Congress, BJP plan e-electioneering in Delhi

New Delhi: New technologies could prove electioneering parties' delight. Political parties are planning to woo and reach out to voters in the coming Delhi assembly elections by sending a slew of electronic appeals.

Leaders of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are holding meetings with IT experts to make best use of the technologies in order to impress the voters, reports IANS.

"Things are changing with time and we have to search for new ways to impress voters. The electronic and computer technology can play an important role during the campaigning process," Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President JP Aggarwal said.

The DPCC is holding a campaign committee meeting later on Friday to chart out a campaign strategy. The party has also set up a 24-hour control room at its office to cater to candidates.

"All wings of the party will meet to discuss the campaign strategy. You need to keep in mind interests of different kinds of voters, ranging from a college student to a business executive to a rickshaw puller to a retired person. We have to plan the campaign accordingly," Aggarwal said.

The party plans to use SMSes and e-mails besides sending computerised voice recorded messages that will be played to telephone subscribers.

On voice recorded messages, candidates will introduce themselves and list what they plan to do for the constituency if they are elected.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Mewa Ram Arya also said, "Our pre-recorded message will be heard on mobile phones and landline telephones. Besides, there will be SMSes and e-mails."

Both the parties have decided to upload profiles of all their candidates on their party website. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley is heading his party's hi-tech campaign strategy.

"We are also planning to make short documentaries, audio-video clips and songs to publicise the work done by the Congress party government in the last 10 years," Aggarwal added.

As for the BJP, "the party is also organising special sessions for the candidates to make them conversant with the nomination process and filing of nomination papers," Arya said.

6,000 'model schools' to come up in India

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in India on Thursday approved setting up of 6,000 Model Schools on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas (Central Schools).

In the first phase of the scheme, 2,500 Model Schools will be set up through the state governments in the Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs), reports IANS.

"A model school will have infrastructure and facilities, at least of the standard as in a Kendriya Vidyalaya and with stipulations on pupil-teacher ratio, information, communication and technology (ICT) usage, holistic educational environment, appropriate curriculum and emphasis on output and outcome," a CCEA statement said.

The scheme aims to have at least one good quality secondary school in every block. These schools will try out innovative curriculum and pedagogy, and to be a model in infrastructure, curriculum, evaluation and school governance.

The state government concerned will provide land for the schools and decide the medium of instructions. However, special emphasis will be given on teaching of English and spoken English.

The schools will have classes from Class six to higher secondary level. There will a continuous evaluation of the working of the schools by the state agencies and an independent agency may be assigned the task of monitoring the scheme, including the progress of construction of schools.

The CCEA said financial requirement for setting up 2,500 schools during the 11th Five Year Plan has been estimated as Rs 9321 crore, of which estimated central share is Rs 7,457 crore.

While the central government will fund 75 per cent of the financial needs, the state governments will take care of the rest during the 11th five-year plan and 50:50 during the next five-year plan.

The scheme will be implemented from the current financial year. This, however, will not to be implemented, till the poll process is over in six states—Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Mizoram.

Corpn. seeks public support to new plan approval system

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102560710400.htm
Special Correspondent

It wants licensed building surveyors to back the effort

Corporation uses AutoDCR software to check every aspect of a building plan

If a plan is rejected, the software helps in pinpointing which rule it does not conform to

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore Corporation has asked the people to make use of the new system, under which building plans can be submitted on a compact disc and approval can be got in a few days. Specifically, it wants the licensed building surveyors to support the effort to make the plan approval process transparent through the new system.

Under this system launched in May this year, the Corporation uses the automatic scrutiny of Development Control Rules (AutoDCR) software to check every aspect of a building plan. If a plan is rejected, the software helps in pinpointing which rule it does not conform to. The Building Plan Applications Management System processes the applications.

The software has been developed by a Pune-based firm and has been acquired for Coimbatore by the Builders’ Association of India, Property Developers Association, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers and Institute of Architects.

After a review of the system recently, Corporation Commissioner V.K. Shanmugham said in a release that draughtsmen of flat promoters and organisations such as the builders’ association had undergone training in the use of the new system. They were also prepared to undergo more training.

The Commissioner, however, regretted that only less than five per cent of the licensed building surveyors of the Coimbatore Corporation had undergone training. The surveyors were a vital link between the Corporation and the public, but the lack of co-operation from them was hampering efforts to make the system a success.

The release pointed out that 90 per cent of the engineers in the city used the Auto Gate method to prepare building plans. From this format, the plan has to be transferred to the pre-DCR software. The AutoDCR at the Corporation would scrutinise in 30 minutes the plans submitted through the pre-DCR software and give orders.

A fee of Rs.500 to Rs.750 could be collected for this process for buildings up to 1,500 sq.ft. For structures of 2,000 sq.ft., the fee should not exceed Rs.1,000. The fee for special buildings was Rs.2,000 and it could be Rs.3,000 to Rs.5,000 for multi-storeyed apartments. Complaints of collection in excess of these rates could be made to the Corporation.

“Put Centre in charge of law and order in communally volatile places”

http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/27/stories/2008102759821000.htm

Union Minister’s pitch comes in the wake of attacks on religious minorities

Cites the recent attack on Christian institutions to highlight limited scope for Centre to intervene

Lauds the Christian leadership in the country for not issuing provocative rallying calls

CHENNAI: An amendment to the Constitution that will empower the Centre to take over the law and order administration of a communally volatile place in any State has become inevitable in light of the recent attacks on religious minorities, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Sunday.

Inaugurating the ‘8th Malankara Catholic Church-Extra Territorial Region in India (ETRI) Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) Convention,’ he cited the recent attack on Christian institutions and believers in Orissa to highlight the limited scope for the Union government to intervene to restore order.

The heated debates for Central intervention triggered by the Orissa incidents led to the realisation that while Article 355 vests the Centre with only the powers to shoot off a letter to the problem State, the invocation of Article 356 represented the extreme step of empowering the Centre to dismiss a government.

In this context, Mr. Ravi argued for a Constitutional amendment that would empower the Centre to take over maintenance of the law and order duties of a problem area, especially when some coalition governments had come to power with the help of fringe communal outfits.
“National shame”

Describing the attacks on Christians in Orissa as a “national shame and a dangerous precedent,” Mr. Ravi said he had written to the Prime Minister about the need for a suitable Constitutional amendment to give the Centre a larger role in such situations.

The Minister lauded the Christian leadership in the country for not issuing provocative rallying calls in response to the heinous acts. By praying for peace and the reforming of the oppressors, the leadership had epitomised the greatness of the church as an institution, he said.
LDF criticised

Taking pot-shots at the LDF government in Kerala, Mr. Ravi said the attack on mankind’s core beliefs could come from any quarter, sometimes from the State itself. Referring to the controversial attempts in the recent past by the Kerala government to amend the seventh class textbook allegedly by substituting atheism in the guise of secularism, he said the move had to be eventually abandoned in the face of widespread protests.
Church contribution

Commending the contributions of the church to education and healthcare in Kerala, Mr. Ravi urged the youth participating in the three-day convention to uphold the values enshrined in the gospel.

Pointing out that belief was the basis of harmony in family and society, he appealed to the youth against retaliating against any attack, and instead grow from strength to strength from their conviction.
Threat to Christians

In his keynote address, Geevarghese Mar Divanyasos said the threat to the Christian community came from two fronts—excessive materialism and religious fundamentalism.

While pursuit of worldly riches could be avoided by getting fixated on the transitory, the persecution of minorities had to “be fought and opposed in a healthy manner.”

Jacob Mar Barnabas, Apostolic Visitator, ETRI, outline the theme of the convention, ‘Arise and Build.’

S. Peter Alphonse, Congress MLA in Tamil Nadu; Lawrence Pius Dorairaj, Auxiliary Bishop of Madras Mylapore; Joshua Mar Ignathios; Shibu Mathew, MCYM president; and Johnson Parackal, Chennai Vicar, participated.

Altered brain receptors linked with schizophrenia

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/099200810291632.htm

London (IANS): Altered brain receptors are linked with schizophrenia, one of the commonest of mental disorders, according to a new research.

The brain is capable of producing different types of oscillations or electrical wave patterns. A Newcastle University team has identified a difference in one particular type - termed a gamma frequency oscillation - linked with schizophrenia.

They now want to investigate whether optimising the function of the receptors, which are already known to be involved with memories, could lead to a new way of treating the mental illness, according to a Newcastle release.

Schizophrenia is one of commonest mental health conditions and can cause a range of different psychological symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions.

One in 100 people will experience at least one episode of acute schizophrenia during their lifetime and it affects men and women equally. While its exact cause is unknown, most experts believe that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Mark Cunningham, who led the research at Newcastle said, "We have shown that by selectively targeting receptors we can modify the dynamics of the brain... This could open a new route for the design of drugs and a better understanding of how existing drugs work."

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Press Coverage About EMRI

Railways may stop trains in UP tiger reserve

Lucknow: Indian Railways are willing to shut down the 200-km railway line passing through Dudhwa National Park, the largest tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh, where trains have run over at least five tigers in the last eight years.

"If the Uttar Pradesh government so desires, we will not hesitate to shut down the railway line completely," Lucknow Divisional Railway Manager(DRM) Ashima Singh said.

The state Wildlife Department filed a complaint against Ashima Singh and other railway officials for failing to control the speed of trains when they passed through the national park.

What brought matters to a head was the death of a tiger that was run over by a train on September 6. "It was a brutal end as the tiger was dragged for at least 700 metres before the train came to a halt," Dudhwa National Park Director Uma Shankar Singh said.

"As many as 23 animals have died after being knocked down by trains in the park area since 2000 and these included five tigers and three elephants," he added.

The number is significant because India's tiger population is down to a little over 1,400, according to the latest estimate of the central government.

The Dudhwa national park is a part of the Katarniaghat, Dudhwa, and Kishenpur-Pilibhit forests. The three forests have a total estimated tiger population of 95, the government announced early this year.

Experts have said the Dudhwa-Pilibhit population has high conservation value since it represents the only tiger population with the ecological and behavioural adaptations of the tiger unique to the Terai habitat of the Himalayan foothills.

"The railways had formally agreed not to run trains faster than 15 km per hour while traversing the 33 km through core area of the precious wildlife reserve; but it was quite apparent that the drivers and other railway staff do not adhere to the speed limit," Singh said.

He lamented that no action was taken against the defaulting staff.

"The death of the tiger on September 6 took place at least 40 km away from the earmarked 33 km stretch area with a speed limit regulation" the DRM said.

We would have no hitch in closing down the railway route if the state government wanted it that way; in any case the 200-km long line was not cost-effective at all, we have been running it simply because it has been there for more than a century, she said.

The track was laid down in the early 20th century essentially to cart timber from the rich forests of terai to other parts of the country.

"But now that cutting of trees has been banned for decades, the tracks are used only for passenger trains which run far below their capacity because of negligible traffic on the route," Singh added.

The issue had also been taken up by the previous chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, who wrote to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad; but that failed to resolve the deadlock.

Doctors to discuss protocol for disaster management

Special Correspondent
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102551170200.htm
CHENNAI: A seminar to discuss management of mass casualties in times of disasters will be held in the city on Sunday.

To be attended by doctors from hundreds of hospitals in the city, it is aimed at arriving at a protocol to involve stakeholders, including the Fire and Rescue Service personnel, the police and voluntary organisations.
Guidelines

The Tamil Nadu Medical Practitioners’ Association, which is organising the seminar, will prepare a guideline for hospitals and distribute it.

“We need a protocol that involves communication system and improve coordination among the hospitals,” said CMK Reddy, association president.

Orthopaedic surgeon Mayilvahanan Natarajan, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, will speak on government’s role.

Fire and Rescue Services Director K.R. Shyam Sundar, Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni and Health secretary V.K. Subburaj are scheduled to address the seminar.

The Packet of Tobacco

Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,

From your vain conversation…..but with the precious blood of Christ.

The following testimony was delivered to a Christian publisher from a prison near Bordeaux in France: "God truly has strange means at His disposal. This is my story.

"The fellow convict in my cell has no tobacco one day: so he asked the prisoner in the next cell for some. The tobacco came wrapped in a leaf of your calendar. On one side there were two verses from the Bible, on the other a true story with your address underneath. It bowled me right over! My companion could make nothing of it, nor could the one who provided the tobacco, for he was illiterate. But every time the tobacco ran out, a fresh delivery came with another calendar leaf. I always asked my cellmate not to throw it away: it was important for me.

" One day y companion was released, his term of imprisonment having been served. My neighbor asked to be allowed to take his place in my cell. His request was granted. He moved in with his calendar, which we attached to a bar, I was able to explain the importance of the Bible to my new friend, and he asked to read and explain the daily texts. He was a Muslim, and I came from a quasi - Christian background.

"Prison life is sometimes a nightmare for me, but my hope is in God and in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Please pray for me!"

NEIIPP will pep up industries in NE states: VP

New Delhi: A concerted and innovative approach would spell economic development and growth of business and entrepreneurship in the north-eastern region.

Speaking at the 4th North East Business Summit at Guwahati, Vice President of India M Hamid Ansari said the North-East Industrial Investment and Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) was aimed at comprehensive, inclusive and accelerated development of the region.

Investment proposals worth US $1.5 billion in different sectors in the north-eastern states have come from business houses from India and countries bordering NE states under this policy.

The policy has attracted investors with its liberal concessions and subsidies.

Private investment has a huge opportunity in sectors such as agriculture, education, health care and tourism, he said.

The Vice President urged businessman participating in the summit to take full advantage of the policy.
—iGovernment Bureau

A Favor Please

Then James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. They
said, "Teacher, we want to ask you to do something for us."
Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" The sons
answered, "You will have glory {in your kingdom}. Let one of
us sit at your right, and let one of us sit at your left."

-- Mark 10:35-37 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
Sometimes the Scriptures are just too honest. I'm being a little
sarcastic ... but just a little. The people we see, even those that are
potentially our heroes, are so much like us. Their feet of clay help
make the grace of Jesus real and accessible. Jesus' closest followers
reveal that they don't really understand what he has just said to them
and what his life, ministry, and purpose are supposed to be. They've
told Jesus a few verses earlier what they gave up to follow him. They
seem to ignore what he has just told them in the previous verse that he
will pay a horrible price for them. They can only think of glory. So
while they courageously overcome their fear and dread to follow him to
Jerusalem, they also have a great desire to get the big pay off from
their association with him. Of course, the real question is whether or
not they follow him just because he is Lord and worthy of their
allegiance. But then, their lack of understanding and their greed
become the opportunity for us to ask ourselves the same question. Will
we follow Jesus even if the costs are high and the appearances suggest
that there is no earthly pay off? Hmm? Ouch! God help me.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
O glorious Father, please forgive my selfishness. I confess that I want
to be treated favorably and be blessed for following you. Please give
me the courage to follow no matter the cost in this life as I reach in
faith for what is life indeed! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Man !!

Before finding a girl "Spider Man". After finding his girl "Super man".After the engagement "Gentle Man" After the marriage "Watch Man". 10years After marriage "Dober Man" :)

A Very nice story ………….Don't Miss to Read it.

An elderly man in Mumbai calls his son in New York and says,

'I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 35 years of marriage... and that much
misery is enough!'

'Dad, what are you talking about?' the son screams.

'We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the old man says.

'We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!'

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

'Like heck they're getting divorced,' she shouts, 'I'll take care of this.'

She calls Mumbai immediately, and screams at the old man, 'You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm callingmy brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then , don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR??' and she hangs up. The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. 'Okay', he says, 'It's all set. They're both coming for Diwali and paying their own airfare!!'

MORAL:

No man / woman is busy in this world all 365 days.

The sky is not going to fall down if you take few days LEAVE and meet your dear ones.

OFFICE WORK IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE and MONEY MAKING IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE. AFTER ALL WE WORK FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S DREAM.

Computer model improves ultrasound imaging

London: Doctors rely on ultrasound to determine the health of organs and other internal structures of the body. Now a Dutch researcher has developed a computer model that will improve the ultrasound's imaging capacity.

Koos Huijssen of Delft University of Technology (Netherlands) has developed a computer model that can predict the sound transmission of improved designs for ultrasound equipment, reports IANS.

The computer model is capable of processing large quantities of data and can be run on both a PC and a parallel supercomputer. Erasmus University Medical Centre and Oldelft Ultrasound are now using this programme to design a new sonographic transducer.

Koos Huijssen went in search of a computer model that could predict the behaviour of ultrasonic waves.

Over the past 10 years, the images produced by ultrasound or sonography have been vastly improved by making partial use of the non-linear nature of acoustic waves. Thanks to these developments ultrasound can now be used for a larger group of patients.

Further improvements could be realised by refining the sonography equipment, the transducer that generates the ultrasound and the imaging method, according to Delft release.

However, this requires a computer model that can accurately predict the transmission of ultrasound. With funding from Technology Foundation STW, Huijssen could develop a model which makes calculations over a three dimensional (3D) area that is larger than what existing computer models can handle.

The major challenges in producing such a model are the enormous complexity of the problem and dealing with the required storage capacity and processing power.

The model was developed in cooperation with the company VORtech Computing and it has an excellent level of performance.

The rural service conundrum

http://www.hindu.com/edu/2008/11/24/stories/2008112450020100.htm

RAMYA KANNAN

The Medical Council of India needs to meet student expectations on pay and certification for the compulsory rural medical service plan to work.




Photo: M. Moorthy



Not convinced: Some students are ready to go to villages if their remuneration demand is accepted.



About the same time last year, much of the medical fraternity in the country was up in arms. Some of them vehemently protested the move by the Union Health Ministry to impose a year’s compulsory rural service as the criteria for MBBS graduation, others brushed aside the idea as unfeasible.



With protests breaking out in many parts of the country, the Ministry decided to appoint a committee to go into the grievances of medical students. A committee was constituted under the chairmanship of R. Sambasiva Rao, former vice-chancellor, NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada.



Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the move was a way to tide over the crisis of the vast rural population being underserved by health services.



The bulk of the protests came from medicos, who protested “wanton” extension of an already lengthy period of study. Groups among them opposed the move to “use” medicos as replacements for medical officers at a fraction of the cost that regular staff would be paid. “Students cannot substitute medical officers. The government was trying to set aside its responsibility towards appointing medical officers and tried to make do with students, for whom they can pay a measly stipend,” said G.R. Ravindranath, general secretary, Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE).



DASE was fundamentally opposed to the concept of a “compulsory service.” Other student groups in the country, however, had a more moderate position on this. A response articulated on http://www.rural-doctors.blogspot.com/, reads thus: “None of the junior doctors is averse to one year of rural service if it is treated as service and they are given full pay of Rs. 18,000 per month for Medical Officers, which is likely to go up to Rs. 22,000 soon.” Medicos also wanted this one year to be counted as part of their service.



Sceptics, some of them from non-medical fields, joined the debate, wondering aloud if posting yet-to-be qualified persons would compromise the lives and health of patients in rural areas. Dr. Anbumani retorted saying the students would be sent for rural service only after finishing House Surgency, which makes them qualified. Further, they would be supervised by other senior medical doctors.



In January this year, the Committee submitted its recommendations to the Union Health Ministry. Prof. Sambasiva Rao, speaking to The Hindu, said he was constrained not to reveal the details of the recommendations until they were released officially, but that the suggestions were made based on discussions with all stakeholders in 20 towns and cities.



Speaking to The Hindu in April this year, Union Ministry sources said the Committee had recommended that anyone who wanted to apply for a postgraduate degree in medicine (or any specialities) in any institution — private or public — within the country would have to put in a year’s service in a rural area. Without a certificate attesting the one-year rural service, students’ applications for any postgraduate course would not be considered.



The committee has also recommended that the students be paid a stipend of not less than Rs.10,000 a month for the one-year period. Further, it suggested that any medico wanting to join the government medical service would also have to put in one-year service in a rural centre — primary health centre, taluk level hospital and a non-taluk level hospital. They would be paid the same stipend, and additionally, this one year would be counted as part of their service.



The Ministry has forwarded the recommendations to the Medical Council of India for its perusal. The MCI has, so far, made no announcement on the same.



As far as Tamil Nadu goes, it continues to be a model state for implementation for providing health services, says Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj. Therefore the problem of lack of doctors in rural areas is not a big issue. “We keep filling the vacancies as and when they arise, though we do not have a policy of recruiting a specific number of medical graduates every year. Also, the first posting for doctors who sign up with the government medical service is in rural areas,” he explains.



He says that at the MBBS level, there are sufficient numbers to serve in rural and non-rural areas, but the problem that exists in rural areas is frequent absenteeism and irregular attendance. The state government is trying to address this issue, he adds.

India's dairy board proposes Rs 17,300 Cr plan

Anand (Gujarat): India's leading dairy development agency, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), has proposed a Rs 17,300 crore draft National Dairy Plan to increase the country's milk production from the current 102 million tonnes to meet the projected demand of 180 million tonnes by 2021-22.

NDDB proposed the draft plan in its annual report for 2007-08, a NDDB press release said here on Tuesday. NDDB has its headquarters here, also known as the milk capital of India, some 65 km from Ahmedabad, the principal city of Gujarat.

The National Dairy Plan focuses on productivity measures to enhance milk production as the average annual incremental production will have to increase from 2.5 million tonnes now to five million tonnes over the next 15 years, reports IANS.

Besides, it also focuses on strengthening and expanding infrastructure to procure, process and market milk through existing and new institutional structures.

The plan proposes to increase the share of the organised sector in milk production to 65 per cent from the current 30 per cent to ensure supply of quality milk to consumers.

"NDDB remains committed to assisting dairy cooperatives to strengthen their business and provide better services to their members," NDDB's Chairman Amrita Patel said.

NDDB is also implementing a complementary cooperative strategy by promoting producer institutions—new generation cooperatives—in about eight states, Patel said.

India with a total milk production of 102 million tonnes remained the largest milk producing country in 2007-08 with a share of close to 15 per cent of world milk production, the release said.

A combination of factors, led by high growth of gross domestic product (GDP) in particular, has led to a rapid increase in the domestic demand for milk, it added.

Producer prices for milk have continued to increase leading to a corresponding rise in consumer prices.

During the year, dairy cooperatives procured about 8.3 million tonnes of milk, registering an annual growth of 5.4 per cent, the statement said.

On an aggregate, cooperatives procured about 14 per cent of the national marketable milk surplus from around 21 per cent of the country's villages and an estimated 18 per cent of rural milk-producing households.

Cooperatives marketed about 6.9 million tonnes of liquid milk, an increase of 4.4 per cent over the previous year, the statement said.

Recognising the importance of increasing productivity, NDDB provided a range of technical and managerial services, including establishing standards and protocols for quality bull and semen production, the statement said.

It also funded the production of genetically evaluated bulls through progeny testing, expansion of door-step artificial insemination (AI) services, ration balancing (which can also contribute to reduction in methane emission) amongst other services.

Action against UP teachers for MDM irregularities

Lucknow: The Government of Uttar Pradesh will take action against as many as 70 teachers of different government-run primary schools in the most populous Indian state for irregularities in the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme sponsored by the central government, an official said on Wednesday.

These teachers are from 25 primary schools in Etah district, report IANS quoting JS Satya, official in-charge of basic education in the district.

"They were not regular in providing lunch to their students under the MDM scheme," the official in-charge of basic education said. Etah is about 300 km from state capital Lucknow.

"In some schools, like those in Jajlapur village in Etah, we came to know that lunch under MDM scheme was not provided to the students since 2006," he added.

On taking action against the teachers concerned, Satya said, "Depending upon their involvement in committing irregularities in MDM, the teachers would be suspended or their services terminated."

About 1.5 lakh schools are covered under the MDM scheme in Uttar Pradesh. Under the scheme, lunch is provided to students till Class 8. Over 18.6 million students are enrolled under the scheme in the state, officials said.

My Schedule

UN adopts protocol to uphold rights to food, water

New York: The UN General Assembly's human-rights committee on Tuesday adopted a protocol giving people rights to housing, food, water and sanitation, and holding governments responsible for the lack of such essentials.

The human rights committee, known as Third Committee, adopted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights without a vote, reports IANS. Amnesty International praised the move.

"This path-breaking instrument will give those people who couldn't access justice in their own countries the chance to have their complaints assessed by UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights," Amnesty International said.

The London-based rights group said that people who suffer violations of their rights are often denied the ability and power to hold those responsible to account. The protocol upholds the rights to adequate housing, food, water and sanitation, health, education and decent work.

The human-rights committee will send the adopted optional protocol for a final vote by the 192-nation General Assembly December 10, when that body celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The optional protocol is designed as a tool to implement a declaration on human rights, adopted 15 years ago in Vienna, which declares that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated.

Punjab initiative to check cyber-crime

Chandigarh: The Punjab Police on Monday announced that a state-of-the-art cyber crime police station and forensic science laboratory would be set up in the state.

Laying the foundation stone of the new project, Director General of Police NS Aulakh said that the cyber crime police station was required to cater to technology related crimes committed in the state, reports IANS.

The cyber crime police station and the forensic lab to be set up in Mohali town, 10 km from here, will cost Rs 8 crore, Aulakh said.

He said that the proposed Rs 10 crore million Punjab Police Training Institute for private security guards at Jahan Khelan near Hoshiarpur town, 150 km from here, was going on in full swing and would be completed by June 2009. The institute would provide training to 4,000 private security guards in a year.

Under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, the training of private security guards to be hired by the private security agencies has become mandatory in the state.

Target Your PG Seat: Special TNPSC 2007 (for Contract Medical Consultants and Contract Medical Officers Selection List Released. See www.targetpg.net

Target Your PG Seat: Special TNPSC 2007 (for Contract Medical Consultants and Contract Medical Officers Selection List Released. See www.targetpg.net for more information

Panel recommends removal of Jharkhand Bhavan CAO

Ranchi: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Jharkhand Bhawan at Delhi, Bijay Kumar Verma, is in serious trouble this time.

Taking stern note of his misconduct with Poreyahat legislator Pradeep Yadav, the Privilege Committee of the Jharkhand Assembly has recommended for his removal within a month from his assignment there.

An assistant engineer of the Water Resources Department, Verma is posted with Jharkhand Bhawan ever since it came into being in 2000. He managed to stay on the post even though the then Resident Commissioner of Jharkhand in New Delhi, Smita Chugh in 2002 had recommended for his removal.

Supposed to be a 'master manager' of crisis—both personal and official—Verma had a short break in his office some years ago but he managed to get the officer posted in his post removed.

However, the Privilege Committee is unlikely to lay things down this time, as Speaker Alamgir Alam had forwarded a strong recommendation, unanimously approved by the House also, to the state government to relieve Verma of his assignment.

"The Speaker will review the progress made by the state government when the deadline for taking action expires next fortnight," sources close to the Speaker told iGovernment.

It may be noted that Yadav in a petition to the Speaker had alleged that Verma had misbehaved with him when he wanted to know from him which room was allotted to him in the Jharkhand Bhawan during his visit there on January 7 this year.

He said a request for allotment of one room in the Bhawan for a day was sent there on January 7 through Cabinet Secretariat and Coordination Department, in advance on January 3.

Despite that Verma did not allot the room and told him that he would have to proceed to Rajsthan Bhawan where a room has been arranged for him. It was 10.30 p.m. on January 7.

"Verma even did not entertain his request for arranging a vehicle, fare of which was to be borne by Yadav, to move to Rajsthan Bhawan. Ultimately, a room was allotted to Yadav at 1.30 p.m. when he threatened a sit in 'dharna' there.

Taking it as a breach of privilege of an MLA, the Assembly Speaker had constituted the committee consisting of Girinath Singh, Pradeep Balmuchu, Karia Munda and Ravindra Nath Mahto.

The Speaker on the testimony of Yadav and Verma before it held the CAO guilty of misdemeanour and unruly behaviour towards the MLA and recommended to the government to ensure removal of Verma from the Jharkhand Bhawan and posting a competent officer in his place.

Assembly secretariat forwarded the copy of the House-approved recommendations 15 days ago to the government and the Resident Commissioner of Jharkhand Bhawan Rajiv Gauba for action against the erring officer within one month. However, the government was yet to act on the issue.

When contacted, Verma admitted that he got the requisition letter for booking the room but in view of the Chief Minister's visit on January 8, he had to make alternative arrangement for Yadav at Rajasthan Bhawan.

"The rented Jharkhand Bhawan had only six rooms and since the Chief Minister was scheduled to visit Delhi the next day, I had no option but to keep on hold four rooms for his team. However, I did make alternate arrangement for the MLA and if the Committee still feels that I am guilty, I do not have anything to say," he stated.

Verma also said that despite being informed of his ill health, the MLA woke him up at 10:30 p.m and abused him of dereliction of duty. He also stated that Yadav was finally allotted a room in the Jharkhand Bhawan by shifting a officer from one of the rooms.

PK Jajoria, Secretary of the State Cabinet Coordination Department, however, did not specify what kind of progress could be made in reference to the Privilege Committee recommendations. Moreover, he said that the Assembly committee recommendations are not binding on the government.

However, State Congress Chief Pradeep Kumar Balumuchu, who is also in the committee, said that all officials responsible in defending Verma might also have to face the wrath.

Singapore signs MoU to strengthen e-Gov in Kuwait

Kuwait: In an effort to accelerate the implementation of e-Government in Kuwait, Central Agency for Information Technology (Cait) of Kuwait has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to facilitate co-operation in e-Government.

Under the MoU, IDA will serve as an advisor to Cait on matters pertaining to information technology and e-Government, while both parties will share experience, technical and operational insights on selected projects.

"This MoU between IDA and Cait further strengthens the relationship between Singapore and Kuwait. We have learnt from each other through previous engagements and we look forward to continued collaboration with Cait in the future," IDA Deputy Chief Executive and Director-General (Telecoms and Post) Leong Keng Thai said.

The latest co-operation follows the success of two past MoUs signed between the Republic of Singapore and the state of Kuwait in September 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Under the first MoU, Singapore provided support to Kuwait in the establishment of Cait and the development of an e-Government Blueprint for the state of Kuwait, while the second MoU kick-started two high priority e-Government projects, the Kuwait Information Network and the Kuwait Government Online.

Agriculture revival must for inclusive growth: PM

New Delhi: Revival of agriculture, which has grown at an average of 3.5 per cent in past four years, is a must for self-sufficiency in food grains and inclusive growth, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Wednesday.

India should pay due attention to be self sufficient in food grains, as the available indicators suggest that the country is entering a decade of rising commodity prices, particularly in the case of food grains, he said while speaking at a conference of governors and lieutenant governors.

"Good performance in agriculture is especially necessary to make growth process inclusive, both socially and regionally," the Prime Minister said.

After a decade of stagnation, the agriculture sector is reviving, Singh said, adding that measures taken by his government in the agriculture sector were showing good results.

The rate of growth of agriculture has averaged 3.5 per cent in the last four years as compared to two per cent in the six years of the previous government, reports IANS quoting the Prime Minister.

Indian agriculture, the mainstay for over 75 per cent of the country's billion plus population, logged a 4.5 per cent growth in the last fiscal, and expected to grow at three per cent this year.

"Available indicators suggest that we are entering a decade of rising commodity prices, particularly in the case of food grains. It is, therefore, highly important that India should pay adequate attention to self-sufficiency in food grains," he said.

The Prime Minister also referred to his various initiatives like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and the National Food Security Mission to attain the goal of food security.

"Agricultural loans of about Rs 70,000 crore have been waived to help Indian farmers," he said.

Referring to a significant increase in procurement prices, the Prime Minister said, "We have kept the issue price of wheat and rice unchanged under the targeted public distribution system."

He urged upon the state governments to assist in the control of inflation by keeping a strict watch on the activities of hoarders and unscrupulous traders.

Scholarship scheme for college, varsity students

New Delhi: The Government of India on Thursday gave its approval for implementation of Rs 1,000 crore central sector scheme of scholarship for college and university students during the Eleventh Plan.

The scheme will help the meritorious students belonging to poorer sections of the society to meet their day-to-day expenses while pursuing college and university education, who are not benefited by any other scholarship scheme.

It will also help to alleviate any hardship faced by the students due to discontinuation of the old scheme, the Ministry of Human Resource Development said.

The scheme will be operational from the financial year 2008-09 and payments will be made from the year 2008-09 till the completion of the course by the student.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also gave its approval to renew scholarship of the national scholarship holders under the old scheme, with effect from 2008-09 till completion of their courses.

The government will disburse the scholarship to them through the designated banks under the new scheme, without payment of arrears.

Meanwhile, the CCEA has also given its nod for initiation of the new programme "Scholarship for higher Education (She)"—a component of "Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (Inspire)."

The Rs 820 crore programme will strengthen the innovation infrastructure of the country by promoting human resource development.

The scheme, to be operational from the year 2008-09, aims to enhance the number of attachment of talented youth to undertake higher education in science intensive programmes by providing scholarships and mentoring through summer attachment to performing researchers.

The scheme would provide mentorship support to every scholar through Inspire scholarship programme.

Inspire would communicate to the youth population of the country the excitements of creative pursuit of science and attract talent to the study of science at an early stage and build the required critical HR pool for strengthening the S&T system and R&D base.
—iGovernment Bureau

India to touch 8% growth in FY 09: Chidambaram

New Delhi: High inflation rate will not deter India from logging an economic growth of around eight per cent in the current fiscal, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said here on Thursday.

"I still maintain my view that growth in fiscal 2008-09 will be close to eight per cent," Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA).

As for shoring up the rupee-dollar exchange rate, Chidambaram said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was the regulator and would take appropriate steps if and when needed.

The Prime Minister had on Wednesday said inflation in India would moderate in the coming months even as the country remained among the fastest growing economies in the world, reports IANS.

"There are signs of moderation in the high inflation that we have witnessed recently," he said, referring to the dip in the annual inflation rate in recent weeks from 12.63 per cent to 12.10 per cent.

"We are confident that the situation will improve further in the coming months because of the measures that we have taken," he told a conference of governors and lieutenant governors here.

Chidambaram on Wednesday had blamed gradualism for holding India's progress back in several key sectors such as finance, mining, mineral, sugar and fertiliser.

In order to have adequate resources for the country, Chidambaram had underlined the need for Indian economy to sustain a growth rate of nine to 10 per cent over the medium term.

"That, in short, is the foremost challenge that is faced by emerging India," the Finance Minister said while delivering the Field Marshal KM Cariappa Memorial Lecture-2008 here on Wednesday.

"The outlines are visible in our commitment to pursue economic policies that will ensure high growth—our aspiration is to grow at over nine per cent and reach a growth rate of 10 per cent by 2011-12," Chidambaram said.

Referring to an average growth rate of 8.9 per cent in the past four years, he said that the high growth rate witnessed in recent years should not induce us to believe that this growth rate is sufficient.

"Despite 18 years on the reforms path, the benefits of higher growth have not trickled down to those at the bottom of the pyramid. The trickle down theory itself has come under severe attack," Chidambaram said.

Intel unveils 6 core processors designed in India

Bangalore: Chip manufacturing major Intel Corp on Tuesday unveiled its most powerful six core microprocessor designed and developed at its India development centre in Bangalore.

The 45-nanometre chip boasts of a whopping 1.9 billion transistors, six processing cores and 16MB of shared cache memory in the Xeon family, the company said.

"The most powerful chip in the 45 nanometre space has been designed, developed, tested and validated in our Bangalore facility by the Indian team in a record two years," Intel India President Praveen Vishakantaiah said.

The Xeon server processor on which a host of applications can be built for virtualised environments and data-demanding workloads such as databases, business intelligence and enterprise resource planning (ERP) enhances performance by 50 per cent, consuming much less power than its earlier versions—quad core and dual core processors.

"Platforms based on this enterprise chip can be scaled up to 16 processor sockets to deliver servers with 96 processing cores inside, offering scalability, ample computing threads, extensive memory resources and reliability for enterprise data centres," Vishakantaiah said.

Intel has released seven 45 nanometre manufactured Xeon processor 7400 series products to about 50 global vendors (OEMs) such as Dell, Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM, HP, NEC and Unisys and Indian vendors like HCL and Wipro for deployment in high-end enterprise servers, reports IANS.

End-products with the new chip will hit the market worldwide in a week.

The sequence processors can be deployed in the servers and central processing units (CPUs) of quad core or dual core versions.

"The new chip helps IT infrastructure to manage complex enterprise server environments, enhance performance of multi-thread applications. With new features such as additional cores, large shared caches and advanced virtualisation technologies," Intel South Asia Sales Director R Ravichandran said.

Products with the new processor offer frequencies up to 2.66 GHz and consume just 11 watt power for each core, which is 50 watt less than quad core processors.

Code named Dunnington, Intel's first six-core 86 microprocessor was designed and developed two months ahead of its delivery schedule.

Climate change caused species extinction in Pak

Washington: Climate change eight million years ago radically altered the vegetative set up in northern Pakistan, resulting in the extinction of most species as they could not adapt to the new ecosystem, said a long-term study of mammal fossils spanning a five-million-year period.

The study said that many of giraffe, rhino and elephant species, along with a multitude of rodents, bush pigs, horses, antelope and apes once roamed northern Pakistan.

Michigan University Paleoecologist Catherine Badgley said, "The climate is going to produce changes in ecological structure of all sorts of plants and animals around the world, now as in the past."

Badgley is part of an interdisciplinary team of geologists and paleontologists that has been studying the fossil-rich Sivalik sedimentary rocks in northern Pakistan for more than 30 years, reports IANS.

Sivalik sediments contains one of the world's most complete and best-studied fossil records of mammals, chronicling in a two-mile-thick deposit of rock the mammals that roamed the area from 18 to one million years ago, reports IANS.

About eight million years ago, the local climate became drier, and the prevailing vegetation changed from tropical forests and woodland to a savannah similar to that found in parts of Africa today.

What happened next can be reconstructed from the chemistry and wear of the teeth of the plant-eating mammals, as well as the longevity of each species during the period when vegetation was changing.

The teeth provide evidence of the animals' diets, revealing whether they switched to eating the newly abundant grasses when their favoured fruits and broad-leafed plants were no longer available.

By the time that savannah was the dominant vegetation, most herbivorous mammals in the area subsisted mainly on grass. The overall effect was a significant decline in the diversity of mammals in the area.

"This is the kind of study you can only do after you've been working in a place with a big team for 25 years or more, because you need all the other basic data to be thoroughly resolved before you can even start to address the kinds of questions in this work," Badgley said.

These findings were published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

MP refuses to admit malnourishment deaths

Bhopal: In spite of 80 child deaths being reported in the past four months in two districts of Madhya Pradesh, the state is not ready to admit that these lives were lost to malnutrition, allege activists.

The deaths were reported from Satna and Khandwa. As many as 97,223 children in the zero-1 year age group have died between April 2005 and July 2008, according to the state government's own records.

The National Family Health Survey-III (NFHS-III) says that Madhya Pradesh tops the list of undernourished states with 60 per cent malnutrition among children.

"Severe malnutrition among children is also the highest—12.6 per cent in Madhya Pradesh as against 6.4 per cent severely malnourished children in India. Still the state is responding to the problem by denying it," alleged Sachin Jain of the Right to Food Campaign (RTFC).

In a recent reply to the Supreme Court, Satna Collector Vijay Anand Kuril attributed the deaths of children to various reasons including heat stroke, food poisoning and viral encephalitis.

Madhya Pradesh Minister for Women and Child Development Kusum Mehdele said last weekend that the recent deaths of children in Khandwa district were not due to severe malnutrition but other diseases.

"The biggest problem is that the state government does not accept that there are any malnutrition deaths. They are formally manipulating the data, status and level of malnutrition through Bal Sanjeevani Abhiyan," alleged Prashant Dubey of RTFC who was a part of the investigating team that visited places where children are reported to have died of malnourishment.

The state with the assistance of Unicef and the World Food Programme (WFP) has unveiled several schemes, including the Bal Sanjeevani Abhiyan which seeks to treat severely malnourished children. Other such schemes are the Bal Shakti Yojana and the Shaktimaan.

"The main problem is that whatever the state provides under schemes to curb malnutrition can only be supplementary nutrition, whether it is through the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) or mid-day meals. It is hard to tackle malnutrition if non-availability of food and livelihood is the problem," Women and Child Welfare Department (WCD) Director Kalpana Shrivastava said.

The state government claims to have made efforts to curb malnutrition for which it has spent millions of rupees in the past three years. But one can make out the level of nourishment provided to children from the state of Anganwadis (government-run creches) in the district.

"They lack even basic facilities—drinking water, separate toilets or space to cook," Dubey said.

Activists have calculated that the Madhya Pradesh government will take 33 years to feed all the 1.3 million malnourished children in the state.

Madhya Pradesh has 135 Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) which together have 1,678 beds. "Normally one malnourished child is kept in an NRC for 14 days. It means that with 1,678 beds, the state government would be able to cure only 3,356 children in a month," Jain said.

"Going by this average, it would be able to cure 40,000 children in a year and would take roughly 33 years to reach the 1.3 million malnourished children in the state," he said.

In reality, it will be even longer, he added, as of the 135 NRCs established, only 95 are fully functional.

The state's budget for the development of women and children went up to Rs 590 crore this year. Of this, Rs 300 crore was earmarked for providing nutritious food to undernourished women and children. This was Rs 190 crore more than the previous year.

"However, the percentage of underweight children in Madhya Pradesh increased from 54 in 1998-99 to 60.3 now and the percentage of wasted (extremely malnourished) children has gone up from 20 to 33, according to NFHS, despite Unicef involvement," a WCD official admitted.

But the Madhya Pradesh government has been claiming that the ratio of undernourishment has come down to somewhere around 49 per cent.

The state government schemes do not reach most of the children and pregnant mothers, says a report of the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) of India.

KSRTC website to be formally launched tomorrow

Bangalore: Transport Minister of Karnataka Ashoka will formally launch the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) website on November 19.

Besides providing information on bus services of the corporation, the website offers a facility to book e-ticket thus allowing passengers to plan their journey.

The website also gives information on the new schemes launched by the KSRTC as well as old ones.

It displays the environmental policy of the corporation and the efforts being taken by it to save the environment.

Helping the passengers beyond their travel, the website also exhibits the names of hotels—government and private—so that they (passengers) can easily obtained relevant information for choosing suitable hotels.

Apart from these, the website consist of Right to Information and news sections to help passengers stay informed and updated.

The already up and running websites is visited by nearly 30,000-50,000 visitors a day.

The state-owned transport corporation, established in 1961, operates around 5,700 schedules with a fleet of over 7,000 vehicles which has got a vast infrastructure of a corporate office, 13 divisional office and 61 depots.

India hopes G20 summit to resolve financial crisis

Washington: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives here on Friday for a summit of the world's 20 leading economies with the hope that it would lead to corrective measures to check the current global financial crisis and prevent a future one.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram is accompanying the Prime Minister while Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Economic Affairs Secretary Ashok Chawla are already in Washington preparing the groundwork for the Group of 20 (G20) summit.

Prior to leaving for Washington, Manmohan Singh said, "As a major developing economy which is getting increasingly integrated with the global economy, India has a vital stake in the stability of the international economic and financial system."

India would also seek a strengthening of the international institutions, both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank as well as regional development banks to ensure that the fallout on the developing countries of the global crisis is minimal.

Ahead of the summit, host President George W Bush called for overhauling the outdated regulatory structures of the financial industry, but warned against reinventing the free market system that has spurred economic growth for decades.

"It would be a terrible mistake to allow a few months of crisis to undermine 60 years of success," Bush said in a speech in New York on Thursday, offering a broad defence of US-style capitalism and free markets.

Bush warned that the challenges facing the global economy were too large to be solved in one meeting. Leaders will establish the principles of regulatory reforms and task lower-level working groups to come up with the specifics in the coming months.

European governments had been pushing for a wholesale overhaul of the global financial system, but have since backed away from the heavy rhetoric of October amid signs of internal discord in the European Union (EU).

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who will be representing the EU at the summit, has said that he is not going to be participating in the gathering for a polite conversation on the financial crisis.

Explaining his remarks, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner Thursday told CNN, "We want to find the beginning of the whispering of a solution, not just to be polite, not just to meet with the 19 other countries. We hope it will start a process, it will be a process of regulation-financial regulation all over the world."

Asked what can be achieved in a meeting of the world leaders hosted by a lame-duck US president, he said, "We will certainly achieve nothing, but we will achieve the beginning of a process...Of course the new administration would come and take this burden on their robust shoulders."

The White House on Thursday said it expected a follow-up summit some time in the first three months of next year. The US delegation to that meeting will be headed by President-elect Barack Obama.

$100 mn ADB loan for Assam to reduce poverty

New Delhi: In an effort to enhance development in the northeastern Indian state, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday announced a loan of US $100 million to Assam to boost economy and reduce poverty in the state's hinterlands.

The Japan Special Fund, through the ADB, will provide an additional technical assistance of US $600,000 for capacity development and programme implementation. The state government will contribute a further US $150,000 towards it, reports IANS.

The second sub-programme of the Assam Governance and Public Resource Management Sector Development Programme (AGPRM), the loan and technical assistance will focus on increasing the Revenue Department's administrative capacity including implementation of new information and communication technology systems.

It will also help take steps to further improve expenditure management, strengthen debt management systems and close a number of loss-making public sector enterprises.

The first sub-programme was implemented from 2005 to 2007 in close consultation with ADB.

"The aim is to improve the state government's financial flexibility and ensure that the available fiscal space is utilised to promote social and physical infrastructure development,” ADB's South Asia Regional Department Financial Sector Economist Kyung Nam Shin said.

This is expected to support more private sector investment, income generation and higher employment in the state with a consequent reduction in poverty in the state, Shin added.

Assam is the largest of seven states in northeastern region with a population of 27 million and a high incidence of poverty. During late 1990s and early 2000s, Assam's finances suffered from the effects of pay revisions of the government employees, high debt ratio to gross state domestic product and high interest rates.

The loan will be released in three tranches—US $40 million each in the first and second tranches and US $20 million during the third tranche.

President calls for modernisation of Indian police

New Delhi: Seeking for an overhaul in the system to fight terror, the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil stressed that the country needs to modernise its police force with greater investments in cyber and technical intelligence, communication systems and forensic capabilities.

Inaugurating the Conference of Governors here on Tuesday, the President said, "There is need for an institutional mechanism to seamlessly share intelligence on real-time basis to foil the attempts of terrorists and naxalites. A healthy police-population ratio needs to be maintained."

It is for consideration whether the help of ex-servicemen who have experience in handling inimical forces could be enlisted in this effort, she said.

The President pointed out that some of the affected states, particularly in the North East, as reported have a deficit of one-fifth of the sanctioned strength of constabulary, adding that insufficient number of police stations affects police outreach.

Fund allocations for security forces by the States has stagnated or grown marginally, Patil said.

"All this has a crippling effect on the efficacy of the law and order machinery. Given your pre-eminent positions, you can provide the right lead in this direction," the Indian President said.

Stating battle against terrorism, Left Wing Extremism and insurgency as big challenges India facing now, she said that intervention by trans-border elements also poses a threat to the country's security and integrity.

The state and central governments have to deal firmly with those who follow the path and culture of guns, Patil said.

As the naxalite problem is also an expression of neglect, deprivation and disaffection amongst the downtrodden, the solution lies largely in our ability to deepen the democratic process, usher in good governance, rapid economic development, equity and justice besides expanding employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, she said.

"While not showing any leniency to disruptive and separatist elements, we have to also sensitise our security personnel to exercise maximum possible restraint and show respect to local sentiments and gender sensitivity in the disturbed areas," the President said.

Rural Bengal ready for e-Governance

Kolkata: The West Bengal government, in association with microprocessor manufacturing major Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), on Monday announced successful completion of rural e-Governance programme in the state.

In order to bridge the digital divide, the programme would providing effective governance through computer penetration within the Panchayati Raj institutions, covering 210 rural local bodies across 19 districts, reports IANS.

"The programme was initiated by the state Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department. The total project cost was Rs 3.8 crore of which 40 per cent was spent on capacity building activities in the Gram Panchayats," West Bengal Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department Joint Secretary Ranjit Kumar Maity said here on Monday.

The Gram Panchayat e-Governance project was initiated as part the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department's mandate to usher in social and economic progress in the rural areas through the Information Communication Technology (ICT).

"Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department in West Bengal is one of the progressive departments in India which endeavours to effectively leverage the benefits of ICT," AMD Corporate Vice-President Asia Pacific Region Ian Williams said.

Delhi Metro begins trial run on new stretch

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro on Friday began a five-week trial run between Delhi University and Jahangirpuri in north Delhi, covering a distance of more than six kilometres.

This section is part of Phase-II of Delhi Metro, which aims at adding 125 km more to its existing 65 km network, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesman Anuj Dayal said.

The trial run began at 10 a.m. and continued successfully till 5 p.m., reports IANS.

"The trial runs will continue for about five weeks and the section is expected to open to public in December 2008 or January 2009," Dayal added. The section was originally slated to open in October 2009.

During the trial run today, the interaction of the Metro train with the civil structure was checked to ensure that there was no physical blockage during the movement of the train on the track.

"Today the train was run at a slow speed of 25 kmph since it was the first run. The speed will gradually be increased to 50 kmph, and ultimately a maximum of 80 kmph will be generated during the trial runs," he added.

This section of 6.36 km has five stations of which one is underground and four elevated. The underground station is GTB Nagar. The elevated stations are Model Town, Azadpur, Adarsh Nagar and Jahangirpuri.

During the first three weeks of the trial run, two trains will be used. In the fourth week, four trains will run and in the fifth week, more trains will be added as per requirement.

"Special emphasis will be given on safety, which is the prime concern during a trial, as DMRC has to ensure that the system is fully safe for use before the section is opened for the public," he added.

This section will be integrated with the existing 11-km Central Secretariat-Delhi University section.

Unique Ayurveda Village to be set up in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: A Rs.60 million "ayurveda village" consisting of 16 cottages is being set up in an eco-friendly way under 'a resort within a resort' concept near the famed Kovalam beach in Kerala.

The village is slated to open on November 1 inside the Poovar Island Resort.

"The highlight of the village is that we have 16 cottages which are made of mud and has insulated roofs and walls so as to keep the heat away and no air-conditioning is required," Poovar Island Resort Managing Director M.R. Narayanan said.

Poovar Island Resorts shot into fame almost seven years back when the country's first floating cottages were launched in the backwaters. At present, there are 16 floating cottages overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Narayanan, who came up with the concept of 'a resort within a resort', said the ayurveda resort is a unique one as it is built in a 12 acre campus which rests inside the Poovar Island Resort.

Included in the ayurveda village is the largest ayurveda spa in the country, covering 20,000 square feet.

"There is a very big lounge and 10 treatment rooms. The basic tenets of ayurveda are not diluted. Each room has water bodies, a private garden and enough light and air coming in, which are musts for those undergoing ayurveda treatments," he said.

The ayurveda village has a state-of-the-art kitchen, which would cook according to the principles of ancient Indian medical texts.

Jharkhand treasuries go online, in for transparency

Ranchi: Officials and employees of the Jharkhand government would soon be getting updates of financial transactions with the state treasuries on their mobiles.

The state Information Technology (IT) Department has planned this initiative after successful inter-linking of all 31 treasuries and sub-treasuries across the state through high-bandwidth data connectivity.

Department officials said that the mechanism would also allow the government staff avoid frequent visits to the treasuries for gratuity provident fund related transactions, as it would be available online.

With this, Jharkhand has joined the club of a few states, which have adopted the mode of e-Governance to insist on greater transparency in financial transactions.

Conduct of treasuries in this region of erstwhile Bihar had suffered a serious blow when the infamous Rs 950 crore scam, involving the Animal Husbandry Department, broke out some 10 years ago.

The move, a joint initiative of the state Finance Department and the IT Department, will not only cut substantial time usually spend on physical transfer of data from treasuries to banks and then to the Finance Department, but also help the state government save recurring expenses of Rs 10 lakh per annum on stationeries.

State Finance Commissioner Rajbala Verma said that each and every transaction from treasuries could be tracked and verified at any time.

"Besides, the new mechanism will allow treasuries to prepare statements in a few hours, which usually took months of exercise. Now, we could send the monthly statement of treasuries to the Accountant General by 5th of the next month," she said.

Citing about one more important feature of the system, IT Secretary RS Sharma said that the officials could do away with signing at least seven places on the pay bill.

"Instead of putting seven signatures, they require doing just one signature on an A4 size paper and every thing would be OK for payment," Sharma added.

The system is also equipped with facility to keep records about advances and payments taken or made by the officials and employees.

"This being a hectic exercise, the department was unable to realise the advances from the officials," Verma said.

BSNL plans to overhaul mobile phony in Jharkhand

Ranchi : The Jharkhand Circle of the Bharat Sachar Nigam (BSNL) has made a Rs 300 crore plan to completely overhaul the mobile telephone operations in the state.

The proposed plan envisages installation of five new main switching centres (MSCs) known as mobile exchanges at different locations in addition to the five existing ones and installation of over 600 new base trans-receiver stations (BTS) towers across the State.

The project would lead to creation of 10 lakh additional capacity in mobile network against the existing 7.15 lakh.

To ensure smooth execution of the project, the circle also effected a minor reshuffle in its mobile wing by shifting Sanjay Kumar as DGM (mobile-planning) in place of Arvind Prasad, who has been moved in the same capacity in the Chief General Manager (CGM) office.

According to a senior BSNL officer, three additional MSCs with advanced features have been set up in Ranchi, besides one each at Bokaro and Jamshedpur.

They would soon be integrated with the original network. Besides, efforts are on to replace the outdated BTS towers of Nortel by the state-of-the-art equipment supplied by Ericssons recently.

"The replacement of BTS towers has begun in parts. And if everything goes as per the plan, CellOne subscribers would have seamless service by the next month. By that time, all the new MSCs would also be integrated in the main network," official said.

In a bid to provide smooth access to the Internet through mobiles, the BSNL is also upgrading its data transmission technology from GPRS to EDGE. The new technology facilitates net browsing three times faster than the GPRS.

The users, however, require having EDGE(Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) enabled sets to enjoy the service.

Only By Prayer

Jesus answered, "That kind of spirit can only be forced out
by using prayer."

-- Mark 9:29 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
So often the reason God's people don't do what they are capable of
doing for the Kingdom of God is because they don't pray. We must
rededicate ourselves to prayer. We must return to prayer to ask for
God's help, power, mercy, grace, and might. We must also return to
prayer to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God so that he
will lift us up. We must return to prayer to re-awaken us to the mighty
acts that God has already done for us and give him the thanks and
praise due his name. Great things for God can be done consistently and
effectively only when God's people pray.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Forgive my silence and my sense of self-sufficiency O God. I know that
without your mercy, power, and grace I will fail. Please accept my
humble cries for your forgiveness and my passionate pleas for your
mercy, your grace, your strength, and your direction. In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Tripura finds favour with investors from UAE, Italy

Agartala: Investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Italy will set up infrastructure and industrial projects in Tripura, officials said here on Friday.

Separate delegations from the UAE and Italy, currently on a visit to the northeastern state, have met the Chief Minister to finalise some proposed ventures.

For instance, TechMate group of Ajman in the UAE is keen to invest in healthcare and urban amenities, education and information technology (IT) sectors.

"We will invest over Rs.200 crore for setting up an international medical city, knowledge city and global village in Tripura targeting the market of neighbouring Bangladesh, the northeastern states and other adjoining countries," Indian Director of the Dubai-based TechMate International Township Investment Assanaru Abdul Gafoor said.

A four-member TechMate delegation led by Gafoor met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury and senior officials.

The proposed projects are due to be commissioned early next year.

"The Tripura Government's positive response, and easy market access and conducive investment environment were reasons for us to decide for the investment," Gafoor added.

TechMate group has also shown interest in tourism and setting up joint venture gas-based projects, reports IANS.

A separate delegation from Italy led by the Italian Counsel General Bruno Campria also held a series of meetings with the Chief Minister, the Industry Minister and local industrialists to finalise plans for setting up industrial units.

"We are expecting Italian collaboration and investment in the bamboo, rubber, eco-tourism and agro-based sectors," state Industry Minister Chowdhury said.

"The Tripura government has always welcomed any investment, which fulfills the state's demand for employment generation, resource mobilisation and infrastructure development," Chowdhury said.

He said both the UAE and Italian delegations were impressed with the untapped resources and investment climate in Tripura.

Delhi HC notice to govt on spectrum allocation

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the central government on a petition challenging its first come-first serve procedure adopted in spectrum allocation.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S Muralidhar asked the government to file its response within three weeks and posted the matter to December 10, the next date of hearing, reports IANS.

The petition had challenged the government's policy of allocating 2G spectrum and alleged it had caused a loss of millions of rupees to the exchequer.

Arvind Gupta, the petitioner, alleged that the procedure followed by the government was non-transparent, and was intended for the benefit of some private players in the telecom industry.

Gupta also referred to an earlier judgement of the High Court delivered in 1993 by which the court had said that first come-first serve policy is unreasonable and unfair.

He questioned the government's intention of not following a competitive bidding procedure.

"The proximity of real estate developers to corridors of the department of telecom has enabled even real estate developers to overnight turn into telecom entrepreneurs. Indian real estate developers and infrastructure promoters have also become Indian telecom players," Gupta alleged in his petition.

Childrens Day Wishes

Arivu, Aayul,
Aatral,
Ilamai, Kalvi,
Muyarchchi, Nanmakkal,
Nalloolukam,
Nilam, Noyinmai,
Perumai, Pon,
Porul, Pugal,
Thunivu and Vetri

ennum 16 Selvam Petru
Peru Vazhvu Vazhaga .

IBM in Bihar flood, to make database

Patna: Information Technology (IT) giant IBM is helping the government in flood-hit Bihar to trace hundreds of missing people, particularly children, by using software to create a database.

"We are working with IBM to track missing people. We will start seeing the results soon," Disaster Management Department Additional Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit, said.

Last week, IBM executives met government officials and promised to prepare a database with details of people affected by the floods, number of people in relief camps, missing people, damage to life and property as well as internal resources available for relief and rehabilitation work, reports IANS.

"The database will be compiled in software specially designed by IBM to cope with information after natural disasters of vast magnitude," Pratyaya said.

The IBM software was successfully used after the 2004 tsunami in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia as well as during last year's floods in Bangladesh.

Pratyaya said that after evacuation and relief, tracking missing people was the government's priority.

The Disaster Management Department has prepared a lost and found data sheet that was sent to all district magistrates and relief camps in flood affected districts. A missing people's cell and a toll free number to lodge complaints about the people who went missing have already been set up.

The floods have claimed at least 50 lives, according to official estimates. However, voluntary agencies fear the number could be in thousands once all bodies are recovered.

Tamil Nadu has the highest immunisation rate of 81 per cent

Only 55 per cent children fully vaccinated in Karnataka

As another Children’s Day arrives, here is a piece of news that gives little cause for celebration. The public health system has failed our children in a crucial aspect of well-being. Only 55 per cent children in the age group of 12 to 23 months in Karnataka are fully vaccinated against six major childhood illnesses – tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles.

This was revealed in the recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3 for 2005-06 for Karnataka.

More worryingly, this represents a decline in coverage from 1998-99 when 60 per cent children were immunised. In fact, India has the dubious distinction of having the lowest child immunisation rate in South Asia. The proportion of children who have not had a BCG vaccine in India is twice as high as in Nepal, more than five times in Bangladesh and more than 30 times in Sri Lanka, according to a document brought out by the Planning Commission.

The coverage in the country is 44 per cent, with Tamil Nadu leading with 81 per cent, and Nagaland the lowest with 21 per cent.

Eighty-eight per cent of children in Karnataka received the BCG vaccination. However, only three out of four (74 per cent) children received at least the recommended three doses each of the DPT and polio vaccines and 72 per cent received the measles vaccine. Nearly 25 per cent of children in the State have not received three doses of polio vaccine, despite the Pulse Polio Campaign and widespread attempts to eradicate the disease in the country, the survey said.

Malnutrition continued to be a significant problem for children in the State with nearly 44 per cent of children under five years being stunted owing to inadequate food intake and illness. A high number (70 per cent) of children in the age group of 6 to 59 months were suffering from anaemia in the State, the survey said.

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme funded by the Centre provided nutrition and health services for children under age six and pregnant or breastfeeding women as well as pre-school activities for children aged 3 to 5. These services were provided through community-based anganwadi centres. The most common services children received were supplementary food (28 per cent) and immunisation (26 per cent). One-third children of age 3 to 5 received early childhood care or pre-school services, the survey said. Only about 18 per cent children received health check-up and growth monitoring services at each anganawadi centre, according to the survey. State

Music director Harris Jayaraj parts ways with director Gowtham Menon

The bond between a music composer and the director is vital and once it's lost, it is difficult, said popular music composer Harris Jayaraj here Thursday as he announced the end of his professional association with ace director Gowtham Menon.

"Things have gone sour between us. I have to take this decision with a heavy heart. It's better to part ways... (and retain) beautiful memories", Jayaraj said in a press statement.

"I always believed that to create soul stirring music, the bond between a music composer and the director is vital. Once it's lost, it is difficult. We have been together since our debut in 2001 (till the latest release) 'Vaaranam Aayiram' (starring Surya due for release later this month) which has been well appreciated"'Jayaraj added.

Jayaraj mentioned five films since his 2001 debut with Menon which included hits 'Khaaka Khaaka', another Suriya starrer released in 2003 and 'Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu'featuring Kamal Haasan (2006).

According to industry insiders, Menon's domineering ways left Jayaraj exasperated in recent times.

Jayaraj has composed seven songs in 'Vaaranam Aayiram' directed by Menon, featuring Simran, Divya Spandana and Sameera Reddy as the female leads whose release was postponed beyond Diwali reportedly due to non-availability of cinema halls.

Started with a budget of Rs.140 million, the movie is said to be loosely based on Oscar award winner Hollywood hit Forrest Gump.

19,000 mobile towers soon to connect all villages

New Delhi: India's state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) will erect 19,000 towers in two phases to extend mobile phone connectivity to all villages in the country.

"Some 8,000 mobile towers will be erected by the end of this year under Phase-I of the shared mobile infrastructure scheme," India's Telecommunications Minister A Raja told a parliamentary committee here on Wednesday.

Another 11,000 towers will be erected in the second phase, he said while addressing members of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to his Ministry.

BSNL will also procure 93 million GSM lines so that people in all villages in the country having a population of more than 1,000 can avail of mobile phone services, reports IANS quoting Raja.

"The government is giving the highest priority to extending telecom facilities to rural and remote areas of the country," he said.

To provide broadband connectivity, the government will initially connect 5,000 blocks, the smallest administrative unit in India, by wireless broadband, he said.

Villages coming within a radius of 10 km of a block headquarter will be covered by such connectivity.

This will benefit schools, public health centres, village administrative bodies (Panchayats) and the community service centres (CSCs) meant to provide e-Governance and data services to rural areas.

This will be done soon after new spectrum is allocated to the various telecom operators. This activity will be funded with the support of the universal service obligation (USO) fund, he said.

The USO fund is created from a five per cent universal service obligation levy that the government charges all telecom operators in India.

The fund is meant to support extension of connectivity to areas where private operators do not enter for lack of adequate profitability.

To ensure widespread rural connectivity the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition government has kept a target of 500 million telephone connections by 2010 and 750 million connections by 2012, Raja said.

He hoped that this target would be surpassed.

To promote expansion of rural wire line and wire line based broadband services, the government has recently decided to waive off the license fees for rural wire line, the Minister said.

“The government has also decided to give USO fund support to BSNL and reduce USO levy from five per cent to three per cent for covering more than 95 per cent of the development blocks,” he said.

This was in accordance with a recommendation of India's telecom regulatory body Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), he said.

The Minister also said that BSNL will launch during the current year value added services like mobile banking, mobile advertisement, tele-education and lost mobile tracking systems.

The telecom major will also provide wireless broadband services and upgrade its mobile network to third generation (3G) levels, besides providing high-speed data services.

India approves biofuel policy

Delhi : The Government of India has set an indicative target of a minimum 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol and diesel across the country by 2017.

This was the highlight of the National Policy on Biofuels, which was cleared by the Cabinet on Thursday.

It also set up of an empowered National Biofuel Coordination Committee, headed by the Prime Minister and a Biofuel Steering Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary.

The policy has also suggested removing all central taxes on bio-diesel and according declared goods' status to biofuels that would ensure a uniform 4 per cent sales tax on the product across states.

As per the policy, a certification mechanism would be put in place for the blending exercise that would have to conform to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.

The government has already initiated a bio-fuel strategy, under which 5 per cent ethanol blending in petrol is mandatory across the country and this would go up to 10 per cent from October this year.

Bio-diesel production will be taken up from non-edible oil seeds in waste, degraded and marginal lands. The focus would be on indigenous production of bio-diesel feedstock and import of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) based such as oil, palm etc. would not be permitted, the policy said.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) with the provision of periodic revision for bio-diesel oil seeds would be announced to provide fair price to the growers.

Minimum Purchase Price (MPP) for the purchase of bio-ethanol by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) would be based on the actual cost of production and import price of bio-ethanol. In case of bio-diesel, the MPP should be linked to the prevailing retail diesel price, the policy said.

British funding to boost Indian biomedical research

New Delhi: Biomedical research in India has got a major boost with the Wellcome Trust, Britain's largest health charity, entering into an agreement with the India's Department of Biotechnology to fund cutting-edge research.

The 80 million pound (US $140 million) scheme jointly funded by the biotechnology Department and the Wellcome Trust over five years aims to strengthen the research base of biomedical science by providing fellowship programmes to support researchers and senior fellows, reports IANS.

"We aim to train the best of scientists in India because the prospects for bio-medical research are very strong. India has a wealth of academic talent and it is important that we
can support the best researchers throughout their careers," Wellcome Trust Director Mark Walport said.

"This is a catalytic activity to develop science to its full potential in India. It is meant for both resident and overseas Indians - as an incentive to lure them back to the country," Walport said.

The programme will be executed by the Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance. Each year, the alliance is expected to award around 40 early career fellowships, 20 intermediate fellowships and 15 research fellowships.

India's Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said the scientists working as Wellcome-DBT fellows will retain their intellectual property rights even if their projects are translated into effective healthcare schemes.

He further assured that if a scientific project is sold to pharmaceutical companies, the scientist, institutes and the people will benefit. A part of the money earned will be ploughed back for further research, Sibal added.

"We assure full transparency. Once a scientific probe is completed, its results will posted on the public domain—the Internet—within six months. Only the best can avail of it," the Minister said.

The Wellcome Trust claimed the scholarships had a huge global outreach, especially for young scientists who were willing to return to India after completing their doctoral studies.

It will also allow overseas placements in the best laboratories in Britain and US if research necessitated it.

"But all overseas Indian scientists will have return to India and work here," Biotechnology Department Secretary MK Bhan said.

DoT nod to BSNL for VPT scheme

Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked the state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) to start installation of public telephones in another 50,000 newly identified villages.

With this, all the villages in the country would be covered by public telephone service. BSNL has already commenced work on this second phase of Village Public Telephone (VPT) scheme.

These 50000 villages include new villages appearing in Census 2001, villages with population less than 100 and those left out earlier because of various reasons.

VPTs will come up in such uncovered villages with subsidy support from DoT's Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund. Installation of public telephones in all villages is expected to be completed by the end of the next year.

The government is already implementing a scheme to provide subsidised public telephone facility to 66822 uncovered villages under the Bharat Nirman programme.

Out of these, 54700 villages have already been covered and the remaining are likely to be covered by the end of the current year.

All villages have been brought under the scheme except those having population of less than 100, those lying in deep forests and those affected with insurgency.

About 5000 remotely located villages are being provided with VPT using. Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs) technology.

The State owned telecom operator, BSNL has provided telephones to five and half lakh villages across the country. It has extended 11 million GSM connections in the rural areas.

Delivered!

Jesus saw that all the people were running there to see what
was happening. So Jesus spoke to the evil spirit. Jesus said,
"You evil spirit that makes this boy deaf and stops him from
talking--I command you to come out of this boy and never
enter him again!" The {evil} spirit screamed. The spirit
caused the boy to fall on the ground again, and then the
spirit came out. The boy looked like he was dead. Many people
said, "He is dead!" But Jesus held the boy's hand and helped
him stand.

-- Mark 9:25-27 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
One of the things I love so much about Jesus is that his miracles were
not about him or for him. He cared about the people he healed. He took
care of their dignity as well as their physical ailment. Jesus healed
the boy before the crowd of onlookers grew too large. When the boy was
healed, he took him by the hand and helped him up. The miracle wasn't
about Jesus' power being displayed to dazzle the crowds. No, the
miracle was about the love and care of God being shown.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
O Father in heaven, help me treat with dignity and grace all those you
give me the privilege to serve. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Net penetration in India poised for a growth

New Delhi: India has only two unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses per 1,000 people. But a just-released study says the country's net penetration could significantly increase in the coming years, with its economic boom and growing IT adoption.

Every machine that is permanently connected to the Internet has a unique identifying number, called an IP address. A typical IP address looks like this: 59.95.29.46.

A study by web application acceleration and performance management major Akamai saw 20 lakh unique IPs from India. With this, India ranked 14th in terms of unique IPs, a growth of 4.5 per cent over the last quarter, reports IANS.

Perhaps reflecting its large population base, the country had 0.002 IPs per capita - translating to two unique IP addresses per 1,000 people.

India also ranked 15th in terms of attack traffic origination in Q2, contributing one per cent to observed global attack traffic.These are countries where bots and hackers are based and originating from, which Akamai is observing through its network. It is indicative of bots and crackers (malevolent hackers) who are trying to compromise vulnerable systems.

"Japan and the US have almost 50 per cent of the observed attacks originating from them. India contributes to one per cent of attack traffic origination," commented Akamai India marketing manager Karthikeyan D.S.

The per centage of broadband connections from India with speeds above 5 Mbps (high broadband) and 2 Mbps (broadband) were 0.6 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively, Akamai's study said.

Reflecting the mainly-slow speed but still spreading nature of India's Internet access, high broadband IP per capita was 0.01 (1 IP with speeds above 5 Mbps per 100,000 people).

The per centage of connections with speeds less than 256 Kbps from India was 26 per cent, meaning nearly one-fourth of users use slower-speed lines to get on to the net.

India has an estimated 32-46 million active Internet users.

The number of users has been growing at over 25 per cent per year for the past three years.

Akamai Marketing and Product Management Head Bruno Goveas said that the growth in India reflected a good positive trend. There's opportunity in the Indian market".

He argued that unique IPs were one of the "best representations" for traffic on the net. Akamai has a global deployment of 36,000 servers in 1,000 networks and in 79 countries, he said.

"In India, our servers are present in all major ISPs. We look at and are constantly monitoring issues such as performance, packet loss issues, connectivity. Ours is an overlay network, located in all major ISPs," he said, declining to mention specific numbers of ISPs.

This report said several new submarine fibre initiatives were announced during the quarter, which, when completed, will improve Internet connectivity between Europe, India, and the Middle East.

Court suggests austerity measures to save energy

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday suggested austerity measures to conserve electricity by eschewing political extravaganzas.

The first bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice AK Ganguly and Ibrahim Khalifullah directed the Government of Tamil Nadu to implement its existing orders strictly to ensure stoppage of wasteful consumption of electricity and suggested promulgation of a fresh ordinance to enforce stringent measures.

Hearing a case filed in public interest by Vaseekaran, the court ordered the government to publicise austerity measures through the mass media.

The bench has directed the state government to respond within four weeks, reports IANS.

The petitioner alleged the power situation was worsening in Tamil Nadu due to splurging of power on political functions while unscheduled eight-hour outages in several parts of the state caused hardships to the general public.

The bench, however, took note of the government's submission that theft of electricity was being tackled on a war footing.

Davidar to take over as Tamil Nadu IT Secretary

Chennai: PWC Davidar, a 1986 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been appointed as state IT Secretary of the southern Indian state. He will replace C Chandramouli, who will take over as state Planing and Development secretary.

Prior to this, Davidar was the Project Director in the Health and Family Welfare Department from November 11, 2006.

A post graduate in Public administration, he held various significant positions in the state government including Commissioner of Home Rehabilitation and Member Secretary of state Sports Authority.

Chandramaouli, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, has held various posts including Secretary of Personnel and Administrative and Reforms Department, Director (Census Operations) in the Ministry of Home Affairs and state Energy and Power Director.

Help Me Not To Doubt

The father became very excited. He said, "I do believe. Help
me to believe more!"

-- Mark 9:24 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
All through this story, each of the people involved is so genuine about
his emotions and faith. Rather than pretending he had full faith, the
father acknowledged he believed, but needed help in overcoming his
doubt. I don't know about you, but this is where I often find myself
during a period of testing in my life. Imagine how powerful this honest
prayer can be in our lives!


TODAY'S PRAYER:
O Abba Father, I believe, but please help my faith to grow stronger and
to become more confident so that I can serve you in more powerful ways
.. to your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Govt education programme benefits over 3.5 Cr kids

New Delhi: Over 3.5 crore million children have joined the education system since the launch of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a central government project that aims for universal access to education, an official said on Thursday.

"Significant progress has taken place since the 2001 launch of SSA including that 3.68 crore children have joined the education system,” Human Resource Development Ministry Secretary AK Rath said at a seminar organised here by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) here on right to education.

The number of drop-out children has declined from 3.2 crore in 2001-02 to 45 lakh in 2007-08, reports IANS quoting Rath.

"The SSA is based on the principles of universal access, equity and quality. We are making efforts to ensure universal access all over the country by 2010, while improving the quality of education simultaneously," Rath added.

Rath said that the financial outlay for the SSA has constantly being enhanced. In 2004-2005, the budgetary allocation was Rs 3,057 crore and it was increased to Rs 13,100 crore.

NHRC Chairperson S Rajendra Babu said the government does not need a legislation regarding the right to education to provide primary education to all the children as the Supreme Court has defined the right to education as the basic ingredient to guarantee one's right to life.

"The Supreme Court held that the right to life is inclusive of the right to education. It was explained further that right to free education until the age of 14 years is free while beyond that stage it would depend upon the state's economic capacity," Babu said.

The two-day seminar that began on Thursday was attended by state human right commissions' representatives, lawyers and activists.

NATIONAL AWARDS FOR e-GOVERNANCE 2008-09: Last date for nomination extended till Nov 10

Nominations are invited from Central Ministries/Departments, States/UTs, Districts, Local Bodies, PSUs, Civil Society Organisations and Industry for awards in the following categories:

• Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering
• Exemplary Horizontal Transfer of ICT-based Best Practice
• Outstanding Performance in Citizen-Centric Service Delivery
• Innovative Usage of Technology in e-Governance
• Exemplary Usage of ICT by PSUs
• Best Government Website
• Specific Sectoral Award : Focus Sector for the current year: Health

Who can nominate
Central Ministries/Departments, States/ UTs, Districts, Local Bodies, PSUs, Civil
Society Organisations and Industry

Details of the Awards Scheme (including downloadable nomination forms) are available on DAR&PG website: http://darpg.nic.in/arpg-website/egov2009/12thconf.asp. Kindly send the nominations in the prescribed format to e-mail ID: awards.arpg@nic.in and egovawards@gmail.com

---

Last date for Submission of Nominations for National Awards 
10th November, 2008

---

For information on submission of nominations, please contact
Director (e-Governance),
Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Government of India
Sardar Patel Bhawan, Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001, Tele +91-11-23743030 

All Things are Possible!

Jesus said to the father, "You said, 'Help him if you can.'
All things are possible for the person that believes."

-- Mark 9:23 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
Anything! 'Nuff said.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Forgive me, forgive us, O God for doubting in your power and might. In
Jesus' name. Amen.

Portal launched to streamline closure of companies

New Delhi: In an effort to streamline the procedure for closure of companies, India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs has launched a new portal to provide information about the offices of liquidators undergoing dissolution and the respective court jurisdictions.

Besides, it would provide information about sale and auction notices issued by various official liquidators with regard to properties and assets of companies under liquidation and ordered to be sold by the courts.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs further said that the text of the Company Court Rules and the forms applicable in the process of liquidation would also be available on the website.

This would make the work of liquidation efficient, expeditious and transparent within the existing framework of the Companies Act, 1956, the Ministry said.

The Ministry has also undertaken separate initiatives to improve the management of records and the accounting procedures to be applied by official liquidators in connection with the winding up process.

It has also proposed for the revision of the Companies Act, 1956 to modernise the legal framework for liquidation and winding up and to bring it at par with the best international practices.

Meanwhile, the Ministry said that a revised Bill containing new proposals for insolvency regulation is expected to be introduced in the Parliament in its forthcoming session.

Delhi panel suggests measures for the marginalised

New Delhi: A series of recommendations for the welfare of the marginalised groups has been made by the Delhi Assembly's committee on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) on Wednesday while presenting its report in the house.

"Amount for improvement of SC localities should be raised. In 2008-2009, Rs 22 crore were allocated but that is insufficient," the report stated.

The committee further recommended the construction of public bathrooms, community centres and chaupals on priority basis for people belonging to the three categories, reports IANS.

According to the committee, at present hostel facility is available in Delhi for 100 students and that is insufficient in accordance with the total population of SC/STs in the national capital.

The committee also recommended that in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies of the capital there should be one hostel each with a total strength of 1,000 students and priority should be given to SC/ST students while allocating hostel facilities.

It recommended that the entire process of getting higher education loans be more simplified and transparent so that more SC/ST students can benefit.

The committee strongly recommended that all schemes relating to welfare of SC/ST and OBC people in Delhi be streamlined and execution of all the schemes be made time bound for quick benefits to them.

Scheme to raise awareness among minority women

New Delhi: India's Planning Commission is starting a scheme to create awareness among minority women about issues and rights that can empower them socially, educationally and economically, and also teach them the importance of hygiene and sanitation.

To be implemented over the next five years with the help of the Ministry Women and Child Development, the scheme will cost Rs 20 crore.

"We hope to launch the scheme soon. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is working out the details," Planning Commission Member Syeda Hameed said, adding that the scheme will be implemented with the help of NGOs.

"Women need to be told about certain good things like why they should send their children to schools and how health is important and where one can get health facilities," Hameed said.

The government has recently estimated that the literacy rate among Muslim women is as low as 21 per cent.

"There are no two opinions about the high degree of backwardness among Muslim women. They have been doubly discriminated. Muslim women do not even question their status," Hameed said.

She further said that a lot needs to be done for the overall empowerment of Indian Muslim women in particular.

Agreeing to this, former Member of Parliament Subhashini Ali said that Muslim women are faced with a huge problem of inequality and discrimination.

"How to bring them on a par with others continues to be a major concern. The government has a major responsibility to address their problems," Ali, who is the President of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), said.

AIDWA's national convention of Muslim women held here August 27 had sought among other things equal economic, educational, employment, health and citizenship rights for these women.

India's 2001 census says Muslims account for 13.4 per cent of the country's over one billion population, while Christians and Sikhs are respectively 2.3 per cent and 1.9 per cent.

Subrato Mukherjee, a professor of Political Science in Delhi University, said, "Real empowerment and leadership development will be possible only when Muslim women are equipped with education and basic skills."

"The government should train and provide them with reasonable employment, and the spillover benefits will lead to the development of real leadership. It has to be done at a large scale," he added.

MTNL to launch India's first ever 3G services soon

New Delhi: State-owned telecom operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) will launch the first ever 3rd Generation (3G) mobile services in the country on trial basis in Delhi by the end of the current month.

The trial network, to be in and around the Capital's Connaught Place area, will give people a feel of high speed data and video streaming which come as part of the 3G services.

"Indoor trial of 3G in Delhi has already been completed," the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology said in a statement.

MTNL has already got in place the core equipment for the purpose and is presently mobilising the necessary radio equipment, the Ministry said.

The company will formally launch the 3G services in Delhi by the end of this year, while Mumbai will get theses services in the next year, the Ministry stated.

To roll out the 3G services, MTNL had been allocated the necessary spectrum by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as DoT recently allocated one block of spectrum each to MTNL in Delhi and Mumbai and to BSNL in other service areas.

MTNL plans to provide 3G services by installing 3G GSM core capacity of 7.5 lakh lines each in Delhi and Mumbai. These lines are currently being installed.

India's CJ recommends sacking Calcutta HC Judge

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan has recommended removal of Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court for criminal misappropriation of over Rs 58 million of the high court's funds.

It is only the second case of its kind where the sacking of a judge of the higher judiciary has been recommended, reports IANS.

"I write this to recommend that the proceedings contemplated by Article 217 (1) read with Article 124 (4) of the constitution be initiated for removal of Calcutta High Court Judge Soumitra Sen," Chief Justice Balakrishnan wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh August 4.

The Chief Justice recommended Justice Sen's sacking after he ignored an advice by the apex court's collegium, headed by the Chief Justice and including two senior most judges, Justice BN Agrawal and Justice Ashok Bhan, to either resign or retire voluntarily by April 2, 2008.

"A new regulation will make blood banks safer"

For this 2004 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, health care, ecology and technology, comes naturally. A PG in livestock production and management, Dr Birendra Prasad Yadav is also credited with streamlining the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) as the OSD with the state Rural Development department. In a discussion with Sarita Yadav of iGovernment, the Bihar State AIDS Control Society Project Director talks about the various awareness and preventive measures that the Society is pushing ahead. Excerpts:

Bihar is reported to be very high on the list of AIDS affected states in India. What is the total number of AIDS patients in the state?
As of June 30, this year, the total number of AIDS patients in the state is 19,364, which is over 27 per cent of the total number of patients in the country. In fact, it is important to note that Bihar has the highest number of migrant labour in the country and most of them—the men folk usually live alone, away from their wives. Unsafe sex by these migrants is a prime reason for the high rate of HIV infection in the state.

Besides, three important highways-the East West Corridor, the Golden Quadrangle and the Grand Trunk (GT) Road-passes through the state, make it an unsafe sex zone.

Surveys reveal that the area around the three major check posts on these highways have a large number of hotels and dhabas and a high concentration of sex workers. Truck drivers passing through Tamkohi at Gopalgunj and Mohania sub division (Bihar-UP border) and Rajouli in Nawada district on Bihar-Jharkhand border have often been found to be indulging in unsafe sex in these bordering areas.

Given the severity of the problem, how does Bihar State AIDS Control Society planning to handle the situation?
We are attempting to arrest the situation through a series of initiatives. While the Society has set up 207 Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTC), we have also set up AIDS treatment centres and the state government is actively considering bringing in a regulation to make blood banks safer in Bihar.

The Society is also engaging the non government organisations (NGOs) for spreading awareness and free distribution of condoms in the high risk areas. In fact, there are two components of any programme for AIDS control-one, creating awareness, and second, physical safety against the HIV virus by way of use of condoms and blood testing.

So far as running social awareness is concerned, we have about 50 NGOs working in this field. Our technical support unit is further evaluating over 430 NGOs for the various programmes.

Where are these ICTCs and AIDS treatment centres located and who is responsible for managing them?
As I said earlier, presently we have 207 ICTCs across the state, of which some of them are functioning from the PHCs and some important hospitals and medical colleges. However, all Sadar hospitals in the state have these counseling and testing centres.

Each of these counseling and testing centres have one AIDS counselor and we soon plan to provide them with materials like DVDs, TVs, and other advertisement materials to assist them in counseling and creating awareness through use of audio-visual tools. We are also planning to appoint more counselors to cover the so far left out areas soon.

What about the AIDS treatment centres?
Yes, presently we have four such centres at the medical colleges in Patna, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur. These centers provide anti-retro viral drugs. We are also going to establish 11 link AIDS Rural Treatment (ART) centres to facilitate treatment of HIV+ patients in the remote areas.

You also mentioned that the state government was working towards bringing in a regulation for providing safe blood transfusion. What steps are you taking to make blood transfusion safer in Bihar?
Blood transfusion and syringe injection are two of the major factors of HIV infections. Presently we do not have any legislation to regulate blood banks and blood transfusion in the state. Although, the Government of Bihar has issued instructions and directions in this regard, but in absence of a legislation, sometimes the wrongdoers escape unscathed. We are, therefore, going to come out with a comprehensive legislation in this matter. A proposal on this will be sent to the government shortly.

The proposed legislation will have provisions to check and monitor blood banks on a regular basis. Stringent punishments would be proposed for violators. Habitual and commercial donors pose serious threats of spreading infection; therefore, steps would also be taken to tackle the problem.

Good quality blood for remote areas is another big challenge. How do you propose to handle this issue?
We are going to set up 78 new Blood Storage Units, which would be located in all Sadar hospitals and in some PHCs. This will help a great extent in making safe blood available for the patients in far flung and rural areas.

Free distribution of condom has been a key component of all AIDS campaign across India. Has it really helped?
It is true that the condoms are the cheapest and the safest way of protection against HIV. Right now condoms are available with every counseling center, PHCs, health sub-centres, medical colleges and other important medical hospitals free of cost. We are also planning to distribute it through PDS shops, Aanganwadi centres and liquor shops.

As you know that it is the female who is in-charge of Aangnawadi centre and hence with the help this system we can reach out to females in each and every village of the state. Liquor shops are the next target. We are going to take up this matter with the excise department. The idea is to give a pack of condom free with every one bottle of liquor purchased.


How do you propose to involve other government departments in these initiatives for adopting an integrated approach towards handling this problem?
We are planning to integrate other government departments by way of mainstreaming units. We have held discussions with Railways, departments of Tourism, Rural Development, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj and ICDS (Social Welfare).

Railways have agreed on principle to have catchy AIDS awareness advertisement lines printed at the back of tickets. They have also given their nod to open ICTC at railways hospitals. We have also got some good response from the Tourism Department that has agreed to place advertisement materials at the booking counters of all hotels and few punching lines on the visiting cards.

Training of all Aanganwadi sewikas and sahaikas would be done by dept of ICDS for HIV awareness and condom distribution.

Bangalore to get hi-tech ambulance service

Bangalore: Come November, ambulance services in India's silicon hub Bangalore will go high-tech to treat trauma patients and mishap victims.

Pioneered by the Hyderabad-based non-profit organisation Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) on a public-private partnership (PPP) model, the free service will be a phone-call away on toll-free number 108, reports IANS.

The institute, set up and funded by Satyam Computers founders, the Raju brothers, entered into an agreement with the state government last month for the emergency health service.

"The Karnataka government will finance the ambulance service, including 95 per cent of the operational cost," EMRI Consultant J Narasimha Rao said, adding that the institute will manage the emergency response centre (EMC) where calls on a patient are recorded, and provide medical inputs and manpower to operate the service.

The institute will initially deploy 150 ambulances across the state and scale this up by 367 over the next two years, finally taking the total mobile clinics to 517.

"Experts from the institute and the state Health Department are working on modalities to identify vulnerable areas, where ambulances will be required most," Rao said.

Each ambulance will cover about 25 km radius so as to reach patients within 15-20 minutes after a call is registered at the emergency response centre (EMC).

Physicians at EMC will give pre-arrival advice to the attendant of patients, before ambulances reach the spot. Each ambulance will be manned by two trained emergency medical technicians for attending patients or accident victims.

The ambulance service is unique as it is not a transport vehicle for patients; rather, these are like pre-hospital care centre, with facilities for attending to the needs of those accompanying a patient to the hospital.

"Our ambulance service works on the concept of 'golden hour', the critical period when a serious patient or mishap victim has to be treated within an hour of the incident to ensure that his or her survival chances are over 80 per cent," Rao said.

The high-tech ambulances will be equipped with stretches, wheel-chairs, ventilators, oxygen cylinders and defibrillators. Drivers will be trained to deal with emergency cases along with paramedics.

"The ambulances will also have rescue tools to conduct emergency operations," he added.

EMRI has also tied up with state-run-hospitals to attend to patients brought by their ambulances.

"We are also in discussions with private hospitals and clinics to admit patients brought by our ambulances and provide medical care for next 24 hours free-of-cost. Patients and the hospitals will decide on the course of treatment," Rao observed.

In Karnataka, the state-run government and private hospitals operate ambulance services but not in a scientific manner. As a result, casualties are high for want of immediate medical attention.

A state health official said there is no data on the number of ambulances operating in the state.

"We hope full-fledged ambulances in and around Bangalore will save a lot of lives. The ambulances will match international standards in medical practice," Rao added.

As an integrated emergency service provider, EMRI ambulances operate in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttarkhand. Karnataka will be the fourth state to avail the service.

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, American Academy of Emergency Medicine in India, National Emergency Number Association and Richmond Ambulance Authority collaborate with EMRI in providing this service.

"EMRI service will be able to save many lives, as several hospitals in the city do not have such a coordinated ambulance facility," a state health official said.

EMRI attends 13,000 calls a day on average. It has saved about 4,000 lives and attended over 60,000 emergency calls since the service was launched first in 2005 from Hyderabad.

India Post goes hi-tech to track ordinary letters

Ranchi: The Department of Posts in India has introduced a high-tech facility—electronic information of delivery (e-IOD)—in 4,000 post-offices across the country to help consumers keep track of delivery of even ordinary letters.

Under the pilot project, the consumers would require pasting barcode stickers on ordinary letters to avail the facility. The stickers can be procured from the post offices upon registration for the service.

Presently, only bulk letter senders and those dealing in bill delivery could have the facility under the pilot project. The same could be extended to general customers, if pilot project drew good response.

Giving the details of the new facility, the Jharkhand Director of Postal Services (DPS) Anil Kumar said that all post offices through which barcoded letters would pass scan the code and save the record in the main server of the Postal Department in New Delhi.

"The senders would be provided information about the non-delivered letters, since the quantum of delivered letters is very high and keeping records of delivered letters would be a stupendous work," Kumar added.

In Jharkhand, as many as 135 post offices have been equipped with the facility of tracking ordinary letters. Delivery of outbound letters could also be tracked as post offices of other states have also the same facility.

India needs 161 GW power to sustain growth: Study

New Delhi: India's growth story may get upset if urgent steps are not initiated to tackle and overcome the electricity demand deficit of 13 per cent and energy shortage of six per cent, an industry lobby study said.

The study was conducted jointly by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and credit rating company Crisil on 'Indian Power Sector: Holistic Capacity Building', reports IANS.

"As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates, India would require an addition of at least 161 Giga Watt (GW) of generation capacity during the 11th and 12th plan periods," it said.

According to the study, the central government has estimated fund requirement of Rs 410,000 crore (US $95.5 billion) for meeting new generation targets.

“Distribution, the most neglected area in the power sector is expected to witness very high investments aided by government grants and soft loans. The expected investment in distribution for the 11th plan as per CEA is approximately Rs 287,000 crore," it added.

The investments in distribution are primarily expected to come from the government sector.

These requirements do not include the generation additions of around 40 GW, which slipped during the 10th plan.

"These slippages were largely due to a lack of an adequate policy and regulatory framework, which have been overcome to a large extent by the enactment of Electricity Act 2003 and rules and regulations under the act," the study said.

It further said that fuel will be a critical source for meeting the generation targets and will require a holistic effort for efficient coal mining as well as exploring other sources of generation including gas based generation, hydro and renewable energy sources.

The study also noted that during the 11th and 12 plan periods electricity sector will require about two million trained manpower, thereby raising the number of industrial training institutes (ITIs), other specialised training institutes and training programmes on IT enabled applications required.

Kerala to make e-filing of tax returns mandatory

Kozhikode: In an effort to improve tax collection and pave way for a smooth process, the Government of Kerala will make e-filing of sales tax returns compulsory from next fiscal.

"From this December, traders will have the option to e-file their returns. However, from next financial year e-filing will be made compulsory," state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said here on the sidelines of a meeting of tax officials.

Isaac said since only a few traders have computers for e-filing of returns, the government would make arrangements at the Akshaya centres to facilitate e-filing.

Akshaya centres are e-kiosks run by private entrepreneurs, which have state-wide reach, reports IANS.

"We will provide traders with the list of accredited Akshaya centres where they can submit all their papers. These centres will do all data entry and will submit the returns to the tax department," he said.

The government will provide compensation to Akshaya centres for filing tax returns.

Every year, a total of around 1.5 lakh returns are filed in the state and this will provide an income generating opportunity to the Akshaya centres.

The Minister said Commercial Taxes Department will soon overhaul all its information system. "The income tax collection of the central government is going up because they have a perfect information system," he added.

The Kerala government is expecting 20-25 per cent increase in tax revenues this year. The revamped information system is expected to further improve the tax collection next year.

"When the term of this government ends, the state's tax revenues will go up by one-and-a-half times," Isaac added.

TCS, state utilities to set up power exchange

Software services and consulting firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will float a joint venture company along with the state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to operate a national level power exchange.

"An agreement has been signed amongst NTPC, NHPC, PFC and TCS for incorporation of a joint venture company to set up and operate a power exchange at national level," TCS said in a regulatory statement.

The joint venture would be registered as a public limited company with an authorised capital of Rs 50 crore for setting up an exchange to provide a neutral and transparent electronic platform for power trading, reports IANS.

The exchange will also ensure clearing of all trades in an efficient manner with access to all players in the power sector.

Rebuke from Concern

Jesus answered, "You people don't believe! How long must I
stay with you? How long must I continue to be patient with
you? Bring the boy to me!"
-- Mark 9:19 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Don't you know that Jesus really was frustrated with his key followers
at times? This time he is more than frustrated. He had given them the
power to do what needed to be done. However, they didn't do it. They
even thought they couldn't do it, so of course they couldn't! I
appreciate Jesus' honest rebuke. So often we do so far less than we are
capable of doing because we lack the faith to try and don't pray for
God's power to be exerted. Even worse, we do far less than God wants us
to do because we lack the faith in him to see us through.

TODAY'S PRAYER:
O LORD God almighty, you are capable of doing anything your heart
desires. I recognize that my lack of faith often inhibits your desire
to work in the world through me. Please increase my faith. In Jesus'
name I pray. Amen.

India's economy to improve by 2010: Ahluwalia

New Delhi: The slowdown in the Indian economy has been on expected lines and a major revival is seen next fiscal year, thanks to the measures being taken by the government, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said.

"The slowdown was not unexpected," Ahluwalia said, referring to the sharp dip in the growth of India's gross domestic product (GDP) to 7.9 per cent in the first quarter of this fiscal from 9.2 per cent in the like period of last year.

"What I also want to say is a growth of almost eight per cent is also healthy and impressive. We should expect revival to a higher level next fiscal," Ahluwalia said.

He said the tight monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a bid to curb price rise, was one of the main reasons for the dip in manufacturing growth from 5.6 per cent from 10.9 per cent in the first quarter of last fiscal.

"So you can also expect the inflation rate to start moderating from the next few months," the Deputy Chairman said.

"Inflation will begin softening within a few months time. The prices of crude oil appear to be softening in the global market. Good monsoon will make a big difference," Ahluwalia said.

India's central bank had also pruned the growth projection to eight per cent, from 8.5 per cent because of global and domestic developments when it reviewed its monetary policy for the current fiscal late last month.

Ahluwalia also expected reforms to get a big push forward, especially in the area of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure projects, covering roads, ports, airports and energy.

"Lot of good things are happening in the states. Some of them are quite ahead in inking infrastructure projects through the public-private partnerships," he said.

"Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra are doing very well in developing airports through the PPP model. Andhra Pradesh is getting metro train for Hyderabad through PPP. Even health facilities are being upgraded in collaboration with the private parties," Ahluwalia said.

"Many states want to have metro trains. As a metro project is very expensive, the states should and are looking for private collaborators. The centre will certainly chip in with viability gap funding wherever necessary," he said.

In the same vein, Ahluwalia said that there was a need to implement the projects at a faster pace to retain the growth momentum.

"Infrastructure projects intended for capacity building have to be implemented with a strong supportive policies and administrative support," he said.

"Accelerating the pace of PPP contracts in infrastructure is extremely important. Policies have already been shaped, and the ministries are required to the projects fast. I think quite a lot has been done," the Deputy Chairman said.

Punjab to get world's first Sikh university

Chandigarh: The world's first Sikh university would be set up in Fatehgarh Sahib, the holy town in the northern Indian state Punjab.

The university, Guru Granth Sahib World University, will deal with contemporary issues like the authentic interpretation of Sikhism in the modern context and idiom, role of Sikhism in the making of the 21st century society and the third millennium civilisation, a state government spokesperson said.

The university, spread over 84 acres given by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), is coming up in an year which also marks the 300th anniversary of the 'Gurgaddi' (installation) of the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, at 'Harmandar Sahib', the holiest of Sikh shrines, in Amritsar, reports IANS.

It also aims at addressing contemporary problems of Sikh identity vis-Ã -vis forces and processes of globalisation, facts about the Sikh diaspora and role of Sikhism and global interfaith dialogue, the spokesperson added.

Besides the routine courses in arts, science and other fields, the university will focus on emerging technologies such as bio-technology, nano-technology, information technology and disciplines like ecology, human rights, feminism, empowerment of the down-trodden and other related spheres.

To give the university a 21st century outlook, it is looking at multi-national companies and other international universities for tie-ups.

The spokesperson said that arrangements will be made with foreign universities to enable scholars of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University to be sent abroad as part of the course study.

Regional and overseas extension centres of the university will be established in India, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and other countries wherever Sikhs and Sikhism have reached.

The university authorities are also planning to rope in the Sikh diaspora in the new venture.

The university also gives the students an option to undertake advanced studies in Sikhism—its philosophy, ethics, relation with other religions, history, music, linguistics, holy shrines and historical places associated with the religion, architecture, paintings, way of life, martial arts, diaspora and role of Sikhism in the 21st century.

Hughes takes lead in CSC deployment in India

New Delhi: HughesNet Fusion has taken lead in tying up with State Service Agencies (SCA) to rollout the company's services at 17,356 common service centres (CSC) in the country.

The company has already tied up with Comat Technologies, Shahaj SREI, Zoom Developers and 3i Infotech. The company is also in talks with other SCAs for providing CSC services in rural kiosks.

Hughes has already tied up with Comat to roll out CSC kiosks in Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttaranchal.

The company has also tied up with Sahaj SREI for setting up rural kiosks in West Bengal, Bihar and Assam, besides inking deals with Zoom Developers for Assam and Manipur and 3i Infotech for Haryana.

It is working closely with SCA to ensure smooth deployment of HughesNet Fusion Services at CSCs in nine states. The company is also gearing up to deploy these services pan India across rural regions.

The agreeement with SCAs will help in bridging the digital divide by combining advanced satellite technology of Hughes with state e-Governance applications.

HughesNet Fusion is presently providing services like satellite based education and training, high speed Internet, railway reservation and mobile top-up.

In future, the rural customers will enjoy a range of e-Governance and other value-added applications on an affordable basis.

Despite e-Governance applications not available to rural masses, the village level entrepreneurs are earning around Rs 1,900 per month and this will increase once e-Governance applications and business to customer (B-2-C) services are launched phase wise by different states.

Hughes has a total market share of around 31 per cent in VSAT equipment space and has installed 5,234 VSATs in FY 2007-08 taking the overall tally of VSATs to 25,474.

Delhi to have three more railway stations

New Delhi: The Railway Ministry in India is planning three more railway stations in the National Capital Territory (NCT) to ease passenger flow at the main terminal here.

The new stations will come up at Anand Vihar, bordering Uttar Pradesh, Holambi Kalan in north Delhi and Bijwasan in south west Delhi, both bordering Haryana, reports IANS.

"This is part of the upgrade of Delhi's rail traffic before the Commonwealth Games. These railway stations will divert some traffic to the NCR and help decongest the New Delhi railway station, which is overburdened with passengers," a senior Railways official said.

"We expect these stations to be operational before the Commonwealth Games. The government has already sanctioned Rs 85 lakh for the upgrade of the Anand Vihar station and the land acquisition for the other two stations has already begun," the official added.

The government has already invited bid for the facelift and restructuring of the New Delhi station, which is likely to start September 6.

Apart from that, four new platforms will also be added as part of the expansion plan. These four new platforms of 26-coach length will be operational September 15. Currently, the New Delhi station has 12 platforms.

The station, at present handles about six lakh visitors everyday and about 270 trains.