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8 Pages Rs: 1.00 Jammu Edition www.thestudentage.com

STUdenT aGe
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

JKENG/2012/41612 Vol. 2 No: 15

There is 'no war, no peace' situation on LoC: General K.T. Parnaik

Operationalisation of visa for Pak senior citizens put on hold: Sources

China to continue with controversial one-child policy

IN BRIEF
Prez to award best performing states in agriculture production
NEW DELHI: Bihar, Manipur, Nagaland, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh will be awarded the Krishi Karman 2011-12 awards for their best performance in increasing foodgrain production. An official statement said that the President Pranab contd on page 2

J&K Cabinet reshuffle: Omar drops eight ministers, inducts 10 new faces

MP conducts first-ever vulture census in state

BHOPAL: In Madhya Pradesh, in the first-ever vulture census in Orchha Sanctuary of Tikamgarh district, 125 vultures of four species and their nests have been found. The reports said that for the first time, migratory Cinereous Griffon Vulture, which comes from Himalayas, is also detected in Orchha contd on page 2

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah alongwith other ministers posing for a photograph after cabinet reshuffle. JAMMU, JAN 15: In a farreaching reshuffle of his cabinet, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inducted ten new faces after dropping eight ministers, seven from his National Conference (NC) and one from coalition partner, the Congress. Days after completing four years in office, the 42year-old Omar undertook this major overhaul of his team which included shifting of two of his closest aides, Davinder Singh Rana, his political adviser, and Nasir Wani, Minister of State for Home and Tourism, who have been made provincial Presidents of National Conference for Jammu and Kashmir contd on page 2

Omar allocates portfolios

JAMMU, JAN 15: Following today's cabinet reshuffle, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah allocated portfolios to the members of his council of Ministers.

11 Mr. Raman Bhalla 12 Mr. Akbar Lone 13 Choudhary Ramzan 14 Mr. Ajay Sadhotra 15 Shri Ghulam Ahmad Mir 16 Shri Abdul Majid Wani 17 Shri Mir Saifullah

Himachal gets national agriculture award

SHIMLA: The award, instituted by the central government, was received by Agriculture Minister Sujan Singh Pathania from President Pranab Mukherjee at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan here. Pathania said agriculture, the main occupation of 92 percent in the state, provides direct employment to 69 contd on page 2

Cabinet Ministers
Sr. Cabinet Ministers No. 1 Mr. Tara Chand, Dy CM 2 Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather 3 Peerzada Mohd Sayeed 4 5 6 7 Mr. Ali Mohd Sagar Mian Altaf Ahmad Mr.Taj Mohi-ud-Din Mr.Nawang Rigzin Jora Departments assigned School Education Finance & Ladakh Affairs Public Enterprises, Haj, Auqaf and Floriculture Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Forest, Environment & Ecology Medical Education, Sports and Youth Services Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Agriculture Production Social Welfare, ARI & Trainings and Public Grievances

Housing, Horticulture and Culture Higher Education Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution and Transport Planning & Development and Labour & Employment Tourism R&B and Mechanical Engineering Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs

Governor administers oath to 10 new Ministers

JAMMU, JAN 15 : Governor, Mr. N. N. Vohra, today administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to the new Members in the State Council of Ministers at the Oath Ceremony held at Raj Bhavan. Of them, six are Ministers for the State; three are Ministers of State with Independent Charge and one Minister of State. The Ministers who took Oath as Ministers for the State (Cabinet) are Mr. contd on page 2

Ministers of State
Sr. Ministers of State No. 1 Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Khan 2 Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma Departments assigned MOS (Independent Charge) of Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation a) MOS (Independent Charge) of Fisheries, Cooperative, Printing & Stationery and Elections b)Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Higher Education, Environment contd on page 2

UDF seeks strict action against law breakers

THIRUVANANTHAPURA M: The indefinite strike was launched last week by the pro-Left government employees and teachers against a government move to implement the contributory pension scheme for fresh recruits in government service. The protest was called off early Monday. "The CPIM sponsored strike was a needless contd on page 2

8 Mr. Sham Lal Sharma 9 Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir 10 Ms. Sakina Itoo

Forests,

India to Expand Indigenous Govt warns against jingoism Nuclear Power Programme: PM over border killings
NEW DELHI, JAN 15: Stating that nuclear energy will remain an increasingly Energy's Lifetime Achievement Awards 2011 here, Manmohan Singh said the government will ensure that the safety and livelihood of people were not affected in pursuit of nuclear power. "As we pursue our national growth objectives to meet the rising aspirations of our people, the supply of affordable clean energy will be one of our foremost national challenges and a key priority for our government," he said. "Nuclear energy will remain an essential and increasingly important element of our energy mix. We are in the process of expanding contd on page 2 NEW DELHI: The government Tuesday warned against jingoism over the escalating border tensions with Pakistan, saying that while the entire country is outraged over the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers on the LoC, the responses should be left to "professionals tasked with the responsibility". "Expressing outrage is understood, but there is need to keep away from jingoism," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said on the sidelines of an event here. His statement was in response to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj reportedly saying that if the missing head of an Indian soldier could not be brought back from Pakistan then "at least 10 heads should be brought from their side". "There is no doubt that the entire country is outraged about the way our armed forces have been treated. However, the response is best left to professionals who are tasked with the responsibility," he said."There is need to calm down...There has to be an element of sobriety,' he said. National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon today briefed senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun contd on page 2

Omar revamps National Conference

Rana, Nasir appointed as NC Provincial Presidents
JAMMU JAN 15: The governor accepted the resignations of six ministers from the National Conference and one from the Congress coalition partner. Abdullah had Monday asked for the resignations of all party ministers and advisors to revamp the party. The Working President of the J&K National Conference, Omar Abdullah has appointed Shri Devender Singh Rana as the Provincial President Jammu and Shri Nasir Aslam Wani as the Provincial President Kashmir. The Working President contd on page 2

Ready to meet all challenges: Indian Army Chief

NEW DELHI: Indian Army on Tuesday said that the sacrifice made by two of its soldiers, who were brutally killed by Pakistan troops on January 8, will not go in vain and it will give a stern response to the hostile nation at an appropriate time. Addressing his men and the country on the occasion of 65th Indian Army Day, Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh on Tuesday said that the contd on page 2

New office bearers of NC appointed

JAMMU JAN 15: The Working President of the J&K National Conference, Omar Abdullah has appointed the following as the new office bearers of the party:a. Sr. Vice President 1) Shri Surjit Singh Slathia b. Vice Presidents 1) Shri Qamar Ali Akhoon 2) Aga Rahulla Mehdi 3) Shri Rattan Lal Gupta 4) Shri Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari contd on page 2

Governor accepts Ministers' resignation

JAMMU, JAN 15: The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. N N. Vohra, on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Surjit Singh Slathia, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Abdul Gani Malik, Aga Syed Ruhulla Mehdi, Rajinder Singh Chib, Nasir Aslam Wani and Javid Ahmad Dar, with immediate effect. The resignations of these members of the Council of Ministers contd on page 2

important element of the nation's energy mix, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday that India was in the process of expanding its indigenous nuclear power programme. Addressing a gathering at the conferment of Department of Atomic

Tahir ul-Qadri foments people against Zardari regime

NEW DELHI: perhaps people across the globe is set to witness another Arab spring as anti-government sentiments are becoming sharp in Pakistan after emergence of Minhajul Quran International chief Muhammad Tahir ulQadri in Islamabad. Thousands of protesters on Monday marched towards Islamabad to join the massive rally called by the Muslim cleric Qadri against the PPPled Pakistan government. Qadri, who returned to

Pak SC orders arrest of prime minister

ISLAMABAD: The apex court ordered the prime minister's arrest along with 16 others during the hearing on a power rental case. The court also ordered that the arrested people be produced before it later Tuesday, reports said. Earlier Tuesday, the apex court said Pakistan's general elections, contd on page 2

Pakistan last month after spending eight years in Canada, marched into Jinnah

Avenue located in the heart of Islamabad with tens of thousands contd on page 2

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STUDENT AGE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

2
Ready to ...
Indian Army is ready to meet all challenges. "I can say with pride that we have always met the expectations of the nation and played a key role in national development," Gen Singh said addressing the parade at Delhi Cantonment. Speaking after presenting gallantry awards to Army heroes, the Army Chief assured countrymen that Indian Army is ready to meet all challenges. "We are ready to make scarifies needed to keep the nation safe," he said. Gen Singh said that soldiers are doing a great job in defending our borders that are located in some of the most arduous regions of the world. "We have maintained operational readiness at the highest levels," he stressed. "We are committed to the core values of the country. Our track record on human rights is regarded as the best in the world," he added. The Army marks this day, which is held every January 15, to pay homage to the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. Homage was paid to martyred soldiers at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. The Minhaj University. In January 2011, Qadri spoke at the World Economic Forum. The same year in July, he gave a lecture on the issues of terrorism and integration at the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney and discussed terrorism and possible troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. On September 24, 2011, Minhaj-ul-Quran convened the "Peace for Humanity Conference" at Wembley Arena in London. This conference was endorsed by supportive messages from - the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, David Cameron, British Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, British Deputy Prime Minister, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. On November 30, 2011, Qadri delivered a lecture at the Peaceful Future of Afghanistan conference in Istanbul, Turkey which was organised by the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution of George Mason University together with Marmara University. On February 22, 2012, Qadri visited India and stayed here for a month. During his stay in India, he delivered a message of peace and said: "Terrorism has no place in Islam."

Contd. from page 1...

Prez to award....
Mukherjee will present these awards to the chief ministers of these states today. The award carries a trophy, a citation and cash reward of 2 crore rupees for total foodgrain production. An official statement said that the President Pranab Mukherjee will present these awards to the chief ministers of these states today.

MP conducts....
Sanctuary. The reports said that the vulture census was conducted scientifically on 17th and 18th December last year in different areas of Orcha sanctuary by a team of trained enumerators. Fifty indigenous vultures, 63 White Backed, 9 Egyptian and 3 King vultures have been found in the Sanctuary. Number of vultures has also declined in Madhya Pradesh during the last two decades. Due to this, the Forest Department is making special efforts for vulture conservation. There are 22 species of vulture of which 15 are found in eastern and 7 in western countries. According to some experts, only 3 percent vultures have survived in the world.

Khan (Gurezi) were administered the Oath as the Ministers of State with Independent Charge, while Mr. Vikar Rasool Wani took Oath as Minister of State. Present on the occasion were First Lady, Mrs. Usha Vohra; Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah; Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Tara Chand; Chairman, Legislative Council, Mr. Amrit Malhotra; Deputy Chairman, Legislative Council, Mr. M. Y. Taing; Ministers; Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz, MP and President, Pradesh Congress Committee; Members of Parliament; Mr. Mohan Prakash, General Secretary AICC, In-charge J&K; Legislators; Chief Executive Councillors of Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils; Chief Secretary, Mr. Madhav Lal; Director General of Police, Mr. Ashok Prasad, senior Civil and Police officers, political leaders and prominent citizens. Earlier, the Governor on the recommendation of Chief Minister accepted the resignations of Mr. Surjit Singh Slathia, Mr. Qamar Ali Akhoon, Mr. Abdul Gani Malik, Aga Syed Ruhulla Mehdi, Mr. Rajinder Singh Chib, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani and Mr. Javid Ahmad Dar from the Council of Ministers.

India-China military officials hold Annual Defence Dialogue

BEIJING: Top defence officials of India and China today began two-day fifth Annual Defence Dialogue here to discuss a host of issues concerning the bilateral military ties including resumption of joint exercises this year. The talks were being held between the tri-service Indian delegation headed by Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma and Deputy Chief of Staff of People's Liberation Army (PLA) Lt Gen Qi Jianghuo, according to Indian officials here. The two sides are expected to work out a road map to resume joint military exercises this year. The joint exercises aimed improving the ties between the two militaries were held at Kunming (China) in 2007 and Belgaum in 2008 and later stopped after China began issuing stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir since 2009. Under this policy, China declined visa to Lt Gen B S Jaswal on the ground that he was commanding forces in the "disputed and sensitive" region of Jammu and Kashmir, which lead to India halting its military ties with China. Beijing subsequently rolled back the policy paving the way for resumption of military ties. Also, the two countries established consultation and coordination mechanism to deal with border incidents arising out of the patrolling of the disputed areas and began consultations on maritime security issues as their navies are currently involved in countering pirate attacks in Gulf of Aden.

Himachal gets....
percent population. "About 18.03 percent of GSDP (gross state domestic product) is contributed by agriculture and allied sectors alone," he added. According to him, the average size of land holding in the state was around 1.10 hectares and the marginal and small farmers constituted 86.4 percent of the total farmers.

India to Expand ...

our indigenous nuclear power programme." The prime minister said the first nuclear reactor with Russian collaboration at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu would start operating soon and the second reactor would follow by year-end. "Even as we implement our power programme, we will continue to ensure that nuclear power remains wholly safe. The Fukushima incident in 2011 raised justifiable safety concerns about nuclear power," he said. "I am happy that reviews of all our nuclear power plants have been completed. Our cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency has been enhanced, and the first Operational Safety Review Team recently visited the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station," he said. He said parliament was also examining a bill to set up a new Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority.

Omar revamps...
has also dissolved the Provincial Committees of Jammu province and Kashmir province with immediate effect and announced that the same shall be recast in the near future.

Pak SC .....
due later this year, will be held on time, and the Election Commission should be ready for it. The move came as a populist cleric, who is believed to be backed by the military, demanded the resignation of the government in protests attended by thousands of followers in the heart of the capital Islamabad. The Supreme Court gave authorities 24 hours to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and 16 others. Pakistan's stock exchange fell by nearly three percent after news of the court order, highlighting anxiety over political uncertainty. The cleric, Muhammad Tahirul Qadri, threatened to remain camped out near the federal parliament with thousands of supporters until his demands were met. Qadri recently returned home from Canada to lead a call for reforms that has made him an instant hit among Pakistanis disillusioned with the state. It was not clear how much of a potent threat the two events posed for the U.S.backed civilian government, but the court order and the mass protest around the parliament complex are the latest in a series of challenges for the administration. In a speech from behind a bullet-proof shield in front of parliament, Qadri praised the military and the judiciary, the country's two other power centers. "(The government) has wasted and brought a bad end to our armed forces, those armed forces who are highly sincere, highly competent and highly capable and highly professional," he said, alternating between Urdu and English. "Even they can't do anything because the political government isn't able to deliver anything from this land. Judgments are being passed by our great, independent judiciary but the government is not ready to implement them." A spokesman for the cleric said protesters would remain camped around parliament until the government dissolved the legislature and announced the formation of a caretaker government. At one point, security forces fired in the air and used tear gas to try and control the crowd. Interior Minister Rehman Malik later told local television channels the government would not cave in to Qadri. "We will not accept Qadri's pressure because his demands are unconstitutional," Malik said.

New office bearers ....

c. Central Secretary (Jammu) 1) Shri Abdul Gani Malik (Incharge Parliamentary constituency KathuaUdhampur-Doda) 2) Kr. Rashpal Singh ( Incharge Parliamentary constituency Jammu-PoonchRajouri) d. Central Secretary (Kashmir) 1) Dr. Mehboob Beig

There is 'no war, no peace' situation on LoC: General K.T. Parnaik

NEW DELHI: There is a state of "no war, no peace" along the Jammu and Kashmir border, a senior Indian Army commander said Tuesday. Stating that his Northern Command had adequate forces on the Line of Control (LoC), General K.T. Parnaik said the army "has a system to graduate from this system (no war, no peace) to a higher form of alert". The general told in a press confrence that he had ordered his forces on the winding LoC to "to remain on alert". "If provoked gravely, we have an appropriate response in mind." The general spoke hours after the Indian government made it clear that Pakistan's denials of brutally killing two Indian soldiers near the LoC Jan 8 would affect bilateral relations. He said at the lower level of the Pakistani Army, "there seems to be a sense of arrogance. They want to target our troops anywhere and everywhere". He said there "must be frustration" in the Pakistan Army because infiltration of terrorists into India had not largely succeeded and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was also largely peaceful. At Monday's flag meeting between the Indian and Pakistani brigadiers, Gen. Parnaik said the Pakistani representative "had come with a written script". "The body language was rigid and they were not ready to accept anything (we said). They are in a denial mode."

UDF seeks ....

one and it failed to win support not only from their own employees but also from the people," UDF convenor P.P. Thankachen told reporters. "We have asked the government to see that strict action is taken against all those who caused damage," he said.

Governor accepts ....

were recommended and forwarded to the Governor by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.

Tahir ul-Qadri ....

of supporters and gave the government ultimatum to quit and dissolve the national and provincial assemblies. He declared that he was leading "people's democratic revolution". The cleric's party had signed an agreement with the Islamabad administration to hold a peaceful protest a few kilometres from the National Assembly, but the cleric surprised authorities by inciting his followers to remove barricades and move towards a square near Parliament. Qadri had earlier addressed a large gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on December 24 and gave the government time till January 10 to carry out electoral reforms. That time, he had also warned to lead a march in Islamabad with his followers on January 14 and stage a sit-in protest in support of his demands. Terming Pakistan government corrupt and dysfunctional, Qadri demanded postponement of upcoming general elections. He also sought help from Pakistan Army to support his movement. Meanwhile, fearing of any untoward situation, President Zardari has sent his family members to Dubai. Police fired in the air and used teargas to disperse followers of the influential cleric after they clashed with security forces. Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the media that security forces fired in the air after Qadri's supporters pelted them with stones. The ruling Pakistan People's Party, main opposition PML-N and other major parties have accused Qadri of acting a front for the security establishment and foreign elements to delay the general election scheduled to be held by May so that that the term of an interim administration can be prolonged. Born on February 19, 1951, Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri, is a Pakistani Sufi scholar and former professor of international constitutional law at the University of Punjab. Recently, he was described by the CNNIBN as the 'International Peace Ambassador'. Graduated in law at the University of the Punjab, and then accomplished his PhD in Islamic Law It was in 1981, when Qadri founded a Sufism-based organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran International and spent almost a decade in expanding it nationally and internationally. Over the past 30 years, the organisation has reportedly expanded to over 90 countries. In 2010, Qadri issued a 600-page Fatwa on Terrorism, which is an absolute scholarly refutation of terrorism in its all forms without any excuses or pretexts. He said that "Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it has no place in Islamic teachings and no justification can be provided for it." During the March 2011 session, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted special consultative status to his organisation. The objectives of Qadri's organisation is to promote a moderate and nonextremist vision of Islam and educating youth through methods of Sufism. He also founded

Govt warns....
Jaitley on the situation on the Line of Control (LoC) and assured government's appropriate response to Pakistan over the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers. According to reports, NSA arrived at the residence of Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, where he briefed the two senior BJP leaders about the government's stand on the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers' by the Pakistan troops recently. During the meeting, which lasted for about 60 minutes, the two BJP leaders sought an explanation from Menon over the government's slow response to Pakistan in the aftermath of the ceasefire violation and soldiers' killing. The meeting between the NSA and senior BJP leaders came a day after Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh said that his forces "reserve the right to retaliate". Army Chief's statement came after a strong protest was lodged with the Pakistan Army at the flag meeting along the LoC, which divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries. Pakistan has categorically denied the charge. The January 8 killing of Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Lance Naik Hemraj who was decapitated - in the Mendhar sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops was a "gruesome and an unpardonable act", Army Chief said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and party leader Rajnath Singh met the family of Lance Naik Hemraj earlier in his home town Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Gadkari demanded that the government should "isolate" Pakistan. "The Pakistani government is provoking people with what they are doing," he told reporters, demanding an apology. "The government should isolate Pakistan as the incident has disturbed not just the family of the slain martyrs but also every Indian," he added. Border tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated since Jan 6 when a Pakistani soldier was killed allegedly in firing by Indian troops on the Line of Control that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Two days later (Jan 8), two Indian soldiers were killed, including one beheaded, by Pakistani soldiers in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The soldiers were identified as Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Lance Naik Hemraj of the Rajputana Rifles. Hemraj's headless body was recovered after the Pakistani assault. A Pakistani soldier was killed two days later in alleged firing by Indian troops along the LoC. Both countries have summoned the envoys of the other in their respective national capitals to register their protest over the killing and a flag meeting was also held Monday between their forces.

J&K Cabinet....
respectively. Jammu and Kashmir, the only state where the legislative Assembly has a six-year tenure, is due to go to polls before December 2014 and Omar made it clear that this would be his ministerial team all the way to the elections barring anything unforeseen. Besides Wani, others dropped were Surjit Singh Slathia, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Abdul Gani Malik, Aga Syed Ruhulla Mehdi, Javid Ahmad Dar of NC and Rajinder Singh Chib of Congress in the first reshuffle carried out by Omar after assuming the office of Chief Minister on January five, 2009.

Omar allocates ....

and Ecology, Labour and Transport 3 Mr. Shabir Ahmad Khan MOS (Independent Charge) Health 4 Mr. Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo a) MOS (Independent Charge) of Industries & Commerce b) Minister of State for Home, R&B and Mechanical Engineering, Housing & Urban Development, Tourism & Culture 5 Mr.Feroz Khan a) MOS (Independent Charge) of Science & Technology and Information Technology b) Minister of State for Medical Education, School Education, Youth Services & Sports 6 Mr. Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) a) MOS (Independent Charge) of Animal & Sheep Husbandry. b) Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Horticulture, Agriculture & Floriculture 7 Mr. Viqar Rasool a) MOS (Independent Charge) of Technical Education b) Minister of State for Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development and Panchayats, Social Welfare, Power, Hospitality & Protocol, Information and Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution The charge of Home, General Administration, Power Development, Information, Civil Aviation, Hospitality & Protocol, Estates and all other departments not allocated to any other Minister shall be with the Chief Minister.

DLRC meet held at Kathua

JAMMU, JAN 15: Lead Bank Office State Bank of India (SBI) Kathua, organised DLRC/DCC meeting of bankers and various departments of Kathua district to review the flow of credit under ACP 2012-13, performance of banks in key areas relating to deposits, advances under priority sector lending for the quarter ended September 2012 and review under Government Sponsored Programmes. The meeting was chaired by District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Zahida Parveen Khan. The prominent person who attended the meeting were Manoj Kapur, CPO, Kathua, Ram Kauwar, LDO, RBI, Aman Kalsotra, AGM(DD), NABARD, Kathua, LDM, SBI, V.K. wali, Suresh Kotwal, Cluster Head, J&K Bank, Kathua, Mahinder Kumar, Director, R-SETI, Kathua among others. The DDC took a detailed review of SGSY / JKSES /SC-ST-OBC / KVIB / KVIC / DIC / SJSRY / Handloom / Handicraft, with special emphasis on KCC. In this connection she advised to banks / departments to complete the cent percent coverage of farmers under KCC. The DDC was informed that as on December 2012, 23000 cases have been sponsored by the Agriculture Department of which more than 19000 cases have been sanctioned by the banks. She emphasized upon the banks to expedite cases for linkage under various schemes and achieve the allocated targets for 2012-13. She also asked for sponsoring of cases under SGSY, SJSRY and JKSES. She impressed upon the banks and line department, to ensure effective coordination in their working, so as to achieve the desired results. LDO RBI emphasized upon achieving the CD ratio of 40 percent in the district by March 2013, which currently stands at 32.70 percent. He exalted upon the bankers to come forward in lending in key areas, so as to achieve the desired CD ratio. He also emphasized on the financial inclusion of all unbanked villages in the district. DDM, NABARD discussed SHGs, Farmers Clubs, Financial Inclusion, among other issues. He also informed about the initiatives taken by NABARD in the last few months viz. SHG training programmes, workshop on Forward Markets for farmers of Kathua etc. LDM, Kathua while presenting the Annual Action Plan for the year 2012-13, informed the house that the priority sector target are ` 280.73 crores, the banks have achieved 44% of the set target which is 123.04 crore by the second quarter. Under the Non-priority sector, achievement stood at 54 crores, which is 26.70% of the target. The deposit in the district stood at 2390crores and advance to the tune of Rs. 783 crores. The bankers were asked to go in for aggressive lending and organise awareness camps in their area.

DDC orders payment to ponywalas, pithoos through banks

REASI, JAN 15: In order to ensure timely and smooth payments to Pithoos/Ponywalas/Palkiwalas for providing services to pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Katra on the track from Katra to Bhawan, the District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Mrs. Nirmal Sharma has ordered that hire charges payable to the Pithoos/ Ponywalas/ Palkwalas shall be paid to them through Bank accounts only. As such, all Pithoos/Ponywalas /Palkiwalas shall furnish the particulars of their Bank Accounts No. to Municipal Committee Katra, within 15 days i.e upto 31st January 2013, so that hire charges payable to them are directly credited to their Bank accounts by Municipal Committee, Katra on daily basis from February 2013. No cash payment shall be made to Pithoos/ Ponywalas/ Pakiwalas within the given time frame, she added. The banks shall ensure that no frill accounts are opened in the name of Pithoos/ Ponywalas/ Palkiwalas within the given time frame.

Governor ....
Mohammad Akbar Lone, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mr. Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Mr. Abdul Majid Wani and Mr. Mir Saifullah. Mr. Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Mr. Feroz Ahmad Khan and Mr. Nazir Ahmad

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STUDENT AGE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

STATE
CHENANI, JAN 15: The Environment Committee of Legislative Assembly visited Chenani to inspect the measures taken by the Executing agency at the construction site of the upcoming Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Led by the Committee chairman, Mr Mohammad Yousf Targami, the committee members went around the construction site and took stock of the construction activities and environment protection measures taken by the construction agency. The project includes construction of two 9 kms long parallel tunnels one main and the other escaping tunnel. The Chairman, while taking stock of the overall construction activities at the construction site, was told that tunnel project was a part of up-gradation, strengthening and four laneing of National Highway connecting Jammu and Srinagar. MLAS, Mr. Mohammad Yaseen Shah, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Mr. Krishen Chander, Dr.Shafi Ahmed Wani, Prof. Gharu Ram, Mr. Charnjeet Singh and Mr. Mohammad Sharif Naz accompanied the Chairman. While deliberating the salient features of the project, the Chairman said that the main aim of the team headed by him is to see on the spot, whether the concerned construction agency is following the guidelines framed by the State Government, besides providing all the facilities to the workers under labour laws including wages, health care food etc keeping in mind the environment concerns in the mind. The Chairman asked the executing agency to meet the environment norms and make all efforts for completion of the project, so that the people may get benefitted as early as possible. Mr. Tarigami while assessing the measures taken by the construction agency for the protection of environment and wellbeing of the labourers said "No doubt, we want excess extra development activities for generating more employment opportunities, but at the same time we shall to take care of the environment concerns. He said we have some concerns about the protection, because it is an important component for sustainable development and prosperity of the State". Earlier, the Deputy General Manager, Lighten and G. V. Rao Project Director IL&FS,J.S Rathore through power presentation briefed the committee about the project details, salient features, progress, environmental plan and employment provided to locals. The Chairman was informed that more than 800 locals have been employed, besides thousands of non skilled people are also engaged in construction works. The meeting was told that workers are being provided free food and transportation, while the agency has kept two Ambulances available for meeting any eventuality. It was further told that 50% work has been completed and 30 per cent of the project cost Rs.2627 crore has been booked so far. It was said that 5308 m of escape tunnel and 4066 m of main tunnel has been completed .The Committee members were told that construction agency was strictly adhering to laws, regulations and contractual obligations. It was told that measures are put in place to prevent pollution, reduce carbon footprint, conserve resources and conserve environment in the surroundings. It was also told that all Gensets are being used with acoustic enclosures besides using sewerage treatment (STPs) in all the camps. The committee was also told that on completion of the tunnel, it will reduce 31 kms distance journey on J&K National Highway and will provide better road connectivity to valley. The meeting was told that the wastage/debris is being dumping at designated places. As for environmental protection,

NEWS IN BOX

Kafeel, Sharma nominated Vice-Chairmen

JAMMU, JAN 15: The Government today nominated Mr. Kafeel-ul-Rehman MLA, Karnah as the Vice-Chairman of Advisory Board for the Development of Pahari Speaking People. Mr. Rehman would have the status of a Minister of State. According to another order, the Government nominated Mr. Radhay Sham Sharma MLA, Nowshera as the Vice Chairman of Advisory Board for the Development of Kissans in the State. Mr. Sharma would also have the status of a Minister of State.

LA panel inspects environment protection measures at Chenani Tunnel

regular monitoring of the quality of air and water is being carried out for pollution checking and reports being submitted to the NHAI. The filling of dump sites are in progress and the plantation will take up once the project is completed. It was further told that the wages to the workers were being paid through banks accounts, besides the Workers working in the tunnel are getting tunnel allowances. It was also said that 58 workers were trained at Gurgaon with all expenses borne by the company. On the occasion, some labours and locals put forth their problems before the Chairman .Mr. Tarigami directed the authorities to redress the grievances and once again stressed upon the agency to strictly follow the guidelines. Earlier, CommissionerSecretary, Revenue Mr. B.A. Runyal, gave a brief account about the land acquired for the project and the compensation paid to the owners.

Govt orders regularization of Lecturers

JAMMU, JANUARY 15: The School Education Department has issued regularization orders of Lecturers in the disciplines of English, philosophy, Geography, Zoology, Persian, Urdu, Computer Sciences, Stenography, Physics, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Dogri and Sanskrit. The details of lecturers who stand regularized are available on the website of Education Department, www.jkeducatio.gov.in.

Mobile phones, cameras, arms in MA Stadium prohibited

JAMMU, JAN 15: Senior Superintendent of Police, Security Jammu has appealed the general public that in order to ensure security and facilitate entry into M.A. Stadium people are requested not to carry mobile phones, cameras, arms, ammunition, sharp edged weapons, hand/polythene bags, ladies purse, Tiffin boxes, transistor, patromax, Handy Free fire extinguishers, stop watches, pens, any kind of powder, inflammable material like cigarettes, match boxes, lighter and objectionable items.

Arrangements for National Voters Day reviewed

REASI, JAN 15: District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Nirmal Sharma, who is the District Election Officer, convened a meeting in connection with the celebration of National Voter Day on 25th January, 2013. ACR Reasi, ACD Reasi, Principal Degree College Reasi, Tehsildar Reasi and EO municipality Reasi participated. DC stressed for proper arrangement for the successful celebration of National voters day. He stressed the officers to make efforts so as to create awareness among the people about the importance of vote. All officers were directed to cooperate for the successful celebration of the day. The National Voter Day is to be celebrated in all the blocks on 25th January 2013

Jammu- Srg NH to remain closed on Jan 17

JAMMU, JAN 15: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway shall remain closed for all types of traffic on January 17 and no vehicular traffic either from Jammu or Srinagar shall be allowed. According to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, the weather forecast for January 17 predicts heavy snow fall in Pir Panjal range, particularly in Qazigund-Banihal sector. Keeping in view the safety and security of passengers, drivers, the Traffic department has decided to suspend traffic on JammuSrinagar National Highway on January 17. However, the decision can be reviewed in case of fair weather and road condition. The general public and transporters can contact the Control Rooms at ICU Ramban9419993745, TCU Jammu-2459048, 9419147732 and TCU Srinagar-01942450022 for getting up-dates.

564 income generating units sanctioned RD arrangement

UDHAMPUR, JAN 15: The Annual Action Plan for the current year under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) and District Rural D e v e l o p m e n t A g e n c y ( D R D A ) Administration was approved to the tune of Rs. 131.76 Lacs and Rs.155.36 lacs respectively during a Governing Body Meeting of the Agency which met under the Chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, P. K. Pole, here today. The meeting was attended by Joint Director Planning Udhampur, Rakesh Jamwal, Project Officer, DRDA, Mr. Susheel Kumar, Assistant Commissioner Development, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, IAS Prob. Ms. Deepti Uppal, Lead District Manager SBI, District Officers of Line Departments, Block Development Officers, Bankers and NGOs working in DRDA Udhampur. Stressing the need for greater awareness of SGSY among the people especially those living in remote areas, the DDC instructed the officers of DRDA to organize five awareness camps in each block of the district during the current year so that deserving beneficiaries could be accommodated for their economic upliftment. He said a compendium of departmental programmer for self employment be supplied to each panchayat through Block Development Officers so that correct information is available with all the PRIs about the schemes and functioning of different departments in the district. Under Infrastructure Development, different works were reviewed and on spot instructions were issued to the concerned officers for the timeline completion of Animal Care Center, Hartyan, Sheep Care Center, Gharrian and Vocational Training Center at Jakhed. Construction works including construction of Swarozgaries Training Center at Block HQ Ghordi, Multipurpose Swarozgaries Hall at Dubigali and Multipurpose Swarozgaries Hall at Bhatyari being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.10 Lacs were also approved during the meeting. Project Officer DRDA outlined the salient features of SGSY scheme for poverty reduction of Below Poverty Line Population by assisting them in starting their income generating units, organizing rural poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) through a process of social mobilization, their training and capacity building. The Project Officer informed the house that Udhampur District exceeded the allotted SGSY target during the last financial year 2011-12. Elaborating the achievements, he told the house that against target of 479 units, 564 income generating units were sanctioned. So far 271 income generating units have been sanctioned during the current financial year, he added. The house was also informed that Chenani Block of District Udhampur has been identified as one of the two blocks in Jammu province for launch of NRLM.

finalized in Kulgam

DC Kulgam stresses colourful celebration of national festival

KULGAM, JAN 15: The arrangement made in connection with forthcoming Republic Day were given final touch here at a meeting of district officers, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Mir. It was decided that Information department will play Shahnai Wadan at the daybreak at DC office and other vintage points to herald the national festival celebrations. While the R&B department will make barricading and tent arrangements for comfortable accommodation of audience, the PHE and PDD departments have been asked to ensure uninterrupted water and power supply at the venue. CMO has been directed to ensure first aid facility and deploy a van fitted with all the basic treatment provisions at the venue. Besides contingents of police, CRPF, JKAP, Fire service as many as 10 contingents of different schools will participate in the March Past of the high profile national event. To make the celebrations colourful a total of 10 cultural troops comprising school children belonging to different educations institutes with various social strata will demonstrate a variety of cultural programmes depicting unique ethos and traditional culture of the state. In his speech, the Deputy Commissioner impressed upon the officers to ensure participation along with the staff in the national festival. He said the assignments given to different officers need to be carried out with utmost care and proficiency. Jahangir called upon the security agencies to intensify the vigil and ensure the foolproof security throughout the district with focus at the venue and the towns. He also called for organizing similar functions at all the tehsils and Niabats. Among others, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shafi, Assistant Commissioner Revenue G.H. Sheikh besides sectoral heads and officers of CRPF and army attended the meeting.

News item refuted

SRINAGAR, JAN 15: Refuting the news item regarding presence of tap worm in water supply in Jawahar Nagar locality, the Chief Engineer, PHE department, Kashmir has stated that the water supply to the locality is provided from Dood Ganga system having Rapid Sand type water treatment plants with proper disinfection system in place, adding that a team of officers was also deputed for spot inspection who have reported that installed storage tank mounted on bathroom roof slab is connected with the direct supply system of the consumer which is in damaged and unhygienic condition.

R-day arrangements finalized in Doda

DODA, JAN 15: To finalize the arrangements for smooth and enthusiastic celebration of Republic Day-2013 in Doda, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Mr. A.K Koul today convened a meeting of District and sectoral officers. During the meeting it was finalized that the main function will be organized in Sports Stadium Doda in case of fair weather and at DPL Doda in case of unfavorable weather conditions, where VVIP/VIP will hoist the tricolor and take salute of the march past contingents of JKP, CRPF,FPF, NCC and School children. It was decided that a colorful cultural programme will be presented by the school children on the occasion and full dress rehearsal will be conducted on 24th of January 2013. Various other arrangements were also finalized in the meeting which includes security, power supply, sanitation and cleanliness of the city, first aid facility, seating arrangement, drinking water facility etc besides other necessary arrangements were also reviewed. ADC, Mr. Koul stressed upon all the officers to put in place all the arrangements well in time for the smooth celebrations of the national day in the District.

Div Com asks administration to be in a state of prepared in view of snow forecast

SRINAGAR, JAN 15: In view of the possibility of moderate to heavy snowfall due to approaching western disturbance, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon has enjoined upon all Deputy Commissioners, heads of departments and Superintendents of Police to activate their manpower and machinery and also exhorted them to be in a state of preparedness to minimize disruption of essential services including road connectivity, electric supply, water supply and health care services. Pertinent to mention that due to western disturbance moderate to heavy snowfall over hilly areas of Pir Panjal and light to moderate snowfall at many places in Kashmir division is forecasted from January 16 to 18, 2013, which is likely to intensify on January 17 and 18, 2013.

Preparations for IPPI programme reviewed

JAMMU, JAN 15: Over 1257 vaccination booths would be setup in all blocks of district Jammu to immunize children during Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) drive to be organized on January 20, 2013 in the first phase and February 24, 2013 in the 2nd phase. This was informed during a review meeting of the District Task Force Committee for Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) drives held under the chairmanship of Additional District Development Commissioner Jammu Rehana Batul here on Tuesday. During the meeting, Chief Medical Officer, Jammu Dr. Javed Akhter apprised the members about the comprehensive strategy and joint action plan to be adopted during the first round of Intensified Pulse Polio immunization Programme scheduled on 20th of January 2013, so that not even a single child under five years of age is left out. Special focus would be laid on slum areas and Gujjar and Bakerwal bastis, the meeting informed.

CD organises DM training at Manigam

MANIGAM, (GANDERBAL), JAN 15: On the instructions of IG Police, Civil Defence, HG and SDRF, Mr. Yoginder Kaul, the Civil Defence organised a five day disaster preparedness training programme at HKMC Educational Institute Manigam, Ganderbal from today. The inaugural programme was attended by Chairman of the Institute, Mr. Ghulam Hassan, besides Shabir Ahmed Khan, ASI (M), Mohammed Afzal ASI and CD Trainers Abdul Gaffar, Abdul Ahad, Ghulam Nabi, Muhammad Hussain and a team of CD Volunteers from Manigam led by Mohammed Shafi, CD Warden. More than 150 students are participating in the training programme.

Div Com inspects Rehabilitation Cum Shopping Complexes at Jahangir Chowk- Natipora fly over
SRINAGAR, JAN 15: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon today inspected flyover site from Jehangir ChowkRambagh crossing and other sub projects being executed by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA). Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mr. Baseer Ahmad Khan, Collector ERA, Mr. Mohammad Aslam Qadri, CEO ERA, Mr. Saurab Bhagat, Project Manager JKUSDI, Mr. S L Kapoor, Joint Director, Handicrafts, DGM JKPCC, GM JKPCC, officers of R&B, PHE, BSNL, ERA, JKPCC and other concerned departments accompanied . Dr. Samoon took stock of the work under execution of Rehabilitation Cum Shopping Complexes being constructed as part of Trench-II of Jammu Kashmir Urban Sector Investment Development Program (JKUSDIP) funded by Asian Development Bank at Rambagh crossing and at Jahangir Chowk.

Directs for speedy completion of the projects

80 stranded passengers of Gurez airlifted

BANDIPORA, JAN 15: As many as 80 stranded passengers of Gurez were airlifted between Gurez and Bandipora today in Mi-17 helicopter of Indian Air Force. As many as 25 passengers were airlifted from Bandipora to Dawar and 17 from Bandipora to Baduab, whileas 23 passengers were airlifted from Dawar to Bandipora and 15 from Baduab to Bandipora. The passengers were facilitated at the helipads by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Mr. Tariq Ahmed and Sub Divisional Magistrate, Gurez, Mr. Mohammed Ashraf Hakak. Meanwhile, AN-32 Kargil Courier flight between Kargil and Srinagar/Jammu got cancelled, due to technical reasons at Chandigarh. Subject to favourable weather conditions, the Kargil Courier will operate on Wednesday January 16, 2013.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon today inspected flyover site from Jehangir ChowkRambagh crossing and other sub projects at Srinagar. During the visit Divisional Commissioner was informed that at Jehangir Chowk Rehabilitation Cum Shopping Complex, the construction work of 90 shops in first floor and 30 godowns including car parking facility in basement have been completed and are ready for being handed over to the affected

shopkeepers of Jehangir Chowk shortly. Divisional Commissioner was also apprised that at Rambagh crossing 51 shops in Rehabilitation Cum Shopping Complex would be completed by the end of April this year for accommodating the affected shopkeepers of Rambagh area. On this occasion, Dr. Samoon while interacting with the officers accompanying him directed for speedy completion of the projects related to shopping complexes so that the area gets face lift and affected business community is properly accommodated in a time bound manner. He also emphasized for judicious utilization of funds allotted and also ensure quality work to be executed by the concerned agencies. Stressing for dedicated and sincere attitude towards execution of work, Dr. Samoon asked the officers to work with zeal and honesty to attain the tangible targets within the stipulated time frame.

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EDITORIAL & STATE WATCH

Hear the silence of our human rights activists

BY SANDHYA JAIN aoists plant explosives in the abdomen of CRPF jawans and put them to brutal death. But the regular band of bleeding hearts that cries out when the state targets Red terrorists, has not squeaked a word in protest now Above the sound of gunfire and improvised explosive devices was the deafening silence of the human rights industry. Binayak Sen, Arundhati Roy, Mahasweta Devi et al, quick to berate Government for alleged atrocities against Maoist marauders, did not squeak when Maoists in Jharkhand planted IEDs in the bodies of two CRPF jawans last week; 17 persons including 12 jawans lost their lives in the operation in the Latehar district forests. Two issues are pertinent in this regard. First, Jharkhand Director General of Police has said that the Maoists are receiving support from outside India. Second, the connection between mineral wealth and the Maoist or Red Corridor can no longer be ignored. In Latehar district alone, there are 20 coal blocks, eight of which are in the private sector. The situation calls for deep introspection. In Africa, countries have been torn apart by rebel militias that have seized control of rich mines by terrorising the countryside; they are exceedingly well- armed and have links with international corporations. In India, Maoists thrive in the mineral-rich districts of Odisha (15), Jharkhand (14), Bihar (7), Andhra Pradesh (10), Chhattisgarh (10), Madhya Pradesh (8), Maharashtra (2) and West Bengal (1). According to conservative estimates, they extort over Rs14 billion from these districts annually. Human rights activist Suhas Chakma warns that Maoists acquire huge amounts of explosive substances and

detonators from mining companies and pose a major threat to the country. In a presentation to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Steel in 2011, he said the security forces recovered 1,50,940kg of ammonium nitrate explosives, 60,511 detonators, 8,000 rings for grenade making and 1,964kgs of gelatin and 1,918 gelatin sticks from Maoists between January 2009 to September 2010. In the same period, security forces say the Maoists snatched 54,500kgs of explosives. These figures are only indicative. It is pertinent that all these explosives are issued from Government factories to various licencees. The easy access to explosives has enormously empowered the Maoists in recent years; they no longer need to confront security forces but can simply plant mines through detonators obtained from the mining industry. In large swathes of Maoist-affected districts, the writ of the Indian State is confined to fortified camps of the security forces. But in these same districts, mining companies operate successfully. Possibly Maoists force the mining companies to handover/provide explosives to them. The flip side - which deserves investigation - is that Maoists help the companies engage in illegal mining (beyond the licensed area) by keeping locals and snoopy officials at bay. As the recent power sector and coal block allocation scam has shown, the mining industry cannot be viewed as a pure source of energy for India's development. Besides a proven obsession with disproportionate profits, it has a disturbing potential as an internal security threat. It would therefore be in the fitness of things for Government to strictly monitor the procurement, stocking and end use of all explosive substances issued to licencees. Strong action including cancellation of licences

must be taken against those found guilty of financing or in any way supporting terrorism and unlawful activities through direct or indirect actions or under threat which may result in Maoists acquiring or taking possession of explosives issued to the licensee. The Prime Minister has often stressed that Maoists are the biggest internal threat to the nation. Despite this, the Government has shown little interest in protecting the tonnes of explosives held by at least the State-owned mining companies. Coal India Ltd, for instance, buys explosives worth Rs1,500 crore annually for mining purposes, which is nearly 30 per cent of the total explosives used in the country. The explosives, including gelatin and detonators commonly used by Maoists in landmines, are stocked in 150 storehouses across eight States, seven of which are in the Maoist belt. The security arrangements here are utterly inadequate, despite instances of Maoists looting the depots. The lack of concern afflicts the political level as well. There has been no amendment of the Explosives Act, 1884 or the Explosives Rules (revised 2008) to ensure that explosives sold or sanctioned to licensees are used only for lawful activities or purposes allowed under the Act and the Rule. Nor is there any provision for monitoring end use of explosives by physical inspection onsite; there is only a banal Rule 24 of the Explosives Rules, 2008 which calls for "maintenance of records and submission of returns". End-use monitoring could meaningfully curb the menace of illegal mining. As of now, explosives are sanctioned by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Thus, the antiterror bodies such as the Multi-Agency Centre under the Union Home Ministry, or State Multi Agency Centre, are

unaware of the explosives and other materials being sanctioned by PESO. The human costs of easy access to detonators and explosives are devastating. According to South Asia Terrorism Portal, from January 2005 to 14 November 2010, Maoists triggered 533 explosive devised bombs of which 380 explosions were fatal and caused the death of 442 persons and injury to 422 others. Between January and December 2011, Maoists triggered 72 bombs damaging public properties like bridges, school building, police stations, rail tracks and killing 50 persons including six civilians. The failure to regulate mining is putting India's security forces and civilian lives at grave risk. Maoists operate in regions rich in iron ore, coal, bauxite, manganese and other minerals with the potential to attract large investments (and provide handsome extractions). No one should be under the illusion that Maoists are fighting on behalf of poor villagers and tribal communities whose resources are being exploited; they have killed more than 9,200 civilians and security personnel since 1998. At Latehar, the authorities hoped to nab Maoist central committee member Dev Kumar Singh alias Arvindji. But information of the raid by 300 CRPF and anti-Maoist Jharkhand Jaguars was leaked and the group ambushed. In a deadly surprise, Maoists booby-trapped the bodies of two jawans with IEDs. The body of Baidyanath Kisku exploded when moved, killing four villagers. Luckily, the body of Babulal Patel did not explode when airlifted to Ranchi district hospital for postmortem, where doctors suspected mischief and called the police who recovered a 2.75kg IED from the abdominal cavity. A search of the surrounding jungles revealed that the Maoists had practised this ghastly tactic on innocent animals.

Vibrant Gujarat slams door on Pakistani team

y turning away a Pakistani delegation which had come to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit last week, the Narendra Modi Government has done what the Union Government of India has woefully failed to do in recent times -stand up to Pakistan. And so it was that last week an 11-member delegation from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry was disallowed from travelling to Gandhinagar to attend the summit. Instead, the delegates remained in their hotel in Ahmedabad. The official explanation for this was a technical one based on the fact that India only gives city-specific, as opposed to countrywide, visas to Pakistani visitors. The Principal Secretary (Industries and Mines) of the Gujarat Government, Mr Maheshwar Sahoo, clarified on Sunday that members of the Pakistani delegation were not at the summit because they didn't have visas for Gandhinagar. They only had permission to visit Ahmedabad where, Mr Sahoo highlighted, the delegates had indeed participated in a pre-event buyer-seller meet on January 9 and 10 as scheduled. But the fact of the matter remains that, had the State authorities indeed wanted the Pakistani delegation to participate in the summit, the necessary arrangements could have been made. That, this was not the case speaks volumes - when viewed against the backdrop of the brutal killing and mutilation of two Indian jawans by the Pakistani Army. But New Delhi has shied away from acting against Pakistan so far because it fears that if it actually served Islamabad with a fitting response, the charade of a peace process that it likes to take much credit for, will crumble like a house of

cards. But Pakistan has no such fears or concerns. And so, it has promptly called off trade and travel through the Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch sector. Now, this is not the first time that Pakistan has behaved in an aggressive and unabashed manner despite being in the wrong itself. But then again, neither is this the first time that New Delhi has offered the proverbial other cheek - much to the chagrin of the people of India who are understandably tired of being constantly humiliated by Pakistan. It is no wonder then that the Gujarat Chief Minister's decision to keep the Pakistani delegation at bay has received much popular support. This is exactly the kind of firm action that the people want to see. Meanwhile, once again, Mr Modi has made clear that he is not apologetic about placing his people's interest above all others and that inclusive development remains his buzzword. This was amply evident at this latest version of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Mr Modi's star-studded show brought in 17,719 business proposals and promised investments worth `40 lakh crore, double the figure pledged at the 2012 summit. Mr Modi's critics will point to the fact that these figures don't always convert into real projects, but then again, such summits are not always about the money, though a number of the proposals have actually materialised. They are about brandbuilding and networking and preparing the ground for big ticket investment projects. And Mr Modi has used the summit effectively to ensure that when investors think of putting their money in India, they think of Gujarat first - and that is no mean achievement.

STATE WATCH

Bihar farmers better than scientists: Nobel laureate

PATNA: Nobel laureate Joseph E Stiglitz is impressed by the organic farming practices in Bihar's Nalanda district, terming its practitioners "better than scientists" and calling for their experiences to be researched so that these can be replicated elsewhere. "Indian farmers are better than scientists," Stiglitz said here after visiting organic farmers in Nalanda, the home district of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "It was amazing to see their success in organic farming. Agriculture scientists from across the world should visit their farm land to learn and be inspired by them," said Stiglitz, a professor of economics at the prestigious Columbia University and here to deliver the Asian Development Research Foundation Lecture 2013. "There is a need to take the experiences of these farmers seriously and go for research to give a scientific approach to adopt it outside," he added. According to Chanchal Kumar, a senior government official who accompanied Stiglitz, the economist minutely inquired about the techniques. He said that Stiglitz also told farmers that the increasing trend of organic farming is good for the health too. Bihar is turning its attention to popularising and promoting organic farming in the state to usher in a new "Green Revolution" in agriculture. The Nitish Kumar government has already decided to promote organic farming in at least one village of the state's 37 districts. It launched an "organic farming promotion programme" over a year ago, intended to develop organic grams (organic villages). A sum of Rs 255 crore (nearly 50 million USD) has been sanctioned for development of organic farming, said an official of the agriculture department. The new techniques however did not have many takers in the beginning. "Initially the farmers were reluctant to adopt organic farming despite the state government providing free seeds, fertiliser and experts to guide them. But now more farmers have expressed interest in adopting the method of farming," said a district official in Nalanda. Last year, a young farmer of Darveshpura village in Nalanda set what is claimed to be a world record in potato production through organic farming. Earlier, farmers of the same village created a world record by producing 224 quintals of paddy per hectare. Nitish Kumar has repeatedly said that he wants to have one or two agriculture products from the state on the plate of every Indian in the coming years. "Several steps, including promotion of modern techniques of farming, organic farming and use of improved seeds, have been taken in the last twothree years, but it is still a long way to go in developing the agriculture sector," said the agriculture department official. Agriculture is the backbone of Bihar's economy, employing 81 per cent of workforce and generating nearly 42 per cent of the state's domestic product, according to the state government.

BIHAR

Farmers demand hike in cane price, to meet CM soon

CHANDIGARH: After the Haryana government raised cane price by Rs 45 per quintal following farmers' protest, now a similar demand has come from Punjab farmers today as they have sought hike in price from the SAD-BJP government. Farmers led by Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) today raised a demand for matching increase in cane price by the Punjab government. "Punjab government should now raise the cane price as increased by Haryana government after farmers successfully held a stir across the state in view of low price," Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, President of BKU said here. "If Punjab government also raise cane rate, then it will help the government in achieving crop diversification across the state," he said justifying the demand for raise in the wake of exorbitant increase in input cost. Lakhowal said BKU will raise the demand for increase in cane price with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal soon. At present rate, cane price in Punjab for 2012-13 is Rs 250 per quintal for early maturing varieties, Rs 240 for mid-maturing varieties and Rs 235 for late maturing varieties. The Haryana government had yesterday raised the overall cane price by Rs 45 per quintal on all varieties for 2012-13 which led to an end of over a week-long state cane farmers' stir over low rates. The rate of early variety of sugarcane would now be Rs 276 against the last year's price of Rs 231 per quintal. Similarly, the rate of mid variety would be Rs 271 instead of Rs 226 per quintal and that of late variety Rs 266 instead of Rs 221 per quintal. Earlier, the Haryana government had fixed the rate for 2012-13 at Rs 251 per quintal for early maturing varieties, Rs 240 for midmaturing varieties and Rs 235 for late maturing varieties, which forced sugarcane farmers to hold statewide stir. The farmers' agitation in Haryana had led to cane crushing at sugarmills coming to a halt after farmers stopped the supply of cane to sugarmills.

PUNJAB

TAMIL NADU Memorial to Chola king who built dam 2,000 years ago
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will build a memorial to Karikala Chozhan, the Chola king who, more than 2,000 years ago, built the Kallanai (Grand Anicut) across the Kollidam/Cauvery river near Tiruchirapalli, around 320 km from here, CM J. Jayalalithaa said Tuesday. Inaugurating the memorial of Colonel John Pennycuick, a British engineer who had built the Mullaperiyar Dam at Theni district, Jayalalithaa said: "The Kallanai is much older than Mullaperiyar Dam. Built more than 2,000 years ago by Karikala Chozhan, the dam still serves crores of people and is an engineering wonder." She said Kallanai is the oldest dam in the country that is still in service. The Mullaperiyar Dam was built to help people in the Vagai river region affected by drought when rains failed. Jayalalithaa said the British government thought out a plan to divert the waters of Periyar River that emptied itself in the Arabian Sea in western India so that lakhs of acres of dry land could be irrigated. A plan was drawn by Pennycuick to form the Periyar Thekkadi resorvoir from where the water is taken to Vaigai river in Tamil Nadu. At that time the project cost was estimated at Rs.5.3 million, Jayalalithaa said. Pennycuick and his team completed half the dam in three years when the work had to be stopped due to heavy rains. Construction was halted as the British government was not able to allot more funds for the project. Pennycuick went back to England and raised money by selling his property and completed the dam in 1895. The dam irrigates around 223,000 acres in Theni, Dindugul, Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts. While it is located in Kerala, the control of the dam is with Tamil Nadu and its waters serve the state. Both the states have been at loggerheads over water sharing from the dam. Tamil Nadu wants the dam's storage capacity to be increased from the current 136 feet (41.5 metres) to 142 feet (43 metres) as per a Supreme Court order, while Kerala wants a new dam as the control will be with it.

Complaint against MLA for allegedly revealing victim's identity

RAIPUR: Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party government, the Opposition Congress on Tuesday alleged that a ruling party MLA had disclosed the identity of a rape survivor of Raipur, Chhattisgarh and demanded registration of FIR against him. "Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nand Kumar Sahu has disclosed the identity of the minor girl who was allegedly raped one month ago in the Urla area," Shaliesh Nitin Trivedi Congress spokesperson said. "The law as it currently stands is not in favour of revealing the identity of the rape victim and the MLA has acted in a very insensitive manner," he added. Sahu had recently met the survivor to provide her assistance and later revealed her name and photograph which was totally irresponsible, Trivedi said adding that taking the matter seriously, a case should be registered against the MLA. Additional Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said Congress party workers have given them a complaint letter against Sahu in this regard and they have begun an investigation into it. No senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader was immediately available to comment on the issue.

CHHATTISGARH

Maharashtra will face worst drought conditions: Sharad Pawar

PUNE: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has warned that Maharashtra will face its worst drought in the last 50 years - a warning that the state government and agriculture experts also agree with. The problem is so severe, that in some parts of the state - especially in Marathwada region - the government is planning to supply drinking water through railway wagons. With such water scarcity, the question of supplying water to agriculture and industry is not even being discussed. Over 12,000 villages in 16 districts of the state are in severe grip of water scarcity and that includes the whole of Marathwada. Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Osmanabad are facing the worst crisis. So are some districts in western and north Maharashtra. With all natural sources in these areas drying up, it has had a cascading effect on cattle and agriculture. The government has started 400 cattle camps across the state for providing fodder and water to nearly four lakh animals, but experts say even that would be insufficient as summer comes calling. The state has requested the Centre for financial aid to ward off the grave crisis. The state ha asked for a relief package of Rs. 2,400 crore but has received only about Rs. 780 crore. The government has already pressed the panic button and all sources for getting water are being taken over - be it private wells or handpumps. Even neighbouring states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have been asked to help provide water to nearby districts. Orders have been issued that drinking water would be the first priority and if that suffices then the additional water would be supplied to agriculture and industry. But looking at the depleting water levels in the state it looks a remote possibility that agriculture and industry would get their share.

MAHARASHTRA

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5
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FAMOUS LEADERS:VIJAYARAJE SCINDIA

Born On: 1919 Born In: Sagar, Madhya Pradesh Career: Political Leader She is renowned as an active politician from the Jana Sangh and BJP. For years, she ruled one of the largest and richest princely states of India. The world remembers her as the Rajmata of Gwalior. She is Vijayaraje Scindia, the spouse of the last ruling Maharaja of Gwalior, Jiyajirao Scindia. She hailed from a branch of the Nepali royal family, who was exiled to Sagar in India in the 1880s. Apart from her active participation in politics, she held several other positions as well. She served as the President of All India Women's Conference for over 40 years, Trustee of Viswa Hindu Parishad, and Pro-Chancellor of Sagar University. Besides, Scindia wrote two books, namely, "The Last Maharani of Gwalior" (an autobiography with Manohar Malgonkar) and "Lok Path se Raj Path". Early Life Vijayaraje Scindia was born as Lekha Divyeshwari in Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh State of India. She was born as the eldest child of Thakur Mahendra Singh and his first wife Chuda Deveshwari. Her father was a government employee working as a deputy director in the provincial administration. However, her mother, who belonged to the royal Rana family of Nepal, died at childbirth. Thereafter, her father Thakur Mahendra Singh married again. Since he had a family to take care of, Lekha Divyeshwari was brought up by her maternal grandfather, Khadga Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana and grandmother, Rani Dhan Kumari. He was charged with the murder of his uncle in 1885 and hence, was serving exile in India. Being looked after by her grandparents, Lekha Divyeshwari gained immense inspiration from them in her growing years. After completing her initial schooling at home and later at a school in Sagar, she went to Dr. Annie Besant Theosophical College in Banaras and Isabel Thorborne College in Lucknow. Entry into Politics With her husband's death in 1961, Scindia became Rajmata, an honor which she held until her death in 2001. She first entered politics in 1962, where she was elected for the Guna Lok Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh on a Congress ticket. Subsequently, Scindia won the elections but five years down the line in 1967, she left Congress and joined Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Jan Sangh. She was elected to Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967 which she served till 1971. She later contested for Rajya Sabha and won. Scindia served in office from 1978 to 1989. Interestingly, she won all elections that she contested for, with over seven consecutive parliamentary elections. During Indira Gandhi's Emergency in 1975, Scindia was imprisoned in Tihar Jail where she served as a political prisoner. With this began lifelong differences between Scindia and her son Madhavrao who left India and went to Nepal to stay with his sister Usha Raje. After the Emergency was lifted, he returned back to India and joined Congress, thereby increasing the differences with his mother. The year 1980 proved to be beneficial for Scindia when she became one of the Vice Presidents of BJP. She provided her full support to Ayodhya theme and continued as the Vice President of BJP until 1998, when she quit due to declining health issues. Personal Life Vijayaraje's husband's sudden death in 1961 left her a widow with five children to bring up. With no support from either side, she made all efforts to bring her children to meet with the idealized standards of lifestyle and behavior. Being more warm and cordial towards the elder daughters, she admitted in her autobiography about her missing support towards her younger daughters. She even extended that had her husband been alive, he would have handled their disturbed marriages in a better way. Her most disturbing moments came when she joined politics and later on, when her son Madhavrao Scindia entered politics. Death Vijayaraje Scindia died in 2001 at the age of 81 years.

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The Donkey Skin Girl

here was once upon a time a king who was so much loved by his subjects that he thought himself the happiest man in the whole world, and he had everything his heart could desire. His palace was filled with the rarest of curiosities, and his gardens with the sweetest flowers, while in the marble stalls of his stables stood a row of milk-white Arabs, with big brown eyes. Strangers who had heard of the marvels which the king had collected, and made long journeys to see them, were, however, surprised to find the most splendid stall of all occupied by a donkey, with particularly large and drooping ears. It was a very fine donkey; but still, as far as they could tell, nothing so very remarkable as to account for the care with which it was lodged; and they went away wondering, for they could not know that every night, when it was asleep, bushels of gold pieces tumbled out of its ears, which were picked up each morning by the attendants. After many years of prosperity a sudden blow fell upon the king in the death of his wife, whom he loved dearly. But before she died, the queen, who had always thought first of his happiness, gathered all her strength, and said to him: 'Promise me one thing: you must marry again, I know, for the good of your people, as well as of yourself. But do not set about it in a hurry. Wait until you have found a woman more beautiful and better formed than myself.' 'Oh, do not speak to me of marrying,' sobbed the king; 'rather let me die with you!' But the queen only smiled faintly, and turned over on her pillow and died. For some months the king's grief was great; then gradually he began to forget a little, and, besides, his counselors were always urging him to seek another wife. At first he refused to listen to them, but by-and-by he allowed himself to be persuaded to think of it, only stipulating that the bride should be more beautiful and attractive than the late queen, according to the promise he had made her. verjoyed at having obtained what they wanted,

the counselors sent envoys far and wide to get portraits of all the most famous beauties of every c o u n t r y. The artists were very busy and did their best, but, alas! nobody could even pretend that any of the ladies could compare for a moment with the late queen. At length, one day, when he had turned away discouraged from a fresh collection of pictures, the king's eyes fell on his adopted daughter, who had lived in the palace since she was a baby, and he saw that, if a woman existed on the whole earth more lovely than the queen, this was she! He at once made known what his wishes were, but the young girl, who was not at all ambitious, and had not the faintest desire to marry him, was filled with dismay, and begged for time to think about it. That night, when everyone was asleep, she started in a little car drawn by a big sheep, and went to consult her fairy godmother. 'I know what you have come to tell me,' said the fairy, when the maiden stepped out of the car; 'and if you don't wish to marry him, I will show you how to avoid it. Ask him to give you a dress that exactly matches the sky. It will be impossible for him to get one, so you will be quite safe.' The girl thanked the fairy and returned home again. The next morning, when her father (as she had always called him) came to see her, she told him that she could give him no answer until he had presented her with a dress the colour of the sky. The king, overjoyed at this answer, sent for all the choicest weavers and dressmakers in the kingdom, and commanded them to make a robe the colour of the sky without an instant's delay, or he would cut off their heads at once. Dreadfully frightened at this

threat, they all began to dye and cut and sew, and in two days they brought back the dress, which looked as if it had been cut straight out of the heavens! The poor girl was thunderstruck, and did not know what to do; so in the night she harnessed her sheep again, and went in search of her godmother. 'The king is cleverer than I thought,' said the fairy; 'but tell him you must have a dress of moonbeams.' And the next day, when the king summoned her into his presence, the girl told him what she wanted. 'Madam, I can refuse you nothing,' said he; and he ordered the dress to be ready in twenty-four hours, or every man should be hanged. They set to work with all their might, and by dawn next day, the dress of moonbeams was laid across her bed. The girl, though she could not help admiring its beauty, began to cry, till the fairy, who heard her, came to her help. Well, I could not have believed it of him!' said she; 'but ask for a dress of sunshine, and I shall be surprised indeed if he manages that!' The goddaughter did not feel much faith in the fairy after her two previous failures; but not knowing what else to do, she told her father what she was told. The king made no difficulties about it, and even gave his finest rubies and diamonds to ornament the dress, which was so dazzling, when finished, that it could only be looked through smoked glasses! When the princess saw it, she pretended that the sight hurt her eyes, and retired to her room, where she found the fairy awaiting her, very much ashamed of herself. 'There is only one thing to be done now,' cried she; 'you must demand the skin of the ass he treasures by. It is from that donkey he obtains all his vast riches, and I am sure he will never give it to you.' The princess was not so certain; however, she went to the king, and told him she could never marry him till he had given her the ass's skin. The king was both astonished and grieved at

this new request, but did not hesitate an instant. The ass was sacrificed, and the skin laid at the feet of the princess. The poor girl, seeing no escape from the fate she dreaded, wept afresh, and tore her hair; when, suddenly, the fairy stood before her. Take heart,' she said, 'all will now go well! Wrap yourself in this skin, and leave the palace and go as far as you can. I will look after you. Your dresses and your jewels shall follow you underground, and if you strike the earth whenever you need anything, you will have it at once. But go quickly: you have no time to lose.' So the princess clothed herself in the ass's skin, and slipped from the palace without being seen by anyone. Directly she was missed there was a great hue and cry, and every corner, possible and impossible, was searched. Then the king sent out parties along all the roads, but the fairy threw her invisible mantle over the girl when they approached, and none of them could see her. The princess walked on a long, long way, trying to find some one who would take her in, and let her work for them; but though the cottagers, whose houses she passed, gave her food from charity, the ass's skin was so dirty they would not allow her to enter their houses. For her flight had been so hurried she had had no time to clean it. Tired and disheartened at her ill-fortune, she was wandering, one day, past the gate of a farmyard, situated just outside the walls of a large town, when she heard a voice calling to her. She turned and saw the farmer's wife standing among her turkeys, and making signs to her to come in. Contd...

Please Don't Read This Poem

Please don't read this poem. It's only meant for me. That's it. Just move along now. There's nothing here to see. Besides, I'm sure you'd rather just go outside and play. So put the poem down now and slowly back away. Hey, why are you still reading? That isn't very nice. I've asked you once politely. Don't make me ask you twice. I'm telling you, it's private. Do not read one more line. Hey! That's one more. Now stop it. This isn't yours; it's mine. You're not allowed to read this. You really have to stop. If you don't quit this instant, I swear I'll call a cop. He'll drag you off in handcuffs. He'll lock you up in jail, and leave you there forever until you're old and frail. Your friends will all forget you. You won't be even missed. Your family, too, will likely forget that you exist. And all because you read this instead of having fun. It's too late now, amigo; the poem's nearly done. There's only one solution. Here's what you'll have to do: Tell all your friends and family they shouldn't read it too.

FUN TIME
1. Anantharaman Subbaraman arrived at Sharjah airport. He ended up waiting for his visa for about 2 hrs for the authorities to call his name. Finally, he got fed up and went to them and asked why they haven't called his name yet. They said that they have been calling him for the last hour and a half and were wondering why he hadn't responded! The reason was made clear when the immigration officer pronounced his name as: 'Anotherman Superman'. 2. MUNNA : Abay Circuit! Jaa baajo walay ghar say Doctor ko bula k laa, meri tabiat kharab ho reli hai. CIRCUIT : Aey Bhai!!! aap to khud doctor ho. MUNNA : Bolay to meri fees bahut zyada hai. 3. SANTA : "When you buy a note book there will be no margin in it. Why is it so?" BANTA : "Simple, it is because I always buy the note book from a Margin-Free Market!!" 4. Santa meets his friend Banta SANTA : A & B, A & B, A & B, A & B, A & B! BANTA : Oye, Iska Matlab ? SANTA : Kuch Nahin Yaar, I Mean Long Time No C..! 5. Once a peon of an office trying to speak in English to a guest. Then the guest appreciate him and told "From where you have learned to talk English?" The peon replied "I have learned, 'You understand?' from our MD, 'I love you' from the TV and 'Good Morning' from our receptionist madam. 6. A tourist from United States comes to visit India and he sees a sardar. He asked a question to him: TOURIST: Any great men born in this village? SARDAR: No sir, only small babies!!!

IMAGE TO COLOUR

CRAFT: SUN PAPER PLATE

Supplies needed: A paper plate, Yellow construction paper, Scissors, Glue (or a stapler), Crayons, paint or markers, Googly eyes (optional)

Paint the back side of a paper plate yellow. Trace a child's hand on yellow construction paper about 7 times. Cut out the tracings. Glue or staple the handprint tracings to the paper plate - the fingers are the sun's rays. Color in the sun, drawing a mouth and a nose. Either draw the eyes or glue on googly eyes.

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NATIONAL

6
Amritsar coldest as cold conditions continue in North India
CHANDIGARH: Amritsar was the coldest place in region on Tuesday with a minimum of 2.4 degrees Celsius as cold conditions prevailed in the state and neighbouring Haryana. Amritsar remained the coldest place in plain areas as the minimum dropped by over a degree since yesterday, the MeT office said here. Ludhiana, too, braved a cold night at 3 deg C, nearly five notches down since yesterday. Patiala also experienced the chill at 5 deg C minimum, two notches below normal. Karnal was the coldest place in Haryana at a minimum of 3 deg C, down four notches than normal. Hisar braved a cold night at 4.1 deg C, down two degrees, while Ambala's minimum settled at 5.2 deg C, down three notches. Bhiwani and Narnaul recorded identical lows of 6 deg C each. Chandigarh's minimum settled within the normal range at 6.1 deg C.

Operationalisation of visa for Pak senior citizens put on hold: Sources

NEW DELHI: The operationalisation of the process of giving visas on arrival to Pakistani senior citizens has been delayed, sources said. The move, part of the liberalised visa agreement between India and Pakistan, was scheduled to kick off at AttariWagah border check post today. Sources said that the process has been temporarily put on hold pending a decision over whether senior citizens from Pakistan need to have a sponsor in India. However, sources add that there is no rethink on the decision to provide visas on arrival; officials also insist that the delay has no connection with the ongoing tension at the border with Pakistan along the Line of Control in Kashmir. India and Pakistan had signed a visa agreement in September last year under which rules to issue visas to nationals of both countries were eased a little. It was under this agreement that both sides agreed to allow visa on arrival for senior citizens at the Attari-Wagah border. Last week, as tension escalated at the Line of Control in Kashmir, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had made it clear that it would not affect the visa agreement. "We are not rethinking the agreement. Whatever agreement we entered into, we will honour that," he had said. Once the initiative is fully operationilsed, Pakistanis availed twice a year and people issued this visa will not have to report to local police stations. According to a statement issued by the Indian High Commission, the visa on arrival facility can be availed only "to visit India to meet friends or relatives" and it cannot be used for business, medical, conference, employment, pilgrimage or any other purpose. For these categories, applicants will have to approach the Indian High Commission and apply for regular visas. Those who avail the visa on arrival at Wagah will have to return to Pakistan the same way - across the border checkpost on foot. They cannot change their mode of travel by, say, taking the Samjhauta Express train or a bus on their way back. The visa on arrival facility will be available only at the Wagah border integrated check post which was inaugurated last year. The check post houses a huge complex, an immigration office and also a special counter for visas on arrival. The counter opened for the first time this morning, but till about 1 in the afternoon, no one had arrived at Wagah from Pakistan to seek visa on arrival. The reports of the delay came in only in later in the day.

above the age of 65 will be issued visas on arrival at the Attari-Wagah border joint check post, 30 km from Amritsar. It will be a single entry visa issued for 45 days and

Pakistanis issued this visa will not be allowed to visit Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and other restricted areas. The visa on arrival facility, being offered for the first time since Independence, can be

India-Vietnam sign MoUs for Mumbai police orders probe into publishing of co-operation in MSMEs
NEW DELHI: India and Vietnam Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of micro, small and medium enterprises. The MOU was signed by Minister of Planning and Investment of Vietnam MR. Dao Quang Thu and Ambassador of India in Vietnam Mr. Ranjit Rae at Hanoi. The MOU will focus on building capacity for developing policy and institutional frame work through exchange of experts for the development of medium, micro and small enterprises. According to MOU India will conduct survey and feasibility studies to identify thrust areas and opportunities for development of these enterprises in Vietnam. ] Both the countries will organize trade fairs and exchange of business missions to promote partnership projects. India will provide managerial and technical skill training also to Vietnam for better marketing of products.

Maharashtra mulls scheme for 'minority' panchayats

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government plans to extend its infrastructure development scheme in minority dominated civic bodies to gram panchayats. A proposal to this effect is likely to come up in the Cabinet this week. The minority welfare department has given instructions to concerned officials to identify the villages which are minority dominated. Minorities comprise approximately 20.5 per cent of the state's total population. Officials said allocation of Rs 19 crore has already been made in the supplementary demands for extending the scheme to rural areas. "There is a demand from elected representatives to increase the budget to Rs 100 crores," they said. As per the scheme, villages with minority population upto 200 will get Rs 4 lakh annually, Rs 5 lakh for 200 to 300 population, Rs 7 lakh for 300 to 500 population and Rs 10 lakh for above 500 population. Water supply schemes including drinking water pipelines, storm-water drainage pathways, burial grounds, community centres, libraries will be taken up. Officials said the scheme has been successfully implemented in urban areas for the last three years. "Rs 20 lakh for municipal corporations, Rs 15 lakh for Nagar palikas and Rs 10 lakh for Nagar Parishads are being given every year. Funds for next year are given only after utilisation of funds for infrastructure schemes to provide basic amenities," officials said. In 2011-12, Rs 70 crores were spent. Additional Chief Secretary (minority welfare) has been monitoring the scheme and has yielded satisfactory results, officials said.

'offensive' poem

MUMBAI: Mumbai Commissioner Satyapal Singh has ordered a probe into a controversial poem published in the city police's in-house magazine Samwaad. The Commissioner has asked DCP SS Gholap to submit a report in a fortnight's time. This comes after an advocate submitted a written complaint to the Azad Maidan Police station about registering a case against the officer, Sujata Patil, who had written the poem. The Mumbai police will also print an apology in the magazine's next issue. Patil, in her poem, had referred to the Azad Maidan protesters as traitors and snakes and suggested that their hands should have been chopped off.

Notice to Centre on CBI probe plea into Constable Tomar's death

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought replies of the Centre and the city police to a plea for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Constable Subhash Tomar's death owing to alleged injuries received by him during the anti-rape stir in Delhi. "Issue notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Delhi Government and the Delhi Police. Responses be filed within seven days," said Justice GP Mittal, taking note of the plea filed by lawyer GK Bansal, in his individual capacity. Advocate Bansal has moved the court seeking CBI probe into the case alleging contradictions in the eight youths who have been made accused in the constable's death case. The direction came on a separate petition filed by the eight accused seeking quashing of the FIR against them on the ground that they have been framed by the police without any substantial proof. The court also asked the counsel for the accused to furnish the names of mobile service providers during the day so that they can be served with the order for preservation of mobile call records of all the eight "right from early morning of December 23 to midnight." The court, however, did not allow their plea for a copy of DMRC video footage, accessed and taken by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, which is probing the constable's death case. "We fear the video footage can be manipulated by police," the counsel said. The court, however, said it would deal with the plea on the next date of hearing on January 29. Tomar, admitted to RML Hospital on December 23, died two days later due to alleged injuries received during the protests by people seeking justice for the 23-year-old Delhi braveheart who died on December 29 in a Singapore hospital.

Delhi gang-rape: Juvenile, principal to appear before court

NEW DELHI: The principal of a school attended by a juvenile accused in the December 16 Delhi gangrape case will on Tuesday depose before a juvenile justice board for the second time. When he had appeared before the board last time, the principal had failed to prove the claim that the juvenile's age was under 18 years. The juvenile court was reportedly not satisfied with the age-related documents presented last week by the principal of the school in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun. The court had asked him to produce more documents related to the juvenile's age latest by today. The juvenile, one of the six accused in the gang-rape of a 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist in a moving bus here on December 16, had done his primary education from the school. After his arrest on December 21, he had claimed that his age was under 18 years. The court summoned the school principal to help in determining the juvenile's exact age. "The chargesheet against other five accused has been filed in the Saket court. A separate chargesheet will be filed against the accused after his age is ascertained," a police officer had said earlier. Meanwhile, the juvenile's family, which lives in Badaun in western Uttar Pradesh, is reportedly shocked to know that he is still alive.

statements of various officials including Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, eye witnesses and the medical expert on the reasons of Tomar's death. The court, meanwhile, ordered preservation of call and locational records of the mobile numbers used by the

Meghalaya party petitions speaker on defection

SHILLONG: "We have lodged a complaint under the 10th schedule of the constitution with the assembly speaker against Adviser Pariong who defected to the Congress," HSPDP chief Hoping Stone Lyngdoh said. Adviser, who won the 2003 assembly elections from Pariong constituency, is now contesting from Nongstoin constituency against Lyngdoh on a Congress ticket. Two independent legislators, Abu Taher Mondal and Limison D. Sangma, resigned from the assembly Monday after the Congress announced their candidature to contest the Feb 23 assembly elections. Mondal, who is also the power minister, is is seeking a mandate from Phulbari constituency, while Sangma is contesting from Raksamgre constituency.

Hundreds of animals sacrificed in Odisha despite ban Will not jeopardise safety in
BHUBANESWAR: Tribal villagers sacrificed hundreds of animals, including roosters, goats, sheep and buffaloes, Tuesday in a village in Odisha as part of an annual religious ceremony despite a government ban on animal slaughter and protests by animal rights activists. In defiance of the prohibitory order clamped by the administration Monday, residents of over a dozen villages gathered near Khairguda village in Bolangir district, about 300 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, and sacrificed the animals in a forested area. "The area is surrounded by a forest. Animals were sacrificed near Sulia temple and in nearby areas," an eyewitness said. However, police claimed villagers performed only a symbolic sacrifice at Khairguda. "Most of the animals were sacrificed in other places near the village," police said. People sacrifice thousands of animals every year in the district as part of their age-old Sulia yatra or the annual killing festival. They believe that all their suffering is because of divine wrath and the sacrifice of animals will ensure that deities will protect them. Animal sacrifices did not take place at Khairguda in the past few years because of strong opposition by animal rights activists and the local administration. To prevent the sacrifices, police had clamped prohibitory orders in the village under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code, which prohibits assembly of more than four people in an area. NEW DELHI: The government Tuesday asserted that it will continue to ensure that nuclear power remains wholly safe. Conferring the Atomic Energy Department's lifetime achievement awards to scientists and technologists in New Delhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said, India will reach a new milestone soon, as the first nuclear reactor with Russian collaboration at Kudankulam starts operating. Mr. Singh today said nuclear power was an essential component of India's energy mix and he will ensure that the safety and livelihoods of people are not jeopardised in its pursuit. "We will ensure that the safety and livelihoods of people are not jeopardised in our pursuit of nuclear power," Singh said at a function to confer lifetime achievement awards on four nuclear scientists. Noting that the 2011 Fukushima incident had raised "justifiable" concerns on atomic energy, Singh said, "Even as we implement our power programme, we will continue to ensure that nuclear power remains wholly safe." He said Parliament was examining a Bill to set up a new Nuclear Safety

pursuit of nuclear power: PM

Congress meeting in Jaipur to discuss Modi and ways to counter him

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi enigma is baffling the Congress and sources say at the party's brainstorming session, which begins the Gujarat Chief Minister will be the biggest political issue. A large section of the Congress believes that Rahul Gandhi has to be made the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls to counter Modi. According to the sources, the Congress meeting on January 18 and 19 will discuss Modi and ways to counter him. Congress leaders are of the view that Modi will lead in the BJP's election campaign in 2014 following his third consecutive victory in Gujarat. The Congress is finalising its strategy around Rahul Gandhi. A large section of the Congress believes that Rahul Gandhi counter Modi. Several leaders feel that Congress will benefit is Modi leads BJP's election campaign as the Minority votes will polarise in favour of the Congress. But the biggest headache for the Congress is that Modi has acquired a reputation of being development oriented leader and is seen as the top regional leader. So the meeting will also try to come up with a strategy to counter Modi. The party's biggest worry is that in most of the large states the party has been out of power for almost two decades. Congress has not formed government in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal for over two decades and has been out of power in Tripura, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha for nearly 10 years. Even in Andhra Pradesh where the Congress has been very strong, the rise of Jagan Mohan Reddy has come as a huge setback. Between these political challenges, the atmosphere is also against the Congress due to corruption charges on UPA 2. So the Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to lead its election campaign. On the other hand, BJP has not yet officially taken Modi's name as its flag bearer during the 2014 polls due to its internal tug of war. But many BJP leaders admit that Modi is the strongest contender even as Congress sources say that Bihar Nitish Kumar could break the ties with the NDA if Modi is make the prime ministerial candidate

Academics, intelligentsia highlight need for further strengthening Indo-Nepal ties

NEW DELHI: The Global Foundation for Civilizational (Harmony) organized a civic reception for a high level delegation from Nepal here recently, where emphasis was laid on further strengthening the centuries old fraternal relations between the two South Asian neighbours. The function, held in collaboration with the Manav Rachna International University (MRIU), at the Indian Law Institute was attended and address by intellectuals including journalists, academics, industrialists and public servants from both countries. Speaking on the occasion, KG Suresh, Director of GFCH India, said the relations between India and Nepal have been marred often by misunderstanding and misconceptions, which need to be sorted out at the earliest through people to people relations. A stable and prosperous Nepal is as much in India's interest as much as a strong and peaceful India is in the interest of the Himalayan country, he said. Colonel (Retd) VK Gaur, Director at the Manav Rachana International University, offered to admit as many Nepalese students as possible in IT and other courses. Dr AK Agarwal, CEO of Autometers Allianz, said Indian business was willing to invest in tourism and other sectors in Nepal, if Kathmandu offered more concessions. Eminent Nepalese academic Ramesh Chandra Dhungel and PP Vista Chhetry, Chief Editor of the Republica daily, also addressed the distinguished gathering.

Regulatory Authority. The Prime Minister said India has enhanced its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the first Operational Safety Review Team recently visited the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station. "As we pursue our national growth objectives to meet the rising aspirations of our people, the supply of affordable clean energy will be one of our foremost national challenges and a key priority for our government. Nuclear energy will remain an essential and increasingly important element of our energy mix," he said. Singh said India was in the process of expanding its indigenous nuclear power programme. On the much-delayed Kudankulam nuclear power project, he said: "We will reach a new milestone soon, as the first nuclear reactor with Russian collaboration at Kudankulam starts operating, with the second reactor to follow later in the current year.

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INTERNATIONAL & ECONOMY

7
Mohan Peiris appointed as new Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Tuesday got a new chief justice named Mohan Peiris, two days after Shirani Bandaranayake was sacked, a news agency reported. Peiris, a former attorney general who has represented the government at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, was nominated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and approved by a Parliament council. Rajapaksa removed Bandaranayake on Sunday after Parliament voted in favour of her impeachment over allegations against her. Bandaranayake challenged the impeachment process, and a court found the process unconstitutional. The US State Department warned on Monday that the removal of chief justice Bandaranayake could impact on Sri Lanka's ability to attract foreign investment. A meeting of the 15-nation UN Security Council on Mali expressed unanimous "understanding and support" for the military intervention, France's UN ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters on Monday.

Vietnam China to continue with controversial one-child policy backs up India's South China Sea stand, UNSC bid
HANOI: Vietnam Tuesday backed India's stand that there should be freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, an area China wants New Delhi to keep away from, and also extended support to the country's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said Vietnam has stressed on greater cooperation between the two countries in strategic, economic and other matters, briefing reporters during Vice President Hamid Ansari's four-day state visit here. "Vietnam has expressed support on the freedom of navigation in South China Sea..... It also said it supports India's bid for a Permanent membership of the UN Security Council," Singh said. Asked for further details, he said though the main focus of Ansari's meetings with Vietnam's top leadership was bilateral, Hanoi has expressed the "need for peace and stability in the region, including the South China Sea". Vietnam is of the view that any disputes in the region should be dealt with under the six-point formula of ASEAN and the 1982 UNCLOS Agreement. India maintains that it is only engaged in oil exploration in the South China Sea while China sees India's foray into the region as an attempt to increase its strategic presence. Ansari pointed out that Indian companies in the field of oil and gas exploration are actively engaged in several projects in Vietnam. "India is also prepared to continue extending lines of credit on concessional terms, especially for infrastructure development," he said at a programme here. BEIJING: China has shot down speculations that country's new leadership may ease up on the controversial onechild policy, asserting that it would continue adhering to the coercive family planning measure. China's family planning policy should be unswervingly adhered to, Wang Xia, Director of the national population and family planning committee, told in a news conference. The policy should be a long-term one and its primary goal is to keep a low birthrate, Wang said. The authorities will expand pre-pregnancy check services to reach all countylevel areas across the country and ensure migrants' equal access to related public services this year, according to Wang. At present, such services are available in about 60 per cent of county-level areas, covering more than 80 percent of the target population, he said. Efforts should also be made to rectify the imbalance in gender ratio, she said adding that the birth rate in China was held at a low level in 2012. Wang's assertions were in contrast to an official study in Oct last year which called for Chinese new leadership to consider adjusting its family planning policy saying that it had caused structural problems and demographic crisis in the country. Population is heading for negative growth and blamed one child policy for ultra-low fertility rate resulting in related problems of ageing population, gender imbalances, urbanisation, an expanding shortage of migrant workers the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), an official think tank said in a report. The family planning policy was introduced around 1980 by the Communist Party to rein in China's surging population by encouraging late marriages and pregnancies, as well as limiting most urban couples to onechild and most rural couples to two children. Officials claim that the policy had prevented about 400 million births, pegging the country's population to about 1.3 billion. Expectations were high that the new leadership headed by Xi Jinping who is scheduled to take over as President in March would change the one child policy. The report said as a result of the one child policy, annual growth rate of the population has declined, slowing to 0.57 percent in the first decade of the 21st century, down from 1.07 percent in

the previous ten years. China has about 185 million people above the age of 60, or 13.7 percent of the population at present. The figure is expected to surge to 221 million in 2015, including 51 million "empty nesters," or elderly people whose children no longer live with them. The CDRF said the government should gradually loosen the one-child policy over the next three years in regions where family planning has been strictly implemented. By 2020, there will be no need to continue birth planning, as people will make more rational decisions on birth issues, said the CDRF said.

US to seek 30 years jail imprisonment for Mumbai terror suspect Tahawwur Rana
CHICAGO: US federal prosecutors are seeking the maximum 30-year sentence for Pakistan-born Tahawwur Rana for providing support to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkare-Taiba that staged the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Although Chicago businessman Rana, a boyhood friend of David Coleman Headley, was acquitted of supporting the Mumbai attacks, he was convicted of supporting LeT and its aborted plot to attack Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten for publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. Headley, son of a Pakistani father and an American mother, who changed his given name of Dawood Gilani to scout targets in Mumbai without arousing suspicion, pleaded guilty in both the Mumbai and Danish terrorism plots, and was the star prosecution witness at Rana's trial. A Chicago jury convicted Rana in June 2011 on the charges of providing Headley cover as an employee of his immigration business to scout targets in Mumbai and the newspaper office in Copenhagen. In a filing unsealed on Monday evening, Rana's lawyer, Patrick Blegen, downplayed his client's role in the Danish scheme, saying he was kept in the dark about much of the plot. He also noted Rana's recent health problems, including a heart attack. Rana, 52, is to be sentenced in Chicago on Thursday. Headley would be sentenced a week later on January 24.According to Chicago's local WLS TV, Chicago prosecutors said the alleged Danish plot involved beheading newspaper employees and depositing their heads onto Copenhagen streets and described it as "murder on a grand, horrific scale. "Prosecutors said Rana, who lived in Chicago and owned a Northwest Side immigration and travel service, operated the business as a front for funnelling terrorist money overseas.

United Nations upholds French military operation in Mali

UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Kimoon has welcomed France's military operation in Mali to prevent Islamist guerrillas from advancing on the capital. Ban moon called for speeding up the deployment of African troops in the country and for work towards a political accord to end the crisis, his office said in a statement on Monday. "The secretary general welcomes that bilateral partners are responding, at the request and with the consent of the government of Mali, to its call for assistance to counter the troubling push southward by armed and terrorist groups," it said, without mentioning French air strikes on Al-Qaeda targets. Ban "hopes these actions will help to arrest the latest offensive while efforts continue to fully implement Security Council Resolution 2085," which gave approval for the deployment of an African force in Mali. The Islamist offensive and French military response "underscore the urgency of implementing all aspects of the resolution," including mediation efforts by West African states and support for the proposed force and the Malian army. Ban said he spoke on Sunday with France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius about the military intervention. French troops moved into Mali on Thursday to halt the Islamist thrust into government territory.

United states fully resolute to chase Qaeda in any nook and corner: Panetta
WASHINGTON: American troops are all out to go to any corner of earth to destroy al Qaeda, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said, asserting that Washington was considering providing logistic, surveillance and airlift assistance to French battling militants in Mali. Claiming that the beleaguered outfit had expanded its base from Af-Pak region to other parts of the world, in particular North Africa, Panetta said it continues to pose a security threat to the US. "We continue to confront terrorism as a threat, al-Qaeda as a threat to our security. Whether it's in Pakistan or Somalia or Yemen or Mali, we are confronting some common threats with regards to terrorism," Panetta told reporters travelling with his on a four-nation European trip. During the week-long European trip, Panetta would travel to Portugal, Spain, Britain and Italy. "We have a responsibility to go after Al-Qaeda wherever they are. And we've gone after them in the FATA (in Pakistan). We're going after them in Yemen and Somalia. And we have a responsibility to make sure that al-Qaeda does not establish a base for operations in North Africa and Mali," he said. "We've been very concerned about AQIM and their efforts to establish a very strong base in that area. We have been working with our regional partners to try to develop plans to confront that threat. I commend France for taking the steps that it has. What we have promised them is that we will work with them to cooperate with them and to provide whatever assistance we can to try to help them in that effort," he said. "We are engaged in those discussions.

ECONOMY

India can achieve 4 per cent agricultural growth in 2012-17: Pranab Volatile emerging mkts top risk
NEW DELHI, JAN 15: President Pranab Mukherjee today said the country can achieve the targeted 4 per cent growth in the agriculture sector during the 12th Plan period with the help of better seeds, improved water management practice and balanced use of fertilisers and pesticides, among others. The farm sector needs priority access to power, credit, water and fertilisers, he said at a function to distribute 'Krishi Karman' awards to 18 states. Stating that agriculture is a "challenging" sector, the President said the government should create employment opportunities in other sectors in order to reduce dependence of rural families on agriculture for livelihood. "We can meet the 12th Plan period (2012-17) agricultural growth target of 4 per cent per annum only through measures such as crop diversification, developing high yielding disease resistant seeds, improvement in water management practices, promotion of balanced use of fertilisers and pesticides," he said. The growth of agriculture and allied sectors during the 11th Plan period (200712) stood at 3.3 per cent. That apart, he said, better and increased use of satellite communication for weather forecast and effective information dissemination to farmers would prevent crop failure. Mukherjee emphasised that farmers need government support for upscaling themselves and "engaging in agriculture for subsistence to taking up agriculture as a commercial venture". "Government would simultaneously need to focus on creation of employment opportunities in other sectors to provide income diversification to rural families who today are dependent for their livelihood solely on unviable land holdings," he said. Mukherjee said it was essential to create infrastructure in rural areas in the form of all-season roads, multimode transportation, quality power supply, transparent markets, thriving financial institutions for better return to farmers.

for 2013, India at 9th: Study

will be one of the prime examples of the intrusion of political factors into what had been until recently seen as a long-term economic success story. It said that India's emergence as the world's next 'growth uber alles' (the biggest growth engine) could not be so fast. "In 2013, the ability of the government to implement robust economic policies will decline even further, perpetuating India's 'stalling or falling' outlook. "As general elections draw closer, political opportunism and obstructionism will increase. Any support for reform from the fickle regional parties that hold the balance of power in Parliament will likely wane," it added. Fearing that "poor policymaking will extend to fiscal policy", Eurasia group said that any meaningful fiscal consolidation would be unlikely this year in that case.

Govt plans to introduce direct cash transfer for food subsidy in 6 UTs and 'willing states'
NEW DELHI, JAN 15: The government plans to introduce direct cash transfer for food subsidy in six Union Territories and 'willing states' for PDS scheme, taking a key step to plug leakages in welfare schemes. In the pilot project, expected to be rolled out from April, beneficiaries will receive the subsidy amount in their bank accounts, and will buy rice and wheat from the fair price shops. The fair price shops will sell rice and wheat at a price, which is the 'economic cost', determined by the Food Corporation of India, plus handling and transportation and a commission for the fair price shop dealer. The food and civil supplies ministry has asked the UT administrations to ensure that all beneficiaries have a bank account, which will be linked with the ration card number in the database. While the food and civil supplies ministry's direct cash transfer pilot is linked to the ration card number, the Andhra Pradesh government has begun a pilot in the East Godavari district of using the Aadhar or unique identification number enabled direct cash transfer for the public distribution system. Food subsidy has not been included in the national roll out for the Aadharenabled direct benefit transfer in 20 districts across the country. A senior official at the food and civil supplies ministry said, "as and when the Aadhar number is given to all beneficiaries in the Union Territories and participating states, the system of cash transfer will be suitable integrated to the Aadhar platform." The government hopes to plug the leakages in the food grain distribution scheme, particularly the diversion of rice and wheat from the fair price shops to the open market. States will analyse customer behaviour and those that do not buy for two months will stop getting subsidy. The FCI will continue with its practice of releasing quarterly advance subsidy. The central government's share of the food subsidy will be restricted to the difference between the economic cost and the central issue price for each category of ration card, and the Union Territories will provide the cost of handling and transport. The food subsidy amount will be credited to the beneficiaries bank account a month in advance. The local administration will send out SMS to the beneficiaries to alert them of the cash transfer. The purchasing behaviour of the beneficiaries will be studied to determine whether beneficiaries are accessing their entitlements from the fair price shops. Those who do not purchase their entitlement for two months in a quarter will cease to receive the cash transfer. A system of exemption from this requirement for elderly and ailing beneficiaries will be worked out. For restoration of benefits, the ration card holder will have to write to the district supply officer explaining the reason for failing to buy their quota of entitlement. To ensure that the system is not misused, a fresh instalment of cash transfer will be made only after the beneficiary uses the previously unused amount. For the pilot to be effective, the supply chain will have to be computerised, including the transactions at the fair price shop.

Services export in November 2012 at $12.03 billion: RBI data

MUMBAI, JAN 15: India's services export in November 2012 stood at $12.03 billion, down 2.5 per cent from a month ago, Reserve Bank data showed today. The total exports from services in October was at $12.35 billion, as per the RBI data. Imports of services also fell down slightly to $6.62 billion in November from $6.70 billion in the previous month. The services sector contributes about 55 per cent to the country's gross domestic product. During April-November of 201213, the cumulative services receipt or exports has amounted to $92.12 billion. Services outgo or imports stood at $53.06 billion during this period of the fiscal. RBI releases the provisional aggregate monthly data on India's international trade in services with a lag of 45 days. The monthly data on services are provisional and would undergo revision when the Balance of Payments data are released on a quarterly basis.

NEW YORK, JAN 15: India's difficult policy-making environment will be the ninth biggest risk for global economy in 2013, while increased volatility across emerging markets will be the top-most risk for the year, a new study has said. As per the study conducted by Eurasia Group, the world's leading global political risk research and consulting firm, the second biggest risk in 2013 for the global economy could be China's fight against flow of information, including those from the cyberspace. The others on a list of ten biggest risks, as compiled by Eurasia report, include 'Arab Summer' at third place, followed by issues related to Washington Politics (4th), JIBs - Japan, Israel and Britain (5th), Europe (6th), East Asian geopolitics (7th), Iran (8th), India (9th) and South Africa (10th). About India, the report said that the country "in 2013

"The best of circumstances, the political context for economic reform might improve following the elections (scheduled for 2014). "But, at this point, the more likely outcome is that India's policy-making environment becomes even more difficult as the poll is expected to return a more fractious and divided Parliament, generating a weak ruling coalition without the political support for a strong reformist push," it added. The report said that political risk has come to the fore across the world while dealing with the worst slowdown since the great depression, and "geo economics now sits alongside geopolitics in matters of war, peace, and prosperity." "Whether staring over the fiscal cliff, battling the euro zone crisis, trying to profit from a rising China, or taking cover from the Middle East; around the world, politics has come to dominate market outcomes," it added.

Global venture capital funding in solar sector down 50% in 2012

NEW DELHI, JAN 15: Global venture capital (VC) investments in the solar sector plunged nearly 50 % to $992 million in 103 deals in 2012 compared to $1.9 billion raised in 108 deals in the previous year. The 2012 total represent the lowest amount since 2007. Mercom Capital Group, llc, a global clean energy communications and consulting firm, released its report on funding and mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity for the solar sector during 2012. VC funding in Q4 2012 came in at $220 million in 27 deals compared to just $72 million in 14 deals in Q3. Twentyfive investors participated in the 27 deals in Q4, and no investor was involved in multiple deals. The leading VC deal this quarter was concentrating solar thermal company Bright Source Energy with $83.6 million. "The slowdown in VC funding can be attributed to the grim prospects for thin-film, concentrating solar and concentrating PV technologies," commented Raj Prabhu, managing partner of Mercom Capital Group. "With the drastic fall in crystalline-silicon PV prices over the last two years, most other technologies have struggled to compete." Thin-film companies saw the largest amount of VC funding in 2012, although the total fell 47 % to $314 million compared to almost $600 million in 2011.

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STUDENT AGE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013 All nine Pakistani players in HIL to return home
NEW DELHI: All nine Pakistani players taking part in the Hockey India League are going to return home following threats to the players from the Shiv Sena in Mumbai following the recent incident at the LOC. Reports suggest that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has been informed of this step as the players head home. The PHF had earlier made a statement saying that the nine Pakistan players taking part in the Indian Hockey League in India were safe and there was no security concern regarding their participation in the event. But after further protests and Shiv Sena threats, it was decided that all the nine players who were to take part in the Hockey India League would be made to head back to their country, keeping their safety in mind.

MISC
knock of 61 in just 37 balls which provided the late flourish to the Indian innings. Suresh Raina (55) and Yuvraj Singh (32), who was distinctly unlucky to be given LBW, were the other notable contributors. With the Nehru Stadium providing ample assistance to the bowlers in the second half, the Indians exploited the conditions to the hilt to bundle out the visitors with Kevin Pietersen being the top-scorer with a 58-ball 42. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/29), R Ashwin (3/39) and Jadeja (2/12) were the pick of the Indian bowlers to give the hosts a resounding victory in front of a capacity crowd. The two teams will now travel to Ranchi for the third one-dayer to be played on January 19.

India win by 127 runs in second ODI against England

KOCHI: India finally found their winning touch as they relied on a brilliant all-round display to thrash England by an emphatic 127 runs in the second cricket one-dayer on Tuesday. India first posted a competitive 285, riding on captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 72 and Ravindra Jadeja's 61, before the bowlers skittled out the visitors for a paltry 158 in just 36 overs to level the fivematch series 1-1. It was a convincing and morale-boosting victory for the Indians who have struggled of late even in home conditions, losing the ODI series to archrivals Pakistan and the Test series against England. The hosts did well in all departments of the game,

India remain at fifth position in ICC Test rankings

DUBAI: India retained number five position, while South Africa further consolidated their lead as per the latest ICC Test Championship rankings issued on Tuesday. India, who last played a three-Test series in December against England, losing 1-2, also maintained their ratings point to 105. They are four points behind arch-rivals Pakistan, placed at the fourth spot with 109 points. A 2-0 series win over New Zealand has earned South Africa one rating point and has lifted them to 124 points, while opening a six-point lead against second-ranked England. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar is the lone Indian batsman in the top 20 list of ICC rankings for Test batsmen. With 653 points to his credit, Tendulkar has gained a spot to be at number 19 in the table, which is headed by Michael Clarke of Australia. However, South Africa's Hashim Amla has moved within a striking distance of claiming the number one position for the first time in his career after he moved up a place to second. Amla is just one rating point behind Aussie captain Clarke and will have a shot at the coveted position when South Africa takes on Pakistan in the first Test of the three-match series in Johannesburg starting February 1. In contrast, Clarke will return to the Test arena only on February 22 when Australia face India in the first Test of the four-match series in Chennai. The bowlers' table figures three Indians - Pragyan Ojha (9th spot), Zaheer Khan (15th) and Ravichandran Ashwin (20th-- all of whom have managed to maintain their respective places in the list. South African pacer Dale Steyn still tops the list. He has further consolidated his lead after spells of five for 17 and three for 48 against New Zealand in final Test. Steyn has opened up 45 ratings points gap with team-mate and second-ranked Vernon Philander, who lost one per cent of his ratings point for missing the second Test

India's Bhuvaneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of England's Kevin Pietersen with team mates during the 2nd ODI cricket match in Kochi on Tuesday. though the batting of the top Ajinkya Rahane (4) failing to he scored 37 on Tuesday. It was Dhoni's 66-ball 72 order continued to be a concern deliver while the form of Virat with Gautam Gambhir (8) and Kohli remained patchy though and Jadeja's blistering unbeaten

NASA spots new sunspots producing space weather

WASHINGTON: An image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows a coronal mass ejection or CME as it burst off of the sun in the morning of Jan. 13, 2013. On Jan. 13, 2013, at 2:24 a.m. EST, the sun erupted with an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection or CME. Not to be confused with a solar flare, a CME is a solar phenomenon that can send solar particles into space and reach Earth one to three days later. When Earth-directed, CMEs can cause a space weather phenomenon called a geomagnetic storm, which occurs when they successfully connect up with the outside of the Earth's magnetic envelope, the magnetosphere, for an extended period of time. In the past, CMEs of this speed have not caused substantial geomagnetic storms. They have caused auroras near the poles but are unlikely to affect electrical systems on Earth or interfere with GPS or satellite-based communications systems. Two active regions -named AR 11652 and AR 11654 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have produced four low-level M-class flares since Jan. 11. Solar flares are powerful bursts of light and radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however, when intense enough, they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.

Mumbai Marathon aims to garner Rs 17 crore for charity

MUMBAI: The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, to be held on the streets of the metropolis on January 20, expects to garner at least Rs 17.5 crore for charity, an increase of around 9 percent from last year. The official charity partner of the event, United Way of Mumbai, said they expect the charity amount to cross Rs 17.5 crore compared to Rs 16.07 crore raised in 2012. The charity partner added that they have so far mobilized Rs 14.4 crore for 232 NGOs. The marathon, an annual event on the calendar, has raised around Rs 71.07 crore in the last nine years for charity.due to injury.

Anand beats Caruana; joint second now

WIJK AAN ZEE (THE NETHERLANDS): World champion Viswanathan Anand crashed through the defenses of Fabiano Caruana of Italy to jump to joint second spot after the end of the third round of the premier section of Tata Steel Chess tournament on Tuesday. Anand showed his sublime touch and Caruana, who started the tournament ahead of Anand in world ranking, fell just behind the world champion following the loss in live ratings. It turned out to be another good day for debutante P Harikrishna as he survived an inferior position before splitting the point with world number three Levon Aronian of Armenia. Russian Sergey Karjakin surged ahead of the field at the expense of Wang Hao of China who went for unwarranted complications from what looked like exchange of pieces at regular intervals did not deter Anand from pushing for a victory and he found a very original plan that involved infiltration in black's camp. Caruana fell for the bait and found all Anand's pieces hurling at his king. Anand picked up a handful of pawns enroute to a smooth triumph. Harikrishna said in the post match chat that he stood much worse. From an Anti-Berlin, the middle game was level and a draw should have been a logical outcome. However, Harikrishna went for an erroneous plan and fell in some problems and in his own words "was lucky" to draw the game. In the other decisive game of the day, Carlsen defeated Loek van Wely of Holland. The Norwegian destructed the pawn structure of van Wely in the middle game and then went on an exchanging spree to reach a won endgame in no time.

Viswanathan Anand showed his sublime touch and Caruana fell just behind the world champion following the loss in live ratings.
an equal position. With his second victory in three days, Karjakin moved to sole lead on 2.5 points and he is now followed by world number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway, Anand and Harikrishna who all have two points apiece. Aronian shares the fifth spot now along with Hikaru Nakamura of United States and Dutchmen Erwin L'Ami and Ivan Sokolov. Not far behind are other five players including Caruana and Anish Giri of Holland with one point apiece. Anand proved much superior to Caruana. A slow Ruy Lopez led to a slightly better position for the world champion but it was not easy to convert. The

International Olympic Committee to hold talks with India

BANGALORE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took the first step towards resolving the impasse in the country, inviting the Union government and two officials of the Indian Olympic Association to Lausanne for talks. The sports ministry welcomed the move. "We were sure things would start moving in January. We are glad that the IOC is playing a proactive role in sorting out the problem. We look forward to a dialogue with them," secretary (sports) PK Deb said. This is the first time since the IOA was suspended on December 4 last year that the IOC has officially involved the government. Seemingly on the same page after years of confrontation, it now wants the country's apex body to resolve its differences with the government -- with the sports code being the nub of the argument -- before converging in the Swiss city to chart the way forward.A clear roadmap with deadlines is what IOC is keen on now. In a letter addressed to acting president of the suspended IOA VK Malhotra and secretary Randhir Singh, IOC regretted that officials of the new IOA set-up, led by Abhey Kumar Chautala, continued to create confusion amongst national federations and the athletes but said Malhotra and Randhir can act "responsibly and constructively" to find a solution to the imbroglio. It also listed the conditions that IOA officials and the government ought to discuss together before the meeting in Lausanne. "The suspended IOA must be in a position to hold free, fair, transparent and credible elections without any external interference and exclusively on the basis of the Olympic Charter and the IOA's constitution," the letter, signed by NOC relations director of IOC Pere Miro and Husain Al Musallam of Olympic Council of Asia, said. To that end, IOC wanted the "relevant government authorities to definitively amend or repeal regulations or laws which interfere with the autonomous functioning and internal operations (including the election rules) of the suspended IOA." The other condition it put forth was for the IOA to review its constitution and internal regulations and "make necessary amendments, in close collaboration with the IOC and subject to IOC's approval...to include proper and concrete mechanisms to ensure good governance at all levels and implement all basic ethical principles." Apparently, a meeting between Randhir and the Union sports ministry last week turned out to be the basis of IOC's move. With the government steadfast in its resolve to implement the sports code, the onus will now be on Malhotra and Randhir to incorporate the guidelines in the IOA statutes before meeting IOC. With the conditions being a pre-requisite to IOA returning to the mainstream, IOC has asked Malhotra and Randhir to set the process in motion.

Injury scare for Serena Williams at Australian Open

AIFF lifts ban on Mohun Bagan, let off with fine Rs.2 crore
NEW DELHI: In a massive reprieve for Mohun Bagan, the All India Football Federation on Tuesday revoked the two-year ban on the club while imposing a fine of Rs 2 crore for abandoning its I-League derby against East Bengal mid-way, last December. The decision was taken during the AIFF's executive committee meeting, chaired by president Praful Patel. The I-League's core committee had earlier banned Mohun Bagan from the I-League for two years for breaching of rules. "The executive committee, after due deliberation, Mohun Bagan will be continue to play in the current season, but they will lose all the 12 points they have earned so far in the league. They will start with zero points and will have to pay Rs 2 crore as compensation," Patel said here. "There is a panel provision under which the quantum of damage can be decided by the executive committee," he added. He said the decision was arrived at keeping in mind the larger interest of the sport, the players fans and all stakeholders involved. Among other decisions related to the contentious issue, no official from Mohun Bagan will be allowed to represent the club in AIFF or I-League meetings in the current calendar year. "We have also asked them to provide an undertaking that they will never again breach the rules or get involved in an act of indiscipline," Patel said. I-League CEO Sunanda Dhar will chart out a revised fixture and Mohun Bagan will be have to pay the fine before their next match. Club captain Okolie Odafa's case has been referred to the disciplinary committee of the federation. Patel, however, made it clear that if any club is found to be flouting with the rules in future, there will be no scope for reconsideration. "This is a first and last in Indian football. The committee does not mean that we found any merit (in Bagan's plea). We have only reduced the quantum of the punishment."

Serena Williams hits a return against Edina Gallovits-Hall during their match at the Australian Open in Melbourne. MELBOURNE: Serena Williams suffered a major injury scare just minutes into her bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam on Tuesday, while Andy Murray opened his account in majestic style at the Australian Open. Williams, gunning for the first sweep of all four major titles in the same year since 1988, was on court for only 19 minutes against Edina Gallovits-Hall before going over heavily on her right ankle. However, after medical treatment and despite hobbling around the court, the 15-time Grand Slam-winner astonishingly won 6-0, 6-0 in just 54 minutes as she belted every winner in sight to limit her running to a minimum. Afterwards, the 31-year-old said she felt pain and swelling and may need an x-ray, but she pledged to soldier on in the next round. "Oh, I'll be out there. I mean, unless something fatal happens to me, there's no way I'm not going to be competing," she said. "I'm alive. My heart's beating. I'll be fine." She added: "Obviously there's pain. Obviously there's swelling. So it's going to be really important to see how the next few hours unfold." Any lasting injury to the hot favourite could throw the women's draw wide open and may benefit defending champion Victoria Azarenka, who is scheduled to meet Williams in the semifinals.

Delhi Waveriders pip Punjab Warriors 2-1 in HIL opener

NEW DELHI: Delhi Waveriders started their campaign on a positive note defeating Jaypee Punjab Warriors 2-1 in the opening match of the inaugural Hockey India league, at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here on Monday. Delhi rode on goals from Oscar Deecke and Gurvinder Singh Chandi to pocket the win, while Kieran Govers scored the lone goal for Punjab in the HIL opener. In the game, Delhi were by far the better side on display as they scored a goal each in the first two quarters (17-andhalf minutes) of the opening after getting a deflection from a Delhi defender. Even though it was a self-goal by Delhi, but as per rules Deecke was awarded the goal. Nine minutes later Chandi pulled off a stunner as Delhi went into the breather with a 2-0 lead. Punjab, however, came out with more purpose in the second half and the coordination among their attackers were much better than the opening 35 minutes. Punjab efforts bore fruit in the 43rd minute when Govers reduced the margin with a reverse flick from the right after being fed by Sunil. Delhi will also have to thank their German goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi for keeping their lead intact as he denied Punjab on numerous occasions in the second period. Delhi goalkeeper was given a tough fight by his rival custodian Jacob Stockmann who kept Punjab in the match with his brilliant display under the bar for which he was adjudged the player-of-thematch. An unmarked Akashdeep Singh got a golden opportunity to increase the lead for Delhi four minutes from the final hooter but his reverse flick from the left was blocked by Stockmaan.

Caption: Delhi Waveriders player Simon Child and Punjab Warriors vie for the ball. half. Punjab, on the other hand, looked out of sorts in the opening half as Australian Jamie Dwyer, Shivendra Singh and SV Sunil failed to combine and lacked coordination upfront. German Deecke broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when his flick from an acute angle rolled inside the net

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