Delhi.ozg.in

Rs 1500 Computer For Students Unveiled

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:38:00 +0000

NEW DELHI:India on Thursday launched a low cost access-cum-computing device for learners and teachers which would be made available through educational institutions by 2011.

"The price of the device is expected to be around $35 (Rs. 1,500), gradually dropping down to $20 and ultimately $10 per piece," Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said, while unveiling the device here.

"This is real, tangible and we will take it forward," he said. India, he said, had demonstrated to the world that a cheaper device could be made, when prices were ruling high. These computers will be accessible to 20 crore children across the country and the total cost is expected to be approximately Rs. 10,000 crore, including a 50 per cent subsidy component.

Since this effort of continuous reduction in price and enhancement in capabilities would require a constant endeavour for research and development, Indian Institutes of Technology and other technical institutions are setting up research teams to cover a wide range of issues in achieving the ultimate goal in terms of price and quality, the Minister said.

However, while the technology is available, the Ministry is yet to work out the modalities of distribution, as this would require connectivity and involve transportation costs. The new device is an improvement over the one launched at Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh last year that had come under criticism for various reasons, including the cost.

The government will also try and patent some technology used in the devices though most of the parts were available over the shelf, N.K. Sinha, Joint Secretary in charge of the project said. The device has a touch-screen, video-conferencing facility, multimedia content, searchable Pdf reader, unzip tool, and storage. Work is now on to provide these with solar panels.

Under the National Mission on Education through Information and Technology (NMEICT), connectivity is proposed to be provided to universities and colleges. In nearly 8,500 colleges already connected, high quality e-content in various subjects is being created. Under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning, nearly 500 web-based and video courses are available and uploaded on ' sakshat' and other portals. Another 1,100 courses in various disciplines of engineering and sciences are also being generated.

Initially there was lukewarm response from the IT corporate houses to the Ministry's proposal, following which discussions were held with a group of experts at the Indian Institutes of Science at Bangalore and various Indian Institutes of Technology. Now that technology is available, the Ministry expects many corporates to volunteer to produce the device which would ultimately be available commercially also.

Source-The Hindu, 23 july 2010

LG office feels genuine allottees must not suffer

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:25:00 +0000

CGHS flats: LG office feels genuine allottees must not suffer

NEW DELHI: Though Delhi government continues to maintain that draw of lots for Dwarka group housing society flats is getting delayed due to "unfinished procedure' and "insufficient documents' submitted by their members and managing committees, the Lieutenant Governor's office feels that the city administration could forward a proposal to DDA to hold the draw of lots with members who are in the "clear'.

This is what is evident from the minutes of a review meeting held under the chairmanship of LG Tejendra Khanna on the progress on allotment of flats in the CBI-investigated CGHS on May 10. A copy of the minutes, which is available with the TOI, clearly mentions that in an earlier meeting held in January this year, it was decided that the Registrar of Society (RCS) may "forward a partial proposal for draw of lots to DDA with members who are found to be in the clear. Doubtful cases could be taken up for detailed scrutiny thereafter".

Chairman of the Association of Suffering Members of CGHS, Ashok Kumar, said despite this decision, which was taken with the RCS's consent, nothing moved in all these months. "Simply because the cases of some members of a particular society is doubtful, the government should not deny the right of a majority to have a home for which they have already paid," he said.

Another member, J M Shukla, who works with the Lok Sabha Secretariat, echoed Kumar's view. "I am a member of Manisha CGHS, where as per the RCS, scrutiny is pending due to serious complaints. But why have these complaints not been probed? Even though CBI is not looking into these societies still there is delay and because of a few members the majority is suffering,' he said.

On the issue of revival of defunct societies and enrolment of 'genuine members', the minutes of the meeting said, "In terms of equity, the current bonafide members should not be allowed to suffer". Taking note of the fact that there were many genuine members in these societies, who were unaware of the irregularities, the minutes mentioned that "unsuspecting people facing un-contemplated jeopardy now need to be given relief'. "The dubious means initially employed in obtaining land from DDA loses its importance since the land is undoubtedly used for its assigned purpose," the minutes said.

While the RCS office has been claiming that many societies have not submitted their complete documents, which is the main reason behind delay in clearing files for draw of lots, suffering members alleged that the registrar's office never sought an explanation from societies in this regard. "What was the RCS office doing all these years if it found that documents submitted by societies are incomplete?" asked Ashok Kumar.

The times Of India ,Jul 11

Monsoon Fashion - Rain Clothes Can Be Fun

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:55:00 +0000

In Monsoon rain the natural protection is good for pocket and our globe too.

But, we Indians have a history to struggle through our lives in the monsoon.

Life can be fun if we change gears. By gears, I mean rain gears, rain jackets, boots, and umbrellas. It's time to bring out your gear for this rainy season. Ladies are never comfortable with the ugly black boots. Why wear those ugly black boots, when you can wear these colourful boots in the rain.

The boring black umbrella needs an immediate replacement. Splash of colours make a remarkable day when you are out in the rain. Some eye catching umbrellas can make your many heads turn.

A rain jacket is a must for all women. Only an umbrella can't save the day?

All women should have a bright colored rain jacket, so they can look good even in the rain. This way you are protected from the splash and spew of muddy water, and make a style statement too.

Children too need protection from the rain. A great pair of boots and raincoat would bring a smile on your child's face. Here, are some great rainwear.

Why men should be left behind in rain fashion? They should try some colourful jackets and make fashion statements.

Try a bright red jacket when you're going out with friends. Then a more sober but, classic rain jacket in brown or beige colour.

When going for work.

Here are some quirky rain protection clothes. Maybe you could try some of these.

If you don't find most of these clothes in your nearby store don't worry. You can order most of them online through trusted websites, or perhaps invent them.

Editors @ lifestyle.ozg.in

The Lifestyle Blog of India

Daryaganj - Sunday Book Market, Delhi

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:26:00 +0000

v     Preferred Timings: 9.00 am-9.00 pm

v     Admission Fee: Free and open to all

v     Photography charges: nil

v     How to Reach: Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this locality or they can hire auto-rickshaws, taxis or take the metro rail.

v     Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway Station

v     Nearest Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar

Students to artists to designers to theorists to activists – Daryaganj is the favourite place to be on a Sunday. Life begins at 7am every Sunday, over the decades for its thriving old book bazaar. This bazaar is a paradise for book lovers all over Delhi and beyond, as a mind-boggling variety of rare books are usually available in this market at very affordable prices.

Today after so many centuries, Daryaganj is still a market but now, an over populated busy and congested one. Now, it has the office of some of the most well known distributors, publication houses and organisations of the country, apart from the good Indian restaurants and shops selling different kinds of books. Near Daryaganj's Golcha cinema, the bazaar is the only source of income for many of its 200 pavement booksellers. The books sold in this bazaar are mostly second hand. However, that does not affect the quality of the reading material available. You have everything from fiction to medical sciences, architecture to cookery books, comics to atlases, fiction to computers, classics to magazines, management to hobbies. You name it and this place has it. It is hard to classify the books here in a specific order, but a patient search will certainly yield in what you are looking for. Whether it is a book on cooking, computer engineering or a book by Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, Premchand and Sharad Chand, Ravindra Nath Tagore, they have it all at cheap rates.

The customers are of all ages and sizes, with college students comprising the majority. A student preparing for his MCA entrance comes all the way from south Delhi to buy books. A group of architecture students look for journals and magazines on design and planning, which are very expensive at regular bookstores. "I am a literature student and must read a lot. However, I cannot afford to buy brand new books all the time. So I regularly come here or visit the corner book shop at Mithas," confided a young customer.

Suresh, the shop owner, sells all kinds of books. "I generally buy books from the publishing companies itself, and at times from distributors. The source is not important, as long as the books are good" said Suresh. "I also collect books by exchange. Many foreigners buy books here, which they read and do not necessarily want to carry back. If we like their books, we take two of their books and give them one book of their choice in return.

Many book-lovers, who throng the weekly market at Daryaganj were recently surprised to see books once presented to prime ministers by their authors, being sold on the pavements. Though a majority of them are those presented to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one can also find books given to VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao and Deve Gowda. "You can also find historical and rare books in this market. The other day, I sold a book which was presented to the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru," said another bookseller.

According to Subhash Chand Agrawal, President, Sunday book bazaar Patri Welfare Association, the market has been a Sunday feature in the area for the past three decades. Not all books sold out here are second-hand. The sellers acquire books from different places. Many publishers, who are not able to sell the old editions of books, sell them to these pavement booksellers at cheaper prices. Also, loads of books remain unclaimed during transportation through trains and buses, which are then auctioned by Railway and other transportation authorities. However, according to one bookseller, Ram Nath, "Books also come from distributors on Ansari Road. " Often, customers with old books lying at home come to sell them to these sellers. The sellers also sell in bulk, acting as distributors themselves. Traders dealing in used books come from as far away as Hyderabad, to buy their stock here.

What do these book-dealers do during the rest of the week? Some of them have small bookshops, while others spend the week preparing for the following Sunday. According to Gupta, "Buying books at good prices from different sources is a time-consuming task, which requires business acumen and networking skills." During the week, they also deliver books to various individuals or other sellers within their business network.

As always, authorisation of the market is a messy question. On the one hand, the market is quite established and its struggle for existence and recognition seems to be long over, but on the other, each hawker still pays Rs 200 per month to the police for "protection". This is an unofficial arrangement, confided Anjaan, which keeps both the sides satisfied.

Kumar is categorical about not dealing in pirated books: "I sell an original version for Rs 150, after buying it for Rs 100; the pirated version of the same would cost me Rs 20 and I would sell it for Rs 50. The profit I make remains the same. So, why should I sell pirated stuff and run the risk of getting into trouble."

Why would someone buy books from here? Obviously, they are cheaper. "Equally importantly," said Gupta, "some books, which are difficult to find in usual bookstores are easily available here because they are taken off the shelves by publishers due to little demand." While the cost of the books depends on one's bargaining capacity, many can be purchased for as low a price as Rs 10. Is not just books in English, you will find Urdu, Arabic, and Hindi by the cartload. Plus, all those foreign language books discarded by tourists also find their way here.

Dwarka flat owners facing injustice for self-draw in South West Delhi

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:40:00 +0000

Irritated and exhausted by the no response from the registrar of cooperative societies, many cooperative group-housing societies in Dwarka have started a self-draw process. On July 2nd there was a demonstration held with that effect, in front of the office of the registrar of cooperative group housing societies.

There are thousands of members of cooperative group housing society who have already made full and final payments for their flats but are waiting for the registrar of cooperative group housing society to give clearance for allotment.

There were about 58 such societies, which were under enquiry and later were given clearance by the CBI. These society members have already submitted all their papers to the registrar office. But, these registrar officers have not hurried the process of allotment of flats. Even the high court had ordered the registrar officials to hurry the process but to no avail. All this fell on the deaf ears of the registrar of cooperative society.

Who has the time to acknowledge that there are such elderly members, who have retired from jobs and have been waiting for more than decade to get occupancy? Members are living in a rented accommodation, have taken two to three loans to pay their home loans, have family members to take care of but, no house of their own. Some members have expired in this long waiting period. All this falls in the deaf ears of the government.

There are societies that have completed construction and lying vacant for years. The members are bearing the burden of home loans and inflation.

The registrar officials are so used to fleecing the societies for money. There are societies that have paid under the table and yet no results. The registrar officials demands have skyrocketed to asking for one crore per society to give such clearance. The officials say that all the money goes to the top-level ministers and bureaucrats. So what other choice were these members left with but to go ahead for self-draw?

All this while it seems urban development minister Mr. Raj Kumar Chauhan has been sleeping, if he says that none of the societies approached him. And suddenly one day he woke up from his sleep and says that Delhi government has register a FIR against all such societies, who went for a self-draw are facing the threat to cut power and water supply in future. Well Mr. Minister if you could please cut the power and water supply to all un-authorized colonies in Delhi and then go around making such statements.

Most these society members are government officials, retired and pay their taxes to the government. Even those societies that went for self-draw are paying their electricity and water bills. All that these societies ask for is the allotment process to take place if the society has submitted their papers, and to regularize the self-draw societies.

The government is also playing hide and seek. Chief minister Mrs. Shiela Dixit had said that the process of allotment would be expedited. But, now her government has registered an FIR against the grieving societies. The government should stop basking in the glories of metro and flyovers around the city. They should pull up their socks, as the common educated mass cannot be fooled around with anymore.

Benita Toppo / Delhi.ozg.in

MP seeks L-G's intervention to resolve Dwarka flats issue / 19 Jan 2010

NEW DELHI: The Member of Parliament from West Delhi, Mahabal Mishra, has written to Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna seeking his intervention in the matter of allotment of thousands of cooperative group housing society flats to their owners in Dwarka.

Mr. Mishra has written that these residents have been denied the right to live in their own residential apartments despite clear directions by the courts.

"Way back in July 2007, the Delhi High Court had given a clean chit to a majority of the cooperative group housing societies in the now infamous group housing scam being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The clean chit was given after the submission of a proper investigation report by the CBI to the court which after satisfying itself with the contents of the probe gave the go-ahead to the Registrar of Societies, Delhi Government, to hold the draw of lots so that people could get possession of their houses at the earliest," he said.

However, the MP lamented that "unfortunately, even more than two and a half years [after] the court order, the Registrar of Cooperative Housing Society had failed to move on this front and take necessary action to hold the draw of lots for these thousands of affected families".

Mr. Mishra said it was also a human tragedy of sorts as most of the owners had taken loans for these properties and were paying their monthly instalments for these flats that still elude them. Also at the same time they were paying rentals for the houses they were presently staying in.

He therefore urged the L-G to convene a high-level meeting of the officials concerned for resolving the issue at the earliest.

Meanwhile, a member of the Baroda House Cooperative Group Housing Society, A. K. Bakshi, said various members were now tired of the legal hurdles and procedural delays that are coming in the way of allotment of the flats to the bona fide applicants. He claimed that there are High Court orders which support the need to allot flats to at least the members of those societies on which there are no objections. "But while we had got a favourable order for 57 such societies in 2007, till now no action has been initiated on it," he complained.

Earlier this month on two different occasions hundreds of members of cooperative group housing societies had conducted self-draws of these flats in Dwarka. However, the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies had declared that such draws that were taking place without submission of any forms or application and without adherence to due procedure were void ab initio. It had also lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West Delhi) against this illegal move.

The Registrar of Cooperative Societies has also written to the Delhi Development Authority to evict those illegally occupying any of these flats.

The Hindu / Feb14 2010

CM gives an assurance to housing societies' members

NEW DELHI: A delegation of the Association of Cooperative Group Housing Societies led by the Member of Parliament from West Delhi, Mahabal Mishra, met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit over the weekend and urged her to help the residents of 79 housing societies of Dwarka get their flats.

The delegation, comprising nearly 30 members, informed the Chief Minister that it was due to the position taken by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies that they had not been able to get the flats, for which many of them had taken loans and are paying huge equated monthly instalments. Also, since they are unable to move into their flats, many of them are compelled to live in rented accommodation.

They said while their flats have been ready for many years now, they are unable to get possession despite having got favourable orders from the Delhi High Court in the past two years.

The housing society members said the apartments have also been suffering for lack of maintenance and now the allottees would have to spend several lakhs more before they are able to shift into the fast deteriorating buildings.

The Chief Minister gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured that an early solution would be found to the vexed issue. She said since the Registrar of Cooperative Societies gives a completely different picture of the situation, an open workshop would be convened in which she herself would be present along with Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, Mr. Mishra, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies and office-bearers of various societies so that the issue could be discussed threadbare and an amicable solution be arrived at.

Mr. Mishra quoted the Chief Minister as saying that the proposed workshop would be convened soon so that the problems of the housing societies' members could be resolved. "Her reaction was quite positive and we are confident that a solution would be found soon to this long-pending issue," the MP said.

Hindustan Times / Self Draw In Dwarka / 28 June 2010

Frustrated with governmental apathy, owners of six more cooperative group housing societies (CGHS) in Dwarka carried out a draw of lots themselves for 625 flats in the presence of political leaders and the media on Sunday.

Together with these six societies, the number of such CGHSs in Dwarka that have opted for self draw of lots has risen to 18. The first such draw was held in January by the members of the Association of Suffering Members of Cooperative Group Housing Societies, Delhi.

More than 6,000 flats from 58 societies had been lying vacant in Dwarka since 2005, following court cases and a CBI investigation. After investigations were completed and a charge sheet filed, the High Court had directed the allotment of flats in August 2007 to owners of these societies. But the government did not move ahead with the allotment.

In January 2010, 11 societies decided to draw lots on three different days. One society had gone the same way three weeks ago.

Approximately 1,300 flats were allotted this way. Rattled by such a move, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit promised a 'single window' system to address the issue within one month. However, there has been no development since then.

Ashok Kumar, convener of the Association claimed, "The callous attitude and apathy of the government departments, mainly the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS), is directly responsible for the civil disobedience movement by flat owners.

BJP to protest Delhi govt's action against Dwarka coop societies / PTI 30 June

Accusing Delhi Government of "despotic" behaviour, the BJP today said it will organise a protest on Friday against it for initiating punitive action against cooperative societies in Dwarka that held a self draw of lots for possession of flats.

Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta said it will stage the dharna in front of the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to protest against the government move to register FIRs in this regard.

"The government is guilty in the case. When Congress MP Mahabal Mishra and other Congress leaders were present during the draw, then why FIR was not lodged against them but only the society members?" he said.

On Sunday, six group housing societies had held a self draw of lots to get possession of the flats which were lying vacant since 2005 following investigation by CBI and subsequent court cases.

Following the allegations, the Delhi High Court had asked the CBI to probe the irregularities in the group housing societies.

Gupta claimed that the Delhi Government did not conduct a draw of lots even after an order by Supreme Court in this regard.

On the government move to cancel water and power connection to the flats, Gupta described it as "inhuman and despotic behaviour".

He said more than 6,000 flats of 58 societies were still vacant since 2005. "People waiting for allotment are making requests to the government again and again," he said.

In February this year, representatives of the group housing societies met Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and sought her intervention in finding a solution to the deadlock relating to possession of their flats.

The chief minister had asked the societies to submit their relevant documents for completing the formalities. She had also assured them that the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) will process their case expeditiously.

Allotment of the flats in Dwarka cooperative group housing societies were delayed by several years as a CBI probe found that many societies were fake.

Some members of 10 different cooperative group housing societies (CGHS) had held their own draw in January this year, which the Registrar of Cooperative Societies had declared as null and void.

Flat owners to be booked for Dwarka draw

Chauhan, who claimed that he and his government were keen to help the long-suffering members, said, "We will not tolerate this at any cost. Not only those who held the draw on Sunday will face the consequences but all others who have done so in the past too will face the music."

When asked whether his government would also initiate similar action against political leaders, including the Congress MP from West Delhi, Mahabal Mishra, for endorsing the draw, Chauhan said, "I will not comment on this. They must have some local political compulsion."

Chauhan claimed that only those societies were going for self-draw which have either misplaced their documents or are tainted by some scam. "They have not submitted papers. Without those documents, how can the registrar or the government forward their case for draw and allotment of flats? Not a single society has taken up its case with my office," he said.

However, those who have already opted for the self-draw said the issue of the registrar sitting on their files had been raised at a workshop convened by the chief minister, Sheila Dikshit, on February 18 this year. Chauhan was also present at that meeting. The CM had convened this workshop after some of the societies went for a similar self-draw for their flats in January, which had become an embarrassment for her government.

A release issued by the Association of Suffering Members of CGHS said the CM had given them the assurance that their grievances would be looked into on priority and that they would get a solution within a month. Nothing of that sort happened.

Said Rajendra Arya, co-convener of the association: "Are we outlaws? Have we gone against the country? The government is bound to provide everyone essential services. We have only moved to our homes for which we have paid. They are providing water supply to unauthorised colonies. How can they dare to cut our power and water connections?"

Times of India / 28 June 2010

Dwarka Housing Societies - Injustice vs Scam

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:36:00 +0000

Flat owners to be booked for Dwarka draw

NEW DELHI: Delhi government seems to have made up its mind to crush the 'civil disobedience movement' which is gaining momentum in Dwarka with members of more cooperative group housing societies (CGHS) going for self-draws, ironically, for flats that they own. Urban development minister Raj Kumar Chauhan told TOI on Monday that FIRs will be lodged against those who conducted such self-draws and all those who participated in it. He threatened to cut their power and water connections.

Chauhan, who claimed that he and his government were keen to help the long-suffering members, said, "We will not tolerate this at any cost. Not only those who held the draw on Sunday will face the consequences but all others who have done so in the past too will face the music."

When asked whether his government would also initiate similar action against political leaders, including the Congress MP from West Delhi, Mahabal Mishra, for endorsing the draw, Chauhan said, "I will not comment on this. They must have some local political compulsion."

Chauhan claimed that only those societies were going for self-draw which have either misplaced their documents or are tainted by some scam. "They have not submitted papers. Without those documents, how can the registrar or the government forward their case for draw and allotment of flats? Not a single society has taken up its case with my office," he said.

However, those who have already opted for the self-draw said the issue of the registrar sitting on their files had been raised at a workshop convened by the chief minister, Sheila Dikshit, on February 18 this year. Chauhan was also present at that meeting. The CM had convened this workshop after some of the societies went for a similar self-draw for their flats in January, which had become an embarrassment for her government.

A release issued by the Association of Suffering Members of CGHS said the CM had given them the assurance that their grievances would be looked into on priority and that they would get a solution within a month. Nothing of that sort happened.

Said Rajendra Arya, co-convener of the association: "Are we outlaws? Have we gone against the country? The government is bound to provide everyone essential services. We have only moved to our homes for which we have paid. They are providing water supply to unauthorised colonies. How can they dare to cut our power and water connections?"

Times of India

28 June 2010

How to stop spitting in public places?

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:48:00 +0000

Lifestyle.ozg.in

The Lifestyle blog of India

The habit of spitting in public places and, a park converted into a public urinal is not unheard of in India. As Indians, we develop this habit from childhood onwards. And it continues to be a habit of an average adult life. Not to forget the intolerable smell that is generated, which is almost like a line drawn between this world and another.

However, some educated individuals have slowly, started making a change. As, once on my way to the second floor of a building in Delhi, I saw some gods and goddess pictures on tiles, stuck on the walls at an equally maintained distance. And, there was not any spit of red (spit of paan or tobacco) on the wall. Neither was there any foul smell or dust. I was amazed to see that the walls were well maintained even though they were staircases of a public market place.

There is another good example of a group housing society in Dwarka, New Delhi that has placed goddess picture on their compound walls. Call it a mastermind if one must. These pictures help to prevent people from mis-using those places.

Indians are very religious by nature and always keep the idols of gods and goddess clean. Also, if we see any idol or a picture of god on the road or under a tree, we always bow our heads, join our palms and pray.

The common bad habits of spitting and urinating in public places are developed at an early age. Even when they grow up they continue with such habits, which deteriorate the civilization. So, the idea of putting these pictures on the compound walls and passageways has saved mankind from foul smell and maintain clean environment.

In fact, the government departments and private offices should take similar measures to make places such as parks, lanes, passageways and office compounds clean and accessible for and by public.

Benita Toppo

Edited by: OZG India team

Adivasi Domestic Workers at Delhi

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:43:00 +0000

Adivasi Domestic Workers at Delhi

Every year thousands of minor Adivasi girls from the Jharkhand Region of Indian states like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Orissa are trafficked to Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian metro cities into bonded labour. Adivasi girls often start their journeys being lured by promises of a better life. Once landing in the big city, they spend years working as bonded slaves with the “Job Placement Agencies” taking most of their salary since, these Adivasi girls are so naïve and completely helpless to raise their voice.

Adivasi community (i.e. 7-8 percent of total Indian population) have not been able to reap the benefit of modern economic development so, their employers have no qualms in torturing them, and even sexually abusing them. Adivasi Girls are often forced to embrace the commercial sex trade as they are illiterate and have no other means of earning a livelihood.

SUDESH KUMAR

sudesh.kumar@jharkhand.org.uk

More Indians have access to cell phones than toilets

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Mon, 31 May 2010 16:12:00 +0000

The overwhelming reach of mobile phones and people's dependence on them have been such that a Delhi High Court judge on Monday could not resist himself from commenting that the gadgets have become more accessible than toilets in India.

"The paradox is that more people have access to mobile phones than toilets in India," was how Justice Kailash Gambhir expressed his feelings while dealing with the issue of sealing of cell phone towers in the capital.

"It is an inevitable truth that a mobile phone is no more a luxury but a part of our very existence. We cannot dispute our dependence on the mobile phone today when owning it has become proportional to personal empowerment. It is a silver bullet to the vagaries and vicissitudes of life," he observed.

Earlier, the connectivity was scarce but now the service providers with their impeccable connectivity have "lured the rickshawalas and the millionaire alike to the consortium," Justice Gambhir, who directed the government to constitute an expert panel to examine the potential health hazards posed by the towers and antennas, said.

The mobile operators had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the new policy brought by the MCD increasing the fee of 2000 per cent in 2010 from that of what was in 2000.

PTI / May 31, 2010

India to replace cycle rickshaws with e-ricks

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:08:00 +0000

They plan to introduce 4,000 of the modern pod-shaped rickshaws before this October's Commonwealth Games where ministers aim to showcase New Delhi as a symbol of India's rise from Third World squalor to global economic power.

But despite being the world's second fastest-growing economy, cycle rickshaws continue to ply the capital's pot-holed and bullock-strewn roads, often creating Third World traffic chaos.

The introduction of modern e-ricks will be welcomed throughout the capital where rickshaw drivers are seen as a symbol of the city's most unappealing features. They are regarded as lazy, dishonest and unkempt.

Those selected to drive the new e-ricks will undergo a re-training programme in safe driving and customer care and given new uniforms to match their modern new rickshaws.

The e-rick will be powered by a battery which will last up to eight hours before needing a recharge, and come fitted with satellite navigation devices to guarantee prompt and safe service for passengers. They will travel at speeds of up to 25 kilometres per hour (15mph) and ply new routes linking Metro stations with city landmarks and tourist sites.

Fares will range between 10 and 15 rupees (23p) and be free of charge to pensioners.

The fixed fares are likely to provoke a rebellion among existing rickshaw drivers who usually charge much higher rates than on the official meters.

Many of them say they are forced to charge excessive fares to repay money borrowed from loansharks to buy their rickshaws. Drug abuse is also common along with homelessness – large numbers of drivers sleep in the rickshaws.

A spokesman for the Delhi government said the new rickshaws will be owned by private companies who will hire drivers on salaries. The new private operators will be given advertising rights in return for providing the service.

"We plan to have 4,000 such vehicles on the roads by the time of the Commonwealth Games. If successful, the service will slowly replace all the cycle rickshaws in the city," an official said.

24 May 2010 / Telegraph, UK

JNU celebration of Dantewada massacre of 76 CRPFs

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 02:50:00 +0000

The Jawaharlal Nehru University campus became a battleground on Friday night when members of disparate student organizations clashed over what was seen as an attempt to support the Naxalites and 'celebrate' the massacre of 76 CRPF men.

The National Students Union of India (NSUI), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Pari-shad (ABVP) and Youth for Equality (YFE) came together to allege that a campus function by the JNU Forum Against War on People was used by Maoist supporters to celebrate the Dantewada killings. But the organizers said the meeting was only meant to oppose Operation Green Hunt launched by the government.

The NSUI national general secretary, Shaikh Shahnawaz, recalled: "Members of Democratic Students Union (DSU) and All India Students Association (AISA) organized a meeting to celebrate the killing of 76 CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh. They were even shouting slogans like 'India murdabad, Maovad zindabad'. How can this be allowed inside a Central university?"

To oppose the holding of the function, NSUI and ABVP activists took out a march to the venue where a clash broke out among the students. "How can an administration let anti-India activities take place? Such organizations which celebrate the death of security personnel should be banned, just like SIMI was," said a PhD scholar from Tapti Hostel, Bharat Kumar.

The university administration said no permission had been taken to organise the meeting. Condemning the incident, vice-chancellor B B Bhattacharya said: "By organizing such a meeting at this point of time when the nation has lost 76 precious lives is very insensitive on their part. Moreover, they have not taken any permission, which is a typical JNU attitude of defying rules just for the sake of it. Now that they managed to get the desired provocation, the campus will see a series of ritualistic protests to seek media attention, which is unfortunate. A few students and our security received minor bruises."

Samar Pandey, a member of the JNU Forum Against War On People, said that permission had been taken for the meeting. "NSUI and ABVP students tried to disrupt the meeting against 'Operation Green Hunt' and misbehaved. We took permission and pasted our pamphlets," he said.

Interestingly, this issue has brought together arch-rivals ABVP and NSUI against DSU and AISA while Students Federation of India (SFI) is seen taking a neutral stand though a few of its activists were spotted with the ABVP-NSUI alliance. YFE has been carrying out a candlelight vigil since the Dantewada day to salute the martyrs while NSUI and ABVP will now observe an anti-Naxal week on the campus.

Meanwhile, the assistant dean of students, Sachidanand Sinha, said: "We will not allow peace on campus to be disrupted. We will take suitable action on Monday."

TNN, Apr 11, 2010

Mind the North Delhi Divide

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:21:00 +0000

We see everyday people going from North Delhi, North-East Delhi and North-West Delhi to their offices in Noida and Gurgaon (traveling more than 80 kilometers a day). Most of them traveling from office cabs and reaching at their destination in just 2.5 hours, after a daily struggle with traffic jams and after bearing lot of rush, sound and air pollution. Fortunately, the time sometimes reduces to 2 hours but around 4 hours (to and fro) are spoiled in this stressful journey everyday.

Everybody is working extra and stretching the working hours (few companies have made it mandatory to work 9 hours a day and/or 6 days a week) and the long travel time is adding to stress and physical problems. The same way, nowadays drivers are also working extra hours and not taking proper rest causing increase in road accidents.

Lot of job strugglers and people traveling from buses which take around 3 hours one side to reach their respective target locations. Throughout their travel, they need to be alert from pickpockets. Tired and stressed they reach and then face many challenges at work place. No wonder if I salute them, as they have courage and satisfaction that they will reach home after 3 more hours of exhausted journey.

The world famous unbearable summer season of Delhi. On that, non-AC public transport (also most of the multinational company cabs) adds the sweating and stinking discomfort to daily commuters. Obviously, they don't want it but they have to accept it as they have to earn their livelihoods.

Families waiting for their family members went on work, especially to Noida and Gurgaon, and calling them very often whether they are all right. Also, they get afraid when they hear any news on road accidents and crimes (which is very common on Indian highways and in a country where there is no value of life).

The office going fathers and mothers desperately willing to guide and educate their kids for a brilliant career but they repent as they don't have time for their lovely kids. Unwillingly they have to say-"Sorry kids, I am very busy". A son or a daughter wants to spend some time with his/her old parents and offer them a helping hand whenever they need but, Alas! "No time, dear mom, dear dad, I am really tired".

The kids waiting for their parents when they will come back from office and they will share the beautiful moments of joy with them. But, they sleep and parents regret as the job is more important. So is the traveling. The kids ask, "Papa, Mama, when will you have time for us?"

Still the parents are not allowing the girls to work in night shifts as the office is very far and they are really concerned of their security. For many such parents, it's a compulsion that their daughter(s) go to distant offices to work but they really don't like it by heart.

The people are not doing their household duties & work, leaving everything on Saturday and Sunday when most of the offices are closed. It is not because they are lazy, it is because they need to get up early, go to office which takes 2 hours and come back to home late night after spending 2 more hours.

The individuals and families shifting to Gurgaon and Noida near to their work location, leaving their parents and lifetime property just because the daily commute of at least 4 hours is really killing. Why can't they have a job near the area they live?

The changing lifestyle of the urban youth taking alcohol, drugs, etc. to release the stress or arguing and fighting with everybody due to tension. He wants to study for his bright career but doesn't get time and gets only frustration. He is nice but looks restless; he is active future of India but looks like a tired future; he is part of the family but looks alone.

The world class Metro in Delhi and appreciate Delhi government efforts to minimize the pain of commuting in the capital and around. But still, I feel that it will be time consuming for people in and around North Delhi if they go to Noida or Gurgaon as Metro doesn't start from everybody's home and doesn't end at everybody's office. The only change in such a long travel will be saving of few travel minutes.

The much-hyped development in Delhi as negligible for Commonwealth Games of which the government boasted much more. The Delhi government promised an international class infrastructure for these games but it has become a shame for Indians among international communities. Thanks to the politicians and their worst politics!

The politicians and leaders are spending millions of public money on their worldly splendours and completely ignoring the development of their respective areas. Once elected, they forget often their duties and promises made to the ignorant people. Why is their greed bigger than their duties & responsibilities?

In or around North Delhi, we have all big show rooms, malls, cinema halls, schools, colleges, hospitals, hotels & restaurants, markets, metro and above all, a huge pool of talented and educated people. But, this one third part of Delhi (North Delhi, North-East Delhi and North-West Delhi) doesn't have a nearby place to work in a multinational company. Thousands of people from these areas are commuting daily to Gurgaon and Noida to do the job. Can't they work near their home?

The stars are not appearing clearly in the night. I know it is because of pollution. I question myself how much petrol/diesel is consumed daily and how much pollution is emitted by the vehicles going to distant offices?

A person working in Noida/Gurgaon and living in North Delhi, North-East Delhi and North-West Delhi is facing lot of problems due to very long time spent on commuting from home to office and back. I see that:

- he has no time for his household duties, family, friends, relatives, society and for himself

- he has lot of stress, many physical problems (viz. back pain, head ache, etc.) and sleeping disorders

- he struggles daily with traffic jams and unsocial elements

- he faces lot of sound and air pollution

- he might not return home due to high rate of road accidents in Delhi NCR

- he feels high exertion, tiredness, irritated and frustrated

Finally, I have seen a lot and the way India is going on, it will always remain an unbalanced developing country as it is at present. "Aisey nahi chalega, India". Now, I need a change. It's time to take action. It's time to be aware and alert everyone. It's time to do something good for the society. It's time to remember the great martyrs and follow the right path and right direction. It's time to take responsibility. It's time to change ourselves; it's time to change India.

- An Anonymous Contributor at Delhi.ozg.in

Lack of civic sense in Delhi Metro disabled two young people

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:09:00 +0000

27 March 2010: As the crowd swelled on the platforms of the busy Rajiv Chowk Metro station on Friday night's, which left a young girl and boy disabled. The Rajiv Chowk Metro station arguably showed Delhi at its worst.

According to reports, the accident occurred when the 22-year-old Mehz Abeen lost her balance amidst heavy rush on the platform and fell on the track and lost both her legs. Another person, identified as Birju, who was rushing to board the train also fell on the track and got hit by the train. One of his legs has been amputed.

The Delhi Metro could be blamed for failing to anticipate the rush and failing to lay on enough trains to cater to the crowds. But surely it is the travelling public that is to blame for its abysmal lack civic sense?

Civic sense, or rather the lack of it, is a topic that has been widely discussed and argued in India. Somehow, most Indians do not care much for civic sense. And this attitude is prevalent across all sections of society. People today are so driven towards their personal goals that civic sense as an ethic has become a low priority, almost a nuisance.

Civic sense has dropped to an all-time low in recent years, as is rather obvious from the current state of society.

What is Civic Sense?

Civic sense is nothing but social ethics. It is consideration by the people for the unspoken norms of society. A lot of people assume that civic sense is just about keeping the roads, streets and public property clean. But civic sense is more than that; it has to do with law-abiding, respect for fellow men and maintaining decorum in public places. A lot of foreign countries function in a smooth manner because of the strong civic sense amongst its people.

Why is Civic Sense important?

Separatism, vandalism, intolerance, racism, road rage etc. are all examples of lack of civic sense. People are becoming less and less tolerant of each other, of other's cultures, backgrounds, and other similar traits. India has really diverse people and the need of the hour is general civic sense. It is not uncommon to read or hear about communal friction. Even living in the city has become difficult because people have no consideration whatsoever for fellow city-dwellers.

When civic sense is absent in a society, it leads to a lot of problems. There are spit marks, urine, vulgar graffiti, random garbage and overflowing sewers at every nook and corner of India. No city in whole country has managed to fight the menace. It is easy to pin everything on the government, but people must first question themselves and their own civic sense. Roads are not dirty because nobody cleaned it, but because somebody dirtied it in the first place.

New Delhi Network

http://delhi.ozg.in

The Charm of Churidar in Delhi Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:51:00 +0000

The Churidar Suit, also known as the Churidar Kameez or the Churidar Kurta, is a popular outfit in India that is mostly worn in the Northern India. It is basically a variation of the popular Salwar Suit or Salwar Kameez. Churidars are worn by men too, with long kurtas for that ethnic and casual look. It is coupled with Sherwanis also for festive occasions and for wedding ensembles.

While salwars are loose-fitting trousers worn underneath a kameez, churidars are a much tighter version with accumulated gathers or folds below the knee. In fact, churidar gets its name from these accumulated gathers or folds as they resemble Churis or Bangles.

Since these gathers are most important when it comes to churidars, it is advisable to make churidars in stiff fabrics which has the quality to stand on its own. Cotton is the best option when it comes to churidar.

Silk could also be considered. If gathers are desired, then its best to stay away from flowy fabrics such as georgette or chiffon. Churidar style trousers in these fabrics are also made but they do not possess many or any folds. For a Bollywood ( bollywood.ozg.in ) enthusiast, churidars are almost synonymous with the golden era of the 60s.

It is impossible not to think about style icons such Asha Parekh, Saira Banu, Mumtaz, Sadhna in their ultra-tight fitting churidar suits when talking about this particular outfit. Their outfits were so popular that women in those days copied their each and every style and still continue to do so. Kameez or tops with churidars come in varying lengths. Short kurtas are very much in style these days but long kurtas look even better with churidars.

Our style icons of the 60s coupled skin-tight knee-length kameez or kurta with their equally tight churidars. Knee-length kameez or a longer version , a couple of inches below the knee, looks really flattering with churidars.

It is said that usually churidars look great on short, petite women such as our very own beauties of the 60s, but it looks equally fabulous on tall but well proportioned women, think of modern ladies even though it does tend to make them look a bit taller.

Keywords: Churidar, Salwar, Salwar Kameez, Salwar Kameej, Desi Fashion, Churidaar Suit, Salwar Kurta, Punjabi, Hindi, Kashmiri, Designer Collection, Indian attire, Indian Ethnic Wear,

National Population Register of India

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:22:00 +0000

India is launching what could be its most ambitious national project next month when it will attempt to identify every member of its 1.2 billion population in a national survey.

Starting on April 1 an army of 2 million data collectors will start the National Population Register (NPR), which will build a colossal digital database of fingerprints and other personal data, officials say.

India held its first census in 1872, when it was under British rule. Since then, the exercise, which is carried out every ten years and is essentially a population headcount, has served as a primary source for a variety of statistics on the country's demography, literacy, migration, mortality, economy and culture.

But the 2011 census will be different as it will be preceded by six months of data collection from the length and breadth of the country for an identity-based record, India's registrar-general C. Chandramouli told.

According to authorities, more than two million staff will be involved in the $820 million project. Officials insist the ID program was driven by concerns over national security and over rampant corruption undermining the government's anti-poverty efforts.

The country has endured a number of financial scandals in recent years involving lawmakers, bureaucrats, corporate firms and stock markets, while corruption entrenched in government is seen as a major hurdle to the nation's rise.

Last year, Transparency International ranked India 84th on its corruption perception index for 180 nations.

This is the biggest exercise, I believe, since humankind came into existence

Indian policy makers are aware the problem is pervasive and that its hurting the most disadvantaged the hardest.

"There is a constant refrain in public discourse that much of what the government provides never reaches the intended beneficiaries," prime minister Manmohan Singh told anti-corruption officials last year.

Indians depend on a number of documents to prove their identity, such as ration cards, voter IDs, driving licenses and income tax cards.

Authorities insist that the NPR plan, which involves issuing universal ID cards to all residents by 2013, will help check embezzlement of government funds.

The project, said Chandramouli, was originally envisaged almost a decade ago. But the terror attack on the Indian financial capital of Mumbai in 2008 led authorities to expedite it, with trials on for over a year now in more than 3,000 coastal villages of the country, he added.

In India, illegal immigration from Bangladesh has been an issue of serious concern for over decades. Border guards of both neighboring nations have also set up an institutional framework to discuss illegitimate cross-border movements, according to India's external affairs ministry.

For India, the new ID scheme can also be a potential means to detect illegal aliens living in the country.

Authorities, however, accept reaching out to a billion-plus population of diverse cultures and ethnicities in varying terrains pose monumental challenges.

Data from the country's 2001 census reveal that more than 70 percent of Indians live in villages. The country's homeless number nearly two million and more than one-third of the Indian population cannot read or write, according to census figures.

Of India's 80 million tribal population, more than three million are primitive groups, official data show. Some aboriginal tribes live in isolation, away in forests or on hills.

Indian authorities say the ID project is the first of its kind in the world with no model available to them to emulate.

"Never before have we tried an exercise of that scale. In fact, nowhere in the world has a government tried to count, identify and issue identity cards to more than a billion people. This is the biggest exercise, I believe, since the humankind came into existence," federal home minister P. Chidambaram wrote on an NPR presentation ahead of the project launch.

Planners foresee a rapid rural-to-urban transition ahead in India, Asia's third-largest economy, apparently because of vast employment opportunities in cities as compared to villages in impoverished regions.

In the next two decades, the country's urban population is expected to double, prime minister Singh told urban policy-makers in December last year.

India's massive informal economy or unorganized sector currently employs 94 percent of the nation's workforce, according to the labor ministry. Some analysts say a concrete database of residents can be used to ease burden on cities.

edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/18/india.population.register/

Commonwealth Clean-up at New Delhi

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:51:00 +0000

An inconspicuous report in British paper Independent shows how the Delhi administration in India is sweeping up hundreds of thousands of poorest of the poor -- men, women and children -- from the city's streets and jailing them randomly. I heard they are doing it because of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in October when sports personalities, politicians, dignitaries and most importantly, corporate businesses will come to our once-colonized land and spend their royal time and money to celebrate another round of the so-called global fraternity. Oh yes, some of them will run, jump and play ball too.

And Indian middle class will cheer.

So, in order to make the city look clean, the streets beggar-free, and the country wear a First World image, Delhi and India governments have taken on an urgent mission, with a religious zeal, to pick up the countless, hapless, half-naked, starving Indians -- men, women and children -- and are indefinitely putting them in India's dreaded jails before they're shipped out to somewhere across the country. What will happen to these God-forsaken millions and their lives, livelihoods, social connections and dignities? I'm sure they'll let us know when the celebrities and business houses check out after the Games. Normally, in India, middle class don't query on social connections or education of street children.

We've seen such grotesque acts of violence in India many times over the past, particularly since India graduated from its mediocre non-alignment, "socialist" days to a glitzy-globalized "democracy" days. We've seen numerous, bloody communal riots, barbaric genocide of the poor in the name of religion and caste, and international terrorism. We've also seen a massive change of government with transition of power from a so-called right wing dark force to a so-called centrist liberal enlightened. The new leaders of India are not the zealots and bigots, but internationally known economists and academics, United Nations celebrities, and of course, the Gandhi Dynasty -- I'm sure they have certain qualifications too.

In 2002, when a barbaric carnage took place in Gandhi's state of Gujarat when thousands of poor Muslims were slaughtered by a bigoted chief minister and his bigoted administration, there was international uproar: the New York Times, BBC, CNN, PBS, NPR and all other big-name media organizations gave us the ignorant a thorough coverage and insider information on the ghastly violence. In 2008, when a group of Pakistan-based terrorists snuck in to the five-star Taj International in the Indian Wall Street city of Mumbai and killed hundreds of hotel residents, there was another series of media uproar; CNN provided unprecedented, round-the-clock, "ticker-tape" coverage of the terrorism. We were delighted to see the extent of responsibility corporate media displaying to unearth major events happening on the other side of the world.

I'll make it short. This time around, however, when another major act of violence is happening in the capital of West-blessed India, I see no outrage -- barring a few small news blips here and there -- either by the mighty human rights groups and their liberal followers, or by the mighty media that spent so much of their precious time and money to uncover Gujarat or Mumbai. I'm sad and disappointed, but not truly surprised.

The liberal outrage -- either of the international rights and justice groups or of corporate media -- is selective, and media keeps manufacturing peoples' consent for or against a social, political or economic event. If the Gujarat (or the 1992 Babri Mosque) carnage is ghastly (and they are), then the Delhi clean-up of the begging destitute is equally grotesque. In the former, poor people die immediately; in the latter, poor people die a slow but sure death because of police torture, forced displacement, starvation, hunger, poverty and depression. In case of the latter, women and children suffer the most. In both cases, the brutality leaves lifelong, negative impacts on the surviving children who'd spare no time to act back against the repressive system with their own acts of violence.

I hope ordinary people both in India and the West (and perhaps some conscientious media people) pick up on this new fascism of the India government, and force them to stop this state-sponsored violence and brutality.

Again, I'm deeply troubled -- to see the inaction and lack of outrage, especially of the elite liberal that screamed their lungs off before. You can't have a double standard to denounce hate.

Thank you for reading my quickly drafted note.

Partha Banerjee

Brooklyn, New York

UK suspends Indian student visa applications

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:19:00 +0000

In the last three months of last year, there were 13,500 applications from northern India alone, compared with 1,800 in the same period of 2008.

British officials say the system has been overwhelmed and there are concerns that many cases are not genuine.

Unscrupulous offers of visas as a way of settling in the UK are not uncommon.

The British high commissioner in Delhi, Sir Richard Stagg, said abuse of the system would not be allowed to happen.

'Tough action' -

While extra checks take place, visa applications have been temporarily suspended - a decision which will be reviewed at the end of February.

Jeremy Oppenheim, of the UK Border Agency, said: "The points-based system gives us the flexibility to act to maintain the integrity of the visa system, whilst processing legitimate applications fairly, thoroughly and as quickly as possible.

"We continually check and monitor all student applications and education providers to ensure that they meet the required standards.

"The genuine students who want to come over for the universities they're going to suffer as a result and they won't be able to get here in time for their courses"

Harjap Singh Bhangal "We will take tough action against those who attempt to abuse the system."

The director of the legal advice firm, London Immigration Advice and Appeal Services, Harjap Singh Bhangal, says a temporary suspension will prevent illegal immigration, but it will also adversely affect genuine students.

He told the BBC: "It's going to create a panic and we don't know when this suspension is going to be lifted. I believe it's for one month initially but it could run into several months.

"The problem that we're going to have is that the genuine students who want to come over for the universities they're going to suffer as a result and they won't be able to get here in time for their courses."

India is currently the UK's biggest visa operation in the world.

More than 500,000 Indians visit the UK every year, among them tens of thousands of students.

BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/8489349.stm

Key witness in Adivasi killings become news materials

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:32:00 +0000

Room No. 2016 at the New Private Ward of All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here is playing host to a very special patient.

Sodi Sambho, who was brought to the Institute from Gompad village in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh five days ago, is set to undergo surgery for a bullet wound in her leg this Saturday. But what makes her special is that she is a key witness in a petition filed in the Supreme Court which alleges that security forces fired upon and killed nine Adivasis in a "sanitisation operation" in her village this past October 1. After she was detained on her way to Delhi, the Supreme Court directed the Chhattisgarh police not to prevent her from coming to the Capital for treatment.

Human rights activists and her lawyer, Colin Gonsalves, have expressed concern over the matter and alleged that strict police surveillance is being maintained over her movement and that she is being pressurised to change her statement. They allege she is under de facto police custody or surveillance and is not free to meet activists or journalists.

An attempt by this reporter to interact with her in her ward on Friday was thwarted by three men who refused to identify themselves and claimed to be her "well-wishers". One of them said he was a fellow-Adivasi from her village and had accompanied her to Delhi for her treatment. The second man, a non-Adivasi, claimed to be a "doctor" from outside Delhi but subsequently contradicted himself saying he was not a medical practitioner.

He said he already knew the Adivasi accompanying Ms. Sambho and decided to offer whatever help he could. The third non-Adivasi man, however, did not reveal anything about himself. Tall and well-built, he had a mop of close-cropped hair.

Though the two non-Adivasi men lacked any legal or professional authority to interfere in the work of a journalist, they denied The Hindu permission to directly speak with Ms. Sambho on the ground that she only understood Gondi. And one of them pounced on the photographer who was accompanying this reporter when he began clicking photographs.

One of the "well-wishers" threatened to "inform the police" and file a legal complaint if Ms. Sambho's picture, or a story about her, was published. He then forced the photographer to hand over the camera while demanding to see the photo identity cards. In the meantime, the third unidentified man who had just entered the room turned aggressive, took away the camera and deleted the pictures with practised ease. (As it turned out later, the photographer was able to retrieve and resurrect the pictures with the help of a special software embedded in the camera).

After several attempts, the head "well-wisher" agreed to let this reporter question the other Adivasi, who he said was the only person who could speak Hindi and Gondi. However, instead of conveying the queries to Ms. Sambho, he and the other unidentified man insisted on answering them directly without asking her.

The Adivasi man stated that they had the full support of the police and the hospital administration in Ms. Sambho's treatment. He denied any police personnel had accompanied her to Delhi or were monitoring her movement to pressurise her. "The Maoists were behind the attack in which Sambho was injured," he claimed.

As the "interview" proceeded, one of the "well-wishers" lost his temper, blaming this reporter for "disturbing the patient before her surgery".

For the record, however, the AIIMS doctors themselves never objected to The Hindu's attempt to meet Ms. Sambho.

January 16, 2010 / The Hindu

Delhi City Rules set to fight night noise

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:21:00 +0000

Jan. 14 / Telegraph: The Centre has changed rules to prohibit or regulate noise from myriad sources, including the modern-day menace of construction and blowing horns at night.

Loud noise from the neighbour's music system and parties is also covered by the rules notified this week by the environment and forest ministry.

The rules ban the use of vehicle horns, sound-emitting firecrackers, sound-emitting equipment and noisy construction equipment in residential areas at night.

Night-time has been specifically defined as 10pm to 6am, removing an ambiguity that allowed violators a loophole.

A person driving home after 10pm who honks for an apartment or a house gate to be opened will be violating the rules which will for the first time also cover sound-emitting systems and construction equipment.

Court-imposed restrictions were already in place but the notification means the rules are now in the realm of automatic policing. Local police now have no excuse for inaction if someone complains or they come to know of a violation on their own.

"This is an important measure to make our cities less noisy, our nights less noisy, our public places less noisy," environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh said.

The government had first developed the noise pollution (regulation and control) rules in 2000, and set upper limits for permissible ambient noise levels in various zones. But current restrictions on noise levels have primarily relied on orders passed by the Supreme Court.

"Now that we've incorporated the restrictions on noise levels in the noise pollution control rules, it will be easier for authorities to take action against violations," said an official in the ministry.

Prosecution and conviction under the rules may lead to a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh and imprisonment of up to seven years, depending on the gravity of the violation.

An occupant of a private place playing a music system will have to restrict its volume so that its noise level in a nextdoor neighbour's house does not exceed 5 decibels more than the ambient noise level there.

The rules also specify that the noise at the periphery of a public place such as a hotel or a stadium should not rise above 10dB of the ambient noise beyond its periphery.

Vehicle horns, sound-emitting and construction equipment and loud firecrackers will be banned at all times —through the day and night — around sensitive silence zones such as areas around hospitals and educational institutions.

Ramesh announced that the environment ministry would set up noise monitoring networks in Calcutta, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow by September.

Ten automatic noise monitoring stations in each of these cities would record ambient noise levels 24 hours a day to create noise maps for each city.

Australia Gurdwara set on fire

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:20:00 +0000

Jan. 14 (PTI): Unidentified persons yesterday set fire to an under-construction building on the premises of a gurdwara in Melbourne.

Australian police today said the incident was a "deliberate" act and the possibility of arsonists using Molotov cocktails was being probed.

The Sikh community in Australia called the attack on the partially built Nanksar Thath Gurdwara in Lynbrook area "race-related" and "an attack on Indians".

Gurdwara elder Satnam Singh was quoted by The Australian daily as saying: "This is an attack on religion. This is a God house, everybody who comes here prays to God."

When asked whether he believed the attack was racially motivated, Singh said: "Yes, (it is an) attack on Indians."

Detective senior constable Paul Stow, in charge of the investigation, said the police believed that the fire had been "deliberately lit".

However, Stow said: "At this stage there is nothing to suggest it is (race-related) other than the fact that it happened to a temple."

Initially, the police had suspected that a group of teens had lit "a couple of small fires" in a garbage heap in the shrine.

In New Delhi, an external affairs ministry spokesperson said India had taken up the incident with Australia.

"Our consulate in Melbourne is in the process of ascertaining details from the gurdwara management committee and is also following up on the incident with Australian authorities," the spokesperson said.

Indian deputy high commissioner V.K. Sharma was quoted as saying "we have no comment to make" on the issue.

Members of the local Sikh community visited the gurdwara yesterday to survey the damage.

The Australian quoted a worshipper, who asked not to be named, as saying he was informed by the police that three Molotov cocktails and a can containing petrol were found inside the shrine.

Constable Stow said: "A number of items were located to suggest accelerant was used."

A police spokesperson last night said the investigators were keeping an open mind. "We can't discount anything," she said.

Darshan Singh, the president of the Sri Guru Nanak Satsang temple in Blackburn, said this was the second attack on a gurdwara in recent weeks and the community was "very concerned and very worried".

"The situation is not improving," he said, without giving details of the first incident.

"These (attacks) are race-related. I do not believe the recent murders (of two Indians) are. That can happen to anyone but this was definitely an effort that is race-related," Darshan Singh was quoted by The Age daily as saying

He said that following yesterday's fire, he had contacted Nunawading police and requested that security measures be taken to protect the Blackburn shrine.

Another Sikh community member and editor of an ethnic newspaper, Tony Singh, said: "Such an incident was shocking and upsetting but the community would not lose its patience.

"What happened is not right but we are not going to jump to a conclusion. We will wait till all the facts are revealed," he said, urging the community to maintain calm.

"The Sikh community here is being very patient," said Jag Shergill, the Victorian multicultural commissioner. "We will wait for all facts to come out."

"Indians back home and specially the Indian media need to learn to take a step back and analyse the situation with a cool mind. Don't get outraged and wait for the facts to be out," Shergill said.

The attack on the gurdwara came amid a string of assaults on Indians in Australia, mostly in Melbourne. Nitin Garg, a 21-year-old student, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in Melbourne.

Another Indian youth, Ranjodh Singh, was killed in New South Wales last month.

Nearly 100 attacks on Indians were reported in Australia in 2009 against 17 in 2008.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) can vote from next general election: PM

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:27:00 +0000

Indians residing overseas will get a chance to exercise their franchise from the next general elections, said Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on Friday.

Addressing the Indian Diaspora at the Eight edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Prime Minister said: "He recognises the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise and to have a say in who governs India. He urged them to return home to join politics and public life".

Seeking the active involvement of the Indian Diaspora in accelerating the country's economic and social development, Manmohan Singh asked the second generation of the Diaspora to connect with the ancestral country.

The Prime Minister said the government has been able to expand access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities to a vast majority of the population.

Noting that India is one of the top investment destinations with expanding economic opportunities everywhere, Singh asked the overseas Indians to consider long-term investments.

He said Foreign Direct Investment in India by overseas Indians is low and far short of potential.

The Prime Minister said Indian industry is rapidly developing a global orientation with many of its companies transforming themselves into multinational corporations with global brand names.

He hoped that the newly established Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre will become an effective hub for promoting two-way interaction between the overseas Indian community and local institutions.

The Prime Minister said India's economy had fared well despite the unprecedented global financial crisis and recorded 7 per cent growth this year.

He said the country will return to sustained annual growth rate of 9-10 per cent in a couple of years.

The Prime Minister said that India is investing much more in building skilled manpower and would emerge as the largest supplier of the trained manpower.

The three-day event was inaugurated by Minister for Overseas Affairs Vyalar Ravi on Thursday. President Pratibha Patil will deliver her valedictory address on January nine.

The theme of this year's event is "Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward".

Nearly 1,500 delegates from over 50 countries including top businessmen, economists, entrepreneurs and scientists are participating in the event which will also see participation of 15 chief ministers and several Union ministers.

Lord Khalid Hameed of Hampstead is chief guest at what is formally called the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Indian ministers scheduled to attend the three-day event include External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Road Transport Minister, Kamal Nath, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Key speakers from abroad include Canada's Government Services Minister Harinder Takhar, Trinidad and Tobago's Minister in Prime Minister's Office Lenny K. Saith, Singapore's Community Development Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Mauritius Education Minister Vasant K. Bunwaree.

The event, which coincides with the date (9 January) on which Mahatma Gandhi returned to his native land from South Africa, has been organized every year since 2003, and is being organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The sexual perversity of Indian officers

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:14:00 +0000

SPS Rathore, a top police officer as sexual tormentor and killer of a young student; ND Tiwari, Governor of Andhra Pradesh who was caught on the camera in his sleazy sexual exploits, and forced to resign on 'Moral Grounds' - as the Congress party would have it, and Dinakaran, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, involved in another scandal, but continues to be fortified, using among other things, the anti-Dalit bogey of Udit Raj, will continue to haunt Indian democracy and its psyche for a long time.

The sexual perversity of SPS Rathore, former police officer convicted of molesting Ruchika Girhotra after nearly two decades of the inhuman event, which caused her suicide and snuffed out a young life of playful innocence must have shaken all people of any conscience. It has raised more questions about the credibility and integrity of our law and order system and of men occupying responsible positions in India's governance's structures.

While, the debate on the issue anchored by Barkha Dutt on the NDTV channel was moving, serious and comprehensive, what of next, and how do we protect our more vulnerable children from the poacher-turned game-keepers, are serious questions which have no answers yet.

Though different yet related are the sexual exploits of Andhra Pradesh Governor, ND Tiwari [in Congress-Gandhi cap?], which going by reports have been going on for several years. That raises larger questions about what goes on in the Raj Bhavans, whether they are dens of sleaze, and the relevance of gubernatorial positions in the country. Should a democracy where about half the population are illiterate, homeless, and struggling to eke out a living, be allowed to waste its scarce resources on them who seem to make no positive contribution to the nation calls for a fresh look at our Constitutional provisions.

The claim of the Congress party that Tiwari resigned on "moral grounds" is a national joke! He resigned on "immoral grounds" as a person of depravity and debasement. One is not sure if he was caught on the camera with his Pyjamas and depressing things down and in what sort of perverted acts. The nation has a right to know what went on in the Raj Bhavan and the media should show it to the viewers so that they will know what kind of debased democracy we are living in. Tiwari should also be prosecuted for misusing his power and position and should return all the perks he enjoyed as Governor to the national exchequer.

The electronic media will do well to expose his exploits, contempt of court or not, which again is a fig-leaf and big national joke.

Though not related to sex as yet, Justice Dinakaran's scandal of corruption is also deeply immoral and anti-social. When hapless persons are picked up in thousands and harassed by the police and the judiciary on flimsy grounds, it is a national shame that this person continues to be fortified. Impeachment is no answer, as it has never worked and is not likely to work in India. He should be treated like any other criminal and prosecuted. That the scandal against him is "anti-Dalit" is a bogey. He crossed the Dalit Rubicon several years ago, and cannot be treated as a Dalit, in any sense of the term. In this context one might also probe who is funding Udit Raj, a self-proclaimed Dalit upstart.

Prof P Radhakrishnan

The case related to Sri SPS Rathode, the ex Haryana DGP is one that has brought the IPS service again to the forefront of public imagination. While it is a fact that the public perception of police as an organization is not very good (for various assignable and non-assignable reasons), that of the IPS as the premier service has so far been decently high. But unfortunately in the recent few years, there have been many such infamous incidents of high-profile nature where senior officers of this Service have been found to be the perpetrators of the worst forms of crime.

The latest in this is certainly the Ruchika case where it is alleged that this 14 year old girl was forced to suicide because of Sri Rathode, the then IGP. What is even more alarming is the fact that it is being claimed that once this now deceased girl made allegations against Mr Rathode, the police officer used all means of personal and departmental power and influence to ruin the family members of Ruchika, including registering many cases against her brother and sending him to jail.

An interesting and noteworthy fact here is that even the then DGP Sri RR Singh has come out in the open to speak against a member of his own fraternity as has an IAS officer, the then Home secretary.

The way the media has taken up the issue and the way the fact that Sri Rathode was an IPS officer who supposedly misused his position, is being highlighted in the media has certainly added one more black spot to the service and to the police department as a whole. One can only hope that justice will prevail at the earliest.

Amitabh Thakur, IPS

UPSC increases Civil Services intake from 580 to 965

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:51:00 +0000

With the government deciding to recruit more IPS officers to meet growing security needs, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has substantially increased the total intake into the Civil Services from 580 in 2009 to 965 in 2010 -- an increase of 385 seats.

Though the total vacancies (965) to be filled through the 2010 Civil Services Examination (CSE) will be meant for all 24 services, including IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS and others, the police services will see a major jump in intake. The police services include IPS and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, and Puducherry services.

The decision on increased intake was announced by UPSC through its notification for the CSE-2010 on Saturday.

In fact, home minister P Chidambaram had in November last year announced the decision "to increase the annual batch size of IPS officers from 130 to 150".

As Chidambaram said, even the batch of 2009 - which has just taken its CSE (Main) - will see a few more IPS officers when the final result is announced sometime in May.

In 2008, UPSC had taken 791 candidates, including 120 in IAS, 26 in IFS and 130 in IPS.

"Since the UPSC notification clearly says that the number of vacancies is liable to alteration, it can easily induct 150 IPS officers through the 2009 CSE," said an official.

According to the notification, the Preliminary Examination of the CSE for recruitment to the 24 services will be held on May 23. "The number of vacancies to be filled on the results of the examination is expected to be approximately 965," it said, adding the number of vacancies is liable to alteration.

The decision to increase the intake of IPS officers was taken on the basis of the recommendation of a one-man committee headed by retired IPS officer Kamal Kumar. The report, submitted on October 15 last year, confirmed the home ministry's earlier concerns that there was grave neglect in determining the number of candidates to be recruited to IPS in the CSE during the four-year period 1999-2002.

"As against the number of 85, only 36 candidates were recruited each year, resulting in a shortfall of 49 candidates a year or a total shortfall of 196 candidates," said an official.

The report had recommended that the annual recruitment between 2009-10 and 2019-20 be fixed at 130 and that a Limited Competitive Examination may also be conducted for 7 years to recruit an additional 448 candidates. The ministry had, however, subsequently decided to increase the intake from 130 to 150 to meet the shortfall.

TNN 4 January 2010

UK and US protest new Indian visa rules, NRIs affected

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:12:00 +0000

Britain and the US have lodged a diplomatic protest with India after the government in Delhi introduced rules barring tourists from returning to the country within two months of any visit.

The new visa rules, which also apply to other foreign nationals, are apparently a reaction to the arrest in the US of a Mumbai terror suspect, David Coleman Headley, who had entered India on a multiple-entry visa.

The British high commission in Delhi has urged the Indian government to rethink the policy, which is expected to hit tourists planning to use India as a base for touring the region.

It will also be a blow to thousands of Britons living in India on long-term tourist visas. Many foreigners living in India prefer to use tourist visas rather than go through the complicated process of trying to secure a visa that would grant them the right to residency.

Some apply for six-month tourist visas and then travel to nearby countries, such as Nepal, to renew them. Those on longer-term tourist visas ‑ for five or 10 years ‑ are also required to leave the country every 180 days and tend to fly out for a couple of days before returning. Under the new rules, that would no longer be an option.

Posts on internet travel forums suggest that some British tourists have already fallen foul of the rules and have found themselves stranded and unable to return to India after visiting neighbouring countries.

On the IndiaMike forum one poster, from London, described how he had been renting an apartment in Goa and had travelled to Nepal to apply for a new six-month tourist visa, only to be informed that he would not be allowed back in for two months.

"This is insane," he wrote. "How can you introduce a rule without any prior warning and let ppl [sic] make plans and pay for flights etc and mess everything up for them … I now have no option but to get a transit visa and leg it back to Goa, get my stuff and leave … all this achieves is me and 1000's of others having to cut their plans short and spend none of that cash into the system … Well done!!"

A spokesman for the British high commission said the high commissioner had written to protest. "We have discussed this matter with the government of India. As yet there is no real clarity over the details of the proposals or of how they might be implemented. We understand that the Indian government is reconsidering its plans. We shall keep a close eye on this as it develops because it has the potential to impact on a large number of British nationals."

Details of the plans are yet to be published but reports in India suggested that people of Indian origin living in the UK will also be caught up in the rule change.

Many British passport holders with Indian origins use tourist visas to visit relatives in India rather than tackling the bureaucratic minefield involved in applying for a Person of Indian Origin card, which would allow them entry into the country. They will also be subject to the no return for two months rule.

The Indian government has apparently sought to defuse the row by giving consular officials the power to grant exemptions in exceptional cases, although there is as yet no clarity on how that might be applied.

British diplomatic sources also suggested the changes had alarmed some Indian companies with nationals working overseas, who feared that their business interests might be affected if other countries introduced reciprocal arrangements.

The decision, by India's home ministry, comes after officials reviewed the case of Headley, who is under arrest in the US accused of scouting targets for terrorist attacks, including the Mumbai attacks last year which left 166 people dead.

He was found to have used a multiple entry business visa to make nine trips to India, during which time he is alleged to have visited a number of potential targets.

India has already cracked down on business visas this year, informing thousands of holders that they must return to their home countries and prove that they meet much stricter criteria before new visas will be issued.

Ironically, the clampdown comes as the country attempts to boost its tourism industry. Last week the home minister, P Chidambaram, announced the trial introduction of a visa on arrival scheme for citizens of Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Finland and said a country the size of India should be attracting at least 50 million visitors a year. About five million tourists visit India every year, including an estimated three quarters of a million Britons.

A final draft of the visa regulations is expected to be issued next month but in the meantime a number of embassies in India have notified their citizens of the changes. The Indian embassy in Berlin has also posted the rule on its website, noting that "a minimum gap of two months is mandatory between visits as tourists to India".

The introduction of the new system coincides with a visit to India by the business secretary, Lord Mandelson, who has been trying to calm Indian concerns over changes to Britain's immigration rules.

Monday 21 December 2009 / Guardian, UK

Legalize prostitution if you can't curb it: Supreme Court to Govt

noreply@blogger.com (geeks) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre whether it could legalize prostitution if it wasn't possible to curb it.

"When you say it is the world's oldest profession and when you are not able to curb it by laws, why don't you legalize it? You can then monitor the trade, rehabilitate and provide medical aid to those involved," Justices Dalveer Bhandari and AK Patnaik told Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam.

The court said legalizing sex trade would be a better option to avoid trafficking of women and pointed out that nowhere in the world was prostitution curbed by punitive measures.

Subramaniam said he would look into the suggestion. "They (sex workers) have been operating in one way or the other and nowhere in the world have they been able to curb it by legislation. In some cases, they (the trade) is carried out in a sophisticated manner. So, why don't you legalize it?" the judges asked.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGOs Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Childline complaining about large-scale child trafficking in the country and seeking directives to contain it.

The apex court also wondered why 37% of the country's population continues to reel under below poverty line at a time when then there is much talk of growing GDP rate in the country.

The bench said child trafficking and sex trade were flourishing because of poverty which needs to be tackled.

"We are taking about growing GDP. I do not know what is the development we are all talking about when the number of BPL families is at 37% which has increased from 30%.

"Growth of GDP does not mean some four or five families have developed. If this is the state of development, we can't help it," the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing to January 5.

The contention of the petitioner is that a number of minor children, particularly girls and those of tender age, are being pushed into sex trade.

Childline counsel Nandita Rao alleged several minor girls are being sexually exploited by circus owners and there has to be adequate legal framework to prevent such exploitation.

Responding to her suggestion, the Solicitor General told the bench that government was contemplating a legislation to declare circus as a "hazardous industry" to prevent abuse of child labourers.

PTI / 10 December 2009