New Delhi, October 2
Soon after the Indian Air Force recruited nine postgraduate students, the Delhi University placement cell has swung into action, trying its best to reach out to maximum companies and government bodies.

Registrations have already begun and the placement cell is extending its reach this year. While the recruiting companies will extend help to students with preliminary briefings, the cell volunteers will help students with tips on dress code, interview skills, resume essentials and group discussion pointers.

This time around, even the students of School of Open Learning can sit for placements with the cell. The girl students studying with the non-collegiate women board will also be able to register themselves for placement this time.

Till now, only regular, MPhil and PhD students could use this facility. This has come a big relief for these students as they face a tough time hunting jobs on their own.

"Every year, thousands of students get hired through placement cell. IT companies take as many as 400 students in hiring sessions. We just intended to maximize our numbers this year. We want more students to avail themselves the benefits of the new feature. We had been getting requests from students from SOL for quite sometime, and so we decided to push the proposal through this year," said Gulshan Sahni, deputy dean, Student Welfare, DU.

"There are many companies who want to hire students mid-semester, and it is not possible for us to arrange the placement sessions as regular students wouldn't be able to join until their year ends. The SOL students, on the other hand, can manage a day job and even work part-time," he added.

Placement cell executives and volunteers are also working on the pilot proposals as to how to work with the students and prepare them for the grilling placement sessions. Soon after the October break, students will be regularly updated on seminars and training lessons via email.

More than 20 major multinational companies are lined up to visit the campus over the next two months, with more and more approaching the placement cell every day. Once the final registration gets over, the companies will start coming to the campus, university officials said.

"So far, 4,500 students have registered themselves this session and we are expecting the number to cross the 15,000-mark by October 15. Since SOL students too can register for placements, the number is bound to increase this year. Meanwhile, over 30 companies have already contacted us for placements," added Sahni.

New Delhi, October 2
All that 19-year-old Azad Hussain knows about Mahatma Gandhi is what he has seen in Bollywood movies and read in school books. The Jammu University student came all the way from Doda district to the capital's Rajghat to know more about the Mahatma on his 142nd birth anniversary here today.

"I come from a region that is known to have rebellious youth. There is nobody in India who does not know about Gandhiji, but as a youth I am keen to know how he changed the country with his simple principle of non-violence," Azad said.

"The leaders of this country, whether from Jammu and Kashmir or any other state for that matter, should know about his ideology," Azad added.

People from far-flung parts of the country began coming to Rajghat since early morning to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, unperturbed by the tight security at the memorial on the banks of the Yamuna river.

Students, senior citizens, tourists, everybody found a connect with the Mahatma, with many of them refusing to treat the day as just another public holiday.

"Honestly, the principles might not be that prevalent today. But deep within our hearts, we have immense respect for the man and his principles of non-violence," feels Shering Tjokpa, 24, a student from Manipur who had come here as part of a college camp.

A common thread that strung the thoughts was the fight against corruption by social activist Anna Hazare back in August.

"The way entire country stood up to corruption through peaceful protest was a strong evidence of how Mahatma Gandhi's principle of non-violence still stands prominent amongst us," Kamlesh Bajpayee, who came to Rajghat with his 10-year-old son, told IANS.

The east Delhi resident wanted his son to see what makes the day other than "politicians paying floral tributes".

"The children don't really come to know about the place, apart from who all paid floral tributes to Gandhiji. I thought why not step a little beyond the formal things that they see on TV," Bajpayee said.

The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti across the country. It is also marked as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhi, born this day in 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat, played a key role in India's independence struggle. He was assassinated on January 30, 1948. - IANS

New Delhi, October 2
"Gandhi - The Path to Greatness", a short biography that promises to enlighten kids about Mahatma Gandhi in a "matter of minutes" with its simple, uncluttered language has been launched here.

Authored by theatre personality Lushin Dubey and published by Scholastic India, the 60- page book priced at Rs 100, was launched on Saturday on the eve of the Father of the Nation's 142nd birth anniversary.

"In simple, uncluttered prose, she succeeds in creating a vivid portrait of Gandhi while providing information that readers will find valuable," actor Sharmila Tagore wrote in the book's foreword.

According to Dubey, the book successfully sums up Gandhi's life in a nutshell and presents it before the children in an inspiring manner.

"If the children read this book, they would get an insight into the Mahatma's life in a matter of 15-20 minutes," Dubey told IANS.

A group of children from her theatre group then read inspiring excerpts from the book and also sang bhajans.

"I was inspired by reading that he fought against the British government in Africa against the bill for compulsory registration which forced all Indians to be finger-printed," nine-year-old Dharini Chandok told IANS.

"Even Anna Hazare followed Gandhiji's principle and that is why his movement became successful," she said.

"I've read it twice," she added. — IANS

New Delhi, October 2
Be careful about the sweets you eat this Divali as they could leave a bitter taste behind or make you ill. With the national Capital set to celebrate festivals this month, the Delhi government's Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Department is cracking down on illegal godowns engaged in the adulteration of sweets. The department has seized mawa and khoya. Their samples have been sent for testing. The sweets in some places were also found to be containing synthetic colour, harmful chemicals and fungus.

To check the sale of spurious mawa, the PFA has started an inspection drive and lifted samples from several sweet shops in the city.

The officials said out of the total 289 samples, eight were found totally unsafe and cases have been registered against the traders. The samples were lifted from various popular markets in East Delhi.

"We are carrying out inspections of the sweet shops. Various teams have been sent to different parts of the city and the samples are being lifted," said AK Walia, health minister.

Every year around Divali, khoya and mawa coming from UP, Rajasthan and Haryana reach Delhi's wholesale markets. Tonnes of khoya, mewa and milk are often laced with spurious substances. Instances have been reported when milk was mixed with white paint. Toilet paper is mixed with khoya and adulterated with animal fat.

"Poor quality mawa or khoya is made with powdered milk and dalda. This turns bad quite fast whereas pure khoya, made from buffalo or cow milk, can be stored longer," said Suresh Gupta, a sweet shop owner in Munirka. Explaining the making of spurious stuff, a shopkeeper in Central Delhi said that synthetic khoya is also made from chalk powder mixed with water and it is very dangerous.

"It can badly affect the liver," said Ashok Verma, the shop owner.

However, Walia said that as per the legislation, manufacturers of adulterated food may face imprisonment up to seven years with a fine of Rs 10 lakh. In case of death caused due to adulterated items, the maximum punishment is life term and the fine is up to Rs 10 lakh.

"No one will be allowed to sell adulterated milk products. We will conduct raids across the city and the guilty will be brought to book," Walia added.

New Delhi, October 2
The Sports Complex at the sprawling Commonwealth Games Village in East Delhi will be thrown open to the public under the pay-and-play scheme by the end of November even as the 1,168 flats there wait for a completion certificate and new owners.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has complete control over the 21-acre Sports Complex in the Games Village, though the flats there lie unused since the mega event last October.

"The sports facilities inside the Village will be fortified into a full-fledged complex very soon," DDA spokesperson Nimo Dhar told IANS.

The complex will offer schemes in swimming, table tennis, football, cricket, badminton, basketball and volleyball. The state-of-the-art spa built for the Games will be operational for the general public, making it the second complex in the capital to have the facility after the Vasant Kunj DDA Sports Complex.

"There will not be any membership to start with. We will open the complex to the public under the pay-and-play scheme," a top DDA official told IANS.

The expensive equipment bought for the Games has been rotting for the past one year and since the area is under DDA control, it could have straightaway started the Sports Complex. The sports ministry launched the Come-and-Play scheme in five of the Games venues in May.

Asked about the delay, the DDA official said the Organising Committee took its own time in clearing the kitchen equipment from the Village. Till that was done the work on the complex could not have started.

The kitchen, with most of the equipment bought from London, is estimated to have cost about Rs.16.75 crore, but there were no takers for it after the Games. Eventually, the railways has agreed to take it and use it for modernising its base kitchen.

"Segregation and cordoning off of each facility in the Village is being done. The Organising Committee removed the kitchen equipment from there only a month ago. Then you have to assign administrators to man each sports discipline. That has been done and the staff and the security personnel will be deployed by November," he said.

Unlike the sports ministry initiative at other CWG venues, the complex will not have any coaches to train the youngsters.

One of the reasons the Games were brought to Delhi was to create a sports culture, but the DDA official was categorical in stating that their job was only to provide infrastructure.

"We are not here to promote sports. We are here to provide sports facilities to the people. Anyone who wants to play can enrol himself but we have not thought about training facilities."

The official said the facility will be available to the public at an affordable fee. - IANS

New Delhi, October 2
The city government has decided to impose blanket ban on sale, storage and manufacture of plastic bags. The department concerned has issued a draft notification to stakeholders seeking suggestion and objection, if any. They have to submit their reply by November 20.

The notification said that no person, including shopkeepers, vendors, wholesalers, retailers and hawkers, will be allowed to sell, store or use plastic bags.

It said that if anybody is found violating the order, he can face an imprisonment of five years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both.

This is the second time the government is directing to ban the use and manufacture of plastic bags. In 2009, the order was issued, but it could not be implemented due to opposition from various quarters. The government prefers paper or cotton bags as they are environment-friendly.

The plastic bags chock the drains which become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, said a senior official of the environment department.

The official said that the ban is being imposed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 under which storage as well as sale of plastic bags will be considered an offence.

The ban is likely to be implemented within two months after the stakeholders submit their suggestions or objections. Plastic covers and pouches to pack magazines will also be prohibited.

When the Delhi cabinet had passed a resolution to this effect in 2009, the manufactures raised the issue of unemployment. There are 400 units which manufacture plastic bags. About 20, 000 people are employed in them. The government was thus lenient and did not implement the ban completely.

As the issue of cleaning the Yamuna has again surfaced, the government has decided to implement its order, the official said. 

New Delhi, October 2
The Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, urged the government to give a nationality or extend the visa of Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs who had come to India on pilgrimage last month.

The Union government should settle them either as Indian citizens or extend their visa.

They are afraid of returning to Pakistan as they feel that they will be converted into Islam or killed.

They prefer to die in India, Malhotra said.

"During the past few years, lakhs of Muslims came to India from Pakistan on a visa. Instead of going back, they settled here and the government is unable to trace them. They get employment, subsidized ration, education and medical facilities in India, which are not available to them in their country. They also manage to become voters through illegal means," he said.

"Similarly, people have come from Bangladesh and settled in India and the government has neither the political nor the administrative will to send them back. On the other hand, Hindus and Sikhs are constantly being converted into Islam. It has become a regular feature to kidnap Hindu girls in Pakistan," Malhotra added.

New Delhi, October 2
Colourful 'pandals' (marquees), cultural shows and diverse gastronomic delights amid tight security-the stage is set for festivities and gaiety in the capital as the five-day Durga Puja commenced today.

From eco-friendly to celebrating 100 years of New Delhi as the country's capital, artisans are busy giving final touches to the idols while organisers complete last-minute decorations.

The themes this year are rich and diverse with some 'pandals' even opting for a healthy 'prasad' or holy offering cooked in olive oil.

According to Samrat Banerjee, one of the organisers at Greater Kailash-II, this year they have decided to go the healthy way. Thus, the 'prasad' will be prepared in olive oil only.

"We've built this 'pandal' at an approximate cost of around Rs 10 lakh. We can easily accommodate 8,000 people. The celebrations will begin today evening," Banerjee told IANS.

'Lutyen's Delhi' would be the theme for their 'pandal' and an exhibition on 100 years of Delhi shall be put up on display, he added.

One of the most popular and largest 'pandals' in the national capital organised by the Delhi Durga Puja Committee in Kashmere Gate will be decorated as a grand temple of the goddess.

"We will have the best of authentic Bengali cultural shows and cuisines that nobody can match," claimed Kallol Acharya, joint secretary of the K Block 'pandal' in C.R. Park.

Acharya said that while planning this year's celebrations, being eco-friendly was their top priority and so no bamboos were used in the construction of the 'pandals'.

"Music bands from Mumbai and Bengal will perform here. The highlight of our 'pandal' is that we've flown down cooks from Kolkata and will definitely offer authentic Bengali dishes," he said.

Delhiites are geared up to make the most of the occasion and have made elaborate plans to savour Bengali delicacies while seeking the blessing of goddess Durga.

"I've been going to C.R. Park 'pandals' since my childhood and this year will be no different. I love the non-vegetarian food served there, especially fish," said 21-year-old student Kanupriya Verma.- IANS

New Delhi, October 2
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will inaugurate the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) for the deaf community on October 4, the university announced today.

The centre has been set up with the support of the social justice and empowerment ministry.

“The centre is the realisation of the long-cherished dream of the deaf community in India. It is an exclusive education project for teaching, learning, training and capacity building for the vast deaf population. It will be a full-time teaching and training centre for Indian Sign Language combined with distance teaching/learning opportunities,” said Indira Gandhi National Open University vice-chancellor V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai in a statement.

“This research centre is the first of its kind in India. There will be zonal/regional centres in different regions of the country. The centre would consist of short-term, medium and full-fledged programmes for both the untrained and experienced teachers of the schools for the deaf,” he added. — IANS