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STUdent aGE
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
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IN BRIEF
Pass Hindu Shrines bill in this session: Panun Kashmir to Govt
JAMMU: Panun Kashmir, an organisation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, on Thursday asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to pass the Hindu Shrines bill during the ongoing Budget Session of the state Legislature. "In the absence of any contd on page 2
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meet," Manohar Lal Sharma told CNS adding that the way Mustafa Kamal is issuing statements amply makes it clear that the party is befooling people. Without naming PDP, Sharma said
Criticising the CBI raid, the finance minister said, "In this case I have to say that I strongly disapprove of the action. This action will be misunderstood."
day's political space "supplements and complements what we do" but added that the micro-blogging site could not be an accurate indicator of what people are thinking.
integrity and security of the country. RSS questioned the use of contd on page 2
GHOST OF 1993 FOLLOWS: 5 year Jail for Sanjay Dutt, death for Yakub Memon
NEW DELHI: Delivering its verdict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's conviction under the Arms Act but commuted his jail sentence from six years to five. Dutt had been given sixyear jail term by the TADA court. As he has already spent 18 months in jail, he will now have to spend another three and a half years in prison. The convicts who are on bail, including Sanjay Dutt, will have to surrender within four weeks. Meanwhile, as per reports, he has decided to file a review petition against the verdict. Delivering the verdict the SC said, "The circumstances and nature of offence was so serious that Dutt cannot be released on probation." It also said that the evidence and materials perused by TADA court in arriving at the decision against the actor Dutt were correct. Dutt was convicted in November 2006 for illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle but was acquitted of more serious charges of criminal conspiracy under the now defunct anti-terror TADA. Just after the verdict was announced, a visibly upset Priya Dutt, the actor's sister, talking to reporters outside the court said, "I really don't know contd on page 2
NEW DELHI/GENEVA: UNHRC on Thursday adopted the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka on human rights. 25 countries-including India-voted in favour of the US resolution, 13 against and 8 abstained from voting. India at the UNHRC moved no amendments and said it would encourage Sri Lanka to expedite the process of broad-based, inclusive and meaningful reconciliation. Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva voted on the resolution to press the Sri Lankan government for a more thorough probe of accusations of mass murder contd on page 2
Minister is isolated more today than he was anytime in his political career. His junior coalition partner is uncomfortable over the continued support and attention of Kashmir based political parties for the Parliament attack mastermind. Whatever is the matter but for the sake of fair play and objectivity Omar has said a truth that few have courage to utter. It is a travesty that in the historical sense, truth has always been made first causality in Kashmir. The K-issue is sought to be projected on reasons and logic that defy the reality on the ground. And when untruth is the base how objective consistency can become visible. In such a grey atmosphere which is full of false calculations if CM tells something that comes from his heart it should be taken well. Today
in the vicious and malicious political discourse rationality and common sense are relegated to the background. The result is for all of us to behold. An innocent youth is killed in cold blood after being chased and when he seeks shelter in the house of God, he is killed in full view of people present there. The separatists of the ilk of Geelanis, Maliks, Omars, and Shahs etc remain silent. For them the incident is not worth mentioning. They do not have the guts or the inner strength to come out openly to condemn the cowardly act. What about the active netizens of Kashmir? Regarding Afzal Guru they are very vocal on Blogs, twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites but on the killing of this innocent youth why they have gone into their
shell. It was only four days ago that on cell phones and social sites these netizens at the behest of separatists were sending frantic messages to endorse call for Hartal on Guru but when innocent lives of a Sopore youth or five unarmed CRPF Jawans are taken by terrorists they turn silent. The CM rightly has asked these partisan netizens the cause of their silence. If they are being propped up by some forces inimical to peace and truth then they are doing a great disservice to the cause of lasting peace in Kashmir and if they are selectively silent then they are answerable to their conscience. In either case they need a serious self introspection so that their grey vision is cleared of doubt and calumny. ROHIT SINGH RANA
the resolution against Sri Lanka then suddenly decided to withdraw support to the government nobody thought that the UPA in turn would act so hastily to teach DMK a lesson. Yesterday, the CBI raid on DMK leader's residence is a dismal pointer to the harsh fact that when it comes to using of CBI as potent weapon to browbeat opponents the Congress led UPA is ruthless. The common man is bewildered. He has doubts in his mind. He waits expectantly for the day when CBI will be given full autonomy. He looks up in the heavens and prays for such times to come when politics of vendetta will be given a go by. How long will he have to wait for such days to come? Please answer the pilots of the destiny of this nation. Ranasahib
CONTD.
ly against the established norms of universal human behavior. RSS asked the elected representatives of the State who swear by the Constitution of India to think over the matter cutting across party philosophy or electoral calculations to be cautious about it, RSS State President, Brig (retd) Suchet Singh told reporters here. It is pertinent to mention here that during the course of debates in the State Assembly Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, State Law Minister Mir Saifullah and NC member Nasir Aslam Wani and other members had referred to the mastermind of Parliament terror attack as "sahib" during discussions in the Assembly.NC's coalition partner, the Congress, had also objected to the use of prefix to Guru inside the House along with the BJP and NPP members. ommendations" made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), and to take all necessary additional steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity and accountability, and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans. Apparently the drubbing the BJP suffered in the coastal region in the recent municipal elections has tilted the balance in favour Joshi, though the party fared poorly in his home district Dharwad also. While BJP is still working on caste-region combine to win poll battle, the party's former leader B.S. Yeddyurappa stole a march over it Thursday by releasing the first list of 69 candidates of his Karnataka Janata Party (KJP). Yeddyurappa, who quit as BJP chief minister in July 2011 over mining bribery charges and the party in November last year, had made defeat of his former party as his main aim. He has said KJP would fight all the 224 seats. The assembly has 224 elected and one nominated member. The state Congress leaders, president G. Parameshwara and leader of the opposition in the assembly Siddaramiah are in New Delhi to finalise the party candidates in consultation with central party leaders. The other main party, the Janata DalSecular, has said it would release the first list of its nominees by March 23. The nominations open April 10 and close April 17. Vote count in on May 8.
2
Arsenal Brigade of Indian Army organizes Medical Camp
KATHUA, MARCH 21- As part of Operation Sadbhavana, Indian Army under the aegis of Arsenal Brigade organised a Medical camp at Village Kharote in Kathua district today. Commander, Arsenal Bridge inaugurated the Medical camp which was attended by State Medical officers, officers from civil administration ,eminent citizens and army personnel. A large number of ExServicemen also attended the camp. The Medical camp provided facilities for Eye, ENT, Pediatrician, Surgical, Gynecology and Dental check up along with display of health education videos. The Medical camp at village Kharote was undertaken on the request from the locals. The necessary drugs and medicines were made available by the army during the camp. Commander, Arsenal Brigade assured the villagers that Army would continue to provide all possible assistance to meet their aspirations by giving impetus to developments projects and health care. The Army had earlier undertaken a number of educational and health care projects which included construction of waiting sheds, providing furniture to schools , provision of drinking water tanks for children and improvement of village playgrounds as part of Operation Sadbhavana .
UPSC restores....
the issue, he said the essay paper would now be of 250 marks to be written in the medium or language of the candidate's choice. Bowing to all-round pressure in Parliament, government on March 15 had kept in abeyance the recent controversial notification of the UPSC, giving more weightage to English in these exams. As before, the candidates would be allowed to use any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or English as the medium of writing the examination, he said. The controversial conditionality imposed by the Union Public Service Commission that language would be allowed as the medium of examination only if a minimum of 25 candidates wanted it has been dropped, Mr Narayanasamy said. Further, he said that a candidate would be allowed to take up literature as an optional subject "without the conditionality of having to do his/her graduation in that language's literature." The Minister said these decisions were taken after the government took into account the views expressed by MPs in Parliament, representations on the notification and consultation with different agencies. Government had kept the UPSC notification in abeyance after the two Houses of Parliament witnessed repeated uproar and adjournments, with members terming the notification as "unconstitutional" and demanding its rollback. They had also sought action against the UPSC chief and others responsible for the action, which they said went against regional languages.
MULAYAM BACK...
and melted in the heat of the CBI raid. The CBI may have done its routine duty but it had an extraordinary effect. Mulayam Singh on Thursday indicated that he was not "angry" over the issue of Union Steel Minister Verma's controversial remarks against him. He also indicated at the SP's parliamentary party that there was no threat to the UPA government from the SP. The CBI is a very potent weapon and no political leader can afford to displease the ruling dispensation and invite the wrath of raids and cases.
Karnataka BJP....
assembly polls on May 5. A party release said that Joshi's "appointment comes into immediate effect." Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi is from Dharwad, the home town of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, which is about 430 km north of Bangalore. He is representing Dharwad in Lok Sabha for the second time. His website says "Earlier to and even after his election as MP, Joshi has identified himself as a man-in-service-of-mankind. A member of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), since his young age, Shri. Joshi got himself trained in various training camps of RSS." The BJP settling for Joshi is a clear indication that the party continues to bank heavily on north Karnataka to give it another term in office in the only southern state it has managed to come to power. Shettar was also chosen as chief minister in July last year as is not only from north Karnataka but also belongs to the politically dominant Lingayat community. He is also the first chief minister from the region in 20 years. Joshi is a Brahmin. The BJP's dependence on north Karnataka is understandable as in the last assembly polls in May 2008, the party had won 55 of the 90 seats at state in 11 districts in the region, which exactly half of the 110 seats the party had bagged. By giving two top posts - chief minister and state party president - to north Karnataka region, the BJP will now have to ensure that leaders from other regions, particularly the coastal Karnataka, are mollified as two from the area were also in the race. The two were former chief minister and former party chief D. V. Sadananda Gowda, who has of and on been publicly giving vent to his displeasure at the way the party is being run in the state, and Lok Sabha member Nalin Kumar Kateel.
STATE
NEWS IN BOX
Speaker greets people on Nauroz
JAMMU, MARCH 21- The Speaker Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Media Mubarak Gul today greeted the people of the State especially Shia community on the auspicious occasion of Nauroz. In his felicitation message, the Speaker highlight the significance of March 21 as the World Arbor Day and emphasized the need to plant the maximum number of tress for preserving the environment. Media Gul hoped that the auspicious day would be the harbinger of peace, progress and prosperity of the State.
Minister for CA&PD and Transport, Ch. Mohammad Ramzan along with others distributing the Blankets, Swing Machines among the beneficiaries of different areas of the Kathua. across the state to cover all the habitations of rural and urban area to provide immediate succor to these people. Referring the contribution of NGO's towards the weaker section of the society, the Minister said that their contribution has a greater role for their upliftment. He said the Lions Club had worked hard for humanity, broth hood in past across the state and hoped they would work with same zeal in future also. He recalls the contribution of the Lions Club unit Srinagar in 80's and asked them to open fullfledged unit there to meet the aspirations of the weaker section who became the first victim of two decade long turmoil in valley.
work in this direction. Earlier the Minister distributes the Blankets, Swing Machines among the beneficiaries of different areas of the Kathua. He also distributed the mementos who contributed in society. Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Mrs Zhaida Khan, President Lions Club, Surjeet Singh Jammwal and Region Chairman Lion's Club, Media Vinaya Vig also spoke on the occasion. Later at Phalota village, the Minister addressed the public meeting and assured the people that the ration distribution in Jammu province are being stream lined and in this direction several steps have been taken already. He said every ration holder of the Jammu will get full quto besides 7 lter of K.oil and 700 gms of sugar. The Minister asked the PR's to monitor the public Distribution system in their respective areas and asked the people come forward with valuable suggestion for the improvement of the system.
Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Media Sham Lal Sharma inspecting the on-going renovation and repair works on the main canal. tail end points of R.S. Pura and Bishnah Tehsils. While expressing satisfaction over the progress, the Minister directed the engineers to speed up further the pace and complete the di-silting process so that the water is released in the canal at the earliest. He directed the officers to make judicious use of funds and maintain the quality of works. The Minister also inspected the PHE and Irrigation stations in the twin Tehsils and directed the concerned to ensure work culture and proper upkeep of Government assets. In view of the poor maintenance of PHE reservoir at village Kotla Camp (Krewa) falling under the jurisdiction of PHE Division, Samba, the Minister imposed a fine of Rs. 5000/- each on concerned Executive Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer and called their explanation as well. En-route, the Minister also interacted with the locals and listened to their problems related to drinking water and irrigation faciliies.
Minister for Planning and Development, Labor and Employment, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra addressing a public gathering on 636 Parkash Utsav at Jammu. equality and peace and called for making these cherished principles as way of life. Mr Sadhotra exhorted upon the people to imbibe the spirit of selflessness and rightness, preached by our great saints and Sufis for building a health and harmonious society. Referring to revolutionary land reforms of visionary Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in the State ,he said this was a great visionary looking measure in 50`s when he gave slogan that "land must go to the tiller" and the tillers with one stroke were made land owners within night. This initiative was emulated by many other states of the country, he said. Media Sadhotra said that National Conference is carrying forward this great legacy of Sher-e-Kashmir to ensure that all segments of the society irrespective of cast, creed and colour get equal opportunities of progress. He said that great leader strived for social justice and equality in the society for its overall growth. On the occasion, Shri Shri 108 swami Gurdeep Giri ji maharaj of Dera swami Jagat Giri Pathankot was present. All J&K Guru Ravi Das ji Sabha President Sh. Vijay Lochan, Rtd Principal G.L. Thapa Jaswan Sarpanch, Sh. Nariender Singh Trustee Dera Purshotam Thappa and various senior citizens were also present.
STATE
National Seminar on Declining Sex-Ratio in North -West India held at Jammu University
Special steps underway to strengthen, upgrade health care institutions in J&K: Shabir
JAMMU, MARCH 21: Minister of State for Health, Mr Shabir Ahmed Khan today said that no doubt a lot of improvement has taken in providing better health care to common people of the State but still special efforts are being made by the Government to further strengthen and upgrade the health care Institutions. He said that there has been a lot of improvement in terms of infrastructure, machinery equipments, manpower etc which helped in rejuvenating the healthcare system and resorting faith of the public in the system. However, he expressed concern about the decline sex ratio in the state. The Minister was addressing at a valedictory function organised in connection with "National Seminar on being implemented in letter and spirit on the ground. He said under which there is total prohibition on sex-selective before or after concemediaon. The Minister said that unless and until the members of the Civil Society, Senior Citizens especially women would not come forward and co-operate with Government in implementing law, it is not possible for the Government alone to die-down this heinous crime in the society. He said that the problem of declining sex ratio is a social problem. He also stressed for empowerment of women and providing them better education. He said Government has already banned Practice of sex determination and a number of illegal Ultrasound Centres have been sealed in the State. He said that prize money for giving information about such sex determination clinics have been raised from Rs 25000 to Rs.50000. The Minister further said that Government has also involved religious leaders, Ulmas and senior citizens to aware the common people about the negative impact of sex declining ratio in the society. However, he reminded the audiences, that during the monthly meeting with all the Chief Medical Officers about the latest figures of deliveries and other facilities being provided to the common people, the Minister said the feedback from the ground is positive and hoped that the functionaries would work with same zeal and dedication in future also.
Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan presenting cerificate to the participant during "National Seminar on Declining SexRatio in North -West India. Declining Sex-Ratio in North -West India by Department of Sociology, University of Jammu in collaboration with Centre for Women's studies, University of Jammu, sponsored by ICSSR, North Western Regional CentreChandigarh, Jammu University. Media Khan said that Jammu and Kashmir Government have already taken various steps to curb this menace and in this connection adding that PC & PNDT Act 2002 is already vogue in the state and is
Mian Altaf Kick Starts plantation drive, FPF armoury Taj inaugurates Colour Doppler unit at GMC
Says infrastructure being strengthened to increase seats
JAMMU, MARCH 21: Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Mr Taj Mohi ud din today said that the Government is strengthening the infrastructure at the two medical colleges of Srinagar and Jammu to increase the number of seats at undergraduate level. He said this while inaugurating the Mammography and Colour Doppler section at the GMC Jammu here today. The Minister said the Government is giving a relook at the infrastructure at the two medical colleges as it is a pre requisite for of Forest Department were present on the occasion. Earlier, the Minister visited the CRPF, RTC Humhama and kick started plantation drive being launched by the Social Forestry Department. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that "it is our obligation to preserve greenery, protect tree belts and go for large scale plantation on all wastelands and areas available around our houses, road sides canal banks, schools and other places and institutions". He asked the officers of Forest Department to organize awareness camps to ensure maximum participation of the people in the plantation drive. He said involving print and electronic media in this programme would help to generate awareness among the mass at a large scale. The Minister asked the officers of forest department to achieve the target of plantation fixed for current season, adding a third party monitoring mechanism would be made more effective to check the achievements on ground level.
Minister for Forests, Environment, Ecology and Wildlife, Mian Altaf along with others during plantation drive at Srinagar. tively the timber smugglers and encroachers. He said Chief Minister was keen to see this transformation in real sense by way of making Forest Protection Force more vibrant and a powerful wing of the department. Mian Altaf said that government intends to complete arming of the Forest Protection Force (FPF) in the State in a phased manner. He said equipping Forest Protection Force (FPF) was aimed to enhance the operational capabilities of FP force and will go a long way in protecting the forest wealth of the State. The Minister launched plantation drive by planting sapling of Deodar in the premises of FPF Hqrs to mark the 38th World Arbor Day. The Minister also inaugurated the armoury of the FPF Gamma Unit Budgam and formally issued weapons to the FPF inspectors and guards. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Media Vinod Ranjan, Director FPF, J&K, Media Shafiq Khan, Chief Conservator Forests, Kashmir, Media Manzoor Ahmed and Joint Director FPF Kashmir, Mian Javed besides other senior officers
Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Mr Taj Mohi ud din inaugurating the Mammography and Colour Doppler section at the GMC Jammu. increasing the number of seats. He said the Government would approach the Medical Council of India for giving its nod to increase in the intake capacity of students. But, he said, before that necessary infrastructure up gradation would be made at these two colleges as mandated by MCI norms.
Ensure maximum benefit of dev and welfare schemes to the people: Sagar
SRINAGAR, MARCH 21: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar today exhorted upon officers to ensure maximum benefit of developmental and welfare schemes launched by government to the people and perform duties with full zeal, enthusiasm and sense of responsibility. Media Sagar said that government is committed for the welfare and prosperity of the people besides accomplishing their better economic status This was stated by the Minister while addressing a meeting of officers convened to assess the functioning of various developmental works being executed in Srinagar
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar addressing a meeting of officers at Srinagar. city. Media Sagar asked about the works being executed at Syed Merak Shah Road besides beautification and renovation work of Khankahi Mohallah. He urged upon the officers to speed up the pace of work and complete the tasks within stipulated time. Meanwhile, Media Sagar conducted an extensive tour of Srinagar city and took stock of the pace of developmental works being executed in the city. During the tour, the Minister visited various areas including Miskeen Bagh, Daulatabad, Mirza Bagh, Mughal Mohalla, Raieteng,
sal. On the occasion, The Minister asked people to extend their cooperation for maintaining peace in the valley which is pre-requisite for the development and prosperity of the State adding that people's cooperation is vital in this regard. He also gave on spot directions to concerned authorities to expedite the works being executed for the drainage and sewerage system in the area besides maintaining cleanliness so that people can be benefitted. Media Sagar also made announcement of construction of Public Park in the area for which he directed concerned agencies to prepare necessary report.
EDITORIAL
China meanwhile has just displaced the UK as the fifth biggest arms exporter in the world, and this is principally on the back of its exports to Pakistan, which accounts for a fulsome 55 per cent of all Chinese arms exports. The shrinking of British stature is not surprising and of a piece with its loss of influence globally, but the sophistication and range of the Chinese armaments industry is impressive for an essentially home-grown programme. Whether Pakistan pays for these Chinese armaments in hard currency, or even on the nail, is another matter. But China knows how to extract its pound of flesh from its client state and proxy India baiter anyway. Besides it makes Pakistan hopelessly beholden, particularly with the US in the process of pulling out of Afghanistan. China's inroads into Baluchistan, into a warm-water port on the Arabian Sea bordering the Gulf, into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the upper reaches of the Hindu Kush, and even into Afghanistan, with Pakistani good offices preceding, is a form of payment too. There is also the diplomatic dividend of a tight alliance with the only Muslim nuclear state at present.
for a fulsome 55 per cent of all Chinese arms exports. The shrinking of British stature is not surprising and of a piece with its loss of influence globally, but the sophistication and range of the Chinese armaments industry is impressive for an essentially home-grown programme. Whether Pakistan pays for these Chinese armaments in hard currency, or even on the nail, is another matter. But China knows how to extract its pound of flesh from its client state and proxy India baiter anyway. Besides it makes Pakistan hopelessly beholden, particularly with the US in the process of pulling out of Afghanistan. China's inroads into Baluchistan, into a warm-water port on the Arabian Sea bordering the Gulf, into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the upper reaches of the Hindu Kush, and even into Afghanistan, with Pakistani good offices preceding, is a form of payment too. There is also the diplomatic dividend of a tight alliance with the only Muslim nuclear state at present. Having said that, China does have its own future to think of, which calls for thinking on a much bigger scale, and out-of-the box enough to realise what worked in the 20th century will not suffice in the 21st. In fact, this is evident already even as we are only in the second decade of the new century. Quantum exports to the EU and the US are not what they used to be for China, and unlikely to pick up anytime soon. There is only feeble current growth, and a massive overhang of debt that threatens to collapse many of the constituent economies of the EU. The old borrow-and-spend model is largely discredited and is being pursued with near zero interest rates and easy monetary liquidity only to prevent seizure from sudden withdrawal. All of this applies also to the US with the proviso that it is very much bigger as an economy and more likely to be able to right itself. Africa too cannot pay China enough in currency terms, but can, and does, hand over large tracts of natural resources that can be developed on very favourable terms. But that too costs massive money and China must provide for the infrastructure development before it can cash in. The Iranians and other bits and pieces of the Middle East such as Syria, parts of Libya and Egypt and some of the 'Jasmine' states leaning towards a radical Muslim hue, essentially hostile to the West, can buy Chinese goods and armaments. But these are largely barter deals. Most of it is in exchange for oil, but their populations, and consequently their appetites, are not too large. So, the balance of trade suffers in any case. Asia and the Pacific region is fragmented, overfished by too many vendors, and that really leaves only India. The brand new leadership in China, Li Keqiang just now, and Xi Jinping a little earlier, realise that they need to ramp up the commercial engagement with India which has a vast market of young people and huge pent-up demand for very many things China is good at. And this means real confidence building measures with a country that feels inferior after the 1962 licking and ever since. But yet, we could certainly use Chinese collaboration in many areas. Take for example our quaint railway system, fit only for a remake of
Jewel in the Crown or Richard Attenborough Gandhi. There is nothing remotely up-to-date about the Indian Railways even though it is ostensibly large enough to warrant (debatable) a separate Budget presentation every year. Our infrastructure takes forever to build, and the Chinese by contrast are experts at executing mega projects in record time. For India, it is important not to feel militarily threatened. We have been witnessing an encirclement via our South Asian neighbours Nepal, Sri Lanka, the unreliable and forever delinquent Pakistan, even Myanmar and Bangladesh - but it is starting to dawn on the Chinese that this policy is not serving them very well. All these client states cannot fill Chinese coffers. They need China much more than China needs them. But India could enrich China, as it can all the countries of the West currently down on their luck. This can become the basis of a very different kind of entente cordiale between the two Asian giants that account for nearly half the population of the world. It is no wonder then that President Xi is looking forward to meeting our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the side-lines of the forthcoming BRICS Summit in Durban next week. This is also why President Xi and Premier Li, both representing a change of the power guard in China, have been signalling a desire to boost bilateral ties with India, which they call one of the "most important". It will take us Indians a long overture to trust the Chinese, because we have been there before in the Panchsheel days, only to be roundly thrashed by Chou En Lai and Mao. Besides, proxy Pakistan is in no mood to pipe down. And yet, the future demands a rapprochement that can benefit both countries much more than the present state of wariness.
and wind-powered energy alternatives. The availability of locally generated renewable energy has the potential of fostering confidence in the local community and help achieve growth in sustainable livelihoods. Agro-based industries can derive energy services from biomass powered 100 KW gasifiers that have the capability of delivering affordable electricity for various agro-based activities. Currently the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in collaboration with Development Alternatives is working on the socio-economic feasibility and sustainability of biomass-based renewable energy technologies. The project in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, powers 87 households and treats people as primary stakeholders and therefore functions on build-ownoperate-transfer basis. This is helping the community to understand the economics,
operational and maintenance issues of the facility. Under the project and, with the aid of the Department of Science and Technology, a village load survey is conducted and appropriate technology is sourced and installed. This is followed by the appointment of a Village Energy Committee that operates and manages the biomass gasifier. The recorded socio-economic impact for the renewable energy project at Shivpuri has been interesting. Over 25 acres of land is being irrigated with the help of six irrigation pumps powered by the biomass gasifier. This has enhanced the agricultural productivity and enabled multiple cropping. However the biomass gasifier has its drawbacks. First, in terms of output, getting the producer gas is not difficult, but obtaining it in the proper state is the challenging task. The physical and chemical properties of producer gas such as energy content, gas composition and
impurities vary from time to time. All the gasifiers have fairly strict requirements for fuel size, moisture and ash content. Inadequate fuel preparation is an important cause of technical problems with gasifiers. Second, technology-wise, be it up-draft fixed bed gasifiers or down-draft fixed bed gasifiers, drawbacks exist in form of high amounts of ash and dust particles that remain in the gas as it has to pass the oxidation zone, where it collects small ash particles.The research and development in biomassdriven energy will have to obliterate the above problems in order to gain a wider acceptance besides generating higher and efficient output from the gasifiers. Comparatively, renewable energy options such as community solar power plants are cleaner, efficient and easy to operate. The setting up of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, with the objective
of positioning India as a global leader in solar energy through suitable policies and implementation, shows the Government's intent to encourage establishment of community solar power plants. In 2011 the Gujarat Government set a national example by inaugurating Asia's biggest solar power plant in Banaskantha district. The 30 MW plant set up at a cost of Rs 465 crore investment provides power to 50,000 rural families. The community solar power plants can power up to a 100 households, depending upon the capacity of the power plant and have the capability to have three days of autonomy (days without sun). Solar panels have inherent benefits as they can withstand the hardy rural environment, require low maintenance and can last up to 30 years. However the main problems with solar panels are the high capital cost (as well
as installation cost), the need of a battery, which has to be replaced every four to five years thus increasing operating costs, and the fact that they cannot be produced locally and that spares are expensive. Worldwide rapid developments are pushing the envelope on newer and better ideas of implementing solar power projects. For instance, in Davis, California, United States, residents can purchase plots in the outskirts of their town that come fitted with solar panels and the owners of the plots can use the energy generated on the plot. This model is directly relevant to rural India and can be implemented by involving the local communities. Off-grid renewable energy is the future, and rural communities are increasingly charting the way forward and assuming lead over cities, which are consuming alarming proportions of fossil fuel-derived energy.
National interest needs to be viewed in the long-term interests of larger India, not short-term gains of a particular party or with a view to staying in power. Yours Etc. Suresh Chauhan Bhaderwah
due to bad road conditions has been on the higher sides. A large number of precious lives are lost and several injured in accident for no fault of the innocent citizens. The commuting is also badly affected due to dilapidated road conditions. In cities also, potholes and dug up roads for various reason are posing a threat to the lives of the people. Road repairs and their maintenance are already scandalous in J&K where these contracts are bagged by the politically influential people and ill maintained roads are risky affairs for all citizens and motorists. It is unfortunate that the authorities have refused to wake from its deep slumber and com to the rescue of the people, who contribute to the state exchequer from their hard-earned money for this purpose. But sadly, majority of the funds go down the drain cue to acute corruption in J&K which tops the list of most-corrupt states of the country. Yours etc. Tsering Nurboo Leh (Ladakh)
NATIONAL
highway with bullock carts to stop the vehicular traffic. Police had a tough time in controlling them as they squatted on the highway at several points. Students and lawyers also joined the protests, focusing on Mahabubnagar district to stop vehicles entering Telangana coming from Kurnool district, which is a part of the Rayalaseema region.
nisms would enable local issues being highlighted as prominently as those at the national level," the minister said. Elaborating, Tewari said that there was an urgent need to outline "sustainable revenue models". Quoting the instance of the digitization process of cable television, the minister said it was an attempt to bring about transparency and a long-term sustainable process in the broadcasting sector which would help all stakeholders. "The revenue models would also have to take into account the parameters that were addressing different audiences with the emergence of new media platforms and instant communication mechanisms," he said.
He stressed the need to harness power of technology to improve teaching and to extend educational benefits to remote areas. Referring to small number of patent applications filed in India as compared to developed countries, Mukherjee said that Universities should be fertile grounds for innovation and encourage grassroot innovations. He emphasized the need for establishing world class universities in India, asserting it was time to redefine the
way education was imparted in the country. "We cannot expect to impart quality education without teachers who are most equipped to provide guidance to students and encourage research," the president said. Naveen Jindal, chancellor of the university, announced the establishment of the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities, which will offer courses on the lines of US-based undergraduate programmes from 2014-15.
"If this was a search in the normal course of CBI investigation, CBI is entitled to carry out that search. What business does the government have or the political regime have to interfere in CBI and start stopping that search," he said. Jaitley said the Prime Minister or the Finance Minister "cannot interfere" in the functioning of CBI
Dalai Lama to visit 'Natural resources should be Sikkim and West Bengal declared national wealth'
DHARAMSALA: The Dalai Lama Thursday left Dharamsala for a five-day visit of Sikkim and West Bengal. The Dalai Lama will lead a Vajrakilaya consecration prayer for a new Buddha statue followed by the official inauguration ceremony of the statue on March 25, a Central Tibetan Administration release said. He will give a teaching on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva (gyalsey laklen sodunma) and on the next day, he will confer a long life empowerment (tsewang), organised by the government of Sikkim. A long life offering prayer for His Holiness will also be organised. The Dalai Lama will give teaching in Salugara, West Bengal, from March 27 to 29. On the morning of March 29, he will confer an Avalokiteshvera Initiation (chenresig wangchen), the release added. NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary panel on Thursday said that the government should take initiatives to declare all natural resources, including coal and iron ore, as national wealth. In a report on Rashtriya Ispat Nigam tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the Committee on Public Undertakings said, "The Committee reiterate that government should take all possible steps in consultation with state governments to declare all mineral resources as natural wealth." Taking a cue from the Supreme Court's observations in RIL Vs RNRL case, the panel said Centre should take initiatives to declare "all mineral resources including iron ore and coal as national wealth." The Committee, headed by Jagdambika Pal, said it expects the Ministry to furnish action taken on the matter within three months from now. Demanding the Steel Ministry to ensure allocation of mine to RINL, the Committee said the Ministry should make all efforts to get the state-run firm licences for mining leases by the state governments within a time-frame. In a separate report on Steel Authority of India, the Panel said the increased export duty on iron ore will "go a long way in discouraging the export of scarce iron ore to safeguard the future steel requirements of the country." Committee has also sought to government to "clearly specify" its stand on the issue of RINL-SAIL merger.
Chief V K Singh said the activists of Jantantra Morcha will embark on a nationwide tour from March 31 from Jallianwala Bagh to awaken people about the need for a holistic change in the system. The first phase of the tour will end on April 17 in western Uttar Pradesh after covering Punjab and Haryana. Hazare said there will 34 meetings in the three states during this period. Singh said after the first phase, there will be a gap of 13 days and then the tour will restart covering Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and other states. In January, Hazare launched another tour in Patna. Continuing his attack on politicmedia, he said, "There are protests inside Parliament due to their vested interests."
RAMALLAH, WEST BANK: US President Barack Obama voiced opposition on Thursday to Israeli settlement building but pressed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to drop his demand for a freeze before Middle East peace talks can resume. After an effusive welcome in Israel, Obama travelled to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where disillusioned Palestinians held out little hope that their moment in the spotlight of a US presidential visit would speed their quest for statehood Obama said he had "been clear" with Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington did not consider continued settlement activity to be constructive to "the cause of peace". But Obama stopped short of calling for a halt to settlement expansion a demand he had made early in his first term and signaled his frustration over the failure of Israel and the Palestinians to find a way to resume talks stalled since 2010. However, he offered no new ideas on how to get Israelis and Palestinians negotiating again at a time when prospects for a peace deal are grim in a region destabilized
BEIJING: At least 24 people were killed and four others missing after thunderstorm hit parts of southern China in the last two days, the authorities said on Thursday. A total of 1.53 million residents from the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and Guizhou have been affected by severe weather conditions including thunder, gales and hail storms and 215,000 people have been forced to relocate, the Ministry of Civil Affairs
said. Twenty-four people have been killed and another four are missing due to natural disasters since Tuesday, the statement said. The disasters have caused direct economic losses of 1.31 billion yuan (USD 210.7 million) with about 248,000 homes damaged and 92,900 hectares of farmland affected, it said. State-run CCTV reported heavy hail storm damaged cars and injured many people.
ECONOMY
nects with the rest of India by a narrow 22-km strip called the Siliguri corridor. Tayal, who has wide experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, was delivering a keynote address at an international seminar on 'India's Look East Policy and the North Eastern Region: Strengthening the
Meghalaya capital. Stating that Myanmar and Bangladesh were important for long-term economic growth of the northeast, the former envoy said India must be steadfast on its course, nurture a positive outlook and inculcate a spirit of constructive cooperation among the bordering countries.
MISC
Gambhir confirms IPL-6 participation
GURGAON: India opener G a u t a m Gambhir on Thursday confirmed his participation in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir, who is suffering from mild jaundice, captained the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title last year. "I am available for the IPL. It's a mild jaundice, hoping to be good in 4-5 days time," Gambhir said. The left-hander missed the last two matches for Delhi in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy due to illness and
SEPANG : The Red Bull Formula 1 racing team is eyeing a turnaround in the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix after failing to make good use of the front row start in Melbourne last week. Mark Webber, who started in second place, could only finish sixth in the Australian Grand Prix and admitted that the team needed improvements after the first race of the season. "It's like literally doing an exam Even if you are winning, you are still learning. When you got beaten, obviously you learn more," he said at the Sepang
International Circuit on Thursday. Webber said the team didn't need to panic as the season is still in an early stage. "The team is still very composed, we are doing a lot of things right." Webber's teammate and three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel failed to turn his pole position into victory, finishing third behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and race winner Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus. Webber hoped the tyre problem would be improved during the weekend.
also missed a chance to make a return to the Indian national side after being selected to replace injured Shikhar Dhawan for the fourth and final Test match against Australia starting on Friday. Gambhir missed the last two matches for Delhi in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy due to illness.
JAMMU, MARCH 21: The gold smiths of Jammu known for their traditional art and finesse all over the country are nowadays fearing that their ancestral trade may not become a thing of past. The grave apprehensions to this effect were expressed by the general Secretary of the Swarankar Sangh Ajay Vaid
Rapid fluctuation in the rates of gold has put the poor goldsmiths in a very risky position and if the prices do not stablise they will have to look for other jobs to make their both ends meet. AJAY VAID General Secretary Swarankar Sangh
tion in the rates of gold has put the poor goldsmiths in a very risky position and if the prices do not stablise they will have to look for other jobs to make their both ends meet. Vaid further said that the rates of gold were Rs33200 per ten grams a couple of
it has hit the rock bottom margins of the slender profits of the gold smiths. This he mentioned has made the future of goldsmiths risky. Adding further, Vaid said that that the hourly fluctuations in gold prices had affected their credibility among their customers who too are at the receiving
end of the price fluctuation. He asked the government to take stock of their plight and devise ways and mean whereby the interests of the small and marginal goldsmiths are safeguarded otherwise there is every possibility that their hundreds of years old profession may come to a sad end.
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