New Delhi, February 28
In the annual budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 presented by Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament today, the Delhi government has been allocated a plan outlay of Rs 1,192 crore, which is Rs 36 crore less than the last year's allocation of Rs 1,228 crore.

The city government has been given another allocation of Rs 568 crore, as against last year's Rs 590 crore, to meet its non-plan expenditure.

Out of the total allocation, Rs 900 crore has been given under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and Rs 252 crore as normal assistance. For the previous year, the normal assistance to Delhi was Rs 229.72 crore.

Further, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has given a fund of Rs 500 crore to the city to improve its urban infrastructure and governance, besides an allocation of Rs 390 crore for improving basic services to the urban poor.

The finance minister has also proposed an allocation of Rs 10 crore for the construction of houses for the economically weaker sections under Rajiv Awas Yojna (RAY). Also, a separate allocation of Rs 37.09 crore has been made for national social assistance programme.

Further, Delhi will get Rs 65.13 crore under central road fund against the last year's allocation of Rs 58.40 crore.

Under three heads of JNNURM, there has been an increase under submission of basic services to urban poor (BSUP), which has gone up from Rs 184.47 crore to Rs 390 crore. Under the heads of submission on urban infrastructure and governance (UIG), the assistance will remain static at Rs 500 crore, whereas under Rajiv Awas Yojana, the figure will also continue to be the same at Rs 10 crore, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also claimed that under the head of normal assistance, there would be an increase of Rs 23 crore and under the head of central road fund (CRF), the increase will be Rs 6.73 crore. Also, the special grant under JNNURM would go up by Rs 206 crore.

New Delhi, February 28
With an allocation of Rs 3,340.75 crore for its functioning, the Delhi police has got a hike of Rs 504.22 crore in the budget for the fiscal year 2011-12 announced today by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The Delhi police has been allocated Rs 90 crore under the plan head and Rs 3,210.75 crore for non-plan expenditure. Further, Rs 21 crore has been given for building offices and Rs 10 crore for the construction of residential complexes for policemen.

Although Rs 2,836.53 crore was proposed for the Delhi police in the last year's budget, it actually spent Rs 3,131.70 crore after allocation in the revised budget.

With an allocation of Rs 82 crore in this budget, the provision for developing traffic and communication network has seen an increase of Rs 2 crore. However, last year, out of the allocated Rs 80 crore, only Rs 7 crore could be spent due to non-execution of projects.

Further, Rs 1 crore each has been allocated for three projects-- expansion of communication infrastructure, training and induction of latest technology. Another Rs 2 crore will be used for putting up traffic signals across the city.

New Delhi, February 28
While the Union Budget 2011-12 outlays with a satisfactory hike of 2 per cent has brighter prospects in store for the government hospitals, the imposition of service tax of over 5 per cent on healthcare delivered in private facilities has left the private players irked.

This year, service tax of 5.15 per cent would be levied on all hospital services, including check-ups and diagnostic facilities and those private hospitals and nursing homes having more than 25 beds and air-conditioned rooms would fall under the said category.

Until last year, a slab of 10.13 per cent service tax was applicable to three areas in the health sector - insurance, dentistry services and cosmetic surgeries and with this year's budget, the taxation provision has been extended to all the healthcare delivery facilities, including pathological labs.

In health, service tax was introduced two years back for dentistry and cosmetic services followed by insurance last year.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has vehemently criticised the budget, terming it to be lop-sided. "The service tax is irrational and it is actually not falling in the line with the existing norms. As per the Clinical Establishment Act, any healthcare centre, small or big, having an operation theatre and intensive care unit is supposed to have ACs. So, the set aspects for the tax slab is actually not clear and justified," said Dr Vinay Aggarwal, president of the IMA.

It is believed that the step would deter concept of preventive healthcare and early diagnosis, thus would retard the gains obtained in the fight against chronic non-communicable diseases. "Instead of a tax relief which would have promoted health check-ups, the bringing in of tax would go on to make treatment costlier for the patients," said Narendra Saini, joint secretary of the IMA.

Representatives of city's various private hospitals believe that the health sector has been given a step-motherly treatment by the government and all its focus has shifted to the education, which has attracted a major chunk of the budget.

Health has taken a back-seat in the government's agenda list and this would actually go on to demar the objective of quality and affordable healthcare to all. "It is eventually the patients who would have to bear the brunt as the costs would percolate down to them who have to pay 5 per cent on all high-end treatment,"said Dr KK Aggarwal, chairperson of Heart Care Foundation of India.

In the opinion of the chairman of the Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr Prathap C Reddy, aim of bridging the gap between the affordability and accessibility facilities of healthcare would reamin a far leap if health reforms do not come to the priority list of the government.

Also, the budget seems to be unfriendly for the rural healthcare system as far as strengthening manpower and infrastructure is concerned, point out doctors. Nothing being spelt for encouraging investments in rural areas, along with no incentive for those willing to work in the country's remote quarters, like the sops given to the IT sector, added Dr Saini.

New Delhi, February 28
Having faced difficulty in managing the kitchen for more than a year due to hike in prices of daily used house holed goods, women had a high expectation from Union Minister of Finance Pranab Mukherjee in the budget for the year 2011-12.

But, their expectations were shattered just after the minister laid down the budget proposals that had nothing for the housewives to bring smile on their faces.

There is a lot for the service class and senior citizens in the budget, as the tax slab has been increased from Rs 1.60 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh and there will be no tax on the income of senior citizens up to Rs 2.50 lakh. Those who are at the age of 80 and more have to pay nothing for their annual income up to Rs 5 lakh. However, women have not been given any relief in income tax .

Kavita, a resident of Preet Vihar, said in the budget, steel utensils had been made cheap but what was the use of it when the prices of food items and vegetables had not been reduced. Before given final touches to the proposals, the government should have given a thought to the kitchen items. There were no mentions of rice, pulses, and other things that were important for a common man.

This was basically a budget for the industrialists, she said.

Anamika Mehta, a resident of Mehrauli in south Delhi, said, "The women are the major sufferer of this budget. They have neither been given relief in tax measures nor do they feel easy in maintaining the kitchen. Over all this budget has given an indication of rising inflation as custom and excise duty on the petroleum products have not been reduced that may increase the prices of all the goods that will hit the common people in near future."Siddheshwar Shukla, manager in a PR agency, said having seen the rate of inflation the Finance Minister should have increased the tax slab. An annual income from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3 lakh should be exempted from the tax. Giving exemption of tax on annual income of Rs 1.80 lakh would not give any relief to the service class.Increasing the rate of gold, cars, air fare and rate of branded cloths was not going to help the people, he said.

Though reducing the rates of refrigerator, TV set, mobile phone, steel, cement are good for common man, the government has given no idea of reducing the rate of roadways bus fare that is also very important for the common people.

New Delhi, February 28
Disagreement of the teaching community at Delhi University over the implementation of the semester system in all undergraduate courses seems to be resurfacing.

While hundreds of university teachers today assembled at an All Teachers Meet and decided against the semester system, the economics department also held a meeting and decided not to participate in the syllabus formation for the semester mode.

"Since 2009, there has been no discussion with the teachers of the semester system. When the new vice- chancellor (VC) met the teachers on February 1, the concerns of the teachers regarding the system were not answered. Disregarding the feedback of the teachers, letters were issued to the departments on February 9 asking them to complete the framing of syllabi by March 4. The economics department will not submit any syllabus on March 4," said Nandini Dutta, economics teacher, Kirori Mal College.

Till now, the teachers had been relying on the assurances of new VC Dinesh Singh that our point of views will be considered, but now, we are running out of patience. We were asked to fill in feedback forms and were called for repeated meetings, but for what? They have already deiced about bringing in semester system and don't want our opinion at all. And now we have to prepare the syllabi even though we know that it will not benefit the students," said Soumyajeet Chattejee, another teacher of the economics department.

Not just the economics department, but other departments are also not too happy with the deadline for preparing the syllabi. On February 24, after much discussion, the philosophy department during its general body meeting (GBM) had decided not to construct courses according to 24-paper semester model as the decision to implement semester had not been passed through the academic and economic councils.

Similarly, the well-attended GBM of the history department refused to accept semesterisation of its course.

Earlier this week, the departmental council had also arrived on a similar decision.

To decide the further course of action, the executive wing of the Delhi University Teacher's Union will meet tomorrow. The teachers now await the decision of the DUTA office bearers as to how to communicate their grievances to the vice-chancellor.

Last month, the vice-chancellor had met department heads and principals of all the colleges and the teachers had clearly communicated to him that majority of them were not convinced about the semester system.

New Delhi, February 28
A 55-year-old sub-inspector of the Delhi police was killed and a constable critically injured after a speeding car driver allegedly rammed his vehicle into their motor cycle in New Delhi district today afternoon.

According to the police, the accident occurred around 12.45 pm near Baroda House on Tilak Marg.

The victim has been identified as SI Hari Ram while Constable Ashwini Kumar is admitted in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The errant driver was arrested and his Hyundai Accent car seized.

"SI Hari Ram and constable Ashwini were on duty and patrolling on their official bike when a car smashed into them. We have arrested the car driver Jaspreet Singh (33) from the spot. He works at a call centre in Noida and is known to have previous record of rash driving," said a senior police official.

A case in this regard has been registered at Tilak Marg police station.

Eyewitnesses told the police that the car driver was driving at high speed and probably lost balance when he hit the Pulsar bike of the sub-inspector.

The duo was rushed to RML Hospital where Hari Ram was declared brought dead. Ashwini has received multiple fractures and his condition is said to be critical.

A resident of Police Colony, Model Town, the sub-inspector is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. His sons are constables in the Delhi police.

New Delhi, February 28
Upset over being scolded for not concentrating on studies, a class VIII student committed suicide by hanging himself at his home in east Delhi today, the police said.

"Gulshan Thakur, 13, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his home at the New Ashok Nagar area on Monday afternoon," said a police officer.

Gulshan was rushed to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

His mother Meera Thakur told the police that she scolded him slightly in the morning for not concentrating on studies.

"In the afternoon, he was found hanging," said the officer.

No suicide note was found. Gulshan's father Jitendra Thakur said, "I could not believe that he could take such a step over such an issue."

Gulshan was studying in a government school in the same area and was his parents' youngest son.

"We are investigating the matter and have sent the body for postmortem," said the officer. — IANS

New Delhi, February 28
A former employee of India's spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), who created a stir in the Delhi High Court last month when she partially stripped twice before the judge, has been diagnosed as suffering from a form of paranoia, the court was told today.

Submitting its report before Justice Ajit Bharihoke, the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) said 48-year-old Nisha Priya Bhatia cannot take a competent decision and is not suitable for a job, marriage, or drawing a will.

"Bhatia was well behaved during her entire stay in the hospital. There is no evidence of any of the well-defined and well-described entities of mental disorder like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or any other such major illness," the IHBAS report said, adding that she has also no personality disorder.

However, the board was also of definite view that it also cannot be said that Bhatia had no mental health problem at all.

"The mental health problem is in area of her thought process being logical and reality based or otherwise, and the tendency for paranoid thinking in terms of being targeted or treated unfairly by individuals and system," it said.

"She cannot cope with such situation or problems, specifically in long-term perspective with repeated negative experience with system. All things considered, her problem seems to match with a soft condition called 'Paranoia Querulans' or 'Litigious Paranoia'," it said.

Meanwhile, the medical board of IHBAS has recommended that Bhatia can benefit from counselling and regular contact with any mental health agency of her choice, although she has refused the suggestion.

The court today issued notice to Bhatia to appear before it March 28, after no one appeared on her behalf on the second call also.

Bhatia had attempted to disrobe twice on January 21 while the court was hearing a petition filed by her seeking quashing of the attempt to suicide case against her pending in the court.

She had earlier levelled sexual harassment charges against a senior official in RAW.

Following the incident, the judge noted Bhatia's "behaviour in baring herself in open court is highly deplorable and not expected of a normal person". "It gives an impression that the petitioner is not mentally sound," it said.

The judge said she even claimed she bared herself before Central Administrative Tribunal and the Supreme Court and that "she will continue to indulge in the act". She is also stated to have attempted suicide in front of the PM's office. Considering her background, the court said: "It leaves a lingering doubt in the mind about her mental condition for which she needs to be medically examined".

The court ordered that she be taken to IHBAS and admitted there for a complete check-up.

Bhatia was first examined on February 9 and then on February 23. However, she was discharged on February 18 on her request that someone from her family was ill and that she will appear before the hospital as per their direction. — IANS

New Delhi, February 28
The north district police yesterday arrested a 25-year-old man with 1 kg smack worth Rs 1 crore in the international market.

According to the police, the accused Mehraj, is a native of Bareilley in Uttar Pradesh and lived in a rented accommodation at Loni in Ghaziabad. According to S.S. Yadav, DCP (North), Mehraj was arrested yesterday evening from near Nigam Bodh Ghat.

New Delhi, February 28
Four juveniles were arrested for allegedly thrashing a 14-year-old schoolboy to death here.

"Prashant Singh, a Class VIII student at Government Boys' Senior Secondary School in Uttam Nagar, was returning to his Vishwas Nagar residence yesterday when he passed a comment on a girl, nicknaming her 'Shaktimaan'," Deputy Commissioner of Police Sharad Aggarwal said.

The girl's brother and his friends heard the comment. Prashant was waylaid by four boys at a park outside the school at the Bindapur area of south Delhi and was beaten up. "We have an eyewitness who was with him at the time of the incident and was asked to leave," Aggarwal said.

Prashant was found unconscious in the park a few hours later, the officer said. He was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The boy had been severely beaten up and internal injuries led to his death.

"We have booked the four, who are students of Classes X and XII, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and are waiting for the post-mortem report," Aggarwal said.

"They were held from their homes in the Bindapur area yesterday," Aggarwal added. — IANS