DS Constructions (DSC) the company that has built the expressway gets completion certificate from RITES, the independent consultants. While talking to The Tribune, Vivek Suri, power project manager said that the usage of toll free road is just like having a test drive before someone is buying a car to check how comfortable it would be. But then he remarked seriously that by opening this stretch, the daily commuter would be benefited in terms of time, money and energy used for driving on this road. Another commuter Anil Duggal, IT consultant, said that by opening the Expressway, his journey to Delhi would hopefully be cut by over 30 minutes. As he would be using the Expressway every day, having a monthly pass would save me some money and the hassle of paying the toll daily. An industrialist, who is a regular commuter on the highway, said that along with unmistakable advantages of the expressway, there is also uneasiness about a few aspects related to safety along the 28-km-long Expressway. He said that there is concern over the narrow exit roads to smaller destinations like Udyog Vihar and DLF. He feels the rush of traffic from the main Expressway is considerably more in comparison with the space provided at the exits. He said there is no doubt that after opening of this RTRM flyover, the journey on this stretch would be comfortable and hassle-free but still the real benefits of the flyover would be known after the commuters use it. He stated that we are just talking about the small stretch of 28 km from Delhi to Gurgaon and vise versa but what arrangements have been made after this stretch is the matter of concern for the commuters. Similarly, there are very few underpasses and overbridges to allow pedestrians to cross the roads and on them there are no red lights, which are very dangerous. |
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India’s call-centre staff need to speak better English: Hunt
New Delhi, January 23 “It is an interesting situation here. People may read and write good English but spoken English needs improvement,” said David L. Hunt, vice-president of ETS, which is headquartered in Princeton. “India is a global economy and people dealing with international clients need to speak better English. I think the BPO industry can do better in the country,” Hunt told IANS in an interview. He was in the Capital to sign an agreement with IT training major NIIT to provide the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) test in India. He said while working for an English speaking country, it was important to have at least a neutral accent. “If Indian youngsters can improve their spoken English capability then their employability chances (in any part of the world) would be high,” he added. Similarly, people working in multinational companies, banks and software firms need to improve their English-speaking knack. However, he did not blame India for this lacuna. “Every country has its own education system. Many youngsters in India are getting educated in their own vernacular medium and there could be many other factors behind the thick accent. “I want to say that there is no point talking about a country. Individuals need to improve for bettering their chances in a global market place,” Hunt added. Over 6,000 institutions, including colleges and universities in 110 countries, accept TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores and TOEIC tests are accepted in at least 60 countries as recognition of one’s English proficiency. Elaborating on their arrangement with NIIT, Hunt said the TOEIC test via NIIT would start from April. The three-and-a-half-hour test evaluates the reading, writing and listening capabilities of applicants. It will cost applicants Rs 1,000 each. Hunt said the effort would open up opportunities in both domestic and global markets. “Our mission is to advance the English learning ability of individuals and India is certainly a great destination,” Hunt added. ETS is one of the world’s largest private educational testing and measurement organisations. It develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually in more than 180 countries. —
IANS |
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Power crisis hits industrial units hard
New Delhi, January 23 power crises as a result of which their industrial production is likely to suffer losses to the extent of 35-40 per cent in the next two months and if the current scenario does not improve, the losses could go even 50 per cent, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). In its internal assessment of NCR Power Shortages, the feedback for which was received directly from the industrial units, it was revealed that the current electricity demand of different industrial locations in entire Ghaziabad has gone beyond 400 MW against its availability which is not more than 200 MW. As a result, industrial units in Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Mohan Nagar, Loni and towards Meerut belt are suffering daily loadshedding ranging from 12 to 14 hours, said D C Rawat, secretary general, ASSOCHAM. In case of Gurgaon, the power demand, particularly for its industrial locations is around 1200 to 1400 MW against the availability factor of around 800-900 MW. The result is on lines as already predicted for Ghaziabad. However, in Gurgaon, the locations of heavy and engineering industries are more pronounced and their captive power units are unlikely to feed them with required power supplies. The industrial loss in the region is expected to go up between 30-35 per cent and if the power prices are not restored, even marginally by the end of current fiscal, the industrial production would suffer heavily. The other units that might lose their clientele include BPO, KPO and even services sector. Another belt in which industrial production and export oriented units are concentrated include Noida in which though the power shortages are not experienced on lines of Ghaziabad and Gurgaon but the power supplies in the region are of extremely disruptive nature. This means that the frequencies and hourly power distribution is extremely erratic. Estimates reveal that approx. 100-200 MW of power shortage is experienced each day in entire Noida region especially in areas like Noida Phase II, Sector 2, 8,9,10,50,51,62 and Surajpur belt during winters. If corrective measures are not taken, the power situation would further aggravate and might create even a law and order problem for the UP administration, warned Rawat. The worst power hit sectors in Noida’s industrial units are in SSI, engineering and spare parts units, export houses, BPOs, call centres and media offices, etc. In case of Faridabad, the power demand, particularly for its industrial locations is around 600 to 700 MW against the availability factor of around 300-400 MW and industrial units are facing daily power cuts of 8-10 hours. This power shortage has impacted the production capacity in places like Mathura Road, Sector 23, 24, etc. The ASSOCHAM has, therefore, mooted the proposal for the formation of unified power authority for the NCR which will bring uniformity in power supply and uniform power tariff within the region. |
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Reconciliation of marital discords at all-time low
New Delhi, January 23 The Delhi Police’s Crime Against Women (CAW) cell - a reconciliatory body that serves as a nodal agency for complaints of violent crimes against women - saw a sharp decline in the disposal of cases as well as reconciliation worked out between couples in 2007.According to the Delhi Police annual report, while the number of cases filed by women against their husbands stood at 9,469 in 2007, a marginal drop from the previous year’s 9,879, the number of disposals stood at 7,191 compared to 9,866 the year before. The rate of compromise worked out between the two parties, for which the cell was initially set up, has also been poor. The cell managed to mitigate discord between just 1,890 couples in 2007, down from 2,777 in 2006. The CAW cell, the first gender-specific response by the Delhi Police to combat violent crimes against women and set up in 1983 under Section 19 of the Delhi Police Act, is a nodal body to receive and intervene in complaints. However, the working of the cell, especially its efforts at reconciliation, received a setback with a city court last year raised doubts about its working and existence and declared it “illegal”. Metropolitan magistrate Pratap S. Malik, passing an order in a case dealing with unnecessary harassment of a husband after his wife complained against him, said, “The working of the Crime Against Women cell is entirely illegal and against the settled principles of the law. A statutory agency (CAW cell) cannot justify its action on other grounds, if it is in violation of the statute itself. “Under the Delhi Police Act, the commissioner of police cannot constitute a cell and ask it to provide better civic amenities in place of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Nor can any cell constituted by the commissioner of police facilitate ‘better team management’ in place of the BCCI to improve the performance of the Indian cricket team. The good objective does not justify transgression of the parent state (Delhi Police Act),” the court observed. The order implies that that the CAW cell cannot take up reconciliation if the husband and wife are against it. Another hurdle the cell is facing in its efforts at reconciliation is the shortage of counsellors. “The need for special counsellors dedicated to reconciliation between families before initiation of criminal proceedings on the complaint by the wife against the husband is urgently needed to fulfil the purpose of the Crime Against Women cell,” a senior police official told IANS. The disposal of cases is hamstrung by frequent changes in the investigating officer dealing with a particular case. The officers are transferred, making the cases linger on, as the next officer has to first “understand the case right from the beginning”. The cell also failed to restore in 2007 much of the ‘stridhan’, the dowry articles a girl traditionally brings with her after marriage. It succeeded only in 647 cases, down from 851 in 2006. The CAW has also come under attack from the judiciary. The Delhi High Court has warned it against using “coercive measures”, such as summoning people and sending officials to their residence. The ruling came in wake of complaints about the “overzealous tactics” of the body. “The cell has no power to investigate a case. It is merely a reconciliatory body created to help women who consider themselves victims,” Justice S.N. Dhingra of the High Court decreed last year. The bench added that at the most the cell could only write letters to people against whom complaints were made. The court took strong exception after the cell sent policemen to the residence of Gaurav Matta, a trader, when he failed to appear before it despite a notice served on him. The cell was acting on a complaint from Gaurav’s wife Monika who accused Matta of harassment.
— IANS |
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SPIC MACAY Fest at Miranda
New Delhi, January 23 The concert was dedicated to Aruna Sitesh, the late Principal of Indraprastha College for Women. The programme kicked off with flute recital by Pt Hariprasad Chuarasia. Ashwani Bhide Deshpande continued the musical extravaganza started by Chaurasia. A Nadaswaram recital by the troupe led by Kandaswamy preceded the concert. |
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BSES plan for students
New Delhi, January 23 The initiative, launched in late 2007, has already seen two interactive sessions being conducted at Amity International School, Saket and New Delhi Public School, Vikaspuri. The third session was conducted yesterday for the students of Upras Vidyalya, Vasant Vihar. The programme being conducted in BRPL and BYPL areas plans to cover over 50 schools till December 31, 2008, a spokesman said. The two-hour interactive session, conducted by experts from BSES, aims to sensitise the students (classes 9 to 12) on the immediate need of energy conservation and its methods, international concerns like global warming, and Co2 emissions and generation of electricity through renewable resources. In the session, the students and their teachers are also taken through the entire process of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. They are also explained the reasons behind power shortage and how they can contribute in alleviating many of these concerns and saving money by following simple everyday procedures. After the interactive sessions, a Question and Answer session is organised and students giving correct answer are given a gift of a CFL. In the sessions organised so far, the audience comprising teachers and students was stunned when told that electronic gadgets kept on the stand-by mode simply waste around Rs 36 for every watt per year. They were also astonished when told that Delhi can save over 450 MW of electricity and they can save Rs 391 per year by simply switching to CFLs. |
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Gang of snatchers headed by woman busted
New Delhi, January 23 According to Crime Branch, since last December, there was a spurt in snatching incidents in busy market places like Central Market, Lajpat Nagar, South Ex. Market, Cannaught Place, Karol Bagh, etc. A black Santro car-borne gang comprising one young woman and three teenaged boys was suspected behind the snatching incidents.
The incidents were meticulously analyzed to find out the common features and sources were deployed. After painstaking efforts, constable Rajeev received information that a gang operates in the area of Lajpat Nagar after sunset. The information was further developed and a trap was laid near ‘Haldiram Sweet Shop’ on Ring Road. The team members camouflaged themselves as shoppers. At around 05:30 pm, a black Santro car occupied by a woman and two teenagers stopped outside ‘Haldiram Sweet Shop’. The police team intercepted the trio and questioned them. After a mild resistance, the trio broke down and admitted their guilt.
On cursory search of the vehicle, one sticker with four digits (5555) and another with one digit (3) were found in the dashboard of the vehicle. One digital camera, mobile make Nokia 6270, one credit card of American Express in the name of Penelope Jane Wilson and 29 coins of foreign currency admittedly snatched were recovered from the purse of the woman. After a thorough probe of individual and group interrogation of the accused persons, it was found that the woman Ekta Munshani, alias Nua Didi, had been working with British Airways as executive. She was earlier employed in Noida where she fell in love with one boy working there and they decided to enter into wedlock. Her father was against this marriage and refused to spend any money on the proposed marriage. Ekta tried through friend circle to get a loan from any bank but failed. She took her younger brother Ashok (name changed) into confidence and approached one Punit, who had previously indulged in snatching. They also persuaded another friend Prem Chouhan, alias Guddu, to join them. Thus they formed a gang and started operating from December 2007 onwards. For operation Ekta provided the car and used to change the number of the car before commission of the crime to avoid identification. During interrogation, they admitted more than two dozen snatching from the busy market places. They further disclosed that a number of credit cards were found in the purses snatched mostly from women and foreigners. They used these cards for shopping, filling of petrol and paying bills of hotels etc. The trio have been arrested and the investigation is on. |
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MCD plays key role in
making Delhi green: Mehra
New Delhi, January 23 It is preposterous to assume that the MCD has made no contribution towards greening of the city and the parks are not being properly maintained. The Mayor said the fact was that the MCD had played a very important role in making Delhi green. She criticized the Chief Minister’s statement that the MCD is able to utilize 30 per cent of its funds. As per records, the MCD has already utilized more than 70 per cent of its funds and the remaining will be spent during the current financial year. In fact, it is the Delhi Government which is out to throttle the MCD by depriving it of its rightful allocation of funds. If the funds were released on time, the MCD would be able to take better care of civic services. The MCD is managing 14,596 parks and gardens and other green areas within its jurisdiction. The greening cover provided by these parks and gardens is spread in an area of 5500 acres. The MCD is an autonomous body created by an Act of Parliament and any effort to undermine its autonomy would be strongly resisted. The taking over of the functioning of MCD with regard to parks and gardens is unconstitutional. Under the Act, maintenance of parks and gardens is an obligatory function of the civic body. It would be better if she does an introspection on the functioning of Delhi Government, particularly the bodies which were taken over by it to improve the performance. Arti Mehra said that the MCD is earnestly trying to upgrade all its civic services, including the parks and gardens. The society proposed by the Chief Minister is set to promote Private Public Partnership, whereas the MCD is already working on public participation in horticulture and greening operation in a big way. A large number of parks, roads, etc. have already been given to different NGOs under approved MoU schemes of the MCD. An innovative scheme under the title “Public Private Partnership” has already started for development and management of municipal parks by direct involvement and complete participation including finances through registered RWAs and local societies etc. |
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Design programme launched
New Delhi, January 23 Elated at the PGCHE response, A.K.G Nair, group director, PAF said, “With the influx of media, teaching skills and methodology have undergone a tremendous change. Thus, it is imperative for the faculty to keep up with the best practices followed worldwide and develop strategies for teaching and learning at higher level”. “PGCHE helps the faculty to understand the mindset of students in a better way and communicate with them in an effective manner. This can be reinforced with reference to research into learning and teaching that focuses on the role of teacher in higher education and being an effective practitioner in a research-led institution,” added Nair. |
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Another chilly day
New Delhi, January 23 The Met office attributed the chill in the air to north westerly winds blowing across North India. The Met office has forecast a mainly clear sky in the next 24 hours with the minimum temperature hovering around 4 ° Celsius. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting claimed that western disturbance is expected to affect the Himalayan region. — TNS |
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