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India to present its first N-safety report at CNS in Vienna
Mumbai, Apr 4 (PTI) India will present its first detailed report on safety of the civilian nuclear plants at the forthcoming two-week Convention of Nuclear Safety (CNS) beginning on April 14 at Vienna.
India joined the convention in 2005 and "this will be our first national report on the safety of civilian nuclear plants," Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Chairman, S K Sharma who will be leading a 17-member team to CNS told PTI today.
"Although nuclear power plants all over the world are operating at a very high level of safety and we have different means of exchanging such information on safety, the CNS would furhter strengthen the safety of operating nuclear power plants," he said.
"In 2005 when India joined the convention just three months before the third review meeting, we were just an observer, he said. CNS review meeting is held every third year.
Sixty countries will be participating in the convention and there will be six groups each represented by 10 countries with a chairman, vice-chairman and a rapporteur. At the end of the two week, a combined report for the president of the convention will be prepared, he said.
Senior officials from Nuclear Power Corporation of India, AERB and Department of Atomic Energy will participate in the meeting.
The CNS was adopted in June 1994. The Convention was drawn up during a series of expert level meetings from 1992 to 1994 and was the result of considerable work by Governments, national nuclear safety authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency's Secretariat. PTI
India plans 70 space missions in five years
Bangalore, Apr 4 (PTI) India plans to undertake 70 space missions in five years, a nearly three-fold jump from the previous half-decade, as it seeks to address requirements and develop new technologies to meet future needs.
"We have proposed something like 70 missions totally (in the 11th plan (April one 2007 to March 31, 2012) compared to about 26 missions in the tenth plan period," Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, G Madhavan Nair, told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The proposed missions have a "good mix" of both INSAT class satellites as well as remote sensing ones, he said.
Nair, also Secretary in the Department of Space, indicated that the aim is to address requirements of the area of communication transponders and work in the fields of microwave remote sensing, hyper spectral and other new technologies of the future.
"Future developments will be towards the manned space mission and reusable satellites and Ka-band satellites," he added.
The 2008-09 annual budget for the Space Department has gone upto Rs 4,072 crore, a 25 per cent increase over the previous financial year, ISRO officials said. PTI
Law and order situation reviewed in Manipur
Imphal, Apr 4 (PTI) A high level meeting discussed the law and order situation in Manipur in midst of indications from a Union minister that President's Rule in the state might be considered because of rising militant violence which has left 129 people dead this year.
Governor S S Sidhu, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and several top police and civil officials yesterday reviewed the situation in the state in the meeting as the Centre has directed the Manipur government to contain the rising activities of militants by using all possible means, official sources said today.
The Governor was also likely to send a report on the situation to the Union Home ministry in the next few days, they said.
Union Minister of State for Defence M M Palam Raju yesterday said that there is no move to impose President's Rule in Manipur but the Centre may consider it if the situation arising out of increase in militant activities in the state worsened. PTI
Inflation leaps to 7 pc; food, vegetables become dearer
New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI) Inflation bolted to a 39-month high of 7 per cent as prices of vegetables, cereals and various manufactured goods continued to rise, with potential to lead toward a tight monetary policy and slow economic growth.
The annual rate of inflation, based on wholesale price index, rose by 0.32 per cent in the week ended March 22 from 6.68 per cent in the previous week.
Inflation, which was 6.54 per cent a year ago, last touched 7 per cent over three years ago (7.02 per cent for the week ended December 4, 2004).
High inflation could prompt RBI to take tight monetary measures, like raising short-term lending and borrowing rates and squeezing money supply in its annual credit policy scheduled to be announced on April 29.
Pointing out that global circumstances are fueling inflation, ICICI Bank managing director K V Kamath said, "I am sure policy makers both at the monetary level and in the ministry will work together to ease supply side constraints." RBI might increase Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), statutory deposits banks have to keep with the central bank, to absorb excess liquidity instead of raising interest rate, felt Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi.
The government has already moved into top gear in its fight against inflation and announced a host of fiscal measures like scrapping import duty on crude edible oils and banning export of non-basmati rice and pulses.
Earlier in the week, Minister of State for Finance P K Bansal said, "The government is conscious of it (inflation), the measures would be taken wherever the situation warrants." Although the fiscal measures taken by the government is not reflected in the week under review, Manila-based Asian Development Bank expects these measures to influence prices only by the month end. PTI
Akhtar files appeal against 5-year ban
Karachi, Apr 4 (PTI) Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar today filed an appeal against the five-year ban slapped on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Akhtar's lawyers Mohammad Ali Lashari and Mohammad Azim Danyal met PCB's Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi and submitted the appeal to him.
A large media contingent had gathered at the stadium and there was a small protest against the ban outside the main gate.
"The ban is illegal and unconstitutional and we intend to have it reviewed and removed," Danyal told reporters at Lahore's Gaddafi stadium.
Akhtar himself showed up at the end of the meeting and said he had appealed as per the procedures of the PCB.
"I came to submit the appeal according to the procedures of the PCB and I have done that. I respect the law, PCB and the chairman (Nasim Ashraf)," he told reporters.
Akhtar also told the gathering of mediapersons and his fans to "be patient till the PCB decides on the appeal" and added that "we need to learn to repsect the law." He also thanked all those, including former captain Imran Khan, Tauqir Zia and Haneef Abbasi, who backed him in the whole episode.
Naghmi said that as per the procedures of the Board, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf will head the appellate committee to hear the appeal. PTI
Haroon Lorgat appointed ICC CEO
Dubai, Apr 4 (PTI) South African Haroon Lorgat was today appointed Chief Executive Officer of International Cricket Council.
Lorgat's appointment was confirmed by the ICC Board following a meeting between him and ICC President-elect David Morgan in Pretoria on Wednesday.
After that meeting, the Recruitment Committee comprising ICC President Ray Mali, Morgan, ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar and ICC Director Creagh O'Connor agreed to Lorgat's appointment and made the recommendation to the ICC Board, an ICC statement said.
Announcing Lorgat's appointment, Mali said, "I am delighted Haroon will assume the role of the next ICC CEO. He is a great team player ... He will do an outstanding job." President-elect David Morgan expressed his delight on Lorgat accepting the ICC CEO's job.
"I am absolutely delighted Haroon has accepted our offer to become ICC Chief Executive Officer," Morgan said.
"His skill-set is ideal: he brings experience from the corporate world, has played the game to a high level, has already served as a cricket administrator and been chairman of selectors for South Africa, a position he held as recently as last year." Lorgat, who will become only the third CEO in the ICC's 99-year history, will take over from the incumbent CEO Malcolm Speed, following the ICC Annual Conference between June 29 and July 4. PTI
Rain stops play in second Test
Ahmedabad, Apr 4 (PTI) Rain stopped play in the third session on the second day of the second cricket Test between India and South Africa at Motera today.
South Africa were 494 for seven in their first innings, in reply to India's 76, at the time of the interruption.
The visitors lead by 418 runs.
Brief scores: India 1st innings: 76 South Africa 1st innings: 494 for seven in 141.2 overs (A B de Villiers 217 batting, J Kallis 132; Harbhajan Singh 4-135). PTI
Retail prices jump by up to 11 per cent
New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI) Retail prices of gram, sugar, mustard oil, vanaspati and onion have increased by up to 11 per cent in the national capital in last one month, felling the inflation rate to rise to 39-month high of seven per cent.
The prices of gram (chana) rose by 2.7 per cent to Rs 38 per kg on April 1 as against Rs 37 a month earlier, according to the data provided by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Sugar prices increased by nearly 6 per cent at Rs 18 per kg, mustard oil by 2.6 per cent to Rs 77 per kg, vanaspati by 10.14 per cent at Rs 76 per kg and onion by 11.11 per cent at Rs 10 per kg.
However, prices of rice, wheat, atta, tur, groundnut oil, milk, potato and salt remained stable during the last one month while tea (loose) became cheaper.
Rice is available in the retail market at Rs 18 per kg, while wheat at Rs 13 a kg, atta Rs 14, tur Rs 42, groundnut oil Rs 121, potato Rs 9.
The wholesale price-based inflation rose to seven per cent in the week ended March 22 from 6.68 per cent in the previous week as prices of vegetables, cereals and various manufactured goods continued to rise.
The government has announced plethora of measures to rein in the rising inflation, including scrapping of customs duties on all crude edible oils, reduction of duties on refined edible oils, ban on exports of non-basmati rice and increase in export price of basmati rice.
The impact of these decisions would be felt only in next 7-10 days at the retail level, traders said.
According to the inflation data, prices of fruits and vegetables went up by one per cent, gram by three per cent, masur by two per cent while urad and moong, eggs, meat and fish got dearer by one per cent each. PTI
Will act against hoarders in war against prices: Kamal Nath
Jaishree Balasubramanian Singapore, Apr 4 (PTI) Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath today said the government would not hesitate to act against hoarders and profiteers, even as he admitted supply side management was a challenge to controlling prices of essential commodities.
"We will not hesitate to take the strictest measures, including using legal provisions against hoarding and profiteering whether in food, cement or steel," Nath, who is on a visit here, told reporters today.
On March 31, the union government asked states to initiate steps under provisions of the Essential Commodities Act to check against hoarding.
Nath, however, said that though there was the provision of 18G of the Industrial Act, "we don't propose to use it." Section 18G empowers the Centre to control supply, distribution, price etc of certain articles.
He said the biggest task was to provide food to the poor. "Our biggest challenge with India is the supply side..." The government has been grappling with rising prices of food, metal and other manufactured items which have pushed up inflation to a 39-month high of 7 per cent.
The Cabinet Committee on Prices had decided to abolish import duty on crude edible oil, cut duty on refined oils and ban export of non-basmati rice to check prices. The government also convinced steel makers to cut prices of key products.
Finance Secretary Subbarao had told PTI that the government is open to taking more steps to tame inflation to bring it within tolerable limit (below five per cent).
He also said global slowdown is expected to bring commodity prices down, as historically the US recession has led to fall in commodity rates. PTI
Tata takeover a turning point in car industry, say UK experts
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Apr 4 (PTI) Tata's takeover of Jaguar and Land Rover will be a key turning point in the car industry's history, automobile experts say.
Coventry-based Nick Seale of the Warwick Manufacturing Group believes that the takeover will also be of global and historic significance.
Seale said: "When the history of the motor industry is written, they will look back on this event as one of the key turning points.
"The Indian purchase of two of the strongest brands in the world car industry is really significant because the industry, 20 years from now will be very different, and if I was a betting man I will say India will be a major player." He told the Coventry Evening Telegraph: "The US companies have been world leaders for 50 years now but they are experiencing difficulties. The Japanese have risen and out of the Japanese/US power struggle we've suddenly got the emerging world of India and China becoming a real force.
"An Indian company buying two of the world's largest brands is really significant and it will be a turning point. Although there's going to be no visible change in the short term, it's a really significant move.
"I've been doing some work with a motorcycle company in India and India is absolutely fascinating from an industrialisation point of view. Indian companies are going to be increasingly powerful in the world."
Prices of oil, oilseeds fall in futures mkt after inflation
New Delhi, Apr 4 (PTI) Prices of edible oil and oilseeds in the futures market fell sharply by one per cent today amid fears that the government may ban trading in these commodities to rein in the rising inflation that touched a three year high of 7 per cent.
"Prices of soy oil, soyabean and mustard seed declined sharply after the inflation was announced in the morning," an analyst with Karvy Comtrade told PTI.
However, the three commodities pared the losses immediately, he added.
At 1200 hours, prices of April delivery of soy oil declined at NCDEX platform by nearly one per cent to Rs 561.50 per 10 kg and soyabean prices dipped to Rs 2,094 a quintal from yesterday's closing at Rs 2,104 a quintal.
Prices of May delivery of mustard seed slipped by 0.84 per cent to Rs 531 per 20 kg from Rs 535.50 per 20 kg.
Market experts said that panic situation still remains in the market and traders fear that government may take stringent measures to tame the rising inflation.
At 1400 hours, prices of soy oil stood at Rs 569.20 per 10 kg, up by 0.45 per cent. Soyabean prices gained 1.49 per cent to Rs 2,140 a quintal after the fall.
Prices of mustard seed of May contract, however, remained down by 0.23 per cent to Rs 534.25 per 20 kg.
Inflation rose to 7 per cent for the week ending March 22, against 6.68 per cent in the previous week. PTI
Rupee steady against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai, Apr 4 (PTI) The Indian rupee held steady against the greenback during morning trade today largely due to high inflation amid weak equity markets and dollar buying by public sector banks.
The central bank, however, was suspected to be buying dollar to prevent the rupee's surge past the crucial 40 level.
In quiet trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market, the local currency resumed firm at 40.00/02 a dollar from its last close of 40.02/03 a dollar and later eased to last closing level on dollar buying.
Dealers said high inflation, which crossed the Reserve Bank's tolerance level last month, provided underlying support to the Indian currency.
The central bank attempted to prevent any appreciation in the local currency against the dollar, they added.
Meanwhile, the dollar was modestly stronger against the Euro on Thursday in anticipation of slightly better US employment report than economists expect. PTI
US says "still possible" to clear N deal but time running out
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Apr 4 (PTI) The US has said it is "still possible" to get the nuclear deal with India cleared by the Congress under Bush administration but maintained that time is "running out" and that it may have to be taken up by the next government here.
"We certainly would like to see this deal concluded as soon as possible. And we, of course, have our own calendar in terms of elections and a legislative timetable. So certainly, I think time is running out to be able to give this current Congress the opportunity to consider this arrangement," State department Spokesman Tom Casey told reporters here.
There would be opportunities in future congresses and with the future administration to move forward on this, he said, "but certainly, we can only talk for ourselves and for this Administration in terms of this arrangement.
Terming the deal as "symbolic" of the "tremendous positive change" in overall US-India relations, Casey said regardless of when the deal is passed the strengthening and deepening of the US-Indian relationship that has "begun" under Bush Administration will not change and "we certainly hope will continue into the future".
Asked whether he saw no chance of getting a Congressional nod on the deal bogged down by India's internal politics, Casey replied in negative.
"We certainly believe it is still possible for this deal to move forward and for our Congress to have an opportunity to consider it.... It ain't over till it's over." US lawmakers have been pressing for a July timeline on the deal because the Congress will leave for a break in August. During a visit here last month, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had refused to give any timeframe saying the government was trying to build consensus on the deal. PTI
Nepal bans alcohol, beefs up security ahead of polls
Kathmandu, Apr 4 (PTI) Ahead of the constitutent assembly polls, Nepal has banned the production and sale of alcohol, besides other measures to boost security.
The Election Commission of Nepal has imposed a ban on the sale of liquor in public places, including hotels in Kathmandu and the neighbouring districts from April 7 to 13, Home Ministry officials said.
The government is also planning to carry out 24x7 aerial patrolling across the country from tomorrow to boost security.
To carry out the special aerial patrols, bases have been established in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Simara, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi and helicopters are being hired from private airlines.
The government will also mobilize 2,500 personnel to beef up security in Kathmandu Valley during the election period and deploy around 150,000 personnel across the country during the crucial election.
Also, giving a boost to personnel on election duty, the Election Commission has increased the insurance amount of each employee deputed in the elections from Rs 1 million to Rs 1.5 million, according to the Election Commission sources.
Meanwhile, after a meeting of Nepal-India Border Security held in Birgunj in southern Nepal, officials have decided to seal the Indo-Nepal border from April 910 during the polls, according to the National News Agency (RSS). PTI
Pak PM vows to restore Constitution
Islamabad, Apr 4 (PTI) Pakistan government will restore the Constitution, uphold the supremacy of the Parliament and ensure an independent judiciary, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani said today.
"We would also carry forward the mission of upholding the supremacy of the Parliament," he said in a television message on the occasion of the death anniversary of Pakistan People's Party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, father of the slain former premier Benazir Bhutto.
Noting that Bhutto had given Pakistan a unanimous constitution and made it a nuclear power, he said, "We would restore the constitution, strengthen all the institutions and ensure provincial autonomy. We would come up to the expectations of the people.
"These expectations are that all institutions should be independent, judiciary should be independent and media should be free." Gillani said Bhutto, who was a leader of international stature and a towering personality, was the name of "an ideology, a mission and a movement".
He said, "Today it is imperative upon us to fulfil his mission. It is our national obligation to protect the constitution which Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had given us as a sacred document." The rule of the people was the dream of Bhutto and "we would establish the rule of the people in the country," he said. "We would promote the people's rule. Inshallah (god willing) we would represent the aspirations of the people and make this country stronger." Bhutto, who was ousted by late Gen Zia-ul-Haq in a coup, was hanged on this day in 1979.
The PPP has said it will get a resolution passed in parliament to apologise to the nation for the "judicial murder" of Bhutto. PTI
Sharif keen to visit J-K to trace his ancestral roots
Islamabad, Apr 4 (PTI) PML (N)chief Nawaz Sharif is keen to visit Jammu and Kashmir to trace his ancestral roots, the former Pakistani premier has told visiting People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti.
Mufti, who travelled to Islamabad last week to participate in a conference, met Sharif in Lahore yesterday.
She invited Sharif, whose party is a member of the ruling PPP-led coalition, to visit Jammu and Kashmir after he expressed his desire to come to the state.
"He is a son of the soil. Keeping all political thoughts aside, we will warmly welcome him," she told the Daily Times before her departure to New Delhi.
Mufti said Sharif had expressed a desire to visit Shopian, a town in southern Jammu and Kashmir from where his ancestors had migrated to Pakistan.
Recently, Sharif's close aides had said that he wanted to travel to Srinagar to inaugurate a hospital being built by his friend and well-known cardiologist Fayaz Shawl.
Mufti also expressed concern at the volatile security situation and "chaos" in Pakistan saying it reminded her of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir some years back.
"Of late, the violence level is going up and there is a sense of insecurity in many areas of Pakistan, which reminds me of what Jammu and Kashmir was like some years back." Mufti said that one of her two daughters had advised her to give up politics asfter Pakistan People's Party chairperson and former premier Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December last year.
Mufti was in Madina when she learnt of Bhutto's death. Mufti, who has escaped attempts on her life, had received a frantic phone call from her daughter, a college student in New Delhi, who urged her to abandon politics.
Lankan jets attack LTTE base, Tigers ask priests to leave
T V Sriram
Colombo, Apr 4 (PTI) Sri Lankan Air force fighter jets today attacked a tiger base in their stronghold in Northern Sri Lanka even as LTTE asked priests of the historic Mannar church in North-west to evacuate the premises.
According to an Air Force official, the fighter jets bombed an LTTE training base in Pulopalai area at Muhamalai this morning.
The pilots confirmed that targeted training facility was completely destroyed due to the bombardment, the official said.
Meanwhile, defence sources in the rebel stronghold of Wanni said LTTE militants have ordered the priests in the Mannar church to leave the premises with immediate affect.
"Earlier, LTTE had positioned its heavy mortar and artillery guns at close range to the church in order to take cover from the civilian refugees present there," the sources said.
Reports also say that the priests have taken the sacred statue of "Our Lady of Madhu" apprehending escalation of conflict that could damage the church.
It said several civilians have also started to flee from the area.
The Defence Ministry said the sacred area has been declared a no war zone and Sri Lankan security forces have spared the area from military offensives. PTI
Shirdi land deal: Rani challenges order cancelling ownership
Mumbai, Apr 4 (PTI) Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee today filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the Ahmednagar District Collector's order cancelling her ownership of a plot near Shirdi due to irregularities in the deal.
The petition filed before the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court will come up for hearing on April 9.
"There are several discrepancies in the order passed by the District Collector and we disagree on several observations made in the order," Rani's lawyer Nanasaheb Chaudhary told PTI.
The Sub Divisional Officer in January this year passed an order to cancel the land sale deal and took possession of Mukherjee's land due to irregularities in the deal.
In December 2005, the actress had paid Rs 33 lakh for the non-transferable land and paid a stamp duty of Rs 1.32 lakh for registration.
The title, however, could not be transferred to her name, as it belonged to a farmer. According to the order passed by the Sub Divisional Officer, the purchased land was an agricultural land and thus it required special permission from the government to transfer it to a non-farmer.
According to Chaudhary, only the Divisional Commissioner is empowered to conduct an inquiry under the Land Ceiling revision case. PTI
Karna film industry suspends production activity for the day
Bangalore, Apr 4 (PTI) The Karnataka film industry today came to a halt with members of the film fraternity suspending production activity for the day and staging a protest in response to a bandh call given by the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC).
The call for suspending operations and staging a dharna was given by the KFCC at a meeting here last evening to express solidarity with pro-Kannada activists on the Hogenakkal issue.
Those who took part in the protest included film personalities Ganesh, Darshan, Jaggesh, Upendra, Ravi Chandra, Tara, Ramya. Family members of late actor Rajkumar including Parvathamm Rajkumar, actor sons Puneet and Raghavendra were also present.
Puneet urged the people not to take law and order into their hands and to desist from any violence during the protest. He further urged that the protest must remain peaceful and non-violent.
Actors like Ganesh said the industry had always been with the masses and would always extend their support to issues pertaining to the people of the state.
Scores of fans gathered outside the Town Hall here and cheered the stars as they spoke on the issue.
Police maintained strict security to prevent any untoward incidents. PTI
Tamil film personalities begin fast
Chennai, Apr 4 (PTI) Representatives of Tamil film industry today began an eight-hour-long fast at Chepauk here condemning the attacks on cinemas screening Tamil films by pro-Kannada groups protesting Tamil Nadu's decision to go ahead with the Hogenakkal water project.
Wearing badges to show their opposition to the project and pride in Tamil culture, scores of personalities including actors Vijay Kumar and Radha Ravi and leading technicians participated in the fast, called by Tamil Film Chamber of Commerce.
Speakers at the fast condemned the attack on cinemas screening Tamil films in Bangalore and said the film industry was the first victim during such issues.
Two doyens of Tamil cinema, Rajnikant and Kamal Hasan were expected to join the fast, film industry sources said.
Security for Rajinikant, Arjun, Karna business houses
Chennai, Apr 3 (PTI) In the wake of incidents of violence in the city over the Hogenakkal issue, police protection has been strengthened for film stars Rajnikant and Arjun, who hail from Karnataka, and security provided to establishments owned by business houses from the neighbouring state.
According to police, plainclothes police personnel have been posted outside the Poes Garden residence of Rajnikant in the city. Policemen have been posted at the residence of Arjun in the Boat Club area here.
Besides, security had been provided to business establishments such as the Palmgrove Hotel, Sangeetha Group of Hotels, Drive-in Woodlands, Woodlands Hotel, Iyengar Bakery at Eldams Road and the Udipi hotels, police said.
Patrol teams would regularly monitor the areas and keep a vigil on the establishments, they said.
Four hotels and the Kannada Association office here have been attacked by different pro-Tamil groups in the last two days. PTI
Empowering women in Uttarakhand
Deepti Saxena
Dehra Dun, Apr 4 (PTI) They played an important role in the formation of the state. Women in Uttarakhand are now poised to play an even bigger role thanks to a new legislation reserving 50 per cent posts in Panchayats in the state.
Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to bring legislation on to accord 50 per cent seats in panchayats to wmen. The Uttarakhand Panchayat Law (Ammendement) Act 2008, was passed by the state assembly on March 13.
"This legislation will give due representation to the fairer sex in decision-making process as they deserve it being nearly half of the population," said Panchayati Raj Minister Bishen Singh Chufal after the passage of the bill. Socila activists believe that increasing the women's share in the Panchayati Raj system would bring a quiet revolution in the state.
"Our assessment is that women generally keep themselves away from corruption, a factor which is crucial for the proper utilization of funds," said Sunder Lal Bahuguna, renowned social activist and Chipko leader.
As per the statistics, there are 7,227 village panchayats, 95 block or intermediary panchayats and 13 district panchayats in the state. At present, there are a total of 50,966 women panchayat functionaries in the state out of which 47,306 are at gram panchayat level, 3,315 at block panchayat level and 345 at district panchayat level. PTI
Vote bank politics fosters illegal migration into NE: Book
New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) Outwardly secular, politics in India is all about vote banks and keeping a party in power. No wonder the problem of infiltration of illegal migrants remains unresolved, threatening to snowball into major crisis, say intellectuals from the North East.
'Voice of Assam,' a collection of writings of 25 distinguised litterateurs fear a situation was developing which may lead to a major ethnic conflagration.
As a result of infiltration "few districts of upper Assam coming together and raising a demand for another separate state free from the domination of Muslims fundamentalists, cannot be ruled out," says the book.
The writers warn that unabated infiltration of illegal Bangladeshi migrants is turning the secular society of Northeast being divided into "religious, linguistic and tribal segments at the state and administrative levels, ostensible on the ground of opposing seccessionism and aversion to party politics." The book blames the vote-bank politics, both at the regional level and at the centre, for the situation.
"Each political party of the state, national or regional, has fallen victim to the 'Vote-Bank' politics which has so far proved to be the main hurdle against fighting the ever-growing menace of infiltration," says the book 'Voice of Assam,' edited by Satish Chandra Chowdhury and Harendra Kalita.
The problem is likely to overwhelm the entire northeast and her indigenous people in not too far distant a future, it warns.
(About the book: Voice of Assam, Publisher:Assam Sahitya Sabha, Edited by:Satish Chandra Chowdhury and Harendra Kalita, Price: Rs 200)PTI
Indian middle class leading a selfish life, says Aruna Roy
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) She felt disempowered by the 'selfish' and 'worthless' ways of India's burgeoning urban middle class. It were the rural and urban poor, who taught her the true meaning of life.
Unlike the upwardly mobile upper middle class, the much neglected Indian backward class which struggles for a daily living knows better how to lead an enriched and harmonious life, believes Magsaysay awardee and eminent RTI activist Aruna Roy.
"India is today running on two different tracks followed by the backward class and the middle class. The former made me understood how to make your life better enriched and harmonised, while the latter only taught me how to make life worthless and selfish," Roy told PTI.
"India's backward class, which has always been neglected and considered as socially irrelevant has empowered me and taught me how to struggle in life, while the middle class disempowered me with its urbanised thoughts," she adds.
Roy, who is known as one of the pioneer figures to have advocated that RTI and NREGA be made a law, reiterated her view that women in India have always been subjudicated and urged the government to immediately bring in the "Women's Reservation Bill".
"In our country, women have always been devoid of rights. All political parties should make a consensus to pass the 'Women's Reservation Bill' in the parliament so as to strengthen women power and to redefine democracy in India," she says.
She also added that society needs to change its perspective on women, which is still under the grip of gender discrimination and considers woman as a liability.
Empowering women, forty-one stories captured in reel
Ruby Nanda
New Delhi, Apr 1 (PTI) Mukhtar Mai from Pakistan, who was brutally gangraped but fought valiantly for justice, sums up the need for empowering women with the words "when one woman speaks, two others can speak up too." The story of Mai told in a Pakistani documentary was among the seven, five minutes films screened at the British High Commission here recently at the India launch of 'Why Women Count' a selection of 41 documentary films by women from an equal number of countries around the world.
"Women's empowerment is a jargon which is used liberally but seldom understood. These films give a snapshot of what empowerment or disempowerment really means," says Jenny Richards, Deputy Director, TVE, an NGO that helped found the Broadcasting for Change Network, a group of international producers and broadcasters, who produced the short films.
Poojita Chowdhury, the sole Indian entry tries with her documentary to explore the truth in the villages of Punjab.
"My film is an exploration of 33 per cent reservation of women in Panchayats. Critics say it is useless as the women sarpanchs act as dummy candidates for their husbands or male relatives", says Chowdhury.
When asked on the specific reason for choosing women from Punjab. "I choose the State of Punjab as it is prosperous yet it has the highest rate of female foeticide cases in India," she explains.
The film depicts three women village sarpanches and their small steps into the political arena. The social prejudices are very well brought out by the documentary yet there is also male support from colleagues who are happy to work under a woman leader. PTI
Industry worried as pirates dish out better quality CDs, DVDs
New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Nothing new if someone says that pirated versions of 'Race' or Hollywood's 'John Rambo' can easily be picked up from the grey market at much lower price than the original that would take time to hit the market.
What is worrying the industry now is that the pirated versions now come on good quality DVD's or CD's.
Though piracy has always been the bane of the entertainment industry, recent trends show that unlike earlier, the pirated DVD/VCDs are of the highest quality rather than shot clandestinely in a movie hall.
In some cases, like Hollywood films, they hit the streets even before the movie has been formally launched in the country.
According to a report by US-India Business Council (USIBC), the Indian media and entertainment industry worth close to USD 6,500 million is losing a little over USD 4,000 million per year due to piracy.
Bollywood actor-director, Aamir khan calls piracy as the 'greatest concern'.
"The greatest concern facing us (entertainment industry) is piracy. It is sad that India is not doing enough to check piracy," he said recently.
"We have been aware of this problem for long but we have not done anything much to keep it in check. A lot of time and money is spent into making a film...," Aamir adds.
Though Aamir's directorial debut 'Taree Zameen Par' was a runaway success both critically and commercially, he says, "There were more than 100 websites through which one could easily download the movie for free. This is part of the piracy ring." Though the entertainment industry is looking for ways to fight piracy, the black market does not fear much. PTI
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