www.thestudentage.

com
STUDENT AGE
Read the Need
Vol. 1 No:167 | JKENG/2012/41612 | Jammu, Saturday, December 15 (9 Dec - 15 Dec), 2012 | Pages: 32 | ` 5
News Inbox
Rajya Sabha to vote on
Quota Bill on Dec 17
NEW DELHI: After days of con-
tinuous disruption and unruly
scenes in Parliament, Rajya Sabha
will vote on the controversial job
promotion Contd on page 4
Bill to constitute separate
IAS & IPS cadre for NE
approved in RS
NEW DELHI: Parliament has
approved the North Eastern Areas
(Reorganisation) Amendment Bill
2012, with the Rajya Sabha unani-
mously Contd on page 4
Bill on expanding STs
introduced in LS
NEW DELHI: A bill to include
two communities from
Chhattisgarh and re-induct another
from Kerala in the list of Scheduled
Tribes was introduced in the Lok
Sabha Friday. Contd on page 4
Home Secy visiting
Jammu to review security
JAMMU: Union Home Secretary
RK Singh will be in Jammu and
Kashmir on Monday on a day's
visit to review
UGC inspects 53 private
universities finds just five
in order
NEW DELHI: Human Resource
Development Minister Dr M M
Pallam Raju said that only five of
the Contd on page 4
AHMEDABAD: The first phase
of polling concluded at 5 p.m. with
impressive 68% turnout on
Thursday for 87 out of 182 con-
stituencies.
The Election Commission of
India (ECI) called it "historic" as it
was the highest voting percentage
since 2002 when 61.54 percent of
the electorate had voted. This per-
centage slid to 59.77 in 2007.
"The polling was totally peace-
ful and historic," Deputy Election
Commissioner Vinod Zutshi told
reporters here.
An estimated 68 percent of the
18-million people eligible to vote
in the first phase cast their ballots
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in 87 of
the 182 assembly constituencies in
the state.
Zutshi attributed greater confi-
dence building and more enroll-
ments of people for the high voter
turnout.
Though voting was peaceful,
Zutshi said that in at least two dis-
tricts - Junagadh and
Surendranagar - there were
instances of poll boycott.
He also said that the commis-
sion had seized Rs.2.18 crore of
undeclared money from candi-
dates.
There were also 150 cases of
paid news, of which 89 had been
served notices, he said.
There would also be repolling
at some places due to a technical
error, he said. "The figures from
the mock Contd on page 4
SRINAGAR: J&K Bank here on
Friday opened a business unit at Friends
Colony, Paloura in Jammu.
Bank's President & Zonal Head,
Jammu O P Sharma inaugurated the
state-of-the-art premises amid a large
gathering of businessmen, senior citi-
zens and other local residents.
Speaking on the occasion he said,
"Opening of new business units and
expanding the network of ATMs deeper
into the rural and urban spaces is to
bring world class banking facilities
right at the doorstep of the people."
He also educated the gathering
regarding internet banking & mobile
banking vis--vis credit card scheme
and other credit facilities of bank that
have become very popular and helpful
to people. Contd on page 4
J&K Bank opens BU at Paloura in Jammu
68% turnout in the first phase; EC calls it "Historic"
Vinod Rai re-elected head
of UN external auditors
panel
NEW DELHI : Comptroller and
Auditor General (CAG) Vinod
Rai has been re-elected chairman
of the panel of external auditors
of the United Nations (UN).
Amyas Morse, the CAG of
Britain, has been re-elected as
vice-chair of the panel.
According to an official state-
ment issued here Wednesday, the
panel of Contd on page 4
Heavy snowfall closes
Srinagar-Jammu NH
SRINAGAR: Heavy snowfall in the Pir Panjal
mountain range on Friday closed the Srinagar-
Jammu highway, the authorities said.
Brigadier TPS Rawat, chief engineer of the
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) that main-
tains the highway said, "In the Qazigund-
Bannihal sector of the highway, there has been
heavy snowfall during the night."
"Around two feet of snow had accumulated
on the road in Qazigund while a two-and-a- half
feet thick layer of snow covered the road near the
Jawahar Tunnel. Snow clearance operations are
on, but those intending to take the road are
advised to contact the traffic control room before
starting out," Rawat said.
It has been snowing intermittently in the
Valley since last evening. Reports from
Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam hill stations
also said a thick layer of snow had accumulated
in these areas. Contd on page 4
Rahul eyes 2014 with
'Aapka Paisa Aapke Haath'
NEW DELHI: The Prime
Minister's Office (PMO)
Friday asked all ministries to
make preparations "on a war
footing" for the launch of the
government's ambitious and
game changing Direct Cash
Transfer (DCT) scheme Jan
1, 2013.
With just a fortnight left,
the directive came after a
meeting chaired by Pulok
Chatterji, principal secretary
in the PMO, that reviewed
the preparedness so far and
discussed in detail how direct
transfers of benefits in the 34
identified schemes in the 43
districts initially selected will
be implemented by the fixed
timeline. The meeting was a
follow-up to the meeting of
the National Committee on
Direct Cash Transfers
chaired by Prime Minister
Contd on page 4
PMO reviews preparations
for direct cash transfers
CARE-POINT AUTOMOBILES
MARUTI AUTHORISED SERVICE STATION
(AN ISO 9001-2008 Certified Co)
Opp. B.S.F. Camp, Paloura, Akhnoor Road, Jammu - 180 002
Tele: 0191-2501654, 2503412 Mob: 9419283151 Email: cpauto@rediffmail.com
FACILITY AVAILABLE
* Computerised Wheel Alignment & Balancing
* Denting & Painting
* All Types of Insurance Claims
* Breakdown service available
* Cashless tie-up with ICICI (LOMBARD) / Bajaj Allianz
/ Iffco Tokyo
* Only Maruti GenuineParts (MGP) are used
Caring for Customer
Bank's President & Zonal Head, Jammu O P Sharma inaugurating business
unit at Friends Colony, Paloura in Jammu.
GUJARAT ASSEMBLY POLL 2012 CM Narendra Modi rakes
up Sir Creek issue again
AHMEDABAD: Despite the Prime
Minister's Office terming allega-
tions on Sir Creek as "baseless" and
"mischievous", Gujarat chief minis-
ter Narendra Modi sharpened his
attack on the Centre on Thursday
alleging Prime Minister had agreed
to resolve the issue soon during dis-
cussions with Pakistan's president.
"Is it not true that when Asif Ali
Zardari was on a visit to Ajmer (in
April 2012) you Contd on page 4
68% turnout....
polls conducted on some EVMs (elec-
tronic voting machines) were not erased,"
said Zutshi. The fate of 846 candidates
including 46 women candidates has been
sealed in the EVMs on Thursday.
Prominent candidates in this phase
include Keshubhai Patel, Assembly Speaker
Ganpat Vasava, Gujarat BJP President RC
Faldu, State Congress President Arjun
Modhwadia and Leader of Opposition
Shaktisinh Gohil. Out of total 1,81,77,953
voters, there are 95,75,278 males, 86,02,557
females and 118 other voters.
For this phase, BJP has fielded candidates
on all 87 seats going to the poll, whereas
Congress is contesting 84 seats.
Elaborate security arrangements have
been made to ensure free and fair polling. A
total of 44, 579 polling stations have been set
up. Moreover, it is for the first time that sen-
ior police officials from other states have
been deployed by the Election Commission
of India as police observers in all sensitive
districts. The second phase of polling in
Gujarat will take place on December 17. The
counting of votes will take place on
December 20.
CM Narendra....
had lunch with him in Delhi? That time
he raised the issue of Sir Creek," Modi said,
posing a query to the PM, while addressing
rallies inKutchBSE 4.96 % and North
Gujarat. "In Tehran things went ahead and on
this issue you said in front of the world that a
deal is possible," he said.
Modi, also shot off a letter as a common
man to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
demanding that the disputed Sir Creek should
not be handed over to the neighbouring coun-
try. The PMO had strongly rebutted the
charge by saying the allegations were "base-
less" and "mischievous".
"The allegation in the letter that Sir Creek
is about to be given to Pakistan is untrue. The
other conclusions drawn by Modi on this
alleged fact are also not real," the PMO said
responding to Modi's letter.
Modi had alleged in his letter that a deci-
sion was likely to be taken by the Centre over
Sir Creek soon, and he as a common man was
concerned about its security ramifications.
Hitting back at the PMO's denial, Modi
cited instances like these in backdrop of the
Prime Minister's 'denials' on questions raised
by him about Sir Creek.
Modi asked Prime Minister 'not to mis-
lead' the nation and assure countrymen that
'no decision' to give Sir Creek to Pakistan had
been taken.
J&K Bank ....
Through these facilities like mobile and
net-banking customers can transact from and
to any corner of the globe.
Mr. Arvind Gupta, Vice President (C),
concluded the programme by presenting the
vote of thanks. Among others present on the
occasion included Suman Darswal and Nishi
Baru, Bank's Vice Presidents, Vinay Sahni,
Bank's Cluster Head , Susham Sharma, I/C
Marketing , AVP Raman Koushal, SS Dutta,
Incharge Estates, Raman Thappa and head
b/u Friends Colony.
Rajya Sabha...
quota bill on December 17.
Voting will be held after the conclusion of
debate whether to reserve promotions in gov-
ernment jobs for Dalits and tribals.
After a high drama, the controversial job
quota bill was debated in the Rajya Sabha on
Thursday, with its greatest proponent,
Mayawati, arguing for its exigent implemen-
tation. "All efforts will be taken to ensure
that the quota bill is also cleared by the Lok
Sabha before this session of Parliament ends
on December 20," Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Kamal Nath said.
The Samajwadi Party members on
Thursday walked out of Rajya Sabha to
protest consideration of bill on quota in pro-
motions, which was introduced by Union
Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy.
The walkout came hours after Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh urged parliamen-
tarians to let the Rajya Sabha function.
The PM had earlier met Samajwadi Party
chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to break the
impasse over the bill seeking reservation in
promotions for Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes, but failed to reach a com-
promise.
UGC inspects....
53 private Universities are found to have fol-
lowed the guidelines of the University Grants
Commission (UGC). Replying to supplemen-
taries in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Dr Raju
said, UGC has inspected in the past three
months 53 out of the total 145 private
Universities across the country.
The Minister said, UGC has no powers to
close down Universities which are found to
be committing malpractices. Dr Raju sought
members' cooperation in passing a Bill to
establish a regulatory authority in the educa-
tion sector. He said, the Bill which is pending
before the House, will strengthen UGC in
maintaining the quality and standards in edu-
cation. The Minister said, out of a total of 145
private Universities, 98 have been estab-
lished in the last four years.
Bill to constitute....
adopting the same Friday. The bill, aimed at
constituting separate cadres of Indian
Administrative Service and Indian Police
Service for the Manipur and Tripura, was
passed earlier by the Lok Sabha. In his brief
reply to discussion in the Upper House,
Minister of State for Home Affairs
Mullapally Ramachandran said the Centre is
aware of the insurgency problems in the
North Eastern parts of the country and taking
effective measures in this regard. He said the
National Human Rights Commission is look-
ing into the cases of human rights violations.
Bill on expanding....
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes)
Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012, seeks
to include 'Abujh Maria' and 'Hill Korwa'
communities from Chhattisgarh in the list of
STs. The "vulnerable tribal groups have not
been enlisted in the list of Scheduled Tribes
of the state of Chhattisgarh," the Bill intro-
duced by Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore
Chandra Deo said.
The amendment bill also seeks to re-
include 'Marati' community in the list of
Scheduled Tribes in Kerala.
The 'Marati' community of the Hosdurg
and Kasargod taluks of Kasargod district was
excluded from the list of STs in 2003.
The Bill says the inclusion of the three
communities will entail additional recurring
expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of
India for providing benefits out of current
schemes. The President can include any com-
munity in the list of Scheduled Tribes after
consulting the government through a
Constitutional Order.
PMO reviews....
Manmohan Singh Nov 26.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi
on Friday held discussions with district chiefs
of the party on the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) government's "gamechanger"
direct cash transfer scheme. According to
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam
Ramesh, the Gandhi scion told them that the
intention of the scheme was to bring down
corruption. Addressing a press conference in
the national capital, the Rural Development
Minister said, "We always try to bring con-
sensus for launching any flagship pro-
gramme...Friday Rahul Gandhi held discus-
sions on direct cash transfers with district
Congress chiefs." Referring to the slogan of
the scheme, 'Aapka Paisa Aapke Haath',
Ramesh said, "Rahul said 'Aapka Paisa
Aapke Haath' is a political slogan and will be
developed before 2014 elections."
The government is set to launch the first
phase of direct cash transfer scheme from
January 1 in select districts across the coun-
try. Rahul on Friday addressed party presi-
dents of 51 districts where the scheme would
be launched, asking them to make their best
efforts and ensure its success.
He also told them how the scheme would
directly benefit people concerned by elimi-
nating middle men and shortening the
process of cash subsidies.
"Rahul Gandhi told them that this scheme
will ensure that money reaches directly to its
beneficiaries. Earlier money was given
through banks and post offices, but now with
the help of business correspondents, this
money will reach directly to people,"
Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told
reporters.
Heavy snowfall...
Srinagar city witnessed the first snowfall
of the season in the night, but as the temper-
atures rose in the morning the thin layer of
snow on the roads and rooftops steadily melt-
ed. A.R. Zargar, deputy director of the local
meterological office told IANS: "Weather
would remain inclement up to Dec 17. Till
then, we expect rain and snow in the Valley
and mountains of the Jammu region intermit-
tently." "We are expecting sunshine after Dec
17 as the western disturbance presently active
here would weaken by then," Zargar said.
Western disturbances are extra tropical
storms in the Mediterranean Sea that result in
sudden rain and snow in India, Pakistan,
Nepal and Bangladesh. These are especially
important for the rabi crop (which is sown in
winter and harvested in summer).
Vinod Rai re-elected....
external auditors plays an important role
in promoting accountability and strength-
ening governance mechanisms in the UN
organisations. The panel meets annually to
discuss emerging issues in the audit of UN
specialised agencies such as the World
Health Organisation, the World Food
Programme, the World Intellectual
Property Organisation, and the
International Atomic Energy Agency.
The panel currently comprises of
Canada, China, France, India, Italy,
Pakistan, the Philippines, Switzerland,
Tanzania and Britain with India's official
auditor as the current chair of the panel.
Formed through a resolution of the UN
General Assembly in 1959, the panel com-
prises of individual external auditors who
are heads of supreme audit institutions of
various countries.
Home Secy....
the situation along the international border
and the Line of Control, an official said.
Sources said the home secretary will take
stock of the internal security situation in the
backdrop of the increasing number of
encounters in Jammu and Kashmir and the
high frequency of infiltration attempts, keep-
ing tension alive on the border.
Singh will be monitoring the Jammu and
Kashmir situation from two perspectives:
whether the state's security apparatus is
equipped to deal with the situation and
whether there is need for extra vigilance on
the border. The home secretary's trip will fol-
low Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman
Malik's three-day visit to India starting
Friday.
A highly placed source in the state gov-
ernment said that the central government
does not want any reversal of the situation,
which has shown signs of stability over the
past two years. There is, however, concern
over controversial statements made by politi-
cal leaders, especially on the parliament
attack convict Afzal Guru.
2
CONTD
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
Continued from Page 1
3
NATIONAL
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
NITYANAND SWAMI: The first
chief minister of
Ut t ar akhand,
N i t y a n a n d
Swami, passed
away on 12
December 2012. He was 84.
VINOD RAI: United Nations
gave Vinod Rai,
the comptroller
and auditor gen-
eral of India a
second term as
the designation of chairman of
UN Panel of External Auditors for
2013.
BB NIMBALKAR: Bhausaheb
Babasaheb Nimbalkar, a giant of
Indian domestic cricket who came
close to breaking Sir Don
Bradman's first-class score in the
Ranji Trophy, passed away in
Kolhapur.
PANDIT RAVI SHANKAR:
R e n o w n e d
Indian sitarist
and Bharat
Ratna Recipient
Pandit Ravi
Shankar passed away in San
Diego city of California on 11
December 2012. He was 92 years
old.
DEVENDRA LAL: Devendra
Lal, the renowned geophysicist as
well as the visiting professor at
Scripps Institution of
Oceanography (SIO), University
of California died at 83 on 1
December 2012.
AHMEDABAD: Breaking into Gujarati to ask
people to vote for her party, Congress president
Sonia Gandhi said Friday that the Narendra Modi
led government was misleading people in the
name of development and making false promises.
Sonia, who kick-started her campaign for the
second phase of polling referred to Modi's remark
on Sir Creek and said that it should not be handed
over to Pakistan. Sonia said that the UPAgovern-
ment will not compromise on national security
and integrity of the country. "We will not anyone
play with the security and integrity of our country.
Our leaders have sacrificed their lives for the
country." Campaigning for the second phase of
Gujarat election to be held Dec 17, Gandhi
blamed the state government for not utilising
funds provided by the central government under
various projects.
Addressing an election rally in state capital
Gandhinagar, the Congress chief said, "The BJP
government has done nothing to improve the lives
of the poor, tribals and the most neglected people
here. It has been making false promises to the
Gujarat electorate." She also rebutted Modi's
claims on development in the state and Sir Creek
issue. Modi had, on Wednesday, asked the Prime
Minister to stop dialogue with Pakistan at once on
the Sir Creek issue, and demanded that it should
not be handed over to the neighbouring nation.
Sonia responded to it saying, "The UPA gov-
ernment is serious on issues related to national
security. During its two terms, it has passed vari-
ous historic legislations to improve the security
apparatus." Sonia claimed that Gujarat has pro-
gressed due to the Congress rule, and added that
the central government is committed to the state's
all-round development.
Criticising the Modi government for not utiliz-
ing the central funds, Sonia said, "Congress-led
UPA sanctioned more funds to Gujarat than BJP-
led NDAGovernment."
The Congress president also came down heav-
ily on the Modi government for not improving
various sectors like education, health care and
education in the rural Gujarat.
Modi makes false promises, misleads people in name of development: Sonia
PEOPLE IN NEWS
NEWDELHI: There was ruckus in
the Lok Sabha with the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena
demanding the hanging of Afzal
Guru, sentenced to death for the ter-
ror attack on parliament, while
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) mem-
bers gathered near the speaker's podi-
um over coal scam.
"Real tribute would be only if the
Home Minister assures the House
today that we have paid tributes to the
martyrs but their families and country
will get relief only when he (Guru)
would be hanged. "If they fix a date
(for hanging Guru) and announce it
today, this would be the real tribute to
these martyrs," the Leader of
Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma
Swaraj said inside Parliament House
complex. She was talking to reporters
soon after paying homage to the nine
martyrs of the 2001 Parliament
attack. Swaraj said every year the
country pays homage to these mar-
tyrs. "But one question is still unan-
swered that the attacker who has been
twice or thrice sentenced to death by
the Supreme Court, why has he not
been hanged so far?" She said after
the hanging of 26/11 Mumbai terror
convict Ajmal Kasab, "hope has
increased that the government will
show courage to do what it has not
done so far." Minister of State for
Home R P N Singh criticised Swaraj
for making the demand, saying the
occasion should not be politicised.
Minister of State for Human
Resource Development Shahsi
Tharoor expressed sadness over
repeated disruptions. "Sad that we
mourn those who gave their lives to
defend this institution of parliament
and then betray it daily by disrupting
it's functioning," he tweets.
Parliament was attacked by five
armed Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-
Mohammed terrorists. Nine people
were killed and over 15 injured in the
attack. Four people - Afzal Guru,
Delhi University professor S.A.R.
Geelani, Navjot Sandhu alias Afsan
Guru and her husband Shaukat
Hussain Guru - were arrested in con-
nection with the case. Geelani and
Afsan were let off for lack of conclu-
sive evidence. Shaukat Hussain
Guru's death sentence was commuted
to 10 years' imprisonment and he is
now out of jail. Afzal Guru was sen-
tenced to death Dec 18, 2002 by a
trial court, which was upheld by the
Delhi High Court Oct 29, 2003. His
appeal was rejected by the Supreme
Court Aug 4, 2005.
Yeddyurappa
launches his Karnataka
Janata party
HAVERI: Former Karnataka chief
minister BS Yeddyurappa Sunday
launched his own party and virtual-
ly reduced the Jagadish Shettar min-
istry to a minority as over a dozen of
the BJP's 118 assembly members
shared the dais with him at the event
here. The BJP government faced the
threat of instability after 13 MLAs,
defying the party, threw their lot
behind former Chief Minister BS
Yeddyurappa, who formally
launched his Karnataka Janata Party
at a mega rally here on Sunday.
Thirteen loyalist MLAs of
Yeddyurappa, who quit the BJP ten
days ago, shared the dais with him
in an open defiance, putting the rul-
ing BJP in a quandary as it had
warned of action if the legislators
participated in today's rally or asso-
ciated with its former state strong-
man. Addressing the rally, a show of
strength, a combative Yeddyurappa
slammed Chief Minister Jagadish
Shettar and threw down the gauntlet
at him to seek a fresh mandate.
"Shettar said action will be taken
against legislators if they participat-
ed in today's rally. The government
has no majority now. You are in
Chief Minister's chair because of the
support of Yeddyurappa. If you have
the guts, dissolve the Assembly and
seek fresh mandate".
The participation of these
MLAs, including H Halappa, Nehru
Olekar, BP Harish, CC Patil and
Sunil Valyapure, who tendered his
resigation yesterday as
Infrastructure Development
Minister, is seen as a big blow to the
Government. He also dared the BJP
to act against all his loyalists saying
the party's government in Karnataka
is surviving because of his
supporters.
'Afzal Guru should be hanged': BJP
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of
India on Wednesday pronounced that
Pakistani microbiologist Mohammad
Khalil Chisti, who was convicted and
sentenced to life in an over two-decade-
old murder case, was free to go back to
his country. Khalil Chishty, 82, has been
acquitted by the Supreme Court of mur-
der after a 20-year legal battle in India.
Dr Chishty came to Ajmer in 1992 to
visit his ailing mother. There he was
allegedly involved in a brawl in which
one of his relatives was killed. Dr
Chishty was arrested for murder and last
year, was sentenced to life in prison by a
Rajasthan court.
The bench of Justices P Sathasivam
and Ranjan Gogoi said the prison sen-
tence of one year and four months that
Dr Chisty had already undergone was
sufficient to meet the ends of justice and
was free to return to his country without
any restrictions.
Keeping in view his age and qualifi-
cation, the court directed the concerned
department of the government to ensure
"smooth" travel arrangements to
Pakistan.
In May this year, the Supreme Court
granted bail to Dr Chishty, allowing him
to visit his family in Karachi, Pakistan.
He had not been home in 20 years.
The court Wednesday also directed its
registry to return with interest the Rs. 5
lakh that Dr Chishty had deposited with
it as security after the May 10 order.
Dr Chishty is now 82 years old and
has heart trouble. For the 18 years that he
was under trial, Dr Chishty remained
largely under house arrest in Rajasthan,
his lawyers said.
After he was awarded the life sen-
tence in January 2011, he was lodged in
the Ajmer Jail. Some others convicted in
the same case had been granted bail
earlier.
SC acquits Pak national Khalil
Chishty of murder charge
18 lakh employees go on
strike over quota bill in UP
LUCKNOW: As many as 18 lakh government employees
and officers in Uttar Pradesh went on a flash strike with
immediate effect on Thursday against the introduction of
quota bill in the Rajya Sabha. However, emergency services
were exempted from the strike by the government officials
and employees.
The employees affiliated with various unions of employ-
ees of state government, teachers, power and other depart-
ments are taking part in the strike. However, essential servic-
es like hospital, power and transport won't be affected, as of
now.
The Samajwadi Party is strongly opposed to the bill and
has demanded that it be withdrawn immediately. To display
their resolve to not allow the bill pass in the upper house,
MPS belonging to the party staged a walk out.
The SP is firm on its stand against the bill despite Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh talking to party supremo
Mulayam Singh Yadav over the issue. SP has maintained that
it was unconstitutional and deprives 80 per cent of employees
of promotional avenues. The Prime Minister's meeting with
Mulayam Singh came in the backdrop of growing impatience
on the part of BSP supremo Mayawati to get the Bill passed
at the earliest.
4
NATIONAL
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
NEWDELHI: The government on
Friday rejected former CBI director
US Mishra's allegation that he faced
political pressure when he was
investigating the disproportionate
assets case against former Uttar
Pradesh chief minister and BSP
chief Mayawati.
"As far as CBI is concerned, it is
an independent organisation that has
been working within its domain and
(there is) no political interference
from our government," Minister of
State for PMO V Narayanasamy
said. Law Minister Ashwani Kumar
also ruled out any pressure on CBI
director from the government.
"There is no such pressure," he
told reporters outside Parliament
House. Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla
alleged that Mishra was working as
the CBI director under NDArule, so
BJP should respond to his allega-
tions.
Shukla also said the former
bureaucrat was "unnecessarily cre-
ating controversy and it is not
good". "It should be found out that
this particular officer was under
whose regime. If I remember cor-
rectly, he was under Vajpayee
regime. He was a CBI director. I
think BJP should respond to this
allegation," he said.
BJP, however, reiterated its
charges that CBI was being "mis-
used" by the government and the
fresh allegations only buttress such
views. "We have been saying right
from day one that CBI is being mis-
used from time to time to harass
political opponents to win over
allies, and keep them under control.
CBI has been converted into
Congress Bureau of Investigation,"
senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu
told reporters outside Parliament
House. "Our views have been fur-
ther confirmed by the views of for-
mer CBI director," he said.
Responding to Congress' allega-
tion that Mishra was a director dur-
ing the NDA regime, Naidu said
similar views were expressed by
another former CBI director
Joginder Singh.
Mishra said yesterday that
"when we investigate cases against
prominent political leaders, there
are some influences to keep the
progress report pending or present
in a certain way".
No political interference in CBI's working: Govt
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court
today sought response from the
Centre on Kargil martyr Capt
Saurabh Kalia's father's plea seeking
its direction to the government for
raising the case of his son's torture at
the hands of Pakistan Army at the
International Court of Justice.
A Bench headed by Mr Justice
RM Lodha issued notice to the
Centre and sought response within
ten weeks on a petition filed by
Captain Kalia's father, NK Kalia.
The Bench, sympathising with Mr
Kalia's agony, however, said that it
would examine whether it can direct
the government to raise this issue at
the international forum before pass-
ing such an order. It, however, said
that the Centre is free to raise the
issue on its own before any interna-
tional forum.
"We fully share your agony. But
what is the role of the court? Can we
direct India to take up with the
International Court of Justice? It is
the highest court and our orders
should be within the four corners of
the Constitution. This is an important
issue. If the government wants it can
take up the issue with the ICJ and
there is no need for our interference,"
the Bench said.
Advocate Arvind K Sharma, how-
ever, pleaded that the government
should be asked to respond on what
actions it has taken during the last 13
years.
The Bench then issued notice to
ministry of defence, home affairs and
external affairs and sought their
response within 10 weeks.
Earlier on 27 November, NK
Kalia had moved the apex court seek-
ing its direction to the Government to
raise his son's case at the
International Court of Justice at the
Hague.
NEWS IN BOX
Zee chief, son get court shield against arrest
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court Friday extended Zee Group chairperson
Subhash Chandra's interim protection against arrest till Dec 20 in con-
nection with the alleged Rs.100 crore extortion bid by two journalists
of his channel.
The shield against arrest was also granted to his son and Zee man-
aging director Puneet Goenka. Additional Sessions Judge Raj Rani
Mitra, giving protection against arrest on their pleas for anticipatory
bail, said: "Interim protection for the two is extended till Dec 20." The
court said it would hear arguments on their anticipatory bail plea on
Dec 20.
Senior advocate Geeta Luthra said that after the interim protection
granted Dec 6, Chandra and Goenka had joined the probe Dec 8 and 9.
She said they had not been called to further join the investigation till
Friday and so interim protection may be extended. The court also heard
arguments on the application for regular bail of two Zee news journal-
ists. Sudhir Chaudhary, head of Zee News, and Samir Ahluwalia, head
of Zee Business, were arrested Nov 27 on charges of allegedly attempt-
ing to extort money from the Jindal Group in exchange for not filing
news reports linking the firm to irregular allocation of coal blocks. The
company filed an extortion case.
Nationwide Mobile Number Portability by Feb: Sibal
NEW DELHI: Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal Thursday said nation-
wide Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is expected to be rolled out by
February next year, which will allow users to retain their numbers even
if they move from one state to another.
"For the timely implementation of the National Telecom Policy
(NTP) 2012, the Department of Telecom has finalised broad agenda for
next three months from Dec 2012 to Feb 2013," Sibal said at the 'India
Telecom 2012'. Some of the key initiatives in course to be completed
by Feb 2013 are approval of spectrum assignment and pricing, unified
licences regime, M&A guidelines, finalisation of guidelines for spec-
trum sharing, creation of fund for R&D and manufacturing and of
course, MNP on a nationwide basis, he added.
Currently, a user is allowed to switch to a different operator within
his/her circle, while retaining his/her phone number. Under NTP 2012,
the government had envisaged implementing MNP on a nationwide
level allowing users to retain their mobile numbers even when they
shift to a different telecom circle. India has 22 telecom circles.
According to TRAI, by the end of October 2012, about 75.14 million
subscribers have submitted their requests to different service providers
for porting their mobile number. In the month of Sept 2012, total num-
ber of subscribers who have submitted their request for MNP stood at
5.36 million.
Walmart probe by retired judge: Kamal Nath
NEW DELHI: To ensure smooth functioning of Parliament,
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath announced in the Lok
Sabha on Wednesday that the government will appoint a retired judge
to hold the inquiry into reports on lobbying by international supermar-
ket chain Walmart to open the way for foreign equity in retail trade in
India.
Making the announcement soon after the House met for the day,
Kamal Nath said it would be a time-bound inquiry. Despite the Centre
making it absolutely clear that it was open to inquiry on the Walmart
lobbying issue, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant
Sinha on Tuesday had asked the Congress-led UPAgovernment to order
a judicial probe in connection with the case and see that the report is
submitted within 60 days.
Sinha, who was the country's finance minister during the NDA
regime, said the main point that arises is the nature of probe that will be
ordered in connection with this lobbying case. Nath had said that the
government views the Walmart lobbying case with concern and has no
hesitation in ordering an inquiry on this in as much as it concerns pay-
ments made in India.
LONDON: A UK inquest was told
on Thursday that Indian nurse
Jacintha Saldanha, who allegedly
committed suicide after receiving a
prank call from two Australian radio
jockeys seeking details of the health
condition of pregnant Duchess of
Cambridge Kate Middleton, had writ-
ten three suicide notes. And on
Friday, dailies in the United Kingdom
have published the details of the three
suicide notes. Reports said the nurse
had addressed one of the suicide notes
to her employers at London's King
Edward VII Hospital and criticised
the behaviour of the hospital staff
towards her. Officials had earlier said
that the staff was supportive of the
nurse who was duped into revealing
details of the Duchess of Cambridge's
health condition by RJs Mel Greig
and Michael Christian.
According to reports, a second
note referred to the hoax call made by
the two Australian radio presenters.
The third detailed wishes for her
funeral. Police had said that while two
notes were recovered from the scene
in Central London, the third was
found in the nurse's belongings. The
inquest was told yesterday that an
attempt to revive Saldanha had failed.
Police detective chief inspector James
Harman said Saldanha, 46, also had
injuries to her wrists. He told the
inquest at Westminster Coroner's
Court that there were no suspicious
circumstances, meaning nobody else
was involved in Saldanha's death.
Harman said police were examining
the notes, interviewing the nurse's
friends, family and colleagues and
looking at e-mails and phone calls to
establish what led to her death.
Indian nurse blamed UK hospital
staff in suicide notes
Gujarat polls: Rahul
Gandhi to campaign
again Saturday
NEW DELHI: To give a further
boost to the Congress in poll-bound
Gujarat, party general secretary
Rahul Gandhi will campaign again
in the state Dec 15, party sources
said Friday.
This will be Gandhi's third visit to
the state where the first round of
polls Thursday saw an overwhelm-
ing 68 percent voters exercise their
franchise. The second round of state
polls is slated for Monday. Counting
is due on Dec 20, when the results of
both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh,
where the assembly elections took
place Nov 4, will be announced.
According to party sources,
Rahul Gandhi will hold a public
meeting in Bhuj in Kutch district. He
had earlier addressed rallies in other
parts of the state Dec 11 and 13.
Kargil martyr case: SC notice to Centre
LIONEL MESSI: Argentinean
f o o t b a l l e r
Lionel Messi,
p o p u l a r l y
known as "The
Flea", broke
German great Gerd Mueller's 40-
year-old record for most goals in
a year by scoring for the 86thgoal
in 2012.
ABDUL REHMAN MALIK:
P a k i s t a n
I n t e r i o r
Minister, Abdul
Rehman Malik
is in India on a
three day visit to India for opera-
tionalisation of a revised Visa
Agreement between the two
countries.
LAJUDDIN AHMED: Former
B a n g l a d e s h
p r e s i d e n t
Iajuddin Ahmed
whose eventful
tenure exposed
the country to a major political
turmoil that ended with the instal-
lation of an army backed interim
government in 2007 has died in
Bangkok. He was 81 years.
CHEICK MODIBO DIARRA:
Mali's Prime
Minister Cheick
Modibo Diarra
resigned on
state hours after
soldiers who led a recent coup
burst into his home and arrested
him.
CAIRO: Egypt continued to witness
protests as opposition members,
despite annulment of the controver-
sial decree by President Mohammad
Mursi, staged demonstrations against
the proposed referendum slated for
next Saturday.
Large number of people marched
towards the presidential palace yes-
terday for joining demonstrators
camping there for past one week.
However, The Republican Guard
forces blocked all roads leading to
the palace to stop them, and only
allowed those already inside the road
blocks to leave, leading to a verbal
friction between the two groups.
After remaining in slumber for so
many days, Egyptian President
Mohammed Mursi has annulled a
decree he issued last month that gave
him far reaching powers and trig-
gered a wave of violent protests
across the country.
However, an official has told a
news conference in Cairo that a ref-
erendum on a draft constitution
would still go ahead as planned next
Saturday. Mr Mursi's critics
had accused him of acting like
a dictator, but he had said he
needed the extra powers to
force through reforms.
The announcement that
Mursi had scrapped his 22
November decree followed
hours of talks yesterday at his
presidential palace, billed as a
"national dialogue" but which was
boycotted by his main opponents and
had little credibility among protest-
ers. One opposition group dismissed
President Mursi's efforts at appease-
ment as the "continuation of decep-
tion". His opponents have demanded
Mr Mursi scrap the vote on 15
December on a constitution that was
fast-tracked through an assembly led
by the Muslim Brotherhood and
other Islamists. Liberals and others
had walked out, saying their voices
were not being heard. Islamists have
insisted the referendum should go
ahead on time, saying it is needed to
complete a democratic transition still
incomplete after Hosni Mubarak's
overthrow 22 months ago.
The military, which had run the
nation during a turbulent interim
period after Mubarak fell, stepped
into the crisis yesterday to tell feud-
ing factions that dialogue was essen-
tial to avoid "catastrophe". But a mil-
itary source said that was not a prel-
ude to the army retaking control of
Egypt or the streets.
Protests in Egypt against proposed referendum, 'President Morsi annuls decree'
PEOPLE IN NEWS
Pakistan, UNESCO sign
MoU to set up Malala
fund for educating girls
PARIS: Pakistan and UNESCO have
signed an agreement to establish
Malala fund to support the education
of girls in Pakistan and other coun-
tries. The Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) was signed by
Pakistan's Education Minister Sheikh
Waqas Akram and UNESCO's
Director General Irina Bokova at the
UN headquarters in Paris. Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari, who was
also present on this occasion, visited
Malala Yousafzai a few days ago in a
hospital in Britain's Birmingham city
where she is recuperating from the
gunshot wound. On October 9, the
15-year-old education activist from
Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province was shot in the head and
neck by Taliban militants while
returning home by a school bus.
WASHINGTON: The Illinois House
of Representatives has adopted a res-
olution denouncing racially motivat-
ed attacks against the Sikhs, particu-
larly the shootout at a Wisconsin gur-
dwara in August that killed six Sikh
worshippers. Calling the shootout at
the Oak Creek gurdwara as a
"deplorable act of violence and hate"
the resolution acknowledged the
American Sikh community's long
standing commitment to the United
States, according to United Sikhs, a
community organisation. The
Wisconsin shooting and other racially
motivated attacks "have caused Sikhs
and other communities to live under
an unfair burden of vulnerability," it
said. Denouncing hate-fuelled vio-
lence and encouraging civic engage-
ment and participation among the
immigrant and minority communities
of Illinois, the resolution seeks to cre-
ate greater awareness among the gen-
eral public about Sikhs and other
minority communities. United Sikhs
plans to commemorate the Illinois
House resolution denouncing the
"deplorable attacks on Sikh
Americans and hate crimes and hate-
ful political rhetoric" on Sunday at
Sikh Religious Society Gurdwara in
Palatine, Illinois. Commending the
Illinois House for adopting the reso-
lution, United Sikhs said it looked
forward to working again with the
South Asian American Policy &
Research Institute (SAAPRI) and the
Illinois House Legislature on further
measures that will help safeguard the
rights of Sikh and other minority
communities. "This legislation is an
acknowledgement of the racially
motivated atrocities that have been
committed and a commitment by the
state of Illinois to devote resources to
educating the greater Illinois commu-
nity on Sikh Americans and South
Asian Americans", said Ekta Arneja,
Midwest Regional Coordinator of
United Sikhs. The community organ-
isation will continue to engage in
advocacy and legislative efforts
throughout the US to help maintain
and expand the civil and human rights
of the Sikhs and other communities, it
said.
Mahama declared winner
of Ghana presidential polls
ACCRA: Ghana's presidential election has been
won by incumbent John Mahama, the electoral com-
mission has announced. The commission said that Mr
Mahama had won 50.7% against opposition leader
Nana Akufo-Addo on 47.74%. With eight candidates
in the race, more than 50 percent was needed to avoid
a second-round runoff.
"I call on all leaders of all political parties to
respect the voice of the people," Mahama said in a vic-
tory speech in which he also urged restraint in celebra-
tions and said he was overwhelmed. "The voice of the
people is the voice of God."However, the opposition
New Patriotic party says it will contest the result,
accusing the governing National democratic congress
party of conspiring with commission staff to fix
Friday's poll. Ghana, one of the world's fastest grow-
ing economies, is regarded as one of Africa's most sta-
ble democracies. In a counter move by opposition, "To
accept this result is to discredit democracy in Ghana
and, in the process, distort the process of democratisa-
tion in Africa.
LONDON: Underlining that an independ-
ent judiciary is fundamental to the rule of
law, Commonwealth Secretary-General
Kamalesh Sharma has discussed with the
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister concerns over
the impeachment motion against country's
first woman Chief Justice. The Secretary-
General had a telephone conversation on
Wednesday with the Minister of External
Affairs of Sri Lanka, Professor GL Peiris, in
which they discussed the issue of the
impeachment motion against Chief Justice
Shirani Bandaranayake. Sharma expressed
appreciation for the briefing provided by
Professor Peiris and the readiness of the Sri
Lankan government to discuss concerns that
have been raised regarding the impeach-
ment The Secretary-General and the Sri
Lankan Minister of External Affairs agreed
to remain in contact on this matter.
"We encourage full and practical appli-
cation of shared Commonwealth commit-
ments with regard to the impeachment
process," the Secretary-General said.
Commenting on the developments in Sri
Lanka to impeach the Bandaranayake,
Sharma said, "The Commonwealth at large
and Commonwealth governments in partic-
ular are set apart by a commitment to
uphold in word and deed the shared values
and principles which we ourselves have
defined". "In particular, all Commonwealth
governments have recognised the impor-
tance of maintaining the separation of pow-
ers and the integrity of the roles of the
Executive, Legislature and Judiciary," he
said. "And all Commonwealth governments
have recognised that access to justice and
an independent judiciary is fundamental to
the rule of law," he added
Commonwealth SG speaks to Lankan
minister on impeachment issue
US House denounces anti-Sikh attacks
North Korea to continue
satellite launches
TOKYO: North Korean leader Kim
Jong-un has said that his country
will continue its space programme,
including satellite launches. The
Dec 12 rocket launch "demonstrat-
ed North Korea's resolute determi-
nation to benefit from its legitimate
right for the further use of space for
peaceful means; for scientific, tech-
nical and economic development of
the country", Kim said. "Satellite
launches should continue for further
development of the country's sci-
ence," the official said. North
Korea's Unha-3 carrier rocket deliv-
ered the second version of
Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite into
orbit Wednesday.
5
INTER NATIONAL
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K
6
EDITORIAL
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
By Jaswant Singh Rana
C
abinet formation has
remained a skewed affair in
this state as it has always
remained imbalanced and discrimi-
natory. The present composition of
council of ministers in J&K makes it
crystal clear. As the five of the twen-
ty-two districts including Baramula,
Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal and
Jammu make half of the cabinet
including the Chief Minister and the
Deputy Chief Minister. Moreover,
Srinagar and Jammu district alone
make nearly one-third of the
Legislative Council and two of the
six members in Lok Sabha from
J&K are also from these districts.
As far as Jammu region is con-
cerned, out of 10 districts that mak
Jammu region, five have no repre-
sentation at all in Council of
Ministers. By way of representations
to various political offices it seems
that a bulk of power is vested in
Jammu district alone which makes
one-fifth of the Cabinet and over
one-fourth of the total strength of
Legislative Council. The most glar-
ing discrimination is with what is
called as Pir Panjal region and
Chenab Valley region in Jammu
province. Of seven assembly seg-
ments in Pir Panjal region and six in
the Chenab Valley region, nine repre-
sentatives are with ruling alliance -
three with National Conference and
six with Congress. Sadly, not a single
is in the cabinet. The mandate has
not really been honoured.
Actually, the power -sharing
agreement reached between the
Congress and the NC was lop-sided.
It, unlike the earlier post-poll
arrangement between the Congress
and the NC, handed over the office
of Chief Minister to the NC for full
term of six years, thus depriving the
people of Jammu of the opportunity
to manage the state's affairs for three
years as happened between
November 2005 and July 2008.
If the Congress high command
was extremely generous towards the
NC, the Chief Minister Omar
Abdullah should have reciprocated
this generosity. Instead of applying
the principle of equality while form-
ing his Cabinet in 2009, the Chief
Minister inducted into his Cabinet
seven ministers from the Kashmir
division and just three ministers from
Jammu Province. Six out of seven
ministers from Kashmir belonged to
the majority community and one was
a Ladakhi Budhist. later in the year
council of Minister was expanded to
twenty-two, including himself thus
leaving three vacancies to be filled
up 'at an appropriate time'. In 2010
one minister was sacked on charges
later not proved against him. It
shows imbalance and discrimination
since the very beginning, in more
than one ways. Even as the National
Conference has gone by some bal-
ance in representation, the other
alliance partner the Congress has a
very uneven distribution of its quota.
These developments led the people
of Jammu to believe that the decision
makers in the Congress and the NC
had once again given preference to
Kashmir and its people, without
regard to the general political rights
and interests of other communities in
Jammu.
Among the communities that
represent cultural and political diver-
sity of Jammu and Kashmir, the
Pahari speaking people, the Sikhs
and the Kashmiri Pandits have been
most unlucky lot as far as their repre-
sentation in the present council of
ministers is concerned. Number on
the floor notwithstanding, even the
geographical and cultural peculiari-
ties of these regions have been fac-
tored in as it is always done in case of
Ladakh, no matter who forms the
government. Gujjars and the Pahari
speaking people are two competitive
identities and maintaining a fair bal-
ance between them should be a polit-
ical necessity as it is done in case of
Shias in Kashmir Valley and
Muslims and Buddhists in Ladakh.
Against two Gujjar Ministers in the
Cabinet and one Minister of State
with independent charge there is
only one Minister of State who rep-
resents the Pahari speaking people as
also the two districts of Rajouri and
Poonch in context of region's unique
identity.
While it is true that the Ministers
are not there in the cabinet to repre-
sent their own communities and dis-
tricts but one expects the principle of
justice to aspirations applied to Pir
Panjal and Chenab Valley as well as
it is done in case of Leh and Kargil.
Since it is difficult to give represen-
tation in the cabinet to all districts at
all the times, a reshuffle in the struc-
ture of cabinet can be a solution for
equal chance to all.
As Abdullah's government com-
pletes almost 4 years, he has a twen-
ty-one member council of ministers,
including himself and four vacancies
to be filled up. A look at what com-
poses the present council of minis-
ters clearly suggested concentration
of power in its traditional strong-
holds. And, as NC-Congress coali-
tion is left with a little over two years
in the office, the anxiety is not about
how soon the CM gets four more
ministers in his team. The real con-
cern is how soon those areas and
communities get dignified represen-
tation in his council of ministers
which have been waiting ever since
he formed government in 2009.
Step motherly treatment with Chenab Valley and Pirpanjal at galore
No representation for Chenab Valley in Council of Ministers
By: Anuradha Dutt
T
here is enough material to
be had in Jammu &
Kashmir that suggests a
common link between many people
A novel conspiracy theory about
Kashmir's future as a prospective
Jewish state is gaining credence in
Pakistan and among separatist
leaders in the valley. The pervasive
silence on the issue here is surpris-
ing in view of the fact that it is The
Nation, one of Pakistan's most
widely circulated and influential
English dailies that on July 10 last
year published a report titled 'US
plans Jewish state in IHK'. IHK
denotes India-held Kashmir.
The news items referred to an
alleged CIA plot in 1994 to assert
American and Indian control over
Kashmir by creating rifts in the
Pakistani Army and among powers
that be. Foreign-funded NGOs
were engaged in furthering the
design of turning Kashmir into
another Israel, which would count-
er Pakistan and China.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chair-
man of Hurriyat Conference, on
July 12 this year stridently opposed
Kashmir Tourism Department's
move to send a delegation to Israel
so as to boost tourist inflow from
that country. He claimed that Israeli
intelligence operatives would mas-
querade as tourists, to facilitate the
plan outlined above. While giving a
religious sermon, he said that Jews
from around the world would be
resettled not only in "Palestinian
territory" but Jammu & Kashmir's
tourist areas.
Such stridency may seem to
stem from paranoia, but the pres-
ence of Jews in Kashmir was a
matter of surmise since long.
Jesus's possible sojourn in Kashmir
has inspired a lucrative book-writ-
ing industry. The erudite late
Acharya Rajneesh affirmed that
Kashmiris were descendants of
Jews, who had taken refuge in the
valley, and that Jesus survived his
crucifixion and escaped to
Kashmir. He based his opinion on
his travels through the valley. The
savant ascribed Jewish ancestry to
the Nehrus, a fact that is of particu-
lar interest on account of
Jawaharlal Nehru's proximity to
Lady Edwina Mountbatten, wife of
Lord Louis Mountbatten, free
India's first Governor General and
last Viceroy of British India.
Edwina was the granddaughter and
co-heiress with her sister, of the
Jewish banker Sir Ernest Cassel.
She became the richest heiress in
Britain.
A 1952 book by Khwaja Nazir
Ahmed - Jesus in Heaven on Earth:
Journey of Jesus to Kashmir, His
Preaching to the Lost Tribes of
Israel, and Death and Burial in
Srinagar - bolsters the theory about
Jewish migration to Kashmir.
Speculation was rife since many
centuries that most Kashmiris,
Hindu or Muslim, were perhaps
descended from the lost tribes of
Israel, who had come to Kashmir
and made it their home.
Disappearance of these tribes from
religious annals was ascribed to
destruction of Israel by the power-
ful kingdom of Assyria in early 8th
century BC. The argument goes
that Kashmiri physiognomy is
Semitic, and language Dardic, of
the Perso-Arabic group. Pandits in
the Kashmir valley are unique, fol-
lowing ethnically distinct marriage
and funerary customs; and includ-
ing meat as a staple in their food.
However, they shun pork, and fish
without fins, and favour meat that
is kosher or halal, like Semitic peo-
ples.
Hindus and Muslims alike avoid
beef too, suggestive of a shared
Hindu past at some stage. Many
names of places and tribes sound
Hebraic: Heshubon, Pishgah,
Sumaryah, Nebudaal, Heshba,
Gandarbal, Har Nevo, Biet Peor
and the like; and Asheriya, Lavi,
Shaul, Kahana, Ahri, Musa and so
on. Historian Al Baruni, who
accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni
to India in the early 11th century,
wrote about the people of Kashmir:
"They are particularly anxious
about the natural strength of their
country and, therefore, take always
much care to keep a strong hold
upon the entrances and roads lead-
ing into it ... in former times they
used to allow one or two foreigners
to enter their country, particularly
the Jews". A physician in
Aurangzeb's court, S Manouchi,
averred in his Memoirs: "There is
an old tradition that these Jews who
were led captives by Shalmaneser
settled in Kashmir and that the peo-
ple of that country are the descen-
dants of these Jews. It is certain,
though we find no remains in
Kashmir of the Jewish religion, the
people there being all either Guntus
(Hindus) or Mohammadans, that
there are several vestiges of a race
descendant from the Israelites. The
air of the face and the looks of their
present inhabitants have something
of what is peculiar to the Jews,
which distinguishes them from all
other people".
Such testimonies by British and
European travellers abound, even
linking the Pashtuns of Afghanistan
to the lost tribes as Bene Afghan.
Practising Jews in India are called
Bene Israel, children of Israel.
It may be recalled that Swami
Vivekanand stated at the
Parliament of Religions in Chicago
in 1893: "I am proud to belong to a
Nation which has sheltered the per-
secuted and the refugees of all reli-
gions and all nations of the earth."
He cited the demolition of the
holy shrine of the Jews by the
Romans when they laid siege to
Jerusalem about 70 CE, and India
giving refuge to many persecuted
Jews.This shared past and India's
ties with Israel are now seen to
clinch the theory.
The Israeli connection
7
EDITORIAL
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
T
he attack on Parliament on
December 13, 2001 was a
major event in contempo-
rary India. It was a high-profile
attack by Lashkar-e-Toiba and
Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists
against the building housing the
Parliament of India in New Delhi.
The attack led to the death of a
dozen people, including one civilian
and to increased tensions between
India and Pakistan and the 2001-
2002 India-Pakistan standoff.
On 12/13/2001 noon five gun-
men who were named by the inves-
tigators as: Mohammed, Haider,
Hamza, Raja and Rana, infiltrated
the Indian Parliament building in a
car with faked official labels. The
gunmen slammed their vehicle into
the car of the Indian Vice President
Krishan Kant (who was in the build-
ing at the time), jumped out, and
oppened fire with their weapons.
One gunman, wearing a suicide
west was shot dead and the vest
exploding. The other 4 gunmen
were also killed. Five policemen, a
Parliament security guard, and a
gardener were killed, and 18 others
were injured. No members of the
government were hurt.
India, initially, blamed Kashmir
militant groups, backed by Pakistan
through ISI, such as the Lashkar-e-
Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed
led by Maulana Masood Azhar, as
responsible for the attack which
shocked India. The tension between
India and Pakistan hightened and
both armies were put on high alert.
On 12/15/2001 Indian Police
arrested four Indian citizens from
Kashmir: a Delhi University lectur-
er Abdul Rehman Geelani,
Mohammad Afzal, Shaukat Hussain
Guru and his wife Navjot Sandhu as
prime suspects in organizing and
commanding the Indian Parliament
attack.
On 12/18/2002 the Indian court
sentenced to death Mohammad
Afzal, Shaukat Hussain Guru and
Abdul Rehman Geelani, identified
without any doubt as members of
Jaish-e-Muhammad, for their assis-
tance in committing the Indian
Parliament attack. On 10/29/2003
Abdul Rehman Geelani was acquit-
ted from all charges by the Indian
Supreme Court. On 08/04/2005
Shaukat Hussain's death sentence
was changed and reduced to 10
years imprisonment. Mohammad
Afzal's sentence was, meanwhile,
upheld.
Limits of Judiciary
World leaders and leaders in
India's immediate neighbourhood
condemned the attack on the
Parliament. On 14 December, the
ruling National Democratic
Alliance (NDA) blamed Pakistan-
based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-
Mohammed for the attack. Home
Minister LK Advani claimed, "we
have received some clues about
incident, which shows that a neigh-
bouring country, and some terrorist
organisations active there behind
it", in an indirect reference to
Pakistan and Pakistan-based terror-
ist groups. The same day, in a
demarche to Pakistani High
Commissioner to India Ashraf
Jehangir Qazi, India demanded that
Pakistan stop the activities of LeT
and JeM, that Pakistan apprehend
the organisations' leaders and that
Pakistan curb the financial assets
and the groups access to these
assets. In response to the Indian
government's statements, Pakistani
forces were put on high alert the
same day. On 20 December, India
mobilised and deployed its troops to
Kashmir and Punjab in what was
India's largest military mobilisation
since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Following the attack, many sus-
pects were arrested, and in
December 2002 four Jaish-e-
Mohammed members were con-
victed for roles in the attack. In
2003, India said its forces had killed
the mastermind of the attack in
Kashmir.
Mohammad Afzal, sentenced to
death by Indian court and due to be
hanged on 20 October, had his exe-
cution stayed. His family had
camped in New Delhi to meet the
President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam to
accept the mercy petition. On 13
December 2006, the families of the
deceased returned the medals to the
government. As of April 2007, the
then President of India, A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam, refused to interfere in the
judicial process.
The questions just asked presup-
pose that the judgment of the
Supreme Court failed to provide the
required understanding. Why? As a
court of law, it is bound by a struc-
ture of responsibilities. In the pres-
ent case, the court was faced with
four appeals: two by the Delhi
Police and one each by Afzal and
Shaukat. To that end, it examined
the evidence produced before the
trial court and the subsequent judg-
ments by the trial court and the high
court. The evidence was produced
by an authorised investigating
agency, namely, the Special Cell of
the Delhi Police, with its ACP
Rajbir Singh as the investigating
officer. The evidence was presented
in the trial court with supporting
materials and witnesses. Most of the
evidence, especially in Afzal's case,
went unchallenged. The trial court
provided Afzal with an accredited
lawyer who chose to remain largely
inactive.
The high court in fact repri-
manded the police in fairly strong
terms for fabricating the arrest
memos and for keeping people
under illegal confinement. In each
case, Gilani's defence team success-
fully produced counter-evidence.
As for the overwhelming evidence
produced against Afzal, al- most
nothing was challenged at the trial
court, making the task virtually
insurmountable for his defence in
the appeal courts. Looking at this
evidence, therefore, the Supreme
Court was obliged to conclude that
Afzal was guilty of aiding and abet-
ting the attackers.
Voices
The wider issues that surround
the case - including the role, if any,
of Mohammed Afzal in it - can then
be addressed in forums other than a
court of law. A large number of
writers, academicians and lawyers
have raised a number of grave
issues concerning the Parliament
attack case to which the judgment
of the court provided no answers.
Importantly, many of these con-
cerns were raised while the court
deliberated on the case, and the con-
cerns continued even after the judg-
ment was delivered. What are these
issues? While the hearing in the
court was nearing its end, lawyer
Usha Ramanathan said, "the court,
will not, and is not expected to, con-
cern itself with aspects that are not
directly relevant to the case of the
accused before it. So, many ques-
tions will inevitably, and pre-
dictably, remain uninvestigated in
the court's docket."
One of the questions
Ramanathan asked was: "Was it an
act of war? Or was it a terrorist act?
Or perhaps a protest employing
extremist methods? We don't know.
But, on the presumption that it was
an act of war, the troops were
massed along the border, Indian and
Pakistani soldiers glowered at each
other for nearly a year, enormous
resources were sunk into aggressive
posturing, soldiers lost their lives,
over a hundred children reportedly
fell prey to land mines, and many
farmers along this mined, potential
battlefield were left without a liveli-
hood."
Noting that Mohammed Afzal,
the prime accused, was a surren-
dered militant in regular contact
with the State Task Force (STF) in
Kashmir, Ramanathan observed, "a
surrendered militant is no longer a
militant but one who has chosen to
return. The surrendered militant is
in the uneasy zone where he is sus-
pect on both sides of the divide. The
militants see in him a turncoat. The
security forces and the Special Task
Force (STF) hold him in their thrall,
while viewing him constantly with
suspicion." Specifically, "If a per-
son under the watchful eye of the
STF could be part of a conspiracy to
wage war against the state, how can
anything less than a public inquiry
do?
Appeal for Inquiry
Acommittee chaired by Nirmala
Deshpande with Mahasweta Devi,
Rajni Kothari, Prabhat Patnaik,
Ashish Nandy, Prashant Bhushan,
Sumanta Banerjee, Mihir Desai,
and others as members, held a press
conference within a week of the
judgment by the Supreme Court. In
its press statement the committee
noted, "Afzal has been convicted of
conspiracy primarily on the basis of
statements of police witnesses and
seizures of materials from him
shown by the police, which went
un- rebutted during trial, because
Afzal was practically unrepresented
in the trial. Be that as it may, the fact
remains that the court has acquitted
three of the four persons charged of
conspiracy and has held that the
manner and circumstances in which
the confessions were obtained,
makes them unreliable. However, it
is only on the basis of these unreli-
able confessions that the then gov-
ernment immediately committed
the country to a full-scale war
mobilisation against Pakistan with
the possibility that it might have
escalated to a nuclear war. The
mobilisation was used by the NDA
government for political purposes.
POTA was immediately enacted,
and anti-Pakistan as well as com-
munal feelings were whipped up in
the war hysteria which was
drummed up taking advantage of
the attack on Parliament.
Members of the Committee as
well as reputed human rights organ-
isations have been raising serious
questions on the conduct of the pre-
vious NDA government, especially
the functioning of the investigating
agencies, in the Parliament attack
case.
(1) The NDA government initi-
ated a full- scale mobilisation for
war against Pakistan, saying that the
terrorists were Pakistanis sponsored
by the Pakistan government. The
war-effort, which was sustained for
nearly a year, had very serious con-
sequences. The Supreme Court has
held that the confession is unreli-
able.
(2) Mohammed Afzal, the only
person found guilty of conspiracy
by the Apex Court, is a surrendered
militant, who was not only sup-
posed to report regularly to the
Special Task Force of J and K, but
was also under their surveillance.
(3) With the acquittal of three
out of four persons from the charge
of conspiracy, it is clear that the
investigating agency tried to frame
at least three innocent persons.
In the absence of alternative
explanations, it seems that the NDA
government was massively fooled
by its own police. The country must
learn the truth behind the attacks.
Responsibility must be fixed for
those guilty of negligence, concoc-
tion of evidence, and propagation of
deliberate falsehood. Above all,
those who almost took the country
to war in such a reckless manner
must be made accountable. To that
end, the Committee has already
issued an appeal for Parliamentary
inquiry. The political system has
failed to take the steps to answer the
grave questions raised at length by
eminent citizens. And the time is
running out for initiating any fruit-
ful inquiry on these questions. From
what we can see through the
restricted legal window of the
Supreme Court, just six persons are
in view, five attackers and
Mohammed Afzal, as noted. Since
the attackers died on the spot,
Mohammed Afzal is the only living
soul who, according to the Supreme
Court, might know something of
what really happened.
2001 Parliament Attack: Terror over Democracy
8
STATE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
NH to remain closed due to
bad weather
JAMMU, DEC 14: According to
Inspector General of Police,
Traffice, the Srinagar-Jammu
National Highway shall remain
closed for traffic on Saturday in
view of the inclement weather.
Power shut down
JAMMU: In order to carry out
repair and maintenance work of
Tower No. 128 of 132 KV
Udhampur-Kishtwar transmission
line near Ramgarh the 132 KV
Udhampur-Kishtwar Transmission
Line will be shutdown on 16-12-
2012 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As inti-
mated by the NHPC authorities
Kishtwar, during the shutdown peri-
od, the power supply to District
Doda, District Kishtwar, Thathri
and Bhalessa areas shall be affect-
ed.
Chairman LC administers oath
to 4 newly elected MLCs
JAMMU: The newly elected four
MLCs two each from Kashmir and
Jammu divisions Mr. Ghulam Nabi
Monga, Mr. Ali Mohammad Dar,
Mr. Sham Lal Bhagat and Dr.
Shenaz Ganai were administered
oath by the Chairman Jammu and
Kashmir Legislative Council, Mr.
Amrit Malhotra in the Council Hall
here this afternoon. Chief Minister,
Mr. Omar Abdullah, various
Members of Council of Ministers,
Legislators, high level government
officers and prominent citizens
were present on the occasion.
Zojila-Drass road closed
for traffic
JAMMU: As per notification
issued by Transport Department
Zojila-Drass road shall remain
closed for vehicular traffic for all
types from December 10, 2012.
Take up cross-border firing issue
with Pak: Gujjars to Centre
JAMMU: Gujjars in Jammu and
Kashmir on Wednesday asked the
Centre to take up the cross-border
firing issue with Pakistani Interior
Minister Rehman Malik during his
coming visit to India. "We impress
upon the Central government to
take up the matter pertaining to
cross-border firing with Rehman
Malik during his visit to India," said
president of Akhil Bhartiya Gujjar
Mahasabha J&K Chapter Eshfaq-
ur-Rehman Poswal. Pakistani
troopers were regularly firing on
Indian areas inhabitated by Gujjars
and Bakerwals, he said adding this
had hit hard both the communities.
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir
Dharmarth Trust here on Friday
honoured various officers, Muslim
Federation, social organizations
and press media for their coopera-
tion in organizing religious func-
tions successfully.
MLC and Trustee J&K
Dharmarth Trust Council, M.K.
Ajatshatru Singh was the chief
guest on the occasion.
The function was attended by
MLC Vijay Bakaya, Member
Council J&K Dharmarth Trust and
Major Gen. Retd. R.S. Jamwal
President, District Development
Commissioner Jammu, Mr Sanjeev
Verma, Director Heritage & Joint
Director Information Jammu, Mr.
Soujanya Sharma,
AdministratorRajeshwar Chand
Jamwal and Secretary Shashi
Khajuria.
Cash Welfare grants were also
presented to various social organi-
zations like Jammu Yatri Bhawan,
Bal Niketan, Ved Mandir, Home
for Age and Infirm, SOS Children
Channi Himmat, Khushat Rog
Ashram Bhagwati Nagar, Gou
Raksha Samiti, Sanatan Dharam
Sabha, Samaj Kalayan Kendra,
Deaf and Dumb, Rashtriya Bhasha
Parchar Samiti Nanak Nagar,
Jammu besides prizes were distrib-
uted among 19 Tableaus who par-
ticipated in Janamashtami Rath
Yatra.
Speaking on the occasion, M K
Ajatshatru Singh expressed grati-
tude to the participants for their
exceptional contribution for mak-
ing the Rath Yatra and other
Darmarth functions a grand suc-
cess and appealed them to continue
their endeavours in future too. He
also expressed special thanks to
district administration for tireless
service to make the yatra a major
success.
The prizes were also given to
the officials of Dharmarth Trust
who worked day and night for con-
struction of Yasho Karan Park at
Ranbireshwar Temple Complex,
Shalamar Road, Jammu. The Park
is made at the cost of Rs. 51 Lakhs
donated by Dr. Karan Singh in
memory of his wife Late Maharani
Smt Yasho Raya Laxhmi.
JAMMU: Chief Minister, Omar
Abdullah on Monday reviewed
the status of progress on proposed
Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar Gas
Pipeline Project (BJSSPL) at a
meeting of high level officers here
this morning and emphasized on
early start of work on the project.
Omar Abdullah has already
approved the project during a
meeting of State officers and the
team of Petroleum and Natural
Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
led by its Chairman, Lalit
Mansingh at Srinagar. This was
followed by various meetings of
officers of PNGRB with the Chief
Secretary and other senior officers
of the State. The presentations
about the pipeline were made by
the Board pertaining to the imple-
mentation and impact of the proj-
ect on State's economy in these
meetings.
In today's meeting the Chief
Minister received appraisal of the
roadmap prepared to start the
work on the project and complete
it by July 2014 to draw gas from
Gujarat to Srinagar and Jammu.
This will relieve the pressure on
availability of domestic gas. It
will also help generate employ-
ment. The gas pipeline will con-
sist of 328 kilometre long main
gas trunk from Bhatinda to
Srinagar passing through Kathua,
Samba, Jammu, Udhampur,
Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama and
Srinagar. There will be hundreds
of sub-lines which will supply gas
to the consumers at their houses.
The Chief Minister has direct-
ed the PNGRB to start laying of
pipeline from both Srinagar and
Bhatinda simultaneously so that
gas is supplied to both the cities of
Jammu and Srinagar at the same
time.
Omar Abdullah said that this
project possesses greater impor-
tance to the State in providing
adequate domestic and commer-
cial supply of gas to the con-
sumers on cheaper rates besides
creating huge employment for
youth of the State. He said Gas
Company has already been sensi-
tized in this regard. He said the
project would also help to utilize
gas for generation of power in the
State.
The Chief Minister directed the
Revenue and Law Departments to
finalize Draft Bill for Right of Use
of land for laying of gas pipelines
by the Gas Company in the State
for legislature for enactment as
per the Constitution of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah also stressed
the need for fast tracking the proj-
ect to ensure its time line comple-
tion in July 2014. He said Jammu
and Kashmir being the remotest
Northern State of India as such
has so many disadvantages.
"Availability of gas in abundance
has been a great challenge before
us", he said adding that supply of
gas to the consumers in the State
through gas pipeline will be a rev-
olutionary step.
The Chief Minister also direct-
ed the concerned to ensure proper
and up to the mark compensation
to the land owners whose land
will be used by the company for
laying underground gas pipelines.
Minister for Rural
Development and Law, Ali
Mohammad Sagar, Minister for
Revenue, Raman Bhalla, Minister
for CAPD, Qamar Ali Akhoon,
Minister of State for Revenue and
Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief
Secretary, Madhav Lal, Advocate
General, Isaq Qadri, Principal
Secretary to the Chief Minister, B.
B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary
Revenue, B. A. Runiyal,
Commissioner Secretary CAPD,
Mohammad Abbas Dar and other
senior officers were present in the
meeting.
Dharmarth Trust honours officers, social organisations
and Tableau's of Janamashtami festival 2012
MLC and Trustee J&K Dharmarth Trust Council, M.K. Ajatshatru Singh along with others posing for a group
photograph.
328-km long Bhatinda-Srinagar Gas Pipeline to be ready by mid 2014
Rs 42 lakh provident fund
fraud unearthed in Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir
Police on Friday cracked a provident
fund fraud in which the treasurer of a
public school had swindled Rs.42
lakh from the accounts of school
employees.
A police officer said: "Baramulla
police arrested the treasurer of Saint
Joseph School in north Kashmir's
Baramulla town for fraudulently
withdrawing Rs.42 lakh from the
provident fund of employees of the
school. A charge sheet was filed
against the accused in court today
(Friday)."
"On July 12, the principal of St
Joseph School Baramulla had lodged
a complaint alleging that while scru-
tinising account books pertaining to
provident funds of staff members,
huge discrepancies were found,"
police said. "Preliminary investiga-
tions revealed that there had been
huge withdrawals and transfers of
money from the individual fund
accounts of a number of school
employees without their consent and
knowledge," they added. "An FIR
was registered and investigations
were initiated by a special investiga-
tion team. During the investigation,
it came to light that funds were with-
drawn by the treasurer of the school
by forging signatures of the principal
and staff members," police said.
9
STATE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
Shinde to Look at Afzal's Mercy
Petition After Winter Session
NEW DELHI: Home Minister
Sushilkumar Shinde here on Monday said
he will have a look at the mercy petition of
Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru
only after the Winter Session of Parliament.
He said the file related to the mercy peti-
tion of Guru, returned by President Pranab
Mukherjee for review by him, was still with
the Home Ministry.
"When Parliament is over, I will ask
what is the status (of Guru's file). It is in the
Ministry but has not come to me yet. I have
to see his file in detail. I have to see it in
depth," he said at the "Agenda-Aaj Tak"
programme here organised by TV Today
Group.
The ongoing Winter Session of
Parliament will come to an end on
December 20.
Asked about the secrecy that was main-
tained regarding hanging of 2008 Mumbai
attack terrorist Ajmal Kasab, Shinde said
such operations should always be kept a
secret.
"If terrorists can maintain secrecy about
their attacks, why cannot the government
keep secrets," he said.
The Home Minister said his experience
of having worked as a police sub-inspector
and also as Maharashtra Chief Minister had
helped him in secretly carrying out along
the plan of execution of Kasab in Yerawada
jail in Pune on November 21.
J&K govt sets up committee for
smooth regulation of traffic
JAMMU: In order to streamline traffic and
avoid unnecessary choking, the Jammu and
Kashmir minister of state for Home Nasir
Aslam Wani on Tuesday constituted a com-
mittee that will coordinate to remove
impediments in smooth regulation of traffic.
The minister, who chaired a high level
meeting here, constituted a committee com-
prising of Commissioner Srinagar
Municipal Corporation (SMC), DIG Traffic
Jammu, DC Jammu and Superintendent
Engineers of Roads & Buildings and Power
Development Department (PDD) in a bid to
remove impediments in smooth regulation
of traffic, an official spokesperson said here.
Wani issued directions for immediate
corrective civil works for effective manage-
ment of traffic signal lights in the city.
The minister was informed that R&B
department will start road marking and
installation of road signals in the city from
next week, the spokesperson said.
Fluorescent thermal plates will be used
to increase longevity of the road markings.
Zebra crossing bands at several places will
also be made functional so that pedestrian
movement is facilitated, he said.
Wani asked the Chief Engineer, R&B to
identify the possibility of widening roads at
congested points across the city and along
the rotaries as it will help in easing traffic
pressure at these junctions.
MANJAKOTE: Minister of State for Home,
Housing & Urban Development, Mr. Nasir
Aslam Wani and Minister of State for CAPD
& Transport Mr. Shabir Ahmed Khan today
inaugurated SDPO office at Manjakote,
Rajouri.
This was the long pending demand of the
locals which has been fulfilled by the
Coalition Government for providing better
policing to the people of this border +block of
Rajouri District. This will help in maintaining
law and order in a more professional manner.
Director General of Police, Dr Ashok
Parsad, Inspector General of Police, Jammu
Range, Mr. Dilbag Singh, Dy Inspector
General, Rajouri, Mr. Danish Rana, SSP,
Rajouri and other senior civil and police offi-
cers, besides former MLA, Mr Aslam Khan,
senior leaders of various political parties,
panchs, sarpanchs and large number of people
were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering Mr. Shabir
Ahmed said that government under the
dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Omar
Abdullah is endeavoring to provide crime-free
administration to the people of the State. He
said opening of new police stations in far off
and remote areas for providing justice and
maintaining peace and normalcy remained top
priority of the government.
He said the Government will consider spe-
cial police recruitment drive in all blocks of
the district, as the district have meager
resources in production sectors and there is
great need for generating employment oppor-
tunities for the educated youth of the area.
Mr. Nasir in his address said that the gov-
ernment during the past four years has taken
several revolutionary and bold steps to refur-
bish the all round development of people of
the State, besides providing better policing
and bringing complete peace and normalcy in
the State. He said strengthening of police
department by adding more manpower, mod-
ern equipments, besides establishment of new
police units remained focused attention of the
government.
He said that fulfilling of people's aspira-
tions and genuine needs was the first priority
of the Government and opening of SDPO
Office at Manjakote was the genuine demand
which has been fulfilled by the government at
right time. The Minister endorsed the demand
for special recruitment of local youth in police
and said that the issue would be examined on
priority and a decision will be taken soon.
The Minister said that Jammu & Kashmir
Police is scripting a saga of velour and has met
various challenges successfully, especially in
the fight against terrorism. It has upheld the
honor of the organization and maintained the
public trust. He said that J&K Police has
emerged as one of the best forces in the coun-
try and is proud to have been recognized as a
symbol of bravery by the Central and the State
Government
JAMMU DEC 14: Alarge num-
ber of BJP workers
fromKastigarh, Deesa, Kuldhar,
Dhandal and Gurmool area of
Rambanjoined J&K National
Conference here today and
vouched to tirelessly fight to
defeat divisive forces under the
umbrella of National Conference.
Expressing dismay over the
divisive politics of political
forces indulged in dividing peo-
ple for political gains the BJP
workers who joined the party said
that they have been fed up by the
divisive politics being nurtured
by parties like BJP and PDP who
want to divide the society in the
name of region and religion.
They said they are convinced
with the programme and policies
of the National Conference and
have faith in its leadership and
will work with National
Conference and the state coali-
tion government under the lead-
ership of Omar Abdullah for the
peace, prosperity, solidarity and
amity between the various sec-
tions of the society and is partic-
ularly working for the overall, all
round development of the far-
flung and remote areas of the
state.
Welcoming the new entrants
into the party fold Rattan Lal
Gupta Provincial President J&K
National Conference Jammu said
that the policies and programmes
of National Conference and the
state coalition government is
receiving wholehearted support
by the people in general and
youth in particular in all the three
regions of the state. He said a
large number of political activists
and prominent people across the
province have shown their desire
to join National Conference and
work for comprehensive develop-
ment of the state.
Gupta said the era of divisive
forces will come to an end as peo-
ple have realized that the sole aim
of these divisive forces is to cre-
ate disharmony and divide the
society and the people have now
pledged to defeat the nefarious
designs of these communal
forces.
Political Advisor to the Chief
Minister Devender Singh Rana
and Ajaz Jan MLA Poonch who
were present on the occasion also
welcomed the new entrants into
the party fold and called upon
them to work wholeheartedly in
their respective areas and take the
programmes and policies of the
party and the state coalition gov-
ernment to very door step.
Those who joined the party
included Magar Singh, Gian
Singh, Piari Lal,Satish Kumar,
Angrez Singh, Jewan Singh,
Chand Lal, Parshotam Singh,
Jagdeep Singh, Kanth Lal, Bharat
Singh, Mohammad Rafi and oth-
ers. Those who were present on
the occasion included Dr.
Chaman Lal Bhagat ex-MLA
Ramban, Vipan Pal Sharma,
District President Rajouri
(Rural), Subash Kudyar, Hassan
Din Salaria, Farooq Sohail,
Abdul Salam, Ram Singh
Sarpanch, Noor Mohd Dar and
others.
Nasir, Shabir inaugurate SDPO Office at Manjakote
End of era of divisive forces : NC
NEW DELHI: Hardline sepa-
ratist groups should change
their outlook in the efforts to
find a solution to the Kashmir
issue rather than professing
politics of status quo which
will not benefit anyone except
them, moderate Hurriyat
Conference chairman Mirwaiz
Umer Farooq said on Friday.
"Well, I think they (hardline
separatists) need to change
their outlook," said the
Mirwaiz, who is leading a
seven-member delegation of
moderate Hurriyat Conference
group to Pakistan tomorrow for
meetings with the Pakistani
leadership.
He was replying to a ques-
tion on hardline separatists
including Syed Ali Shah
Geelani being not in favour of
any visit by Kashmiri leaders to
Pakistan.
Without naming Geelani,
the Mirwaiz said "it's unfortu-
nate that there was such voices.
When we entered into a dia-
logue with New Delhi, they
dubbed us as traitors and now
when we are going to Pakistan
we are being labelled as sellers.
"This is their (hardliners)
politics of status quo which
benefits only them and no one
other. What should we do? If
they have a solution, let them
come forward and give us," he
said.
The Mirwaiz said a solution
to Kashmir issue was not possi-
ble overnight and their visit to
Pakistan was only a beginning.
"A small step in the right direc-
tion," he said.
During their meetings, the
Hurriyat delegation is due to
meet Pakistan President Asif
Ali Zardari, Prime Minister
Raja Pervez Ashraf, Foreign
Minister Heena Rabbani Khar,
Chief of PML-N Nawaz
Sharief, Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaf leader Imran Khan
besides political leadership of
Paki st an-occupi ed-Kashmi r
(PoK).
The Mirwaiz said during his
meetings with Khar and PoK
leadership, he would press for
opening of Sharda temple at
village Shardi in Attamukam
area in PoK.
Hardline separatists must change outlook: Mirwaiz
10 INDIA AND THE WORLD
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
NEW DELHI: India would
enhance relations with energy
exporting countries and strate-
gise with international markets
to meet its growing energy
needs, External Affairs Minister
Salman Khurshid said on
Thursday.
Saying that the country's
demand for energy is growing at
a "terrifying pace", he said,
"There is a need to explore,
enhance, develop and fortify
relations with energy exporting
countries and also develop tech-
nologies for alternate energy
sources."
The minister was addressing
the "Energy Security Conference
2012" organised here jointly by
the Ministry of External Affairs
and the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) in the capital.
Stressing the strategic and
economic importance of achiev-
ing energy security, he said:
"There is a need to better integra-
tion for strategising with interna-
tional markets and enhancing
relations with energy exporting
countries."
At the domestic level, he said,
the country needed to optimally
exploit and utilise its energy
resources; leverage on opportu-
nities provided by coal bed
methane and shale gas and
develop technologies to scale up
renewable energy."In addition in
the nuclear field there needs to
be some clarity in public percep-
tion." Referring to the growing
energy demand and the per
capita consumption, he said
sources of energy were deplet-
ing fast and the country was
importing 80 percent of oil and
25 percent of its gas require-
ments.
"Going forward, if we con-
tinue to grow at 8-9 percent,
import dependence is likely to
increase and India would be
importing 35-57 percent of
coal, 90-94 percent of oil and 20-
57 percent of gas by 2031-32."
Mentioning some of the ini-
tiatives taken by the government,
he said: "We have made progress
in linking India's electricity grid,
the second largest in the world
with Nepal, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh.
In addition, we plan to put in
place additional gas pipeline net-
work of 15,000 km and are in the
process of increasing our LNG
capacity to 45 million metric
tonnes per annum from the cur-
rent 13.5 mm tpa and have put in
place a roadmap for the ambi-
tions Turkmenistan TAPI Gas
Pipeline to be commissioned by
2017."
Sudhir Vyas, Secretary,
Economic Relations, said: "We
have been working with the line
ministeries, public and private
sector to enable energy asset
acquitistion."
He added that there was a
need to explore how synergies
and tradeoffs could be devel-
oped, cooperation enhanced and
opportunities leveraged to ensure
the nation's energy security.
"It is imperative that all key
stakeholders need to work
together on this key issue," Vyas
said. CII president Adi Godrej
said that strategic alliances and
joint ventures as well as the
establishment of a sovereign
energy fund would enable suc-
cessful acquisition of energy
assets overseas.
India to enhance relations with energy exporting nations
India aware of anti-India
sentiments in Nepal
NEWDELHI: The government is aware of "anti-India
sentiments in some sections of the Nepalese polity and
society", the Lok Sabha was informed Tuesday.
Minister of State for Home M. Ramachandran said
Nepal's government had promised "that it would not
allow its territory to be used for any activity against
India".
The minister was asked by member Maheshwar
Hazari whether anti-India activities were on the rise in
Nepal and if these were sponsored by China.
Ramachandran made no reference to China in his
reply and said that India attached the highest importance
to relations with Nepal.
He added that there was close cooperation between
the two governments on matters of mutual concern and
New Delhi was assisting Kathmandu on various devel-
opment fronts.
China promises to give
importance to India ties
NEWDELHI: China's new leaders have promised that
they will give "great importance" to relations with India,
Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said
Wednesday. This assurance was given by outgoing
Premier Wen Jiabao when he met Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the seventh East
Asia Summit in Phnom Penh last month, she told the
Lok Sabha. The minister said both leaders discussed the
prospects for a Strategic and Cooperative Partnership,
the impact of frequent high-level exchanges, and ways
to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.
"The overall perspective in which the discussions
were held was that there is enough space for the simul-
taneous development of both India and China," she
added in a written statement.
India hasn't taken stand on
rebel Syrians: Khurshid
NEW DELHI: Two days after the US recog-
nized the Syrian opposition, India said
Thursday it was cautiously studying the grow-
ing global approval for the rebel alliance against
President Bashar al-Assad to see if "it fits in
with our principles of non-interference".
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid,
answering a query on the sidelines of a confer-
ence, said, "We are a bit cautious and studying
it (growing global approval for the National
Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and
Opposition Forces)... We have not taken a cate-
gorical position. We have a position of non-
interference in internal matters.
"And this emerging widespread approval for
the opposition in Syria, if it fits in with our prin-
ciples of non-interference is something we will
have to examine," said Khurshid.
President Barack Obama announced
Tuesday that the US would recognize the coali-
tion as Syria's legitimate representative in a
move that had the backing of France, Britain,
Turkey and Gulf states.
More than 100 countries and organizations
forming part of the Friends of Syria alliance
Wednesday gave recognition to the rebel coali-
tion that is fighting to oust Assad.
NEW DELHI: A total of
71,035 foreigners were found
over-staying in India as of Dec
31 last year, parliament was
informed Tuesday. Those from
Bangladesh and Afghanistan
headed the list.
Bangladeshis accounted for
24,364 of the total followed by
13,744 from Afghanistan,
Minister of State for Home
Affairs M. Ramachandran told
the Lok Sabha.
Others in the list were from
Pakistan (8,037), the US
(2,168), Iraq (2,038), Sri
Lanka (1,956), Nigeria
(1,528), Myanmar (1,402) and
Britain (1,094). The minister
classified 2,398 as "others" or
those without specified nation-
ality. "There are also reports of
foreign nationals having
entered the country without
valid travel documents," he
said. Without giving details,
Ramachandran said some
instances of illegal activities
by such foreigners had been
reported. In the case of
Bangladeshis, he said there
were procedures to "sending
back then and there illegal
immigrants intercepted at the
border while entering India
unauthorisedly". The minister
said suspected foreigners in
Assam were referred to the
Foreigners Tribunals to deter-
mine their nationality.
NEW DELHI: India and the Arab world
can work in institution building, said an
Indian expert Tuesday as international acad-
emicians and thinkers participated in a con-
ference to discuss the future of Arab spring
and its ramifications.
"India must welcome the dawn of democ-
racy," said former ambassador K.P. Fabian at
the two-day conference where academicians
and thinkers from Tunisia, Egypt, Syria,
Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Morocco
as well as from the US, Britain, Ireland, the
Netherlands, Belgium, Finland and Italy
participated. The conference was hosted at
Sapru House by the Indian Council of World
Affairs (ICWA) in association with the New
York-based International Research Network
on Religion and Democracy (IRNRD) and
Developing Countries Research Centre
(DCRC), where speakers deliberated on
democratic transformation in and around the
region that began in Tunisia and spread to
other countries. "Primarily the Arab Spring
is about Arab people standing up for their
rights. There was unity of purpose in getting
rid of Mubarak, but that unity of purpose
cannot last Mubarak's exit," said Fabain
while referring to Egyptian strongman
Hosni Mubarak who ruled for decades
before he was deposed in a revolution that
paved the way for the Muslim Brotherhood's
victory in subsequent elections. "India can
share democracy, if only (others) asked for
it...The Egyptians have asked and the
Election Commission is in touch," he added.
He said that India and the Arab world can
work in institution building.
Egypt has been experiencing a period of
political and social turmoil since Nov 22
when President Mohammed Mursi issued a
controversial decree protecting the work of
the constituent assembly drafting the new
constitution from judicial interference,
thereby immunizing his actions from any
legal challenge. Ambassador R. Dayakar,
who retired as Indian ambassador in Iraq,
stressed that India has "cordial, warm" rela-
tions with the countries in the Arab world.
71,035 foreigners found over-staying in India
`India, Arab world can work in institution building'
India terms North Korea rocket
launch 'unwarranted'
NEW DELHI: In a strong reaction,
India Wednesday expressed concern
over the launch of a rocket by North
Korea and said "this unwarranted
action" by Pyongyang has "adversely
impacted peace and stability in the
Korean Peninsula". The external affairs
ministry said in a statement that the
rocket launch, which has been roundly
condemned by the West and North
Korea's neighbours, was in violation of
the United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1874. India also asked
Pyongyang to "refrain" from such
actions. The US has termed the rocket
launch as a "highly provocative act" that
threatens regional security. On Saturday,
North Korea indicated it could widen
the launch window till beyond
Christmas citing some technical prob-
lems. Heavy snow was also reported to
be coming in the way of preparations for
launch of the Unha-3 rocket.
11
DEFENCE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
NEW DELHI: The Supreme
Court on Friday issued a notice to
the Centre on a plea by the father
of Kargil hero captain Saurabh
Kalia seeking its direction to the
government to raise his son's case
at the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) at Hague.
Captain Saurabh Kalia was
allegedly captured and brutally
killed by the Pakistani Army dur-
ing the war in 1999.
A two-member bench of Justice
RM Lodha and Justice Anil R
Dave also asked the Centre
whether courts can interfere in
such cases.
"We fully share your agony. But
what is the role of the court? Can
we direct India to take up with the
International Court of Justice? It is
the highest court and our orders
should be within the four corners
of the Constitution. This is an
important issue. If the government
wants it can take up the issue with
the ICJ and there is no need for our
interference," the bench said.
The court was initially reluctant
to issue notice on the grounds that
the matter involved two countries
and the Indian government should
take up the issue with the ICJ.
At this, the court was told that
Capt Saurabh Kalia's family has
made every effort to seek justice.
They had requested the Defence
Ministry, which in turn said that
matter has been referred to the
Prime Minister's Office, which in
turn said the matter was under the
consideration of the External
Affairs Ministry.
The court gave the Centre 10
days time to respond to the peti-
tion.
NK Kalia has also filed a peti-
tion before the UN Human Rights
Commission demanding justice for
his son. The External Affairs
Ministry has said that it would
look at the nature of NK Kalia's
petition as the UNHRC look into
only inter-state issues raised by its
members.
NK Kalia has alleged that his
son was captured as a prisoner of
war but was killed in a gruesome
manner in violation of the Geneva
Convention.
Capt Kalia and five other sol-
diers of his patrolling team were
captured alive on May 15, 1999 by
Pakistani troops and kept in captiv-
ity where they were tortured and
their bodies mutilated. Their bod-
ies were handed over to the Indian
side later.
The Army has promised full
support to Kalia and his family.
NEWDELHI: Strengthening their
military ties, India and Ukraine
have signed a framework agree-
ment to further expand their
defence cooperation.
The agreement was signed after
comprehensive talks between
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and visiting Ukrainian President
Viktor Yanukovych in New Delhi
on Monday.
In a statement, the Prime
Minister also said that the two
countries were already undertaking
a number of defence cooperation
projects and the latest defence
cooperation agreement establishes
a new framework for expending
this cooperation.
In 2009, the two countries had
signed a deal for upgrading 100
AN-32 aircraft of Indian Air Force
of which 25 have already been
upgraded in Ukraine while the rest
would be modernised at IAF facil-
ities in Kanpur.
The country is now among the
top 10 defence manufacturers in
the world with an industry produc-
ing tanks and planes.
Interestingly, Indian naval
pilots training for taking off from
Russian-built aircraft carrier
Admiral Gorshkov are also sup-
posed to train in Ukraine at its
shore-based take off and landing
facility.
In the recent past, Ukraine had
also offered to co-develop a trans-
port aircraft with Indian firms
which could be used for export
purposes also.
During the Soviet era, facilities
to develop transport aircraft were
based in Ukraine and they have
been maintained even after its
break-up from the erstwhile
USSR.
India, Ukraine ink defence cooperation agreement
Justice for Kargil war hero: SC issues notice to Centre on Capt Kalia's parents' plea
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Ukrainian President Viktor
Yanukovych shaking hands at New Delhi.
Martyr Capt. Saurabh Kalia
CCS Clears Rs
2,150 Cr Coastal
Security Proposal
NEW DELHI: A proposal to the
tune of Rs 2,150 crore for enhanc-
ing coastal security to prevent 26/11
type attacks has been cleared by the
Cabinet Committee on Security
The CCS meeting, headed by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
cleared proposals worth Rs. 2,150
crore under which five offshore
patrol vessel would be brought for
the Coast Guard for Rs. 1,500 crore,
defence sources said here.
As part of the proposals, Rs. 640
crore would be spent on setting up
the second phase of coastal security
network under which 38 radars
would be established to create a
"near-gaffe free electronic surveil-
lance along the entire coastal area".
Under Coastal Security Network
(CSN) phase-I, Defence Minister A
K Antony had recently inaugurated
coastal radars in Gujarat and
Maharashtra. Another such radar
has also started functioning in kochi
The Ministry is hopeful that the
CSN phase-I would be completed
by March next year and work on the
phase II of the programme will be
initiated immediately after it.
With the setting up of CSN,
Antony had said, the Ministry aims
to achieve a near-gap-free electron-
ic surveillance along the coastal
areas. After the 2008 terror attacks
in Mumbai, the government has
taken several measures to strength-
en Coast Guard including doubling
the maritime agency's manpower
and assets. As part of its plans, the
government has cleared several pro-
posals which will result in the dou-
bling up of manpower and assets of
the maritime guarding force.
KOCHI: The Southern Naval
Command conducted an awe inspir-
ing demonstration of its operational
capabilities here, with a broad
range of operations displaying its
flexibility and versatility.
The operations were included in
the display within the limitations of
shallow depths of the channel and
high rise structures in the area, a
Naval press release said.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen
Chandy was the chief guest at the
event, where Kochi residents turned
out in huge numbers.
Chandy was received at the
venue by Vice-Admiral Satish Soni,
Flag Officer Commanding in Chief,
Southern Naval Command.
The function, organised as part
of Navy Day celebrations, began
with marine Commandos carrying
out a simulated beach assault with
the team leader coming ashore in
combat rig to deliver the pro-
gramme brochure to the Chief
Guest.
Thereafter there was a fly past
by Navy and Coast Guard aircraft,
including the giant TU- 142 aircraft
and IL-38.
Demonstration of water sports,
including waterskiing and jet ski-
ing, and VBSS (Visit, Board,
Search and Seize) operation were
other displays which gave specta-
tors a closer look at the versatility
and dare devilry of the two mar-
itime forces.
Helicopter demonstrations
included the Seaking helicopter fly-
ing past the crowd with a Maruti
Gypsy under slung, and STIE
(Small Team Insertion and
Extraction) operation where com-
mandos were dropped and with-
drawn from a hostile area and helo-
batics by two Chetak helicopters.
AChetak helicopter demonstrat-
ed landing on the helicopter deck of
a ship - INS Sutlej - which was
underway.
The demonstration by Marine
Commandos of a clandestine
takeover of an enemy offshore
installation and its destruction pro-
vided the viewers an explosive
spectacle. INS Kabra, INS Kalpeni
and two Indian Coast Guard Fast
Patrol Vessels demonstrated
manoeuvring skills by turning on
the spot several times in restricted
waters of Kochi channel.
The final fly past was by all par-
ticipating aircraft of the naval air
station INS Garuda in ANCHOR
formation. After the 'sunset ceremo-
ny,' which brought to an end the
demonstration, Navy ships steamed
past with their illumination lights
switched on.
Indian Navy demonstrates
operational capabilities
12
DEFENCE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
BALASORE: India Wednesday carried out a suc-
cessful test of its indigeniously develop nuclear-
capable surface-to-surface Agni-I missile indige-
nously developed nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic
missile with a strike range of 700 km from a test
range off Odisha coast. from from a mobile launch-
er, launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR)
at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here, defence
sources said. Describing the test as successful, ITR
Director MVKV Prasad said, "It was a practice trial
conducted by the Strategic Force Command of the
Indian Army."
Agni-I, a single-stage missile powered by solid
propellants, has a specialised navigation system
which ensures that it reaches the target with a high
degree of accuracy and precision, a defence scientist
said. Weighing 12 tonnes, the 15-metre-long Agni-I,
which is capable of carrying payloads up to 1000 kg,
has already been inducted into the Indian Army.
Agni-I has been developed by advanced systems
laboratory, the premier missile development labora-
tory of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Defence
Research Development Laboratory and Research
Centre Imarat and integrated by Bharat Dynamics
Limited, Hyderabad. The last trial of Agni-I missile
was successfully carried out on July 13, 2012 from
the same test range.
India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile
NEW DELHI: With the India's
Cabinet Committee on Security
(CCS) clearing the proposal, the
Indian Army will raise by 2015 a
new 900-man Sikkim Scouts bat-
talion, primarily to guard the 200-
km border with Tibet along the
Himalayan state at a cost of $600
million.
The Sikkim Scouts will be on
the lines of Ladakh Scouts, raised
in 1973 in Jammu and Kashmir, for
mountain warfare.
The force, to be deployed in the
high altitudes of Sikkim, will draw
its manpower from the eligible
youth of the 540,000 population of
the state. The census lists about 60
per cent of the state's population as
youth less than 24 years of age.
"The Sikkim Scouts will guard
some key passes and sectors in the
mountainous areas of the state,
apart from routes of ingress and
egress," a senior Indian Army offi-
cer said.
As sons of the soil, the youth of
Sikkim will fight to protect their
land with much vigour, and it is an
advantage that they have good
knowledge of the terrain, adapt to
weather and environment quickly.
"This will aid in better border
management," the officer said, not-
ing that it is a good employment
opportunity to the state's youth.
India's focus on raising such
localised units around the 4,057-
km Line of Actual Control with
China is a good strategy from its
defence point of view.
The first of the five Ladakh
Scouts units in Jammu and
Kashmir was raised in 1973. It has
also raised a Dogra unit in Jammu
and Kashmir, a Kumaon and
Garhwal unit in Uttarakhand and
two Arunachal Scouts units in
Arunachal Pradesh.
The Ladakh Scouts units are
affiliated to the Jammu and
Kashmir Rifles. One of the
Arunachal Scouts units, which
were raised in 2010 after govern-
ment nod in 2009, is attached to
Assam Rifles. The second
Arunachal Scouts unit, being raised
at present after approval in July
2012, will be affiliated to the Naga
Regiment.
Sikkim Scouts battalion, Be Raised By 2015
US, China defence talks
focus on Asia Pacific,
Afghanistan and Pakistan
WASHINGTON: The recent Asia-Pacific "pos-
ture" of the United States, the situation in the
Middle East, and Af-Pak have figured prominently
in the 13th US-China Defence Consultative talks
held at the Pentagon. In the talks which were held
Wednesday, the US side was led by Dr Jim Miller,
undersecretary of defence for Policy, while the vis-
iting Chinese delegation was led by Lt Gen Qi
Jianguo, deputy chief of the People's Liberation
Army general staff.
"The two discussed the US rebalance in the Asia-
Pacific region and the security situation in the
Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan," an official
release said. According to an official statement, both
Miller and Qi emphasised the positive momentum
of the US-China military-to-military relationship
this year, and urged further cooperation in 2013.
Both the officials discussed maritime security in
the East China Sea and South China Sea, and
stressed the importance of avoiding miscalculation
in the areas of cyber space, nuclear policy and mis-
sile defence. Miller stressed that North Korea's
rocket launch on Wednesday was a clear violation of
the United Nations Security Council Resolutions
1718 and 1874, and a provocative act that threatens
regional peace and security.
He asked China to work with the US and the
international community to insist that North Korea
live up to its commitments, adhere to its internation-
al obligations, and deal peacefully with its neigh-
bours, the Pentagon statement said.
NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of
delays in procurement of weapon systems,
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh is planning to
set up trials cell in each of the six army com-
mands to fasten up the process of field evalu-
ations of arms and equipment.
The step will help the Army to save the
time take taken to carry out these trials and
will also help in ensuring more transparency
and accountability in the trials process, Army
sources told.
The sources said the Army Chief is plan-
ning to create a trial cell in each of the six
operational commands of the force so that the
process of trial of weapon systems and equip-
ment can be fastened up, they said.
Doing away with the 'hollowness' and slow
modernisation is one of the key focus areas of
Gen Singh.
At present, the trial cell is located in the
Army headquarters which forms trial teams in
operational areas and get reports from them
but these teams are not accountable for this
particular task to their immediate superior for-
mations. With trial cells set up in all com-
mands, the onus of conducting trials in a spec-
ified time period would lie with these com-
mands. The Army has currently more than
500 procurement cases going on to meet its
various requirements. It is also evaluating a
number of Indian and foreign equipment for
its troops. In recent times, the Army faced
several problems in its acquisitions due to
problems in the trials and evaluation process.
Many of its deals including the procurement of
197 helicopters for its aviation wing had to be
scrapped in 2007 due to issues with evaluation
process.
CAPE CANAVERAL: A top-secret mini-
space shuttle has blasted off from Cape
Canaveral in the US. The Air Force launched
the unmanned spacecraft Tuesday aboard an
Atlas V rocket.It's the second flight for this
original X-37B spaceplane.
It circled the planet for seven months in
2010. A second X-37B spacecraft spent more
than a year in orbit.These mystery machines
are about one-quarter the size of NASA's old
space shuttles, and they can land automatical-
ly on a runway. The military isn't saying much,
if anything, about this new secret mission. But
one scientific observer, Harvard University's
Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-
Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, specu-
lates the spaceplane is carrying sensors
designed for spying. The two previous secret
flights were in orbits roughly 200 miles (321
kilometres) high.
Army to have own
heavy duty combat
helicopter fleet
NEW DELHI: The Government
has decided to allow the Indian
Army to have its own heavy duty
attack helicopter fleet, Defence
Minister A K Antony said on
Monday. "Yes... the decision to vest
the future inductions of attack heli-
copters with the Army has been
taken keeping in view the opera-
tional requirements in the field,"
Antony told Lok Sabha in a written
reply. He was asked if it has been
decided to let the Army have its own
heavy duty attack chopper fleet. The
Army, which has been demanding
control over attack and medium-lift
helicopters, was recently allowed by
the Defence Ministry to have its
own combat chopper fleet.
Meanwhile, in reply to a written
query on FDI in defence sector,
Minister of State for Defence
Jitendra Singh said, "FDI amount-
ing to Rs 19.89 crore has been
received in defence industry sector
from January 2001 to September
2012." He made it clear that the
Government was not considering
any proposal to further liberalise the
investment policy to promote FDI in
defence sector.
Army planning trial units in
commands to expedite acquisition
US sends mystery mini-shuttle into space
13
DEFENCE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
WASHINGTON: North Korea's
successful test of a long-range mis-
sile triggered global anger with the
US and the nation's immediate
neighbours Japan and South Korea
terming it as "highly provocative"
and warning that it would desta-
bilise the region.
Washington and its allies said
that the test had intensified the
threat posed by the nuclear-armed
nation and the launch triggered
plans for an emergency session of
the UN Security Council, which has
imposed sanctions against
Pyongyang.
North Korea insisted that its
launch was not a banned inter-con-
tinental missile test, but only a mis-
sion to place a scientific satellite in
orbit. However, American
Aerospace command said the test
marked an apparent technological
success for the hermit nation,
implying that Pyongyang had
acquired the capability to strike at
US mainland.
the launch was condemned by
most of the nations including
China, the lone staunch ally of the
wayward communist state, which
regretted the test, but called on all
sides to avoid "stoking the flames".
The US North American
Aerospace Defence Command
(NORAD), a joint US-Canadian
agency which said it had monitored
flight of the missile, said North
Korea appeared to have successful-
ly launched an object in orbit on a
missile, marking a technological
success for the nation.
In Washington, the US termed
the long-range missile launch by
the North Koreans as a "highly
provocative act", saying it threat-
ened regional stability as American
Aerospace command said the test
marked an apparent technological
success for the hermit nation.
N Korea missile launch provokes global condemnation
MOSCOW : Russia's MiG
Corporation has delivered the first
three upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets
to the Indian Air Force
The refurbished fighter jets
were transported to India by An-
124 transport aircraft, the company
announced on Monday.
"The modernisation significant-
ly extends the range of tasks per-
formed by MiG-29. The upgraded
aircraft, along with increased capa-
bility to fight air targets, also
acquire the ability to strike moving
targets on the ground and station-
ary targets with precision weapons
by day and night and in any weath-
er conditions," the aircraft manu-
facturer said.
The modernised MiG fighters
are featuring advanced avionics,
new multi-functional Zhuk-M
radars, revamped engines and new
weapon control systems, which
would enhance their service life by
up to 40 years.
The fighters are also being
equipped with air-to-air refuelling
capability to increase flying time.
The first modernised MiG-
29UPG made its maiden flight on
February 4, 2011.
India had awarded a contract
worth USD 964 million to MiG in
2008 to upgrade the IAF's entire
fleet of over 60 MiG-29 fighters.
The contract entailed upgrading
the warplane from an interceptor
and air superiority aircraft to a
fighter-bomber capable of striking
mobile and stationary targets on
the ground and at sea with high-
precision weapons under all
weather conditions. "The aircraft
delivery, upgraded in Russia - is
the first step in the contract execu-
tion for the modernisation of a
large fleet of the Indian Air Force
MiG-29s. We are getting ready for
the second phase of work, which
provides modernisation of fighters
in India in close cooperation with
the Indian industry," General
Director of JSC RAC MiG, Sergei
Korotkov, said.
While MiG will upgrade six
MiG 29s, the remaining aircraft
will be modernised by Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd in India.
Indian air force gets upgraded MiG-29 from Russia
NEW DELHI: India's highest
decision making body on defence
matters, the Cabinet Committee on
Security (CCS), has cleared the
Indian Navy's plans to embark on a
$2-billion major expansion of the
strategic Karwar naval base in the
southern state of Karnataka where a
host of warships, submarines and
the refurbished carrier INS
Vikramaditya will be berthed.
At its meeting held here under
the chairmanship of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, the plans got the
necessary nod, senior Indian Navy
officers said here.
The expansion of Karwar naval
base will be carried out under
Project Seabird Phase 2A, which
will entail construction of facilities
to berth India's key aircraft carriers
including the Indigenous Aircraft
Carrier and its follow-on.
The Project Seabird has been a
victim of various delays and cost-
overruns since it was conceived in
1985. The first Phase of the expan-
sion was completed at a cost of
roughly $584.25 million in 2005-06
enabling the Navy to base more
than 15 warships at Karwar.
Despite a slow start, India has man-
aged to pull the project through
with the main intention of decon-
gesting naval dockyards at
Mumbai.
The Karwar naval base is
India's third major naval base after
Mumbai and Visakhapatnam on the
east coast. Unlike Mumbai or Vizag
base, Karwar is the only naval base
in India exclusively available to
Indian Navy. The expansion of the
naval base will turn Karwar into the
largest Defence zone, not only in
India, but also in Asia. Considered
as India's third largest naval base,
the Karwar Naval Base has also
been considered the perfect place to
initiate submarine operations due to
its depth of water.
The Karwar base will aid the
navy's blue-water operations in the
Indian Ocean region and provide
Indian Navy with the much-needed
operational flexibility and strategic
advantage. Besides, the naval base
will protect the country's Arabian
Sea maritime routes. The base is
also valuable for its location and its
ability to move beyond the funda-
mental capacity and security limita-
tions of India's other two naval
base.
Karwar Naval Base Phase-2 Gets CCS Nod
Howitzer tender
cancelled thrice
in 10 years
NEW DELHI: For the third time
in last 10 years, the Defence
Ministry has cancelled a tender for
procuring 180 self-propelled
wheeled artillery guns for the
Army, Defence Minister AK
Antony informed Rajya Sabha on
Wednesday.
"The Request for Proposal
(RFP) for procurement of 180 how-
itzers has been cancelled in 2012,
for the third time in past ten years,"
he said in written reply to a query.
The minister said the RFP was
cancelled this year as both the
firms participating in the tender
were not able to meet the parame-
ters. He said the first RFP was
issued in 2002 in which five firms
had responded but only one could
qualify at the technical evaluation
stage and it had to be retracted due
to procedural infirmities.
"RFP was issued for the second-
time in February 2007 to 29 firms
of which only two responded but
one offer was rejected because of
procedural deficiency, resulting in
a single vendor situation," the min-
ister said.
The Army has failed to induct
new howitzers after the Bofors gun
deal scam in 1986 despite repeated
efforts to do so.
Meanwhile, answering a ques-
tion, Minister of State for Defence
Jitendra Singh said, "The total
value of defence exports from
Defence PSUs and OFB including
defence exports from defence com-
panies in the private sector was Rs.
997 crore during the last three
financial years."
14
ECONOMY
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
NEWS IN BOX
Forex marginally up at $294.99 billion on Dec 7: RBI
MUMBAI: Foreign exchange reserves were at $294.99 billion as of Dec
7 compared with $294.51 billion in the previous week, the Reserve Bank
of India said in its weekly statistical supplement on Friday. Changes in
foreign currency assets, expressed indollar terms, include the effect of
appreciation or depreciation of other currencies held in its reserves, the
Reserve Bank of India said. Foreign exchange reserves include Reserve
Tranche position in the International Monetary Fund ( IMF).
UAE, Saudi Arabia have maximum Indian workers
NEW DELHI : Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
account for the maximum number of Indians working in the Gulf, the
government said Wednesday. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar
Ravi told the Lok Sabha that a total of two million Indians work in Saudi
Arabia followed by 1.8 million in the UAE. Kuwait was home to an
Indian working population of 641,062 followed by Oman (581,832),
Qatar (500,000) and Bahrain (400,000), he said. Iraq accounted for
16,000 Indian workers, Lebanon 10,000, Jordan 9,000 and Libya 1,800,
he said, quoting statistics provided by Indian diplomatic missions.
Remittances from Indians abroad rising
NEW DELHI: Remittances from Indians employed abroad have been
steadily increasing since 2009-10, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister
Vayalar Ravi said Wednesday. The amount rose from $53.6 billion in fis-
cal 2009-10 to $55.6 billion in 2010-11 and to $66.1 billion in 2011-12,
the minister said in a statement in the Lok Sabha. The amount stood at
$17.4 billion in the first three months of fiscal 2012-13, he added. Ravi
said banks had been told to sensitize NRIs on the options available to
them to minimize the cost of remittances. "This will make the costing
more transparent." He added that banks had also been advised to review
their existing scale of charges both at the foreign and domestic end so as
to minimize the current cost of remittances.
32 percent Indians suffer acute poverty
NEW DELHI: World Bank figures show that 32.7 percent of Indian's
population survives on less than one dollar a day, Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said on Thursday.
The poor sustenance levels were due to lack of income and adequate
employment opportunities, the minister in a statement in the Rajya
Sabha. He said the ministries of rural development, housing and urban
poverty, health and family welfare and human resource development
were implementing a number of programmes to battle poverty.
"All policy initiatives of the government which have led to higher
GDP growth have individually and collectively contributed to raising the
living standards of people over time and to the decline of absolute pover-
ty and destitution," the minister said. "Over the years, the sharp edges of
acute poverty have been stunted as a result of various programmes and
policies of the government (and) there has been a reduction in the per-
centage of people living below poverty," he added.
India becomes the leading trading partner for Dubai
DUBAI: India has topped the list of major trading partners of Dubai,
with its total trade exchange valued at USD 34.5 billion during the first
10 months of 2012. India is followed by China with trade worth USD
25.5 billion. The US, Switzerland, and Turkey are also in the list of top
five trading partners, according to data released by the Administration of
Strategy and Corporate Excellence at Dubai Customs. The value of
Dubai's trade with these five countries was USD 107.5 billion, represent-
ing 38.5 per cent of Dubai's total non-oil foreign trade.
The value of non-oil trade includes direct trade, free zones trade and
warehouse customs trade, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and
Free Zone and Director General of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Butti Ahmed,
said. In a statement released to UAE's official news agency, Wam,
Ahmed said this steady growth of Dubai's trade with the world reflects
the recovery in the domestic economy from the global financial crisis. "It
coincides with Dubai launching many new development projects in the
economic, recreational and real estate areas," Ahmed said. k
NEW DELHI: World Bank chief
economist Kaushik Basu on Friday
urged India to keep up its blitz of
"promising" reforms, saying they
can help the economy return to the
nine percent growth needed to com-
bat poverty.
The World Bank expects growth
of Asia's third-largest economy to be
5.5 percent this calendar year, inch-
ing up to just short of six percent
next year and reaching close to
seven percent the following year,
Basu said.
If the country stays on its "prom-
ising" reform path, he added, "it has
enough fundamental strength there
is no reason why India can't get back
to the eight to nine percent growth"
which it enjoyed in the second half
of the last decade.
"If we can continue to push on
reforms we can make a big differ-
ence to India," Basu, previously
chief economic adviser to the Indian
prime minister, told an economic
forum in New Delhi.
Basu's remarks came as Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram promised
more steps to spur the economy,
which has slowed sharply due to
high interest rates and the global
downturn, on top of a spurt of
reform measures recently
announced. Late Thursday, the cab-
inet cleared changes to a century-old
land acquisition law and established
a panel to be headed by Premier
Manmohan Singh to fast-track proj-
ects to overhaul India's dilapidated
ports, roads and other infrastructure.
The draft land purchase law --
which must now be approved by
parliament -- seeks to give farmers
higher prices for their land and lays
down that companies buying proper-
ty must win assent from 80 percent
of landholders.
In public-private projects, 70 per-
cent must approve the sale.
Compulsory land seizures in the
past have sparked bitter clashes
between farmers and state authori-
ties and huge project delays as India
industrialises in its quest to create
more jobs for its youthful 1.2-billion
population.
NEW DELHI: India ranks 66th
among 105 countries in the Global
Food Security Index (GFSI) 2012,
brought out by the Economist
Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the news
magazine 'The Economist'.
While the US has been ranked
first, Congo has been placed last at
105th in the GFSI 2012 report.
"The GFSI report has however,
not provided the data on indicators
used in the construction of the
index," Food Minister K V Thomas
said in a written reply to Rajya
Sabha..
"Hence, it is felt that this index
does not reflect the actual food secu-
rity situation of the country in terms
of lack of access to food in the soci-
ety," he said.
GFSI assesses issue of afford-
ability, availability, safety and quali-
ty constructed from 25 indicators
that measures the drivers of food
security across a set of 105 develop-
ing and developed countries includ-
ing India, the minister said.
GFSI gave India an index score
of 44.2 out of 100, while the US
scored 89 and Congo scored 18.
India scored 36.4 in terms of afford-
ability and in terms of availability it
scored 51.3.
The score suggests affordability
as an area for attention towards food
security for the country, Thomas
added.
"Moreover, methods used for
data gathering, its analysis and fore-
casting are not test checked/validat-
ed by government of India or any
United Nation's agency. Hence, the
position of the country in the food
Security Index, 2012 may not be jus-
tified," the minister explained.
The index, however, is subject to
updation on quarterly basis to adjust
the impact of fluctuating food prices
both at the global and domestic
level, Thomas said.
"To ensure food security in the
country, government has introduced
the National Food Security Bill,
2011 in Parliament to provide for
food and nutritional security in
human life cycle approach by ensur-
ing access to adequate quantity of
quality food at affordable prices for
people to live a life of dignity," the
Minister said.
That apart, the production levels
of foodgrains in the country are high
enough to meet the domestic
requirements, he said.
India produced an all time high
foodgrain production of 257.44 mil-
lion tonnes in the 2011-12 crop year
(July-June) as against 244.78 mil-
lion tonnes in 2010-11 crop year.
NEW DELHI: India's GDP may exceed all expecta-
tions next year as there are signs that policymakers
might spring up positive surprises, Goldman Sachs has
said. "India in many ways remains the most complex of
the four (Bric nations), with its demographics giving it
the best potential GDP growth rate, but its inability to
introduce effective policy change is a persistent source
of disappointment" leading international fund house
Goldman Sachs asset management chairman Jim
O'Neill said. "This being said, there are lots of policy
changes being discussed and the Indian stock market
seems to be quite excited about something.
"We think 2013 Indian GDP will probably exceed
expectations, as there are indeed signs that policymak-
ers might also positively surprise," O'Neill said in a
research note, but did not put any figures to his esti-
mates. Reserve Bank Governor D Subbarao last week
said he is expecting inflation to trend down starting the
fourth quarter (of the fiscal year ending March 31,
2013).
"As we go into our mid-quarter policy on December
18 and the quarterly policy on January 29, we will take
into account the growth-inflation trajectory and cali-
brate our monetary policy accordingly," he had said.
While growth has taken a massive beating, inflation
is still much above the RBI's comfort level of 5 per
cent, despite 13 successive rate hikes between March
2010 and October 2011.
Belying some expectations of recovery, India's eco-
nomic growth had slipped further in the July-
September quarter to 5.3 per cent, raising fears that the
slowdown may pull down the annual growth rate to the
decade's low level.
The country's gross domestic product (GDP) was
5.5 per cent in the April-June quarter of 2012-13 fiscal.
It was 6.7 per cent in the July-September period of the
previous fiscal. India had been growing around 8-9 per
cent before the global financial meltdown of 2008. The
growth rate in 2011-12 slipped to 9-year low of 6.5 per
cent.
WB chief economist Kaushik Basu hails India's economic reforms
India ranks 66th among 105 countries in the GFSI 2012 : 'The Economist'
India's GDP may exceed all expectations in 2013: Goldman Sachs
15
ECONOMY
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
India wins three
prestigious travel
awards
NEW DELHI: India has won
three top tourism awards from the
World Travel Awards (WTA),
including for being the world's
best destination.
Apart from winning the award
for best destination, it also bagged
the award for world's leading
tourist board award for its
"Incredible India" campaign and
for world's leading tourist attrac-
tion for Taj Mahal, a world her-
itage site.
Accepting the award, Tourism
minister K. Chiranjeevi said the
ministry has planned a "multi-
pronged strategy to increase
India's share in tourist arrivals".
"This includes development of
world class infrastructure and
manpower and undertaking
aggressive promotional and mar-
keting activities," the minister
said.
He also said the ministry has
launched the second phase of the
Incredible India campaign where
the focus was on destination and
products to attract tourists to the
country.
In 2011, 6.29 million tourists
visited India as compared to 5.78
million in 2010.
The minister also said that
tourism has become an instrument
for sustainable development
including poverty elimination,
environmental regeneration and
job creation in countries across the
world.
The World Travel Award, con-
sidered to be the biggest awards in
the travel industry, was for the first
time held in Asia.
Govt notifies new
drug pricing policy
NEWDELHI: The government
on Thursday said the new drug
policy which aims at bringing
more medicines under price
control has been notified.
"The National
Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy
(NPPP-2012) approved by the
Cabinet on November 22, 2012
has been notified on December
7, 2012," Minister of State for
Chemicals and Fertilisers
Srikant Kumar Jena said in a
written reply in Lok Sabha.
"Based on the same a new
DPCO (Drugs Price Control
Order) shall be prepared, noti-
fied," he added.
Price control over drugs was
first introduced in the country in
the aftermath of the Chinese
aggression by Drugs (Display of
Prices) Order 1962 and the
Drugs (Control of Prices) Order
1963.
The outgoing drug policy of
1994, which covers 74 bulk
drugs, was implemented
through Drugs Price Control
Order (DPCO) 1995.
The NPPP-2012, which was
cleared by the government last
month, would bring 348 essen-
tial drugs under price control.
In another reply, Jena said
the National Pharmaceuticals
Pricing Authority (NPPA) has
requested the Department of
Pharmaceuticals for amendment
in 'form IV' of DPCO, 1995,
"which will enable them to seek
additional information from the
importers of drugs than what is
prescribed under DPCO, 1995."
NEW DELHI: India's exports may
touch USD 320 billion during the
current fiscal as against the target of
USD 360 billion due to the global
demand slowdown, Federation of
Indian Export organisations (FIEO)
on Friday said.
India had recorded the highest
ever export of USD 307 billion in
the last fiscal.
The prevalent economic crisis in
the developed economies is hitting
India's exports.
"The target of USD 360 billion is
likely to elude us. Going by the pres-
ent trend, we may end up with
exports between USD 300 - USD
320 billion in the current fiscal,"
FIEO President Rafeeque Ahmed
told reporters here.
During the April-November this
fiscal, the country's shipments have
shrunk by 5.95 per cent to USD
189.2 billion.
He also said present forecasts
point to a difficult 2013 as uncertain-
ties are looming large on the
European Union which will have its
bearing on every country.
"The world trade forecast for
2013 is definitely better than 2012
but still is not very encouraging," he
said.
Talking about the country's
exports region-wise, he said while
exports to EU went down by 9.6 per
cent in April-October 2012 over the
same period last year, exports to
ASEAN, North East Asia declined
substantially.
"Contrary to popular perception,
India's exports to North America
went up by 12.5 per cent during
April-October 2012 over the corre-
sponding period in 2011 thanks
largely to substantial growth in
Exports to the US," he added.
India's exports to North and Latin
America increased to USD 24.6 bil-
lion and USD 8 billion during the
first seven months of the fiscal from
USD 21.8 billion and USD 7.23 bil-
lion respectively in the same period
last year, he said.
Exports to Africa and CIS region
grew by 11.12 per cent and 19.45 per
cent to USD 15.24 billion and USD
2 billion respectively during the
period.
While, exports to ASEAN,
Europe and Asia declined by 19.4
per cent, 9.5 per cent and 2.5 per
cent to USD 17 billion, USD 30.7
billion and USD 83.3 billion respec-
tively during April-October 2012.
Ahmed asked the government to
provide support to exporters to boost
the country's shipments.
"The long-term strategy for pro-
moting exports would be to support
export of high technology items,
branded products and moving up the
value chain in respect of all product
categories," he said.
On rupee, he said that the volatil-
ity in rupee will continue on account
of rising trade deficit and erratic
inflows. "Rupee will strengthen only
if we see massive inflows through
FDI route," he added.
Exports may fall $40 billion short of govt target in FY'13: FIEO
NEWDELHI : Over 50 percent of
patients enrolled in the government
health insurance scheme -
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
(RSBY)- had to spend from their
own pockets at the time of admis-
sion, says a WHO-supported study.
"It is unacceptable that even
after four years of the scheme, more
than 50 percent of enrolled patients
had to incur out-of-pocket (OOP)
expenditure at the time of admis-
sion," said N. Devadasan, principal
investigator of the study by the
Bangalore-based Institute of Public
Health (IPH).
According to the study, the
objective of RSBY to provide free
hospitalisation to poor people is
only being met partially. The
scheme would become a major fias-
co, it said, if insurance companies
continue to undermine it.
The IPH study, carried out with
the help of WHO's Alliance for
Health Policy and System
Research, Geneva, surveyed a total
of 2,920 families across more than
500 villages of Gujarat's Patan dis-
trict, which had enrolled in the
RSBY during 2010-2011.
It found that of the 526 admis-
sions, only 227 patients (43 per-
cent) did not have to spend any
money at the time of the admission.
"The rest of the patients incurred
out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure
ranging from Rs.10 to Rs.1,50,000.
The average OOP expenditure was
Rs.10,692 per patient."
"Further, 188 patients (36 per-
cent of all patients) had a RSBY
card but still had to pay at the time
of admission. This was because
most of them (122) were asked by
the hospitals to purchase medicines
from outside," the IPH said in a
release. "This is against the contract
that the hospital has signed with the
insurance company and thereby
with the scheme," said Devadasan.
A major reason for the RSBY's
malfunctioning, the study found is
lack of governance by insurance
companies. "It is time for the state
nodal agencies to take notice of this
problem and immediately take cor-
rective action against the insurance
companies and the private
providers," the investigators said.
NEW DELHI: In a bid to protect
the retirement benefits of low-
wage workers, the provident fund
(PF) department has instructed its
officers to crack down on compa-
nies that structure employees'
salaries into different allowances
to reduce contributions.
The Employees' Provident Fund
(EPF) Act of 1952 mandates all
firms with 20 or more employees
to remit 24% of workers' salaries
into their retirement account. EPF
contributions are mandatory for
workers earning up to 6,500 a
month while those earning a higher
salary can contribute on a volun-
tary basis.
EPF is not payable on the house
rent allowance component in
workers' salaries.
In several sectors such as pri-
vate security and construction,
companies tend to split workers'
salaries into basic pay and special
allowances like overtime or night
duty. This, according to senior
EPFO officials, is aimed at reduc-
ing companies' burden on statutory
EPF dues.
According to an internal circu-
lar issued on November 30, the
EPFO has clarified that all
allowances that are 'ordinarily, nec-
essarily and uniformly paid' to
employees must be treated as part
of the basic wages. The lack of
clarity on this issue, it said, was
'encouraging the subterfuge of
splitting of wages to exclude the
PF liabilities.'
Companies that split their
workers' wages to evade paying PF
on their entire basic pay typically
cite the definition of wages in the
EPF law which includes the
expression 'commission or any
other similar allowance payable' to
the employee. "Commission and
any other similar allowance are
read as two separate expressions
and hence 'any other allowance' is
read as an omnibus exclusion," the
department's circular noted. "The
expression commission or any
other similar allowance is one con-
tinuous term," it clarified.
States like Punjab have already
woken up to employers' practice of
splitting wages to deny benefits to
low-income workers.
In February this year, Punjab
added a clause to its minimum
wages law that bars firms from
bifurcating the minimum wages
paid to workers.
India's poor get raw deal from insurance firms: Study
PF lens on companies tweaking pay to reduce contributions
16
FASHION
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K
L
emon is a natural bleach for
your face. The natural cit-
rus juice of this fruit can be
very good for the skin. You can
either use it as a bleach or scrub a
fresh slice lemon on your face to
remove dead skin, blackhead and
heal open pores. Blackheads is a
very common problem that we all
face. There are many natural reme-
dies that can help reduce black-
heads. Lemon juice is one such
ingredient that can be used as a
scrub to get rid of blackheads natu-
rally.
Lemon scrub: Wash your face
with warm water. Just take a slice
of lemon and scrub on and around
the nose. Blackheads can also
deposit on the corners of the nose
so do not just focus on the tip of the
nose. Scrub gently for 3-4 minutes
and then wash off with cold water.
Do this 2 times a day if you have
severe blackheads.
Lemon sugar scrub: This is one
of the natural lemon juice scrubs
that can reduce blackheads natural-
ly. You can either add sugar to
lemon juice and then scrub on your
nose or simply sprinkle few sugar
granules on a lemon slice and rub
on the nose. This scrub also helps
cure acne so you can apply on your
face as well.
Lemon juice and egg white: It is
one of the commonest natural
scrubs to remove blackheads. Just
add few drops of lemon juice with
egg white and mix well. Apply on
the face and let it dry. Pull it out
like a peel off face mask and wash
your face with cold water.
Lemon juice and rose water: Mix
few drops of rose water with lemon
juice. Soak a cotton ball in it and
apply on the affected areas for 3-4
minutes. Wash off with cold water.
These are few ways to use lemon
juice and reduce blackheads. This
citrus fruit can also help you get rid
of whiteheads. Apply it twice a day
to get the best results. Lemon juice
can make your skin dry so follow
up by applying a moisturiser.
Y
ou find it really difficult
to remove nail polish
when your remover bottle
is empty. The urgency to remove
nail polish at occasions can make
you impatient.
If you don't have a nail polish
remover and
want to
remove those
peeled off
nail paint,
here are few
h o me ma d e
nail polish
r e m o v e r s
which are
easy to use.
Homemade
nail polish
removers:
New coat: One of the simple tips
to remove nail polish is by apply-
ing a new coat of the nail paint and
then immediately rub the nail on a
cotton ball. This removes the nail
paint naturally!
Vinegar: Soak a cotton ball in
vinegar and rub on the nails. You
can add lemon or orange juice in it
and use as a homemade nail polish
remover. Vinegar takes time to
soften the nail polish so keep rub-
bing on the nails.
Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol is a
simple homemade nail polish
remover alternative. Soak a cotton
ball in alcohol and rub on the nails.
It may take few attempts to
remove the nail polish completely.
Lemon: This is another natural
ingredient to remove nail polish.
Just rub a slice of lemon on the
nails and remove the nail paint.
It is also a natural manicure
recipe. For best results, soak the
nails in warm soapy water for 3-6
minutes to soften the nail polish.
Then rub a lemon slice as a nail
polish remover alternative.
Men fashion rules are nothing but
logic which are mentioned below in
few simple steps -
1.Shirt, Tie And Turban - Your shirt
and tie should always be of the same
colour, the shades however can be dif-
ferent. In case of turban, it too should
be of the same colour. One colour ties
are now outdated. The trend at present
is that of strips and checks in formal
occasions; printed ties for party and
polka dots for formal parties.
2.Belt And Shoes - It's best to match
the colour of your belt and shoes,
which is generally possible in formal
wears. For formal wears stick to the
traditional colours of black and
brown. But for casual wears or semi-
formal attire, if you are wearing
sneakers of trendy colours with jeans,
this rule does not follow. The reason
being the colours are difficult to
match. With different colour shoes it's
best to stick to colours like black and
white.
3.Flat Front Trouser - It is a myth
that flat front trousers make one look
fat. In fact, they make you look thin.
Flat Front trouser, generally are worn
for formal occasion but at times can
also to worn in casual parties. Pleated
trousers, which are much in use, are
out of trend.
4.Socks, Shoes And Pants - The
colour of the three should be the same.
Sometimes the colour of the socks
may not match the pant but it should
always be in coordination to the shoes.
It is best to stick to the basic colours of
black and brown with socks. The
colour palate can extend to white,
beige, blue but never sport jazzy
coloured socks.
5.Watches - Big watches are in the
trend now but that does not make it
necessary to be worn. Your watch
should match your body type. Big
watch on lean men are a complete
mismatch. Such watches are best
worn on broad wrists. It's best to stick
to stylish and simple watches.
6.Sun Glasses - Sun Glasses, have a
magical effect on your look and thus it
is very important to choose the right
one. The shade of the sun glass should
match your skin tone and the size
should match your face cut. Generally,
small sized sunglasses look good on
chiseled face and big one look good
on people with broad jaw lines.
These six men fashion rules will
help you to look your best.
Remove Blackheads Using Lemon Juice
Homemade Nail Polish
Remover Alternatives!
T
he benefits of a spa treat-
ment outnumber those of
regular beauty treatments.
A facial can never add to the
youthful glow that you will get
after a rejuvenating massage at a
spa. So, here are some of the most
obvious benefits of spa treat-
ments.
Benefits of Spa Treatments:
Wrinkle Free Skin: The
famous Kerala massage that is
also known as the hot stone mas-
sage relaxes your tensed muscles.
When it is applied on the forehead
and face, it also relaxes finewrin-
kles and lines that start developing
due to stress.
De-stress Your Skin: Just like
the rest of your body, your skin too
needs to be de-stressed. Stress cer-
tainly makes you look aged. All the
dullness and dark spots on your
skin are signs of ageing. The bene-
fits of massage include the releas-
ing stress from your muscles and
your skin. You will 'feel' younger
after a body spa treatment and that
is the key to looking younger.
Lose Weight: Being overweight
spoils your look completely. No
matter what you wear, you will
always be worried about that little
bulge here or there. Spa treatments
help you lose weight effectively.
There are a number of lipid-burst-
ing massages that helps you get in
shape. Just research about the mas-
sage and the spa you are going to
thoroughly before you take the
plunge
Detoxifies Your Skin: We live
and breathe in a phenomenal
amount of pollution. So, it is no sur-
prise that our body has lots of tox-
ins. The benefits of spa treatments
include the purging of these toxins.
Some special water treatments help
in reducing the puffiness of the
body and extract harmful toxins
from the body.
Rejuvenating Whirlpool: The
jacuzzi or whirlpool bath that is
there in many spas has many health
benefits of its own. The lapping and
embalming effect of lukewarm
water makes the bath an enjoyable
experience. It also improves blood
circulation and gives you afresh
and youthful glow.
Breathing More Oxygen: An
oxygen facial can never give you
the same energetic look that you get
from a spa treatment. Body spa
treatments help you breathe more
deeply and therefore take in more
oxygen. This makes your skin
thrive with life.
The benefits of spa treatments
are not limited to health. Massage
benefits your skin and overall beau-
ty too.
Top 6 Men Fashion Rules
Unique Benefits of Spa Treatments
T
he last big wedding of this
year has taken place with
Bollywood actress Vidya
Balan tied the knot with UTV head
Siddharth Roy Kapoor today in a
ceremony which saw a mix of both
Punjabi and Tamil traditions.
Since this is quite a private and
low-key affair, early reports sug-
gested that the marriage had taken
place at 4.45 am at the Sri
Subramania temple in Chembur.
However, it now seems that prepa-
rations for the ceremony were hap-
pening at a bungalow in Bandra.
"The wedding ceremony is still
on, it is a mix of both Punjabi and
Tamil traditions.
The 34-year-old actress under-
went three changes in costume
during the wedding ceremony, one
of them being a mustard saree with
a pink blouse, matching the
groom's yellow kurta and pink tur-
ban.
The wedding was reportedly
being conducted in both Punjabi
and South Indian styles as Vidya is
Tamilian and Siddharth is a
Punjabi.
The wedding festivities for the
couple began on December 11 with
a private dinner which was fol-
lowed by a mehendi ceremony on
December 12. The couple will
reportedly be hosting a reception
in Chennai.
C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K
17
BOLLYWOOD
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
Vidya Balan is now Mrs Siddharth Roy Kapur
B
ollywood superstar
Akshay Kumar has
reportedly bagged the
lead role in the Hindi remake of
the all-time blockbuster Punjabi
film, Jatt & Juliet.
The remake right of the film
has been bought by Himesh
Reshammiya and Rakesh
Upadhyay, whose first pro-
duction venture Khiladi 786
also featured Akshay. The
original, which starred Diljit
Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa in
the lead roles, is still the
biggest hit in Punjabi cinema.
It is the love story of a
sophisticated fashion design-
er and a rustic Punjabi who keep
bumping into one another in
Canada.
While co-producer Upadhyay
has confirmed that they have
bought the rights of Jatt & Juliet
remake and the film will go on
the floor next year.
Akshay to play lead in Jatt
& Juliet remake?
Bhaag Milkha
Bhaag
B
haag Milkha Bhaag is an
upcoming Bollywood
biographical film on for-
mer Indian athlete Milkha Singh.
The film is being produced and
directed by Rakeysh Omprakash
Mehra; starring Farhan Akhtar and
Sonam Kapoor. Milkha Singh has
sold the story for just one rupee.
The remuneration from movie will
be used for the benefit of needy
athletes. The name of the movie
comes from the last words spoken
by his father, which was to save his
life from the riots of during
Partition of India. During the parti-
tion, Milkha lost his family mem-
bers. The story talks about his per-
severance as an athlete and also as
a courageous human spirit.
Shooting for the film com-
menced in February 2012 and
movie was shot majorly in India.
Parts of the movie will also be shot
in Tokyo, Melbourne and
Rome.The movie will release on
July 12 2013
A
amir Khan after success of
Talaash is looking forward
to cast the 'Mahabharata'
but also added that there is lot of
things that need to get worked out.
He says, he is not confident
enough he can do this. It is his
dream and it will also take time to
work on this wide subject.
Its mam-
moth responsi-
bility and is
also getting
confused for
character he
will play in this
Epic story. He likes to play role of
'Karan' but role demands more and
different from today's role in
movies.
Aamir also thinks to play role
for lord 'Krishna' in this story and
also added that his mom used to call
as Krishna when he was child.
He has always supported to all
anti-corruption and anti social cam-
paigns such as 'Satyamev Jayate'.
Aamir Khan's Dream project
R
aj dhani
Express
is an
U p c o m i n g
B o l l y w o o d
Movie which is
going to release
next year.
R a j d h a n i
Express is a typi-
cally Indian
Socio-Political
thriller based
movie. The entire movie is fully
focussed on the journey of the main
character Kheshav.
The whole story of Rajdhani
Express movie is based on Keshav
journey. Keshav is on a short trip to
perform a specified task usually for
others. He has stolen some weapons
and then he book a train ticket, the
train name is Rajdhani Express but
now Keshav is escaping from
Mumbai to Delhi by train.
The Rajdhani Express is pro-
duced under the banner of Cine
Acts, SLA Impex P.v.t L.t.d,
Trueman Entertainment.
The Director and Producer of this
movie is Ashok Kohli. Madhav
Ritesh is the music director and
Mirza Galib is the lyricst of
Rajdhani Express.
The main characters of this
movie are: Leander Peas, Jimmy
Shergill, Sudhanshu Pandey, Pooja
Base, Sayali Bhagat, Gulshan
Grover, Mukesh Rishi
Rajdhani Express is going to hit
the theaters on 4-Jan-2013.
L
egendary sitar maestro
Pandit Ravi Shankar has
died. He breathed his last at
a hospital in San Diego in the
United States. He was 92.Ravi
Shankar spearheaded the world-
wide spread of Indian music and
had a major influence on Western
musicians .
A three-time Grammy award
winner, Pandit Ravi Shankar was
nominated for a Grammy award for
2013 too. Ravi Shankar was born
Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on
April 7, 1920 in Varanasi. He was
nominated to the Rajya Sabha from
1986 to 1992. He was awarded
Bharat Ratna in 1999.
He created music for Apu Trilogy
by Satyajit Ray and was the music
director of All India Radio from
1949 to 1956. In the year 1939, Ravi
Shankar gave his first public per-
formance in India. His formal train-
ing concluded in the year 1944 and
he moved out of Bombay.
It was during the 50s that he
became famous in the world of
music outside India.
He performed in Soviet Union
(1953) and the West (1956). He has
performed at prestigious events like
the Edinburgh Festival and also at
important places like Royal Festival
Hall, London.
Rajdhani Express
Z
illa Ghaziabad is an
upcoming delayed
Bollywood thriller film
directed by Anand Kumar. The
film features Arshad Warsi, Vivek
Oberoi, Sanjay Dutt, Minissha
Lambaand Rajpal Yadav in lead
roles.
It has been under production
for six years. Its final schedule will
be completed in June 2012, whilst
the film is scheduled to release in
December 2012. Shriya Saran will
be doing an item song in the movie.
The story is based on a war
between two rival groups of Satbir
Gurjar (played by Vivek Oberoi)
and Mahender Fauji Baisla, played
by Arshad Warsi during 1990,s and
the role of controversial Thakur
police wala Pritam Singh. (a series
of real life incidents) which hap-
pened in Ghaziabad.
ZILLA GHAZIABAD
Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi
Shankar dies at 92
An Unsafe Journey
18 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
T
he physical benefits of
regular exercise are well
documented. Now
researchers in a New Zealand uni-
versity said that people who rou-
tinely perform aerobic exercises
are also smarter than those who
do not.
Hayley Guiney and Liana
Machado from the University of
Otago, New Zealand unearthed
evidence that highlights the
importance of physical activity
and its role in improving cogni-
tive function throughout life.
A certain amount of mental
deterioration is expected with
advancing age. But aerobic exer-
cise benefits cognitive function
such as switching between tasks,
and selective attention and work-
ing memory, the journal
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
reports.
Review of studies by
researchers consistently found
that fitter individuals scored bet-
ter in mental tests than their unfit
peers.
Scores in mental tests also
improved among those who were
assigned to an aerobic exercise
sregimen, compared to those told
to do stretch and tone classes,
according to an Otago statement.
Both the updating of working
memory and the volume of infor-
mation which could be held was
better in fitter individuals or those
who followed an aerobic exercise
regime.
Aerobic exercise makes brain smarter
WASHINGTON: Many Amazon tree species may sur-
vive man-made warming, a new genetic analysis has
revealed, overturning findings that a temperature rise
may cause them to die.
However, researchers warn that extreme drought
and forest fires will impact the Amazon region as tem-
peratures rise and the over-exploitation of the region's
resources continues to be a major threat to its future.
The conservation policy for the Amazon should
remain focused on reducing global greenhouse-gas
emissions and preventing deforestation, they said, the
journal Ecology and Evolution reported.
The study by University of Michigan evolutionary
biologist Christopher Dick and colleagues shows the
surprising age of some Amazonian tree species - more
than eight million years - and thereby shows that they
have survived previous periods as warm as many of the
global warming scenarios forecast for the year 2100.
The new study is at odds with earlier papers, based
on ecological niche-modelling scenarios, which pre-
dicted tree species extinctions in response to relatively
small increases in global average air temperatures,
according to an university statement.
"Our paper provides evidence that common Amazon
tree species endured climates warmer than the present,
implying that -- in the absence of other major environ-
mental changes -- they could tolerate near-term future
warming under climate change," said Dick, associate
professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at
Michigan.
But study co-author Simon Lewis of University
College London and the University of Leeds cautioned
that "the past cannot be compared directly with the
future."
"While tree species seem likely to tolerate higher air
temperatures than today, the Amazon forest is being
converted for agriculture and mining, and what remains
is being degraded by logging and increasingly frag-
mented by fields and roads," Lewis said.
Amazon tree species may survive warming
WASHINGTON: Renewable ener-
gy from wind and solar power
could support a large electric grid
99.9 percent of the time by 2030, at
current costs, new research says.
"These results break the conven-
tional wisdom that renewable ener-
gy is too unreliable and expensive,"
said study co-author Willett
Kempton, professor of marine sci-
ence at University of Delaware's
College of Earth, Ocean, and
Environment.
"The key is to get the right com-
bination of electricity sources and
storage - which we did by an
exhaustive search - and to calculate
costs correctly," added Kempton,
according to an university state-
ment.
The authors developed a com-
puter model to consider 28 billion
combinations of renewable energy
sources and storage mechanisms,
each tested over four years of his-
torical hourly weather data and
electricity demands.
The model incorporated data
from within a large regional grid
called PJM Interconnection, which
includes 13 states from New Jersey
to Illinois and represents one-fifth
of the US total electric grid.
Unlike other studies, the model
focused on minimizing costs
instead of the traditional approach
of matching generation to electrici-
ty use.
The researchers found that gen-
erating more electricity than needed
during average hours - in order to
meet needs on high-demand but
low-wind power hours - would be
cheaper than storing excess power
for later high demand.
Storage is relatively costly
because the storage medium, bat-
teries or hydrogen tanks, must be
larger for each additional hour
stored.
One of several new findings is
that a very large electric system can
be run almost entirely on renewable
energy.
"For example, using hydrogen
for storage, we can run an electric
system that today would meeting a
need of 72 GW, 99.9 percent of the
time, using 17 GWof solar, 68 GW
of offshore wind, and 115 GW of
inland wind," said co-author Cory
Budischak, instructor in the Energy
Management Department at
Delaware Technical Community
College and former Delaware stu-
dent.
AGW(gigawatt) is a measure of
generation capability. One GW is
the capacity of 200 large wind tur-
bines or of 250,000 rooftop solar
systems.
Renewable electricity genera-
tors must have higher GWcapacity
than traditional generators, since
wind and solar do not generate at
maximum all the time.
Renewable energy can
power electric grid
WASHINGTON: NASAscientists
have spotted the longest extrater-
restrial river system ever - on
Saturn's moon Titan - and it
appears to be a miniature version of
Earth's Nile River.
The river valley on Titan
stretches more than 400 kilometres
from its "headwaters" to a large
sea, a NASA Jet Propulsion
Laboratory statement said.
In comparison, the Nile River
on Earth stretches about 6,700 kilo-
metres.
Images by NASA's Cassini mis-
sion have revealed for the first time
a river system this vast and in such
high resolution anywhere other
than Earth. Titan is known to have
vast seas - the only other body in
the solar system, apart from Earth,
to possess a cycle of liquids on its
surface.
However, the thick Titan atmos-
phere is a frigid one, meaning liq-
uid water couldn't possibly flow.
The liquids on Titan are therefore
composed of hydrocarbons such as
methane and ethane, Discovery
News reported.
"Though there are some short,
local meanders, the relative
straightness of the river valley sug-
gests it follows the trace of at least
one fault, similar to other large
rivers running into the southern
margin of this same Titan sea," said
Jani Radebaugh, a Cassini radar
team associate at Brigham Young
University, Utah.
"Such faults - fractures in
Titan's bedrock - may not imply
plate tectonics, like on Earth, but
still lead to the opening of basins
and perhaps to the formation of the
giant seas themselves," Radebaugh
said. In Titan's equatorial regions,
images from Cassini's visible-light
cameras in late 2010 revealed
regions that darkened due to recent
rainfall.
Cassini's visual and infrared
mapping spectrometer confirmed
liquid ethane at a lake in Titan's
southern hemisphere known as
Ontario Lacus in 2008.
"Titan is the only place we've
found besides Earth that has a liq-
uid in continuous movement on its
surface," said Steve Wall, the radar
deputy team lead, based at NASA's
Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"This picture gives us a snap-
shot of a world in motion. Rain
falls, and rivers move that rain to
lakes and seas, where evaporation
starts the cycle all over again. On
Earth, the liquid is water; on Titan,
it's methane; but on both it affects
most everything that happens,"
Wall said.
The radar image taken on
September 26, 2012 shows Titan's
north polar region, where the river
valley flows into Kraken Mare, a
sea that is, in terms of size,
between the Caspian Sea and the
Mediterranean Sea on Earth.
Mini Nile discovered on Saturn's moon Titan
19
YOUTH POLITICS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
JAMMU, 14 DEC: National
Conference Students Union
(NCSU), flays the Controller
of Examination for none
functioning of examination
Wing as it has not come up
with the result of semester
2&4 Mathematic Department,
2 & 4 English Department, 2
& 4 MCA, 2 & 4- Sociology
Department, 4- Economics
Department, 4-Hindi
Department, and etc, which
was held 07 months back.
Addressing the press-
Conference here today,
Mr.Rakesh Chib said that univer-
sity for playing the future of the
students. There is no importance
in examination wing because the
students who appeared in 4th and
2nd semester examination are
most terrible suffering as they
would not be able to admission
for further study in another uni-
versity outside the state.
He alleged that university is
implementing the academic cal-
endar but has failed in declaring
the result as per the calendar.
He said that it is easy to make
academic calendar but to imple-
ment it, it needs proper manage-
ment. He said that university has
failed at all fronts in manag-
ing management properly.
He added that examina-
tion calendar is being
forcibly being followed by
the university. He said that
where syllabus of the stu-
dents is not completed the
exams are being taken.
He said results are not
declared by the examination
Work on time and nothing
has been done by the
University officials to come
up with this problem.
He said that Controller
Examination wing has also not
taken any step in coming up with
this problem. He said this will not
be tolerated and NCSU is going
to start agitation in this regard.
Among those who were pres-
ent in the press-conference
included, Irfan, Joginder Singh,
Manu, and Harpreet Singh.
NCSU takes bout on the Controller of examination
JORHAT: The All Tai Ahom
Students' Union (Atasu) on Thursday
carried out a statewide agitation
against the state government's failure
to include six ethnic communities of
Assam in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Atasu activists burnt the effigy of
chief minister Tarun Gogoi and reg-
istrar general of India in all district
headquarters of the state.
The organization has upped its
ante against the government a day
after an assistant registrar general of
India informed a delegation of the
six communities that they have failed
to fulfill their required conditions to
get ST status for which they could
not be included in the ST list. The
six ethnic groups are Koch
Rajbongshi, Moran, Chutia, Matak,
Ahom and tea tribe. They have been
demanding ST status for more than
two decades.
At a meeting held in New Delhi
on Wednesday with AGP MP Kumar
Deepak Das and All Koch Rajbanshi
Students Union adviser Biswajit Rai,
assistant registrar general of India
Pratibha Kumari said due to lack of
sufficient information and evidence
provided by the state government on
the six communities, ST status could
not be given to them.
She made it clear that it has
already been informed to the Assam
government.
''The assurance made by the chief
minister and his cabinet colleagues
to take steps on the declaration of ST
status was only a mockery of truth.
The latest comments of the assistant
registrar general confirmed the state
government's failure and we believe
they had made only false promises to
us in the past two decades. We have
been neglected and deprived from
getting proper status from the gov-
ernment," said Atasu adviser Aswini
Chetia.
He added, "Today, we burnt the
effigies of chief minister and regis-
trar general of India in all district
headquarters of the state in protest
against the government's failure and
to seek immediate inclusion of six
communities in the ST list."
Tai students' agitation against
ST status denial
GUWAHATI: The Asom Yuva
Parishad (AYP), the youth wing
of AGP, on Wednesday gave a
seven-day ultimatum to the
Secondary Education Board of
Assam (Seba) for allotting admit
cards to students for the High
School Leaving Certificate
(HSLC) examinations.
Hundreds of AYP members
gheraoed the Seba office and
protested against the irregularities
in the board. This came after Seba
failed to provide admit cards to
candidates of the HSLC examina-
tions within the prescribed date.
"Last year, cows ate up the
answer scripts of HSLC candi-
dates due to negligence of the
board. Moreover, many students
had to sit for a re-examination as
question papers were leaked. This
year, the Seba failed to provide
admit cards on the prescribed
date. When will the state govern-
ment and the education depart-
ment learn from their mistakes?
They cannot make the students
scapegoats," said Dipak Deka,
general secretary of AYP.
The HSLC exams are to be
held on February 20 next year and
the Seba was supposed to give
admit cards to the candidates
three months before the scheduled
date. The youth wing of the
regional party also blamed the
chairman of the board, Shantikam
Hazarika, of mishandling the
board for his personal gains.
"Hazarika in his tenure mis-
used the board for his personal
gains. He not only allotted fake
certificates to Congress MLA
Piyush Hazarika, but also
assigned the printing of exam
papers to a Mumbai-based pub-
lishing house illegally. He has no
right to continue as the chairman,"
added the activists of AYP.
The AYP announced to launch
a massive protest against the
board if their demands are not met
on time. Earlier, the All Assam
Studetns' Union (Aasu) also said
that they will intensify their
protest against Seba irregularities.
Asom Yuva Parishad gives 7 days to
Seba for allotting admit cards
JAMMU, DEC 13: Students and
the scholars of the University of
Jammu (JU) held protest demon-
stration across the campus under
the banner of National Secular
Forum (NSF).
The protesting the students and
the scholars led by Narinder Singh
District President, NSF , the stu-
dents and the scholars were raising
slogans against the University
Authorities for not taking note of
their demands and maintaining
stoic silence over the entire matter.
Singh has a taken strong note
against the misuse of university
vehicles by the officials for person-
al interest leading to the misuse of
funds which are ment for the stu-
dents' welfare and have demanded
to withdraw all vehicles from the
officials. He said that nothing posi-
tive has been done by the adminis-
tration so far against the misuse of
university vehicles by the officials.
He said that where University of
Kashmir few days back have
directed all the officials, except a
few top officers including vice
chancellor,controller,registrar to
handover the official vehicles to the
administration.
Vikram Madyal Convener
University Unit also said that where
university talks of go hi tech by
using Smart Card technology in the
central university but no such thing
has been introduced so far. He said
that money has been collected
admission time by the students for
the issues of Smart Card but no
such facility is being provided to
the students.
He also said that the administra-
tion of University of Jammu (JU)
has been indulged in financial
irregularities and anti-youth poli-
cies while, the Vice Chancellor is
acting like a mute spectator to this
whole drama. NSF has appealed the
worthy Governor to implement the
same rule which has been adopted
in Kashmir University where it has
been made mandatory for the offi-
cials to surrender the vehicles allot-
ted to them. He said misuse of offi-
cial vehicles for personal use is on
rise in the Jammu University and
also demanded to hold an audit into
the funds utilized for vehicle use.
NSF has also appealed the wor-
thy Chancellor of the University to
look into the matter and hold an
inquiry into the misuse of vehicles
and funds by the university author-
ities.
University Vehicles and funds
misused for personal interest: NSF
KISHTWAR, DEC 9: With an
aim to recruit the youth of far flung
areas in Congress and in a bid to
strengthen the party at grass root
level, youth congress launched its
membership drive at Padder in
Kishtwar. Membership was
launched at Gulabgarh Padder by
the President Youth Congress
Assembly Kishtwar Nadeem Iqbal
Sheikh. The membership forms
were distributed among the youth
and they were guided how to fill
those forms. While speaking on
this occasion Nadeem Iqbal said
that Congress has always promot-
ed youths as the party firmly
believes they have played an
important role in the nation's
development.
He further said that the aim
behind the election process for
Youth Congress was to bring trans-
parency and strengthen the organi-
sation by encouraging talented
workers to come forward and lead
the party at state and national
level. On this occasion besides
large number of youth congress
activists, senior party leaders
including president DCC Kishtwar
Pardeep Singh Parihar, Block
President Kishtwar Haji Ghulam
Hassan Mir, Block President
Padder Nek Ram Manhas and for-
mer District President Youth
Congress Kishtwar Sheikh Nasir
Hussain Advocate were also pres-
ent who while speaking on the
occasion encouraged the youth to
come forward and be part of Indian
politics by joining youth congress.
Youth Congress launches membership drive at Padder
20
EDUCATION WATCH
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
WASHINGTON: Indian and
American educational systems must
develop "strategic linkages" to
develop trained and skilled human
resources to meet the emerging
needs of the coming decades.
Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao
has said. "The challenges before us
demand an integration of our efforts
at home with the partnerships we
are developing abroad, and seeking
a mutually reinforcing synergy
between the two," she said in a
keynote Address Monday at the
American Council on Education's
Leadership Network on
International Education.
"As both India and United States
work towards becoming truly
knowledge economies, there are
immense opportunities for forging
dynamic linkages between our two
countries in the areas of education,
research, innovation and skill
development," Rao said.
Education, she said, has clearly
emerged as a priority area of the
two countries' bilateral engagement
with the Singh-Obama Initiative
launched in 2009 amply highlight-
ing their shared emphasis on educa-
tion and knowledge in their strate-
gic partnership.
Today, the US remains a pre-
ferred destination for Indian stu-
dents to pursue their advanced
degrees, Rao said. Nearly 100,000
students from India, around 32 per
cent of whom are women, are
enrolled in US universities.
Noting that the US government
is also taking several initiatives to
promote India as an educational
destination for American students,
she said: "We would definitely like
to see more and more American stu-
dents come to India in the years to
come." An international conference
on community colleges is sched-
uled to take place in New Delhi
early next year, she said as India
was looking at the US model of
Community Colleges as an impor-
tant ingredient of its strategy to
build capacity for vocational educa-
tion and skills development.
"Our goal is to build strategic
linkages between the educational
systems of India and the United
States, with the optimism and confi-
dence that this would be for our
mutual benefit and the benefit of
the whole world, as we join hands
to develop trained and skilled
human resources capable of meet-
ing the challenges that exist in a
globalized world of the 21st centu-
ry." Noting that there is tremendous
interest in US and Indian universi-
ties and colleges to forge links and
partnerships with each other, Rao
said: "There is a great opportunity
for partnership unfolding ahead of
us, which we must seize."
South Asian University to start
Ph.D. programmes
NEW DELHI:SAARC-estab-
lished South Asian University
(SAU) will be starting Ph.D. cours-
es from the coming academic ses-
sion, an official statement from the
university said on Thursday.
Making the announcement after
an approval from the Governing
Board, the university's president G.
K. Chadha said the research schol-
ars would be inducted into the
Ph.D. programmes through an
entrance test followed by a person-
al interview.
All the candidates of the
research programmes would be eli-
gible to apply for the on-going
South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation Silver
Jubilee Scholarship, instituted by
the Indian Government especially
for SAU students.
The maximum scholarship for
research scholars carries full fee
waiver, free stay in the hostel, a
monthly allowance of Rs.12,000
and a fixed start-up amount. There
are 25 scholarships earmarked for
Ph.D. students.
India, US must build educational partnerships: Indian envoy
NEWDELHI: It is unfair for a uni-
versity or college to withhold a stu-
dent's degree to recover dues, the
apex consumer court has ruled and
said it would be preferable for the
institution to move a civil court to
get its money back.
"Such kind of practice is not
fair," the National Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commission
said in a recent ruling in connection
with a case involving Sushith, a stu-
dent pursuing an MD degree in bio-
chemistry, the Manipal University
and the Kasturba Medical College in
Karnataka.
The court directed the university
and the college to pay Rs 10,000 as
compensation to Sushith, 32, before
February 6, 2013.
The commission's Presiding
Member VB Gupta also questioned
why the college and the university
did not move a civil court to recover
the alleged dues of Rs 9.3 lakh from
Sushith, a resident of Mangalore,
whose degree was withheld.
The case reached the national
commission after the university and
the college appealed against an order
of the Karnataka State Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commission,
Bangalore, favouring Sushith.
Sushith's degree was withheld for
allegedly breaching an agreement
with the university and the college
that required him to serve there for
five years after completing the
course -- failing which he was sup-
posed to repay the entire tuition fee
whose burden was borne by them.
The national commission said:
"Even if it is held for a while
that...the student is liable to refund
the tuition fee, the remedy is still
open to the university and college to
recover the same by approaching an
appropriate civil court."
"When such an equally effica-
cious remedy is readily available to
them, they cannot illegally retain the
said degree certificate," Gupta said
in the order.
Sushith said in his complaint that
he took admission to post-graduate
degree course in MD in biochem-
istry for academic year 2005-06 and
passed the course in 2008.
The college was required to issue
him a degree certificate confirmed
by the Manipal Academy of Higher
Education. But despite repeated
requests, it refused to issue the cer-
tificate and withheld it, he said.
The college dean and the univer-
sity registrar said Sushith's original
degree certificate was retained as a
lien as he owed Rs 9.3 lakh as tuition
fee and stipend, which they paid dur-
ing his course.
They said that they could not be
forced to provide the certificate for
which they had not received any
consideration.
The university and the college
claimed that Sushith executed an
agreement with them May 23, 2005,
along with two sureties but he failed
to abide by the conditions incorpo-
rated in it and remained away from
duty after the course.
He was supposed to start serving
in the college from Dec 1, 2008, but
allegedly stopped reporting to office
from Dec 9, 2008, they said.
The apex consumer commission
dismissed their plea and said:
"Petitioners have placed on record
copy of 'service agreement' dated
May 23, 2005, executed between the
parties. This agreement does not
contain any condition or clause by
virtue of which the university/col-
lege is entitled to retain the
degree/certificate of Sushith as a lien
till he performs the terms of the
agreement."
Endorsing the findings of the
Dakshina Kannada District
Consumer Disputes Redressal
Forum, Mangalore, and the state
commission, Gupta said: "The dis-
trict forum has properly considered
both oral and documentary evidence
and rightly come to the conclusion.
Retaining of the degree certificate is
otherwise compelling the com-
plainant to serve under them. Such
kind of practice is not fair."
"The appellant (university and
college) have failed to show before
this commission that the impugned
order under appeal is erroneous,
unjust and improper and that it suf-
fers from legal infirmity, is unsus-
tainable in the law and there is error
apparent on the face of record
requiring our interference. Appeal
appears to be devoid of merit," said
Gupta.
Unfair to withhold student's
degree for dues:NCDRC
CHENNAI:Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister J.Jayalalithaa Thursday
urged teachers to create a knowl-
edge-based society and also mould
their students to have confidence to
face any difficult situation.
Speaking at a function to hand
over appointment orders to over
20,000 newly recruited teachers in
the state here, she said: "Teaching
profession is not just about teaching
students the subjects. It is a profes-
sion that inculcates discipline, cul-
ture, general knowledge, and spiritu-
ality in students."
She said for the first time in the
state's history, the government has
allocated Rs.14,553 crore to school
education department in this year's
budget. Jayalalithaa said teachers
should identify the talent that each
student possess and added that the
parents should not thrust their wards
to take up particular stream of study.
She also distributed uniforms,
colour pencils, geometry boxes,
school bags, and foot wear in a
scheme that would benefit around
9.2 million students in the state.
Education system has failed to
inculcate human rights values:
NHRC. New Delhi:National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) chair-
person K.G. Balakrishnan Friday
lamented the failure of the country's
education system to inculcate the
human rights values among stu-
dents, and said that remains a matter
of deep concern. "Despite the
progress made relating to promotion
and protection of human rights in
the country, the violations of human
rights remain a matter of deep con-
cern," Balakrishnan said at a day-
long national conference on human
rights education here. "This is due to
failure of education system for not
been able to inculcate human rights
values among students," he said.
The conference deliberated on
the need to revise school curriculum
by analyzing the human rights edu-
cation at the school level in the
country.
Teachers should create knowledge-
based society: Jayalalithaa
SC allows private medical colleges to
hold own admission tests
NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday allowed the private medical
colleges to hold their own entrance test for admission to post-graduate
courses for the 2013-14 academic year but restrained them from declaring
the results. The interim order was given by a bench of Chief Justice
Altamas Kabir, Justice S.S. Nijjar and Justice J. Chelameswar.
The private medical colleges from across the country had challenged
the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to post-
graduate courses for the year 2013-14.
The apex court Oct 12 transferred to itself 23 cases from various high
courts, including Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where the NEET has
been challenged.
21
SPORTS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
HIL auction: Sardar,
Sandeep top price charts
NEWDELHI: India captain Sardar
Singh and ace dragflicker Sandeep
Singh will command the highest
base-price of Rs 15 lakh each at the
upcoming players` auction of the
cash-rich Hockey India League
(HIL) slated on Sunday.
Sardar and Sandeep, with reserve
price of USD 27,800 each are the
players with highest base-price
among the Indians as well as foreign
players.
Alist of 246 players issued by HI
to be auctioned have been divided
into 13 base-price categories rang-
ing from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
A base price of Rs 13.5 lakh has
been kept for Australia`s captain
Jamie Dwyer along with country-
man Glenn Turner, Maritz Fuertse
and Oliver Korn (Germany),
Mohammad Imran and Mahmood
Rashid (Pakistan), Pol Amat
(Spain).
Netherland`s prolific penalty
corner specialist Taeke Taekema and
Teun De Nooijer are also in the
same bracket which is equivalent to
USD 25,000.
The base price for ex-captain
Shivendra Singh and Gurbaj Singh
is Rs 10 lakh, while teams looking to
buy Ignace Tirkey and Tushar
Khandekar will have to start their
bidding from Rs 7.5 lakh.
Custodian Bharat Chettri, who
led India at the London Olympics
carries a base price tag of Rs 10 lakh
(approx) while fellow goalie PR
Sreejesh is priced at approximately
Rs 7.5 lakh.
Till now only five bids for own-
ership of the franchises have been
received while HIL is planning a
six-team league.
The companies owning the five
franchises are Delhi (Wave group),
Ranchi (Patel- Uniexcel group),
Punjab (Jaypee group), Lucknow
(Sahara India) and Mumbai
(Burman family).
Sandeep Singh
BANGALORE, DEC 13: The
inaugural edition of iGATE CEO
Cup Golf tournament, featuring the
CEOs of 2000 companies based in
North America will have the
world's largest gold sports trophy
designed by a Jaipur-based sculptor
up for grabs.
Amit Pabuwal has designed the
21 inch tall trophy that weighs 8.6
kg and is embellished with dia-
monds and rubies. It will be larger
than the iconic FIFA World Cup
trophy, according to iGATE.
The FIFA World Cup trophy -
14.4 inches tall, weigh-
ing of five kg gold - is
currently the largest
gold trophy.
"It is a premier event
and we should have a
trophy a CEO will be
proud to lift. Pabuwal is
distinguished for his
work creating one-of-a-
kind trophies. He holds
the world's highest cre-
dentials in trophy making while
crafting several world cups,
acclaimed for design and work-
manship. He designed the world's
first Guinness world-record trophy
Trilok Rachna", said Phaneesh
Murthy, CEO, iGATE.
The inaugural edition of this
tournament will be played in
Florida, US on January 12-13 next
year.
The organisers have invited
CEOs to compete for a $100,000
purse entirely donated to the chari-
ties chosen by them.
DOHA: South African Oscar
Pistorius, who became the first
disabled runner to compete in the
Olympics when he ran in the 400
metres, beat Arab horse Maserati
in the 'run like the wind' race here
on Dec 12.
The 26-year-old Pistorius,
known as the Blade Runner
because of the carbon fibre blades
he runs on after having his legs
amputated below the knee before
he was aged one because of a con-
genital condition, beat the horse
over 200 metres.
Pistorius took up the challenge
in a bid to promote disabled
sportspeople and fight discrimina-
tion against disabled people in the
region.
The South African, who
retained his 400m title at the
Paralympics in London following
his Olympics campaign, raced on
a typical athletics track surface
while Maserati competed on a
sand surface.
Pistorius, who reached the
400m semi-finals in London and
also ran in the 4x400m relay final
to realise his boyhood dream of
competing at the able-bodied
Games, took full advantage of
starting 15 metres in front of
Maserati, who ruined its chances
of winning by making a terrible
start.
Maserati veered towards the
rail which separated the two com-
petitors and never recovered
despite coming under a severe
whipping from his rider and
Pistorius came home well clear.
"It wasn't about who won
tonight," said Pistorius after cross-
ing the line. "It was about showing
people that those with disabilities
are capable of doing great things.
"It was a lot of fun. Hopefully
this will do a lot to change percep-
tions of disabled people in the
region."
The race was not the first time
athletes have competed against
horses with some of the most
notable champions such as 1936
Olympics hero Jesse Owens and
1992 Olympic 100m gold medal-
list Linford Christie also going up
against their four-legged friends,
who generally out-paced their
human rivals.
British runner Huw Lobb made
a little bit of history in 2004 when
he triumphed in a man against
horse race in the Welsh village of
Llanwrtyd Wells, raced over 22
miles (35km) and first run in
1980.
Cyclists too have challenged
horses, top French rider Thomas
Voeckler having taken them on in
the last two summers at a race-
course in the Vendee although that
is nothing compared to South
African rugby star Bryan Habana,
who fell short of beating a
leopard.
iGATE CEO Cup event to have
world`s largest gold trophy
'Blade Runner' wins
as Maserati lacks
horsepower
Paralympic and Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius races against a pure-bred Arabian horse during the
Gathering of all Leaders In Sport
CHENNAI: India's rising tennis
player Yuki Bhambri has been award-
ed a wild card entry into the main
draw of the 18th ATP Aircel
Chennai Open to be held
here from Dec 31 to Jan 6.
Yuki joins an impressive
field, which includes four
players from the Top 20 in
the world -- Czech
Republic's Tomas Berdych
(No. 6), Janko Tipsarevic
(No. 9), twice winner Marin
Cilic (No. 15) and Stanislas
Wawrinka (No. 17). The
grid also consists of Yuki's
compatriot Somdev Devvarman,
who was accorded a wild card entry
earlier. In the 17th edition of Chennai
Open, 20-year-old Yuki had shocked
world no. 101 Karol Beck as he
defeated him in just 79 minutes.
In 2009, Yuki became the first
Indian to win the junior Australian
Open, while recently he got the better
of Amir Weintraub in straight sets to
win the first ever ATPChallenger sin-
gles title of his career in Fergana,
Uzbekistan in May 2012.
"We constantly look at ways to
promote domestic talent and we are
happy to award Somdev and Yuki
wild cards into the singles main
draw," Tom Annear, the Tournament
Director, said.
Bhambari gets wild card entry into Chennai Open
22
SPORTS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
BANGLORE: India won the inau-
gural SBI T20 World Cup for the
Blind on 13 December 2012 after
beating Pakistan in the finals at
Central College grounds in
Bangalore.
India shattered Pakistan from 29
runs and the Indian captain Shekhar
Naik lifted the trophy. India decided
to bat first and scored 119 for 4 in 10
overs. India put up a competitive
score of 258 runs in 20 overs.
Rescuer of the team India was mid-
dle-order batsman Ketan Patel who
scored 98 runs off 43 balls and is
completely blind.
Pakistan entered into finals
unbeaten. Pakistan is the only team
that entered the finals of all the four
international blind cricket tourna-
ments till now. At the break of the
innings, Pakistan might have thought
of winning the match on the grounds
of excellent batting skills of the team
throughout this tournament. The
opener Mohammad Akram who had
the highest score in the history of
international blind cricket (264
against West Indies) was sent back to
the pavilion for 32 runs only.
Eventually, India won the T20
World Cup for the Blind and the
team was later crowned as the world
champions. It is also worth noticing
that Men-of-the-Series were all
Indians. These were Ketan Patel,
Fully blind category (B1); Prakash
Jayaramaiah, Partially blind category
(B2) and Ajay Kumar Reddy,
Partially sighted category (B3).
About T20 World Cup for the
Blind 2012
T20 World Cup for the Blind was
a 12-day tournament which com-
prised of nine teams. The T20 World
Cup for the Blind 2012 was hosted
by India. The tournament ran from 1
December 2012 to 13 December
2012 in Bangalore. The competing
teams included Bangladesh,
Australia, India, Nepal, England, Sri
Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and
South Africa. The tournament was
played on league-cum-knockout
basis. Cricketer Saurav Ganguly is
the Brand Ambassador of T20 World
Cup for the Blind.
The Cricket Association for the
Blind (CABI) is main body which
organises as well as conducts cricket
for visually impaired in India. CABI
is registered NPO which is affiliated
to World Blind Cricket Council
(WBCC).
About World Blind Cricket
Council (WBCC)
World Blind Cricket Council
(WBCC) laid its foundation in 1996.
The founding chairman of WBCC
was George Abraham of India. The
primary purpose of WBCC is promo-
tion as well as administration of the
game of blind cricket in the world.
About Cricket Association for the
Blind (CABI)
CABI is a non-profit organisation
affiliated to World Blind Cricket
Council (WBCC). Pakistan, South
Africa and England Blind Cricket
bodies receive sponsorship from
their mainstream cricket bodies but
CABI does not receive any such
sponsorship from Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI). CABI
survives with the support from cor-
porate houses as well as a few public
sector organisations.
Composition of the team
Among the 11 players, four play-
ers are under completely blind or B1
category (partially-sighted), four
players are under B2 category (play-
ers who are able to see up to 3
metres) and three players are under
B3 category (players who are able to
see up to six metres). According to
the rules, B1 players get the scores
doubled, which means that when
they hit, they can add major differ-
ence to the score of the team.
MELBOURNE: At the
Champions Trophy 2012,
Australia won once again, adding
to fifth victory consecutively after
it earned a 2-1 win in a match
against Netherlands in
Melbourne. The fifth consecutive
victory of Australia at this event
re-established it as the hockey
team (men's) to beat, after
Australia had missed on gold at
Olympics.
For the Netherlands, it was sil-
ver medal with the silver lining.
Netherlands upgraded itself from
bronze which they acquired last
two years.
The bronze was claimed by
Pakistan after they beat India 3-2
on a match on 9 December 2012.
India missed the chance to win
bronze, which would have been
its second Champions trophy
medal as well as the first since
1982.
For the fifth place, Belgium
won the match against Germany,
the Olympic champion. New
Zealand, in the meanwhile stood
at seventh position over England.
The awards for the tournament
were as follows:
* Top Scorer: Nicholas Wilson
(NZL)
* Best Player: Shakeel Abassi
(PAK)
* Fair Play Award: The
Netherlands
* Best Goalkeeper: Jaap
Stockmann (NED)
Records of Hockey Champions
Trophy (Men's)
* In the men's tournament
Australia has won Champions
Trophy 13 times.
* Germany has won this trophy 9
times.
* Netherlands won the Champions
Trophy 8 times.
* Pakistan is only Asian champion
that has three titles in its name.
About Hockey Champions
Trophy
Hockey Champions Trophy is
held every year by International
Hockey Federation. The tourna-
ment features some of the best
teams of the world which compete
against each other in round-robin
format.
NAGPUR: India's batting woes
continued to haunt them with the
top-order batsmen succumbing
tamely yet again as England
snapped up four quick wickets to
gain firm control of the crucial
fourth and final cricket Test at
Nagpur on Dec 14.
After posting a decent score of
330 in the first innings, the visitors
exploited the slow and uneven
bounce of the track to leave India
gasping at a precarious 87 for four
at close on an eventful second day
which saw nine wickets fall.
Paceman James Anderson
(3/24) did the bulk of the damage
while Graeme Swann chipped in
with a wicket as the out-of-form
Indian batsmen put up another
pathetic display with none of them
willing to show the application and
temparament to hang in there.
Virat Kohli (11) and Captain
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (8) were at
the crease when stumps were drawn
for the day, with the hosts still trail-
ing by 243 runs.
Earlier, resuming at the
overnight score of 199 for five,
England did well to stretch their
first innings total to 330 with debu-
tant Joe Root (73), Matt Prior (57)
and Swann (56) being the notable
contributors.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla was
the pick of the Indian bowlers with
a career-best haul of 4/69 while
paceman Ishant Sharma (3/49) and
R Ashwin (1/66) were the other
wicket-takers.
The failure of India's famed
batsmen again let the team down
badly as Virender Sehwag (0),
Gautam Gambhir (37), Cheteswar
Pujara (26) and Sachin Tendulkar
(2) could not stay for long.
Tendulkar was bowled by Anderson
who has now dismissed him nine
days, the highest by any bowler.
With three full days left in the
match, England have put them-
selves on course for their first series
win on Indian soil in 28 years.
India, on the other hand, will have
to bat out of their skins to save the
ignominy of their third successive
humiliating defeat.
Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(c), Gautam Gambhir, Virender
Sehwag, Cheteshwar Pujara,
Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli,
Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Piyush
Chawla, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan
Ojha.
England: Alastair Cook (c),
Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott,
Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Joe Root,
Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Graeme
Swann, James Anderson, Monty
Panesar.
4th Test: India 87/4 against England at stumps on Day 2
Arunachal Weightlifter
Jimjang Deru creates
national record
ITANAGAR: Arunachal
weightlifter Jimjang Deru has
brought laurels to the state by creat-
ing three new national records in the
ongoing 8th Youth National
Weightlifting Championship at
Nehru stadium, New Delhi.
He broke the previous record of
Sukhen Dey set in 2005 during
Bhilai Youth National Weightlifting
Championships by lifting one kg
more weight. Dey was the lone
Indian male weightlifter in 2012
London Olympics.
Deru lifted a total of 193 kg
(snatch 86 kg + Clean and Jerk 107
kg) to win three gold medals on Dec
12.
Earlier, Yukar Sibi from
Arunachal set up a national record in
the men's 62kg category by lifting
151kg in the clean and jerk in the
63rd men's and 26th women's senior
National weightlifting champi-
onships in 2011.
Initially Deru was given Judo
training by Yum Panku, Judo Coach
of Sange Laden Sports Academy,
Chimpu. Later, he was picked by
Army Sports Institute, Pune in a
sport talent hunt and nurtured and
coached in weightlifting discipline.
Meanwhile, the Arunachal
Weightlifting Association president
Abraham K Techi has congratulated
Deru, his team of coaches for the
outstanding performance. He also
expressed gratitude to Major S S Rao
and Commandant, Army Sports
Institute, Pune, who took lots of pain
to come to Arunachal in 2009 and
nurtured Arunachalee talents.
Hockey Champions Trophy: Australia Won for the Fifth Consecutive Year
India Beat Pakistan to Lift Inaugural SBI T20 World Cup for the Blind 2012
23
EMPLOYMENT NEWS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
SHRI MATAVAISHNO
DEVI SHRINE
BOARD, KATRA
WALK-IN-INTERVIEW
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
Board invites eligible candidates
for 'Walk-in-Interview' for the fill-
ing up the 02 (two) vacant posts of
Acharaya (Sahitya & Hindi) for
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul,
Charanpaduka, Katra. The inter-
views shall be held at 10.00 am on
dated 05.01.2013 at Vaishnavi
Dham, Jammu (near Railway
Station, Jammu). The application
form as well as detailed employ-
ment notice are available on
Shrine Board Website
www.maavaishnodevi.org.
Sd/
Add. Chief Executive Officer
Indira Gandhi National
Open University
WALK-IN-INTERVIEW
Suitable candidates are invited for a
walk-in-Interview on 22nd December,
2012 at 10.00 am to fill up the Position
of Research Assistants (15 positions)
purely on contractual basis initially for
a period of six months, for a Project on
Library Automation and Networking
under the National Mission on
Education through ICT (NMEICT),
MHRD, New Delhi.
Qualification: MLIS from a recog-
nized University
Experience: At least one year experi-
ence in working in a library with KOHA
library automation software.
Emolument: Rs. 20,000 per month
All desirous candidates may walk-in to
attend the interview on December 22,
2012 along with a copy of their com-
plete CV giving details of i) name, ii)
Father's name, iii) date of birth (age),
iv) address with contact no., v) qualifi-
cations, vi) experience, etc. supported
with the attested copies of the testimo-
nials at VC Block, IGNOU Campus,
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068
22nd December, 2012 at 10.00 am
onward.
For Detail Visit:
http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/bullet-
inboard/advertisements/latest/jobs/det
ail/Walk-in-interview_for_recruit-
ment_of_Research_Assistant_for_Lib
rary_Automation_and_Networking_Pr
oject_of_NMEICT_MHRD_-674
Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Mechanical Engineering Department, Jammu
Email:-cemedj15@yahoo.com Ph: 2430098
NOTIFICATION
Subject: Advertisement for Recruitment to Class-IV post in
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, JAMMU
ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE NO.: 01 OF 2012
Application on the prescribed format are invited from Permanent
residents of Jammu and Kashmir State for recruitment to the Class
IV Posts in the Mechanical Engineering Department Jammu.
Name of Post: Orderly
Pay Scale with Grade pay: Rs.4440-Rs.7440+Rs.1300
No. of posts: 09( Open-6, RBA-1, SC-1, ST-1)
TERMS & CONDITIONS:-
1. All the posts mentioned above are Divisional Cadre Posts.
2. The minimum age of the candidates as on 01.01.2012 shall be
18 years and maximum age as 37 years for Open Category and
40 years for RBA/SC/ST/ALC/OBC candidates.
3. The minimum Educational qualification for the post of orderly
shall be matric.
4. The application form shall be submitted alongwith relevant cer-
tificates Educational/Category to the Technical Officer to Chief
Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Jammu on or
before 5th of January 2013, 2.00 P.M.
5. Applications received after cut-off date shall not be entertained.
6. The candidates shall have to appear before the selection com-
mittee for interview at the venue to be intimatedlater on or their
own expenses.
Sd/-
Chief Engineer
Mechanical Engineering Department
Jammu
Government of India
Central Information Commission
CIRCULAR
Subject:- Engagement of Legal Retainers on contract basis.
The Central Information Commission has been created under the
Right to Information Act 2005 for adjudication of appeals and
complaints under the said Act. The Commission seeks to engage
on contract basis upto 16 young law graduates to work as Legal
Retainers with the following functions:-
(a) Preparing case briefs and identification of the legal issues.
(b) Legal research.
(c) Preparing counters for writ petitions.
(d) Any other legal work assigned by the Commission.
2. Law graduates [from a recognized University or equiva-
lent]; who have not completed 28 years of age as on the last
date of the submission of applications are eligible to be consid-
ered for aforesaid engagement.
3. The selection shall be made on the basis of an interview by a
Selection Committee. The engagement shall be on contract basis
initially for a period of one year which may be extended for a max-
imum further period of two years at the discretion of the
Competent Authority in the Commission subject to satisfactory
performance of such person.
4. The selected candidates shall be paid Rs. 25, 000/ p.m.
5. Interested persons with requisite qualifications may apply to
Shri S.K. Rabbani, Deputy Secretary, Central Information
Commission, Room No. 304, 2nd Floor, B Wing, August
Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi 110066 in
the prescribed proforma attached. The last date of receipt of
Applications is 15th January 2013.
(Tarun Kumar)
Joint Secretary(A&P)
Central Information Commission
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board
Chaitanya Ashram, Talab Tillo, Jammu
Tele: 0191-2569910
Notice inviting applications for the engagement of Pujaris
who are willing to perform the PUJA DUTY at HOLY CAVE
during Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2013
1. Applications are invited from qualified and experienced PUJARIS
who are willing to perform the PUJADUTYat HOLYCAVE during Shri
Amarnathji Yatra-2013, as per the format given hereunder:-
Name, Date of Birth, Parentage, Permanent Residential Address,
Address for correspondence, Qualification (please attach attested
copies of the qualification), Experience (please attach attested copies
of the experience), Whether Puja duty performed earlier at the Holy
Shri Amarnathji Cave, if Yes, the details thereof be specified with sup-
porting documents.
2. The application form filled in should reach the office of the Additional
Chief Executive Officer Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Chaitanya
Ashram, Talab Tillo, Jammu-18002 by or before 31st December 2012.
3. The shortlisted applications shall be called for interview for final selec-
tion. The date of interview will be communicated separately.
4. The selected Pujaris shall be paid honorarium @Rs.500/- per day, for
each day of duty performance during the specified Yatra period.
5. Boarding and Loding facilities to the engaged Pujaris near the Holy
Cave shrine shall be provided by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.
Sd/-
Addl. Chief Executive Officer
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) NE-I circle proposes to recruit 15
Telecom Technical Assistants for Mizoram through an open Competitive
exam which will be held between February-March 2013. Interested can-
didates can apply through the prescribed application format on or before
31-12-2012. The information about age limit, educational qualification,
no of vacancies, how to apply, and other details of BSNL Recruitment
2012 are mentioned below
Total Number of Posts: 15
Name of Posts: Telecom Technical Assistant: 15 posts
Age Limit: Between 18 years and 27 years as on 31-12-2012.
Educational Qualification: 3 years Diploma in Engineering in any of
the discipline in Telecom/ Electrical/ Electronics and Communications/
IT/ Computer/ Radio/ Instrument/ M.sc (Electronics).
Application Fee: Candidates need to pay Bank Draft/ Pay Order for Rs.
500/- in favor of The Accounts Officer (Cash), BSNL, Office of the
chief General Manager, NE-I Telecom Circle, Shillong-793001 (Fee
exempted for SC/ST &Ex servicemen).
Selection Process: The mode of selection is through competitive exam
and personal interview.
How to Apply: Eligible candidates may apply application form with self
attested copies of all the certificates/ testimonials and other documents,
recent photograph and Demand Draft to Assistant General
Manager(HR), Office of the chief General Manager, NE-I Telecom
Circle, Shillong-793001 should reach the office on or before 31-12-2012.
Last Date for Receipt of Application: 31-12-2012.
For Detail Visit: www.ne1.bsnl.co.in/admin/ttarecttnov12.pdf
24
EMPLOYMENT NEWS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
Staff Selection Commission North Western Region (SSCNWR), under
Government of India, Chandigarh, is hiring personnel for 39 various
vacancies.
Number of Vacancies: 39
Names of Posts:
1. Assistant Plant Protection Officer (Chemistry) 34 Posts
2. Zoological Assistant 02 Posts
3. Senior Technical Assistant (Chemical) 02 Posts
4. Senior Technical Assistant 01 Post
Age Limit: Candidate should have not exceeding 30 years for Assistant
Plant Protection Officer (Chemistry), Senior Technical Assistant &
Senior Technical Assistant (Chemical) posts and 18-25 years for
Zoological Assistant post as on 28-12-2012.
Qualification: Degree/ B.Sc/ M.Sc/ PG in relevant disciplines.
Application Fee Details: Applicants need to pay application fee of
Rs.50/- (SC/ ST/ EXSM/ PWD/ Women candidates are exempted from
payment of fee). Fee must be paid in form of Central Recruitment Fee
Stamps (CRFS) in all post offices.
Selection Process: Shortlisted candidates after screening would be called
for Interview/Proficiency Test /Skill Test.
How to Apply: Eligible candidates may apply through prescribed appli-
cation format as given in the notification, fill it with all given mandatory
details, attach photograph and attest signature. Then these applications
should be sent along with CRFS attached, and copies of all relevant cer-
tificates must be reach to the Deputy Regional Director (NWR), Staff
Selection Commission, Block No. 3, Kendriya Sadan, Sector-9
Chandigarh-160017 on or before 28-12-2012.
Last Date for Receipt of Application: 28-12-2012
For Detail Visit:
http://www.sscnwr.org/notice_down_file/advt_on_01.12.12.pdf
Staff Selection Commission
Staff Selection Commission SSC (Eastern Region) has issued notifica-
tion for the recruitment of 11 Group B and Group C Selection Posts.
Total Number of Vacancies: 11
Names of Posts: Group B & Group C
Group B Posts:
1. Junior Technical Assistant 06 Posts.
2. Scientific Assistant (Physical-Civil) 02 Post.
3. Senior Zoological Assistant 02 Posts.
Group C Post:
1. Taxidermist, Grade-III 01 Post.
Age Limit: Max. 28 years for Junior Technical Assistant post, Max. 30
years for Scientific Assistant (Physical-Civil) post, below 30 years for
Senior Zoological Assistant post and between 18 to 25 years for
Taxidermist, as on 24-12-2012.
Educational Qualification: for Taxidermist is Matriculation, for Jr.
Techinal Asst. is Graduate (Science/Computer Science), for SCIENTIF-
IC ASSISTANT Masters Degree in Physics (Pure or Applied) or
Chemistry or degree in Chemical Technology/Engineering or degree in
Civil Engineering and for SENIOR ZOOLOGICAL ASSISTANT is
M. Sc. Degree in Zoology with experience
Application Fee: Rs 50/- for General candidates (No fee for SC-ST-PH-
EXSM-Women candidates). Pay through CRFS available in post offices.
How to Apply: Eligible candidates may send their application in pre-
scribed format, along with CRFs, photos, attested photo copies of all nec-
essary certificates must reach to the Regional Director, Staff Selection
Commission (ER), 234/4, AJC Bose Road, Nizam Palace, Ist MSO
Building, 8th Floor, Kolkata-700020.
Last Date for Receipt of Application: 24-12-2012
For Detail Visit:
http://sscer.org/MATTER/1st%20dec_English%20Advertisement.pdf
Staff Selection Commission
CSIR-Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology (IMMT),
Bhubaneswar desires to engage 6 Data Entry Operators on purely tempo-
rary basis on contract for a period of 6 months under Project entitled
Building Electronic Knowledge Based Effective Work Places at
IMMT, Bhubaneswar on coterminous basis.
Name of Post: Data Entry Operator (6 posts)
Pay Scale: Rs.14,000/-Per Month
Essential Qualification: Any first class Graduate in Computer Science
(i.e. BCA, B.Sc. (IT) etc. or equivalent) OR 1st class Graduate
(B.Sc./BA/B Com) with 1-2 years Diploma/PGDCA in Computer
Science OR 1st class MCA/M.Sc Computer Science/M.Sc IT with
knowledge of Computer Application/Office Automation and Typing
skills (40 WPM). (B.E/B.Tech are not eligible)
Desirable Qualification: One year experience in working on Human
Resource Management Automation Solutions Computer Data Entry
/ERPs. Candidates possessing MCA and having experience will be
given preference.
Age Limit: Maximum Age 28 years as on date of interview.
Mode of Selection: Interested and eligible candidates may appear with
duly filled-in downloaded Application Form, available on
www.immt.res.in, along-with latest passport size photograph, original
and attested copies of all certificates for registration at IMMT,
Bhubaneswar on 24/12/2012 between 9.00 A.M. to 10.00 A.M.
Walk-In-Interview: 24/12/2012
For Detail Visit: http://www.immt.res.in/JOB/recruitment%20DEO.pdf
Institute of Minerals &
Materials Technology
Union Public Service Commission has issued Recruitment Notification
for filling up of 27 various vacancies.
Total No. of Vacancies: 27
Name of the Post:
1. Deputy Director 01 post
2. Live Stock Officer 05 posts
3. Regional Home Economist 01 post
4. Translator (Chinese) 02 posts
5. Translator (Dari) 01 post
6. Translator (Pushto) 01 post
7. Junior Technical Officer (Naval) 07 posts
8. Junior Technical Officer (Naval) 06 posts
9. Research Officer 02 posts
10. Pathologist 01 post
Age Limit: Candidates age not exceeding 40 years for Sr. No. 1 & 4 posts,
not exceeding 38 years for the Sr. No. 4 post, not exceeding 35 years for
Sr. No. 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 posts, not exceeding 30 years for Sr. No. 7 & 8 posts.
Relaxations will be as per the rules.
Educational Qualifications: Candidates must possess Degree/Masters
Degree in relevant discipline with experience in relevant field.
Application Fee: Unreserved and OBC Male candidates are requested to
pay Rs.25/- only either by remitting the money in any branch of
SBI/Associate branches of SBI by cash /net banking/visa/Masters
credit/debit card. No fee for SC/ST/PWD/Women candidates.
Selection Process: On the basis of written exam and interview basis.
How to Apply: Apply online through the website www.upsconline.nic.in
on or before 27-12-2012. After the submission candidates have send the
hard copy of online submitted application along with the documentary
proofs in support to age, caste, education and technical qualification,
experience certificates, fee receipt, attach self addressed post card by
affixing Rs.6/- worth stamps and send it by post/by hand by super scrib-
ing the envelope as RECRUITMENT BY SELECTION to the Joint
Secretary (Recruitment), Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur
House Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110069 on or before 10-01-2013.
Last Date for online submission: 27-12-2012 by 23.59 Hrs.
For Detail Visit:
http://www.upsconline.nic.in/ora/candDemo/VacancyNoticePub.php
Union Public Service Commission
Application are invited for the
Posts of Technician in Bharat
Electronics limited (BEL).
Post Name : Technician
Qualifications : ITI + one year
apprenticeship OR 3 years
National Apprenticeship
Certificate Course.
No. Of Post : 14 Posts.
Age Limit : 28-33 Years.
Pay Scale : Rs.15600-39100/-
Application Fee : Demand Draft
/Bankers Cheque for Rs.300/-
(SC/ST exempted) drawn on any
Scheduled Bank (preferably State
Bank of India) payable at
Bangalore in favour of Bharat
Electronics Limited.
How to Apply : Application
forms, complete in all respects
should be sent to Dy. General
Manager (HR/Central), Bharat
Electronics Limited, Jalahalli Post,
Bangalore 560 013 by ordinary
post only, on or before 26.12.2012.
For More Information
h t t p : / / w w w . b e l -
india.com/sites/default/files/ITI_
WEB_ADVT.doc
Application are invited for the
Posts of Management Trainee in
State Farms Corporation of India
Limited (SFCI).
Post Name : Management Trainee
Qualifications : Two years full
time P.G Degree/ Diploma in
Personnel Management/ Industrial
Relations/ Labour Welfare/ HR
Management or 02 years full time
MBA (HRM) with min. 60 %.
No. Of Post : 10 Posts.
Age Limit : Max 30 Years.
Pay Scale : Rs.16400-40500/-
Application Fee : DD / Bankers
Cheque of Rs. 500/- in favour of
State Farm Corporation of India
Limited payable at New Delhi
towards application fees. No fee
for SC/ST Physically challenged
candidates.
How to Apply : Application com-
plete in all respect along with
attested copies of Certificates/
Testimonials should be sent to the
General Manager (HR) at the State
Farms Corporation of India Ltd.,
Farm Bhawan, 14-15 Nehru
Place, New Delhi 110019 by
post/courier
Last Date: 07.01.2013.
For Detail Visit:
http://www.sfci.nic.in/Recruitmen
t_20121211.asp
S.F.C.I.
BEL
25
EMPLOYMENT NEWS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and
Management has issued notification for filling up of 20 Various Non
Teaching Vacancies.
Total No. of Vacancies: 20
Name of the Posts:
1. Assistant Librarian 01 post
2. Accounts officer 01 post
3. Executive Assistant 06 posts
4. Lab Incharge 06 posts
5. Lab Technician 06 posts
Age limit: Candidates Upper age must be 30 years for Executive
Assistant & Lab Technician posts, 35 years for Accounts Officer & Lab
Incharge posts, 45 years for Assistant Librarian posts.
Educational Qualification: Masters Degree in Library Science/
Information Science/Documentation Science or an equivalent profession-
al Degree for Sr. No. 1 post, Chartered/ Cost Accountant or B.Com with
MBA(Finance) for Sr. No. 2 post, Graduate in any discipline with MBA
for Sr. No. 3 posts, Degree in Food Science & Technology/equivalent
with subjects Biochemistry/ Microbiology/ physics/ Chemistry/ Biology
for Sr. No. 4 posts, Bachelors Degree/ Diploma in Food Science
Technology and other related subjects Biochemistry, Microbiology/
physics/ Biology/Chemistry for Sr. No. 5 posts.
How to Apply: Applicatioon form can be downloaded from the site
www.niftem.ac.in and fill it with all mandatory details, affix photograph,
enclose all copies of necessary documentary proofs in support of age,
caste, education and super scribe the cover by the name of the post
applied for and send it to Registrar, NIFTEM, Plot No.97, sector-56, HSI-
IDC Industrial Estate, Kundli 131028, District Sonepat, Haryana
Last Date Submission of Applications: 31-12-2012.
For Detail Visit:
http://www.niftem.ac.in/NIFTEM/currentJobopenings.jsp
N.I.F.T.E.M.
Jawaharlal Nehru University has issued notification for filling up of 05
vacancies of Sr. Linguist, Linguist, Sr. Technical Assistant and Language
Editor on temporary basis in DIT sponsored project Indian Languages
Corpora Initiative (phase2). Eligible candidates can send their Bio-Data
form on or before 27-12-2012.
Total No. of Vacancies: 05
Name of the Post:
1. Sr. Linguist 01 post
2. Linguist 02 posts
3. Sr. Technical Assistant 01 post
4. Language Editor 01 post
Educational Qualifications: Candidates must possess M.Phil or equiva-
lent in Urdu Language/ Linguistics/ Language Technology for Sr.
Technician post and Linguist posts, B.Ain Urdu with diploma in comput-
ers along with the knowledge of Language technology, experience in
office applications and procedures for Sr. Technical Assistant post, B. A
in Urdu or English (Native Urdu Speaker) along with knowledge of data
entry in Unicode for Language Editor post.
How to Apply: Candidates have to send their Bio-Data in a standard
form by affixing photograph, and enclose copies of necessary documen-
tary proofs in support of age, caste, qualification, experience, research
work and super scribe the cover by the name of the post to be applied for
to Professor Mazhar Mehdi Hussain, Project Director, Centre for Indian
Language, School of Language, Literature & Cultural Studies, JNU, New
Delhi 110067.
Last Date for Applying: 27-12-2012.
For Detail Visit: http://www.jnu.ac.in/Career/currentjobs.htm
Jawaharlal Nehru
University. Directorate of Lighthouses & Lightships invites applications ONLINE
OR OFFLINE for filling up the Posts of Navigational Assistants in
Jamnagar, Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, & Visakhapatnam.
Name of the Post : Navigational Assistant Grade III
No. of Posts : 23 Posts (UR 12 ; OBC 05 ; SC 04 ; ST 02) out
of which Ex-SM 3 posts and PH 01
Pay Scale : Rs. 5200 20200 + Grade Pay Rs.2400/-
Qualification : Diploma in Electronics or Tele communication or
Electronics and Communication or Electrical and Electronics from a
institution recognized by Central Government or State government
Age Limit : Between 18 to 27 years as on 31.01.2013. Candidates born
between 31.01.1986 and 31.01.1995 can apply.
Place of Posting : Place of posting at any Lighthouse Station including
remote & island locations under Jamnagar, Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, &
Visakhapatnam Directorates, liable to be transferred anywhere in India.
Examination fee : Rs.100/- for General and OBC Candidates (Rs.50/- for
SC/ST Candidates) DD / IPO drawn at any nationalized bank in favour
of Director of Lighthouses & Lightships, Mumbai payable at Mumbai.
How to Apply : Candidates may apply either ONLINE or OFFLINE.
Online : Apply through http://www.dgllnoida.gov.in/recrutment.html
OFFLINE : Candidates are required to apply in the prescribed format.
Applications duly supported with attested true copies of certificates &
testimonials of suitable candidates by Registered / Speed Post should
reach on or before 31.01.2013 addressed to the Director, Directorate of
Lighthouses & Lightships, Deep Bhavan, M.G.Road, Ghatkopar (East),
Mumbai 400 077 (Maharashtra).
Last Date : 31st January 2013
For Detail Visit:
http://www.dgllnoida.gov.in/Notification%20with%20application%20fo
rm%20.pdf
Directorate of
Lighthouses & Lightships
Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) under Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has issued notification against
recruitment of 14 Junior Research Fellow, Research Fellow and Project
Assistant vacancies.
Total No of Vacancies: 14
Names of the Posts:
1. Project Assistant I: 02 Posts
2. Project Assistant II: 04 Posts
3. Project Assistant III: 03 Posts
4. JRF (Project): 02 Posts
5. Research Associate: 03 Posts
Age Limit: Candidate should have 28 years for JRF, Project Assistant I,
II & III Posts and 32 years for Project Assistant III Post and 35 years for
Research Associate Post (Age relaxation is applicable as per rules).
Educational Qualification: M.Tech (Bio Technology)/ M.Sc
(Pharmacy)/M Pharmacy/M.Sc (Organic Chemistry) /M.Sc (Bio
Technology)/ M.Sc/B.Sc (life Sciences)/ Ph.D in relevant disciplines
with experience mentioned in the notification.
Selection Process: On the basis of performance in interview.
How to Apply: Eligible candidates can download the application format
available in the website www.iictindia.org and attend for interview along
with filled application form and affix recent colored passport size photo-
graph on it and one set of attested photo copies of certificates and the can-
didates are required to bring all the original certificates for verification at
9.30 AM to the IICT, Hyderabad-500 607
Walk in Dates: 17-12-2012, 18-12-2012 & 19-12-2012 as per the post
mentioned in the notification.
Registration Time: 09.00 AM to 10.30 AM
For Detail Visit: http://www.iictindia.org/win12.pdf
I.I.C.T.
Application are invited for the
Posts of Assistant General Manger,
Dy. Manager in National Mineral
Development Corporation Limited
(NMDC).
Post Name : Inplant Training
Qualifications : Graduate from
any recognized University/
Institute of repute. Should have
proficiency in Stenography and
Typewriting and working knowl-
edge of PC with about 25 years of
experience in the above areas.
Age Limit : Max 65 Years.
How to Apply : Interested candi-
dates may send their application in
the prescribed format along with
copies of certificates to Assistant
General Manager (Personnel)
(R&P), NMDC Ltd., 10-3-311/A,
Khanij Bhavan, Castle Hills,
Masab Tank, Hyderabad 500028
Last Date: 04/01/2013.
For More Information
http://nmdc.co.in/Careers/Default.
aspx
NMDC
Application are invited for the
Posts of cientist, Programmer in
Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR).
Post Name : Scientist
Qualifications : First Class
Masters Degree in Computer
Science (MCA/ MSc in Computer
Science) from a recognized uni-
versity or equivalent and two years
of active research experience for
working in the field of Biomedical
Science and Data Management.
Desirable : Experience in data
management, developing software,
utility Programs and data process-
ing. Candidate possessing active
working experience in the related
field will be preferred.
No. Of Post : 02 Posts.
Age Limit : 35 Years.
Pay Scale : Rs.15600-39100/-
How to Apply : Candidates may
send their application in the
attached proforma with one attest-
ed copy each of the certificates
and testimonials with claimed
experience certificate to Sr.
Administrative Officer, Division
of Publications & Information,
ICMR (HQ), New Delhi. candi-
dates should send their application
through e-mail at onlinextramur-
al@gmail.com.
Last date: December 26, 2012.
For More Information
http://icmr.nic.in/icmrnews/icmr_
posts.pdf
ICMR
26
CLASSIFIED
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
For Booking Advertisment In
Student Age
Newspaper
Cont act : 2459702, 9796487871
DISCLAMIER
STUDENT AGE does not take
responsibility for the contents of
the advertisements. (Display clas-
sified) carried in this newspaper.
The paper doesnot endorse the
same. Readers are requested to
verify the contents ons their own
before acting there upons.
JOB IN JAMMU
MNC dks vius
Office/ Non-Office
dk;Z ds fy, 30 M/F
dh t:jr gSaA
Qual:10/12/Grad./P.G.
Income: Rs.8,000 to
Rs.15,000 pm as per
office rule.
Omega International,
Hall 101, South Block,
Bahu Plaza, Jammu
(M): 9906083095, 9205072038
Placements Education Misc.
Free
Computer
Course
No
Engl i sh
Speaki ng
Course i n
Monthly Fee
Security Fee
Course Fee
just 45
days
Also provides Tutions for
1st to 12th
Classes
Shastri Nagar, Jammu
Ph: 9796287997, 9796288033
Sai I n s t i t u t e o f
I T & Mg m t .
Education Misc Misc
Computer
work at Home
Part Time
Earn Rs.5000 to
Rs.25,000 per month
Jasmine Job
Placement
17A/C, Gandhi Nagar,
Near Shaurya Motors
PH: 8803041854,
9419797837
JOB JOB JOB
Coaching Available for
RIMC
Sanik School, Military School
SHARDA EDUCATION
ACADEMY
Address: 234, Shastri Nagar, JMU
Transportation Available
Phone No: 2434374, 9419111824
Anita Ghai
Astrologer
DI VI NE PATH
*Horoscope Reading *Easy Remedies
*Future Predictions *Match Making
*Comp. Horoscope
Sector-3, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu
Ph: 9086607979
MAX RENTAL SERVICE
1,2,3 Bedroom Set Residential,
Commercial, & Independent Set in
area Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar,
Channi , Sanik Colony, Rehari,
Janipur & Canal Road
Contact For Sale and Purchase
Add: 466-A, Last Morh Gandhi
Nagar, Opp. Shafa Clinic Jammu.
Contact: 9697272446
JOBS
TELECOMUNICATION SECTOR
1 Computer Operator 3 Tally Caller
2 Receptionist/ Counsellor 4 Accountant
MAX WORTH BUSSINESS ASSOCIATES
Add: 466-A, Last Morh, Gandhi Nagar, Opp.
Shafa Clinic Jammu.
Contact: 9697272446, 9622391842
E-mail:maxworthbusiness@gmail.com
m-=vI, s+u: ,
< Iv: mI-
v v : s m- (
v: v: = +v<,
-` v:I = u:vvI
,= #I v *, v.
v *, I :
I< vv , = +-
# s v : vIa-
=++ v =r-
v Iv I=
v . M . P #
= Iv+< :I-+=
- :Im.
(M): 9018574888
(M):9018544225
Iu* +- *a- v -
Festival Offer
Dual Core@13999
Dual core 2 GB RAM, 250 GB
HDD, 15.6" LED, DVD WR
Intel pentinum-IV
Computer
1 GB Ram, 80 GB HDD, 15.6"
LED, DVD WR
Laptop DualCore
@20,300
SINGH COMPUTER
Shopping Complex, Bakshi
Nagar Ph: 9419310812
9200
Ph: 9086322884
Gotti Showroom
14, Shastri Nagar, Jammu
VLMR Traders
Near Ram Darbar Temple
Buy Partywear Pent Coat
at Rs.2499/- and
Get one Shirt Free
Buy 2 Womens Jeans
at Rs.1199/- and
Get Partywear Frock Free
GOTTI
JK
CAR BAZAR
To Let 2 Halls 600sqft
(Bathroom Attached)
Address: Near Chand Buliding
Main Road, Last Morh Gandhi
Nagar, Jammu.
(M) 9419199900
Re-appear
12th & 10th
(No Success No Fee)
(All Subjects)
NEWFANGLED STUDY CENTRE
19-A, 2nd Extn. Gandhi Nagar, Jammu
Mob: 9419164232, (O) 2459548
Booki ng started f or Engi neeri ng and
Medical Streams under management quota
seats for reputed Colleges of Northern
India. Purely on Government approved fee
structure. No donation required.
(i )B.D.S, B.Tech, M.B.A., B.B.A, M.C.A,
B.Sc., Nursi ng Hotel Management, Law,
Di pl oma, l at eral ent ry. Homeopat hi c
Degrees and other courses availabl e at
Solan H.P.
(i i)Computer repairing, Hardware/ Software
facilities also available.
(i i i )ISO certi f icat i on and Trade Mark
Regi stration for business community is
also available.
RAINA EDUCATION CONSULTANCY
(Opposite Sub Treasury Tirth
Nagar Talab Tillo Jammu)
Mob: 94191-37183
ADMISSION BOOKING 2013
* Above 5000 students cl eared
and sent abroad from Daffodil s
Centres across India.
* Average success rate 6.5 bands
* Learn Interview, reading, speak-
ing techniques.
* Get i nfo on Col leges, admis-
sions, accommodation abroad.
* Di scuss work and st udy
opportunities abroad.
* Guest motivati on lecturers
* Intro to foreign countri es
* Study Visa guidance
* British Council and IDP certi fied
registration centre.
DAFFODILS ENGLISH ACADEMY
PVT. LTD.
9697123835, 0191-2437715
26 B/C Gandhi Nagar, Jammu
www.daffodilsstudy.com
Softek Institute of IT
FREE 5 GIFTS WITH
EVERY LAPTOP
COMPUTER PLAZA
HP|COMPAQ|ACER|
LENOVO|DELL|HCL|
ASUS|SAMSUNG
LAPTOP'S
&
DESKTOP'S
Shalamar Road Jammu.
9419278779,9469000071
0191-2565525
Mob: 9419190840
M/s Durga Properties
Deals in: Sale & purchase
of properties, land, plots
& buildings
186-B.S. Sainik Colony, Jammu
National Institute of Science, Technology, and Development Studies, New Delhi has
issued notification for 15 project Staff at Various Levels. Eligible candidates can
apply in a prescribed format though email on or before 26-12-2012 by 5.30 pm.
NAME OF THE POST:
1. Project Fellow (PF) 2. Senior Project Fellow (SPF)
Age Limit: Candidates age must be 28 years for Project Fellow posts and 32 years
for Senior Project Fellow as on 26-12-2012.
Educational Qualifications: M.Sc./MA/B.Tech or equivalent degree from a recog-
nized university with minimum 55% marks for Project Fellow posts, M.Sc/ MA/ BE/
B.Tech or Equivalent degree from a recognized university with 55% marks along
with one publication in SCI/SSCI journal and should have completed at least 2 years
of post M.Sc/MA/BE/B.Tech & Research Experience for Senior Project Fellow post.
Selection Process: Candidates will be selected on the basis of interview.
How to Apply: Candidates can apply in a prescribed format and send through email
istip_nistads_2012@yahoo.com by 26-12-2012.
Last Date for Applying: 26-12-2012
For Detail Visit: http://www.nistads.res.in/images/Job/SupraAdvertisment.pdf
National Institute of Science,
Technology, and Development Studies
Rajiv Gandhi University
Application are invited for the
Posts of Office Assistant, Research
Associate in Rajiv Gandhi
University (RGU).
Post Name : Office Assistant
Educational Qualifications :
B.Sc/ B.Com having expertise in
computer application.
Age Limit : 65 Years.
Pay Scale : Rs.22000/- Per Month
How to Apply : Applications com-
pleted in all respect should be sent
to Prof. H. N. Sarma, Coordinator,
Center with Potential for
Excellence in Biodiversity and
Head of the Department of
Zoology, Rajiv Gandhi University,
Rono Hills, Doimukh, Itanagar
791112, Arunachal Pradesh
Last Date: 31/12/2012.
For More Information
http://rgu.ac.in/jobsatrgu.html
27
SCHOOL LIFE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
P
hotography captures one's
imagination in a fascinating-
ly beautiful manner. A pho-
tographer interplays with artistic
talent and technical skills to create
freezing momentous pictures in a
single photo frame. With the boom-
ing of the fashion industry, commu-
nicating networks, advertising
media, and digital photography,
career in photography is evolving as
one of the most challenging profes-
sions with great commercial value.
To create a successful position in
this lucrative career option, one
needs to possess an eye for aesthet-
ical details and composition with
good visual and communicating
ideas, along with the requisite tech-
nical expertise. Through technical
training, one can polish his/her
inherent skills and acquire the ade-
quate knowledge about light, back-
ground, color, shades, human
expressions, visual effect, and
nature, to outshine in this competi-
tive field.
Course Details
Photography can be taught at
several levels of programs, provid-
ed by a good number of institutes in
India. Most of these institutes
impart traditional courses in pho-
tography, whereas some institutes
offer photography as a secondary
subject. One can even opt for part-
time or full-time professional cours-
es and crash courses in photogra-
phy, ranging from 7 days to 3 years
in duration. Photography can also
be learnt by pursuing degree/diplo-
ma/certificate courses, according to
his/her own choice and conven-
ience. These courses are offered in
several domains of photography,
such as fashion photography, pro-
fessional photography, motion pic-
ture photography, basic photogra-
phy, advanced photography, fashion
photography, digital photography,
and photo journalism. After com-
pleting 10+2 level examination, one
can enroll for a Bachelor's degree,
Diploma, or Certificate program in
photography and its related areas.
Career Prospects
Upon completion of educational
training in photography, the profes-
sional world offers a number of
opportunities in different fields.
Umpteen career paths are available
in the diverse realm of photography,
such as press photographer or photo
journalist, ad and fashion photogra-
pher, portrait photographer, indus-
trial photographer, feature photog-
rapher, wildlife photographer,
forensic photographer, and scientif-
ic, technical and medical photogra-
pher. As a professional photogra-
pher, one can expect sufficient job
offers in advertising agencies,
newspapers, magazines, fashion
and design houses, news channels,
industrial houses, and various gov-
ernment departments.
Photographers can work on specific
themes and click pictures of
brochures, catalogues, product
manuals, company layouts, and
newsletters in advertisement agen-
cies and industrial houses. What's
more, working as a freelancer on
wildlife photography, travel, wed-
ding, sports and environmental pho-
tography is always open for creative
and innovative professional photog-
raphers.
Institutes Offering
Numerous institutes in India
offer several courses in photogra-
phy. The most prominent institu-
tions are: National Institute of
Design (NID), Ahmedabad; Sir JJ
School of Applied Arts, Mumbai;
Shari Academy of Photography and
Digital Imaging, Mumbai;
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological
University, Hyderabad; College of
Art, Delhi University; Xavier
Institute of Communications,
Mumbai; Ambitions 4 Photography
Academy, Chennai; National
Academy of Photography, Kolkata;
National Institute of Photography,
Mumbai; Sri Aurobindo Centre for
Arts & Communication, New
Delhi; Mass Communication
Research Centre, Jamia Millia
Islamia, New Delhi; Academy of
Photography, Rabindra Bharati
University, Kolkata; Film and
Television Institute of India, Pune;
Creative Hut, Ahmedabad;
Ravishankar University, Raipur;
Fergussen College, Pune; Vineye
Photo School, Maharashtra; Delhi
School of Photography, New Delhi;
Garware Institute of Career
Education and Development
(GICE), Mumbai; Quick
Photographic Technical Institute,
Thiruvananthapuram; Satyajit Ray
Film and Television Institute
(SRFTI), Kolkata; and Southern
Film Institute,
Thiruvananthapuram.
Remuneration
There is no predictable salary
structure in professional photogra-
phy. It is very difficult to start your
own business or become a free-
lancer in the early stages of the
career. Hence, it is best to join a stu-
dio or assist a senior photographer
to learn the nuances and details of
professional photography. At the
entry level stage of assisting, you
can earn about Rs. 7000 per month.
However, if you are fortunate
enough to get recruited in a com-
mercial photography organization
as a fresher, you can get a pay pack-
age of Rs. 15,000 per month, which
is bound to increase with time and
experience. Once established, you
can make hefty earnings, depending
upon the assignments taken up.
CAREER IN PHOTOGRAPHY
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Evergreens protect their
needle-like foliage from
freezing with waxy coat-
ings and natural
"antifreezes." But
broadleaf plants, like sugar
maples, birches, and
sumacs, have no such pro-
tections. As a result, they
shed their leaves.
But before they do, the
plants first try to salvage important
nutrients such as nitrogen and phos-
phorus.
The process treats leaf-peepers to
riotous displays of autumn color, as
green leaves turn into brilliant or
muted shades of gold, orange, yel-
low, and red.
Inside the Leaf
Chlorophyll gives leaves their
green color throughout the growing
season. The compound is essential
for photosynthesis, a chemical
reaction that converts sunlight into
carbohydrates.
Leaves also contain carotenoids.
These natural pigments, which pro-
duce yellow, orange, and brown
hues in plants, from buttercups to
carrots, are always present.
The colors of carotenoids are easily
masked by green chlorophyll, at
least until shrinking daylight and a
nip in the air signal fall's arrival. At
that time broadleaf plants slow and
eventually stop their chlorophyll
production, thus revealing the dis-
tinctive golden, orange, and yellow
hues of carotenoid pigments.
What is Mother Nature's recipe
for an especially spectacular sea-
son?
Since daylight wanes at a constant
rate each fall, other factors, like soil
moisture and weather, ensure that
no two autumns are alike.
Why Do Fall Leaves Change Color?
28
SCHOOL LIFE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
Mridula Sarabhai
Born - 1911
Died - 1974
Achievements - Despite belong-
ing from one of the most Mridula
Sarabhai was an active Ghandian
all her life. When she was merely
10 years old, she worked with the
Vanar Sena of the Indian National
Congress, carried messages and
water for the Satyagrahis. Later,
she was appointed a Gujrati dele-
gate of the All India Congress
Committee in 1924. Sarabhai also
played a pertinent role in the orga-
nizational machinery of the
Congress party by spearheading
its women's wing.
A loyal follower of the great
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
during the Indian struggle for
independence, Mridula Sarabhai
was a well known freedom fighter
as well a social activist of her
time. She hailed from the famous
Sarabhai family of Ahmedabad
city in the Gujarat state. Born in
the year 1911, Sarabhai's family
then comprised among the most
affluent ones in Ahmedabad city.
Keep reading this biography to
know more about Mridula
Sarabhai.
Mridula Sarabhai was one of
the eight children of Ambalal
Sarabhai and Sarla Devi and used
to be taught at home by a series of
British and Indian tutors under the
supervision of her family mem-
bers. However, in contrary to her
other siblings she enthusiastically
responded to the call of Mahatma
Gandhi's boycott of everything
foreign. As such, she refused to
outside India for her further stud-
ies and enrolled herself at the
Gujarat Vidyapeeth in the year
1928.
This was just the beginning of
the political life history of Mridula
Sarabhai, who even dropped out of
school to participate in the famous
salt Satyagraha. Infact, it was from
a very early age that Sarabhai
came under the influence of
Gandhiji. For instance, when she
was merely 10 years old, she
worked with the Vanar Sena of the
Indian National Congress, carried
messages and water for the
Satyagrahis.
Further at the direction of
Jawaharlal Nehru who was in the
time to come become her lifelong
friend and mentor, Mridula
Sarabhai worked for the Youth
Conference at Rajkot in 1927.
Earlier, she was also appointed a
Gujrati delegate of the All India
Congress Committee in 1924.
Sarabhai played a pertinent role in
the organizational machinery of
the Congress party by spearhead-
ing its women's wing.
During the year 1946, Pandit
Nehru elected Mridula Sarabhai as
a general secretary of the Indian
National Congress and also a
member of the Congress Working
Committee. Sarabhai, however,
resigned and followed Gandhiji to
Noakhali when riots broke out.
Her role in maintaining communal
peace and harmony during the out-
break of violence at the time of
India's partition was hugely
applauded by leaders from India
and Pakistan.
FREEDOM FIGHTER: Mridula Sarabhai
H
umayun's tomb lies on the
Mathura road near its
crossing with the Lodi
Road. High rubble-built walls
enclose here a square garden
divided initially into four large
squares separated by causeways
and channels, each square divided
again into smaller squares by
pathways ('Chaharbagh') as in a
typical Mughal Garden.
The lofty mausoleum is located
in the centre of the enclosure and
rises from a podium faced with
series of cells with arched open-
ings. The central octagonal cham-
ber containing the cenotaph is
encompassed by octagonal cham-
bers at the diagonals and arched
lobbies on the sides, their open-
ings closed with perforated
screens.
Three emphatic arches domi-
nate each side, the central one
being the highest. This plan is
repeated on the second storey, and
a 42.5m high double dome of mar-
ble surmounts the roof with pil-
lared kiosks ('chhatris') placed
around it. The structure is built
with red sandstone, but white and
black marble has been used to
relieve the monotony, the latter
largely in the borders.
Haveli Of Hakeem Ashanullah
Khan
The haveli of Hakeem
Ashanullah Khan, personal physi-
cian of the emperor Bahdur Shah
Zafar, was a fortress for those who
were able to hide themselves here
in the 'ghadar'- the Sepoy Mutiny
time. The mansion almost covers
2,000-square-yards and appears to
be a mohalla itself. It was because
of the orders of the Hakeem that
Ghalib was given the scholarship
to write the history of the Mughal
dynasty. Immediately after the
Mutiny, British confiscated the
house of the Hakeem. It was soon
returned too, but not before it was
stripped of the old chandeliers and
lamps.
True Mughal Architecture
The tomb was built by
Humayun's senior widow Bega
Begam, popularly known as Haji
Begam, nine years after his death
in 1565 according to some, but
fourteen years according to the
manuscript of an 18th century
text.
It is the first substantial exam-
ple of the Mughal architecture,
with high arches and double
dome, which occurs here for the
first time in India. Although some
tombs had already been sited
within gardens, it is also the first
mature example of the idea of gar-
den-tomb, which culminated in
the Taj-Mahal at Agra.
The enclosure is entered through
two lofty double-storeyed gate-
ways, one on the west and the
other on the south, the latter now
remaining closed. A 'baradari'
(pavilion) occupies the centre of
the eastern wall of the enclosure
and a bath-chamber that of the
northern wall.
A Homage To The Royal
Dynasty
Several rulers of the Mughal
dynasty lie buried in the mau-
soleum, although it is not possible
to identify their graves. Among
those lying buried here are Bega
Begam, Hamida Banu Begam -
Humayun's junior wife, Dara
Shikoh - Shah Jahan's son, and the
later Mughals, Jalandar Shah,
Farrukhsiyar, Rafi'u'd-Darajat,
Rafi'u'd-Daula and 'Alamgir II,
Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal
emperor of Delhi had taken shelter
in this tomb with the three princes
during the mutiny and was cap-
tured here in 1857 by Lieutenant
Hodson.
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS: HUMAYUN'S TOMB
* Rabbits and parrots can see
behind themselves without even
moving their heads!
* The most rainfall ever recorded
in one year is 25.4 meters (1000
inches) in Cherrapunji, India.
* The highest temperature ever
recorded in Antarctica is 14.6 C
(59 F), recorded on January 5,
1974.
* Two positive charges repel each
other, as do two negative charges.
Opposite charges on the other
hand attract each other.
* Electric current is measured in
amperes (amps).
* Hydrogen is the
first element on
the periodic table.
It has an atomic
number of 1. It is
highly flammable
and is the most
common element
found in our universe.
* Butterflies taste food by stand-
ing on top of it! Their taste recep-
tors are in their feet unlike
humans who have most on their
tongue.
Fast Facts
* Cover a cardboard tube with
patterned paper.
* Cut a triangle head and two
large and two small
oval ears out of
paper.
* Glue the smaller
ears inside the larg-
er ones and fold in
half. Glue to top of
triangle.
* Cut felt circles for
eyes. Glue googly
eyes to felt. Add
pom-pom nose.
* Glue the triangle
to the top center of
the tube.
* Use straws and pipe cleaners to
make antlers.
Easy Christmas Crafts
29
SCHOOL LIFE
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
A
lazy grasshopper laughed at
a little ant as she was
always busy gathering
food.
"why are you working so hard?" he
asked, "come into the sunshine and
listen to my merry notes."
"But the ant went on her work.
She said" I am lying in a store for the
winter. Sunny days won't last forev-
er." "Winter is so far away yet,
"laughed the grasshopper back.
And when the winter came, the
ant settled down in her snug house.
She had plenty of food to last the
whole winter. The grasshopper had
nothing to eat so, he went to the ant
and begged her for a little corn.
"No", replied the ant, "you
laughed at me when I worked. You
yourself sang through the summer.
So you had better dance the winter
away."
MORAL: Idleness is a curse.
An Ant & A Grasshopper
WORD SEARCH
Ours is a world where people don't know
what they want and are willing to go
through hell to get it.
~ Anonymous
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
FUN TIME
Squirrely Shirley
lived in a tree
where she hoarded her nuts
so selfishly.
No matter what happened
she wouldn't share.
Her nuts were her nuts and
she just didn't care
that Dilmont the deer
and Harry the hare
and Ronnie the robin
and Benny the bear
were hungry. As hungry
as hungry could be.
Squirrely Shirley just watched them
from high in her tree.
She laughed while she popped
each nut into her mouth,
while the others were searching for
food north and south.
Squirrely Shirley
lived in a tree
till she got so fat
she could hardly see.
Then one day she noticed
an overlooked nut
on the end of a twig and she want-
ed it, but She had gotten so heavy
the branch broke in two
and she fell to the ground;
became squirrel and nut stew.
Which just goes to show
that it's not smart to be
a selfish, fat squirrel
when you live in a tree.
Squirrely Shirley
E-MAILYOUR ARTICLES, POEMS, ACHIVE-
MENTS OR WISHES FOR A HAPPY BIRTH-
DAY FOR YOUR FAMILYAND FRIENDS TO
US AT
editors@thestudentage.com
or mail at:
Paramount Publications
12/12, Nanak Nagar
Teacher :
P a p p u ,
your com-
position on
"My Dog"
is exactly
the same
as your
brother's. Did you copy his?
Pappu : No, teacher, it's the same
dog we both wrote on!!!
Teacher : 'A'
for?
Student :
Apple !!!
Teacher : Jor
se bolo
Student : JAI
MATA DI
Ek chota baccha bahut der se ghar
ke bahar khada darwaje ki ghanti
bajane ki kosish kar raha tha.Toh ek
budha aadmi aaya aur kaha:
Budha aadmi: Kya kar rahe ho
beta?
B a c c h a :
Uncle, yeh
g h a n t i
bajana chah-
ta hoon.
B u d h a
a a d m i
(ghanti bajake): Yeh lo bajgaya, ab
kya hai?
Baccha: Ab bhago!
A Sunday school teacher asked the
children just before she dismissed
them to go to church, "and why is it
necessary to be quiet in church?"
Little Johnny
r e p l i e d ,
"Because we
must not disturb
people while
sleeping."
The bus driver was going down
a street. He went right past a stop
sign without stopping. He turned
left where there was a "No Left
Turn" sign. Then he turned the
wrong way into a one-way street.
And yet, he didn't break a single
traffic law. Why not?
PUZZLES
A n s - T h e b u s d r i v e r d i d n ' t b r e a k
a n y t r a f f i c l a w s b e c a u s e i t w a s h i s
d a y o f f a n d h e w a s w a l k i n g .
30
GADGETS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
NEW DELHI: Telecom regu-
lator TRAI on Dec 14 said it
will soon begin a public con-
sultation process for imple-
mentation of free telecom
roaming in the country.
"These are matters that are
still to be decided. The ques-
tion of whether national roam-
ing should be free is a tariff
related issue."It is a matter on
which TRAI is competent to
take a decision," Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI) Chairman Rahul
Khullar told reporters on the
sidelines of 'Telecom India
2012' conclave organised by
Ficci."Very soon, you will see
us take the first move in that
direction. There will be a pub-
lic consultation preceeding any
final decision in the matter,"
he added. Asked if TRAI has
received any reference from
the Department of Telecom
(DoT) so far, Khullar said free
roaming was announced as
part of the National Telecom
Policy 2012. In September,
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal
had said mobile phone
subscribers will not have
to pay roaming charges
with implementation of
"one nation, free roam-
ing" announced earlier
this year.
The government is
hopeful of implementing
free roaming in the coun-
try from next year.
National Telecom
Policy 2012, approved in
May, aims to abolish
roaming charges and
allow mobile phone sub-
scribers to use same number
across country without having
to pay extra charges for servic-
es once they are outside their
telecom circle.
Free roaming : TRAI to begin public consultation soon
NEW DELHI: Apple's Mac Mini and the
21.5-inch iMac, both unveiled alongside
iPad mini on October 23, are currently
available in India. However, the company's
official website for India shows the pricing
for the Mac Mini, but says that the iMac is
'coming soon.'
Apple revisited the seventh generation
of iMac all-in-ones and reduced the thick-
ness of the 21.5-inch model by a whopping
80% vis-a-vis existing models. The new
aluminium and glass casing of the iMacs
reduces their volume by 40%.
The company has removed the optical
drive so that the monitor now measures
5mm at the edges and reduces reflection by
75% without compromising on colour and
contrast, it claimed. For internal storage,
Apple has used a flash drive of 128GB
capacity and FusionDrive - a HDD alter-
nate with capacity varying between 1 to
3TB. Users can also opt for optical drives
for the two
iMac desktop
computers.
The two
desktop com-
puters are
powered by
quad-core i5
or i7
p r o c e s -
s o r s ,
N v i d i a
Kepler
graphics, and 32GB of RAM. These two
AIOs also have 720p FaceTime HD cam-
era, dual mics and dual speakers, four USB
3.0 ports and three Thunderbolt ports.
During the event, Apple also launched
the updated Mac mini with third genera-
tion dual-core IntelCore i5 and quad-core
Intel Core i7 processors that are up
to twice as fast and have up to 65%
faster integrated graphics. Mac
mini comes with 4GB of 1600MHz
memory with support for up to
16GB. The new Mac mini now
includes four USB 3.0 ports
in addition to its
Thunderbolt, HDMI,
SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet and
FireWire 800 ports.
Apple's 21.5-inch
iMac with 2.7GHz and
2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor,
available from November, will be priced at
Rs 85,900 and Rs 99,900 respectively. The
prices of the three versions of Mac mini
will range from Rs 39,900 to Rs 65,900.
T
he shift to smartphones and
tablets became a landslide
this year, crushing desire for
laptop computers and pressuring
manufacturers to adapt to the
mobile Internet era.
The trend promised to gain
momentum in 2013, with people
using handheld gadgets to remain
connected to the Web on the go and
switching to sophisticated systems
in homes or offices.
"Tablets will not kill PCs (per-
sonal computers)," Forrester
Research analyst Frank Gillett said.
"Tablets will force them to evolve."
Signs that the evolution is
underway include Microsoft over-
hauling Windows to synch the
world's most widely used computer
operating system with tablets and
smartphones as well as desktops
and laptops.
Microsoft is even selling its own
Surface tablet based on the
Windows 8 software released in
October.
"I don't think the PC is going
away," said analyst Rob Enderle of
Enderle Group in Silicon
Valley."What is clear is we are
going through some turmoil; the
market is resetting itself around
new products."
While people opt for tablets
instead of laptops for computing on
the move, they will yearn for bigger
screens and more processing power
when they settle down for "real
work," according to analysts.
Gillett described a future in
which people go seamlessly from
working on mobile devices to desk-
top stations where tablets can be
docked and augmented with sen-
sors, processors, bigger screens and
more.He refers to the concept as
"frames" for computing.
The analyst contends that the
limping economy is among factors
behind a temporary lull in PC pur-
chases destined to end as people
"go through this illusion they will
do it all on a tablet and realize they
can't."
"Tablets will substitute for
some, even many, laptops but
because a tablet can't do as much as
a laptop it will eventually stimulate
PC sales," Gillett reasoned.
"What ultimately happens here
is that the laptop and desktop get
rethought and re-invented for a
tablet world."
The market for tablets and
smartphones is red-hot, leaving the
PC as an afterthought for many.
Mobile Internet forcing computers to evolve
NEW DELHI: The new Nokia Asha 205 mobile
phone now includes a bulit-in dedicated Facebook
button. The new phone has a 2.4inch LCD display
with 240x320-pixel resolution. On the back, the
newest device in Nokia's Asha series sports a cam-
era having VGA resolution. Asha 205 has 64MB
internal memory and supports microSD card of up
to 32GB capacity. The device has a 1,020mAh bat-
tery that offers talk time of 11hours and music
playback time of 30hours. This dual-sim phone
works only on 2G networks and cannot access the
internet via 3G or Wi-Fi. The first Nokia phone
with a dedicated Facebook key, Asha 205 is also
the most affordable Qwerty phone by the compa-
ny, priced at Rs 3,499. "Young consumers are
increasingly using Facebook for communication,
socialising and entertaining. The launch of the
Nokia Asha 205 responds to this growing demand
and gives a unique option for consumers at an
affordable price point", Viral Oza, director, mar-
keting, Nokia India said.
Kevin D'Souza, country growth manager,
Facebook India, said Facebook has 65 million
active users in this country. Nokia has also includ-
ed 'Slam' feature in Asha 205. Slam allows con-
sumers to share multimedia content like photos,
music and video with nearby friends almost
instantly, Nokia officials said. Slam works with
most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones without
the need to pair devices, and without the recipient
needing to also have Slam, they said.
Nokia launches Asha
205 with dedicated
Facebook button
Apple Mac Mini, 21.5-inch iMac hit Indian stores
31
NEWS ANALYSIS
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
11 DEC: It is difficult to believe that the UPA Government
does not know what constitutes the violation of the Model
Code of Conduct(MCC) of the Election Commission. Yet, the
regime has gone ahead in recent days to flout the guidelines
brazenly.
Perhaps it realises that the poll panel will do little more
than castigate it for doing so. And it also perhaps believes that
the commission's displeasure is a small price to pay for the
electoral reward that it hopes to get out of making announce-
ments while an election campaign is on. The Congress-led
Government is right about the first presumption. True to form,
the poll panel has merely expressed 'displeasure' over the
regime's announcements. As for the Government's other
implicit reasoning that the promise of recent sops will fetch it
dividends in the coming election in Gujarat, that may not real-
ly materialise because the people have seen through the game
and are unlikely to be influenced by the Government's state-
ments. Faced with objection from the Election Commission,
the Minister said that it was a mere announcement and not an
implementation of the decision. That does not cut ice, because
announcements too come under the Model Code of Conduct
as they are used to lure voters. Moreover, as the poll panel has
pointed out, such statements are in effect and assurance of a
"financial grant".
What do world leaders talk about when they talk about climate change? Mostly money and distant dates.
Bargaining, deferral and the dodging of commitments and responsibility have been more or less what Doha,
this year, was about, ending up with a "gateway" to the next meeting in 2015. The reason why leaders meet
ought to be a shared sense of concern about the planet and its inhabitants, leading to decisions on how to
avert the effects of global warming, especially by cutting down on harmful emissions. But what actually gets
discussed and fought over are how a country might describe itself in order to get away with the least: who
is developed and who is developing, and how are these labels shifting with the years, and how do these
shifts affect what the countries might demand from one another or be held to? It may be asked whether the
world, faced with economic and political crises of a more immediate kind, is at all worried about something
as long-term as the slow effects of global warming (although for countries like Bangladesh or the
Philippines, these effects are immediate and catastrophic).It is China that seems to have made a crucial
transition from 'developing' to 'developed' in the perception of the others, especially the United States of
America (China and the US being the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases). So, China has to be brought
to the negotiating table with the rich countries - a pressure that it is good at dodging, holding on to its 'devel-
oping country' status. The US is equally resistant to anything that looks like a treaty or a legal commitment.
But what has been rescued, though, until 2020, is the Kyoto Protocol (though Japan, ironically, has opted
out of it). But it has to be wound down to a single legal agreement on emission cuts that goes beyond the
distinction between 'developing' and 'developed', creating a truly shared sense of the need for corrective
action. Perhaps the only agreement made at this conference to be somewhat excited about concerns the
adoption of the principle of "loss and damage" that inches towards some sort of "climate justice" by making
richer countries think about compensating poorer ones (like Bangladesh, who led the move towards this
agreement) for slow onset events like rising sea levels, prolonged droughts and storms.
WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS
WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS
UPA flouts MCCs
10 DEC: With the 'Friends of Syria' granting formal recogni-
tion to the Syrian national coalition as the legitimate represen-
tative of the Syrian people, the Syrian opposition now has a
semblance of a structure and an address. There is no denying
its importance given that the lack of coherence among the
opposition forces was jeopardizing the possibility of a dia-
logue with the Bashar al-Assad regime and an eventual polit-
ical settlement of Syria's problem. Since November, rebels
have gained major advantages over the regime's defences,
launched assaults on its military and air force bases, and are
currently closing in on the capital, Damascus. Suddenly, the
fall of the Assad government does not seem to be a distant
possibility any more. None of the international powers wants
to be deprived of its influence in any arrangement that may
take shape eventually. Their alliance with a unified opposi-
tional body that is capable of forming a government is the
surest guarantee of that. The newly-formed Syrian coalition
does not mind that at all, but it has a more immediate concern.
It needs enough weapons to ensure that the military edge
painstakingly gained by the rebel groups on the ground is not
lost and that they can defy the regime's air power by enforc-
ing a no-fly zone with anti-aircraft missiles. Unfortunately,
the coalition's friends, led by the United States of America,
are unwilling to lend it a hand in this matter.
SMALL GAIN
9 DEC: Economically, militarily and politically powerful,
Beijing is asserting itself. China has long been an enigma but
with the recent changes in the top leadership, every official
move is being analysed by China watchers. Some of the
neighbouring nations are already expressing concern about
the Asian giant's ambitions. The recent row on what Japan
considers its airspace over tiny islands in the East China Sea
is a case in point. The two nations, which have strong eco-
nomic ties, have been sparring with each other over territori-
al rights for long. The carping has escalated after Japan
bought the islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in
China, from a private Japanese owner. Both countries have
deployed ships and airplanes in an effort to assert their rights
and the latest incident involved a Chinese government plane
overflying the island. Other nations, like the Philippines,
which has far less economic clout than Japan, have also faced
the blunt arm of China flexing its military and economic mus-
cle, but have preferred to maintain a lower profile in their
protests. It is clear that Beijing considers the South China Sea
as its backyard and thus is being assertive there.The Chinese
civilisation is one of the oldest and the most developed in the
world. It has shown a remarkable capability of adapting to the
changing economic world, and needs to apply its deft touch at
reassuring its neighbours about its intentions.
Dragon power
12 DEC: The unsavoury incident witnessed in the Rajya
Sabha on Wednesday when Bahujan Samaj Party supremo
Mayawati accused the Chairman of failing to run the Upper
House smoothly and allow the introduction of a constitution-
al amendment Bill to provide reservation in promotions in
Government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
is a direct fall-out of the Congress-led UPAregime's ineptness
to develop a consensus on the issue among the various parties
in the Opposition. The issue had also led to the disruption of
proceedings of the Upper House the past few days.
Ms Mayawati's anger is to do with the assurance that she
must have received from the treasury bench that the Bill
would be introduced and passed without any hassle, follow-
ing her categorical support to the Government on foreign
direct investment in multi-brand retail. It is clear that the
Manmohan Singh Government, and specifically the
Congress, had not given a deep thought to the matter. The
Samajwadi Party refused to budge from its stand that it would
not allow the Bill to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha because
the Bill had neither been discussed threadbare nor did it take
care of the interests of the Other Backward Classes. On
Thursday, its members walked out of the House, and only
then could the Bill be taken up for consideration.
13 DEC: Few sitarists played the sitar like he did. Few musi-
cians popularised Indian classical music abroad like he did.
Few Indian instrumentalists enjoyed the cult status across the
globe that he did. Few geniuses were as colourful as he was.
And few of them were as controversial as he was. Everything
about him was inimitable. After all, he was Pandit Ravi
Shankar. Now, no longer among us, but always part of us, he
will live on as long as Indian classical music is heard in this
country and that country, and that country, and in all those
countries where he took the sweet strains of the stringed instru-
ment. Pandit Ravi Shankar was "India's unofficial ambassador
for music"- as The New York Times noted way back in 1985.
Interestingly though the missionary zeal with which he worked
to inculcate a taste for Indian classical music in international
audiences was sparked years before he actually started playing
the sitar professionally.Purists in India would frown upon him
for these deviations but the fact was that Shankar's music still
lay firmly within the established classical framework. But
there was still more to the persona of Pandit Ravi Shankar. For
instance, the two star-studded concerts he (and Harrison)
organised in New York's Madison Square Gardens to raise
funds for Bangladeshi refugees in 1971 set the stage for many
such charitable benefits including the 1985 Live Aid concert.
Sitar has lost its voice
14 DEC: Winter slows down everything in the cold places of
the state , particularly the work in government offices. Some
employees often use cold weather as an excuse for remaining
absent from their duties. No wonder, the number of absent
employees increases in winter. Though we often hear about
employees being suspended for remaining absent, but many
more cases of dereliction of duty go unnoticed or unreported.
Absence from duty can prove fatal in the case of hospitals and
health centres.Last year, scores of doctors were suspended for
unauthorized absence from their duties. The callous employ-
ees don't need a heavy snowfall to stay home. Besides the
winter, this menace of absenteeism has also been helped by
the armed conflict over the last two decades. Though we get
to hear about the surprise inspections and subsequent suspen-
sion of absent employees, there is no real deterrent to the
problem, which has direct bearing on the governance. The
government needs to be proactive to discourage the phenom-
enon of winter absenteeism. There is a need to establish an
effective means of monitoring employee absence in every
government office. The heads of the departments or in-
charges need to set the example by being punctual. They in
turn can send clear message to subordinate staff that unjusti-
fied absence will be taken seriously.
Snowfall sets in Quota Politics
32
STUDENT AGE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 (9 DEC-15 DEC), 2012
C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K
CHIEF-EDITOR, PUBLISHER, OWNER: Rohit Singh Rana, ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD (J&K):Pawan Rathore, DY. CHIEF EDITOR : Vikram Singh Shan, LEGAL ADVISOR: Advocate Ashok Parihar EDITORIAL BOARD: NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Shweta Bhat,
STATE AFFAIRS: Jaswant Singh Rana, SPORTS EDITOR: Naina Jamwal, GRAPHIC DESIGNER : Baleshwer Bali, DESIGNER: Gagandeep Kour, Abhishek Kashyap CIRCULATION TEAM: Sunil Gupta, Rohit Bakshi, Nikhil Raina.
PRINTED AT JK PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS, SUJWAN, JAMMU TAWI.
For Contributing articles mail us at callme.ranasahib@gmail.com, editor.studentage@gmail.com. For Complaints, Querries or Advertisement Contact us: 0191-2459701, 2459702. Address: Sector-12, H.No-12 Nanak Nagar, Jammu
(All disputes are subjected to the exclusive jurisdiction of Jammu District courts only.)
Local Cable namely JK
CHANNEL,TAKE 1,TAKE 1 CINEMA,
MYTV, ISLAM TV, ACTION MOVIES,
WAADI TV, WAADI MOVIES, KASHMIR
ZUBAAN, LIVE KASHMIR ONLY THESE
CHANNELS ARE RUNNING IN SRINAGAR
AND ALSO
Newspaper/Hoarding Spot
Advertisment.
Contact: Peace Creation Advertisment cell
Mob: 9018330003, 9797004546
Promote Your Bussiness
for Kashmir Valley
Regd. PC/w-22/913
JAMMU: 61st All India Police Hockey
Championship, which was started from
December 7, 2012 concluded here this
evening. Minister of State for Home, Jenab
Nasir Aslam Wani was the chief guest on the
closing ceremony.
The championship was hosted by Jammu
and Kashmir Police, which lasted for eight
days. 26 teams from different States and union
territories participated in the championship.
Addressing the function Mr. Nasir
Aslam Wani said that Jammu and Kashmir has
been playing a pivotal role in promoting
sports in the State and honing sports skills of
the youth. He said that such events provide an
opportunity to the sports lovers to witness high
tech competitions among national level teams
and inspire them to refine their talent, excel.
The Minister said that players of the
State, who excel outstanding in the national
events would be provided advanced coaching
so that they could represent the country in
international competitions. He said that gov-
ernment is also considering to make available
job avenues for the outstanding sports persons
in the State.
Mr. Wani said that sports instil a
sense of team spirit and punctuality among the
participants, leading a disciplined life for
them. He said that Jammu and Kashmir Police
has cultivated various sports person in the indi-
vidual and team sports and their contribution
towards promotion of sports culture in the state
has remained appreciable.
Earlier Director General of Police (DGP),
Mr. Ashok Prasad said that JKP is organising
various sports events at different levels to
refine the talent within and outside the depart-
ment. He said that the endeavours have yield-
ed good results and our players brought laurels
at different national, international competitions
for the State and the Organisation. JKP has
stood high in the sports arena, besides its pro-
fessional duties and the organisation has host-
ed different national level championships in
the State, he added.
The DGPdisclosed that more than 26 teams
representing different states and Central Police
Organizations participated in the eight day
long championship. The national champi-
onship was played at two venues in the winter
capital and held under the aegis of All India
Police Sports Control Board, said the DGP.
Mr. Prasad appreciated the efforts of the
Organisers Secretary, Mr. K. Rajendra Kumar
and other members for conducting the champi-
onship in a befitting manner. He said that coor-
dination among the committees constituted,
ensured the arrangements for the prestigious
championship. Arrangements for boarding and
lodging for the guest teams were ensured con-
venient to the visiting teams and the manage-
ment, he said. Additional Director General of
Police, Mr. K. Rajendra Kumar, on the occa-
sion said that the championship has received a
good response from the sports lovers and a
large number of people witnessed the different
matches played at K.K. Haku Stadium and
Jammu University. He thanked the players and
the management for exhibiting high stands of
discipline and morale during the eight day long
championship.
Jehangir chairs meeting of
Environment Committee of LC
JAMMU: The meeting of Environment Committee of
Jammu and Kashmir, Legislative Council was held under the
Chairmanship of Mr. Jehangir Hussain Mir here on Friday.
The Committee undertook threadbare discussions about
the causes of ominously increasing pollution which include
usage of polythene bags, Noise Pollution, water pollution
due to damage of lanes, drains and sewerage, cutting of
trees, Brick kilns, Stone Crushers, Cement Factories and by
pony movement at Vaishno Devi Dham and other
Shrines/forest resorts. Legislators, Mr. Dharam Bir Singh
Oberai and Sh. Jugal Kishore Sharma gave their valuable
suggestions in this regard.
The Committee desired that Commissioner Secretary,
Housing, Vice Chairman, JDA, Administrator Jammu
Municipality, Katra Municipality and Poonch Municipality,
Director Local Bodies Jammu and Additional, CEO Mata
Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (MVDSB) be directed to attend
the next meeting of the Committee schedule to be held on
27th Dec, 2012 to discuss steps to be taken regarding
Pollution Control.
Shabir chairs RKS meeting of
PHC Bagala
RAJOURI :Minister of State for Power, Forests, CA&PD
and Transport, Mr. Shabir Ahmed khan has called upon
medicos and para medicos to work with missionary spirit
for providing all possible medicare facilities to the people
especially living in remote and hilly areas of the State, s
stressing that funds allocated under flag ship programmes
like NRHM,RKS and State plans should be utilized
judiousally for up gradation of health care facilities in hos-
pitals.
Chairing today Rogi Kalyan Simiti meeting of Primary
Health Center, Bagala-Nadyala in Rajouri, the Minister said
that development of health sector is priority of the govern-
ment and the concerned authorities have been asked time to
time to adhere the norms of flag ship schemes and ensure
that creation and up gradation of health infrastructure taken
up be completed well in time for succour of needy ones.
61st All India Police Hockey Championship concludes