New Delhi, October 10
Exactly two years after the government notified the amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 declaring the employment of children as domestic labourers in roadside dhabas, eateries, restaurants, and child labour in the entertainment sector illegal, the situation is far from satisfactory.

Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the NGO spearheading the cause of bonded children, in a Right To Information (RTI) response found that only 6,782 child labourers working in homes, roadside dhabas, restaurants, etc, covered by the latest notification have been identified.

In all, 1,680 prosecutions were launched against the offending employers, but not a single conviction had taken place during the last two years, it was revealed.

“In the last two years, a mockery has been made of the law. Previously, only the stone-quarries, zari factories, industries and brick kilns were the culprits. But now, with two additional areas included, the law is being flouted behind every other door,” said Kailash Satyarthi of Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

In the Capital alone, only 127 inspections were carried out and 12 employers were prosecuted while NGOs estimate that there are more than 20,000 child domestics and child labourers working in dhabas, eateries, etc.

“What this indicates is a serious lack of political will and lack of preparedness on the part of government to implement the law. Enforcement of the law is the key. Without enforcement the law is more or less just a piece of paper. Efforts must be made to change this culture of breaking laws,” Satyarthi said.

According to him, the primary responsibility of the government is to create trust and optimism in society that elimination of child labour is achievable.

The government ought to dispel the current feeling of despair, disillusion and hopelessness at the ineffective implementation of the Child Labour Law.

Restoration of the faith in the government’s ability to address plight of the child labourers and to bring back their childhood is the most critical task of government.

Revival of the Right to Education Bill 2005 is another crucial task to guarantee children their fundamental rights to education and development.

Satyarthi says that there is a need to create effective and efficient use of media by the government to sensitise and create awareness.

It is important that the government takes the Child Labour Law to the masses by making them aware of it, condemning employment of children below 14 years of age and issuing a warning to those engaged in employing child labourers.

The crime aspect needs to be emphasised! For the effective implementation of the law, the labour inspection machinery should be geared up through sensitisation and rigorous training.

Social welfare mechanisms do not as yet have the accountability systems. It is imperative that there is accountability of the state officials and a clear-cut guideline of responsibility for the effective implementation of the law.

Satyarthi said that the involvement of conscious and voluntary citizens (and civil society organisations – Residential Welfare Associations, Non-Government Organisations, etc.) could be undertaken to breed ownership and build partnership with the common masses. People vigilance committees on child labour could be initiated through honorary timebound monitors to function as official watchdogs and

as support systems to the labour inspectors and the official enforcement mechanism. This will extend the new notification into the Child Labour Law and create a child-centric mechanism. The focus could be on partnership with college students and school students.

He also said that the government should allocate adequate resources for the prompt statutory rehabilitation and repatriation of the rescued and released child labourers under appropriate laws – Bonded Labour Law, Child Labour Law, etc.

New Delhi, October 10
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today laid the foundation stone of a sports complex in Govt. Co-ed. Secondary School, Masjid Moth Village in South Delhi here.

The complex would be commissioned within three months. It would be built over an area of 4700 sq. meter and would have a seating capacity of 400 persons.

It will consist of a volley ball court, a basketball court, athletic track, a swimming pool and flood light facility.

Dikshit said that coaches would also be deployed for different sports to impart proper training to students.

She added that this was the first time in the capital that neighbouring community members would be allowed to use the sports complex after school hours. This would go a long way in popularising sports.

Dikshit further stated that government schools in Delhi have become popular, as they have acquired a status of excellence.

The improvement in schools has resulted in more enrolment and better board results, which has gone up from 38 per cent in 2000 to 90 per cent in 2008.

The scheme ‘Ladli’ has ensured enrolment of girls. She further stated that Delhi would soon acquire first position in literacy.

The Chief Minister announced that the Masjid Moth Village School was being upgraded to senior secondary level.

She also appreciated the role of school’s eco-clubs in the expansion of green area and control of pollution.

Delhi education minister Arvinder Singh, local MLA Kiran Walia and other senior officers of the directorate of education were also present on this occasion.

Arvinder Singh said that the new complex was being designed in such a way to ensure its optimum use.

He further stated that his department had strived hard to impart education to maximum number of students.

It has commissioned mobile schools and schools for rag pickers.

The department has opened a school after every 25 days during last few years.

Singh further stated that the drop out rate in Delhi has decreased from 17.5 per cent to 5.7 per cent.

Noida, October 10
Forensic science is a very comprehensive and useful subject. It should be widely used to curb crime rather than solving it later.

Preventing or mitigating the crime is very important. Forensic science’s preventive aspect is more crucial than its investigative aspect, opined chief guest home minister Shivraj Patil while inaugurating the four-day international conference of “South Asian Congress of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Science & Toxicology (SAFCON)” at Amity University, Sector- 125, Noida.

Talking about the changing role of forensics in crime investigation, M S Rao, director-cum-chief forensic scientist, Directorate of Forensic Science, ministry of home affairs, said that drastic changes are being introduced in the legal system to get support of forensics to prevent occurrence of crimes.

Forensic science is the new approach to assist the crime investigation and justice delivery system.

Proper forensic management can put crime investigation on a fast track.

Present day hi-tech, preventive or proactive forensics is the solutions to peaceful and prosperous society.

Several awards were conferred upon the exceptional contributors and
luminaries including ICFMT Shiksha Rattan Award upon Ashok  K. Chauhan,
founder president, Amity University, Life Time Achievement Award (Forensic
Medicine) upon D. R. Kothari, Life Time Achievement Award (Forensic Science)
upon J. K. Aggarwal, Prof. Jagdish Chandra Oration Award upon M. S. Rao,
Annual Congress Award upon Inderjit  Roy and Nageshwar Rao and Excellence
Award for Scientific Publication in Forensic Medicine upon B.R. Sharma.

The theme of this year’s conference is “The Emerging Trend in Forensic Medicine, Forensic Science and Toxicology”.

Eminent speakers for the conference include M.S. Rao, director, Directorate of Forensic Sciences; Surinder Nath, Delhi University; Vivek Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak; R. Krishnamurthy, director, FSL, Mumbai; Atefah Marjaei, Iran; Mariam Farijian, Iran; Mostaqe Rahim, Bangladesh; and many more.

New Delhi, October 10
“Vari vari, Shyama hu vari, the aju gali hamari,” were verses that were amazingly permuted with the rhythmic footwork of the Padma Bhushan recipient, Uma Sharma during the staging of Nayika—Bhed at a cultural concert in the Capital recently.

The abhinaya, the danseuse’s forte portrayed the three moods of the Nayika, Mira—love, jealousy and grief. Mira goes into ecstasy after drowning herself in Lord Krishna’s love and devotion.

This interpretative form of dance was based on the Krishna poetry of famous poets. The best part of the entire episode was the manner in which it was narrated with convincing gestures and expressions.

“Dance ought to be rasmaya. Expressions and body language is very integral to abhinaya. There has to be a flow in the limb movements and everything else is conveyed through your eyes,” says Uma Sharma, who has been trained by Guru Shiv Shambhu Maharaja of the Lucknow Gharana.

The audience which was left spellbound had a double bonanza as the concert also entailed the dual performance of Kathak and Thumri by the great Kathak exponent and Kumud Diwan, a fine artiste of Thumri.

Besides, Pandit Dinanath, renowned Hindustani classical vocalist who was the guest artiste enthralled the people at the India Habitat Centre by his fine tunes.

New Delhi, October 10
“Spaces”—a photography and painting exhibition showcasing the insights and passions of six artists through visual expressions at India Habitat Centre, is a part of Art for Prabhat initiative by the NGO, Society for Child Development.

The entities of nature and juxtaposition of images uniquely characterise the images on display, which create a symphony in the visual understanding of onlooker’s eye.

Mazhar Elahi, the winner of Lalit Kala Academy 2008 in Photography for his works entitled Eternity, says, “I have created the images in space, making use of varied colours of nature, light and sky. I have tried to blend my mental visuals with Sufism, which is very eloquent in all my works displayed here.”

He adds, “Every photographer sees images in his/her own way. I have finished my part and it’s on to the viewers now to let their critical insights run for them.”

Some images rolled out here reflect spontaneity of an artist’s mind and imagination.

“Art is not created by any artist, it just happens to be. It’s a secret about secret, unravelled,” says Sunando Mazumdar, an inquisitive pal of the camera, being both a filmmaker and photographer.

This artiste captures the mundane thoughts and images via his shots rendering them altogether to a different plane of identity and consciousness.

“Space” draws glimpses of Jantar Mantar, taking the viewer back to history and chronicles the past through time, season and human interaction, turning the simple moments into occasions of incidental beauty.

These 12 images recording the intricate and fascinating architectural structures of Jantar Mantar, are the products of a compelling mind of Sanjay Nanda who finds interest in gathering raw materials that help him in comprehending the inherent dynamics and functioning of the picture plane.

The main aspects of Sanjay’s creations are two-dimensional surfaces, exciting textures and abstract images with unique colour combinations.

A graphic designer, Sanjay says, “I like to shoot forms, geometrical patterns and that likeness of mine attracted me towards Jantar Mantar; thereafter I tried to incorporate the senses of graphic designing and the result are these seemingly abstract images with their own graphical forms at the backdrop.”

Again, there are visual illustrations that represent an intense interplay of light and colour in the very mundane things of life.

Udit Kulshrestha, another strongly driven photographer and voyager, has a true understanding of colour and motions of imagery, with his pieces telling powerful tales of both innate and inanimate objects.

“I have a passion of acknowledging the neglected; I try to capture objects, places, which are devoid of life for long. Having an eye for colour, I have tried to make the existence of mundane things more felt and colourful. This is in a way my tribute to colours itself.”

New Delhi, October 10
The Delhi High Court, while granting bail to a man accused of harassing his wife for dowry, leading to her death, has observed that anti-dowry laws were increasingly being misused by women.

Justice Aruna Suresh observed last week: “It seems that the anti-dowry laws are being increasingly misused. The ground realities persuaded this court to recommend to the authorities to have a look at the situation and legal provisions.”

Directing the accused to furnish a bail bond of Rs 40,000 and a surety of the same amount in the trial court, Justice Suresh said the court did not find any incriminating evidence against him in connection with his wife’s death.

The court accepted the accused’s submission that neither he nor his parents should be blamed for his wife’s death.

He along with wife and son were staying in a separate house, away from parents.

He said they were married since 2003 and were staying in Aman Vihar in north-west Delhi, and his parents and other family members were staying in Rohini.

He said that the dowry harassment allegations were baseless.

As per his submission, his wife fell unconscious while watching television in January and he took her to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital where she was declared brought dead.

He claimed that the exact cause of her death was not confirmed in the post-
mortem report.

However, the report said she died due to seizure. — IANS

New Delhi, October 10
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) has introduced a Master of Education (M.Ed.) programme.

The M-Ed programme is a one-year course and has been recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). It will have a total intake of 25 students.

K.K. Aggarwal, vice-chancellor, GGSIPU, said “The university has been successfully offering B.Ed. programme since 1999. But, since there was no opportunity for the trained teachers to attain further professional growth, the time was felt ripe to commence the M. Ed. programme.”

The programme has been designed keeping in view latest changes in education systems and policies, and focuses on shaping the overall personality of educators.

Eligibility for the course is a graduate/ post-graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university.

Also, an applicant who has qualified B.Ed. examination with 60 per cent in theory and practical separately is eligible to apply for the M.Ed. programme.

The fee for the programme is Rs 38,000. Admission brochure, along with the
application form, can be bought for Rs 750 from Punjab and Sind Bank, GGSIPU
University, Kashmere Gate.

The last date for obtaining and submitting filled-in applications is October 17. The academic session is likely to commence from October 27.

New Delhi, October 10
The Central Board of Secondary Education is all set to organize a national progressive school conference on October 15-16.

Science teachers from more than 300 schools across the country will assemble at the Bal Bharti Public School here in the Capital for the conference.

On the agenda for discussion are Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOTS)-based questions for Class X in science and other subjects.

Meanwhile, the Board has also announced the next phase of its Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth Programme (JENESYS). It is scheduled between December 2008 and June 2009.

A group of about 70 students from CBSE-affiliated schools from all over India
had the opportunity of visiting Japan between December 2007 and July 2008
as part of JENESYS.

The objective of this Programme is to deepen mutual understanding in youngsters who will assume important roles in their countries.