Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012
IN BRIEF
IGNOU to collaborate with Pakistani university
NEW DELHI: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Wednesday said that it would soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Pakistani university to increase cooperation in education between the two nations. A task force of faculty contd on page 2
Gujarat polls outcome will not affect 2014 General elections: Omar
BARAMULLA, DEC 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the outcome of Gujarat State Assembly elections should not be seen as a reflection on the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held in 2014. "The state election is a state election and it should not be seen as a reflection of parliament polls," Omar told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. He said a classic example of this was the outcome of last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. "Congress did better in terms of the number of seats
C
in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh but did not do as well when the same people voted in the Assembly polls. Parliament election is a different chapter because the elections are held at national level," he said. The chief minister refused to comment on the contd on page 2
hief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday said that excellent police-public relation holds key to maintain law and order and curb crimes in the society. He said credibility of police gets rooted by the humane approach of men in uniform towards general public and their delivery of justice on merits. Addressing the attestation cum passing out parade at Police STC Centre, Sheeri, the Chief Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir Police is emerging as one of the best forces in the country. He said bravery and sacrifices of Jammu and Kashmir Police for the State and its people are laudable. He said while performing their service Jammu and Kashmir Police force has never back tracked but contd on page 2 exhibited velour and courage.
Will ensure universal girls' education under RTE: MoS Edu Tharoor
NEW DELHI: The Government Wednesday assured the Lok Sabha that steps will be taken to ensure universal girls' education under the Right to Education Act. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Shashi contd on page 2
Lok Sabha adjourned following Srinagar-Jammu highway closed yet again due to landslides uproar over quota bill
'SP MP snatches Quota Bill from Narayanasamy'
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha Wednesday adjourned following an uproar over quota in promotions in government jobs. The face-off between the government and the Samajwadi Party over the quota in promotion bill reached a flashpoint today when a SP member snatched a copy of the bill from the hands of MoS V Narayanasamy and tore it to register his protest. Complete pandemonium was witnessed in the Lok Sabha. As soon as Narayanasamy rose to put the bill up for consideration, Samajwadi Party MPs stormed into the well of house raising slogans against the bill. The SP members raised slogans like "promotion mein aarakshan, nahi chalega, nahi chalega (we do not want reservation in promotions)". Amid heated exchange of words between opposition and treasury benches, Samajwadi Party MP Yashveer Singh snatched the bill form the hands of Narayanasamy and tore it. Congress leaders including party president Sonia Gandhi were seen pacifying the agitated MPs, who are resolute to not allow the Lok Sabha to pass the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, which provides for quota in promotions for SCs and STs in government jobs. However, owing to the continuous disruption of the contd on page 2 JAMMU, DEC 19 : Kashmir has been cut off from the rest of the country as a landslide has forced closure of the 300-km JammuSrinagar National Highway No.1-A, the only lifeline to the valley. According to traffic police, a massive landslide near Ramban, around 150 km from Jammu, has resulted in the closure of the highway. Nearly 2,000 vehicle, including 400 passenger vehicles, are stranded on the road following the landslide, said an official. The landslide was trig-
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Special Tribunals for all districts after inter-ministerial consultation: MoS Home
NEW DELHI: The government Wednesday said that it will take a decision on creation of Special Tribunals in all 640 districts in the country after thorough examination. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of state for Home, contd on page 2
gered by rain which lashed the area for two days. The Border Road Organisation (BRO) has put its men and machines on the road to clear the debris and open the crucial road link to the valley. But a BRO official said it would take long time since the landslide was a massive one. Traffic is not being allowed from Jammu to Srinagar or vice-versa. "We will first clear the stranded vehicles and then allow traffic to resume," said a traffic official. Rains and snow contd on page 2
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New Delhi, world's fifth most 650 panchayats to be taken under NBA: Sagar expensive office market
MUMBAI,DEC 19: New Delhi is the fifth most expensive office marketin the world, a survey released here Wednesday said. New Delhi (Connaught Place) now ranks fifth in the world with an overall occupancy cost of $183.30 per square feet per annum, according to CBRE Global Research & Consulting's semi-annual Prime Office Occupancy Costs Survey. In contrast, Mumbai's Nariman Point fell from 20th position in July to 25th rank in September this year, while the newly-developed BandraKurla Complex stood 11th, the survey said. Hong Kong Central remains the world's most expensive office market, followed by London West End, Tokyo and Beijing in the top four slots. The latest survey provides data on office rents and occupancy costs as of September 30, 2012. "In prime central business district locations, the supply of space is extremely limited with almost no new supply expected in the near future. This is especially true for quality office space which has led to occupancy cost remaining contd on page 2
Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar addressing a meeting of officer of the Rural Development Department at Jammu. JAMMU, DEC 19: Around 650 panchayats would be identified for taking up under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) for ensuring defecation free environment in villages. The information was given in a review meeting of the Rural Development Department convened under the chairmanship of the Minister for Rural Development, Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar. Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development, Mr. Farooq Ahmed Peer, Director Rural Development, Mr. Shafiq Raina, Director Rural Sanitation, Mr. Tufail Matoo, Member contd on page 2
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State govt inventing lame excuses to delay and deny urban local Bodies elections
JAMMU,DEC 19: Harsh Dev Singh NPP MLA and its chairman today lambasted the state govt. for announcing yet another postponement of urban local Bodies Elections in the state and for its callous approach with respect to democratic decentralization at grass root level. He said that the coalition govt. was persistently playing truant on holding the said elections and resorting to lame excuses for depriving the urban areas of their democratic rights on one pretext or the other. He said that there was no justification in postponing the elections year after year as the revision of voter lists had been regularly conducted year after year along with delimitation of wards. He said that the latest delimitation of wards was issued vide SRO 288 in Sept 2012 in Srinagar
NEW DELHI,DEC 19: India is in the process of procuring new assault rifles to replace the indigenously-designed 'INSAS' (Indian Small Arms System) rifles, Defence Minister AK Antony said Wednesday. "The proposal had been made last year, and technical evaluation of bids is in process," the minister said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. "The procuring will be done through a global route, with the transfer of technology to the Ordinance Factory Board," Antony said. "The INSAS rifle has been used by the Indian Army since 1994-95. Over the years, with technological advancement, superior assault rifles are now available," Antony said.
been apathetic and negligent in ensuring time bound elections to the said bodies but has committed violations of legal provisions of Municipal Act and Municipal Corporation Acts in the process. He pointed out that Sec. 14 of Municipal Act categorically provides that elections to constitute a municipality shall be completed before the expiry of its duration of five years. He said "Sec 14 further States that the period of five years shall be reckoned from the date appointed for its first meeting". He said that first meetings of all municipal bodies having been held in March-April 2005, the Elections ought to be have been completed prior to March 2010 which has not been done by the govt. thus creating a legal infirmity in exercise of its powers under the said laws.
Omar praises....
Omar Abdullah said that police force in Jammu and Kashmir has to perform twin duties of tackling militancy and rendering normal policing to ensure order and restrict crimes. "The two are of different nature requiring different methodologies to address", he said appreciating Jammu and Kashmir Police force for handling the different situations with capacity. The Chief Minister said that challenges before Jammu and Kashmir Police force are varied and they have to be fully trained and equipped to face these challenges in a befitting manner. He said that the best service to people is determined by the personal attitude and delivery of justice. He said his government is taking all measures to train police force in the best way possible and equip it with all modern police requirements. He said modernization of Police Department is continuously going on besides upgrading and improving their service conditions. Congratulating the passing out cadets, the Chief Minister advised them to make justice, honesty and public friendly attitude benchmark in service delivery. "You have joined a new family. Your challenges are huge and you will be tested differently", he told them adding that their inner conscience, clear vision, sincerity and honesty should guide them while dealing with crime doers and curbing the crimes in the society. He told them that they have also to deal with order situations often created by vested interests for their gains. "You have to apply your mind rightfully and use least force while dealing with public in the cases of maintenance of law and order", he said. The Chief Minister told the cadets to prove worthy of the uniform by rendering meritorious and praiseworthy service for the department and the State. He said, "you have to abide by your oath you have been administered while entering police service and uphold the principles of rule of law and justice". The Chief Minister also praised the Principal and his team for imparting training to the cadets and making them capable of handling different situations with capability and capacity. Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, Director General Police, Ashok Prasad, Additional Director General Police, Law and Order, K. Rajindra and Principal Police STC Sheeri, Fareed Ahmad also spoke on the occasion. The Director General Police said that 6 Police Training Centres and Police Academy in the State are being upgraded to impart best trainings to the State police force to make it one of the best forces in the country. He said police is the guardian of law and order and Jammu and Kashmir Police has rich tradition of exhibiting bravery and commitment to their duty. As many as 897 cadets after took part in the passing out parade. Constable Mohammad Iqbal who was adjudged all round best cadet in the 9 months training programme was granted one rank promotion. Various awards were also given to the cadets showing excellence in different disciplines.
MPs, the government will think over it and if women MPs demand death penalty for culprits, it was willing to incorporate it in the legislation. Condemning the brutal gangrape incident, the minister said she would write to the Prime Minister requesting him to spend money from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the treatment of the victim.
Lok Sabha....
house, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day. Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, "We will ask the Speaker to take the severest action." The government managed to pass the quota in promotions bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Despite strong opposition from the Samajwadi Party, the bill finally got the backing of 206 members while 10 voted against the legislation in Rajya Sabha which has strength of 245. The quota in promotions bill has put the Congress-led UPA government in a tight spot with its outside supporters - SP and BSP - taking diametrically opposite positions on the bill. While BSP chief Mayawati had made a strong case for it, the Samajwadi Party was isolated in its opposition. The Samajwadi Party is opposed to the bill mainly because it would upset the party's core vote bank that comprises backward castes and Muslims. The Samajwadi Party has nine Rajya Sabha MPs, all of whom voted against the bill. The bill's biggest advocate has been Mr Yadav's rival from Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, who heads the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Her party has 15 Rajya Sabha MPs. Both Mr Yadav and Mayawati do not participate in the ruling UPA coalition, but provide external support to the minority government; both are crucial to its survival. Over the weekend, Mr Yadav had hinted that he may reconsider his support to Dr Manmohan Singh's government if the "quota bill" is cleared. He said on Monday, "We will decide whether or not withdraw support when the time comes." His party has also alleged blackmail - a spokesperson said on Sunday that the government is using a CBI investigation against Mr Yadav and his sons for alleged corruption to force the Samajwadi Party to support the quota bill. The party suggested similar pressure tactics had been used to get Mr Yadav to back the contentious reforms in retail which were cleared by Parliament earlier this month and allow the entry of foreign super-markets like Wal-Mart. Article 335 of the Constitution provides that the claims of Scheduled Castes and Tribes have to be balanced with maintaining efficiency in administration. The Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha last week would override Article 335. The BJP shared it concern over this; the government has reportedly agreed to remove this reference through an official amendment to the bill. There was much chaos in the Upper House all of last week because of protests by Mayawati and Mr Yadav's parliamentarians. The government is worried about squandering more time because it wants Parliament to take up important reforms in the pension and insurance sectors. It has also promised to ensure that the Lok Sabha too approves the quota in promotions Bill before this session of Parliament ends on Thursday, December 20.
Pacific in the top 10 "most expensive" business locations worldwide continued, led by Hong Kong-Central, which has an overall occupancy costs of $246.30 per sq. ft. per annum. The economic slowdown notwithstanding, occupancy costs increased by an average of 2.1 percent worldwide over the past year, led by the Americas with a 5.2 percent annual rise and AsiaPacific with a 2.6 percent rise, Magazine said. Overall, the prime office occupancy costs increased in 74 markets worldwide, dropped in 37 and remained unchanged in 22 markets.
Lokayukta raids....
Chikmagalur and Hassan, Additional Director General of Police-Lokayukta Satyanarayana Rao said. "Raids are continuing", the ADGP added.
Special Tribunals....
Mullappally Ramachandran said, this needs to be examined in consultation with other Ministries. Mr Ramachandran informed the House that while dealing with the case of Uphaar fire tragedy victims, the Apex Court had suggested that the government may consider bringing in legislation to deal with manmade disasters.
Lokpal Bill...
for the Select Committee report to be taken up for debate and consideration of the House is prerogative of the Chair, Jaitley said. Explaining the government's position, Narayanasamy said, "The Select Committee had submitted its report after the Parliament session had started. It was sent to the Law Ministry for consideration and it has given its approval. We are taking the report to the Cabinet for getting the amendments approved." The controversial Bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha last year, faced opposition hurdle in the Rajya Sabha on various provisions, including the one making it mandatory for states to set up Lokayuktas. In view of the sharp divide, the bill was referred to the Select Committee. Narayanasamy was interrupted by Jaitley, who said, "The Select Committee has given its report under Rule 93 and it is the property of the Rajya Sabha. You cannot start acting on it unilaterally. "You do not consider your prerogative to alter the report. This report is here and the report must be taken up for amendments," he said. Earlier, Balagopal and Rajeeve protested as to why the government had not placed the report of the Select Committee before the House for discussion. As agitating members came into the aisle over the issue, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked them to go back saying it was indiscipline and questioned why they did not raise the issue in the Business Advisory Committee meeting. "You should have raised it in the BAC, which you did not do and now you are disrupting. Those parties who are represented in the BAC should raise it there and not here. BAC allocates time. It is very easy to raise it there and get time," he said.
Amidst shutdown...
at them. "Firing has again started. We are busy neutralising the militant," a senior police officer said. Five Lashkar-e-Taiba guerrillas were killed in the protracted gun battle Tuesday when security forces surrounded two houses in the village where a group of guerrillas was hiding. A house and a cow shed were destroyed in the exchange of fire.
Govt to....
crime against women in the country. "It is aimed at changing mindset of men. In the male dominated society such incidents are taking place frequently. So awareness programme should start at adolescent age. It is to ensure the character building of boys so that they respect women - be it mother or sister," she said. On the question of awarding death penalty to rapists, the minister said a Bill amending rape laws suggesting a maximum of life imprisonment for the guilty is pending in Parliament and if the
Gujarat polls....
exit polls which have predicted a hat-trick of wins for BJP in Gujarat. "Opinion polls as we know can be wrong at times. We will see when the results are declared," Omar said in response to a question about the performance of Congress in Gujarat.
Srinagar-Jammu ....
usually cause the highway to be shut down for days together in winters.
New Delhi.....
high," said CBRE South Asia Pvt Ltd Chairman Anshuman Magazine. Similarly, he said, the dominance of Asia-
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STATE
NAGROTA, DEC 19: Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana said that Omar Abdullah is synonymous with peace, progress and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir. He said PDP who have been raving and ranting and indulging in rhetoric to malign the image of Omar Abdullah and his government, have miserably failed because truth always triumphs over falsehood and people's rejection of them has frustrated them. Rana said the efforts of the present government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah have brought peace to the state, progress through unprecedented development and prosperity among people through economic resurgence which has increased the per-capita earnings. Rana who was addressing workers meeting in Dansal and Jhajjar Kotli here today said one is surprised at the
NEWS IN BOX
Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana addressing workers meeting at Dansal on Wednesday. way the PDP conducts itself. "They lie, they lie to cover the first lie, then they finally come out with a lie to take away the attention from all the lies of the past", Rana said adding that first they (PDP) said that government is not keen in conducting panchayat elections but when elections to the panchayats were announced they said people will not participate and when people participated in the elections and voted enthusiastically in great numbers and elected their panchs and sarpanchs, the PDP created bogey that most of the Sarpanchs and Panchs belong to PDP but finally, recently when they had a miserable defeat in the Legislative Council elections they said these elections do not matter knowing fully well that they have lost their ground in the state and people have voted for the politics of good governance, peace, progress and prosperity - a politics of ideology based on principles being nurtured by Omar Abdullah and rejected the divisive politics laced with lies, falsehood, deceit and petty political machinations being perpetuated by parties like the PDP. He said all agree that the establishment of Panchayati Raj despite the false propaganda indulged in by the PDP and canards spread by the PDP, has been one of the greatest achievements of the Omar led coalition and Omar Abdullah's vision for a transparent, accountable governance at the grassroot level. He said it is sad that PDP rather than gracefully accepting defeat is advancing false alibis. He said the myth called PDP will end in 2014 when they will face their waterloo at the hustings. He said the recent elections have proved that the people of the state who are masters in democracy can decipher and make a clean distinction between the right and the wrong, the truth and the myth, the baseless rhetoric and the factual ground reality and have taken the right decision like always. Rana said history teaches you a lot. He said people have not forgotten the history of 1984, 1986, 1990 and 2008 and shall never let a repeat happen. Rana said during the last four years of the Omar led coalition government the state has seen an era of unprecedented, overall, all round development unparallel in the history of the state and which has brought in an economic resurgence and has opened new vistas of employment opportunities for the unemployed youth of the state.
Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad inaugurating an eco tourism hut at Mansar on Wednesday Abdullah was keen to tap the tourism potential in the State, adding that a massive campaign has been launched at Government level to woo the foreign as well as domestic tourists to the State. Describing tourism as back bone of the economy of the State, the Minister said that a large population of the State was associated with this lucrative industry. He said the people have to play their role in the promotion of tourism by way of extending all possible assistance to the tourists during their stay in the state. Terming tourism a viable economic activity, the minister said that 70 percent households in Ladakh are offering paying guest facilities and were earning well. He said on the one hand it generates income for locals
12/20/2012
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Freedom of Speech
BY: NAGRAJ A oday when most of the news agencies are becoming increasingly biased and are part of political parties, the only hope that is left for citizens of any country is the new media, (internet). In the last two decades it has made a difference in the way we share and exchange our information and knowledge with others. But we see an increasing demand to curtail the liberty of internet that it offers to the individuals, by the nations around the world. Today the biased reporting and paid news and propaganda are countered to a larger extent by the internet. People are able to counter the propaganda and paid news through their Blogs, on Facebook, twitter, and other sites, when the paid news is increasingly becoming part of print and television media. In December 3rd an important conference has happened in Dubai, this international conference is going to formulate new telecommunication laws that are going to be implemented by all the countries who are part of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunication Union (ITU). The World Conference on International Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s (WCIT) held in Dubai will dictate the future of the millions of citizens who are using the internet for various purposes. The existing laws which were in place for more then two decades are been
reviewed by 193 members form all the participating countries, which also include the private sector participants, civil society organizations, press and public. What is more important and interesting is this is not a closed door consultations with the member groups. The countries representatives and participating members are all requested to put forward their suggestions and opinions. Talking about the importance of conference and the participation by the countries the SecretaryGeneral of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Dr Hamadoun I. Toure says the ITU has strived for a Multi-stakeholder approach starting from 2003 and in 2005 at the world summit on Information Society. He wants the internet to be kept open not only for business but also for everyone. He also adds that the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Regulations (ITRs) must conform to the ITU Constitution, and nothing in
the revised treaty can diminish that fundamental right to free speech. But we see the opposite happening in few countries where the internet freedom is to a large extent curtailed by few nations. In the African and Middle East countries the internet access is been controlled and monitored by the governments. Few countries have gone to the extent of banning few sites in order to stop the information flow. In the recent conflicts of Middle East and other nations many unheard stories are brought to light though the internet. Many countries and politicians around the world are afraid of Internet then their political opponents. The telecommunications have improved the connectivity with each other and made information accessible to common man. The penetration of mobile connectivity and internet has not only increased the connectivity, but also made individuals aware of events and issues. People are able to share their pain and jubilations around the world with fellow human
beings. Today the support of an individual reaches too far of places during the times of disasters and humanitarian crises. The cries of the victims and the poor are heard throughout the world through the internet, even when the mainstream media fails to report or ignores it. Today many movements around the world are becoming success because of the improved access to communication tools and communication network. The Anna Hazara movement in the country against the rampant corruption was successful because of the various communication technologies available with the citizens, the internet has also played it role in making the movement successful. People were very vocal in expressing their views and opinions through internet. When ever and where ever if citizens of a country raise their voice against the governments, the regimes try to suppress or impose restrictions, especially on media. Today many countries are enacting some stringent laws in order to curb the internet freedom. More than anyone the authoritarian regimes which have never been challenged by its citizens are more worried about the internet freedom, the only way to challenge these regimes is through internet. I am saying that we don't need laws, we need but these laws should me more in protecting and in favor of those who speak the
truth and stand for the others. One of the founding fathers of the internet Vinton Cerf who is also associated with Google is worried about the decreasing internet freedom to citizens around the world. Vinton Cerf in one of the article to the CNN refers to the study conducted by the Open New Initiative which has found that, out of 72 countries studied 42 countries filter and censors the internet content. Vinton is more worried about the backdoor meetings and some proposals that have been leaked to the WICITLeaks website one of the proposals was to Justify censorship of legitimate speech or even justify cutting of internet access under the International Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Regulations (ITRs). Today if we are able to see a change in the Middle East or elsewhere, it is mainly because of the internet freedom that we have. If this freedom is curbed then, we as citizens of the world are going to suffer under the various governments around the world. Finally the outcome of these meetings held in Dubai will be deciding the freedom of speech not for one nation citizens but for the whole world. The outcome would definitely be challenged by few nations and the corporations like Google if they propose to curb the internet freedom. Let us pray for the only Hope Freedom of Speech on Internet that is left to citizens is not taken away.
What is truly puzzling about Mr. Modi's fantastic claims on the disposal of Sir Creek is that such ploys are more typically associated with losing candidates, whereas he is supposed to be poised at the edge of one more victory. That anomaly aside, what his allegations have done is to poison the ground for a breakthrough. It is hardly a secret that the resolution of any territorial dispute requires give and take; this is true for Sir Creek too. Mr. 0Modi's posturing and the UPA's response have politicised the issue, making such compromise even more difficult than it is now, not just for India, but Pakistan too.
of the subjects in the IndiaPakistan composite dialogue that resumed under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's prime ministership in 2004. Six rounds of talks have taken place, the two sides have conducted a joint survey of the creek and exchanged maps showing their respective positions. Despite the conviction that the two countries are tantalisingly close to resolving the issue, there is no agreement yet. Scheduled talks in December 2008 did not take place because of the postMumbai attacks freeze on dialogue. The momentum towards resolution, under pressure of a May 2009 deadline by the U.N. Convention on Law of the Sea for signatories to claim maritime rights over territorial waters, contiguous zones, EEZs and the continental shelf, evaporated. Since last year, the two sides have made attempts to pick up the threads of the negotiations. What is truly puzzling about Mr. Modi's fantastic claims on the disposal of Sir Creek is that such ploys are more typically associated with losing candidates, whereas he is supposed to be poised at the edge of one more victory. That anomaly aside, what his allegations have done is to poison the ground for a breakthrough. It is hardly a secret that the resolution of any territorial dispute requires give and take; this is true for Sir Creek too. Mr. 0Modi's posturing and the UPA's response have politicised the issue, making such compromise even more difficult than it is now, not just for India, but Pakistan too.
STATE WATCH
HARYANA
GUJARAT
ASSAM UTTAR PRADESH PUNJAB 379 kg of Pakistani heroin Quality of education in govt schools not at par: Akhilesh Yadav Expenditure limit for Assam panMeanwhile, women wing not satisfactory and Uttar seized in Punjab in 2012 LUCKNOW: AkhileshPradesh cation is the government will the state besides infrastructure of BJP took outtheprotest march chayat poll candidates announced a development. Chief Minister Yadav therefore
CHANDIGARH: At least 379 kg of heroin originating from Pakistan has been seized in Punjab this year, parliament was told. "There has been reporting of smuggling/trafficking of South West Asian heroin from across the border. This year, 378.785 kilograms of heroin sourced from across the border has been seized in Punjab. This is greater than what was seized in 2009 (97.177 kg), 2010 (171.150 kg) and 2011 (180.244 kg)," Union Minister of State for Home M. Ramachandran told the Lok Sabha. Ramachandran was responding to a question by Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on whether Punjab has become a hub for cross-border drugs smuggling. The minister also told the house that 209.89 kg of opium, 19.22 kg of hashish (charas) and 1,310.67 kg of marijuana (ganja) has been seized in Punjab this year. The minister said that steps were being taken to curb the drug menace in the state. The issue of drug smuggling and addiction in Punjab attracted political controversy when Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi recently said that 70 percent of the state's population was into drugs. His statement was strongly criticised by the state's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, especially Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. acknowledged that the level of education imparted in state government schools is not satisfactory, and said he will soon initiate steps to improve the academic standard in these institutions. "Despite talent in government schools, the level of edusoon take steps for improving it," Akhilesh said. Akhilesh, who was speaking after distributing cheques to girls from minority community under a state-sponsored scheme, termed education a key parameter for all-round development of Noting that women in the state, especially those belonging to the minority community, were lagging behind in the field education, Akhilesh said government's newly-launched scheme is aimed at addressing the problem. against the state government for its decision to cover only girls from minority community under the scheme. The activists also tried to gherao the Chief Minister's residence, but were detained and later released by police. GUWAHATI: The Assam State Election Commission has fixed the maximum limit of expenditure to be incurred by any candidate contesting the upcoming panchayat polls in the state. The maximum expenditure limit for a candidate contesting for the post of Zila Parishad member has been fixed at Rs four lakh, an official statement said today. For elections to the post of Anchalik Panchayat member, the maximum expenditure a candidate can incur is Rs one lakh. Similarly, Rs one lakh has been fixed as the maximum limit for candidates for the post of Gaon Panchayat president. For those contesting for the post of Gaon Panchayat member, the ceiling has been fixed at Rs 10,000. The candidates contesting the election have to submit the statement of expenditures to the State Election Commission through the Deputy Commissioner or SubDivisional Officer within 60 days from the date of declaration of results. Any violation or non-submission of expenditure statement on time will attract legal action, the statement said. The upcoming panchayat elections in Assam will be held in three phases on January 30, February 6 and February 12, 2013. During the last panchayat polls in January-February, 2008, the maximum expenditure allowed for candidates was Rs 40,000 for those contesting for post of Zila Parishad member and Rs 20,000 for those contesting for post of Anchalik Panchayat member. The expenditure ceiling for candidates Rs 20,000 for Gaon Panchayat president and Rs 2,000 for Gaon Panchayat member in the 2008 polls.
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nce upon a time... there lived an unhappy young girl. Unhappy she was, for h e r mothe r w a s dead, h e r father had married another woman, a widow with two daughters, and her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All the nice things, kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. And not just the kind thoughts and love, but also dresses, shoes, shawls, delicious food, comfy beds, as well as every home comfort. All this was laid on for her daughters. But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters' hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No nice rests and comfort. For she had to work hard all day, and only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by
CINDERELLA
the fire, near the cinders. That is how she got her nickname, for everybody called her Cinderella. Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, "Miaow", which really meant, "Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters have and that is beauty." It was quite true. Cindaralla, even dressed in rags with a dusty gray face from the cinders, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be. One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ball was to be held at Court and the stepsisters were getting ready to go to it. Cinderella, didn't even dare ask, "What about me?" for she knew very well what the answer to that would be: "You? My dear girl, you're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters. They will come home tired and very sleepy." Cinderella sighed at the cat. "Oh dear, I'm so unhappy!" and the cat murmured "Miaow". Suddenly something amazing happened. In the kitchen, where Cinderella was sitting all by herself, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. "Don't be alarmed, Cinderella," said the fairy. "The wind blew me your sighs. I know you would love to go to the ball. And so you shall!" "How can I, dressed in rags?" Cinderella replied. "The servants will turn me away!" The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand... Cinderella found herself wearing the most beautiful dress, the loveliest ever seen in the realm. "Now that we have settled the matter of the dress," said the fairy, "we'll need to get you a coach. A real lady would never go to a ball on foot!" "Quick! Get me a pumpkin!" she ordered. "Oh of course," said Cinderella, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat. "You, bring me seven mice!" "Seven mice!" said the cat. "I didn't know fairies ate mice too!" "They're not for eating, silly! Do as you are told!... and, remember they must be alive!" Cinderella soon returned with a fine pumpkin and the cat with seven mice he had caught in the cellar. "Good!" exclaimed the fairy. With a flick of her magic wand... wonder of wonders! The pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the mice became six white horses, while the seventh mouse turned into a coachman, in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes. Contd....
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Born: May 28, 1883 Died: February 26, 1966 Achievements: Founded the Abhinav Bharat Society and Free India Society; brought out an authentic informative researched work on The Great Indian Revolt of 1857 called "The Indian War of Independence 1857"; founded Hindu Mahasabha. Veer Savarkar occupies a unique place in the history of Indian freedom struggle. His name evokes controversy. While some consider him as one of the greatest revolutionaries in the Indian freedom struggle, others consider him a communalist and Machiavellian manipulator. Vir Savarkar was also a great orator, prolific writer, historian, poet, philosopher and social worker. He was an extraordinary Hindu scholar. He coined Indian words for telephone, photography, the parliament, among others. Veer Savarkar's original name was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He was born on May 28, 1883 in the village of Bhagur near Nasik. He was one among four children born to Damodarpant Savarkar and Radhabai. Veer Savarkar had his initial education at the Shivaji School, Nasik. He lost his mother when he was only nine.
and put it back to the starting position with the same hand. Repeat the trick again. Tip: You can also reverse the motions when the coin is at the space between the ring and little finger.
FUN TIME
1. Ek din adaalat mein judge ne ek mujrim ko sajaa sunaate huye kaha, "Iske dono kaan kaat liye jaye." Mujrim ne bahoot bhaye ke saath kaha, "Rahem karo my baap, kaan kaat lenge toh main andha ho jaonga." Judge ne ascharya se poocha kaan kaatne se andhe kaise hoge, mujrim ne kaha "My baap kaan kaat lenge toh main chashma kahan lagaunga."
A quick trip to Mars, Is the first place I will go! Then it's off to see Saturn's rings, And after that, who knows.
2. Ek aurat apne beta ko doctor ke pass le jaati hai aur bolti hai mera beta bike se gir gaya. DOCTOR: I don't know hindi. Tell me in English AURAT: My londa gironda from hero honda. 3. WIFE: Why are you waiting here? HUSBAND: Sher ka shikar karne ja raha hoon!
For now though, I'll stay put; Mom said lunch is at noon. But after that, I'll take-off; My ship is in my room.
WIFE: Toh jao naa khade kyu ho! HUSBAND: Kaise jaau.. Bahar kutta jo khada hai!
4. ONE: Oye tera ek daant neela kyun ho gaya? TWO: Yaar maine ink lagayi hai. ONE: Woh kyun.? TWO: Kyun ke aaj kal "bluetooth" ka zamana hai yaar
FAST FACTS
1. Swift pigeons can fly at a speed of 145 km per hour. They are used in racing as well. 2.ASTRONAUTS in orbit age more slowly than people on earth! 3. Guinea pigs don't require vaccinations. They are not attacked with diseases often. 4. It is observed that the seeds of an Indian Lotus tree would remain viable approximately for 300 to 400 years. 5. The smaller a scorpion is, it will be more venomous. 7. Donkeys have a life span of 30 to 50 years. They would serve for a long time as your pet. 6. Goats get irritated if someone touches their ears.
IMAGE TO COLOUR
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NATIONAL
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar also stressed on the need to have a strict law. "Such incidents put a question mark on our society," the Speaker said. Meanwhile, women MPs belonging to the
BJP-led NDA staged a protest inside the premises of the Parliament today to raise the issue of safety of the feminine gender in the national capital. The women Parliamentarians stood in
outsider as the Himachal chief minister. "I can only say I don't expect this will happen," he said when asked whether a person from outside could lead the government of Congress if the party comes to power. Singh was also dismissive of suggestions that Union Minister Anand Sharma, his known detractor in state politics, stands a chance to become the chief minister. "Whether he (Sharma) is a contender or not, I don't know, but he will not be there," he said when asked whether Sharma is a contender for the chief minister's post. Himachal Pradesh election saw a keen tussle between ruling BJP and Congress. Singh has been seen as a prominent challenger to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.
present and "this is a Catholic country". The Irish government has decided to repeal legislation that makes abortion a criminal act and to introduce regulations setting out when doctors can perform an abortion when a woman's life is regarded as being at risk, including by suicide, the
Dirty corruption in lower levels of governance: Parrikar Rahul to meet Goa Congress leaders Thursday
NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will visit Goa Thursday and interact with party leaders in the state to boost their morale, party sources said Wednesday. The Congress lost the Goa assembly elections to the BJP early this year. The sources said that during the day-long visit, Rahul Gandhi would meet district and block-level Congress committee presidents and candidates of the assembly elections. Later, he will meet elected party members of Panchayati Raj institutions. He will also meet elected Youth Congress and NSUI committee leaders. percent. Corruption of the dirtiest kind is happening at the lowest levels," he said. When Parrikar was sworn-in as the chief minister in March this year, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader had promised a regime with "zero tolerance to corruption". Parrikar said he would be in a position to reduce corruption by 80 to 90 percent. Commenting on the scenario after the Supreme Court imposed the ban on mining, Parrikar said that Goa's GSDP, nearly $3 billion had shrunk by 20 to 30 percent following the ban, which has frozen all mining and allied activity.
Delhi Cabinet review security situation; Shinde announces measures to make Delhi safer
NEW DELHI: Facing flak in view of the Delhi gangrape case, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday morning chaired a meeting of her Cabinet at her residence here. The meeting decided to call a one-day special session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly to discuss the law and order situation in the national capital. The Delhi CM has also summoned Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar to discuss the situation with him. Separately, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde also summoned Delhi Police officials after he received a strongly-worded letter from Congress president Sonia life imprisonment can be given in such cases. The Congress chief has demanded more safety for women. In her letter to Shinde, Gandhi described the gang-rape of a medical student in a moving bus in Delhi as a "shame for all of us who are responsible for security of our cities". The minister was asked to "sensitise police to the danger our daughters, sisters, mothers face every day." Security agencies must be motivated and equipped to "deal with this menace", she stressed in the letter. Gandhi also visited Safdarjang Hospital yesterday where the victim is battling for her life.
PANAJI: Speaking at the Goa Liberation Day rally in the state capital, Parrikar said that the ban on mining by courts has affected Goa's gross state domestic product (GSDP) by around 20 to 30 percent. "I know corruption is going on. But I can say that it has been reduced by 50
"The government will put a stronger case before the Supreme Court, pleading with them to resume legal mining. Over 20 percent of the people in Goa are in financial distress because of the mining ban," Parrikar said, adding that he was working on innovative policies which will make up for the mining shortfall. "The new tax strategies will not affect the common people," he said. Goa celebrates Liberation Day Dec 19 as on this day in 1961 the Indian armed forces liberated the state from over 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule, 14 years after India's Independence.
Gandhi. Shinde announced a series of steps to prevent the recurrence of such crimes. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister said all buses and auto-rickshaws driven by unverified drivers shall be impounded by police. Further, drivers' photographs and other details will be displayed in all public transport vehicles along with helpline numbers, Shinde said. Also, all buses will have to ensure
there is enough light inside and all commercial vehicles will have to keep light on during the night. The Home minister said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a DCP has been set up to monitor the investigation in the Delhi gang rape case. The minister further announced that all PCR vans will be equipped with GPS. As regards punishment, Shinde said a maximum of
NEW DELHI: Government on Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha that it has initiated steps to provide social security benefits to workers in the unorganised sector. With a view to providing social security to unorganised workers, Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said the Unorganised Worker's Social Security Act, 2008 has been enacted. As per a government survey carried out in 2009-10, there were 43.7 crore people employed in the unorganised sector. The Act provides for constitution of National Social Security Board at the central level to recommend schemes related with life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection and any other benefit for unorganised sector workers. "The government has initiated steps in the context of all these social security benefits," the Minister said. Replying to supplementaries, he said there are social security schemes for BPL families, street vendors, workers in the construction and building segment and MNREGA workers. Some of the social security schemes for workers in the unorganised sector include, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, Aam Admi Bima Yojna and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, he added.
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INTERNATIONAL & ECONOMY Inquiry into Benghazi attack is critical of State Department
WASHINGTON: An independent inquiry into the attack on the US diplomatic mission in Libya that killed four Americans on Sept. 11 sharply criticizes the State Department for a lack of seasoned security personnel and relying on untested local militias to safeguard the compound, congressional and State Department officials said. The investigation into the attacks on the mission and CIA annex that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others also faulted State Department officials in Washington for ignoring requests from officials at the US Embassy in Tripoli for more guards and safety upgrades for the diplomatic mission. The panel also blamed the State Department for waiting for specific warnings of imminent attacks to act rather than adapting security procedures and protocols to a deteriorating security environment. By this spring, Benghazi, a hotbed of militant activity in eastern Libya, had experienced a string of assassinations, as well as an attack on a British envoy's motorcade. On June 6, a bomb was planted near the US mission's outer wall, blowing out a 12-foot hole. Finally, the report also blamed two major State Department bureaus - Diplomatic Security and Near Eastern Affairs - for failing to coordinate and plan adequate security at the mission. The panel also determined that a number of officials had shown poor leadership. In response to the panel's findings, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a letter to Congress that she was accepting all 29 of the panel's recommendations, several of which are classified. On Monday, an independent panel that was established to investigate the attack presented the report to the State Department. The panel, called an accountability review board, is led by Thomas R. Pickering, a veteran diplomat. It includes four other members, among them Mike Mullen, the retired admiral who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The State Department sent a lengthy classified version of the report to Congress on Tuesday. Pickering and Mullen are scheduled to meet with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee in closed session Wednesday. On Thursday, William J. Burns and Thomas R. Nides, both deputy secretaries of state, will testify to both panels. Clinton, who is still recovering from a concussion she suffered last week after fainting while sick from a stomach flu, is at home this week. The head of the House panel, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., however, has made it clear that she plans to ask Clinton to testify at a future time.
7
Teachers offered discount on guns after US school shooting
WASHINGTON: A Texas gun store owner is not only encouraging teachers to arm themselves, he is also offering them a discount. After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that took 26 lives, Crocket Keller of Kellers Riverside Gun Store in Austin is offering a special deal for teachers to get a Concealed Handgun License. Instead of paying 110 dollars for the 10-hour CHL class, teachers only need to pay 90 dollars. "I have been counseled by some of my friends that I ought to do it for free, but I can''t afford to do that," Keller said. According to the report, many believe that the key to keeping students safe is providing better security for them, not arming their teachers. "I knew this would come up at some point, there would be people who think the answer is to put guns on campus. Frankly I think it's absurd," Gayle Fallon of the American Federation of Teachers told KRLD in Texas. "Teachers can be as well trained in the use of arms as any policeman can," he said, adding: "The teachers are there all the time, they know what's going on. They are familiar with their surroundings."
NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee will receive the ASEAN leadership at Rashtrapati Bhavan Thursday when they arrive in the capital to participate in the ASEAN-India Special Commemorative Summit, an official statement from the president's office said Wednesday. Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the two-day summit, which will mark the 20th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India dialogue partnership and the 10th
ECONOMY
Govt plans ambitious housing scheme for urban poor India lags several nations in per capita income: Govt
NEW DELHI, DEC 19: The government plans to launch an ambitious housing scheme to woo the urban poor, ahead of the next general elections. The housing and urban poverty alleviation ministry has tapped several central ministries and agencies to prepare a comprehensive package, which will include building high-rise apartments for the urban poor on land owned by central agencies such as the railways and defence; doing away with the cap of Rs 80,000 on home loans under the JNNURM scheme; incentivising construction of homes for the poor; and making it mandatory for builders to reserve 35% of houses in any housing complex for economically weaker sections and lower income groups under the Rajiv Awas Yojana. "Consultations with various arms of the government are on. This will be another game-changer as millions of poor will benefit," said Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Ajay Maken. This move comes in the run-up to the next general elections. Congress had done very well in the urban areas in the 2009 elections, but the government's image has been severely hit by corruption scandals and the perception that it has not done enough in the last few years. A string of defeats suffered by the party in the civic polls of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and other cities post-2009 has worried its leadership, which is looking at ways to reclaim the urban vote. The party had launched the 'Ghar Nu Ghar' affordable housing scheme for women ahead of the Gujarat elections that saw nearly 28 lakh women sign up. "The queues in Gujarat showed us the appetite for affordable homes. Steep real estate prices and expensive loans have discouraged people from buying homes - by far the biggest investment in their lifetime," said a housing ministry official. Congress has decided to make the direct cash transfer scheme - a programme that gives the poor access to welfare scheme funds directly, using the electronicallyenabled Aadhaar card - a major plank of its election strategy. The Food Security Bill and the Land Rehabilitation Bill are also expected to form a part of its election strategy. While housing for the urban poor is a vote-catching proposition, it is a state subject and the 12-18 months left before the next elections is too short a period for construction to happen. "We can't start constructing houses before polls, but we can launch the schemes," said Maken. The minister said the proposed package wasn't just a political move, and added that it was imperative for the government to provide housing for the urban poor. "We are talking about almost 50% of our population, of which 26% live in slums. I think we need to give them some good programmes and policies, which we are working through our re-christened Rajiv Awas Yojana. We are making a number of changes so that this scheme becomes more effective and meaningful." The government has calculated that there is a shortfall of 18.78 million homes in the country, mostly in the lowincome category. The poor in India usually live in unregulated areas, especially slum developments in big cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. Delhi alone has more than 50,000 slums units on railway land and between 5,000 and 10,000 on defence properties. Maken's ministry has had discussions with the railways and defence ministries. "We are looking at how, through Rajiv Awas Yojana, we can straightaway start with slum eradication or improvement of slums or housing in the central government agency areas," Maken said. In addition, the railways and defence establishments have huge tracts of surplus, unutilised land all over the country, especially in habitable regions, and the idea is to develop homes and colonies on them. The minister said the government had failed to achieve certain goals in the first phase of JNNURM. But the gaps will be plugged this time around to make it more relevant. "We would like to be more realistic and in terms of actuals, we would like to give 50% or 80% of the amount which would be spent," Maken said, adding he was expecting the Planning Commission to agree to this proposal. NEW DELHI, DEC 19: India is lagging behind several countries in per capita income due to different levels of development and various other factors, Parliament was informed today. "Yes... India continues to be a developing economy," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and PlanningRajeev Shukla told Lok Sabha in a written reply. He was responding to a query on whether the country is lagging behind several countries in per capita income. Per capita of income is a measure of the amount of money that is being earned per person. The Minister said the reasons for differences in the per capita income of different nations can be attributed to the levels of development besides other factors such as natural resource endowments, economic policies, political stability, differences in skills and technologies, population level etc. India's per capita GDP on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis was USD 3,403 in 2010 and is estimated at USD 3,662.69 in 2011 and USD 3,851.31 in 2012, he added. The Central Statistics Office has been compiling estimates of rural and urban break up of Per Capita Net Domestic Product (NDP), for the base years of National Accounts Statistics (NAS) series, Shukla said. "The latest base year is 2004-05. The per capita income at current prices for the year 2004-05 is estimated at Rs 16,414 in rural areas and Rs 44,172 in urban areas." The per capita net national income rose by 5.2 per cent while wholesale price index based inflation was at 8.9 per cent in 201112. In 2010-11, per capita net national income grew by 6.4 per cent against a WPI inflation rise of 9.6 per cent. In 2009-10, it was 6.6 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively. To a query on measures being taken by the government to improve growth momentum and contain inflationary pressures, the Minister said: "On the growth front, steps have been taken to increase Foreign Direct Investment which would contribute to both greater capital inflows and over the long run, higher productivity thereby inducing growth." Measures have also been taken by the RBI to contain inflation, he added. "The tight monetary policy followed by RBI has the tendency to typically operate through compression of demand in the short run in order to contain inflation," Shukla said.
NEW DELHI,DEC 19: The government has allocated Rs 29,151.89 crore in 2012-13 under various schemes for benefit of families living Below Poverty Line (BPL), theMinister of State for Planning Rajeev Shukla said in Parliament today. For the year 2012-13, government allocated Rs 11,075 crore under the Indira Awaas Yojana for the benefit of BPL families, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning Rajeev Shukla said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. Under Swaranjayanti Swarozgar Yojana/ National Rural Livelihood Mission Rs 3,915 crore was allocated, Rs 8,447.30 crore under the National Social Assistance Programme, Rs 814.59 crore under the Swaran Jayanti Sahari Rozgar Yojana and Rs 4,900 crore under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana. Also, under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS),"government is making allocation of foodgrains for accepted number of 6.52 crore Below Poverty Line families,
Rs 29,151 crore allocated under schemes China names Infosys as its service for BPL families in FY13: Rajeev Shukla outsourcing firm
including 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojanafamilies at 35 kilogram per family per month." Shukla said the allocation of foodgrains for Above Poverty Line (APL) families are made depending upon availability of foodgrains stocks in the central pool and past off take by states/union territories (UTs). "Presently, these allocations range between 15 and 35 kg per family per month in different states/UTs," the minister said. Under Annapurna Scheme, 10kg of foodgrains (rice or wheat) per month are provided free of cost to the destitute who are at least 65 years of age, though eligible but remained uncovered under National Old AgePension Scheme since April 1, 2000. The minister said the government has introduced the National Food Security Bill, 2011 in the Parliament in December, 2011. The Bill seeks to provide 7 kg of foodgrains per person per month for priority households and not less than 3 kg of foodgrains for general households, he added. BANGALORE, DEC 19: Indian IT bellwether InfosysBSE 1.09 % Ltd. has been named as one of the liaison service outsourcing firms by the Chinese commerce ministry for its capabilities, performance and strong growth, an official said Wednesday. "Infosys is the only Indian firm to be included in the list of 100 key liaison service outsourcing firms by the China's ministry of commerce," the global software major said in a statement here. As its wholly-owned subsidiary, Infosys China has development centres in Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian,Hangzhou and Jiaxing with 3,300 employees to offer a range of software services to Chinese enterprises and multi-nationals operating in China. "China's service outsourcing industry has been growing at a rapid pace over the last couple of years. The number of outsourcing firms increased to 16,939 in 2011 from 12,706 in 2010 and the offshore service value shot up to $23.8 billion in 2011, registering 65 percent growth from 2010," the statement noted.
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MISC
Abhimanyu Mithun NEW DELHI: Abhimanyu Mithun will replace an injured R Vinay Kumar who himself had replaced L Balaji in the squad chosen for India's T20 matches against England. Vinay Kumar is suffering from a hamstring strain and will not recover in time for the two T20s scheduled to be played on December 20 and 22, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement. The 28-year-old bowler had been chosen to replace Balaji who had suffered a stress injury to his right big toe and while Vinay Kumar with his 17 wickets for Karnataka in four Ranji matches this season made him a confident choice, Mithun will now take his place.
Executive director of Sahara India Parivar, Ashok Roy Choudhary said, "We are proud to announce Sahara India Pariwar's association with Ms. Saina Nehwal." On the occasion Saina said, "It's a great honour to be associated with Sahara
India Pariwar which apart from being a huge business conglomerate, has also done tremendously for the cause of promotion of sports in India. "This has certainty boosted my confidence and I am sure that I will be able to bring pride to the nation."
became neck breaking only after reaching 4-4. I must say Scott was lucky enough to grab the last frame. All in all, I did give him a tough
fight," said Aditya after the loss. The Mumbai cueist will next be seen playing in Munich Open from January 2013.
should be very proud of the way he's operated out here both as an individual and as a player," the former Zimbabwe captain added. Flower knows the value of Pietersen's 186-run knock in the second Test in Mumbai, and said his innings played a big role in England's turnaround in the series after the crushing defeat in the first Test in Ahmedabad. "In that Test (Mumbai) he showed real
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CHIEF-EDITOR, PUBLISHER, OWNER: Rohit Singh Rana, ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD (J&K):Pawan Rathore, DY. CHIEF EDITOR : Vikram Singh Shan, Bureau Chief Kashmir: Allayee Faizan, LEGAL ADVISOR: Advocate Ashok Parihar EDITORIAL BOARD: NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Shweta Bhat, STATE AFFAIRS: Jaswant Singh Rana, SPORTS EDITOR: Naina Jamwal, GRAPHIC DESIGNER : Baleshwer Bali, DESIGNER: Gagandeep Kour, Abhishek Kashyap CIRCULATION TEAM: Sunil Gupta, Rohit Bakshi, Nikhil Raina. PRINTED AT JK PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS, SUJWAN, JAMMU TAWI. For Contributing articles mail us at callme.ranasahib@gmail.com, editor.studentage@gmail.com. For Complaints, Querries or Advertisement Contact us: 0191-2459701, 2459702. Address: Sector-12, H.No-12 Nanak Nagar, Jammu (All disputes are subjected to the exclusive jurisdiction of Jammu District courts only.)