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Panchayat Elections Phase II
Uttarakhand Universities Bill
Govt to compile info on forests
DMK Govt’s 2nd Anniversary |
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PM assures full support to Rajasthan
Andhra govt earns EC wrath
Prevention of Trafficking
Militants may infiltrate via new routes
Post-Samba, BSF focuses on anti-militancy
SC dismisses PIL on turban ban in France
Stop behaving like pets, BJP to Cong leaders
‘Godman’ held, faces rape charge
Schemes for ex-servicemen discussed
Sachar defends report on Muslims
Farmlands to be mapped
Bandh called against killings in Assam
Woman to head missile project for the first time
‘Dancing cop’ of Patna
NREGA Scheme
UP minister’s cavalcade mows down man
Dalit woman burnt to death
Shindhe’s request turned down
Labour force to strike on Aug 20
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Panchayat Elections Phase II
Kolkata, May 13 Oddly enough, in most of the pre-poll violence, the CPM had been involved in clashes with their partners — the RSP, Forward Bloc and the CPI. In some places, however, the CPM was locked in a fight against Trinamool Congress, Congress, SUCI and the Naxalites. In two separate incidents, the CPM had been the target of the Maoists, who had gunned down five party activists at Belpahari in Midnapore and in a village near the Jharkhand border in Purulia. IG (law and order) Raj Kanojia said additional paramilitary forces had been sent to the sensitive areas of the five districts -- Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia and the two 24-parganas (North and South), where the elections would be held tomorrow. Today a CPM worker was killed at Jaynagar, South 24-parganas, while over 20 TMC workers received severe gunshot injuries in the clashes at Nandigram, Ghatal and Kharagpur areas. Over 30 Congress workers and their supporters had been severely beaten up by the CPM at Contai, near Digha in the presence of the police. However, no one was arrested, WBPCC general secretary Manash Bhuia alleged. There was re-polling today at several panchayats in Nandigram and other areas in East and West Midnapore, Burdwan, Bankura and Purulia, which were held peacefully and the turnout of voters was fairly large, said the IG. The re-polling order was given on the basis of the report of the returning officers against holding of the free and fair elections in these places on May 11. State home secretary A.M. Chakraborty said the state government would take appropriate actions against the policemen if found guilty of misusing of power and ill behaving with the CRPF women force during the elections at Nandigram on May 11. Chakraborty said the IG (Western Range) had already started inquiry into the police-CRPF clashes at Nandigram. The home secretary, however, refused to make any comment on the CPM MP Lakshman Seth’s allegations against the CRPF DIG Alok Raj. But he admitted the government had received an official report from the DIG. Several opposition leaders and also the Left Front partners had vehemently criticised Seth for insulting the DIG during the election day in Nandigram. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at an election meeting in English bazar in Malda today reminded Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders that the UPA was in power at the Centre only at the mercy of the Left parties and the government would fall if their support was withdrawn. He squarely blamed the Manmohan Singh government for the price rise and the country’s present crisis in the economic and various other fronts. Union information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, however, accused the Chief Minister of failing to stop the blackmarket of the essential commodities. He alleged the state also failed miserably to run the public distribution system, which had caused more hardship to the people.
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Uttarakhand Universities Bill
Dehra Dun, May 13 Uttarakhand parliamentary affairs minister Parkash Pant today said there was nothing wrong in the bill and suggestions of the select committee of the House that examined the bill were duly incorporated. “We are determined to push the bill as done by many state governments in the past,” said Pant. On the other hand, Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators today blamed the BJP government of rushing with the bill to control institutes of higher learning. “It was the ruling BJP that provoked us to do what happened in the House,” said Harak Singh Rawat, leader of opposition. He alleged that the Khanduri government was in a tearing hurry to implement RSS agenda and wanted to take control of the universities. “We had pleaded with the Chief Minister, Speaker as well as the parliamentary affairs minister not to rush with this bill. But they had other plans. How can they bulldoze in a democracy,” Rawat said. He said the BJP government wanted to control the appointments of vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor and controller of examinations in the state universities by this bill. “They want to appoint their own RSS men in the universities. We will oppose them along with the entire academic fraternity, students and employees of the universities,” said Rawat. Teachers, students and employees of the state universities are opposed to the Uttarakhand Universities Bill. However, the state government proposes to call another short session of the state assembly in near future to get the bill passed. Meanwhile, the state government has decided to incorporate the suggestion given by Governor B.L. Joshi while returning the Uttarakhand Panchayat Regulations Bill reserving 50 per cent seats for women in the panchayats. The Governor had objected to two-term reservation for a particular seat for women.
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Govt to compile info on forests
New Delhi, May 13 Experts say there are questions regarding contribution of the forestry sector towards the Indian economy, especially with growing realisation that forests contribute not only in terms of the share in the GDP but also indirectly in maintenance of the environment. While the Indian Council of Forest Research and Education brings out a biennial publication ‘Forestry statistics in India’, covering sectoral data on forests in India comprehensively, they say there are gaps in data that need to be plugged to completely understand the health as well as economic aspects of forests. And more so now when forests, which were earlier viewed just as a resource for consumption, are being recognised as resource for conservation and combating climate change and global warning. For building a network of data sources and defining parameters of forestry statistics, the council is implementing a project funded by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) named “Establishment of a network to facilitate collection, processing and dissemination of statistics pertaining to tropical timber and other forestry parameters in India”. The IITO conducts studies of trade in products of tropical forests the world over. With 60 member countries, the organisation represents 80 per cent of world’s
tropical forests and almost 90 per cent of the world trade in tropical timber. For understanding health and economics of Indian forests, an international workshop on Forest products statistics in India is currently on in the Capital. The workshop has been organised by the MoEF and sponsored by the ITTO to sensitise state forest departments and other stakeholders in forestry statistics on international trends
in forestry sector reporting systems and status of India with respect to them. Recommendations emerging from the workshop will be useful in drafting a roadmap for forestry statistics and help in constructing a plan for development of a National Forestry Database Management System. They will also provide comprehensive and exhaustive solutions to problems of data management of forestry sector. Inaugurating the workshop, minister of state for environment and forests S. Regupathy admitted that with increasing demands of forests products, pressure on forests was increasing. “Forestry as a sector has left environs of wilderness and spread to other areas in the form of plantations, agro-forestry and cultivation of medicinal plants. The government has also expanded the scope of the sector to include entities other than state forest departments and in contribution to the national economy,” he added. During the workshop, the experts will discuss issues that can help in increasing the quality of forestry statistics, problems being faced by state forests departments in reporting, status of statistical cells and their requirements, definitions of forest products and variations from them, estimates of removal of timber of all categories and production of paper and pulp, charcoal and other products.
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DMK Govt’s 2nd Anniversary
Chennai, May 13 While Karunanidhi delivered an emotional speech in the state assembly, PMK founder member Dr. S. Ramadoss listed the failures of the DMK government - inability to curb alcoholism, unabated lottery ticket sales, continuing farmers’ woes and increasing cost of education. At a press conference he even displayed packets of “ganja” he bought near the Marina Beach and alleged that even drugs were freely available in Tamil Nadu. “The Chief Minister should order the police to arrest the culprits,” he demanded. He further alleged that lottery tickets were being now being sold freely in the state despite a ban in connivance with policemen and politicians. Ramadoss sounded bitter as he pointed out, “A leading lottery firm’s head, against whose name an arrest warrant was pending had participated in a function along with a state minister. Yet, the police was not able to catch him.” Speaking at length on education, the PMK leader warned, “It is learnt that the Balasubramanian Committee is to recommend hike in the engineering fees. Any such move will face stiff opposition from the PMK.” He claimed that only upper caste students secured top marks in important subjects like physics, computer science, economics and accountancy, but those belonging to backward communities, SC, and ST scored only in marginalised subjects like nursing, food processing, sericulture and crop production. He felt such a division was dangerous, as it would lead to social inequality. He noted with concern that Tamil medium students could bag 25 per cent of the engineering seats, though they formed 75 per cent of the aspirants and demanded 50 per cent reservation for Tamil medium students in engineering colleges. Meanwhile, Karunanidhi made appeal to all political parties to work in the interest of Tamils and said, “I want to die with the satisfaction that all of us, including the present opposition party (AIADMK), which was with us once, are united for the cause of people’s welfare.” The octogenarian Chief Minister advised the younger generation said the harder one worked the longer was his/her life span.
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PM assures full support to Rajasthan New Delhi, May 13 The PM deplored the attack and appealed for calm even as the ministry of home affairs issued a nationwide alert following the news of eight blasts. Reacting to news of the worst ever terrorist strike in India since the Mumbai serial train blasts in July 2006, and the first terror attack in Jaipur, the ministry has issued advisory to all the states to be extra vigilant in crowded places so that nobody takes advantage. Delhi, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh have been put on high alert. Intelligence sources say the modus operandi bears close semblance with HUJI’s style of operation. Union home minister Shivraj Patil, who cut short his visit after learning of the blasts, appealed to the people to maintain calm and foil designs of anti-national elements. The USA has condemned the terror strikes. US ambassador to India David Mulford said here today there could be no possible justification of the murderous attack on innocent people. Condemning the blasts in the Pink City, which is recommended as ‘a must-see in a tourist’s itinerary’, the ministry of home affairs said officers from the ministry will be visiting Jaipur for a spot assessment of the situation. Minister of state for home affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal said the Centre and the state government would fight the situation unitedly. The National Security Guard (NSG) confirmed that a team of bomb disposal and detection squad proceeded to Jaipur tonight to assist the Forensic experts of the state government. NSG director-general J.K. Dutt told The Tribune that the squad was equipped with bomb suits, bomb blankets to cover the explosive and chemicals to test the residue of the explosives. President Pratibha Patil expressed grief over the loss of lives in the blast. Expressing shock over the blasts, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi described the blasts “a crime against humanity”. Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani condemned the dastardly attack and demanded that the culprits be punished.
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Andhra govt earns EC wrath
Hyderabad, May 13 The announcement of new sops, including enhancement of income limit for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, supply of cooking oil and pulses through fair price shops and withdrawal of power theft cases against farmers, has come under the scrutiny of the poll panel. What irked the commission most was agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy’s outbursts against it over the issue of allowing “Rythu Chaitanya Yatras” (awareness programme for farmers for the upcoming crop season) The EC issued separate notices to the state government and Agriculture Minister for violating the code of conduct and asked them to submit their explanations by Wednesday. It also summoned the chief secretary Ramakanth Reddy to New Delhi on May 16 to discuss the explanations by the government and the minister. The poll panel’s directions came after the main opposition Telugu Desam Party complained that the government had violated the model code of conduct by announcing new schemes to entice voters. By-elections are scheduled to be held on May 29 for four Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly seats, all but one assembly constituency falling in the Telangana region. The by-polls have been necessitated following en masse resignation of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MPs and MLAs as a mark of protest against UPA government’s failure to carve out a separate Telangana state. Opposing the EC’s objections to the conduct of rythu chaitanya yatras, the agriculture minister had made some caustic remarks, evoking strong response from the commission. Defending his cabinet colleague, the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said there was nothing wrong what he had said. “My colleague’s only concern was that the chaitanya yatras should not be postponed as such a step will hit the farmers ahead of crop season.” The Chief Minister, however, made it clear that his government was not in favour of confrontation with the Election Commission which is an important tool in a democratic set-up.
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Prevention of Trafficking
New Delhi, May 13 The regional taskforce set up to implement the convention met here today and resolved to develop standard procedures to operationalise the convention, signed on January 5, 2000. The convention is rooted in the transnational nature of the crime, committed by organised crime syndicates, which can best be tamed through regional cooperation. Naturally, it aims to promote cooperation amongst member states to deal with different aspects of prevention, interdiction and suppression of trafficking in women and children; repatriation and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking and preventing the use of women and children in international prostitution networks, particularly where the SAARC member nations are the countries of origin, transit and destination. One of the major requirements for successful implementation of the convention is availability of comprehensive data on trafficking. Right now, no such data is available, but estimates put the number of trafficked women and children in South Asia at 2,00,000, annually. South Asia is particularly vulnerable as it houses two-thirds of the world’s poor, of which two-thirds are women who lead 20 to 40 per cent of households. The situation is particularly alarming for Asia, which has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS among women aged 15 to 25 years. No wonder there have been talks about feminisation of the AIDS epidemic. In India, about 5,000 women are annually trafficked from Nepal as per a study conducted earlier by the US-based Coalition against Trafficking in Women. Human Rights Watch has further shown that the average age of girls trafficked from Nepal to India dropped from 14-16 in the 1980s to 10-14 years in 1994. The trend continues and fuelled by a high demand for younger sex workers, believed to be disease-free. Though the SAARC convention addresses most of these issues, member states would now have to look at ways of ensuring proper implementation of the convention by enhancing the scope of “trafficking” to include all forms. Data collection, agreed the taskforce which met today under the aegis of the ministry of external affairs (India is the chair of SAARC this year), is another area where respective countries will have to work out strategies, besides developing regional networks to set up a centraldatabase. Sources in the ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) which participated in the day’s deliberations said there was an agreement on the fact that member states would have to develop standard procedures for ensuring “humane repatriation of victims” and strong judicial procedures to protect their identity. “The countries will now review the position on ground and forward suggestions to the SAARC secretariat. A review meeting will follow,” Manjula Krishnan from the WCD ministry today told
The Tribune.
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Militants may infiltrate via new routes
New Delhi, May 13 Attempts could be made all along the Indo-Pak border in states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat or the militants could go to Nepal and try and enter through Uttarakhand or UP, security agencies, have warned. The possibility of such attempts was high, sources said while confirming that the matter was discussed in the “inputs sharing” meeting of various intelligence gathering agencies in New Delhi in the past couple of days. The blasts in Jaipur this evening indicate the plan. The Indo-Pak border in Punjab, Rajasthan or Gujarat is not extensively patrolled as in J&K, where the ongoing militancy has meant greater deployment of forces like the BSF, The Indian Army and the CRPF. For the past two years or so, the border in J&K is being manned by the BSF, the Army is present there and forms a sort of an outer ring. In other states, it has always been the BSF that mans the border. The Indian Army had warned in last week of March that contingents of militants were waiting across the border in PoK. At least four attempts have been made in the past one month while two have been have made in the last one week.
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Post-Samba, BSF focuses on anti-militancy
New Delhi, May 13 Apart from redeployment and reinforcement of troops, new strategies are being drawn following the Sunday militant strike in Kali Mandi in Samba and the BSF men manning the western and the eastern sector are on full alert to gear up for any eventuality. Sources said the BSF director-general A.K. Mitra is expected to visit Samba soon. The BSF’s fresh brief to its men is to focus on anti militancy rather than trans border crime as smuggling of narcotics and FICN (Fake Indian Currency Notes). At the same time, the BSF men have been asked not to lose sight of the fact that the infiltrators prefer to infiltrate from the international border line, which does not have concentration of the security forces. This inference is based on the attack in Samba, which is only 10 km from the international border. “It has been observed that the ISI backed militants are exploiting the non traditional areas of infiltration as the international border,” said a senior BSF officer. He said the ISI wanted to ensure a minimum infiltration of 400 persons into the Indian territory. Last year, the infiltration figure was 535. “They want to keep the pot boiling to maintain a steady infiltration strength of 800.” At present, 55,200 BSF men in 69 Battalions are manning the 2,300 km India Pakistan border. Of the 2,300 km border, the BSF is looking after 2,290 km. The remaining 10 km overlaps with the Army and the BSF. Another 4,095 men are manning the eastern sector from West Bengal to Tripura. Besides, 1,600 BSF men are manning the 237 km Line of Control from Jammu to Siachen. Taking the criticism about lack of alertness in its stride, the BSF has identified areas which need more attention. It has emphasised the need for targeted operations, developing more intelligence and having more searches and raids. “It has to be a very calculated operation, keeping in mind human rights.”
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SC dismisses PIL on turban ban in France
New Delhi, May 13 A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and M K Sharma dismissed the petition filed by Jaswant Singh Juneja on the grounds that the apex court could not issue such directions to the government and the petitioners must approach the government directly. Counsel for the government, however, informed the court that it was already in touch with France and was trying to get the ban lifted as turban is the symbol of Sikh religion and such a ban hurt their religious sentiments. Student's patka set afire in NY
NEW YORK: The Sikh community in New Jersey has demanded a full-fledged inquiry into an incident in which a high school student allegedly set afire the patka or small turban worn by a fellow Sikh student ,in an unprovoked attack. The student suffered minor burns but it has raised outrage in the Sikh community which has also asked the school to do more to combat discrimination. The culprit, identified as an 18-year-old Hightstown senior Garrett Green, was arrested hours later and charged with arson and criminal mischief. He has also been suspended from the school. The police is investigating the incident which occurred on May 5 in Hightstown High School in Mercer County in New Jersey during a fire drill.
— PTI, UNI
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Stop behaving like pets, BJP to Cong leaders
New Delhi, May 13 Without taking the names of any particular Congress leader, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said certain utterances from some leaders were a “disgrace” to democracy and to the democratic polity of the country. “We feel that in a large country like India where the democracy has matured and when the world is looking up to us, senior leaders of the Congress party should stop behaving like pets,” he said. Asked repeatedly at a party media briefing as to whom he was referring to, Rudy shied away from giving a direct reply, but said it was not desirable for respected leaders of the party to behave like pets. “I am concerned about the standards of democracy in the country,” he said, when asked why he was asking the Congress leaders to stop behaving like “pets”. The BJP’s dig came amid the “loyalist” row in the Congress and a day after human resources development minister Arjun Singh declared that he was a loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family but not a sycophant. Singh found himself at the centre of the controversy after he recently criticised the decision-making process in the Congress and suggested that evaluation of loyalty in the party was being done in a “very limited context”. — PTI
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‘Godman’ held, faces rape charge
Kochi, May 13 On a day of fast phased developments, Chaitanya, against whom the interpol had issued a look out notice in a cheating case, was arrested near Vypeen here even as the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition. IGP Vinson M. Paul and Kochi police commissioner Manoj Abhraham told media that a case of rape had been registered against the godman, following a complaint by the 10th standard student of a city school, whose education was sponsored by him. It said the “victim” approached the police today morning and gave a statement following which the case was registered. According to the girl, at least seven to eight other minor girls had also been raped by Madhavan, Abraham said. The accused did not deny the charges, he said, adding that the godman had also made pornographic CDs of his ‘victims’. The IGP said the police was verifying the statement made by the girl regarding rape of other children. “This case is the most grievous crime committed by the accused,” he said. Chaitanaya was picked up for questioning today from nearby Vypeen. He was moving around in his car, when he was arrested along with the driver. The high court, which heard his anticipatory bail petition in the morning, was informed of his arrest by the police. Subsequently, the court rejected the bail petition. — PTI
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Schemes for ex-servicemen discussed
Dehra Dun, May 13 Raju said there are nearly 20 lakh ex-servicemen and 5 lakh widows of ex-servicemen in India. He said in order to provide them with various facilities Kendriya Sainik Board, an autonomous department, was established. He said the chief objective of the department was to connect the ex-servicemen and their widows. In this regard, committees will be set up on the block, district, state and national level. A website will also be initiated by the board which will keep all the details of the Army personnel and their families. Further he said employment is provided to retired ex-servicemen in private sector after a training session. Speaking to The Tribune, Raju informed, “From April 1, regimental centres under DGR were established which provide short-term trainings to ex-servicemen in the areas like insurance, banking and finance.” In this regard, the board had fixed a target of providing employment opportunity to 40,000 retired Army personnel and successfully placed 44,000 in sectors like retail, hospitality and engineering last year. The board also provides vocational trainings to them from a recognised university. Director general of resettlement Maj Gen S.G. Chatterjee talked about self-employment schemes for the Army personnel. “We are preparing to launch a pilot project near Agra in tie up with Mother Dairy, just like Amul was started in Gujarat. Army personnel will be looking after this project in accordance with women of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh,” Chatterjee said. On his plans for the state, he said, “The Chief Minister has given his consent and is looking forward to schemes and projects for ex-servicemen. After a few months time we will launch some self-employment schemes for the Army personnel of the state.”
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Sachar defends report on Muslims
New Delhi, May 13 Speaking after a function where he called for repealing of the Chattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005, under which 35 persons, including human rights activist Binayak Sen, had been arrested, Justice Rajinder Sachar (retd) said the report was prepared only after all members of the committee agreed to prepare it. “Being a moral person, I will not do anything if I think it is improper,” he said, without making direct comments on yesterday’s remark of the judiciary, which asked the government “is this meant to appease some community?” Justice Sachar said he only did a job the government asked him to do. “I was asked to prepare a report and I prepared and submitted it to the government,” he said, refusing to comment further on the report or its recommendations. “You should ask the Prime Minister that,” he said. Even as Justice Sachar refrained from giving further remarks, officials in the HRD ministry reacted sharply to the issue and clarified that there was no question of appeasement of the any community. Meanwhile, the global campaign for the release of Binayak Sen, human rights activist who was arrested by the Chhattisgarh police last year on charges of waging a war against the state, has gained further momentum. A day after 22 Nobel laureates wrote to the Indian President and the Prime Minister to allow Sen to visit Washington on May 29 to receive the Jonathan Mann Award, senior members of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) today called for Binayak’s unconditional release. Binayak is PUCL’s vice-president.
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Farmlands to be mapped
New Delhi, May 13 Science and technology minister Kapil Sibal said today that it might take up to five years to complete the mapping. The scheme was proposed to be implemented on public-private partnership. He said the ground situation for effective delivery of different development schemes must be known, adding that mapping would help planners and policy makers with a lot of data required for the purpose. Inaugurating a discussion with science and technology ministers from states, he said the scheme would be implemented by combining geospatial and it would help to bring about a qualitative change in the delivery system at the national level. Sibal also sought the support of state governments in ensuring that the scheme was a success.
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Bandh called against killings in Assam
Guwahati, May 13 The civil society groups have called for a 24-hour bandh of North Cachar Hill district tomorrow from 5 am in protest against failure of the state government to restore peace in the tribal-inhabited district. Meanwhile, suspension of the running of trains at night by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) in Lumding-Badarpur hill section, which passes through the killing field of North Cachar Hills, is likely to affect the supply of essential commodities to the hill district and South Assam areas, Tripura and
Mizoram.
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Woman to head missile project for the first time
New Delhi, May 13 Fortyfive-year-old Dr Tessy Thomas, one of the around 200 women scientists and technicians working for the DRDO, has been cleared to be appointed to the post of project director of the upgraded version of the 2000- km-long nuclear capable Agni-II missile.Thomas is presently the associate project director of the 3,000- km range Agni-III missile project. Asked about the new version of Agni-II being planned, Thomas, who was yesterday honoured along with the entire team of Agni-III by the Prime Minister, told PTI that "It is still a confidential project. It will be called Agni-II A (2)." "I like my job. I feel I am contributing to my nation's security," Thomas, who has named her son after the country's light combat fighter Tejas, said. A B.Tech from Thrissur Engineering College, Calicut, and M.Tech from Pune, Thomas is an expert on all solid system propellant.
— PTI
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‘Dancing cop’ of Patna
Patna, May 13 Standing at one of the busiest intersections in the city, Singh moves his hands in a rhythmic style as he directs the traffic.The sight of Singh swaying his hands in a lyrical manner breaks the monotony on the roads and captivates the attention of the passersby compelling them to stop and look at the 'dancing cop'. "His style of guiding the traffic is very different. It compels us to stop and watch him for sometime," said Amar Kumar, a resident. Singh has become popular in the city for his unique style of guiding the traffic, but contrary to the general belief, Singh says the dancing action comes to him naturally while he is engrossed in his work. Singh's style is well appreciated by the people and as for himself it adds an element of fun in his usual mundane routine and also entertains the people on the street.
— ANI
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NREGA Scheme
New Delhi, May 13 The scheme ensures employment guarantee of 100 days in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do unskilled manual work at statutory minimum wage. NREGA was initially launched in 200 selected districts and was extended to 130 more districts in 2007-08. With an eye on general elections, the government decided to extend the scheme earlier than scheduled to other remaining districts in April 2008 itself. However, the programme has come under flak with allegations of misappropriation of funds, a fact also admitted by the rural development minister. “It is to plug in these gaps and ensuring transparency that all states were asked to ensure payment of wages to workers through banks or post office accounts. So far, over 1.6 crore accounts have been opened,” he said, underlining the concept of “zero tolerance towards corruption” in NREGA. Addressing mediapersons regarding the outcome of the Performance Review Committee (PRC) meeting of the Department of Rural Development today Singh said the next step for NREGA was right to work. “This is the largest financial inclusion effort after Independence. The RBI has assured that all banks have been advised to take up account opening on a large scale for NREGA. All regional rural banks have been advised by the RBI to open new bank branches. Officials from the Department of Posts have assured cooperation and follow up to ensure opening of accounts to all NREGA beneficiaries. It has been decided that the RBI and the DoP will monitor financial inclusion efforts,” he added.
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UP minister’s cavalcade mows down man
Lucknow, May 13 Ashwini Tiwari, employed as an orderly with an additional district judge, was hit by an SUV at Bandariya Bagh crossing and rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, a police official said. He said the BSP’s Nasimuddin
Siddiqui, who holds the PWD, housing, excise and several other portfolios, was going to attend a programme to mark completion of one year of Chief Minister Mayawati in office when the accident occurred this afternoon. “A Scorpio (UP-32-CE-9544) that was part of a minister’s fleet, hit the pedestrian,” senior superintendent of police Akhil Kumar said, but did not name the minister or what action the police were taking in the case.
— PTI
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Dalit woman burnt to death
Badaun, May 13 The neighbours of the victim barged into her house in Prithvipur village yesterday and poured kerosene before setting her on fire, superintendent of police (city) Jagdish Singh said, adding that she was rushed to a hospital where she later died. There was a fight between the children of the two neighbours which had annoyed the accused, Singh said, adding that he fled the village after committing the crime. — PTI
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Shindhe’s request turned down
Bangalore, May 13
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Labour force to strike on Aug 20
New Delhi, May 13 “The sooner the government goes, the better it is because the Manmohan Singh government is not only anti-worker, but also anti-people,” AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said at the conclusion of the National Convention of Trade Unions. Dasgupta, who is also the CPI floor leader in the Lok Sabha, said they had been forced to take this industrial action after the government refused to listen to their 10-point Charter of Demands.
— UNI
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Asia’s first museum of modern art to come up in Kolkata Youth
lynched for plucking litchis Lawyers go on rampage Dowry death, 3 booked
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