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Three crude bombs seized in Vadodara
Vadodara, Oct 8 (PTI) Police seized three crude bombs and gun powder from Hatikhana area of the city today, a top police official said.
Police are investigating the source of the bombs, which were later defused, City Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana told PTI.
Residents had claimed that they had heard an explosion in the Hatikhana area, on which a police team was sent to verify whether a blast had taken place or not, Asthana added. PTI
India sees huge jump in FDI inflows despite global woes
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Amidst global financial crisis, India's foreign direct investment saw an impressive jump of 124 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal, while the FDI flows in August went up by huge 180 per cent.
The country received FDI of 14.6 billion dollar during April-August 2008 against 6.5 billion dollar a year ago.
"This (increase in FDI) must be seen in the context of the global economic situation," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath told reporters while releasing the FDI data.
He said that the target for the current fiscal would be met despite a difficult financial environment in the world. The FDI target for 2008-09 is 35 billion dollar, while the actual inflows during the previous year were 24.57 billion dollar.
In August alone, India's FDI was 2.32 billion dollar, a rise of 180 per cent over the corresponding month last year.
The manufacturing sector received 5 billion dollar during April-August period, showing a rise of 41 per cent over inflows in the year ago period. PTI
No politics involved in shift of Nano plant to Gujarat: Govt
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The Centre today said there was "no politics" in Tata's move to shift the Nano car plant to Gujarat, with Corporate Affairs Minister Prem Chand Gupta dubbing the development as a "corporate decision." At the same time, Gupta, a senior leader of Lalu Prasad's RJD, told PTI in an interaction that had his party been ruling Bihar, it would have offered land for construction of the Rs one lakh car plant.
"This (shifting to Gujarat) was a corporate decision... This has nothing to do with who offered the land (and) who did not offer. It is all corporate decision," he said.
He was replying to a query if shifting of Nano plant to Gujarat would boost the image of Bharatiya Janata Party leader and state Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
After announcing the entry into Gujarat, Ratan Tata had said yesterday that it was unfortunate that many national political parties supported Mamata Banerjee because of their differences with the ruling parties in West Bengal.
Asserting that there was no politics involved, Gupta said: "These are the issues which are localised. Many governments offered them land. Haryana... Andhra Pradesh offered. We would have offered also, had our government been in Bihar." Asked for comments on the Congress governments in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana offering land to Tatas for the project, even though some of its leaders had wanted Tatas to be more accommodative, he reiterated it was a corporate decision.
"I cannot say so...This is a corporate decision. There is no politics in this," Gupta said.
Yesterday, Congress had also expressed similar views saying it was a corporate decision and not an endorsement of Modi's style of governance. PTI
PM to flag off first train in Kashmir Valley
Srinagar, Oct 8 (PTI) The decades old dream of Kashmiris will come true this Saturday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flags off the first train connecting Srinagar to central Kashmir during his two-day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources said the Prime Minister will flag off the first train from Nowgam (the station for Srinagar) to Budgam on Saturday.
The Prime Minister will board DMU (diesel multiple unit) train from Nowgam station as a symbolic gesture, the sources said.
Though it is a short distance between the two stations, it will be for the first time that Kashmiris will see a train running in the valley.
The inauguration of this train service on Saturday was a part of the plan to connect Baramulla (north kashmir) to Qazigund (south Kashmir). However, connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country still remains a distant dream.
The commercial use of the train will take some time to start, the sources said.
The Srinagar railway station is a stunning three-storeyed building which has beautifully carved wooden panelling and chandeliers and is surrounded by landscaped gardens.
During the function, the Prime Minister will be addressing people and was also likely to make some announcements regarding the Indo-Pak ties.
His visit coincides with the visit of a business delegation from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who will be in the state from tomorrow for a week to tie up with businessmen from Kashmir as well as in Jammu.
The Prime Minister, who will be arriving at Udhampur on Friday, will first inaugurate the 450 MW Baglihar hydroelectric project in Doda region. PTI
Kumble inching closer to retirement
Sutram Suresh
Bangalore, Oct 8 (PTI) A day after another India star Sourav Ganguly announced his retirement, skipper Anil Kumble today inched closer to calling it a day, probably within a year.
The spin wizard, the country's most successful Test bowler with 616 wickets, announced that when he leads the Indian team in tomorrow's Test match against Australia, it would be the last time he would play a Test at his home ground here. "Certainly, this is my last Test match in Bangalore," he said.
Bangalore is not scheduled to host any Test matches at least till November 2009 when Sri Lanka tours India. The venues for the three Tests against the Lankans have not yet been decided which means that the earliest next Test here would not be before November-December 2009.
By November-December 2009, Kumble would be in his 39th year and is highly unlikely to be playing Test cricket. However, he may play in the two-Test series against England in November-December this year during which Bangalore will not be a venue.
Asked specifically about his retirement plans at the pre-match press conference, Kumble said he would make an announcement as and when he decides to retire from international cricket.
"I will let you know when my last series is, I am someone who will take a call. At this moment, I don't want to say yes or no. I think let's stop all this for now. Let the players decide when they need to go. Thank you so much," a furious Kumble said. PTI
Bhajji should apologise, says Akal Takht
Amritsar, Oct 8 (PTI) Taking serious exception to Harbhajan Singh's Ravana act during a television dance reality show, the Akal Takht has demanded a public apology from the maverick cricketer.
"To wear a tilak (vermilion) on the forehead and to dress like Ravana and dance with a woman publicly is highly disgusting. The act was shown on several TV channels and the Sikh community can never tolerate such behaviour," Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh said.
Singh was referring to the 28-year-old's performance with television actress Mona Singh during the show 'Ek Khiladi, Ek Hasina' aired this week.
The Jathedar claimed that Harbhajan's act had hurt the sentiments of Sikh community and he should come out with an apology while respecting the tenets of Sikhism.
"So far, no one has lodged a written complaint with the Akal Takht However, anyone can file a complaint and suitable action against the cricketer can be initiated," he said.
The cleric said that since Harbhajan is not a baptized Sikh, he would not be summoned by the Akal Takht, the temporal body of Sikhs.
Randhawa eyes hat-trick, Indian Open tees off tomorrow
Poonam Mehra
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Jyoti Randhawa's quest for a hat-trick of titles comes in for some serious challenge from Swede Daniel Chopra, a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour, and in-form compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh when the 45th Indian Open tees off at the Delhi Golf Club here tomorrow.
If he goes on to win the USD one-million Asian Tour event for a third successive time, Randhawa will become the most successful golfer in Indian Open's history bettering Australian legend Peter Thomson, who clinched the title thrice (1964, 1966 and 1976).
And the 36-year-old golfer's build-up for the event has been just perfect as he successfully defended his PGTI DLF Masters crown last month against a strong field that boasted of the likes of Shiv Kapur, who will give the Indian Open a miss to play in the European Tour.
Randhawa's dominance, however, will be in for a severe test this time not just from Chopra and Jeev but also from the six former champions who are set to tee off alongside him at the DGC, including Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant (2005) and Singapore's Mardan Mamat (2004).
Although in indifferent form off-late, Chopra comes to the event riding high on his two PGA Tour triumphs - the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii at the start of this year and the Ginn sur Mer Classic at Tesoro last season. PTI
12 Germans, 2 Australians among 18 killed in Nepal air crash
Kathmandu, Oct 8 (PTI) Eighteen passengers including twelve German and two Australian tourists were killed when a small Nepalese private airliner crashed early this morning near the world's highest peak Mt Everest.
The twin engined Otter aircraft of the Yeti airlines hit the Lukla airport boundary fence while approaching for landing in bad weather conditions at 7.35 am (local time).
The dead bodies of the passengers are being brought to Kathmandu this afternoon and will be handed over to the respective embassies, Yeti Airlines sources said.
Surendra Kunwar, the captain of the ill fated aircraft, the lone survivor of the crash, was airlifted to Kathmandu after recieving emergency treatment at the local hospital. The piliot is stated to be out of danger, according to an official of the Airlines.
The co-pilot, an air-hostess, two Nepalese trekking guides and 14 foreign tourists were killed on the spot as the ill-fated aircraft burst into flames seconds after landing at the airstrip which has a sloping runway.
The low visibility due to fog in the mountainous airport was stated to be the reason behind the accident, the officials said.
The air-plane with 19 passengers flew from Kathmandu at 6.50 in the morning crashed at Lukla while it was preparing to land as the pilot could not locate the airport due to low visibility.
Lukla is near the Mt. Everest base camp and is also the famous trekking destination, which attract thousands of tourists every year.
The weather of Lukla airport is changing all the time and is unpredictable and the mountainous airport is also one of the most difficult airports for take off and landing, according to officials. PTI
Obama vows to "kill" Osama; outshines McCain again
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Oct 8 (PTI) In a sharp attack on Pakistan's inability to curb terrorism, Democratic White House nominee Barack Obama today clashed with his Republican rival John McCain over the issue and stumped him on Bush administration's "failed" policies on Iraq and economy, edging past the Vietnam war veteran in yet another free-flowing debate.
"We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaeda, that has to be our biggest national security priority," 47-year-old Obama said during the testy 90-minute debate, clearly showing his determination to act on his promise of hot pursuit of militants in Pakistan, a stand often criticised by McCain and that has raised hackles in Islamabad.
"If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act and we will take them out," the Illinois Senator said during the second in a series of three debates between the Presidential hopefuls.
Obama tried to tie his Republican rival to President George W Bush's "failed" policies, while McCain pushed his image as a "consistent reformer" at the townhouse style standoff at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Responding to a question whether the US should respect Pakistani sovereignty and not pursue terrorists who maintain bases there, Obama said: "It's a terrific question and we have a difficult situation in Pakistan." Obama, who had outshined 71-year-old McCain in the September 26 debate as well, said he believed the US had to change its policies on Pakistan.
"I do believe that we have to change our policies with Pakistan. We can't cuddle, as we did, a dictator, give him billions of dollars and then he's making peace treaties with the Taliban and militants," Obama said, referring to former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. PTI
Malaysian PM to step down in March
Jaishree Balasubramanian
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 8 (PTI) Amid mounting pressure to quit following the dismal performance of the ruling coalition in general elections, embattled Malaysian Premier Abdullah Badawi today said he will step down in March and hand over power to his deputy Najib Razak.
68-year-old Abdullah told leaders of the 13 component parties of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that he would not contest the post of the President of his United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) in March next year.
Under the BN system, the President of UMNO, the largest component of the ruling coalition that comprises Malays, is also the Prime Minister and BN Chairman. Other main parties in the BN include the Malaysian Chinese Association and Malaysian Indian Congress.
The Prime Minister, who made the announcement during a supreme council meeting of the BN here, later told reporters that he would step down as Prime Minister in March, four years before the expiry of his term.
"I will hand over power to... Najib after he wins the election at the general assembly. I am sure he will win," he said.
Abdullah had been under intense pressure from the opponents in the BN to resign following the ruling coalition's dismal performance in general elections in March this year. The opposition parties grew stronger, winning one third of Parliament seats and control of five of the 13 states.
However, scores of Abdullah's supporters have urged him to continue at least till 2010 when he had promised to hand over the reins of government to Najib. PTI
Military ops against LTTE not directed against Tamils: Lanka
T V Sriram
Colombo, Oct 8 (PTI) Apparently concerned over the criticism by New Delhi and major political parties in Tamil Nadu of its ongoing operations against LTTE, Sri Lanka has said that marginalisation of Tiger rebels should not be seen as a drive against Tamils.
Asserting that the Lankan military operations in the Tamil-dominated northern areas were aimed at freeing the region from the "fascist and dictatorial control of the LTTE terrorists", Colombo asked India not to be influenced by "malicious propaganda" of Tiger sympathisers.
Reacting to Indian National Security M K Narayanan's expression of concern on the situation in Sri Lanka, the island nation's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament last evening that the onus was on international community to support Colombo by taking concrete and tangible measures to "combat terrorism".
"Hon Members may also be aware of reports of the National Security Adviser of India, M K Narayanan expressing concern on the situation in Sri Lanka. In this regard I wish to reiterate Sri Lanka's policy of maintaining a close dialogue with India, with whom we have a time tested relationship based on mutual goodwill and trust," he said in a suo-motu statement.
India had earlier this week expressed "grave concern and unhappiness" at the growing casualties of unarmed Tamil civilians in the military offensive in Sri Lanka and had asked the government to "act with greater restraint".
National Security Adviser M K Narayanan summoned Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner G G A D Palithaganegoda to convey India's concerns to him. PTI
Sensex fall for fourth day, test below 11k level
Mumbai, Oct 8 (PTI) Amidst tumbling of stocks in Asia and Europe, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex plunged below 11,000 points in early trade today-- for the first time in more than two years-- before rebounding to erase some of its losses but still ended the day lower by nearly 367 points.
The BSE bellwether lost a massive 954 points, or nearly 8 per cent, at 10,740.76 points, the lowest level since August 2006. With domestic funds stepping in for the rescue act, the index regained 11,000 level and closed at 11,328.36, still lower 366.88 points from its previous close.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 92.95 points at 3,513.65, after dipping to 3,329.45 points at one stage.
Marketmen said selling pressure escalated on reports of steep fall in the US stocks, which is at a five-year low, while Japanese stocks plummeted to 20-year lows.
They said the market escaped a major fall on emergence of domestic funds buying amid short covering by speculators which partialy helped the trend.
As the selling spread over wide front, all the sectoral indices ended in red led by consumer durables, banking, information technologies and metal. PTI
Gold rallies to record Rs 13,850 per 10 gram
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Gold prices zoomed to an all-time high of Rs 13,850 per 10 gram in the national capital today as plunging stock markets and deepening global financial crisis spurred demand for the metal as a safe hedge.
The gold jumped by Rs 450 to Rs 13,850 per 10 gram. It had risen to Rs 13,650 on July 15.
Investors who burnt their fingers in the equities and commodities rushed toward the precious metal to hedge risks, pushing prices higher, marketmen said.
They said the rise in physical demand for marriage and festival season was another factor that served as a boost for gold.
Melting world stock markets placed the US stocks at a five-year low, while Japanese stocks plunged to suffer the most since October 1987. Indonesia and Russia halted trading after stocks hit the lower circuit set by the exchanges.
Battered financial markets received another jolt as the International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for global growth next year to 3 per cent from 3.7 per cent.
Traders said the gold became a safer investment option and more dear among small and big investors as the market witnessed more funds shifting from stock and forex to bullion market.
In London, gold rose 15.43 dollar to 902.53 dollar an ounce, exceeding 900 dollar for the first time this month, as a firming US currency made the dollar-denominated precious metal more costlier. PTI
FCI expects to lift 85 lakh MT rice from Punjab this season
Chandigarh, Oct 8 (PTI) Food Corporation of India expects to lift 85 lakh metric tonne (MT) of rice from the state during this kharif marketing season, a top official of the central agency said today.
"Last year, we lifted 76.9 lakh MT of rice from the state and this year we expect to procure 10 per cent more rice than last year," FCI General Manager (Punjab) Saravjit Singh said.
He also cautioned Punjab-based rice millers not to procure paddy with more than 17 per cent moisture content.
"If they (millers) procure paddy having moisture content of over 17 per cent then it is possible that the level of damage in rice will rise," he said.
The word of caution came from the agency in view of heavy procurement of paddy being made by state millers which have moisture content over the permissible limit during the ongoing kharif marketing season.
The average level of moisture content in the paddy which is arriving in the state grain markets is 20 to 21 per cent. In some grain markets the dampness in paddy crop has even reached 25 per cent.
"What happens is that rice millers procure paddy with higher moisture content and then store the moist paddy for milling. As a result of it, the damage content goes high in rice during milling process," Singh reasoned.
FCI has also made it clear that it would procure rice with only 3 per cent damage content. "We will not be buying rice which has damage content above 3 per cent," he said. However, last year, the FCI lifted rice with a damage content of 4 per cent.
FCI has also stressed that the millers should dry up the moist paddy so that they would be able to produce rice as per the fixed standards. PTI
Govt not to launch overseas dollar bonds; may relax ECB norms
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Government today ruled out launching of dollar-denominated bonds but indicated that it may further relax overseas borrowing norms and raise FII investment limit in debt instruments to help companies tide over the liquidity crunch created by global financial crisis.
"There is no proposal to launch sovereign long-term dollar-denominated bonds as of now," a finance ministry official said when asked whether the government is planning to hit the overseas market to raise funds.
However, the finance ministry is considering further liberalisation of external commercial borrowings (ECB) norms for companies besides raising FII limits in Indian debt market.
At present, FIIs are allowed to invest in the Indian debt market up to 8 billion dollars, of which 3 billion dollars can be invested in corporate debts and 5 billion dollars in government securities.
Yesterday, the government included mining, exploration and refinery sectors under the ambit of infrastructure so that they can access overseas borrowings more liberally up to 500 million dollars into India for rupee capital expenditure.
Infrastructure includes seven sectors -- power, telecommunication, railways, road, sea port and airport industrial parks and urban infrastructure (water supply, sanitation and sewage projects). PTI
Film festival to dispel fears of people with mental disorders
Chennai, Oct 7 (PTI) City-based SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation), a non-profit organisation and mobile service provider Bharti Airtel will organise a three-day film festival here from October 10 "to help dispel fears and cliched images of personalities with mental disorders."
The festival, titled "Frame of mind", will showcase nine feature films and portray various manifestations of mental disorders like Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Learning Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a joint press release from the two organisations said.
The film festival is being held in partnership with the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), it said.
The movies to be screened are Vadakkumnathan (Malayalam), Iris, Oil and Water, The Aviator, Hiding Divya and Canvas, (all English), Veyil (Tamil), Tare Zameen Par and Woh Lamhe (Hindi).
Bharti Airtel CEO, Mobile Services (Tamil Nadu), Rajiv Rajgopal said the festival provides an excellent opportunity to showcase real life scenarios of health issues. "We truly hope that this initiative has a wide spread and helps people understand the various facets of health and wellness,"he said.
SCARF Director R Thara said the festival was an attempt to erase certain stigmas attached to these ailments and remove myths people have on this issue.
Personalities from the Tamil film Industry like Radhika Sarth Kumar and noted directors Mahesh Bhatt and Rajiv Menon, would participate in the valedictory function on October 12, the release added. PTI
Douglas, Zeta-Jones get USD 1.9 mn charity in Dubai
Dubai, Oct 7 (PTI) Hollywood's star couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have received a whopping donation of USD 1.9 million to carry out charity water sanitation projects in developing countries including Sri Lanka and Kenya.
The money - Seven million Dirhams - has been donated by the city-based masterdeveloper Nakheel to help provide clean water for underprivileged children in Third World countries.
The British couple specially flew here to receive the donation yesterday on behalf of the organisation run by the children in affluent countries to help their counterparts in less-privileged nations.
The charity - Free the Children - was founded by international child right activist Craig Kielberger and a group of his friends in Toronto when they were only 12 year old.
The 'Wall Street' actor said he had joined the campaign as he was " highly impressed" by the fact that the charity was run by children to help other less-fortunate children.
"Many diseases are spread through contaminated water and children in these countries often become too sick to go to school," Douglas said.
"This just isn't fair for any child. It's something we want to see stopped. 'Free the Children' addresses the children's need for clean water in many ways, teaching proper hand washing and boiling water," he was quoted by The Nation as saying. PTI
Festive period begins on a low note for Bollywood
Mumbai, Oct 7 (PTI) The festive season for Bollywood began on a rather low note with Sanjay Dutt-Imran Khan starrer 'Kidnap' and Abhishek Bachchan's 'Drona' failing to enthuse film buffs.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra said the first week collections for 'Drona' were about 30 per cent while for 'Kidnap' it was 60 per cent.
Trade sources said collections have dipped with the commencement of the second week.
"Expectations were high. Especially 'Drona' was a solo hero film and an important one for Abhishek Bachchan's career. However, the script could not hold on," another trade analyst and film critic Taran Adarsh added.
Adarsh said there was no need to panic in view of the two films not doing well.
All eyes have now shifted to films like 'Hello', 'Karzzz' that will release in the next two weeks and later 'Heroes', 'Golmaal returns', 'Fashion', 'EMI', and 'Roadside Romeo' that will hit theatres during the Diwali festivities, he said.
"Trade reports for all these big budgeted films are good. But, we will have to wait and watch," Taran added. PTI
Bhujbal, NCP play down gesture but suspense continues
Pune, Oct 7 (PTI) When he parted ways with Shiv Sena 17 years ago, Chhagan Bhujbal, firebrand Maharashtra Minister, was embraced by Congress, relishing the prospects of marginalising the Sena in the state using him to attack his mentor Bal Thackeray.
Then came yet another turn in his political roller-coaster as Bhujbal who belongs to OBC decided to join Sharad Pawars fold when the latter floated Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) breaking away from Congress on the now dead issue of Sonia Gandhi foreign origin.
But last weekend when Bhujbal, PWD minister in the Congress-NCP coalition government appeared in a Mumbai court to withdraw a 1997 defamation case against the Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray with Uddhav Thackeray keeping him company in front of cameras it ruffled many a feather despite both Bhujbal and NCP playing down the development seen by many as pregnant with possibilities of realignments in the state.
Notwithstanding the ostensible reason given by Bhujbal that he was withdrawing the case -- relating to a report in Sena mouthpiece `Saamana' in view of the age factor and health condition of the senior Thackeray - the timing and the manner of the goodwill gesture is being seen in political circles as demonstrative of Bhujbals not too subtle message to NCP leadership that he cannot be taken for granted if sidelined.
This move on part of Bhujbal, apparently sidelined by NCP leadership at a time when the dominant Maratha elements within the party are pressing for the community's inclusion in OBC list - comes also when disgruntled Revenue Minister and another former sainik Narayan Rane (Congress)is openly hobnobbing with other parties, including NCP.
Pawar is scheduled to inaugurate Rane's proposed Marathi daily 'Prahar' on the eve of Dusherra, yet another oddity perceived by political observers when next assembly elections are round the corner. PTI
Karera wildlife sanctuary on its deathbed
Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Once known for the endangered Great Indian Bustard's habitat, Karera Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh today has not a single bird species, thanks to apathy and mismanagement of the bureaucracy.
But that is concerning wildlife experts now is the fate of the ungulates like black bucks and others species in the sanctuary in Shivpuri who too, they say, face threat of extinction.
Citing pressure from villagers as well as absence of bustards, the state government has recently denotified the entire sanctuary sprawled over 202 sq km and is seeking the Centre's approval.
Denotification means the region is all set to become free for villagers, there are around 32 villages in and around the area for carrying out sale and purchase of the land.
The wildlife experts doubt the government's intention of dentoifying the entire area after it had initially planned to retain 45.3 hectares area as the sanctuary.
Terming the move as death for the wildlife, the wildlife experts rue that the animals in the park are paying for the officials typical lackadaisical attitude towards flora and fauna.
"There are quite a good number of black bucks and other ungulates. What will happen to them if the villagers are allowed to sell ad purchase the land in the park once it is denotified," said an official from World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The organisation has written to the state government to retain at least some 45.3 hectares as protected land asserting that migratory birds visiting the Dahikila lake in the region will be adversely affected due to the government's move. PTI
Award-winning old couple wants to do more work
Nikhil Agarwal
New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) The couple has been working tirelessly from a small village in Tamil Nadu for the past forty years. And yet they want to do "more work" while old age is also "not a problem" for them even as the wife crossed 80 years and the husband nears 100.
Mr and Mrs Jagannathan from Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, who were recently awarded the 'Right Livelihood Award', have spent their lifetime working in Kuthur village having distributed land to over 13,000 poor Dalit women through their organization 'Land For the Tillers' Freedom' (LAFTI).
"We want to do more work. We find our work very interesting. Our good work gives us inner strength. And this is why age is not a problem for us, as we continue to do our good work," Krishnammal Jagannathan told PTI.
The Right Livelihood Award was constituted by Sweden born Jakob Von Uexkull in 1980 "to honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges faced by us". This year, the award of SEK 2 Million (300000 USD) will be shared by four recipients. It is also known as the 'Alternative Nobel Prize'.
The couple's journey began from 1952 when they became part of the Bhoodhan movement spearheaded by Vinoba Bhave, through which about 4 million acres of land were distributed to thousands of landless poor across several Indian states.
"We were fortunate enough to have worked under the guidance of Vinoba Bhave in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu", says Sankaralingam Jagannathan. PTI
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