Noida, March 29
Hari Om of Sadarpur village surrendered himself at Sector-39 police station after having accidentally shot at his father-in-law in a dispute over landed property worth crores. The wounded father-in-law, instead of lodging a report with the police, went back to Faridabad along with his two sons and the daughter.

Sukhpal, resident of Mehtpur village in Faridabad, had gone to Hari Om along with his two sons. Hari had started selling plots of his 55 bighas in Sherpur Teckawali. The land is worth 4 crore.

Sukhpal along with his two sons, Bhule and Vijender tried to pressurize him to transfer the land in his wife’s name. Hari did not agree to this. At this one of his brothers- in -law pulled out a gun to frighten Hari Om.

Hari Om tried to snatch the gun from him and in this struggle a bullet was fired which hit Sukhpal.

The police has seized a .315 -bore revolver from Hari Om’s Tata Safari car.

The police have registered a case against Hari Om for illegally possessing a revolver and for an attempted murder. 

New Delhi, March 29
A court today sent two Delhi Police personnel accused of accepting bribes from kidney racket kingpin Amit Kumar to a two-day police custody until Monday.

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate (ACMM) AK Kohar passed the ruling against Rakesh and Naresh Kumar. Both were in judicial custody after they had surrendered in the court last week.

In February, the police arrested assistant sub-inspector Ravinder Kumar and registered a case against him and six other policemen on charges of extorting money from Amit Kumar, who was arrested in Nepal on February 7, and his associate Upendra Aggarwal.

Head constables Devender Singh and Vijay Bahadur and constables Kaleem Beg and Surender Rathi are still absconding.

The massive kidney racket was unearthed on January 24 after the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police jointly raided a private hospital and a guesthouse owned by Amit Kumar in Gurgaon, a suburb of the national Capital.

The racket involving illegal kidney transplants served clients from Britain, the US, Greece, Lebanon, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates besides India. — IANS

New Delhi, March 29
Consumption patterns in metropolitan cities, particularly in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, have undergone a sea change in the last five years from education, health, and basic essentials to entertainment, fitness centre, eating out and personal care because of substantial rise in disposable income of individuals, availability of credit and increasing number of dual-income nuclear families.

In a survey conducted by the Associated Chamber of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on “Changing Consumption Pattern of city like Delhi” as a result of rising income levels, nearly 75 per cent couples falling in DINK (double income no kids) category with about Rs 6 lakh to 8 lakh of per annum income, roughly spend Rs 15,000-20,000 on entertainment, shopping, fitness centres, eating out and branded wear articles almost every month.

Time rather than money is a constraint for these couples when it comes to planning for a long holiday. They try to squeeze in a couple of short breaks each year.

The survey discovered that 60 per cent couples in this category plan for outing once every two months. In a year, they spend about Rs 10,000-20,000 on travel at nearby places of their inhabitations. The cities that receive the most attractive tourist packages from Delhi-NCR working couples include Jaipur, Shimla, Chandigarh, Mussoorie, Nainital, Kulu-Manali, Dehradun, etc.

At least 45 per cent of other DINK couples who don’t have any budget but use a substantial part of their income for loan repayment like EMIs add up to over Rs 20,000 a month for mortgages, and spend about Rs 5,000-10,000 on non-essential items.

The ASSOCHAM survey discovered that all the working couples with no kids appear to have one expense in common i.e. eating out. The reason is the tough schedules and late work-hours that their jobs demand especially those who are employed in MNCs.

For most DINK couples, shopping is a weekly affair whether it’s for the essentials or otherwise. In a survey, one DINK couple commented on that “Our average monthly expenditure hovers around Rs 25,000-30,000. They spend mostly on clothes, accessories, and occasionally, on electronic gadgets.

The survey also found that 35 per cent of couples who are staying alone in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore etc would like to visit their parents once or twice a year, and club their short retreats with these visits. In all they spend about Rs 30,000 on travel alone and an equal amount on travel-related expenses. Sixty-five per cent couples without kid also agree that the absence of kids give them room to splurge.

The sample survey in which about 1500 couples were interviewed by the ASSOCHAM to know about their consumption patterns was released here today by ASSOCHAM secretary-general D S Rawat.

What is interesting is that 65 per cent of working couples having children tend to spend their quality time with them at home. This lot spends, especially on weekends, roughly around Rs 8,000-10,000 a month on kids wear, books, eating out, music, movies and theatre, entertainment, recreation centre, vacation, etc

However, this category manages its holiday plans at least twice in a year and the appropriate time for this is after Dusherra and Divali and during the peak summer.

A study of the occupational consumption pattern of households reveals that 48 per cent of Delhiites are self-employed, 62 per cent salaried, and 22 per cent engaged in other vocations. The average monthly consumer expenditure per family in Delhi is Rs 12,500.

Youngsters who are working in MNC, banks, IT & BPO, hospitality industry earn Rs 6-8 lakh per annum. With double income deepening their pockets, these young couples can afford to do impulsive shopping, eat out frequently and take dream vacations.

Spending habits are different for people belonging to different sections of society. For instance, people belonging to the middle class consider basic necessities, education and spending on the future of their children as their top priorities, followed by lifestyle goods. The rich class spends more on luxury goods and international brands. The super rich class spends on ultra luxury goods. It is observed that as disposable income increases, people prefer more of branded goods, shift to processed foods, and the expenditure on food, beverages, tobacco, and transport and communication also increases. A comparison of consumer spending habits in 2002 with those in 2008 revealed that expenditure on food, clothing and personal care has remained more or less constant, but expenditure on entertainment increased manifold.

“Growing disposable income is also propelling demand for consumer durables and eating in restaurants among Indians. Age is also a major factor that affects the spending decisions of an individual. For instance, people in 20-24 years age group spend more on electronic / home appliances and movies, while people in the 45-48 years age group spend more on vacations,” said Rawat.

The pattern of spending categories for the average Indian has increased from 1991 to 2007. In 1991, the average Indian spent on eight product categories, whereas in 2008 the number of categories increased to 17, and included mobile handsets, gifts, and durables, among others. 

New Delhi, March 29
With the arrest of four persons, the South Delhi police has solved the kidnapping of Aakash, 9, who was kidnapped from outside his house in Tugalakabad Extension here on March 21. The boy was rescued from Forbes Ganj in Arhariya district of Bihar.

The four arrested includes an ex-employee of the boy’s father, Raj Kumar.

Aakash went missing while he was playing outside his house on March 21.

The boy’s family received a ransom call the next day. “The kidnappers demanded Rs 7 lakh. Being aware of my financial condition, they lessened the amount to Rs 5 lakh”, said the boy’s father, who owns a fabrication export unit.

HGS Dhaliwal, DCP, South District, said that the call was traced to Forbes Ganj town of Arhariya district in Bihar. Subsequently, a team led by BS Rana, SHO, Okhla Industrial Area was sent to Forbes Ganj. Vishnu Wiswas, who earlier worked in Raj Kumar’s unit was arrested on March 27.

On Vishnu’s instance, his accomplice Pradeep Dev and Tapan Mandal were arrested. Aakash was recovered from them. Balram Singh, who informed them about the activities of the boy’s father from Delhi, was also arrested.

According to Dhaliwal, the kidnappers kept the boy in good humour. 

New Delhi, March 29
An 18-year-old youth has been arrested for allegedly raping and murdering his eight-year-old cousin in South West Delhi, the police said today.

The incident occurred on Holi when the accused, identified as Vikas, took the girl from her Najafgarh house for a ride on his motorbike.

The police said that Vikas took her to the fields of Kharkhari village and raped and killed her. He dumped the body in a 30-feet deep bore well.

The girl’s family filed a missing complaint report.

“Vikas was detained during investigations. He later confessed to raping and killing the girl. The girl’s body has been recovered and sent for post-mortem examination,” said a police official. — IANS

New Delhi, March 29
A Delhi court today sentenced a man and his mother to life imprisonment for causing the death of his wife over dowry demands.

Additional sessions judge DK Sharma awarded life imprisonment to Ashok Kumar and Kaushlaya Devi and imposed a fine of Rs 4,000 on each.

“Extreme form of cruelty was meted out to Bharti by her husband and in-laws,” the court said. The court, however, acquitted four other family members.

Bharti married Ashok Kumar in 2000 and was murdered two years later.

In a statement before the magistrate, she said her husband and mother-in-law set her on fire after pouring kerosene oil while she was cooking food. — IANS

New Delhi, March 29
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit expressed confidence that polio would soon be eliminated from the Capital.

She said this at the launch of another phase of special intensified pulse polio immunisation programme (PPIP) today in the Capital. She also administered polio drops to children.

The Chief Minister exhorted parents to administer polio drops to children between the age group of 0-5 years tomorrow. More than 25 lakh children will be administered polio drops at over 7,500 booths.

Dikshit said that Delhi would continue to strive to eliminate polio.

She said that only one case of P-I virus was reported this year, as against two cases reported last year.

The country reported over 866 cases in 2007. Delhi was the first state to initiate pulse polio immunisation programme.

It initiated the programme in 1994 and launched house-to-house search and immunise component in 1999. Delhi is also a pioneer in bringing awareness about this disease. 

New Delhi, March 29
International luxury brands might have carved a profitable niche for their products in India, but experts here believe their growth in the apparel industry is still a distant dream. For now, their sales of accessories are on an unprecedented high.

“It will take a minimum seven to eight years for branded foreign luxury apparels to make their presence felt here, but the accessories market is booming,” Rajiv Grover, associate vice-president, Genesis Colors, told IANS.

Grover, whose company owns designer label Satya Paul and markets the Deepika Gehani label, was speaking on the sidelines of the Mint-Hindustan Times Luxury Conference here on Friday.

He added that this burgeoning demand of leading international accessories with labels like Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton and others is a result of the constant urge to show off that customers have.

“A lot of time is required for the apparel industry of such premium brands to grow in India since the visibility of the label is much less in an outfit in comparison to that of an accessory.

“A Gucci or an LV logo would clearly show on a bag, scarf, shoes, wristwatch but not on a coat or dress. It would usually be mentioned on the inner lining, which would not be visible. As people want to show that they own a luxury product, accessories are a safer bet for them,” he said.

Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani seconded Grover - but with a different rationale.

“Accessories are easy!” he said, adding that people don’t mind spending on accessories as they can flaunt it many more times in comparison to an exorbitantly priced outfit.

Tahiliani said, “Luxury brand accessories like shoes are not made to suit the uneven roads in India. That restricts a person to flaunt them only at special occasions.

“A person can flaunt an accessory on multiple occasions, but he or she will be hesitant to be seen in one specific outfit repeatedly, no matter what the brand or the price may be.”

According to Rathi Vinay Jha, managing director of Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the country’s apex fashion body, “The international luxury brand accessories market has a share of at least 20 to 25 per cent in the total accessories market of the country”.

Leena Singh of the Ashima-Leena fashion label also feels that accessories are hot.

“Good eyewear, bags, shoes, watches and those of the international brands are on a growth in India,” she said.

Singh believes that although the Indian fashion industry is growing, the accessories market is still at a nascent stage and will take at least 10 years to make its presence felt.

On the reason behind the presence of branded international luxury accessories, the designer said, “Gucci, Prada and other such brands are old brands that have built an extremely good market over the years. People used to buy them 20 years back from abroad. But since they are now readily available here, people purchase it more often than before. Also, the rise in per capita income has resulted in this spurt.” — IANS

New Delhi, March 29
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit claimed that her government had opened one school at an interval of 45 days during the last nine years. Education has been the topmost priority of the government. It is striving hard to enroll maximum number of students to achieve the goal of universalisation of education, she added.

She said this today at the stone laying ceremony of a senior secondary school building at Mandoli Extension in East Delhi. Dikshit directed the DSIIDC to complete the construction in time so as to ensure timely commission of classes.

Education minister Arvinder Singh was also present. He said that the department had earmarked Rs 200 crore for renovation of 191 schools in the Trans-Yamuna area. The Directorate of Education is focusing on the all-round development of students in the schools.

Twelve lakh students are getting education in government schools here. The government has opened schools for rag pickers. It is also running mobile schools for children.

New Delhi, March 29
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will launch a two-year course in Master of Education (M-Ed) and a diploma course in primary education (DEP) from July this year.

IGNOU vice-chancellor Prof VN Rajasekharan Pillai announced this recently.

The Distance Education Council (DEC) and the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) have designed and developed the M-Ed programme.

The programme will be available through the ODL mode.

Candidates who have scored at least 55 per cent marks in B.ED/B.El.Ed are eligible for admission.

DEP is a collective effort of the school of education, IGNOU and NCERT to enhance the understanding and competency of serving teachers at primary and elementary level.

Untrained or under-trained permanent teachers who have passed matric/HSC/+2 from recognised schools and have two years teaching experience are eligible for DPE. 

New Delhi, March 29
The National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT) will introduce new textbooks for class V and VIII from the current academic session. It will also post the online version of the books.

The books would be based on the guidelines of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

The NCF had directed the NCERT to arrange textbooks that would connect real life knowledge to classroom teaching. Importance would be given on enhancing the learning abilities of students. 

New Delhi, March 29
Cinema acts as a cultural bonding between countries and the China Film Festival is a step towards promoting cultural exchanges between India and China, said officials at the inauguration of the fest here on Friday evening.

“I hope this film festival will promote co-operation and exchange of Chinese and Indian film industries, and contribute to the development of cinema of both the nations,” said Tong Gang, director general, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), China.

“The cultural exchanges have become smooth with both countries hosting film festivals of each other and attending the international film festivals,” he added.

Commenting upon the bilateral co-production, he said, “‘Chandni Chowk to China’ is the first step in the area of co-production.” The film, slated for release in 2008, is being directed by Nikhil Advani and stars Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone.

Director Xiao Feng’s ‘Gun of Mercy’ kickstarted the festival, which was attended by Neelam Kapur, director, Directorate of Film Festival (DFF), and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan.

Commenting upon China-India cultural ties, Asha Swarup, secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, said, “Cinema has been able to provide cultural bonding among countries. Cinema can strengthen our cultural ties too. Indian films are popular in China and Chinese films are popular here.”

Apart from ‘Gun of Mercy’, ‘Call for Love’, seven other contemporary films will be showcased. It includes, ‘Honeymoon’, ‘Perhaps Love’, ‘The Silent Holy Stone’, ‘A world without thieves’, ‘Courthouse on the Horseback’, ‘The Banquet’ and ‘Fearless’.

The DFF in association with SARF and the Embassy of China is organising the week-long festival. — IANS

Faridabad, March 29
The jails kitchens in Haryana will serve better food to inmates.

The state’s director gen eral, jail,DrJohn V.George,has directed the jail authorities to give a break to repetitive menus .

The grocery list should include tomato,onion,green chilly,etc.

The DG has said no to cooked food from outside,but allowed ghee,biscuits, fruits,etc from visitors.

The jail staff should follow the dress code while on duty,saysthe DG directive.