New Delhi, January 15
Coming out saner from a recent clamour over clinical trials on infants by AIIMS, the government is in the process of tightening norms for such trials in India.

The country has fast emerged as a favoured destination for clinical trials due to availability of large and diverse patient-pool, low costs of drug development and trained medical professionals. Last year, the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation received and processed some 22,806 proposals for clinical trials as against 16,945 in 2008.

Talking about the need to upgrade review mechanisms in the wake of unethical practices in clinical trials by pharmaceutical giants, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Surinder Singh today said the regulatory system for the sector would be tightened. He was speaking at a symposium on “India- an Emerging Destination for Clinical Trials” in the capital.

“This year we are going to change the regulatory landscape for clinical trials and put in place a new system by the next year or 18 months. With never-before measures, like random inspections of trial sites, we hope to better the quality of clinical outcome,” Surinder Singh remarked.

About India’s position in the area, Dr T.S. Rao, adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, said, “India is one of the fastest growing clinical research destinations with a growth rate at 39 per cent, two-and-a-half time the overall market growth, accounting for 20 per cent of all Asian study sites. Clinical trials conducted in India cost 50 to 60 per cent of cost in the developed markets. India has more than 350 ongoing clinical trials”.

Director General of the Institute of Clinical Research S K Gupta added that globally, India stood at the third position among destinations for clinical trails after the US and China. It is said by 2011, India would be carrying out 15 per cent of the total number of clinical trials.

Meanwhile, the DCGI said with the demand for more trained manpower to maintain the pharmacovigil going up in the future, the government would hire 250 workers on contract, and 50 others from the World Health Organisation.

New Delhi, January 15
Concerned over the increasing use of animals for clinical trials, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh today advocated alternatives to reduce the practice.

He said recent trend shows that the use of primates in experimentation was on an upward climb. “With the development of human genome research, activities of commercial units and industries and modern methods, there is a growing demand of primates in experimentations. But we need not open the floodgates to use animals in experimentation in the name of academic knowledge,” he said while inaugurating the “National Conference, 2010” of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), here.

The Environment Ministry also issued a standard operating procedure manual for various institutes on the use of small animals for experiments. Ramesh said the manual would be issued to research institutes in the country.“There are around 13,000 institutes where animals are being used; the manual will be issued to them by our ministry,” he added.

Ramesh said it was because of international concern and action taken by animal rights activists, civil society organisations, NGOs in the country that there was growing awareness and consciousness in the commitments to not use animals.

However, there was a need to use modern technology to ensure alternatives which meets the concern of animal lovers.

“We are still in the first phase, i.e. the reduction phase. We are making tentative steps to enter into a refinement phase. We must refine our methods, and replace animals in experiments. Our culture respect all forms of life, human as well as animal life. We will show respect in use of animals in experimentation. We have a great deal of political commitment towards animal welfare,” he said, expressing hope that India would become pioneer to reduce use of animals in experimentation by adopting non-animal methods. The standard operating procedures for Institutional Animal Ethics Committee(IAEC) has been published by the Animal Welfare Division under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

New Delhi, January 15
Shivraj Patil is likely to be the new Governor of Punjab. Sources in the political establishment confirmed that his name was being considered and the charge of UT Administrator will also be given to him.

Separately, the five-year stint of the National Security Adviser, MK Narayanan is likely to end as he is slated to be appointed Governor of West Bengal where the vacancy has arisen as Gopal Gandhi demitted office in November. This evening Narayanan smilingly brushed aside media queries at an Army function, saying “…ask the Home Minister”.

No formal orders have been issued so far. In case of Punjab, two senior union ministers in the Manmohan Singh cabinet had impressed upon him to send a political person to the state as it would globally convey that the situation was normal in the state. Punjab has not had a political appointee since SS Ray relinquished charge some 20 years ago. Since then it has been a series of Army officers and IPS officers while a retired judge held charge for a brief period.

In case of Himachal Governor, it was being considered to shift Prabha Rau to Rajasthan. She already holds additional charge of the state.

Chennai, January 15
Thousands of people, including scientists and students, gathered at Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram to witness a rare celestial event, the longest annular solar eclipse of the millennium that started at 11.06 am, peaked at 1.15 pm and lasted for more than three hours today.

Several television sets and telescopes connected to plasma TV were kept at various places, in addition to other facilities made to view the eclipse through pin hole and mirror projection. Hundreds of students were seen in long queues at the Birla Planatorium in the city to see the annular eclipse. Projectors, telescopes and special solar view goggles were made available to the people, who gathered to have a glimpse of the cosmic event.

The eclipse was partial in Chennai and other northern districts of Tamil Nadu, while the southern districts saw the annular eclipse. It was longer in Rameshwaram and Danushkodi, (10 minutes and 13 seconds) around 580 km from the state capital. The eclipse was first seen south of Kanyakumari and then was visible at Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi. The eclipse was also seen in other parts of the state like Madurai and Thanjavur.

ISRO launched a series of rockets from its two centres, Sriharikota and Thumba to study this eclipse and its repercussions. The last time the country saw this 'Ring of Fire' was Nov 22, 1965, and it would not witness such a phenomenon again before June 21, 2020. The next longest annular solar eclipse will be seen in 3043.

Haridwar, January 15
The otherwise bustling Mahakumbh Mela here came almost to a complete standstill today due to the solar eclipse with doors of temples shut and many devouts taking to meditation to ward off what they believe to be an inauspicious period.

Ghats, which witnessed several thousands of people taking a holy dip on Makar Sankranti yesterday, were now playing host to people performing havans or those meditating.

The enchanting spell of vedic hymns, bells and conch shells, which reverberated throughout the day on Thursday, when the Mahakumbh began, could no longer be heard. The only sound that seemed to echo at the main bathing ghat here, Hari Ki Pauri, was the nail-biting cold waters of the Ganga flowing strong and hitting against the stone steps.

The statues of gods and goddess were also covered up during this period. Acharya said once the “grahan” was over, the statues would be washed with water of the holy river.

He said the eclipse created a lot of negative vibes which would be washed off once people wash themselves with Ganga waters.

Administration officials said once the eclipse ended, the ghats would be opened again for the “Mauni Amavasya” when thousands would gather again to take the holy bath. — PTI

Mumbai, January 15
The Maharashtra government has proposed to enact a law jailing manufacturers and even stockists of thin plastic bags in a bid to prevent them from clogging up sewage networks.

The tougher law is coming in the form of an amendment to the Maharashtra Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Ordinance, 2006, which banned the manufacture and use of plastic bags thinner than 50 microns. However a number of loopholes in the law ensured that thin plastic bags remained widely in use.

Manufacturers found putting thin plastic bags in the market may be sentenced to three months in prison for their third offence and beyond. However with manufacturers shifting plastic bag factories to neighboring Gujarat, even stockists and distributors may be penalised, according to the state Environment Ministry.

“We have received a number of suggestions from the public and accordingly we are coming up with measures to curb use of plastic bags below 50 microns,” Maharashtra’s Environment Secretary Valsa Nair Singh said.

The Maharashtra government’s crackdown on thin plastic bags came after a demand made by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The BMC complained that shopkeepers and even malls have been distributing thin plastic bags without handles in a bid to skirt the law.According to Nair-Singh, the new law would be publicised before it is implemented. The changes also envisages fining citizens found carrying such thin plastic bags. Fines of up to Rs 500 may be levied on people carrying thin plastic bags after the new rule comes into force.

New Delhi, January 15
Describing as gigantic the problem of child trafficking, primarily for the sex trade, the Supreme Court today said it would come out with guidelines for effectively checking the menace.

A Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and AK Patnaik indicated that creation of a special police force would be part of its “judicially manageable directives” which would not be allowed to merely remain on paper.

“We need specialised enforcement agencies as the police force with multiple roles cannot ensure implementation of the proposed guidelines,” the judges said. The directives are likely to be announced on January 22, the next date for hearing the PILs filed by two NGOs --- Bachpan Bachao Aandolan and Childline --- that have sought steps for preventing the exploitation of children in the sex trade.

The Bench regretted that in the absence of a proper rehabilitation programme children rescued from brothels found themselves on the streets from where they could not go anywhere except the very same wretched place.

At the time of last hearing on December 9, the judges had asked the government to consider legalising prostitution as no country in the world had succeeded in curbing it.

New Delhi, January 15
Less than a week after he stressed on preparedness for two-pronged war with Pakistan and China, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor today said “we want cordial and peaceful relations with both”.

His earlier statement on Pakistan had received vehement protest across the border. Minutes after reviewing the Army day parade, the Army chief said, “India has always believed in maintaining peaceful and cordial relations with its neighbouring countries,” He was addressing his troops, senior officers and foreign dignitaries here on the occasion of 62nd Army Day. He went on to add “With China, we want to continue peace. We want cordial relations and peace with Pakistan too”.

General Kapoor’s statement comes just a week after Chinese and Indian defence delegations met in Beijing where China had reportedly told India that it should get “worked up” over reports. The two countries plan to resume their bilatral exercises from next year onwards. China is slated to host talks. It could not be conducted in 2009 and is not scheduled for this year also. Meanwhile, on the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and north eastern states, the Army Chief said the current situation was very much under control. “It was fully under control of the security forces”.

Referring to the changes in the geo-political and security situation, General Kapoor said this was an era of bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation and India had pursued it by holding highly enriching joint-training exercises with several countries.

He listed out the start of armed forces tribunal, the married accommodation project in forward and high altitude areas, hike in allowances and better facilities, as some of the welfare measures launched recently.

New Delhi, January 15
National carrier Air India is in news, and for the wrong reason again.

Apparently Air India cargo handlers damaged sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s precious sarod, causing much agony to him and forcing Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to call him on the loss of the cherished teakwood musical instrument.

Khan’s sarod was damaged on an Ahmedabad-Mumbai flight and as a result he could not perform at the CR Vyas memorial function in Mumbai.

Patel called up Khan to personally express regret over the damage done to his treasured musical instrument for over 32 years and with which he has performed in various functions. “It is unfortunate that the incident has taken place. It should not take place in any airline,” Patel is understood to have said.

While Khan did not file a formal complaint, he expressed deep agony over the loss of the treasured musical instrument and urged AI aurthorities to ensure that such delicate instruments were attended to more gently. Reports quoted him as saying that the instrument was made 25 years ago by renowned sarod maker Hemendra Chandra Sen, who passed away last week.

“I am honoured that Praful Patel personally called over the incident. The instrument called “Ganga” has been with me for over 32 years. It is like my heart has been taken out. I think the staff (of the airline) should be trained to handle fragile things,” Khan told a TV channel.

Coming to Air India’s defence, ministry’s officials say the minister’s call to Khan was out of courtesy and while it would be unfair to single out any particular airline, fragile cargo should be handled with more care.

Khan displayed the sarod at the show and said it was damaged during a flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai on Thursday morning.

“The sarod, weighing around 15 kg, is a very delicate instrument. It was packed in a tough box. I had booked it as a check-in baggage on the Air India flight, IC-614,” reports from Mumbai quoted Khan as saying.

New Delhi, January 15
Half of mothers in rural India cannot read nor can half of rural children. The long-perceived notion that students’ education improves with that of parents’ stands tested and proved for the first time in the report on school education by Pratham, which asked fathers of surveyed students what their education levels were.

The findings bring instant relevance to the government’s much-hyped Adult Literacy Mission, which seeks to educate 70 million illiterates by 2012. The survey finds that with the improvement in the education level of fathers, education and learning abilities of students also improve.

For 30 per cent fathers who did not go to school at all, 8.2 per cent girls aged 6 to 14 were found out of school; only 56 per cent children in grades III to V were found to be able to read Class I text and only 49 per cent children were found capable of subtraction.

As against this, for 16.7 per cent fathers who have studied up to classes VI and VIII, the percentage of girls out of school drops to 2.9 per cent (it was 8.2 for 30 per cent illiterate fathers); percentage of class III to V children who can read class I text rises to 65.6 as against 56.3 per cent for illiterate fathers.

Jaipur, January 15
All three members of the Mathur Commission, which was formed to probe into alleged corruption against former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and her government, have put in their papers after the High Court termed the panel as ‘illegal’.

The members --- Justice NN Mathur (retd), former chief secretary Indrajeet Khanna and retired IPS HS Meena --- have sent their resignations to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. A day before the Rajasthan High Court had observed that there was no ambiguity in its order dated January 4 as per which it had asked the government to refer the case to the Lokayukta. In its Janaury 4 order, the court had disposed of a PIL challenging the constitution of Mathur Commission and had held the same as illegal and beyond the competence of the government to set up such a panel.

The commission was set up by the Gehlot-led Congress government soon after assuming power in January last. The Congress, in its election manifesto, had levelled allegations of corruption, involving Rs 22,000 crore, during the previous Raje-led BJP regime and the commission was constituted to probe into these charges. Soon after, a PIL was filed by one Kashi Purohit and KM Asthana challenging the government order.

In its clarification on Wednesday, a bench comprising Justice RC Gandhi and Justice Mahesh Bhagwati observed: “It is for the petitioners to interpret the order of this court passed on January 4. The order is aptly clear in this regard and therefore, there is no need of clarification of the said order.”

The court’s observation came after the petitioners contended that there was no clear mention in the judgment that the order of the state government dated January 23, 2009, by which Mathur Commission was set up, has been quashed.

“The government is making a misinterpretation of the court’s order to the effect that the commission has not been quashed and has further asked the panel members to prepare an interim report against a few administrative officials despite the fact that the order of the court is clear that the commission was illegally constituted and it cannot do any act pursuant to the order of its appointment,” they argued.

Meanwhile, the resignation has come as a setback for the state government as it is learnt that the government was preparing to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the Rajasthan High Court order of January 4.

New Delhi, January 15
The government is considering proposal to change names of four High Courts in the country, following new nomenclatures of the cities where they are located.

The Ministry of Law and Justice has received the proposal to change the names of Bombay High Court, Madras , Calcutta High Court and Gauhati High Court to be in line with the present names of the cities by which they are now known.

“The proposal to change the names of Bombay High Court as Mumbai High Court, Calcutta High Court as Kolkata High Court, Gauhati High Court as Guwahati High Court and Madras High Court as Chennai High Court is under consideration of the government,” the Ministry of Law and Justice has said in an RTI reply to Subhash Chandra Agrawal. — PTI

Lucknow, January 15
Observing her 54th birthday as Public Welfare Day, Chief Minister Mayawati this morning pressed a button unmasking 264 foundation stones marking the launch of welfare schemes to the tune of Rs 7,312 crore.

During a dazzling function held at her official residence today, Mayawati clad in a lotus pink brocade salwar suit with diamonds adding to the glitter, watched a 15-minute dance presented by local schoolchildren.

Tiny blue bulbs twinkling on flowers adorning the walls, blue laser lights illuminating the dance floor and revolving fountain on the make-shift stage provided the politically correct ambience to the BSP supremo’s birthday bash.

Mayawati today launched the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mahamaya Gharib Arthik Madad Yojana, giving assistance to the tune of Rs 300 per month to those not holding BPL cards or covered under any pension scheme of the state government (widow, old age, physically challenged).

“The first phase of the scheme would cover 30 lakh beneficiaries and the remaining would be taken up in the next phase,” she said. They would be selected through a comprehensive process, including holding meetings for identification in the gram sabhas, in the presence of Additional District Magistrates. The money would be directly deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, Mayawati said.

She, however, did not spare the Central Government even on her birthday. She lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government for ignoring the state government’s repeated request for a Rs 80,000 crore economic package.

“Despite meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh several times requesting for this, the state has not received a single penny. We are still managing the development programmes with our own resources,” she said.

The function was attended by senior BSP leaders, ministers, bureaucrats and mediapersons.

While the function remained confined to the 5, Kalidas Marg, residence of the Chief Minister, the city had been decked up with blue decorative lights and large-size hoardings of Mayawati, highlighting various schemes of the BSP government.

Despite cold weather, many supporters came to pay floral tributes to the BSP president by visiting various sites, where her statue has been installed.

Bangalore, January 15
Dispute over a piece of land, which cost Uma Bharati her position as the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, has finally ended with the Supreme Court (SC) rejecting an appeal filed by the Anjuman-e-Islam defending its right over the Idgah Maidan at Hubli in Karnataka.

The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation will be demolishing the commercial complex erected by Anjuman-e-Islam (AeI) at the Hubli Idgah Maidan after the SC on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by the organisation. The ground, however, would continue to be used by the Muslims for offering prayers twice a year on the occasions of Ramadan and Bakrid. “We shall demolish the structure raised by the Anjuman at the maidan,” PS Vastrad, Commissioner, Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, said.

Anjuman has been claiming that the maidan belongs to it, as it holds 999-year lease on the ground, and has been resisting attempts by various groups to make use of the maidan. The ground was witness to bloodshed in 1994, when Uma Bharati tried to hoist the National Flag there. The incident resulted into communal clashes and police firing, in which six persons lost their lives. The case eventually cost Uma Bharati her CM’s chair.

The first case relating to the maidan was filed by some individuals from Hubli in 1972, praying the court for an order to declare the maidan a public property. The lower court directed the Anjuman to demolish the structure it had constructed on the land. The organisation then approached the High Court (HC) and lost the case there also. It filed an appeal in the SC in 1995. The SC had at first asked the disputing parties to come to an amicable settlement over the issue. It also suggested setting up of a public utility place like a school or a hospital on the disputed land.

New Delhi, January 15
Using sound-emitting construction machines, musical instruments, bursting firecrackers and horns emitting sounds beyond permissible limits during night time in the residential areas may soon land violators in trouble with the government amending the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

To ensure that the noise pollution rules are followed, the government is also setting up a National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network on pattern of existing air and water networks pollution. In new rules, the stress will be on making the night peaceful, particularly in the residential and other areas, like hospitals and schools. The night time has been clearly defined between 10 pm and 6 am and restrictions imposed on the use of horns, sound emitting construction equipments and bursting of fire crackers between that time interval.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said the rules had been amended as part of the government’s efforts to make cities less noisy and night peaceful for the residents, in keeping with the Supreme Court directives issued from time to time. In the new rules, public places have been defined and occupant of a public place has to restrict the volume of public-address system, so that noise emitting from its activity would not exceed the noise limit of more than 10 decibels. Similarly, the occupant of a private place has to restrict the volume of music system, etc, so that the noise emitting from its activity would not exceed the noise limit by more than five decibels. It is also the duty of the state government concerned to specify in advance, the number and particulars of days, not exceeding 15 in a year, on which the two-hour exemption (10 pm to 12 midnight) would be operative.

The government notified the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, on February 14, 2000, two types of noise standards were prescribed- ambient air quality standards in respect of noise and emission limits for designated types of machinery, appliances and fire crackers. The Noise Regulation Rules, 2000, regulate noise levels in industrial (75 decibels), commercial (65 decibels) and residential zones (55 decibels) and also establish zones of silence (100 meters) near schools, courts and hospitals. The prescribed day time levels, 6 am and 10 pm, are typically 10 decibels higher than the corresponding levels for night time except in the industrial areas, where the difference is five decibels.

New Delhi, January 15
Intense lobbying has started in the BJP over leading the Bihar unit and its in charge in Delhi, with the assembly elections slated for the end of this year.

BJP’s new president Nitin Gadkari seems to be making advance preparations to avoid a repeat of Jharkhand, which the BJP and its ally the JD-U virtually lost, though eventually they managed to form a government there supporting the JMM led by Shibu Soren.

Gadkari has invited Bihar leaders on January 21 to discuss state affairs. In the meantime while he is busy selecting his team at the national level, the Bihar issue seems to have taken precedence over deciding on national office-bearers. Sources explained that while the national office-bearers will only be finalised after February 19, possibly in early March, Bihar decisions cannot wait that long.

Sources in the BJP said a couple of names are being considered for Bihar chief’s post, but the main focus is on selecting a Brahmin or a Bania because these two communities are the mainstay of the BJP support there. As for banias, with Sushil Modi having led the party for a long time, there is greater consensus on choosing a Brahmin this time.

Of course there are other hopefuls also, including Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad and even Syed Shahnawaz Husain, who may eventually be happier joining Gadkari’s team in Delhi.

Simultaneously there is equal jockeying about who will be in charge of the state unit here in Delhi. A source claimed that Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley seems keen to take charge of Bihar because that is one state where the success of BJP-JD-U alliance appears almost certain and this may reestablish Jaitley’s USP as the proverbial winner, a title he had earned after winning a series of assembly elections including Gujarat, Karnataka and Punjab. But after losing the general elections he has earned dubious distinction of losing elections also and now he is keen to erase that image.

His supporters point out how as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha he has virtually no work and has enough time to help out the party in Bihar. Besides he has a good personal equation with chief minister Nitish Kumar, which can always help the BJP in the long run.

But his detractors would have none of it saying that there is no precedent of a Leader of Opposition being given charge of a state. In such an event the alternative is to appoint a dummy state in charge and have Jaitley or someone like him do the actual running of affairs from behind the screen. Party sources pointed out that it has happened earlier in the days of Rajnath and that is how he virtually ran Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states.

But then all that will depend on the new president and he is not likely to open his cards before the national council meeting on February 18 and 19.