3

National Bal
Rang on
January 10-11

We

Open a/c of
families by
4
Dec, Raman
tells banks
PM Modis wife
airs safety
8
concerns

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

he State

Australia
retire
10
Hughes
ODI jersey

Bengali
Bipashas
sweet 11
cravings

Published simultaneously from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Vol-03. Issue-10. Bhopal. Monday Page-12 Price-5/Online edition available at wethestate.com and wethestate.blogspot.in

Kejriwal
gearing up
to 12
reconquer Delhi

POSTAL REGD. MP/BHOPAL/4-323/2013-15

Bhopals toxic legacy lives on

Bhopal

NEWS MAX

eyond the iron gates of the derelict

pesticide plant where one of the
world's worst industrial disasters occurred,
administrative buildings lie in ruins, vegetation overgrown and warehouses bolted.
On the night of December 2, 1984, the factory owned by the U.S. multinational
Union Carbide Corporation leaked cyanide
gas into the air, killing thousands in
Bhopal. Thirty years later, the toxic legacy
of this factory lives on, say human rights
groups, as thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste remains buried underground, slowly poisoning the drinking
water of more than 50,000 people and
affecting their health. Activists want this
waste removed and disposed of away from
the area, and feel the government, has
fumbled on taking action - either by clearing up the waste itself or in pursuing
Union Carbide to take responsibility.
"There is a very high prevalence of
anaemia and painful skin conditions. But
what is most pronounced is the number of
children with birth defects," said activist
Satinath Sarangi from the Bhopal Medical
Appeal which runs a clinic for gas victims.
"Children are born with conditions such as
twisted limbs, brain damage, musculoskeletal disorders. This is what we see in
every fourth or fifth household in these
communities." Sarangi admits there has
been no long-term epidemiological
research which conclusively proves that
birth defects are directly related to the
drinking of the contaminated water.

Cashless treatment to
road accident victims

the charity Chingari Trust, located 500

metres from the factory site, disabled children aged between 6 months and 12 years
gather for treatment which ranges from
speech and hearing issues to physiotherapy. "Our life changed emotionally and physically since we got to know about his medical problem when was just 4 months old,"
said 26-year-old Sufia, sitting on a mat on
the floor, cradling her two-year-old son
Mustafa who has cerebral palsy. "We had to
stop the therapy when he was 8-months-old
as it was very expensive. My husband is an
electrician and doesn't earn much. With the
centre it is good as it's free. It's also good to
meet other mothers with their children and
realise that I am not alone."

CALL FOR CLEAN-UP

TOXIC WATER

While those directly affected receive free

medical health care, activists say authorities have failed to support those sick from
drinking the contaminated water and a second generation of children born with birth
defects. In a rehabilitation centre run by

The government was forced to recognise

the water was contaminated in 2012 when
the Supreme Court ordered that clean
drinking water be supplied to some 22
communities living around the factory site.
"I don't think there is any doubt now that
the waste dumped by Union Carbide is a
serious problem and that it needs to be
dealt with urgently," said Sunita Narain,
director of the Delhi-based Centre for
Science and Environment. Studies by

Narain's organisation in 2009 found samples taken from around the factory site
contained chlorinated benzene compounds
and organochlorine pesticides 561 times
the national standard. Studies since have
confirmed water pollution, but the hazardous waste remains in pits in some 21
locations within the 68-acre site and
buried in a wasteland outside, largely due
to wrangles between authorities and
activists on its disposal. The United
Nations this week welcomed a government
decision to reconsider the official figure of
people affected by the gas leak, and look
into additional compensation, but pressed
authorities to get rid of the toxic waste.
"New victims of the Bhopal disaster are
born every day, and suffer life-long from
adverse health impacts," said Baskut
Tuncak, U.N. Special Rapporteur on
human rights and toxic waste. "Without
cleaning the contamination, the number of
victims of the toxic legacy left by Union
Carbide will continue to grow, and, together, India's financial liability to a rising
number of victims," he added in a statement. Activists want Union Carbide, which
was taken over by Dow Chemical Company
(DOW.N) in 2001, to take the waste out of
the country, saying there are no adequate
facilities in India to deal with it. They have
also criticised state authorities for not pursuing the corporation for the clean-up.
State government officials were not immediately available for comment. Seventeen
people living around the plant have filed a
petition in the U.S. courts to get the multinational to bear the cost of the clean-up.

New Delhi: The Minister of State for Road

Transport
and
Highways,
Shri
Radhakrishnan informed the Rajya Sabha
that in order to give a boost to emergency
care of the road accident victims, the
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
has launched pilot projects on Gurgaon Jaipur section of NH 8, Ahmadabad
Mumbai Stretch of NH 8 and Ranchi
Rargaon Mahulia stretch of NH 33 for
providing cashless treatment to road accident victims for 48 hours or Rs. 30,000
whichever is earlier. The Ministry has
drafted Road Transport and Safety Bill,
2014 covering the entire gamut of issues
related to motor vehicles and road safety.
There is a provision in the Bill for constitution of Highway Traffic Regulation and
Protection Force also.
The Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways procures cranes and ambulances under National Highways Accident
Relief Service Scheme (NHARSS) and provides the State Governments for relief of
the accident victims. Besides, Concession
Agreements
prescribe
that
the
Concessionaire is required to provide
round-the-clock ambulance service for
road accident victims and, in addition,
provide Route Patrol Vehicles, Tow-Away
Cranes for incident management on
Project Highway. Ambulances, Route
Patrol Vehicles and Tow Away Cranes are
provided at an average length of 50 kilometer on National Highways entrusted to
NHAI.

Chhattisgarh Explore

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

18 lakh women to
be linked with SHGs

undivided four districts of Rajnandgaon,

Raipur, Sarguja and Bastar with SHGs
under the mission. During the last financial
year, bank linkage sanction for Rs 166 crore
had been given to about 14,000 SHGs.
Chandrakar asked the officers to prepare an action plan for the promotion of
Nagari Dubraj paddy cultivation in the districts included in the Rural Livelihood
Mission. He said that priority should be
given to the marketing of materials produced by the self-help groups.
The Minister stressed on increase of
livelihood source for the villagers under the
mission and the need for their skill development. For the implementation of the
Mission, the State Government had registered Chhattisgarh Gramin Aajeevika
Samvardhan Samiti in 2011.
Under the Mission, 10 villages each from
Balrampur-Ramanujganj and Rajnandgaon
districts were selected for community management based farming. A total of 231 small
and marginal woman farmers were selected
from these villages, as woman farmer
empowerment project is an important link of
this Mission.

Raipur

four districts of Rajnandgaon, Raipur,

Chhattisgarh

State

Rural

Livelihood

Principal Secretary, Panchayat and

Rural

Sarguja and Bastar with self-help groups

Mission. In the meeting held here, the offi-

Rural Development Department MK Raut,

Livelihood Mission is planning to link one

(SHGs). This was announced by Panchayat

cials informed that there is a target to link

Director, State Rural Livelihood Mission

woman each from the 18 lakh families of 16

and Rural Development Minister Ajay

one woman each from the 18 lakh families of

Sangeetha P and other senior officers of the

development blocks of the then undivided

Chandrakar while reviewing the works of

total 16 development blocks of the then

department were present.

The

Chhattisgarh

State

3-member panel will investigate chit-fund cases

RAIPUR

complaints from the victims

District

and investigate the matter.

Collector has formed a three-

The victims have been told to

member committee to examine

submit their complaints. On

the complaints it is getting

behalf of the State Backward

against chit-fund companies. A

Classes

Deputy Collector has been

Organisation, a delegation will

included in the committee led

meet Chief Minister Raman

by the district treasury officer.

Singh in his Jandarsan pro-

In a day or two, these officials

gramme and present griev-

will start probe on such com-

ances.

The

Raipur

plaints, officials sources said.

There

have

been

com-

Development

Organisation
Suraj

Chairman

Nirmalkar

said

the

plaints that several firms col-

office-bearers will proceed for

lected huge sum of money from

New Delhi by train on May 30.

people promising high returns,

They will meet Prime Minister

but later refused to pay them

Narendra

back and disappeared.

Minister

Sources said after receiving

Modi,

Home

Rajnath

Singh,

Deputy Governor of Delhi. The

District

office bearers have also decid-

Collector Thakur Ram Singh

ed to meet the DGP in Raipur

has set up the three-member

and demand action against

committee which will receive

chit-fund companies.

such

complaints,

MADHYA PRADESH

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

National Bal Rang on January 10-11

Bhopal

Manav Sangrahalaya. Joint

ous states will be displayed.

Director Public Instructions

Responsibility of the exhibi-

Indira

D.S. Kushwaha chaired a

tion has been entrusted to

Gandhi Rashtriya Manav

meeting of principals of edu-

principals. In all, 29 states

Sangrahalaya will jointly

cational institutions regard-

will participate in the exhibi-

organise state-level Bal Rang

ing preparations for the

tion. Nodal officers have also

on January 9 and National

event.

was

been appointed for food, lodg-

Bal Rang on January 10 and

informed that Mini India

ing, transport and medical

11, 2015. Boy and girl stu-

Exhibition on the theme

arrangements for boy and

dents, teachers and officers

Glorious India will be put

girl students, teachers and

from a number of states will

up during the event where

officers coming to participate

participate in the event to be

historic heritage, chronology,

in Bal Rang. Departmental

held on the premises of

culture, folk dance, tradi-

officers were present at the

Indira

tions, food habits etc. of vari-

meeting.

School
Department

Education
and

Gandhi

Rashtriya

The

meeting

Steering committee headed by

CS regarding childrens rights
A steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been constituted for effective implementation of National Child Policy-2013. Members of the committee will
include Additional Chief Secretaries of School Education and Social Justice departments, Principal Secretaries of Home, Tribal Welfare, Public Health & Family Welfare
departments and Secretary State Child Rights Protection Commission. Principal
Secretary Women and Child Development has been appointed Member-Secretary of the
committee, which will work towards creating conducive atmosphere for childrens right
to longevity, development, equality, dignity, security and freedom. Due to it, every child
will have equal development opportunity. The steering committee will chalk out an
action plan, assess situation for implementation and review the programme quarterly.
An order regarding constitution of the steering committee has been issued by General
Administration Department.

MP cops get training on cyber crime

Bhopal
MP police have taken initiative to
train its officers for investigating cyber
crime. The training imparted to the officers in this regard would help solve the
cyber crimes and identifying cyber criminals. In this modern era of information
technology revolution the cyber forensic
cell of the police plays very important role.
Technical training is essential for the
police personals for effective investiga-

training purpose and computers are avail-

training programme said, 40 Police offi-

launched for the students of schools of the

tions, said MP Director General of Police

able here for providing training to 20

cers from the rank of Inspector to

state to educate them about the precau-

(DGP) Surendra Sinh while addressing

police personals at a time besides comput-

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)

tions to be adopted while using mobile and

the concluding session of the police officers

ers and software are available for detect-

participated in the training.

computer. For this a short film has also

training here at the cyber cell office.

ing cyber-crimes. Very soon latest soft-

He furthers said that these officers

been made. This drive would help stu-

Sinh said, The only virtual training

ware would be made available to the cyber

were made aware about the crimes

dents from committing a cyber-crime by

centre in the country has been established

cell that would help getting programme

through mobile and computer and were

mistake and would also make them aware

in the cyber cell of the MP police. A sepa-

software data of different companies.

taught the ways of collecting data to solve

from becoming victim of the cyber-crime,

rate server has been erected here for the

DGP Sinh while providing details of the

them. He said a special drive would be

he added.

RAIPUR

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

Govt may establish

Rural Housing Board
RAIPUR
With a view to providing affordable housing to the rural population, the State
Government is mulling over plans to establish
a Rural Housing Board in Chhattisgarh. The
Board will work as a nodal agency to undertake such housing projects in the rural pockets
of the State, official sources here informed.
Officials said although the Chhattisgarh
Housing Board (CHB) had already been working to implement a number of housing projects,
the housing projects in the rural areas are
being implemented by the various village panchayats. As a result such projects are facing
different procedural and technical hurdles. The
Government has been already implementing
Indira Awas Yojana in the rural areas of the
State. The Union Government has been providing funds for the implementation of the
scheme.
But the Government has received a number of complaints over the alleged poor work in
construction of houses by the panchayats. The
Government is now planning to establish the
Board in line with the one existing in Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka. Lakhs of houses have
been constructed through the Rural Housing
Board in the aforesaid States. The Government
will be able to implement the Indira Awas
Yojana in a better way through the Board, they
said. Sources said the State Government has
received an allocation of Rs 300 crore for construction of 45 Indira Awas houses this year in
the State.

file photo

Open a/c of families by Dec, Raman tells banks

Raipur
Chief

Minister

Raman Singh has said

that economic activities
in far-flung areas of the
State are rapidly increasing and hence there is
need for banks in remote
areas. It will be profitable
for the villagers and also

Yojana. The CM asked

part of Prime Ministers

the concerned bank offi-

top priority schemes and

cers to open accounts of

the work of opening bank

all

by

accounts should be speed-

December under Prime

ed up. The Chief Minister

Ministers

asked bank officers to

the

families

Jan-Dhan

Scheme.

send the details of the

The CM was speak-

bank accounts opened

ing at a meeting of senior

under Jan-Dhan scheme

officers

to

of

the

State

the

Revenue

Government and bank

Department. The scheme

officers. He revealed that

was launched on August

there are 15 banks cover-

28. A large number of

ing an area of 1,000 sq

accounts

km.

Chhattisgarh

during separate camps

while the national aver-

held in the State. The

about 31 lakh families

age is 35 banks. The pub-

remaining section of the

out of 56 lakh have bank

lic sector banks should

population will be cov-

accounts under various

open more branches in all

ered by December-end.

schemes in the state. The

the districts, Singh said.

Singh directed the bank

banks can appoint correspondents

in

remote

areas of the State.

Singh said the postoffices also can be included in the venture. He said

in

were

opened

rest of the 25 lakh fami-

While reviewing the

lies accounts will be

progress of the Jan Dhan

and

opened under the Prime

scheme, the CM said that

accounts as early as pos-

Ministers

the ambitious scheme is a

sible.

Jan-Dan

officers to take a survey

open

the

bank

MADHYA PRADESH

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

Action plan for intensive monitoring

of activity-based learning schools
Bhopal
The state government has
chalked out a detailed action plan
for intensive monitoring of over 16
thousand activity-based learning
(ABL) schools in the state. The
government has directed all district collectors to get started monitoring of such schools within a
week. The collectors have been
directed to immediately start monitoring of every school to upgrade
academic quality.
Collector in every district will
appoint district education officer,
DIET principal/DRC and district
project officer as authorised officers to issue orders pertaining to
the action plan. Responsibility has
been fixed at every level for academic upgradation of ABL schools.
Jan-Shikshaks and in-charge of

Jan-Shiksha Kendra will undertake monitoring at Jan-Shiksha

Kendra level. Jan-Shikshaks will
monitor subordinate schools at
least once a month positively. They
will submit their programmes to
Jan-Shiksha Kendra in-charge and
DRC before commencement of
month. During monitoring it will

be ascertained whether ABL

schools are being run properly or
not. If academic lacunae are found,
efforts will be made to remove
them. Concerning authorities will
be informed if assistance is
required from senior level.
Academic report will be submitted
every month. On the basis of aca-

demic report, in-charge of JanShiksha Kendra will visit weak or

problem-ridden schools. Report
will be forwarded to senior level if
its cooperation is sought during or
after review.
Orders will be issued while
dividing work of ABL-selected JanShiksha Kendras between development block-level BAC and BRC,
who will visit minimum 5 schools
each in the first and second weeks
of month. At the district level,
work of monitoring selected blocklevel Jan-Shiksha Kendras will be
divided between all DPCs posted
at DIET/DRC and lecturers. They
will inspect minimum 50 schools
each during third and fourth
weeks of month. They will stay at
schools for half day to monitor
activities. Action plan will be

chalked out for schools academic

upgradation and it would be followed up every month. Touring
officers will intimate senior
office/officers about their programme. Achievements of ABL
schools will be assessed every
quarter and school-wise action
plans for upgradation will be
chalked out. From the state level,
the officers appointed as in-charge
of districts will inspect minimum 3
schools in the fourth week of every
month. They will review efforts for
academic upgradation and give
guidance. After state-level monitoring, its school-wise report will
be submitted to Mission Director,
Rajya Shiksha Kendra following
which directives will be sought
from him and sent to districts for
academic upgradation.

Exam results to be posted

on Samgra Education Portal

Bhopal
Exam results of year 2013-14
of students will also be registered
online on Samagra Education
Portal
under
Integrated
Scholarship Scheme school/student-wise. The state government
has issued directives regarding
this to all district collectors, CEOs
of Zila Panchayats, district education officers and district project
coordinators. Since year 2013-14,
Integrated Scholarship Scheme is
being managed through Samagra
Education Portal. Under it, scholarships are sanctioned and paid
after mapping of students of class
I to VIII from all government and
private schools through Sankul
Kendra school. During current
year, action will be taken to enter
on the portal results of students
for sanction of various scholarships, to map new students and
provide information about amendment in eligibility criteria. First of
all, school/student-wise results
will be uploaded on the portal. List
of students admitted during year

2013-14 may be downloaded as

required
from
the
portal.
Information about every students
exam result and his presence or
absence from school will be available on the portal. Information
about student upto class VIII will
be updated by BRCCs and above
class IX by Sankul principals.
From the new session, mapping of
students transferred from other
schools will also be made. Their
mapping will be done from their
new schools. Samagra IDs and
lists of students admitted in class I
and left out students will also be
prepared. Class, caste, genderwise authoritative information
about students will also be available on the portal. Information
about bank account, mobile number and eligibility-related information may be amended in students
profiles on the portal. For this,
scholarship eligibility slips may be
downloaded from the portal which
will be attested by school headmaster and present in a bunch to
Sankul principal, who will upload
the information on the portal.

Target to construct toilets in

all schools by June 30, 2015
Bhopal
A meeting between officers of
School Education Department and
representatives of public sector
undertakings (PSUs) was held
recently to discuss construction of
toilets in all schools in MP under
Swachchh
Bharat-Swachchh
School Abhiyan. Additional Chief
Secretary School Education S.R.
Mohanthy, Commissioner Rajya
Shiksha Kendra Rashmi Arun
Shami and Commissioner Public
Instructions D.D. Agrawal were
also present on the occasion.
At the meeting, drawings of
schools approved by the Chief
Secretary were presented. The
meeting decided that all PSUs will

get constructed toilets as per drawing and estimate chalked out by the
state government. PSU representatives were asked to intimate their
senior level and obtain necessary
sanction. All PSUs may construct
toilets in schools at identified
places in coordination with
Additional Mission Director Smt.
Swati Meena. Construction sites
will be identified within next one
week. If a PSU does not desire to
construct toilet on its own then its
amount will be deposited in
Mukhyamantri Swachchhata Kosh.
The state government will get constructed toilet through its agency
using this amount. If a PSU has
issued tender notice for construc-

tion of toilets, it can be revised

again. Toilets will be constructed in
only those schools which are on government land. They will not be constructed in schools run in rented
building or private land. School
Education Department will make
arrangements of water for toilets.
PSU will ensure to place overhead
tank and work of sanitary fitting.
Concerning PSU will look after toilets for 3 years. In districts, need for
toilets in schools will be met cent
percent. A target has been set to
construct all school toilets by June
30, 2015. Next meeting between
officers and PSU representatives on
toilet construction will be held on
December 6.

Feature

AS TR OLOGY
03-12-2014- Wednesday -Margashirsh
Mah Shuklapaksh-Dwadashi
Positive directions -North and East
Bad time
12:16 pm to 1:37 pm
Good time
6:53 am to 9:35 am
and 10:55 am to 12:15 pm an 2:58 pm
to 5:40 pm
04-12-2014-Thursday-Margashirsh
Mah Shuklapaksh-Trayodashi
(Pradosh)
Positive directions-South and East
Bad time
1:38 pm to 2:58 pm
Good time
6:53 am to 8:14 am
10:56 am to 1:37 and 4:19 pm to 5:40 pm
05-12-2014- Friday -Margashirsha
Mah Shuklapaksh-Chaturdashi
Positive direction-South and East
Bad Time
10:56 am to 12:17 pm
Good time
6:54 am to 10:55 am
and 12:18 pm to 1:38 pm and 4:20 pm to
5:40pm
06-12-2014- Saturday -Margashirsha
Mah Shuklapaksh-Poornima
Positive directions-South and East
Bad time
9:36 am to 10:57 am
Good time
8:15 am to 9:35 am
and 12:18 pm to 4:20 pm 5:41
07-12-2014- Sunday - Paush Mah
Krishnapaksh-Ekam
Positive directions - South and West
Bad time
4:20 pm and 5:41 pm
Good time
8:16 am to 12:18 pm
and 1:39 pm to 2:59 pm

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

We made the
world what it is!

There must be only a few people who haven't ever said "What the hell has
happened to this world!" while reading the newspaper. Thats because we
have developed a habit of blaming. We blame our job for our hampered social
life, we blame our kids for making us tired, we blame our spouse for not
reminding us to wish birthday to the second cousin, we blame our neighbour
for the loud music, we blame the government for the dirt on the roads, and
who not! We put the blame of everything that happens to us on someone else,
but never bother to think that whatever happens to us, we are a part of it too.
Just think about it. Your hampered social life might be because you
spend the weekends in a mall and not in visiting a neighbour or relative.

08-12-2014-Monday- Paush Mah

Krishnapaksh-Dwitiya
Positive direction-South and West
Bad time
8:17 am and 9:37 am
Good time
6:56 am to 8:17 am
and 9:38 am to 10:58 am and 1:39 pm
to 5:41 pm

-Swechchha Amritansh Tambi

Email:swechchhaojha@gmail.com

09-12-2014- Tuesday - Paush Mah

Krishnapaksh-Tritiya
Positive directions-West and North
Bad time
3:00 pm to 4:21 pm
Good time
9:38 am to 1:40 pm

you to play with them. Your spouse might

that have got this

also have forgotten that cousins birthday

world in the condi-

and could be depending on you to remind

tion it's in. so make

them. May be the road is not clean because

it a point to share

By AACHARYA SARVESH
E-Mail: acharya.sarvesh@yahoo.com
Mobile: 9826609192

you keep throwing your garbage here and

your bit of knowl-

there, keeping your house a bit too clean,

edge whatever it is

or because you never took it seriously to

Vastu tips for bathroom

about with people

correct others when they are untidying the

who need it and who

roads in front of you. And maybe youre

can make use of it,

right for blaming the neighbours music!

instead of keeping it

But still, seriously, is it good to blame peo-

with you. Ever heard

ple even if theyre wrong? Does it do any

this,

good to us or to the situation? And if it

increases

by

doesnt, why do we bother maligning our

sharing?

So

thoughts and tongue doing such an unnec-

share your knowl-

essary thing instead of actually doing

edge. Stop blaming oth-

something about it, something that makes

ers. Start doing what is

it good.

right. Stop hurting yourself

If there is almirah, it
should always be on
the Southwest Side
of the toilet.
The slope of the
bathroom floor
should be towards
north and east so
water drains to the
northeast side of the
bathroom.
The suitable
directions for
keeping the washing
machine are
southeast and
northwest.
Avoid dark shades
on toilet walls.

(MP & CG)

take good. It is
small groups of
people keeping

ou might be tired because you had

important bits of

a lot of work in the office and not

knowledge hidden

because your kids are now asking

from one another

And if you cant do it yourself, just try

Knowledge

by continuously thinking what

to tell others what you feel. Really, it is

wrong someone else did. Start

always going to be good. Your knowledge is

working on making the situation

not such a top secret, and not even an

better. Even if it is a small bit, it

exhaustible resource that will die out once

will definitely make a difference, if

you give it to others. If this was the case,

not today, tomorrow it will.

all the teachers would have gone all blank

Show up when the world needs you.

and dumb after their classes for the want

Speak up, for changing the situation,

of more knowledge. So share what you

instead of blaming it. Were a part of the

have to share. Do your part in making the

world the way it is. Weve made the world

world a better place to live. It would do no

the way it is. And only we can make it bet-

bad to you if you make someone elses mis-

ter. Have a Happy Monday.

COMMERCE

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

Parliament passes Labour

Laws Amendment Bill, 2014
New Delhi
The Lok Sabha has passed the
Labour Laws (Exemption from
Furnishing
Returns
and
Maintaining Registers by Certain
Establishments) Amendment Bill,
2014. The Bill, as amended, proposes to change some of the provisions of the original Act of 1988 to
increase the number of laws under
which small establishments are
exempt from furnishing returns
and maintaining registers from
nine to 16, an official release said.
It amends the definition of small
establishments to cover units
employing between 10 to 40 workers as against the limit of 19 workers at present. Commenting on the
amendment, Union Minister of
State for Labour and Employment
Bandaru Dattatreya said that the

Workshop for
SMEs on how
advertising can
expand business
Vadodara: To address the
advertising and marketing needs
as well as brand building challenges of small and medium
enterprises, a workshop on how
advertising can help grow your
business

Bill is a social security measure.

It simplifies procedures regarding
engaging labours. The main purpose of bringing the Bill is transparency, accountability and proper
enforcement. He said the EPF
Universal Account Number will be

a major benefit as it affords portability, transparency and efficiency.

He asserted that the Government
was not at all compromising on the
interest of workers and the legislation was not meant to give exemption to any establishment.

the

has been organised by the

Bank, and Chief

Vadodara Chamber of Commerce

Executive Officer

and

(CEO),

and

Higher Education

of

Department

Industry

(FICCI), according to official

behalf

data. It will take place on the

Government

inaugural day of the 9th edition

of Vibrant VCCI Exhibition -

of

on

New Delhi

the
of

Kerala, M T Reju.

New Delhi

with Millennium
Alliance Awards

ASAP,

Federation of Indian Chambers

and

SMEcorner, an online platform that enables small and

medium enterprises to access loans easily from banks
and NBFCs (non-banking finance corporations) has
joined hands with mega online store, Flipkart to help
organise finance for small sellers.
According to data collected by the
International Finance Corporation, 41
per cent of the SMEs in India are financially unserved by any formal institution,
leaving a SME financing demand gap of Rs 2.93 trillion. The
team at SMEcorner believes that this gap can be reduced by engaging
with SMEs and offering assistance through a streamlined online platform, an official release said. SMEcorner hopes to bridge the gap,
Founder and CEO, SMEcorner.com, Samir Bhatia said. As far as
Flipkarts role is concerned, sellers on the online market place requiring
finance will be directed to SMEcorners website. Sellers who wish to
avail of the loan can access the Flipkart button on SMEcorners website
and apply online by filling in details. Thereafter, a preliminary credit
analysis will be carried out to ensure the credit worthiness of the seller
after which an application will be sent to partner banks and NBFCs to
increase chances of getting a loan. SMEcorner aims to minimize intermediary risk and extend transparency to the borrowing process, while
assisting businesses in fulfilling their financial requirements. The online
marketplace, SMEcorner has created gives SMEs easier, faster and more
efficient access to resources that can help them grow, expand or finance
a project. SMEcorner.com offers hassle free loan accessibility options,
to help combat challenges of followups, arduous documentation, unprofessional intermediaries etc. It has tools such as Loan Eligibility
Calculator and Loan EMI Calculator. The online loan platform offers 4
different categories of products: Working Capital Loan, Loan against
Property, Unsecured Business Loan and Loan for Medical Equipment.

Asian

Development

Commerce

New Delhi

Kho on behalf of

here for SMEs. The programme

(VCCI)

SME corner to work

with Flipkart to arrange
loans for small sellers

ADB to support Kerala's

skill programme; 2,34,000
students to benefit 20 innovators felicitated

is being organised

Industry

Union

Minister,

Ministry of Road Transport

and

Highways

and

The USD 100 million loan for sup-

Shipping, Nitin Gadkari,

2014, a flagship exhibition of

India has signed an agreement

porting Keralas Additional Skill

felicitated

industrial and allied products

with the Asian Development bank

Acquisition Program (ASAP) is the

and services. Participants would

(ADB) for a loan of USD 100 mil-

who were awarded a total

first Results Based Lending (RBL)

lion to support Keralas additional

funding of approximately Rs

learn why advertising is impor-

facility from ADB in India.

tant for small and medium enter-

skill acquisition program (ASAP).

20 crore under the sectors of

Key outputs of market-rele-

prises; how to effectively market

As many as 2,35,000 needy stu-

basic education, affordable health-

vant vocational training intro-

through advertising; how it will

dents in the state will benefit from

care, agriculture/food security, clean

duced in post-basic education;

help win new customers; where

the program during 2014-2018.

enhanced access to quality voca-

energy, and water and sanitation.

and how to advertise with limit-

The move is an initiative of the

tional training; increased aware-

ed budgets; how to rationalise

Government of Kerala to increase

Awards Ceremony was organised

ness and facilitation of private sec-

advertising budgets within tele-

the employability of higher second-

here by FICCI in association with

tor participation as also improved

vision, newspaper, radio and

ary and undergraduate students

Technology

program management and moni-

internet; and customised low cost

by way of providing opportunities

(Department

toring and evaluation would be

advertising solutions for small

Technology, Government of India),

to improve their English fluency

considered for disbursement of due

and medium companies. The

United

and IT skills, and to learn market

amounts, it said. Speaking on the

event will also provide an oppor-

International

relevant, in-demand vocational

occasion, Bajaj said that the RBL

tunity

(USAID),

skills outside regular school hours,

modality, the first time being used

industry leaders from the adver-

International Development (DFID)

an

the

in India, will reinforce country sys-

tising and marketing space. The

of UK, ICCO Cooperation, ICICI

Ministry of Finance said. The

tems, incentivize results, and

workshop is open for MDs and

Foundation for Inclusive Growth

agreement was signed by Joint

reduce transaction costs. The loan

CEOs, small and medium entre-

and

Secretary,

of

provides a replicable model for

Sustainable Health (WISH), accord-

preneurs from across sectors,

Economic Affairs, Ministry of

other States that are facing the

ing to an official release. The inno-

senior marketing professionals,

Finance, Tarun Bajaj on behalf of

problems of low youth employabili-

vations were selected through a rig-

the Government of India and

ty and high unemployment, he

orous selection and evaluation

Country Director ADB, M Teresa

added.

process of over 1400 proposals

for

networking

with

startups and budding entrepreneurs.

(MP & CG)

official

release

from

Department

20

The

innovators

Millennium

Alliance

Development
of

States

Board

Science
Agency

and
for

Development
Department

Wadhwani

Initiative

for

for

received as a result of pan-India

outreach supported through 40
roadshows in tier I, II and III cities.
The winning innovators will
receive seed funding and other support to test and demonstrate their
projects which were selected based
on their potential to improve the
quality of life for low-income populations in India, South Asia and
Africa. The awardees are implementing their initiatives across
India and beyond, including in
Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Kerala, and Haryana, and in lowincome countries in Africa and
South Asia. Delivering his keynote
address at the ceremony, Gadkari
said that Millennium Alliance provides the right platform for encouraging innovators and scaling up
their innovations.

NATION

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

Food processing industry should be kept PM Modis

outside the scope of GST: industry body wife airs safety
concerns

New Delhi

Preferred policy option should

be imposed on food processing
sector, keeping GST rate not
more than 4 per cent and
farm sector should be kept
outside the scope of GST, said
President, PHD Chamber of
Commerce and Industry,
Sharad Jaipuria. The likely
implementation of GST at
more than 20 per cent on food
processing sector would not
only impact the sector
adversely but also hit the economic and social sentiments
of the country, Jaipuria said
recently.
The
food
processing
industry is still at a nascent
stage of development in our
country at only 2.2 per cent of
food output is processed in
India as compared to 78 per
cent in Philippines, 65 per
cent in the USA and 23 per

cent in China. At this juncture, high rate of GST will

slow down the growth trajectory of food processing sector
in India. Further, as food comprise a major part of the
Wholesale Price Index (WPI),
which is nearly 14.3 per cent,
an increase in tax on food
items will lead to higher inflation in the country, he said.
We believe since food consti-

tutes a large portion of the

consumer basket of lower
income households, any tax
on food would affect the poor
most. Further, extending GST
to food processing sector will
also cause difficulty in view of
the fact that production and
distribution of food is largely
unorganized in India, added
Jaipuria. On global front,
most of the countries tax food

Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi
bus service flagged off

at a lower rate keeping in

view the considerations of
fairness and equity. Even in
countries such as Canada, UK
and Australia where food constitutes a relatively small portion of the consumer basket,
food is taxed at zero rate.
While in some countries, food
is taxed at a standard rate
which is as low as 3 per cent
in Singapore and Japan. Even
in international jurisdictions,
no distinction is drawn on the
degree of processing of food.
Hence, the benefit of lower or
zero tax rates should also be
extended to all food items in
India regardless to degree of
processing, he said. Going
ahead, a lower GST on
processed foods would benefit
the society at large and benefit the growth of food processing industry in the country,
added Jaipuria.

Smart cities should make

the rich prefer to travel by
public transport: Minister
New Delhi

New Delhi
Union Minister for Road
Transport, Highways and Shipping,
Shri Nitin Gadkari while flagging
off the Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi bus
service from Ambedkar Stadium
bus terminal here recently said this
has been an outcome of Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modis initiative to make relations with Nepal
much stronger and his willingness
to contribute to the progress of
Nepal Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri
Najeeb Jung, Minister of State for
Tourism and Culture, Dr. Mahesh
Sharma, Minister of State for Road
Transport, Highways and Shipping,
Shri P. Radhakrishnan and other
dignitaries were also present on the
occasion.
The inauguration took place
simultaneously with the Prime
Ministers of the two countries flagging
off
Kathmandu-DelhiKathmandu bus service from
Swaymbhu
Terminal
in
Kathmandu. The proposed route of
the bus service is New DelhiL u c k n o w - G o r a k h p u r- S u n a u l i -

Bhairahawa-Kathmandu.
Both
sides will be running at least one
bus on daily basis. The service is
being operated by Delhi Transport
Corporation. The regular bus on
this route will leave Delhi at 10 AM
and reach Kathmandu at 4 PM
next day with four halts enroute at
Ferozabad, Faizabad, Sunauli
(Border) and Mugling in Nepal.
This bus service will cover the
distance of 1250 km between two
cities in about 30 hours. The bus is
equipped with telephone No.
009711008279. Speaking on the
occasion, Shri Nitin Gadkari highlighted his Ministrys initiatives
towards reducing the level of pollution caused by road traffic.
He said that the Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways has
been considering to convert old
diesel buses into electric buses. He
added that e-rickshaws have now
been modified and soon they would
ply on the roads in Delhi. One of the
major concerns of his Ministry is to
end the problem of traffic jam in
Delhi, he further added.

Expressing serious concern over explosion in

number of private vehicles
in major cities, Urban
Development Minister Shri
M.Venkaiah Naidu has
called for efficient and reliable multi-modal public
transport systems in urban
areas to enable the much
desired quick urban mobility. He was speaking at the
'Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo' here
recently. Naidu asserted that the huge increase in
private vehicles in urban areas amounts to the
rich and the affordable mis-appropriating the
limited urban space at the cost of the poor. He
said this 'social exclusion' should be addressed
with better transport planning. He stated that
between 1981 and 2011, the population of the six
major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai,
Bengaluru and Hyderabad increased by 2.50
times while the private vehicles shot up by about
30 times, increasing from 5 million to 160 million.
Talking about smart cities initiative, Shri
Naidu said that a smart city is not the one wherein everybody gets to use a private vehicles, but
one in which even the rich and affordable will
prefer to travel by public transport. He observed
that growing number of private vehicles may be
evidence of rising incomes and prosperity, but at
the same time, it is a certain indication of total
failure of urban transport planning. Shri
Venkaiah Naidu noted that urban planning and
management is the main challenge of the 21st
century and central and state governments
should rise to the occasion to convert this challenge into an opportunity.

New Delhi
The estranged wife of PM Narendra Modi has
raised concerns about her safety and asked for
information about arrangements for her security.
Jashodaben, a retired school teacher, filed a Right
to Information (RTI) application to the state government in Gujarat where she lives.
Modi admitted publicly for the first time he
was married when he filed his election nomination
papers in April. They married when they were 17,
but the couple have lived apart for years. But soon
after Modi's spectacular win in the May general
elections, Jashodaben was provided round-theclock security. "I am the wife of the honourable
prime minister of India," she wrote in her RTI
application filed before the authorities in
Mehsana district where she lives with her brother. "I would like to know under what provisions of
the law and the constitution of India am I being
provided protection? As wife of the prime minister
what are the other benefits I am entitled to?"
Jashodaben says she travels by "public transport
while my security personnel travel in official vehicles".
"Given that former prime minister Indira
Gandhi was assassinated by her security guards,
I am frightened by the presence of the security
cover. So kindly provide me all details about the
security personnel provided to me," her application states. Jashodaben said she lived on a monthly pension of 14,000 rupees. She said Modi had left
her after three years, during which they spent
some three months together and that they had
parted amicably. Critics have long accused Modi of
deserting his wife after he joined the RSS, which
prizes celibacy. They say the fact that he refused
to acknowledge her for so long provides clues
about his attitude to women.

TURNING INDIA

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

India relaxes visa norms to boost tourism

New Delhi
Tourists from the US, Australia, Brazil,
Germany and Japan are now able to get
visas on arrival in India after its limited
scheme was extended. Visitors from 43 countries no longer have to queue up at local consulates, but can instead apply for their visas
online and collect them at airports.
The country received 6.58 million
tourists in 2012, far fewer than Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia. Tourism
Minister Mahesh Sharma said the change
would be boost to the industry. The scheme
was "a dream come true for the entire
tourism industry of India and is bound to
positively impact the economy," he said in a

statement. "The government's objective is to

boost tourism and this scheme's implementation will send out a clear message that
India is serious about making travel to the
country easy."
India previously offered visas-on-arrival
to visitors from only 12 countries. Most
other foreigners had to wait several weeks
before learning whether they would be
allowed to enter India after submitting their
applications at visa processing centres. The
new visa-on-arrival will be available at nine
major airports in India. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has pledged to boost tourism
since his party won a landslide election victory earlier this year.

Govt sets target for 5-fold

increase in share of
renewable in energy mix

New cold
chain facility
in Karnataka

New Delhi

New Delhi
The government has declared its
commitment to raise the share of renewables, particularly solar energy, in the
total energy mix of the country from 20
Gigawatts now to 100 Gigawatts by
2020, marking a five-fold expansion
from 6 per cent to 15 per cent.
This was stated here recently by
Union Minister for Power, Coal, New
and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal,
while inaugurating the first of its kind
FICCI-UNEP Conference on Designing
a Sustainable Financial System. A USD
100 billion investment in the expansion
of renewables is doable and fundable for
which viable business model would have
to be devised to make makers want to

lend for the development of the sector,

he said, adding that subsidies are no
solution to the attracting investment.
Bankers, he said, needed to reorganize
their lending norms in such a manner
that auto and home loans could be
clubbed along with the installation of
rooftop solar panels. He advocated the
use of escalating tariff for solar power to
achieve grid parity over a five-year term.
A more realistic interest rate with staggered repayment, could perhaps be the
answer to solar energy expansion, he
said. The Minister said solar panels and
other related equipment could be
installed in arid and non-agricultural
land on a 20-25 year lease and the land
owner could be paid compensation with

the funds generated by the investor.

Such a model would do away with the
need to acquire land, he emphasized.
He said two new power schemes
have been launched by his ministry
the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti
Yojana for providing 24x7 power to every
farm and home in the rural areas and
the Integrated Power Development
Scheme for urban areas.
The government also proposes
metering transmission of power from
the generation up to the consumer point
so as to monitor and segregate pockets
with T&D losses and theft. Once this is
done, the discoms would be able to cut
down their losses without having to
raise tariffs, he pointed out.

As a part of its initiative to enhance post-harvesting facilities in the state, the Karnataka State
Agriculture Produce Processing and Export
Corporation Limited (KAPPEC) has set up a new
cold chain facility in the northern Karnataka town of
Bagalkot. The newly established multi-food processing facility houses a pack house, grading-sorting line,
pre cooling units, cold storages (high humidity and
also normal), ripening chambers, aril packing unit
and allied equipment. It was designed and financed
under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), as
per a press notification.
In this context, the corporation has invited bids
from experienced and reputed agencies to take care
of operation, maintenance and management
(OM&M) of the cold chain at Agro Tech Park KIADB
industrial area. The Karnataka government in the
budget 2006-07 sanctioned an amount of Rs 10 crore
to KAPPEC for creating necessary post-harvest
infrastructure facilities in different parts of the state
based on potential in a phased manner.
The corporation now intends to enter into joint
venture with the private sector for the development
and increase of agriculture and horticulture exports
from the state.

SPORTS

10

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

India-Australia first Test

deferred after Hughes death
tionally ready to start a Test match the
day after farewelling one of their teammates. Their welfare is our absolute
priority. They are grieving and to
expect that they could play a highpressured, five-day Test match the following day is out of the question, CA
chief executive Sutherland said.
Hughes was struck on the head in
a Sheffield Shield match between
South Australia and New South Wales
at the Sydney Cricket Ground Tuesday
by a bouncer that fractured his skull.
He suffered massive bleeding in
his brain and died in a Sydney hospital

Thursday. CA thanked the Indian

ricket Australia (CA) announced

cricket board for supporting the deci-

cricketing community in the wake of

Saturday that the first Test

sion. We appreciate the incredible

the tragic incident. We just ask the

match between Australia and

understanding and support of the

cricket community for some patience

India, due to start Thursday would be

Board of Control for Cricket in India

as we work through a range of scenar-

rescheduled, following the tragic death

(BCCI). It has been nothing short of

ios in full consultation with the play-

of batsman Phillip Hughes from a

outstanding during these difficult

ers, the Indian Board, the ICC and our

bouncer during a domestic match.

times. We fully acknowledge the many

broadcasters. We hope to resolve all

Details about the Test match are still

groups who want to know when the

matters in the next few days and will

to be determined, a CA statement said.

Test will take place, particularly crick-

let cricket fans and the games many

These are extraordinary circum-

et fans in Queensland, Queensland

important stakeholders know as a pri-

stances and we simply couldnt or

Cricket and Stadiums Queensland.

ority. The ticket sales for the Test

wouldnt expect our players to be emo-

CA also asked for patience from the

have also been suspended.

Djokovic to reveal
Australia retire Hughes ODI jersey life story in short
film series
Cricket

has

agreed. It means so much,

decided to retire late bats-

Australia

Clarke said in a statement.

man Phillip Hughess one

Our

day

shirt

Hughes family is that we

captain

will do everything we can

said

to honour his memory. He

Saturday. Hughes,25, died

epitomised what the baggy

Thursday two days after

green is about and what it

being hit by a bouncer dur-

means to us all. Our dress-

ing a domestic game. I

ing room will never be the

asked Cricket Australia if

same. No decision has

Hughesys Australian one-

been announced about the

day

first Test with India, which

international

number

64,

Michael

Clarke

international

number,
retired,

64,
to

shirt

could
which

be
they

promise

to

the

is due to begin in Brisbane

Thursday.

op ranked mens singles tennis player Novak

Djokovic will reveal never before told stories
about his life in a short documentary series in partnership with Australian winery Jacobs Creek. The
biggest fight I had in my life was actually the fight
within, the 27-year-old said in a short trailer
released Monday for the videos called Made By,
reported media. He added that the mini-documentary form has given me the opportunity to tell the
world my story for the first time, showing what Ive
been shaped and inspired by. The video will be
released in January.

West Indies leave for Proteas battle

St. Johns (Antigua)
For the first time since the controversial tour
of India, a West Indies cricket squad left the
Caribbean for an international assignment,
when the Test team headed to South Africa
for a three-match series.
Groups of players departed from St. Lucia,
Barbados and Jamaica Sunday evening and
will assemble in London Monday, before flying off to Johannesburg, reports said. The
Windies will also be playing a three
Twenty20 matches and five ODIs. The West
Indies are scheduled to arrive in one of
South Africas biggest cities Tuesday morning. Left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell will
join the squad next week following the conclusion of the third round of matches in the
WICB Professional Cricket League. He was

asked by selectors to stay behind and represent Jamaica

Franchise in
order to prove
his match
readiness. The
tour, which
was shrouded
in doubt following the controversial decision by players
to abandon the
one-day tour of
India, will see
the West Indies play three Tests against the
world number one-ranked Proteas.
Significantly, the 15-man Windies squad

includes seven of those players who walked

off the tour, and
all eyes would
be on the team
chemistry in
light of the
recent fractious
developments.
There had been
speculation
ahead of the
squads selection that those
players
involved in the
abandonment would be sacked. However, in
announcing the squad, chief selector Clive
Lloyd reiterated the selectors commitment to

always choose the best team available. The

WICB also came under pressure from St.
Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister
Ralph Gonsalves, who sought and gained
assurances that the players would not face
censure because of their actions. Gonsalves
was at the centre of negotiations between the
WICB, the West Indies Players Association
(WIPA) and the players, as the abandoned
tour mushroomed into a full blown crisis.
The confusion erupted after the one-day
team on tour of India claimed that the
changes in their tour contracts would result
in a significant reduction in their earnings.
With one-day captain Dwayne Bravo as their
spokesman, the players lobbied WIPA and
the WICB for a change to the contracts, without success.

GLAMOUR

11

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

Life
should
be
chaotic:
Big
B
M

Its satisfying to
be part of film
like Zed Plus':
Mona Singh

egastar
Amitabh
Bachchan says he enjoys
working in a chaotic
environment. Words
written in solitude in
an air of nothingness,
bring the required
results. Words written
in the middle of chaotic
traffic are the best for
me life should be
chaotic, yet controlled in
some (ways).
Those somes I do not
know, but this I do know
that solitude does not
always bring about the

qualities that you long

for, he said on his official blog
srbachchan.tumblr.com
at times a bit of
noise helps particularly in front of the camera
when we are rehearsing
our lines the errors
we make cannot be
heard, with that external sound so I enjoy
rehearsing in noise
just rehearsing nothing else! he added. Big
B is currently shooting
Shoojit Sircars film
Piku in Ahmedabad.

Im a risk-taker,

Katie Holmes

ctress Mona Singh, who

features in the recently
released Zed Plus, says
its satisfying for an actor to be
part of a movie like the political
satire as it requires one to portray a range of emotions. It is
very satisfying for an actor to be
a part of a film like Zed Plus
because there is a wide range of
emotions involved and the audience will get to see it when they
watch the film, Mona said.
A socio-political satire, Zed
Plus takes a humorous take on
existing polity and dance of
democracy, and where the protagonist is the common man.
Directed by Chandraprakash
Dwivedi, Zed Plus also features Adil Hussain, Mukesh
Tiwari and Sanjay Mishra. The
film released Friday.
Mona, who has played memorable roles on the small screen
in shows like Jassi Jaisi Koi
Nahi and Kya Huaa Tera
Vaada, was last seen on the big
screen in films like 3 Idiots
and Utt Pataang.
She does films few and far
between as she feels theres a
scarcity of good scripts in the
Hindi film industry. Most of
the movies that we are seeing
are all romantic films. Im not
against romantic films, but
there should be some intelligent
cinema as well, she said.
There are very few films that I
can count, saying I want to
watch them again. I can watch
Queen several times, and then
Aankhon Dekhi is a brilliant
film. I just love these films. Its
different cinema. It takes time
to get good scripts and there is
scarcity of good scripts in our
industry, Mona added.

ctress Katie Holmes

thinks she is a risk
taker like her vigilante elementary school
teacher character in her
latest
movie
Miss
Meadows. The 35-yearold also says that she
enjoys challenging herself with risky roles as
she talked about her
love for adventure,
reports online media. I
think as an artist, I am,
absolutely. We are risktakers and curious people and always interested in something we dont
know about, she told

Loaded magazine when

asked if she is as adventurous as her character
in the film. Holmes, who
was married to Tom
Cruise for five years
until 2012 and has
eight-year-old daughter,
Suri, with the actor, was
full of praise for her 65year-old co-star Meryl
Streep. Streep plays
Chief Elder in the film
based on the novel of the
same name by Lois
Lowry. (Meryl is) kind
and elegant and everything you would imagine
and more, she said.

Bengali Bipashas Ajay Devgn doesnt support

sweet cravings
Fit and
fabulous Bipasha
Basu works out a lot
and keeps a check on
her diet to remain her
slim self, but she says
she finds it tough to
say no to sweet
delights, thanks to
her Bengali roots.
Being a Bengali and
saying no to sugar is
toughBut the battle
beginsLets see how
long I can control my
sweet tooth!
Phewww, she tweeted. On the big screen,
Bipasha was last seen
in Creature 3D.

eight-pack trend
A

ctor Ajay Devgn believes in being

muscular and fit rather than running after six-pack and eight-pack
abs that other actors have flaunted in their
films. For Action Jackson, the makers
wanted me to sport a bulky body, which
was very easy for me to achieve. I believe
six-pack and eight-pack abs make you
weak. They look nice, but they can make
you physically weak. I believe you should
be muscular and fit. I dont want to promote eight-pack abs, Ajay said. The actor,
whos currently busy promoting his film
Action Jackson, says there is no buffoonary in the film. Prabhudheva is a very
good actor himself and there is no buffoonary comedy in the film, and his comic
timing is great. I enjoyed working with
him, he said. Directed by Prabhudheva,
Action Jackson also features Sonakshi
Sinha.

NATION

12

Kejriwal gearing up
to reconquer Delhi

DECEMBER 01 TO DECEMBER 07 , 2014

(MP & CG)

Students protest
against cancellation
of union elections

New Delhi

rvind Kejriwal is all geared up to

reconquer the national capital. The
49- Day ex-chief minister, who has
always grabbed attention of the media,
has once again pulled the spotlight on him.
The online impact of the Aam Admi Party
has grown much stronger since December
2013, giving a straight competition to
Narendra Modi's social media presence. In
the latest development, Arvind Kejriwal
led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has appealed
to people, through social networking sites
Facebook and Twitter, to donate Rs. 2,611
to party coffers for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state.
The tweet reads: AAP appeals to all supporters and lovers of clean Politics to say
Say #IFundHonestPolitics Donate Rs.
2611 or more at http://myaap.in/2611
Interestingly, the appeal arrives on the eve
of the sixth anniversary of the Mumbai
terror attacks. Though, its important to
mention here, AAP also observes its foundation day (26 November 2012) on this
very date. Right away, three questions
appear in front: What made AAP come
out seeking a particular amount '2611'
for party fund; Is AAP trying to Encash
26/11 Mumbai attack; Even if AAP has no
intent of such kind, why didnt it clearly
mention that partys foundation day falls

on the same date, in the same tweet or

Facebook update? Deepak Bajpayee,
national spokesperson of AAP said, It
would be wrong to assume that we are trying to bank on 26/11 tragedy. We, in no
way, are doing this. Infact its our foundation day and we observe it every year.
However,
Sambit
Patra,
national
spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) comes with a different view and
expressed, Its shameful to use 26/11 for

vested interests. Everyone knows AAP

loves playing gimmicks, and this is a perfect example of that. Former IPS officer
and social worker Kiran Bedi refused to
comment on the issue. Last year, AAP paid
tribute to the 26/11 martyrs on social networking site saying, "A tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives five years
ago on this very day, defending India."
Then too there was no mention of party's
foundation day in the post.

Jaipur: Students carried out protests after the

cancellation of union elections held at Rajasthan
University and affiliated colleges on August 23. The
Rajasthan High Court has quashed the student
union elections. During the recent protest, some
students poured petrol on themselves and tried
self-immolation. Students and policemen present
there somehow managed to stop them. Angry students then started pelting stones forcing police to
resort to lathicharge to disperse the gathering.
Policemen present there did not spare girls and
thrashed them. Some students, including girls,
were injured in the lathicharge. NSUI and ABVP
workers alleged that Police Commissioner furnished wrong affidavit in the court. Earlier, the
police commissioner had furnished an affidavit in
the court stating the code of conduct was seldom
complied with during the campaign, and also cases
of violence were reported and many FIRs were filed.
The affidavit also mentioned the involvement of
criminal elements and land mafia.

Increase private sector involvement

in education, says President
Pune
The President of India, Pranab
Mukherjee
attended
the
11th
Convocation of Symbiosis International
University recently at Pune. Speaking on
the occasion, the President said a sweeping up-gradation of Indias higher education sector calls for deepening of private
sector involvement. Leading global universities like Harvard, Yale and Stanford
have evolved out of private sector initiative. Indias private sector is engaged in
several key areas like health, transport
and financial services. In education too,
private institutions play an important
role as they account for nearly sixty per
cent of total enrolment at the tertiary
level. Yet at the same time, a disparity
exists in the educational standards of the
private system. Measures are therefore
necessary to ensure better service delivery, benchmarks and excellence. The
President said in the past, our seats of

higher
learning
like
Nalanda,
Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi,
Somapura and Odantapuri were global
leaders. These universities attracted
scholars from round the world. Today,
instead, bright Indian students around
two lakh every year go abroad seeking
higher education. It is a matter of introspection as to how we can bring our centres of higher learning back into the fold
of leading institutions in the world.
The President said that higher level
institutions have a larger role to play in
the society. Their engagement with social
issues has to be at a much deeper level.
Some major initiatives aimed at inclusive
development have been launched recently. The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
envisages the adoption of villages for
holistic development and their transformation into model villages for wider replication. He called upon Symbiosis
University to take active part in this programme.

Quality-oriented education can

transform India into one of the
leading nations of the world,
says President: The President
attended the Centenary Celebrations
of Shiksha Mandal at Wardha.
Speaking on the occasion, the
President pointed out the importance
of Wardha in the freedom struggle
and said Wardha reverberates with
history. It is suffused with spirit of
the freedom struggle. Wardha is
about the power of simplicity, the
power of ideas, the power of commitment and of Gandhijis ashram in
Sevagram at the outskirts of
Wardha. The President said a quality-oriented education system is the
force multiplier that shall transform
India into one of the leading nations
of the world. Indias future and that
of the world it hopes to lead, as a
great and powerful nation, is in the
hands of its youth.

Owned Printed and Puplished byM.M. Baig. Printed at lucky, 267, Pragati Nagar, Shahanshah garden, Bhopal (MP) and published from H.No. 101, A Sector Indrapuri BHEL, Ward No. 63, Dist. Bhopal- 462021, M.P.
Tele/FAX 0755-4292545, Mob. 9425029901 email-editor@wethestate.com RNI No. MPENG/2012/46415 Editor: M.M. BAIG- Responsible for selection of News & Articles under PRB Act, Subject to Bhopal jurisdiction