Ensure timebound delivery of services, LG to Commissioners
New Delhi, April 30
The Lieutenant Governor (LG), Najeeb Jung, today directed the Deputy Commissioners and Divisional Commissioners to ensure timebound delivery of services and schemes in the city.

BJP seeks white paper on water distribution
New Delhi, April 30
The BJP has urged the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung to issue a white paper on the status of the water being distributed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The paper should also mention the services of private and government tankers.

'Media plays pivotal role in upholding transgender rights'
New Delhi, April 30
The media can be a positive force for improving the human rights and health of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in South Asia, says a new joint report developed by the Centre for Advocacy & Research (CFAR) and UN Development Programme (UNDP).

AFTER SWEAT, BREATHER: Labourers during a lunch break at a construction site on the eve of International Labour Day, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Various labour organisations hold events to highlight the problems of workers on May 1. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Waste in landfills, a serious environmental threat: NHRC
New Delhi, April 30
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Delhi Government, and three corporations for not taking action even as the hazardous garbage is dumped regularly at landfill sites in the city.

Bloodshed averted at Rohini courts complex
New Delhi, April 30
The Delhi Police today said that they have stopped the murder of a criminal at the Rohini District Courts complex in outer Delhi by apprehending 10 alleged gangsters there, including a 23-year-old man who was dressed in a lawyer's attire. He was carrying two firearms and was tasked to kill the criminal.

Mobile dental vans launched
New Delhi, April 30
As a major step towards integrating oral health and improving the access to rural areas of Delhi-NCR, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) launched six mobile dental vans under National Health Mission, GoI and Delhi State Health Mission, GNCT of Delhi.

Talat Ahmad to take over as Jamia VC
New Delhi, April 30
Professor Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir, has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia by the President, Pranab Mukherjee, in his capacity as the Visitor of the University.

Ensure timebound delivery of services, LG to Commissioners
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30
The Lieutenant Governor (LG), Najeeb Jung, today directed the Deputy Commissioners and Divisional Commissioners to ensure timebound delivery of services and schemes in the city.

In a meeting with the Commissioners of various districts at Raj Niwas, the LG reviewed their functioning. Laying emphasis on field visits, he instructed the Deputy Commissioners to check the field visits of their officers and take necessary action based on the ground reports submitted to them on the issues within their districts.

While addressing the Deputy Commissioners, the LG urged them to conceptualise the ideal position of their districts and submit a comprehensive plan within the next two weeks.

The Divisional Commissioners were asked to develop a fortnightly format for submission of reports on issues in each district, to be submitted to the LG on a regular basis.

"The Deputy Commissioners were urged to explore innovative solutions to problems in their districts, particularly those that they are likely to encounter in the summer months. The LG directed them to pay special attention to shortage of water and electricity during the summers in their districts and coordinate with the government agencies to ensure that their districts are served well and people are helped by their offices," said a senior Delhi government official.

A need to pay attention to the issues related to traffic, dhalaos and other civic matters in their districts was highlighted in the meeting and directions were given to find suitable and speedy solutions to the problems.

The LG stressed the importance of building relations with the people and urged them to realise the value of compassion and humility while serving the people in their districts.

"Civil servants are meant to serve people. You must lead by example and inspire your staff to follow suit so that there is proper delivery of services to the public in your districts," he said.

BJP seeks white paper on water distribution
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30
The BJP has urged the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung to issue a white paper on the status of the water being distributed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The paper should also mention the services of private and government tankers.

The DJB framed a summer action plan (SAP) on water and also publicized it. If the SAP is implemented, there should not be any shortage of water in Delhi. At present, people have complained about it, said Delhi BJP president Dr Harsh Vardhan.

According to the latest survey of Institute of Objective Studies, 56 per cent of the people in Delhi are supplied piped water by the DJB. The rest of 44 per cent consumers are at the mercy of the private suppliers, he said.

Vardhan said that for those 44 per cent of people to whom the piped water is not supplied, a scheme has been framed by the Jal Board to supply water through private and government tankers. Under this scheme, Delhi has been divided into 22 areas. In these areas, 25 emergency water supply centres have been set up. The entire system is fully under the control of mafia, he said.

The owners of tankers charge Rs 1,200 for 600 litres. Water supplied by these tankers is not fit for drinking. Sixty per cent people report stomach diseases.

In order to protect themselves from these waterborne diseases, the consumers purchase bottled water. This water costs from Rs 40 to 20 per litre, Vardhan said.

The tanker mafia has installed unauthorized borings in the villages. Consequently, the ground water level in Delhi is falling by 10 feet every year. In Madangir, Saket, Pushp Vihar areas, the ground water level has gone down to 67 metres below, added the BJP leader.

'Media plays pivotal role in upholding transgender rights'
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30
The media can be a positive force for improving the human rights and health of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in South Asia, says a new joint report developed by the Centre for Advocacy & Research (CFAR) and UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The report, entitled "A Framework for Media Engagement on MSM and Transgender Persons in South Asia", provides direction on how MSM and transgender communities should engage with the media, and how the media itself should leverage its influence to reduce stigma and discrimination, educate and raise awareness of human rights issues, and support programmes that improve the political, social and legal environments for MSM and transgender people in South Asia.

Reducing stigma and discrimination improves the overall health of LGBT communities, both in facilitating better access to health services and programmes as well as overall well-being.

MSM and transgender communities face violence, discrimination and rejection at workplaces and educational institutions. They often cannot access the same medical services and rights as other citizens. For example, HIV prevalence among populations of MSM and transgender people in South Asia has seen an alarming increase in recent years.

Examining media reporting in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, researchers found prejudiced, inaccurate and sensationalistic news coverage that has increased stigma and enforced stereotypes.

"Though media coverage of HIV has increased over the last two decades, the coverage of issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identities has often been weak and objectionable," commented Edmund Settle, policy advisor at UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre.

"By engaging with communities, the media can influence public opinion and policies, and contribute to a more effective HIV response in the region," said Settle.

In Bangladesh, the recognition of the hijra community by the government combined with community-based HIV prevention effort has led to positive media representation.

Waste in landfills, a serious environmental threat: NHRC
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Delhi Government, and three corporations for not taking action even as the hazardous garbage is dumped regularly at landfill sites in the city.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report on the threat of landfills to environmental health in Delhi, the NHRC has issued notices to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Chief Secretary, Delhi Government, and Commissioners of all the three Municipal Corporations in Delhi, calling for reports within four weeks.

According to the media report, the three garbage dumps at Ghazipur, Okhla and Bhalaswa in the National Capital Territory are monstrous trash mountains, causing a grave threat to environment.

Recyclable waste is getting mixed with the organic waste leading to contamination of the ground water and air in the surrounding areas of these sites.

"Ragpickers roaming in these landfills are contracting various diseases. The corporations have given no thought to manage them nor the Delhi Pollution Control Committee is taking steps to check the pollution," said a statement issued by the NHRC.

The commission has observed that the contents of the press report are disturbing, and if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation.

Bloodshed averted at Rohini courts complex
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30
The Delhi Police today said that they have stopped the murder of a criminal at the Rohini District Courts complex in outer Delhi by apprehending 10 alleged gangsters there, including a 23-year-old man who was dressed in a lawyer's attire. He was carrying two firearms and was tasked to kill the criminal.

They have been identified as Vikas Dabas, alias Fauzi), Vinod, alias Zehri, Rajkumar, alias Bamba, Manjeet, Surender, Ravinder, Ravinder, alias Bania, Vicky, Dinesh and Sunil Rana. Vikas who was assigned to kill had arrived at the court complex in the garb of a lawyer.

They are allegedly the accomplices of the notorious Neeraj Bawana and Naveen Baali gang, the police said .

"Naveen Baali, currently lodged at the Nemka Jail in Faridabad, made a plan to kill Pradeep, alias Bhola, when he was to be presented before a Sessions Court at the Rohini District Courts complex," said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP (Special Cell).

"Vikas was caught while he was attempting to enter through Lawyer's Gate of the courts complex. He was carrying two firearms for shooting Pradeep, who had also arrived at the courts complex," added the officer.

Mobile dental vans launched
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30
As a major step towards integrating oral health and improving the access to rural areas of Delhi-NCR, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) launched six mobile dental vans under National Health Mission, GoI and Delhi State Health Mission, GNCT of Delhi.

The vans, which were launched by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung, will enhance the availability of oral health services to the underprivileged.

Director and principal, MAIDS, Dr Mahesh Verma said the outreach programmes will target the North East District initially. It would provide comprehensive treatment like emergency care, preventive care, routine curative care and necessary referral.

Talat Ahmad to take over as Jamia VC
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30
Professor Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir, has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia by the President, Pranab Mukherjee, in his capacity as the Visitor of the University.

Prof Ahmad is an Earth Scientist who had served at the Department of Geology, University of Delhi. He is MSc in Geology from Aligarh Muslim University and had completed PhD programme from Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1985. He has also been a post-doctoral fellow with three foreign universities -- University of Leicester, UK, under the Government of India Fellowship; University of Cambridge under NERC fellowship and Nagoya University, Japan.