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150,000 homeless in Capital
Incentive for saving power
Subsidy on electricity poll stunt: BJP
JNU students demand better library facilities
DUTA dharna to oust Thampu
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Residents protest youth’s death
DUJ for media panel and council
Books on RTI released
New excise policy decried
Koshy DG of BPRD
Fashion show held
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150,000 homeless in Capital
New Delhi, February 22
Homeless from across the Capital will observe the annual maha panchayat on February 24 here. They would question the government about its take on the homeless and as to why there is no provision for those living without shelter. “Every year we celebrate the initiatives taken by the government and the NGOs to provide shelter to the homeless in the city,” says Deendayal, who lives in a shelter run by the Ashraya Adhikar Abhiyan. “As winter ends many shelters close, giving us no option but to return to pavements and parks,” he adds. “It is high time that the government comes out with consistent policy remedies. One of the biggest blows has been the closing of the only year-round shelter for women in the Capital,” says Paramjeet Kaur of Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan, a campaign by ActionAid. “There is an urgent need to increase shelters for men, women and children in the city”, adds Kaur. Slum evictions under JNNURM and Delhi Master Plan are adding to the number of homeless. Preparations for 2010 Commonwealth Games will also involve major displacement, she laments. “Evicted families are either living on streets or relocated to sites as far as 40 km from their work. To retain their jobs in the city, they join the ranks of Delhi’s homeless,” says Indu Prakash Singh of ActionAid. The government raised Rs 105.71 billion for the first phase of the Delhi Metro, over Rs 10 billion for high-capacity bus corridor, and over Rs 52 billion for 2010 Commonwealth Games as well as provision of land for stadiums and other constructions. “Why can’t the authorities allocate a fraction of these resources to find space for public housing and shelters for the homeless who are making immense contribution to the city’s development through their labour,” asks Kaur. Government officials have been invited to attend the maha panchayat where the homeless will share their life.
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Incentive for saving power
New Delhi, February 22 While briefing media after the meeting, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit reiterated commitment of her government to safeguard all interests of economically weaker sections. Setting at rest all speculations about hike in power tariff, Dikshit along with power minister A. K. Walia expressed confidence that benefit of this subsidy would mostly percolate down to economically weaker sections. Over 10 lakh families would be charged one rupee less per unit that is Rs 1.20 per unit during six months of the year. This would not only provide relief to those poor families whose consumption is limited but also exhort others to conserve electricity at large by limiting their consumption to remain within the eligibility criteria for availing subsidy. This decision would come into force from April 1. The cabinet expressed satisfaction over the substantial increase in forest and tree cover as corroborated in the State of Forest Report 2005 brought out by the Forest Survey of India. The report has stated that forest and tree cover in Delhi was 265 square km in 2003 which has gone up to 283 square km in 2005. Due to concerted efforts of department of environment and forest, Delhi, the present estimated forest and tree cover in Delhi is over 300 square km.
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Subsidy on electricity poll stunt: BJP
New Delhi, February 22 The subsidy of Rs 500 was given to power companies to maintain tariff at the rate of 2004-2005. It’s total election stunt. The Chief Minister has not given this tariff from its own coffer. The hard money of the public instead of being spent on development of Delhi is being allowed to be looted by private companies, said Vardhan. Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government has taken this decision today that the power companies would be given a subsidy amounting to Rs 500 crore whereas it has been clearly provided in the Electricity Act 2003 that subsidy will be decreased every year after the privatisation. After five years, the power companies will become independent and tariff will be reduced. But the government is violating the norms of the Electricity Act. The Act said that power would be sold to the consumers at the distribution rates. At the time of privatisation, the rate was Rs 2.40 per unit which was increased by the companies up to Rs 3.40 per unit. Power is being supplied at the rate of Rs 2.40 only to those consumers who are consuming only 30 units power per month. The number of such consumers is small. The power companies as well as the government claim that power theft has come down. If it is correct, the companies’ revenue should be increased and in such a situation, there should be no hike in tariff. At the time of privatisation, the power companies were given a subsidy of Rs 3450 crore. After that the government has given subsidy of Rs 200 crore every year. Now in the election year, the Delhi government has found an excuse that by providing subsidy of Rs 500 crore, there will be no increase in the power tariff, Harsh Vardhan said.
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JNU students demand better library facilities
New Delhi, February 22 JNUSU holds that it is a matter of grave concern that students have been experiencing difficulties with regard to the functioning of the Central Library. The present condition of the library is far from meeting the standards that are required of the world-class institution which JNU professes to be. The rising number of students and the expansion of academic courses in the university have created pressure on the library. “We from JNUSU demand that details of the fund allocation for the library under 11th plan should be provided to us,” said
Sandeep, president JNUSU. Students’ union has also come up with a solution to the library crisis in the individual schools. “There should be committees in each school consisting of faculty members and students of the school,” said JNUSU demand charter. |
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DUTA dharna to oust Thampu
New Delhi, February 22 Rev Thampu had issued show-cause notices to two women colleagues threatening disciplinary action against them if they did not explain their position. He accused the teachers of having “abused the teaching space” and “by indulging in irrelevant and incendiary statements on issues that do not pertain to the course of study.” Teachers assert these are “flimsy charges that amount to harassment.” DUTA president Aditya Narayana Misra informs that, “at St Stephen’s the faculty’s freedom of expression is clearly being attacked by
Thampu. He is trying to harass the teachers and this is why we are sitting on dharna here today. The teachers have appealed to the DUTA for help and this matter raises the most fundamental issue—the freedom of expression of faculty members.” DUTA further asserts that, “this senseless act of desperation sprang out of Thampu’s attempts to cover up the illegality of his own appointment as OSD in contravention of the DU ordinance XXIV and ordinance
XVIII. Further, the NCMEI or the National Commission of Minorities Educational Institutions has come out stating that, “the appointment of Valson Thampu as OSD and the extension of this appointment is patently illegal.” Further, Misra informs that Thampu has also acquired a very dubious PHD degree in theology from Allahabad Agriculture University. DUTA is demanding firstly the withdrawal of show-cause notices against the two victimized lady teachers of the department of history at St Stephens, secondly this attack on the freedom of expression of teachers should be dealt with and lastly, Thampu should be removed from the post of OSD and Stephens and a legitimate principal be installed in his place in accordance with university procedures. DUTA stresses that Thampu has been targeting lady teachers and the VC should take note of this. DUTA members have also met the VC to impress upon him the gravity of the situation and that examination in St Stephen’s should not be held under Thampu as this “would violate the sanctity of examinations as Thampu’s appointment has been declared illegal by both DUTA and
NCMEI.” |
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Residents protest youth’s death
Faridabad, February 22 Later, they indulged in violence and arson in the nearby office of a builder/construction company, BPTP. The deceased, Jeetender, resident of village Badoli was allegedly hit by a Maruti Zen last night on the bridge set up by BPTP. He was returning to the village after attending a marriage ceremony. He succumbed to his injuries in the morning. Irate residents blocked the road near Badloi for more than two hours. They were angry as they alleged that there was no proper lighting at the bridge due to which mishaps take place. They relented and lifted the road blockade only after the authorities promised them to remedy the situation within 24 hours. However, some angry youths of the village went to the nearby office of BPTP and indulged in violence. They broke the furniture and smashed the windowpanes. They set on fire a small block in the office. The fire was doused shortly as a result of which not much damage occurred. A fire brigade had to be pressed into service to douse the fire. The police had not registered a case in the matter till the time of this dispatch.
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DUJ for media panel and council
New Delhi, February 22 The DUJ meeting noted with concern that the central government was withdrawing step by step, health and other welfare measures available to the journalists. They must be restored forthwith. The general body also called upon the Delhi state government to take note of unfair labour practices in the newspaper industry.—TNS
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Books on RTI released
Gurgaon, February 22 Madhavan said that though the Act had been implemented two years ago, both the public and the government were unable to interpret its clauses correctly. He said that the book would not only prove useful for the common man to understand the provisions of Act, but also the administrative machinery to know about its various dimensions.
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New excise policy decried
Faridabad, February 22 The executive committee of the organisation today held an emergency meeting on the policy and was of the view that in its present form, it would have the most corroding influence on society, specially the youths. Giving details of the meeting, Bisla said that the policy provides easy availability of liquor to people. The executive committee expressed the view that the new policy appeared to have made it easy to generate more revenue to the state exchequer. This was a faulty approach to development as it would come at possible great social and moral cost. The Ved Prachar Mandal has decided to send a delegation from the state to meet the minister concerned to impress upon him to effect amendment to the policy.
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