New Delhi, November 26
Barring the elite schools in the Capital, majority of average schools here continue to neglect sports as a necessary aspect of healthy school-life for students.

Many small private schools lack playgrounds. While some are restricted to a half-hearted sports period which are either spent indoor in the school hall, or in a small outdoor space which hardly qualifies a field.

On the other hand, majority of government and MCD schools have the necessary playground area but they lack in sporting facilities. Over-grown grass covers their fields and the basketball court, if present, is a neglected site as the nets are torn. There are no cricket sets and other sports facilities.

What compounds an already pathetic condition is the government's decision to reduce school areas to a mere 1.5 acres under the new Master Plan.

Due to the government's recent policy, Mount Carmel School at Dwarka held a two-day indoor sports meet titled 'Sports in Captivity'. The event aimed to highlight the poor state of sports in the Capital due to the absence of adequate playing fields for schoolchildren, brought about by the recent government policy. The sad state of sports speaks for itself. The meet which comprised six sporting events was held within the four walls of the school, as the new government policy prevents schools from having large playing fields.

Ironically, some of the games played in the event were titled -- marathon around the school building, short distance race in the corridor, long jump in the corridor, cricket in classroom and football in hall.

V.K. William, director, Mount Carmel School said, "How can players be made, if the government reduces school land? Outdoor sports in Indian schools are in a sad state. And, a large part of the blame has to be taken by the government for its policies. If the Master Plan does not allow schools to have adequate land, how can they have the much-needed sports fields and help children enjoy an all-round healthy development?"

Anugraha Gopinath, a student of Mount Carmel School, said, "We hope to get back our sports field. The school land has been taken away by the government. We are disappointed as we have to play games in the school building. Cricket is no more fun."

However the government is not the only party to share the blame, schools are also responsible. Dronacharya, a boxing coach, said, "The government is definitely to be blamed for the sad state of sports in the Capital's schools, but private schools are also responsible."

He adds, "Let us forget about the premier or the elite schools in the Capital. Majority of average schools and government schools have minimal to poor sports facilities. If a student is inclined towards sports, it is not the schools that are nurturing his talent."

New Delhi, November 26
In order to monitor the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has issued a circular to all schools in the city to furnish details of admissions in the academic session next year.

The circular, an official of the DCPCR said today, asks schools to implement the various provisions of the RTE Act during fresh intake of students in the 2011-12 academic session.

The circular stated, "The commission would like to have the information in respect of children which your institution proposed to admit in class I in the academic session 2011-12."

Apart from class I, the circular also asks school principals to submit details of pre-school, nursery and pre-primary class admissions being conducted in their schools and the number of children proposed to be enrolled in these classes in the new session.

"The commission has issued this circular to fulfill its statutory obligations under Section 31(1), 32(3) and 33(4) of the RTE Act, 2009, whereby it is assigned the task to monitor a child's right to education and decide appeals forwarded against the decision of the local authorities," the official said.-- IANS

New Delhi, November 26
Receiving flak for its inability to protect women, the Delhi police today said any woman who feels stranded at any place could call the police control room at 100 and a PCR vehicle would drop her home.

The spokesperson of the Delhi police, Rajan Bhagat, said the police would ask women to take its help without any fear.

Senior officials of the Delhi police met today and this was among the few decisions they took to refurbish their image which has taken a battering as the city finds it hard to shake off its image of crime capital, especially unsafe for women.

However, it remains to be seen how effective measures like this would be as crimes like rape and molestation have more to do with criminals' audacity and little regard and fear for law than the circumstances of the victims.

"The Mizoram woman who was gangraped two days back and the girl who was sexually assaulted after being kidnapped from Mandawali three weeks ago were not stranded or feeling threatened. One was walking a small distance to her residence while another was waiting for her office cab. Such cases reflect the complete failure of the police in taking on those targeting women. The police should concentrate on better policing and not indulge in these symbolic measures to spruce up its image," said Asha Sharma, a woman activist.

She had earlier joined a protest at Jantar Mantar against the rape of a Mizo woman.

The police has stationed a PCR vehicle at the spot in Dhaula Kuan from where the 30-year-old call centre worker was abducted by four persons on the night between November 23 and 24 and raped in a moving vehicle.

The police said the station house officials, under whose jurisdiction large number of girls from northeastern states live, have been asked to visit and sansitise them about security measures. There would also be more patrolling.

Ranjit Narayan, special commissioner (crime) would write to the BPOs, asking them to take necessary measures to ensure safety of their employees.

"We have emphasised that GPS should be installed in the vehicles of the BPOs to check their movement and also, the antecedents of the drivers should be verified. The vehicles should drop the women at their doorsteps and move only after getting confirmation that the woman has reached home safely," an official said.

Joint commissioner of police, southern range, Amulya Patnaik, yesterday held a meeting with the representatives of BPOs and stressed the dos and don'ts for the security of their women employees.

New Delhi, November 26
Men in women-only Metro coaches have become a headache for most women travelling by Metro. However, the violators got a strong message today when a female enforcement squad thrashed some male passengers travelling in the ladies coach on the Delhi-Guragon line.

After repeated complaints from female passengers, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has deployed female officers in blue uniforms inside the coaches to see that no man enters the coaches reserved for women.

Even last evening, men travelling in women-only coaches were beaten up between Rajiv Chowk to Kashmiri Gate stations. Two men were made to do sit-ups at the Hauz Khas station. Due to the mayhem, the train did not move from the station for almost an hour.

Similarly, five-six men were thrashed at the Guru Dronacharya Metro station as part of a drive launched by the Gurgaon police to keep male commuters away from the coaches for women.

The Gurgaon police commissioner has formed squads of women policemen and placed them at five Metro stations of Gurgaon.

Vikky Seghal, a Gurgaon-based employee, who was one of the men who was caught traveling in the ladies compartment, almost lost his eye in the thrashing.

"Vikky boarded the train at Sikanderpur and entered the ladies coach to give me my laptop. However, due to heavy rush, he could not go to the general coach," said a female friend of Sehgal.

The DMRC has said that the violators will be dealt with harshly. Currently, the DMRC can impose a fine of Rs 200 on any male passenger found travelling in the ladies coach.

The commuters who were detained at Hauz Khas yesterday were booked and fined.

From October 2 the DMRC has reserved the first coach of every train for female passengers. However, even after almost two months, the instructions were not being implemented. Incidents of molestation and quarrels over seats in the crowded coaches have become an everyday affair.

"We received complaints from women from all walks of life that the coaches are too overcrowded," said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson, DMRC.

"In response, the officials decided to test the women-only cars similar to those in use in Mumbai. We have recruited more than 100 women enforcers to stop men from entering women-only coaches. Some of these enforcers have earlier worked as security officers with the Railways and others have been housewives. Most come from middle class or rural backgrounds," he added. 

Ghaziabad, November 26
Some very important decisions which will affect the life of people in Delhi and NCR were taken in a Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) board meet on Thursday.

The high-speed trains and Metro will not only decrease distance between Ghaziabad and Delhi, but will speed up development in the area also. Besides, it was decided that low-cost houses would be built in the city.

The GDA has decided to pay 12 per cent of its share for a high-speed train (RRTS) between Ghaziabad and Meerut. The Muradnagar-Modinagar Master Plan 2021 was also approved by the board. The high-speed train project is expected to cost Rs 100 crore in the first year. The meeting also emphasised on the comprehensive mobility plan which will improve the city roads. The GDA has also initiated work on the extension of Metro rail from Dilshad Garden to Mohan Nagar.

GDA chairman Ravindra Singh said that shortage of fund would not affect the Metro project. Proposal in this regard is expected to be approved in the next board meeting, he said. The extension of the Metro line to Mohan Nagar will be a boon for passengers travelling between Ghaziabad and Delhi daily.

New Delhi, November 26
Delhiites do not seem to be happy with the anti-tobacco campaign of the government. The dissatisfaction has become evident in the results of an opinion poll conducted by two NGOs during the 30th India International Trade Fair.

Based on the answers of 5,300 respondents, the poll points out that 82 per cent of Delhiites support stricter anti-tobacco warnings on tobacco packs in the form of notified mouth cancer warning that will come into force on December 1. They feel that the current diseased lung warnings on packs aren't enough.

Giving a push to the anti-tobacco campaign, the survey indicates that majority of the sampled populace believes that the current pictorial health warnings-diseased lungs, scorpion and lung X-ray- in India are largely ineffective in informing people about tobacco's ill effects.

Even as new warnings are supposed to be brought out by the Union health ministry, speculations are rife that there may be delay or dilution in the warning due to mounting pressure from the tobacco industry. Hence, Delhiites urge for timely implementation of the proposed warnings without any dilution.

In this direction, the representatives from three NGOs-Voluntary Health Association of India, Hriday (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth) and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) -- today intimated their concerns.

Further, the people also want that the pictorial warnings be displayed on both sides-- front and back-- of the packs. Under the current Anti-Tobacco Law, the pictures are depicted only on the front side of a pack.

The solidarity of people on the issue is evident by the fact that 7,800 signatures were collected during the 'Pictures Save Lives- Choose and Save Millions', a two-week campaign launched by Hriday and PHFI on November 14.

"It was encouraging to see that people of all ages connect so well with the issue. People largely believe that the existing warnings are not sufficient. They feel that a pack should carry warnings on front as well as its back side," said Dr Monika Arora, senior director, HRIDAY.

As part of the campaign, pictures highlighting the adverse effects of using tobacco were showcased, drawing a comparison of warnings used in India and other countries.

"The pictorial health warnings used in India are weak and ineffective as compared to several other countries. We have sent the results of the opinion polls as well as the signatures collected during the campaign to the ministry. We want the government to recognise, register and respond to the views of the citizens that they want to be better informed about the ill effects of tobacco use," said Dr K. Srinath Reddy, president, PHFI. 

New Delhi, November 26
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has objected to the Leader of the Opposition V.K. Malhotra's statement that constitutional breakdown was haunting Delhi. Speaking at the Assembly today, Dikshit said Malhotra's observation was misleading and there was no constitutional breakdown in the city at all.

Dikshit said that the legitimate powers of the city government were being eroded, diluted, encroached or vetoed.

This started with an administrative order issued in 2002 by the NDA government at the Centre. The order was formulated in such a way that all the powers of the government were handed over to the Lieutenant-Governor (LG), she alleged.

Addressing the House, the Chief Minister said that the impasse over circle rates could be resolved. She said that the logjam was causing a loss of Rs 3 crore daily to the city government.

In a letter to the Delhi Assembly secretary today, Malhotra stated that the Chief Minister had violated Rule 264 (2)(f) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, which amounts to breach of privilege and contempt of the House. He said that the Chief Minister had deliberately reflected upon the conduct of the L-G which amounts to breach of privilege and contempt of the House.

He sought Speaker Yoganand Shastri's consent to raise the issue in the Assembly on Monday.

Malhotra pointed out that the manner in which the Chief Minister castigated the L-G yesterday, the Union home minister, the urban development minister and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi only exemplified her arrogance, frustration and disappointment with her own government.

New Delhi, November 26
Hundreds of activists of the Right to Food Campaign from 15 organisations yesterday gathered at Jantar Mantar in the Capital to protest against the piecemeal proposals by the National Advisory Council for the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

The members of the campaign reached feel that the recommendations of the NAC for the National Food Security Bill are disappointing.

They would be of least help to the country's agrarian parts, where more than 2,00,000 farmers are believed to have committed suicide so far, point out food rights activists.

"The framework prepared by the NAC for National Food Security Act is unacceptable. We reject it because it does not talk about agricultural reforms. It does not speak of decentralising production, procurement and distribution. It does not address either the issue of malnutrition," said president of National Federation for Indian women, Annie Raja. After discussioning for four months, the members feel that the recommendations are narrow as they focus only on distribution of rice and wheat to the BPL families.

"We demand a comprehensive NFS Bill that lays the foundation for food security. The Right to Food Campaign will continue to struggle on every platform to ensure that our demands are met ," said Kavita Srivastava of People's Union for Civil Liberties. 

New Delhi, November 26
The Delhi police today released the sketch of one of the accused allegedly involved in the gangrape of a call centre employee.

DCP (south) H.G.S. Dhaliwal said that the victim, a 30-year-old resident from Mizoram, was in a traumatised state and would take more time to provide details about the identity of the other accused.

He added that the police also had to ensure the correctness of the sketches.

All accused remain at large and the police has been unable to find any clue about their identity. A large number of policemen headed by several officials in groups have been tasked with the responsibility of cracking the case.

They visited several places in Delhi that were frequented by the pick-up vehicle0 involved in the incident and made enquiries from local traders.

The police's difficulty is that it has little or almost no concrete information to start the enquiry. The vehicle's numberplate was missing and a few CCTV cameras installed in the area have not recorded any valuable piece.