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Delhi remains on high alert
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Security up in blast-scarred Sarojini Nagar
Jamaat for top probe into
serial blasts
More girls taking to techno training: Survey
Construction workers’ plight deplorable: Study
Noida cops learn to manage stress
Cong purchased trust vote: Sushma
Bandits kill cop’s wife, father-in-law
1 killed, 5 hurt in Noida mall accident
NRI student assaulted
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Delhi remains on high alert
New Delhi, July 27 The Delhi police brought in 30 additional companies to monitor the law and order situation in the capital in wake of the high alert. The decision was taken today after a meeting chaired by commissioner of police Y S Dadwal with senior police officers at his camp office this afternoon. Dadwal was also part of the high level meeting that was chaired by home minister Shivraj Patil in the morning today. According to Rajan Bhagat, these 30 companies are part of the Delhi police and were undergoing training as well as other tasks apart from field duty. He believes that the additional force will further boost the vigil in the capital. The high alert in the city was sounded on Friday after Bangalore blasts and nearly a dozen serial blasts ripped through Ahmedabad yesterday. A special security cover has been given to crowded areas of the city like airport, railway station, ISBTs, markets and the walled city. “We have beefed up the security in almost all the crowded places and deployed extra personnel to ensure people’s safety,” said Rajan Bhagat, Delhi police spokesperson. He has also requested people to be cautious and not to panic and refrain from spreading rumours. The police has also appealed to citizens to report any suspicious movement or object to its nearest staff or at emergency call
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Security up in blast-scarred Sarojini Nagar
New Delhi, July 27 Delhi Police, which has sounded a high alert in the Capital, was building four watch towers on the market premises to keep round-the-clock vigil on any suspicious people or activities. The presence of police personnel was increased and warnings and instructions were being sounded over microphones on Sunday. Senior police officials were also making rounds of the market area, which houses more than 500 shops. But the seven market associations were not happy. The 27 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, installed last year in the wake of terror threats, are not functional any more. “For the past two months, CCTVs are not operational, allegedly due to the non-payment of charges. There is some dispute going on between the police and Scores, a Gurgaon-based company that has installed cameras, in the Delhi High Court,” Pawan Arora, president of one of the market associations, told IANS on Sunday. “From the security point of view, it is very important to have these cameras working. Police officials have assured us that matter would be resolved soon,” Arora added. A police official deployed in the market admitted to IANS that the CCTVs are not operational as the private firm had been blacklisted by the police headquarters. “Presence of these cameras has always proved handy for us. It definitely gives you a certain edge in maintaining security,” he said. Om Das Sharma, president of another association, said: “Police officials have been very cooperative but we have our own team of 60 civil volunteers in the market. They keep a strict vigil over pickpockets and other suspicious people in the market. “We formed this team soon after the October 2005 pre-Divali blasts when at least 40 people were killed.” Subhash Gupta, one of the civil volunteers, said: “It is not only the job of the police to protect market areas. We also have to be vigilant. The parking in the market areas has been restricted to traders who operate here.” Shoppers too braved the terror threat and their footfalls were the same as usual. They could be seen shopping, eating and chatting in the market without any fear. “I am pleased to see the increased number of policemen in and around the market,” said Michelle Bolourchi, a US citizen studying in Jawaharlal Nehru University. Raj Gupta, who works in Delhi University and has been visiting the market for the past 20 years, said: “After the October 2005 blasts in the market, enough security measures have been taken by the police and market associations. “We believe that the market is safe and there is nothing to panic about,” Gupta said.
— IANS |
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Jamaat for top probe into
serial blasts
New Delhi, July 27 Secretary-general of the Jamaat, Nusrat Ali termed it a heinous crime and denounced the barbaric killing of innocent people. High-level inquiry should be carried out to identify and punish the culprits, he demanded. The Jamaat’s secretary-general appealed to the people to remain calm and united against the divisive forces which are trying to disrupt the communal harmony of the country. |
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More girls taking to techno training: Survey
New Delhi, July 27 The survey was carried out in over 20 engineering institutes including regional ones. It was found that since 2002 women mostly pursue system engineering, followed by information and communication, environmental and electrical engineering. They are least inclined towards aerospace and material engineering, the report stated. Ninety seven per cent of male engineers and 92% of female engineers are employed. Over 80% engineers said that their skills were “well utilised”. Assocham president Sajjan Jindal said, “System engineering seems to be getting extremely popular with girls, as their intake has grown to over 40%. It was less than 18% six year ago.” Women are less involved in management work because of the time factor. Besides, the management believes men to be more consistent. Fifty five per cent men and 26% women engineers agree that they are equally treated in their organisation. Fifty nine per cent women and 38% men engineers said that they are equally treated in some matters. While 15% women and 5% men engineers agreed on consistent inequities. Two per cent men engineers feel that there is discrimination in the organization. The disparity was particularly evident among certain professions, particularly architecture and manufacturing which contained largely business-related disciplines. “The motives to pursue engineering are the career opportunities that it offers, the hopes for good salaries and job security. Besides the challenging, interesting, and enjoyable work lures youngsters to join the course,” the report states. The Assocham team mainly carried out the survey in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Coimbatore, Cochin, Bhopal, Kurukshetra, Patiala, Aurangabad, Luknow and Noida. |
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Construction workers’ plight deplorable: Study
New Delhi, July 27 In the discussion that followed, the panelists identified certain steps that were necessary to address this issue immediately. The study revealed that 67 per cent of the children were suffering from malnutrition. Two-thirds of the families stayed less than one year at a site and the most recent move, for a majority of workers (58 per cent), was within the NCR from one construction site to another. Access to basic facilities declined with a move from the village to the city: none of the families was taking their children to the nearest anganwadi or buying provisions from a ration shop. Workers continue to be deprived of minimum wages, maternity entitlements and old age pension. Only one woman in the entire sample, and 11 per cent of the 411 male workers interviewed, received minimum wages, according to the study. Less than 1 per cent of the workers were registered with the Delhi Construction Workers’ Welfare Board and there was no awareness of the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996, or the social security benefits from registration. Speaking about the concerns, Anjali Alexander, chairperson of Mobile Creches, said “Young children are reared in conditions which violate all human rights and sharply increase the vulnerability of the families of such work seeking migrants.” Moreover, the “temporary employment and constant mobility have put the construction workers outside the purview of state programmes, schemes and basic entitlements such as ration cards, access to ICDS, healthcare and schooling. This further closes the door to all development opportunities for their children,” she added. Dr Arjun Sengupta, chairperson, National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, urged for the immediate passage of the pending unorganised sector Workers Bill. This is “an umbrella legislation which can address the social security issues,” he stated. He called for the setting up of worker facilitation centres and dispute resolution councils to speed up the worker registration process. Aruna Roy, recipient of the Magasaysay Award, Mazdoor Kissan Shakti Sangathan, spoke strongly about the need for more people-centred policies. Recalling the struggles waged to ensure passage of a progressive legislation like NREGA, she stated that decisive administrative will is needed to respond to the concerns of the poor and marginalized sections of society. “The state has the primary responsibility to provide women with entitlements for maternity and childcare support. Still the women have to be recognised and the right to equal wages ensured to prevent further marginalisation,” she pointed out. Mridula Bajaj, executive director Mobile Creches, drew attention to the fact that all indicators affecting mother and child health – marriage age, pregnancies, deliveries in the presence of a trained attendant, exclusive breastfeeding and malnutrition – fared worse in the study as compared to the average in the NFHS III. The study showed that child malnutrition combined with low medical facilities for the women, completes the mother-child cycle of poor foundations in health. She stressed that the concern for reducing malnutrition and child mortality, high on the PM’s agenda, cannot succeed unless such populations get counted in National data and special outreach models are evolved, for ICDS, PDS, healthcare and schooling, to reach these mobile populations. Prof Amitabh Kundu, of Economics and Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University recognized as an authority on migration, talked about congestion and breakdown of city systems and called for urgent attention to this widespread problem. He talked about the need for hard evidence on the growing urbanization and the state of services and governance in the metros. Devika Singh, a founder member Mobile Creches, concluded the meeting by emphasizing the need to use the CW Games as an opportunity to build positive State interventions by using current laws, schemes and the Rs.150 crores from the Welfare Fund to better the lives of construction workers and their children. |
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Noida cops learn to manage stress
Noida, July 27 He said, “Excessive stress can be extremely counter-productive. Distress can precipitate psychiatric problems or disorders including depression, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, palpitations, dryness of mouth, excessive sweating, tremors, odd sensations in stomach, phobias including fear of closed spaces, fear of heights and fear of travelling. It can also give rise to eating disorders, dissociative/conversion disorders wherein person may show symptoms like sudden loss of speech, inability to walk, sudden spells of unconsciousness, psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, drug/ alcohol/ substance use disorders. In today’s session, Fortis Hospital educated the police personnel on various stress-busting techniques. As part of the stress management techniques, Dr Malhotra taught maintaining sleep-wake schedule, healthy eating habits, setting realistic goals, avoiding unhealthy comparisons with others, appropriate prioritization of work in hand, time management, spending quality time with friends/family, engaging in constructive activities/hobbies of choice, developing problem solving skills, enhancing coping skills, relaxation sessions, meditation, listening to music, avoiding drug/alcohol abuse, seeking timely professional guidance from a psychiatrist. People are suffering from high levels of stress due to changing lifestyles, intensifying competition at workplaces and changing priorities. Stress levels directly impact one’s performance, attitude, and reactions at work as well as in personal life. To some extent stress helps in improving performance. However, in excess, it may lead to significant distress and dysfunction. Growing dissatisfaction is reflected as road rage, adjustment problems, aggression, drug/ alcohol abuse and increasing suicidal rates,” added Dr Malhotra. Earlier a session on the BLS training was conducted by Sushmita Jena. “We will ensure to follow the techniques and lessons being taught during the training session. This will help us manage emergency situations with ease and without getting panicky,” a police officer said. An interactive technique was used in the training where cops were encouraged to participate in practical training methods. Trainees were taught methods to rescue xadults and children from accidents. |
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Cong purchased trust vote: Sushma
New Delhi, July 27 Speaking at ‘Bhandafod Rally’ organised by the Delhi unit of the BJP, Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party purchased the votes of the MPs of various parties. The whole world saw it. The people of the country will definitely punish the Congress in the forthcoming elections. Deputy leader of opposition Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that the present government at Centre is the government of ‘criminals’. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself has become a tainted person. Presiding over the meeting, BJP Delhi Pradesh president. Harsh Vardhan said that the Congress which had leaders like Patel and Tilak now has become a party of criminals. The country is not safe in its hands. Addressing the participants of the rally, Harsh Vardhan said that the Congress had been attacking the points of respect of the Hindus and its culture. The Bangladeshi infiltrators are treated as guests in the Capital by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. In her opinion, there is no price spiral in Delhi. General secretary of the BJP, Vijay Goel also addressed the meeting. Many legislators, councillors, district presidents apart from thousands of workers were present in the meeting today.
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Artscape
New Delhi, July 27 The school which helps these students acquire various skills is being run by the Society for Child Development (SFCD). This society was set up as a non-profit organization in 1992. SFCD conducts research and develops accessible reports and publications for wide dissemination. The World Bank, National Commission for Women, and Handicap International have regularly sponsored these ventures for the cause of the underprivileged. ‘The Doors of Perception’
Manoj Kachangal, a young artist from Madhya Pradesh, is presenting an exhibition of his paintings “The Doors of Perception” at the Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre here from August 1 to August 6. A milestone in the insightful career of a young artist, this exhibition typifies Manoj Kachangal’s innate aesthetics and translates his abstract language of colours. With nearly one hundred paintings, spanning over more than a decade, being exhibited in the exhibition, a book will also be launched simultaneously. Curated by Vinod Bhardwaj, this collection peers into Manoj’s most “arduous triumphs and profound renditions”. Said to be a trendsetter in the Abstract School of Bhopal and Indore, this ‘outsider’ with his unique talent, profound experiences and abstract sensitivity conveys through his work, the unremitting freshness of his vision. With the contemporary medium of acrylic and an astonishing range of colours, Manoj perseveres to depict his inimitable abstract art with its origins in the magical landscapes of Mandu (Madhya Pradesh). Waris Shah centenary to be celebrated
The Punjabi Academy here in collaboration with the Sahitya Akademi and SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University is organising ‘Waris Shah Centenary Celebrations’ at the college auditorium from July 28 to July 30. Noted Punjabi singers like Barkat Sidhu, Jagir Singh and Bani Kaur will pay a tribute to the legend by singing the immortal love tale—Heer Ranjha. Eminent scholars have also been invited to discuss the literary contribution of Sayed Waris Shah who wrote the famous Punjabi song some three hundred years ago. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will inaugurate the celebrations. The Anant Art Gallery here is hosting “Wind In The Willows”, an exhibition of the recent works of artist Arunanshu Choudhury from August 3 to August 22. Arunanshu excels in the art of sending out subliminal signals to the viewers through his creations. Film fest of
love stories
The French Embassy here and the Alliance Francaise de Delhi are jointly presenting a film festival of love stories at the Alliance auditorium from August 1 to August 19. There will be two shows daily–one at 5.30 pm and the other at 7.30 pm. However, there will be no shows on August 15, the Independence Day. The French Embassy and the Alliance regularly organise film festivals under their “Rendez-vous with French Cinema” programme. |
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Bandits kill cop’s wife, father-in-law
Ghaziabad, July 27 The incident occurred on Saturday midnight in Nand Nagari locality of Modi Nagar, about 30 km from New Delhi. Constable Anil Yadav was on night duty in Delhi when the bandits murdered his wife Pramod (32) and her father, retired army captain Jai Prakash Yadav, said Babloo Vashishtha, a neighbour. After killing them, they attacked the constable’s sleeping boy Rishabh, 12, with a sharp-edged weapon. Assuming all three were dead, the bandits ransacked the house and escaped with cash and other valuables. The killings were discovered by another neighbour who became suspicious when he saw the main gate half open. SPJagdish Sharma said the robbery appeared to be the work of a criminal
tribe. — IANS |
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1 killed, 5 hurt in Noida mall accident
Noida, July 27 The injured workers were rushed to Vinayak hospital in Sector-27 where Manish succumbed to his injuries. According to a company official, the labourers had been working there for about a fortnight and today they were dismantling the scaffolding after completion of the work when it suddenly came crashing down. The workers have been identified as Manish, Ram Vilas, Neeraj, Mohinder, Sushil and Verinder. The work was being executed by an outdoor advertisement and publicity agency contractor employed by International Recreation Parks Pvt Limited at Great India Palace. District magistrate Shravan Kumar Sharma and SSP R.K. Chaturvedi visited the injured in the ICU of Vinayak hospital and spoke to some of the injured and the doctors attending on them. The district magistrate said since all the labourers were from Hardoi district, they could not be extended any help or compensation by G.B. Nagar administration. Help or compensation from Hardoi district administration could be provided under the Chief Minister’s Special Funds, the DM added. Regarding extending compensation and financial help to the deceased and the injured, the chief executive officer of the International Recreation Parks Pvt Ltd, Kurt Interbitzin told The Tribune that he did not know as to what exactly had happened. However, he said later that his company “would be prepared to bear the legal and medical treatment expenses of the workers”. |
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NRI student assaulted
Ghaziabad, July 27 Monika Singh was accompanying her mother and brother from their house in sector-11 of Pratap Vihar when she was allegedly assaulted by the youths. “As we approached a sweet shop, a boy made indecent signs at me, while another boy came and abused me. Other youths standing nearby then beat me up and manhandled my mother and brother,” said Monika. Monika said she had to use pepper spray to protect herself. “We rushed to the police and got a complaint registered against the two men,” she said. The police is yet to arrest the two accused.
— IANS |
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