New Delhi, September 20
In the wake of the orders by the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary, Delhi government, D.M. Spolia today issued instructions to all the Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and HODs to be present in their offices to redress grievances of people and also to intensify the frequency of field visits.

"The implementation of the orders will strengthen the people's faith in governmental set-up and help in making it more sensitive and citizen-friendly," the Chief Secretary said.

There are clear instructions to the officials to attend to public grievances on a regular basis and also to organize field visits. No meeting should be scheduled at the time of filed visit or public hearing. If a departmental meeting is unavoidable, a junior officer must undertake the field visit, he said.

In an another circular, the CS has issued orders to officials to streamline the system and share information pertaining to all important activities and work done by the department at least once a week with the Directorate of Information and Publicity.

The Chief Secretary earmarked the days for submission of the reports for sharing information with public through a press release. The departments of Home, Finance, Vigilance, Social Welfare, Women Child Development, Language and Elections will submit their reports on Monday; Higher Education, Training and Technical Education, Irrigation and Flood Control, Urban Development and Local Bodies on Tuesday; the departments of Land and Building, Revenue, PWD and Delhi Legislative Assembly on Wednesday; while the departments of Employment, Labour, Development Department and SC/ST Welfare and departments of Environment, GAD, Planning, Administrative Reforms, Law Justice and Legislative Affairs, Tourism and Art and Culture, Health and Family Welfare, Industry, Gurudwara Elections, Delhi Skill Mission and Mission Convergence will submit their reports on Friday.

New Delhi, September 20
To create awareness on the losses of climate change, hundreds of youths under the umbrella of various NGOs, including a few from Arunachal Pradesh, today joined a march that was started from Mandi House and concluded at Jantar Mantar.

During the march, the participants carried placards on saving natural resources as negative effects of climate change would harm mankind and all other things existing in the world.

A play was also organised by Asmita Theatre group presenting the side-effects of deforestation, waste of factories, excess use of air-conditioners in houses, excess use of modern manure in agricultural farms, etc.

Asmita Theatre director Arvind Gaur said his group participated in the march considering that climate change is a key issue and people should be aware of it. 

New Delhi, September 20
A campaign to engage men to take up the cause of gender justice has been launched here ahead of a global symposium organised by MenEngage Global, an alliance of over 400 partners on stopping violence against women.

The platform bringing together 900 people from over 50 countries to highlight the annual campaign 'One Billion Rising (OBR)' aims at mobilising support of men.

Launching the campaign in Delhi, the former Chief Secretary of Delhi, Shailaja Chandra, said that focusing on men to promote gender equality is a `novel beginning'.

"Women have for long been lectured on protecting and defending their womanhood; what is now essential is for men to recognize that they are equally capable of promoting and benefitting from gender equality," she added.

To understand masculinities in different contexts, the MenEngage and OBR campaign have decided to come together.

"Both campaigns are unfurling simultaneously not only in Delhi but in many other parts of India, countries in South Asia as well as across the globe,'' said Dr Abhijit Das, director, Centre for Health and Social Justice (CHSJ), which acts as the secretariat.

Former Union secretary, health and director, Population Foundation of India, AR Nanda, said that young people have to be empowered and facilitated to bring out their positive vision and aspirations."Our education system and pedagogy have to be re-organized," he stressed.

Representing the uniformed services, Robin Hibu, Joint Commissioner of Police, felt that timebound strategies and programmes must be initiated at all levels to change gender norms and attitudes.

"Even while we undertake gender sensitization training, we need to realise that such processes will only succeed if we simultaneously address the issues of early socialisation and education and take ameliorative measures and affirmative action to reduce the gender gap," he added.

Other partner organisations include Jamia Millia Islamia, CEQUIN, Jagori, Yuva Ekta Foundation and Manas Foundation while the Global Alliance comprises over 400 partners.

New Delhi, September 20
The Aam Aadmi Party has opposed the proposed move by the BJP-controlled three Municipal Corporations of Delhi to impose charges on residents for collection of waste. The party questioned the decision to invite a global tender with bidders, including foreign firms, stating that it is a "suspect" move and an attempt only to burden the taxpayers.

"The move initiated by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, in which the Delhi BJP chief played a key role till he resigned on Thursday and is proposed to be followed by East and North Delhi corporations, is nothing short of a multi-crore scam. Why should people pay for failures of these corrupt civic bodies?" the AAP asked, while asserting that it is an unjustified financial burden.

The party said the national Capital presents a sorry picture with lack of public toilets for women in market areas, bad roads, clearly visible filth on roads, poor sanitation and sewage, and the threat of outbreak of diseases like dengue.

Noting that there is no shortage of money yet the three BJP-ruled corporations have chosen not to spend on city affairs, the party said, nearly 60 per cent of the budget allocated to the Municipal Corporations of East, North and South Delhi Municipal Corporations for carrying out development work, remained unspent in the financial year 2013-14.

New Delhi, September 20
A book titled "A World within-A Remarkable Story of Coping with Parents Dementia" was today presented to the President by its author Minakshi Chaudhry. The book revolves around a person affected with degenerative disorder of dementia and his daughter.

Briefing the media about the book, the author said the purpose of the book is to create a sense of awareness about dementia, a brain disease and how to deal with the persons affected with it.

The writer is inspired by the true events of her life as her 82- year-old father has been suffering from this deadly disorder from the last eight years.

"I have to look after and take due care of him. He forgets almost everything and now there is problem even in urinating and swallowing. I am thankful especially to my husband without whose support it would almost be an impossible task," said the author.

"Forty lakh people, mainly elderly and old aged ones, are suffering from this disorder of which only ten per cent of cases are clinically diagnosed. In the coming years such number of patients will drastically increase. We must not outcast those affected with this life threatening disorder but must learn how to deal with them showing love, affection and sympathy." She said.

The author expressed her concern about government's apathy towards funding the research works particularly related to dementia and Alzheimer's and lack of awareness about it. "There is a lot more to be done to spread a sense of general awareness on this, much extensive and deep research work is required," she said.