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Agra women rally against liquor shops
Price rise
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Transport office at Wazirpur
Soha Ali seeks personal
Govt schools to improve
English teaching
Portal to guide students
Computer procurement policy updated
Sacked AP journalist gets relief
African dances, Sufi singing
Retd Air Force officer dies in accident
Charges to be framed against ex-DDA official
CRIME
Relief for Rinki’s parents
Fire at Reliance outlet
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Agra women rally against liquor shops
Agra, April 8 The spontaneous movement, which took place in Jagdishpura locality on Monday, was aimed at preventing men and children from getting addicted to alcohol, which, women said, led to a large chunk of their earnings going waste. “Even bystanders and men watching the women’s actions joined in, impressed with the intensity of the protest by women of all age groups,” said Raju of the Agra Action Group, which works for women’s causes. It is “definitely a positive movement against liquor addiction, which has eaten into the family resources of Dalits, most working in shoe factories”, said Megh Singh Yadav, a human rights activist. This was the seventh such big protest held in Dalit localities in the city in the last one month. Early in March, women’s groups attacked a liquor shop in the Water Works area. A similar movement was soon seen in Bheem Nagri. Women in Nagla Boorhi demonstrated on April 6, forcing district authorities to review the licence of a liquor shop. “A majority of men are already hardcore addicts and wasting substantial part of their earnings on liquor, resulting in the suffering and deprivation of the whole family,” said Naresh Paras, a member of Amnesty International. An interesting feature of the sporadic protests is that no NGO or group is mobilising the women. “It’s all so spontaneous, and more and more women are getting involved,” Singh noted. — IANS
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RWAs join oust Sheila chorus
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 8 They allegedly claimed that inflation was the lowest in the city. But the data released by the union ministry of consumer affairs reveal that Delhi is the worst hit. “It seems that the Delhi government is interested in giving misleading statements rather than facing the truth that grocery budget of a household has rose by more than 40 per cent in last couple of months,” said Ritu Bhatia, secretary, Mahila Pragatisheel Association of Vivek Vihar. “With prices of essential commodities showing a sharp rise, the common man is feeling the pinch. Prices of flour, edible oils, pulses, rice, dairy products are spiralling. The Chief minister is happy taking misleading solace that prices are lower than other metros instead of tackling the problem,” she added. Atul Goyal, convenor, united residents joint association (URJA) said, “As compared to last year, the grocery budget for my family of four has doubled. Last year, we spent Rs 4,000 a month on grocery items. Now, we are spending Rs 8,000 a month. Only those families, whose incomes have increased by a minimum of 12 to 15 per cent, are able to take this price rise. Others have been forced to cut down on their budget reserved for entertainment, socialising and leisure activities.” “The hike in salary of government employees under the sixth pay commission will benefit only a select few. Why should the nation suffer for benefit of a few,” lamented YP Suri of Kailash Colony RWA.
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Transport office at Wazirpur
New Delhi, April 8 Yusuf expressed the government’s commitment to provide safe, modern and pollution-free public transport system. He said that the problem of traffic congestion and limited road space could be solved only if people resort to public transport rather than depending on private vehicles. He said this yesterday at the inauguration of zonal transport office in Wazirpur in North West Delhi. He said that the zonal office in Wazirpur was equipped with modern technology like state-of-art infrastructure for providing service to citizens, complete automation of existing manual process and introduction of smart card. The zonal transport office is the most prominent public interface of the transport department. Ten such zonal offices are functioning and three more zonal offices are to be opened each in Sukhdev Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan and Vasant Vihar.
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Soha Ali seeks personal
Gurgaon, April 8 The district authorities sent her a notice seeking explanation about how the weapon for which she was licensed was used by her father to kill a black buck in Haryana in 2005. Soha Ali Khan sent a letter to the district administration on Monday, seeking a personal hearing, deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta said. She was issued the notice on March 21 to explain how she obtained an arms licence despite being underage. The authorities also marked a probe into her original application file, which has gone missing from official records here. Rakesh Gupta said the notice to Soha Ali, the actress-daughter of former cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore, has given her 15 days to send her reply. District magistrate Gupta also directed additional deputy commissioner Abhay Singh Yadav to probe how she obtained the licence despite being underage and also how her original application file went “missing” from the official records here. Soha Ali has been charged with obtaining an arms licence for her .22 bore rifle on November 5, 1996 when she had not completed 21 years of age—a legal prerequisite for possessing an arms licence. The passport record of the actress put her year of birth at 1978 and in 1996 she was just 18 years old. The weapon for which she was issued licence was used by her father Pataudi in a black buck poaching case in which he was arrested on July 2005 by the Haryana police in Jhajjar district near here. The poaching case was registered on June 5, 2005 and the weapon is still in possession of the Jhajjar police. The poaching case is being tried in a wildlife and environment court in Faridabad town in Haryana. Soha Ali was also asked to explain why, while moving a fresh application for renewal of her licence on September 7, 2005 before the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gurgaon, she concealed the fact that the weapon was in the possession of the Jhajjar police.—IANS |
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Govt schools to improve
English teaching
New Delhi, April 8 “To begin with, we plan to give training in skill development and the English language to around 5,000 schoolchildren in the current academic session. It is being started as a pilot project in at least 60 schools,” Rina Ray, secretary for education in the Delhi government, told IANS. The optional training programme, which hopes to strengthen self-employment, will cover students of Classes 8 to 10. Students who enrol will learn how to repair air-conditioners, mobile phones, television sets, watches and other home appliances. They will also be taught how to make candles, paper carry bags and other such eco-friendly things. The programme will also address another problem. Students in government schools also find themselves at a disadvantage compared to those in private institutions when it comes to the English language. “As English has virtually become the potential medium of expression in the era of liberalisation, everyone should have good knowledge of English. One must be able to speak in English. So language development is an important ingredient of the programme,” said Ray. The Delhi branch of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is the city government’s partner in implementing the innovative programme. The students will get certificates after successfully completing the optional courses. Government officials feel the scheme will substantially help students who drop out of school midway for various reasons like inability to cope with studies and family problems. According to the planning department of the Delhi government, nearly two million students were studying in Classes 1-5 in state-run schools in 2006-07. The figure peters down to around 691,000 for Classes 10-12. “The initiative will ensure that students are equipped with certain skills so that they can start their own independent business units. They will also be eligible for loans against the certificate provided by the government,” Ray added. The CII is enthused about the move. A formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) is going to be signed shortly. The industry chamber will get “token funds” from the government to run the programme. “The skill development is an area that needs more attention. It increases not only one’s employability but also adds to his overall personality development. Such programmes should be implemented at a larger scale,” Kartikeya Bharat Ram, chairman of the CII Delhi state council, told IANS. “Our teams will comprise experts from different fields. Whosoever undergoes the programme will end up learning skills for being financially self-reliant. It will be open for all.” As per the latest Economy Survey, around two million children study in the city’s over 2,668 government-run primary schools, mostly run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The city’s 2,000-odd secondary schools offer education to over 700,000 children. The survey pegged the total number of government schools at 5,063 in 2005-06, with 3.4 million students. Over 82.73 per cent of the city’s children aged 7-18 attend these schools.—IANS |
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Portal to guide students
New Delhi, April 8 The website would help students to find, compare, evaluate and select the right course and institute. It would also provide professional counselling to students. It would guide them on how to get admission in selected institutes. “We have a team of professionals who have in depth understanding of the industry,” said Amitabh Nagpal, founder and CEO, StudyPlaces Inc. “The competition in India for a limited number of seats makes it difficult for students to get admission in professional courses. They end up taking admission in non-professional courses for lack of information on various career options available to them,” he said.
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Computer procurement policy updated
New Delhi, April 8 Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit stated that the cabinet had revised the computer hardware policy to allow procurement from the open market, including DGS and D and NICSI. The decision has been taken to overcome difficulties in procurement of computer hardware, software and accessories. However, the existing system for obtaining technical approval from the information and technology department for procurement of computers will continue even though financial power for purchase of computers, printers and accessories is being given to the secretaries. The cabinet has also given its nod to the department concerned for signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on academic collaboration between the Foundation for Aesthetic and Research (FAR) and department of Training and Technical Education (TTE) for training of the students of department of beauty culture of Meerabai Polytechnic. The Chief Minister stated that the diploma course in beauty culture would be made comprehensive to make it more employment-oriented. Meerabai Polytechnic has been running a diploma course in beauty culture since 1975. It has been collaborating with M/s Chanel and Company, Paris, which has now set up a trust in the name of FAR for dissemination of knowledge in the field of beauty culture, aesthetics and other related fields. The MoU aims at upgrading education and training in the field of cosmetics and fragrances by introducing recognized professional and vocational education programmes. The cabinet has also given its approval for construction of a three-level grade separator at Ghazipur Crossing on NH-24 and road number 56. It would be commissioned before the beginning of Commonwealth Games 2010.
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Sacked AP journalist gets relief
New Delhi, April 8 Assistant labour commissioner AV Premnath, designated the competent authority, ruled that Laurinda Keys Long was very much covered by Indian laws because AP had a base in this country. Premnath ordered the compensation under the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, in February this year. But a certified copy of the ruling was made available to the petitioner only last week. The ruling could make a difference in how foreign companies deal with employees they send overseas to countries where such laws protect them.—IANS
Notice to Rockland Hospital
The Delhi High Court today issued notice to the multi-speciality Rockland Hospital here after a court-appointed committee found that the land was allotted for a cancer research centre and not for commercial hospital.
The monitoring committee rebuked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for failing to check the misuse of the land and informed the court that the land in the Qutub institutional area in South Delhi was allotted to the Foundation for Applied Research and Cancer Society. But later a commercial hospital in the name of Rockland Hospital was set up. A division bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Rekha Sharma took notice of the irregularity and issued notices to the hospital, DDA and Delhi Police, and asked them to reply in 15 days. The monitoring committee said that the society obtained the land at concession rate for a “noble purpose” and had also taken exemption from the income January last year. tax department for it.
— IANS |
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New Delhi, April 8 The beats of African drums and incantation of chants mingled with mystic Sufi strains and nuances of Indian classical dances to create a soul-stirring tribute to the spirit of India and Africa - in a gala concert here titled ‘A Tribute to Africa’. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) presented the show on Monday evening on the occasion of the first-ever India-Africa summit. In the backdrop of the lighted ruins of the Purana Quila, the 16th century fort in the heart of the Capital, the show of colours and spirit that embody Africa recreated the era when the land was a melting pot of cultures under its mighty rulers 500 years ago. External affairs minister Pranab Mukerjee underlined the spiritual and emotional proximity between the people of India and Africa and said the partnership between the two nations would grow stronger in the days to come. Foreign ministers of 14 African countries, who are here to take part in the first-ever India-Africa summit, were present at the show, tapping their feet to the music. The heads of state and the ambassadors of the foreign nations occupied pride of place in the front rows. ICCR president Karan Singh lauded the common values and the instinctive cultural affinity between India and Africa. The highlight of the fusion show was its grand finale. A burst of coloured firecrackers lit the air to the joyous whoops of the delegates from all nations symbolising the spirit of carefree bonhomie, the essence of the two ancient cultures. — IANS
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Retd Air Force officer dies in accident
Ghaziabad, April 8 The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus plying on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road here hit the motor cycle Bijendra Singh Sharma, a retired warrant officer, was riding. The bus driver fled after the accident. The accident took place at 7:30 am near Shani Mandir on GT Road under the jurisdiction of Sahibabad police station. According to the police, Sharma was a resident of Satyam Enclave at Sahibabad. He was returning from a Mother Dairy booth being run by him at Patel Nagar II, in Ghaziabad, when a head-on collision took place. Sharma died on the spot.
— IANS |
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Charges to be framed against ex-DDA official
New Delhi, April 8 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special judge IK Kochhar held Sharma, alleged middleman Dharambir Khattar, Ved Prakash Kaushik, Pradeep Kapoor and Anil Wadhwa guilty. They are likely to be charged on April 16, the next date of hearing. They can be booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. The CBI unearthed the scam in 2003 and filed four corruption cases in which several prominent peoplewere involved.
— IANS |
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Rape suspect flees from police station
New Delhi, April 8 The boy was arrested late on Monday for allegedly raping his 11-year-old neighbour in the Alipur area of North Delhi. The accused took the girl, a Class III student, to a secluded place on a pretext and allegedly raped her. The girl reported the matter to her mother. The victim’s mother complained to the police and the boy - a labourer staying with his elder sister in the same area, was arrested. “He was sitting in the police station in the morning. He was supposed to be produced before a juvenile court when he gave the officials on duty the slip and managed to get away unnoticed,” a senior police official said. — IANS. 3 held for shooting
Three people, including a minor, were arrested today for allegedly opening fire at two youths in a busy market of North West Delhi. It is suspected to be a case of group rivalry, the police said. “We have arrested Inderjeet, 18; Akhilesh, 19 and a minor for accompanying Shiv Kumar, 42, who shot five times and injured two youths — Kunal Khari and his friend Mandeep, both in their early 20s,” said an official.—IANS. Worker held
The Rajender Nagar police has arrested Arun Kumar Jain, an employee of the shop in the area where two photostat machines were reported missing on April 5. Owner of the shop, Vinay Kapoor alleged that when he reached the shop, he found the shop’s lock was broken. Two photostat machines, one CPU and one monitor were missing. Vivek Aggarwal, employed just two days ago, was absent. Vinay suspected that Vivek had committed the theft. It was found that Vivek had given a fake address and used a false name. His real name is Arun Kumar Jain. He is a resident of Sector-11 in Rohini. He confessed that he took the job to carry out the theft.
— TNS Chain snatchers held
The Rohini Police yesterday arrested two persons — Vinod alias Vicky and Rajesh for chain snatching. The two figure in the list of top ten chain snatchers in the Capital. Rajesh was arrested in the Prashant Vihar police station area. A stolen Pulsar motor cycle and a gold chain have been recovered. Vinod was arrested on his instance. A countrymade pistol and live cartridge have been recovered from him.— TNS Gangster arrested
A wanted gangster, Zafar Qureshi, has been arrested by the sleuths of Special Staff/East District. The raiding party led by inspector Rajesh Kumar laid a trap near Chanda Cassettes, Kalyan Puri and apprehended Qureshi yesterday afternoon. A loaded countrymade pistol along with one live cartridge was recovered from Zafar.
—TNS |
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Relief for Rinki’s parents
New Delhi, April 8 She could not recuperate from the injuries sustained by her. She was undergoing treatment at the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital. Rinki was a bright student of class 10th of Dinkar Public School. The minister expressed grief over her death and offered his condolences to her parents. On the occasion, Arvinder Singh said that the Indian system of education did not permit corporal punishment and such type of incident would be severely dealt with in future. He urged the parents and guardians of the children to come forward and report such cases to the education department so that the guilty could be brought to book at the earliest. The minister said, “Children are our future leaders and we should inculcate leadership qualities in them so that they become good and responsible citizens.” He said that children had tender minds and it was the responsibility of the parents and teachers to show them the path to success. “We must encourage our children to exploit their potential to the maximum so that they can choose their own field and it is duty of the whole society to nurture young talent,” he said.
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Fire at Reliance outlet
New Delhi, April 8 According to fire officials, more than four fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The situation was brought under control within 20 minutes.
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Several resident welfare associations (RWAs) have sought immediate resignation of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and finance minister AK Walia in view of the spiralling prices.
New Delhi, April 8
